December 7, 2017 - Vol. 6, Issue 2

Thursday, December 7, 2017 Vol. 60, Issue 2

Illustration by Baillie Conway @aug_bellringer @augbellringer @aug_bellringer

Editorial on the 60th Anniversary of The Bell Ringer Page 3

Literary publication goes from university to national magazine Page 6 and 7

Campus newspaper reflects on historic university changes Page 8 and 9

“Where are they now?� A look at past newspaper staff Page 10

PAGE 2

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Walk 2 Remember for Veterans Day

Jamie Sapp | Staff In celebration of Veterans Day, students, staff, veterans, and guests in the Augusta community participate in the third annual Walk 2 Remember event on Nov. 10-11 at the Augusta University Summerville Campus. The crowd celebrated the lives of veterans with an opening ceremony, a walk along the sidewalks, and a placement of the American flags (left) on the graves of war veterans at the university’s cemetary. Students in the ROTC program also provided T-Shirts and snacks for participants in the event.

NEWSPAPER STAFF editor-in-chief Jamie Sapp jsapp270@augusta.edu

Kait Fruechting kfruechting@augusta.edu Will Cheney wcheney@augusta.edu

online + design editor Zhenya Townley ztownley@augusta.edu

adviser Todd Bennett tobennett@augusta.edu

copy editors Natasha Ramaswamy nramaswamy@augusta.edu

Direct advertising inquiries to: Jamie Sapp jsapp270@augusta.edu

Rachel Shomer rshomer@augusta.edu

The Bell Ringer bellringerproduction@gmail.com

staff writer Madison Brown madbrown@augusta.edu

Address all correspondence to: The Bell Ringer JSAC Building, Room 237 2500 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30904 706-737-1600 www.aubelllringer.wordpress.com

contributors Baillie Conway tconway3@augusta.edu

EDITORIAL POLICY

Letters to the editor must be accompanied by the author’s name, phone number and email address. All columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author. The views expressed in the editorial section do not necessarily express those of The Bell Ringer, a designated public forum. Anything submitted to The Bell Ringer is open to be edited or rejected. However, The Bell Ringer staff gives all opinions a fair chance to be heard. All letters will be edited for grammar and style. If you would like to contribute a column or a letter to the editor, send an email to: bellringerproduction@gmail.com

CORRECTIONS POLICY

We strive to bring you accurately reported news. If you wish to report an error, please provide your name, email address and a detailed description of the error and the necessary correction.

PRINTER Aiken Standard 326 Rutland Dr. NW P.O. Box 456 Aiken, SC. 29802

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 3

Editorial

The Bell Ringer: Then vs. Now Happy Birthday to The Bell Ringer!

It’s been sixty years since a set of people wanted to create a campus newspaper made by students for students and the rest of the university. Previous and current staff members have been reporting news and capturing moments on campus since 1957 when Augusta University was known as Junior College of Augusta.

The Bell Ringer has reported news on name changes, university presidents, strategic plans and other moments or controversies within those 60 years. As the university has changed from being a community college to a well-expanded university in Augusta, Ga., The Bell Ringer has changed as well. Technology has made it possible for students to effectively report news from printing weekly newspapers to publishing mainly online stories.

The design of The Bell Ringer has changed from being tabloid to being broadsheet to switching back to tabloid, along with the logo change to reflect both a traditional and modern image for readers. Social media has also become a strong asset to our student publication, despite its chal-

lenges through transitions.

The students at Augusta University has always been continue to be a vital part of the Augusta community. The Bell Ringer is an avenue that gives students a voice so that they can express their opinions in a way that they know their voices will be heard, whether it is through working for the newspaper, submitting an article as a contributor, or even through being interviewed by a staff member. The students are the foundation of each decision that is made at the university. Students are able to rally and protest, and by making their opinions heard, they are able to spark new ideas and create changes within the university’s system.

The Bell Ringer has also impacted students by being a place that students can go to stay connected to those around them, whether that be fellow students or faculty and staff. Working for a news publication not only teaches effective communication

Native Americans still face injustices in the U.S.

By Madison Brown staff writer The Atlanta Braves, the Florida State Seminoles, and the Cleveland Indians have two things in common: they are popular sports teams and have mascots that are loosely based on some part of Native American culture.

That is just one of the many racial injustices Native Americans in the U.S. still face to this day.

When the Civil Rights Movement began in the 1960s, Native Americans also began to fight an uphill battle against racism and oppression. One of the main ways that racism towards Native Americans was, and still is shown, is through the continued use of Native Americans as sports mascots.

While the National Congress of American Indians (NCIA) has been able to make significant progress in erasing the use of Native American mascots from various sports teams, there is still a very long way to go. The best example of the amount of progress that still needs to be made would be through the NFL team, the Washington Redskins. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term ‘Redskin’ as a dated, racist term for a Native American. Yet, it is

“One of the main ways that racism towards Native Americans was, and still is shown, is through the continued use of Native Americans as sports mascots.” - Madison Brown still the name of one of the most well-known sports teams in the country.

Even with the controversy surrounding the name, there has been no progress made to change the name. There is an infinite number of options that Washington could switch over to as their team’s name and mascot, yet they refuse to make the change. This refusal makes it obvious they have absolutely no qualms about exploiting Native Americans and using the controversy around their name to gain even more media attention and support from loyal fans.

The next problem that I have noticed resonates within the walls of Augusta University, a university that claims to be culturally diverse and supportive. Even on the university’s website, the diversity is clearly lacking. The Augusta University’s Diversity and Inclusion page lists all of the months that celebrate diversity, except for one: Native American Heritage Month.

In 1990, former president George H. W. Bush passed a bill that declared November as Native Amer-

ican Heritage Month. For the first two weeks of November, I had no clue that it was Native American Heritage Month, or a month honoring Native Americans even existed. I discovered that November honored this when, by complete coincidence, when I noticed a small bulletin board at the very end of the Jaguar Student Activities Center.

After looking even further, I discovered that there weren’t even any activities planned for the month. There were no discussions or events planned like there were for Hispanic Heritage Month or the events that will take place during African American History Month.

I can’t be the only one who recognizes how much injustice that this is. If the month was February and there were no planned celebrations for African American History Month, I know that there would be an outcry of protests from both students and faculty. So, why is Native American History Month any different?

Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.

skills through learning how to interview people for stories, but also through learning how to better communicate through writing or visual art.

No matter where you go, literature will always be an important part of your life. The world we live in is a place where writing is at the very heart of society. In this way, literature defines culture, shaping nations and creating the places we call home.

Thus, The Bell Ringer is important for students of all disciplines, not just those in communication or English.

One of the great things about The Bell Ringer is that it covers stories on and off campus, extending its reach into Augusta. For those students that come from out of town, this proves to be a helpful resource in knowing the city.

As a student-led paper, there is an immense power that it holds when it comes to journalism. College newspapers are often beacons of free speech and

The Bell Ringer is no exception. Complete with editorials, features and day-to-day coverage, the readers can always get a grasp on what the newspaper strives for.

It is not just readership that matters, but how those readers will respond.

With a large online following, The Bell Ringer has already moved towards the future of journalism. But once again, the power that it beholds is that print issues remain to be the most important aspect in the ups-and-downs of the journalism field. To be able to hold a newspaper in your hands should bring you nostalgia and warmth. After all, the amount of work that goes into a print edition can only be described as overload. But thanks to the editors and the staff, each semester produces content that readers can hold onto for years to come.

The student campus newspaper has existed through part of Augusta University’s history and will remain a valuable asset to the university’s future.

The Staff: Madison Brown, Natasha Ramaswamy, Jamie Sapp and Zhenya Townley

#MeToo movement starts national domino effect removing bad men from power

By Madison Brown staff writer When the #MeToo movement began in early October, I noticed how many of my friends were shocked and doubtful of the amount of men and women that began to come forward about the sexual harassment issue in Hollywood, Calif.

If I’m going to be completely honest, it didn’t come as a surprise to me at all.

Men in Hollywood are held at a higher caliber and placed upon pedestals that make them feel as if they are unable of doing harm in any facet. They begin to believe that they can do anything they want, including force themselves upon innocent men and women.

However, in the recent months, thanks to the eight brave women that started the movement of coming forward about experiences with sexual assault, the powerful men of Hollywood are now beginning to be held accountable for their actions.

The movement began with women coming forward with sexual harassment allegations against men like filmmaker Harvey Weinstein and comedian Louis C.K. After decades of harassment allegations against Weinstein, his career has finally begun to be affected by his being expelled from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and his being fired from his film production company.

Louis C.K. faced the consequences of the sexual harassment allegations against him when his upcoming movie release and comedy special were cancelled, along with his ties to various media companies like FX being cut.

The movement of speaking out against sexual harassment has now spread even further than the gates of Hollywood.

There have now been complaints against Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Alabama Senate candidate, Roy Moore. Because of the allegations against Franken, the senator himself called for an ethics hearing against his actions. After the allegations of sexual misconduct against multiple teenage girls, the Republican National Committee withdrew their support of Roy Moore.

The punishments that these men are receiving may not be enough to make up for the horrendous acts they have been accused of, but they are a start and are considerably better than the previous years where actions did absolutely nothing to punish men accused of sexual harassment or assault.

In 2017 alone, more than 34 men in powerful positions, whether they were celebrities, filmmakers, or even politicians, have had multiple sexual harassment and assault charges brought against them. The number of victims, though, is even more daunting. The sheer amount of men and women that have begun to tell their stories and share their experiences of being sexually assaulted and harassed is horrifying.

The fact that it is 2017 and this is still such a huge issue blows my mind.

Are we ever going to truly address this problem so that it stops occurring, or are we going to keep excusing problematic behavior so that there are new Harvey Weinstein’s and Roy Moore’s raised in future generations?

Why don’t we put a stop to this behavior before thousands of innocent men and women have to face the repercussions of being sexually assaulted and harassed?

Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.

PAGE 4

We are edging the Bell Ringer’s legacy.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Baillie Conway | Contributor

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 5

News

Courtesy of Augusta University Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Undergraduate students present their research at the CURS Brown Bag Seminar events for the interests of other students, faculty, and the public in the JSAC Ballroom at Augusta University.

Brown Bags:

By Natasha Ramaswamy Staff writer This past semester, the Augusta University Center for Undergraduate Research (CURS), led by the CURS program director Melissa Knap, hosted their 11th bi-annual series of Brown Bag Seminars.

Students from across the university had the opportunity to flock to the JSAC Ballroom to present their original research and scholarship to their peers and faculty on campus while enjoying a complimentary “brown bag” lunch. According to the CURS website, the purpose of these talks, given either individually or by student lead teams, was “to showcase the quality and breadth of undergraduate research here at Augusta University.”

In order to be considered eligible to

CURS Seminars show recent student research on topics

present at a Brown Bag seminar, students must conduct a research or scholarship project under the guidance of a faculty member and subsequently be approved by CURS to present toward the students.

While past CURS Brown Bag topics have included everything from political apathy in college students to the socio-political world of Harry Potter, senior English major Rachel Shomer presented her research project on Friday, Oct. 20, under the guidance of her faculty mentor Dr. Todd Hoffman on “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Cyborg Feminist Theory and Escaping Systematic Oppression.”

According to Shomer, her research on cyborg theory was inspired in part by Donna Haraway’s feminist essay, “A Cyborg Manifesto,” as well as Phillip K. Dick’s novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, which she was first exposed to

when she took a class on Post-Humanism last year.

Shomer chose her topic because she is “an avid, sci-fi fan [who also loves] how cyborg theory brings together questions combining feminism, science, and technology.”

This being said, it goes to follow that the CURS Brown Bag Seminars serve as a way for students to combine their academic interests with their passions from outside of the classroom.

In Shomer’s case, she mentioned the most beneficial part of her research.

“The most rewarding part of my research was strengthening my skills for literary theory, as I now feel confident that I can keep pursuing this in graduate school,” she said. “Theory is extremely interesting but also very difficult write on concisely.

The research improved my ability to write

more concisely when applying different theoretical frameworks into literature, and the ability to discuss what I enjoy studying more proficiently.”

All in all, the Brown Bag Seminars allow students to explore research prior to their entry into a graduate level setting. In doing so, students can both practice presentation skills in front of a large audience of their peers and explore their interests from all academic disciplines.

This makes the seminars an invaluable resource for anyone interested in research or scholarship, regardless of their background or major.

The last CURS Brown Bag Seminar was held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, in the JSAC Ballroom. Entry was free for anyone with a Jag Card or campus ID. Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at nramaswamy@augusta.edu.

Crime Log November 12-28, 2017 Incident (Classification) Entering Auto Theft by Taking Terroristic Threats Terroristic Threats Theft by Taking Entering Auto Entering Auto Simple Battery Terroristic Threats Theft by Taking Missing Person Simple Battery Trespassing on a Campus Poss. Of Marijuana

Number 17-0324 17-0325 17-0326 17-0327 17-0328 17-0329 17-0330 17-0331 17-0332 17-0333 17-0334 17-0335 17-0336 17-0337

Date/Time Reported 11/12/17 – 12:27 11/14/17 – 10:06 11/14/17 – 20:51 11/15/17 – 18:52 11/16/17 – 16:51 11/17/17 – 10:35 11/17/17 – 10:47 11/20/17 – 11:40 11/20/17 – 14:25 11/22/17 – 18:40 11/24/17 – 22:05 11/25/17 – 11:06 11/26/17 – 17:59 11/28/17 – 16:31

Date/Time Occurred 11/12/17 – 12:27 11/09/17 – 09:00 11/14/17 – 20:55 11/15/17 – 18:37 11/13/17 – 11:30 11/17/17 – 10:30 11/17/17 – 10:45 11/20/17 – 11:40 11/20/17 – 14:20 11/22/17 – 18:40 11/24/17 – 21:30 11/25/17 – 10:15 11/26/17 – 17:59 11/28/17 – 16:31

General Location Lot 01 AUMC Lot 01, Summerville AUMC Christenberry Fieldhouse Lot 02 Lot 02 AUMC Greenblatt Library College of Dental Medicine

AUMC AUMC St. Sebastian Way Oak Hall

Disposition Inactive Active Arrest Cleared Inactive Active Inactive Active Active Active Cleared Active Arrest Arrest

PAGE 6

Thursday, December 7, 2017

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Throwback at the university’s logos

Source: Augusta.edu, Archives.org, and Archives in White Columns 1976 Yearbook

Transformation from Miss Bell Ringer to Miss Augusta University

Layout Design Photo I

The Bell Ring

By Madison Brown & Jamie Sapp staff writer & editor-in-chief

Archives in White Columns 1958 Yearbook Patricia Greene in 1957

Kait Fruechting | Contributor Amanda Mines in 2017

The Bell Ringer was officially created when a letter beginning with the phrase, “would you be interested…” was sent to Jack Adams, a business major who would become the first editor-in-chief of what was then the Junior College of Augusta’s first campus newspaper.

The simple query that offered the job to Adams also successfully launched the career of The Bell Ringer that spanned over the course of the next sixty years and many years that have yet to come.

Augusta University has a rich history, with roots that spread far and wide. While the Medical College of Georgia was founded in 1828, the institution that would later become the

Junior College of Augusta (J.C.A.) was not founded until 1957. The Augusta Arsenal, which was established in 1816, served a major role in the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and both World War I and World War II. The Arsenal was closed in 1955, and two years later it was given to the Georgia Board of Education and the J.C.A. was born.

However, despite the history of the institution spanning over the course of sixty years, the Junior College of Augusta’s history was short-lived. After the first school year had passed, the name was changed from the J.C.A. to Augusta College. Augusta College (AC) lasted longer than its predecessor, but it didn’t last forever.

Thirty-eight years later, Augusta College’s name was changed again, this time to Augusta State

Un AS Sci ch ins Re un Au

pa all thi

ne ha yea the ha

dy on Be

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 7

Baillie Conway | Contributor The Bell Tower has remained a constant icon throughout Augusta University’s history and growth for many decades.

n by Jamie Sapp and Baillie Conway Illustrations by Baillie Conway

ger:

Newspaper still serves as a voice of Augusta University

niversity (ASU). In 2013, when SU merged with the Georgia Health iences University, the name was hanged for the fourth time. The stitution was known as Georgia egents University for two years before ndergoing its fifth name change to ugusta University.

It was created in an era when newsapers and print journalism were at an l time high. However, this is someing that has begun to change.

While the act of having four print ewspaper editions each academic year as stayed the same throughout last ar, there is no denying the fact that e way news is reported on campus as changed.

With print journalism slowly ying and the demand for instant news n the rise, more news reports for The ell Ringer are being published online

rather than in a traditional print newspaper.

Along with the change from an only print newspaper to a mainly online student publication, there are some other things that have also changed throughout the years.

In the early days of The Bell Ringer, there were articles included, such as gossip columns and “wife wanted” ads that are no longer included in the issues printed today.

It is not only about students and the rest of Augusta University getting the news, but also about recognizing the students that work hard in seeking and reporting the news regardless of what it is focused on.

Travis Highfield, a former communication student at Georgia Regents University who is now a public relations specialist at Kennesaw State University,

served as the editor-in-chief between May 2012 and May 2013.

In a recent interview with The Bell Ringer, Highfield mentioned that students are going to cover news on the university differently from other major outlets.

“Students are in tune with everything and that’s the way that you’re going to get informed,” he said. “Not just for students, but (it’s) for faculty and staff to get ‘in the know of what’s going on’ on campus.”

Many actions and changes were made within sixty years, however, The Bell Ringer still remains as a voice of Augusta University and a valuable asset to the university’s diverse history and a grand future.

Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu. Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.

Baillie Conway | Contributor Take a moment and enjoy the Summerville campus’s other bell tower.

PAGE 8

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Jamie Sapp | Staff Sand Hills, a literary magazine for creative writing and visual artwork at Augusta University, made multiple changes to illustrate and highlight creative yet edgier work from students and contributors in the Augusta community, starting with the display of visual artwork on the front and back covers of the magazine throughout the decades.

Sand Hills:

How the literary magazine progresses within time

THE BELL RINGER

By Rachel Shomer & Jamie Sapp copy editor & editor-in-chief One of the most recognizable publications at Augusta University is transitioning into a national magazine.

Sand Hills, a literary magazine for creative writing and visual art, will now step into another milestone by debuting as a national magazine in Spring 2018. In recent interviews with The Bell Ringer, previous and current staff members shared its history and progression as well as their ties, influences and experiences with the magazine.

Brief History of Sand Hills In the fall of 1972, former chair of the English Department, Dr. Bill Johnson, asked two English professors, Drs. Emeritus Walter Evans and Charlie Willig, to start a literary magazine for then Augusta College.

Forty-four years passed, Sand Hills continues to evolve its legacy at now Augusta University while playing an integral role in symbolizing both the history of this institution, as well the creative talent of its student writers and artists in every annual spring issue.

Dr. Evans recalled of Sand Hills’ humble beginnings when he came in 1972 and originally was hired to teach fiction.

“There was a guy there that had been there for maybe two or three years named Charles Willig who was a published poet, and the chair then was Bill Johnson, and he thought the institution should have a literary magazine,” he said. “So, he put Charley and me together.”

Evans and Willig served as staff advisers for Sand Hills from 1973 to 1977.

Evans emphasizes the notable learning experience students gained while working on Sand Hills during his term, just as much the bond his staffs shared.

“It was a great experience for everyone involved,” Evans said. “We met many hours in a little room arguing about stuff we all cared about, and I’m certain feelings got hurt sometimes. But, we all liked each other as my sense of it, and we all got along.”

Progression of Sand Hills Since its origins in 1973, student work in Sand Hills has touched issues dealing with race, gender, religion and sexuality.

As with many literary magazines, the question of

PAGE 9 censorship comes to rise: is it okay to publish something that may offend someone or would altering a creative work be detrimental to the artist’s expression?

In the 1982 issue, a student named Angela Hodge’s poem titled “Her smile is a Patio” contained the word “f---.”

“The students don’t get to say whether or not their activity fees go to this magazine or not,” Dr. Evans said.

“We just take it, and certainly, some people were going to be offended by this. If this were a magazine where people bought a subscription, then we could put that word in there.”

He recalled Hodge did not first approve of the censorship but eventually chose to publish the modified version.

Evans later went on to approve such words in Sand Hills as he says, “All of the best writers push the boundaries.”

Evans also shared a problem where a reader thought one of Hodges’ poems required censorship.

“One other issue that we had – Angie wrote a poem mocking racism, and any English major can read that and see what was going on, but there was somebody who didn’t realize that this was satire, criticizing this person and wrote a letter to The Bell Ringer and ripped her a new one. And then, I wrote a letter to The Bell Ringer, explaining it, and then that quickly went away.”

It is not just about the issues involved in the chosen works.

Dr. Evans was quick to admire the published authors in Sand Hills. He mentioned Tom Turner who published a play and worked for the Augusta Chronicle.

He mentioned Beth Shivers, a teacher at Harlem High School, who he called “one of the best poets ever who stopped writing poetry.” Beth Siciliano, a professor at Paine College, and her mother, Louise Shivers, were mentioned.

Anna Harris-Parker, an assistant professor in the Department of English & Foreign Languages, serves as the director of Writers Weekend at Summerville and as the current faculty adviser for Sand Hills.

In 2011, Professor Harris-Parker became the adviser after one year of teaching at Augusta State University. Since then, her and her students tried different methods every year to improve the literary magazine.

“For two years in a row, the staff changed the shape of the magazine,” she said. “So it was a square and that’s one thing that we tried to see a different visual aesthetic if people were drawn to that.”

Professor Harris-Parker mentioned another change where students can earn credit for working on Sand Hills.

“Originally, one of the other big transitions that has happen is the first few years that I advise Sand Hills it was a volunteer-basis publication,” she said. “There was no class associated with it. Students weren’t paid, they didn’t earn any sort of credit, and now they do.”

Whether students were volunteering or working in class, Professor HarrisParker said working on Sand Hills builds confidence in students where they can obtain transferrable skills for their future careers.

“Students become more comfortable in their ability to access literature and also make a physical product,” she said.

“I think it is an exciting thing for students when they realize all the work that’s gone into it and there is something to hold at the end and show to other people and say, ‘Look, I helped made this book.’”

Having served as a managing editor for two consecutive years, Daniel Johnson still belongs to the staff and is one of the most involved students for Sand Hills. Johnson, a senior English major with a concentration in creative writing, credits Sand Hills for the majority of his student growth.

Johnson first heard of the magazine from a friend and later joined the “Literary Editing and Publishing” course taught by Professor Harris-Parker in becoming a staff member as a junior.

“I heard about it from a student who was older, and he worked on the magazine and told me that if I was interested, come over – they were having a release party,” he said.

“I regret so badly not doing that because three – or two and a half years later – I took the class.”

According to Johnson, the course was one of the most insightful learning experiences during his college career.

“It was one of the most interesting experiences I’ve ever had in a class – just being around a lot of really good writers, and critics, and smart people and talking about the craft and what makes good writing.

Strong Influences and Ties in Sand Hills Melissa Johnson serves as the electronic resources and serial librarian at Reese Library and an assistant professor for freshman composition at Augusta University.

Johnson published two works as a student at Augusta State University, a short story titled “Keeping Time” in 2009 and a poem titled “Liberare” in 2010.

She learned about Sand Hills in her creative writing

course from a former adviser, Dr. Paul Sladky.

“I was in Professor Sladky’s creative writing class and had written my short story, and when I submitted it to him when I got it back with his feedback, he said I should submit it to Sand Hills,” Professor Johnson recalled.

When asked to recall her initial reaction to being accepted, Professor Johnson never anticipated her first short story would be publishable.

“I was surprised because you have no confidence if you never published anything, and you might like your story, even though you think your professor might like your story, but I was not a creative writing major,” she said. “But, I’ve always loved creative writing.

But, it’s kind of something you do for yourself – you don’t think others would like it.”

Professor Harris-Parker shares some personal ties with the magazine.

“My mom (Mary Horton Harris) was publishing in Sand Hills,” she said.

“She was visual art major here and she has an illustration in one of the 1970’s issues of Sand Hills. And then, my now husband (Caleb Parker) was published in Sand Hills in 2003. Even before advising it, I knew of Sand Hills not just because of my mom being published in it, but because I had friends from high school who came to Augusta State for school and they were published in it.”

As for Daniel Johnson, he spoke of how Professor Harris-Parker made a significant impact, especially with Sand Hills becoming a national magazine.

“She facilitates a lot of the discussion, and it would not go smoothly without her,” he said. “We are not pushed to do anything. We get to decide, and that’s the way it should be because it’s a student magazine, and that’s the way it should be. She helps make everything possible – AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) is coming up, and she’s getting that ready for us, she talks to the publishers, and she gets the funding.

She got the class made, and without that, I do not think Sand Hills would be going national.”

Professor HarrisParker said Sand Hills consists of hard work yet it is rewarding in some ways.

“It’s a hands-on class,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a way to learn skills that you can take with you when you leave Augusta University, but it is also being involved with Sand Hills is also a way for you to permanently leave your mark on the institution as well.”

Contact Rachel Shomer at rshomer@augusta.edu.

Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.

1973 - Sand Hills, a literary magazine for students at Augusta College, was founded. Drs. Walter Evans and Charles Willig served as the first advisers.

1974 - The first spring issue of Sand Hills was published.

1976 - Willig took on the task alone when Evans’ professional duties called him out of the country.

1977 - Dr. Walter Evans becomes the sole adviser.

1982 - Student Angela Hodge wrote a poem titled “Her smile is a Patio” that contained “f---.” “F---” was replaced with a black box out of risk of offending anyone.

1998 - Dr. Paul Sladky becomes the adviser for the literary magazine.

2000-2001 - Sand Hills took a hiatus during these years.

2007 - The literary magazine also doesn’t publish an issue.

2012 - Professor Anna Harris-Parker takes on the role as the adviser.

2015 - The book shape of Sand Hills changes from a rectangle to a square. The book later was switched back to the original shape.

2017 - Sand Hills plans to transition from a university magazine to a national magazine in the spring of 2018.

Layout Design and Photo Illustration by Jamie Sapp

PAGE 10

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Where are they now?

Getting to know past staff of The Bell Ringer Layout Design by Jamie Sapp Stories by Jamie Sapp and Baillie Conway Tim Conway, photographer (1982 - 1985) Current Career: Owner of Tim Conway Photography What were some moments in your position that shaped you into your potential career in communication?

Chris Gay, staff writer, sports editor, and news editor (1994 - 1997) Current Career: Sports Writer at The Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Ga.; Staff Writer at the Columbia County News-Times in Evans, Ga. What were some moments in your position that shaped you into your potential career in communication?

“I think the thing about it is just getting out, doing stuff, sort of gaining that experience and getting to know people around campus as well.

(It’s) not just athletes but getting to know people on campus who would attend these sports.”

“The thing that I like about college newspapers is it’s a good time and a good place to make mistakes because you can learn from those mistakes.”

“I always knew I wanted to be a professional photographer and the years working at the Bell Ringer and yearbook (White Columns) allowed me to cover many Tim Conway different situations and events, which helped me become proficient in capturing the shots quickly amid different lighting conditions. These three plus years of shooting at the paper gave me a portfolio that allowed me to be accepted at one of the top photography schools in the country, the Rhode Island School of Photography located in Providence, RI.” How and why is The Bell Ringer a valuable asset to Augusta University’s history and future?

“It is the voice of the university as it gives students a voice and allows them to see visually from photographs of what’s happening on campus.”

Chris Gay

Amy Thorne, staff writer and arts & life editor (2014-2015) Current Career: News Producer at WJBF News Channel 6 in Augusta, Ga. What were some moments in your position that shaped you into your potential career in communication? “(The Bell Ringer) It’s helped me to know my news judgment and discern what really matters and what is kind of unnecessary because you only have so much space. And sometimes, you have more stories. So it’s helped me in my career as a news producer for a TV station.”

Amy Thorne

What is your advice to students that want to get involved with The Bell Ringer?

“If you want to write good stories, read other newspapers and online sources. Creativity comes from outside sources.”

Anthony Garcia, staff writer and sports editor (2014-2015) Richard Eugene Adams, Jr., staff writer, circulation manager and editor-in-chief (2013 - 2015) Current Career: Senior English major at Augusta University What made you decide to work for the student campus newspaper?

Current Career: Master Control Operator at News 12 NBC 26 in Augusta, Ga. How and why is The Bell Ringer a valuable asset to Augusta University’s history and future?

“The Bell Ringer is like any other major program that is invaluable to the student experience. You’re going to learn a lot by just going at something on your own, but you’ll learn a lot of more permanent things through the program and the experience of being a staff writer or an editor of The Bell Ringer.”

“When I made up my mind that I wanted to go into journalism, I dig deep into it. That’s what I did with education. I needed to have work experience. In my mind, I wanted to be involved with it not just in an academic way but in a physical way.”

Anthony Garcia

Travis Highfield, staff writer, ad manager, and editor-in-chief (2010 - 2013)

How and why is The Bell Ringer a valuable asset to Augusta University’s history and future?

Current Career: Public Relations Specialist at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga.

“The journalists’ action, the action of writing down what’s happening whether it is comes down what they choose is happening and what they choose is the issue of the day whether it comes down to the quality of their reportership of their journalism, they are allowing people to have a say (and) to move forward what is inherently suppose to be a democratic institution. It’s very much democracy.”

What is your advice to students that want to get involved with The Bell Ringer?

What is your advice to students that want to get involved with The Bell Ringer?

“It’s more than a job. It’s a belief.”

Travis Highfield

“If you’re considering a career in communication, then you should be involved in the paper not just as a reader. But if you’re looking to jump in a career in journalism, obviously you’re going to need the experience, which you can get at The Bell Ringer. It definitely help me land some of my jobs and some of the interviews that I had later. If you’re interested in doing a career in PR, then you’re going to need the writing experience still and what better way to have it than to work at the student newspaper.”

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 11

Sports

Cheering on the Jaguars

Archives from White Columns 1977 Yearbook

Let’s all cheer on the Jaguars for their upcoming basketball games.

Braves dealt critical blow by MLB

By Will Cheney contributor Major League Baseball pulled no punches as it announced the fate of the Atlanta Braves following an investigation into the club’s dealings in the international free-agent market.

For those who don’t follow, MLB dropped the hammer on the Braves last week for circumventing the rules for signing international free agents (which is a technical term for 16-yearold ballplayers). MLB has strict guidelines in place to create a limit for each team to spend internationally, so that one or two rich clubs cannot sign all the talent. The Braves, general manager John Coppolella specifically, were caught essentially lying to the league about the signing bonuses they were agreeing to with players.

“During the 2015-16 international signing period, the Braves signed five players subject to the Club’s signing bonus pool to contracts containing signing bonuses lower than the bonuses the club had agreed to provide to players,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “The Club provided the additional bonus money to those players by inflating the signing bonus to another player who was exempt from their signing pool because he qualified as a ‘foreign pro-

fessional’ under MLB rules.”

Coppolella resigned on Oct. 2 amid the heat of the investigation, which was probably for the best considering he was handed the harshest punishment of all those involved. He was placed on a lifetime band. President John Hart left the club shortly after Coppolella.

“The good news for the club is that even with this loss of talent, they still boast one of the top farm systems in the sport.”

- Will Cheney The biggest headline of the punishment involves the 12 prospects the Braves signed in this fashion.

They were declared free agents

by MLB, and are free to sign with any other club. This included 17-year-old Venezuelan infielder Kevin Maitan (ranked No. 38 overall by Baseball America), who some consider to be the next Miguel Cabrera.

“Our organization has not lived up to the standard our fans expect from us and that we expect from ourselves,” the Braves said in a statement. “For that, we apologize. We are instituting the changes necessary to prevent this from ever happening again and remain excited about the future of Braves baseball.”

Basketball Schedule Dec. 9-17 Women’s Basketball against Paine College on Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball against Paine College on Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Stephen Rahn A view of the SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Ga., where the Atlanta Braves play

On Nov. 12, the club took the first step in moving on from this incident by hiring Alex Anthopoulos as the new general manager. Previously, he was VP of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers and GM of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The good news for the club is that even with this loss of talent, they still boast one of the top farm systems in the sport. It will, however, hinder the club’s mobility in the trade market. The fact is that prospects aren’t only seen as future talent, but also, as currency.

This lack of trade chips will provide a different challenge for Anthopoulos going forward.

Contact Will Cheney at wcheney@ augusta.edu.

Women’s Basketball against Young Harris on Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball against Young Harris on Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball against North Georgia on Dec. 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Women’s Basketball against North Georgia on Dec. 19 at 1:00 p.m.

Source: augustajags.com