GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY
www.grubellringer.com
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 10
Jags enter the baseball season
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
Council has health tips By Haley Harris news editor
A student council has formed on campus that has a goal of promoting overall wellness in the lives of the student body and has plans to extend its positive message to more students. The Georgia Regents University Student Wellness Council formed in September of 2014 and, therefore, is still fairly new, said Leslie Wilcher, student wellness coordinator. “We promote healthy life
styles and health tips,” Wilcher said. “We ask students what they want to see around campus and then we will collaborate with other groups, such as Student Health, and then hold events for students.” Amber McCray, vice president of the Student Wellness Council and senior student assistant, said that the council aims to express the voices of the students and that anyone can sign up. She also said that she has been on the council since the first day it began. see COUNCIL on PAGE 2
anthony garcia | staff
The Jaguar Diamonds enter 2015 season with a solid win against Newberry. Read the season’s opening results on PAGE 9.
K-12 expo
Fair offers students career opportunities
By Leslie Anne Wiedmeier contributor
A career fair for those in the field of education was held at Christenberry Fieldhouse Thursday. The K-12 education recruitment fair allowed people in the area to connect with schools and school systems around the country. The expo hosted 31 different groups attendees were able to talk to and learn about, according to the career fair’s flier. “We have school districts from as far away as Alaska, and as close to home as Richmond County,”
Haley Harris | staff
Students interested in education visit Walton County Schools’ booth at expo.
said Melissa Hall, Georgia Regents University career advisor. “They are all here recruiting for teachers who will teach in the 2015 and 2016 school year.”
Georgia Regents
Fox Creek High School, located in North Augusta, was represented at the expo. “A lot of people don’t know about our high school,” assistant principle Ian Bramhall said. “We’re a small charter school in North Augusta, S.C. We just want to inform people about our school and hopefully draw some attention for the best educators around.” Hall said the event was open to all aspiring educators in the area, not just current Georgia Regents students. see K-12 on PAGE 2
Presidential Search
University System releases list of names By Richard Adams editor-in-chief Beyond receiving an email apiece from Chancellor Henry Huckaby asking them to join the institutional search committee tasked with finding the next president of Georgia Regents University, two university members prepare individually for the vital job ahead of them, even before the first meeting has been scheduled. “I want a president that will actually continue the momentum that Georgia Regents has,” said committee member Michael Banks, president of the Student Government Association and an outgoing senior. “As far as what would be the freshman and sophomore (prerogative), that’s my goal for me, to reach out to the younger classes and see what kind of person or what kinds of issues they’re looking for in having as a president.” Banks, along with 20 other individuals, will be leading the search. Charles Sutlive, vice chan-
cellor for communications for the University System of Georgia, said committee chair James Hull was instrumental in finding representation from the university and Augusta community. “We’ve got pretty extensive community representation,” Sutlive said. “And that certainly was the driving factor in creating the search committee. We wanted comprehensive representation
from the campus community. And, obviously, our Regent Hull, who is a lifetime native of Augusta, is going to chair it.” Faculty committee member Edgar Johnson, professor in the department of communications and secretary of the university senate, said he personally would love to see a president who will see PRESIDENT on PAGE 2
Search Committee Members 1. James M. Hull
11. Don Grantham
3. Donald M. Leebern Jr.
13. Sandra Freeman
2. C. Thomas Hopkins Jr. 4. Neil L. Pruitt Jr.
5. Kessel Stelling Jr.
6. Benjamin J. Tarbutton III 7. Don L. Waters 8. Michael Banks
9. Braye Boardman 10. Jim Davis
12. Phil Wahl
14. Michael P. Diamond
15. Joseph “Andy” Hauger 16. Elizabeth Hogan 17. Edgar Johnson
18. Catherine Slade 19. Lester Pretlow 20. Ashlyn Reese
21. Michael Shaffer
Haley Harris | staff
Members of the Student Wellness Council promote safe sex with a condom fairy.
Student injured while in dorms By Jessica Sager copy editor
Georgia Regents University Public Safety was contacted Saturday, Feb. 7, when a student was injured at University Village. According to a report from the Georgia Regents police department, Katherine Douglas was sitting on her bed when the light cover from her ceiling fan fell and hit her on the head. The incident took place at about 5 p.m. A University Village RA contacted police dispatch. Sgt. Chris Adcox, one of the officers who responded to the incident, said Douglas was not badly injured. “She said that she had a small cut and there was some blood, but nothing major,” he said. “She didn’t lose consciousness or anything like that.” According to the police report, Douglas “declined an ambulance.” Ophelia Wright, housing coordinator at University Village, said she had never heard of an incident like this happening before. She said that something fell from the ceiling, but that she couldn’t go into detail about what it was. “When (maintenance heard) about this, they were really shocked. And so that’s why we wanted to investigate, just to make sure,” she said. “Because we want to make sure everything is safe and that this isn’t something that just randomly happened. Things just don’t fall down from the ceiling.”
Adcox said he doesn’t know of any similar incidents occurring at University Village. Chief William McBride said the Georgia Regents police department is no longer involved in the investigation because it isn’t a criminal one. “The building is coming up on probably eight to 10 years old, so that equipment probably needs to be checked,” McBride said. “So just as a safety precaution, they’re going to check everything out, go around the other rooms and make sure there’s no other issues.” Qua‘Dasha Taylor, a resident of University Village, said that the ceiling fans get dusty and cause noise. “(The fans) make noises at night, like I can hear it in my sleep,” she said. One of Taylor’s roommates, Allie Owens, said changing the light bulb attached to the fan is “kind of a pain” because it would be easy to drop and break the light cover. “It kind of does creak a little when you move it around,” she said. “But, like, if you don’t screw it back all the way, it will fall down.” Wright said she hopes people have a “positive outlook” on university housing. “We do strive to make a place that’s conducive to learning and also living, as well,” she said. Douglas was contacted by The Bell Ringer but was unavailable for an interview. jschucke@gru.edu
jessica sager | staff
Police were called after a student was injured in her University Village dorm.
Homecoming Broadcast
Poppin’ Stop
Page 10
Page 7
Muslim Student Association Page 2
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Popcorn gets fancy
MSA is re-chartered after 10 years
CBS Sports covers men’s basketball
PAGE 2
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
NEWS www.grubellringer.com
Black history
Augusta’s past, present and future
The voice of
Georgia Regents University EDITORIAL STAFF adviser MATTHEW BOSISIO mbosisio@gru.edu editor-in-chief RICHARD ADAMS radams99@gru.edu copy editor JESSICA SAGER jschucke@gru.edu news editor HALEY HARRIS hharris9@gru.edu arts & life editor AMY THORNE athorne@gru.edu sports editor ANTHONY GARCIA agarci11@gru.edu chief reporter postion open production manager JORDAN BARRY jbarry3@gru.edu production assistant position open staff writers JOSHUA ADAMS jadams35@gru.edu TIMOTHY HOWARD thowar20@gru.edu TAYLOR MITCHELL tmitch22@gru.edu JAMIE SAPP jsapp270@gru.edu SHELLIE SMITLEY sbarb@gru.edu columnist SCHYLO PHILLIPS sphill17@gru.edu contributors SIDNEY FOWLER sfowler@gru.edu LESLIE ANNE WIEDMEIER lwiedmei@gru.edu photographer ALEJANDRO SMITH alesmith@gru.edu cartoonist DAQUAN MIDDLETON dmiddle6@gru.edu
By Jessica Sager & Taylor Mitchell copy editor staff writer The tradition that would become Black History Month started 100 years ago, and the city of Augusta has its fair share of African-American history. Augusta African-American intellectuals include William Jefferson White and Silas X. Floyd, said Lee Ann Caldwell, Georgia Regents University Historian-in-Residence. Another influential African-American who made history in Augusta was Lucy Craft Laney. “When (Laney) came to Augusta, her greatest contributions here were Haines Normal and Industrial Institute,” said Christine
Miller-Betts, executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. “She started the first kindergarten for black children, and she also had a great deal to do with sports.” Though the original school has been torn down, Miller-Betts said, a new one is being built and will be called Lucy Craft Laney Comprehensive High School. During segregation, Caldwell said, there was a thriving African-American community located around Laney Walker Boulevard. “One of the ironies of desegregation is that, during the period of Jim Crow laws and segregation, there was much less (of) what today we might call economic segregation,” she said. “If you think about the fact that most people live where
Islam group aims to teach By Shellie Smitley staff writer
The Muslim Student Association at Georgia Regents University was re-chartered last semester after disbanding about 10 years ago. Asma Daoudi, vice president of MSA, said the group is a religious association, but membership is not restricted to members of any one religious affiliation. She said MSA’s goals are to unite the student body, promote community awareness and to be involved in community service. “We hope to bring about a better understanding and acknowledgement of Islam on the campus,” Daoudi said. “And we would like to unite the study body, whether it is Muslims or non-Muslims, on both campuses.” Daoudi said the association is planning to attend the interfaith forum held at Paine College on March 17 at 5:30 p.m. All of the officers are planning to attend, and Daoudi will be a panel speaker. “The interfaith forum is basically going to be just kind of a nice gathering where representatives from each religious institution will be there,” Daoudi said. “And we’re all going to be college students, and we’re all going to discuss some of the questions that each person
has probably had going on in their head while they are walking around campus. The whole purpose of this forum is to bring college students together and get a better understanding of the different religious groups, because the social media is really playing a role in separating everyone.” Sarah Ozturk, a junior biology major, is the treasurer of the organization. She said that it’s important for students to know there is a Muslim student population on campus. “It’s a good environment to ask questions,” Ozturk said. “It’s not like, ‘Do you mind if I ask?’ No, we are here to ask and answer questions.” Asheeba Baksh, a graduate student, is the president of the organization. She said the forum is important and will help students open their minds to different religions. “For me, I am on the Health Sciences campus, and we are all pretty much medically based,” Baksh said. “So I think it will roll over into our practice to be culturally competent and know about religions. It will just help in our practice in the future.” Baksh said that anyone who is interested in finding out more about MSA or the interfaith forum should contact her at abaksh@gru.edu. sbarb@gru.edu
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jschucke@gru.edu tmitch22@gru.edu
Council CONTINUED from PAGE 1
The council collaborated with Student Health to hold a Valentine’s Day booth to promote safe sex. Wilcher said the council does cater to certain holidays such as Valentine’s Day and spring break in order to appeal to students. Alcohol awareness, for example, would be a popular topic to come up during spring break. “We held a BeWell exercise and nutrition day last semester and it had a great turnout,” McCray said. “We had Zumba classes, free snack giveaways.”
K-12
CONTINUED from PAGE 1
“Most of the students coming from our education program are in their student-teaching phase,” Hall said. “(They are) either graduating in May or December or they are previous graduates, like graduates from December 2014.” Scarlet Rollen, human resources coordinator of the Richmond County Board of Education, said the event was very beneficial and that there are positions in the Richmond County school system the school was hoping to fill. Courtney Bragg, a 2014 gradu-
President CONTINUED from PAGE 1
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they can afford to buy … After segregation ends … the people who move are the people who can afford it.” There is now a project, Caldwell said, to revitalize the neighborhood by encouraging more middle class people to live there. “I think we’re in a transition period still, and I think there’s hope on the horizon,” she said. “We have an African-American sheriff now who’s doing a good job and whose community patrolling ideas have born some good fruit. We have an African-American mayor who has great potential to bring us forward and has good ideas for the whole city … We’ll see what effect that has.”
shellie smitley | staff
Female members of the Mosque pray with each other before the events of the night.
work with community leaders to accomplish the school’s academic and financial goals. “They’re trying to hire a particular kind of person; it will be the job of the committee to determine whether or not particular candidates fill that job description and how well,” Johnson said. Banks is the sole student representative on the committee. According to a USG press release on Feb. 10, other than the single student participant, the committee compris-
Haley harris ( top and middle) jessica sager (bottom) | staff
The presence of African-American culture in Augusta has evolved over time.
According to the BeWell webpage, the Student Wellness Council’s mission is to help students develop emotional, physical, occupational, financial, spiritual, intellectual and social health. Wilcher said that the group has a lot of events and is involved in a lot of collaborations with other groups on campus. She said its mission is to help students stay fit physically and emotionally. “There are events for all kinds of wellness,” Wilcher said. “For the mind, spiritual, physical (and) social. So we try to get opinions from the students to see what it is they would be interested in seeing or learning about.” hharris9@gru.edu
ate of GRU, said she was there in hopes of making contact with different counties. “I hope to meet different counties other than just Columbia and Richmond County that are right in the area,” she said. “And, hopefully, spread out my wings a little bit and see what options are out there for employment.” Juliana Murray, a current student in the Early Education program, also attended the event. “I thought the expo was very helpful to help me prepare myself to answer questions that will be asked in future interviews,” she said. “This expo was sort of a trial for the actual screenings.” lwiedmei@gru.edu
es seven regents, three community members, two members of the university foundations and eight members of the faculty and staff. During a conference in Atlanta Friday in which SGA presidents from across the state met, Banks said he was able to seek advice from a SGA president from another university. Banks said she told him being a student member of such a committee can be intimidating. “She did say to watch out for that,” Banks said. “Standing firm in what you say and, like, actually having an opinion. Don’t be scared to speak up, or speak about something if it’s really on your mind.” radams99@gru.edu
English track adopts new methods
By Joshua Adams staff writer
The English and foreign language department at Georgia Regents University recently made changes to the English major and minor, allowing more flexibility and accessibility for all. Rhonda Armstrong, associate English professor, said the changes reflect what other universities across the country are doing. “We looked at our major and … other universities across Georgia and nationwide,” Armstrong said. “We’re trying to update it, so that what we’re doing is consistent with what other universities are doing.
So, when our students go to grad school ... they are competing on an even playing field.” Armstrong said the changes would give students and faculty the chance to be unique and play off of their strengths. “Students have a bit more flexibility in what they’re going to take,” Armstrong said. “They can choose more focused courses on special topics that really appeal to their interests and what they’re going to do when they graduate. For the faculty, it opens up the opportunities to teach our research more, to offer courses that line up directly with what we’re working on.” Associate professor of English
Christina Heckman said the changes would allow for more flexibility. “So part of what we’re going to do is have survey courses at the 2000 level,” Heckman said. “It gives them a sense of what’s out there. So when they go to the upper division courses, they’ll know what’s out there and can choose upper division courses that fit their interests.” Mike Garcia, assistant professor, said that the number of students in classes could increase due to the changes in the major. “They previously had to take (ENGL) 2250 to take anything in the upper level courses,” Garcia said. “So now that we’re kind of
Joshua adams | staff
Thomas Wiedmeier reads an English 1102 textbook for the required class.
clearing that away and making it easier to just get into a course, I think we’ll see more people who (aren’t) English majors who are taking literature courses just because they want to take it.” jadams35@gru.edu
THE BELL RINGER
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OPINION www.grubellringer.com
editorial
More to SGA than money T
his week, one of our editors covered the Student Government Association for the first time. Her reaction to it was a bit slow in coming at first. She hesitated, “… I’m a bit confused. Is giving out money to clubs all there is to SGA?” We thought this was a good question. The meeting of the Student Government Association occurs every Friday at 1:30 p.m. And every Friday, a few chairs in the back of the room are occupied by representatives from one or two of the almost 200 student organizations on this university campus. The students in those chairs come to the front of the room and, almost invariably, ask for more money. Then they move back to their chairs, collect their things and depart the room as if they were
never there. Job done. Well, not quite. The problem is that SGA is so much more than that. While two of SGA’s main committees are devoted to the discharge and maintenance of funds, one of those committees also directly advocates for funding from the Board of Regents. This type of communication with vital departmental heads and the administration is common to the SGA’s role on this campus. William McBride, chief of police at Georgia Regents University, often consults with the senators. In April, SGA conducted polls on campus and was able to get lights installed along the back of the Summerville campus. Then last semester, junior Katy Self brought before the SGA her petition to open up student reg-
istration and allow more student control. Now, it is formally joining bylaws with the SGA at the Health Sciences Campus to provide for the needs of students on both campuses. The evidence should be clear: Significant changes are possible when students, faculty and staff use SGA as more than an on-campus ATM. This perception, though, seems to be a pervasive one. Perhaps because most of the student body interaction with the SGA is in the way of funding requests, instead of a more open exchange of diverse concerns, the tendency has been observed in some senators to dismantle those monetary requests, badgering, interrupting and (unintentionally, we believe) intimidating those who’ve come looking for funds.
While this kind of inquiry may seem necessary to some of the senators in order to determine the validity of funding requests, from our perspective these sessions often play out like interrogations. For most students, this is the only interaction they will have with the SGA as an elected governmental body. Therefore, the persona this creates in the mind’s eye of the student body will, ultimately, be
detrimental to the overall mission of the SGA. We believe this accounts for very few of the SGA senators’ actions, but our question is this: If this is the most perceivable side of SGA, shouldn’t this visibility be more carefully considered? Because if students begin to feel the SGA is unapproachable, how much good can it really do as those students’ representative body?
editorial policy Letters to the editor must be accompanied by the author’s email address. All columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily express those of The Bell Ringer, a designated public forum. Anything submitted to The Bell Ringer is open to be edited or rejected. However, The Bell Ringer staff gives all opinions a fair chance to be heard. All letters will be edited for grammar and style. If you would like to contribute a column or a letter to the editor, send an email to: bellringerproduction@gmail.com
Homecoming brings out our best B
ecoming a homecoming ambassador is an opportunity for any student at Georgia Regents University. There are many benefits in representing Georgia Regents by becoming a homecoming ambassador. Ambassadors get to meet new people, join in various events, enjoy the experience and receive credit. This opportunity is not just something for employers or leaders to look at on resumes, but it is an opportunity to make new friendships and to understand teamwork through commuJamie Sapp nication. staff writer The theme for this year’s homecoming week is “PROWL’d to be a Jaguar.” From Feb. 16 to 21, students and faculty members, as well as the public, are going to attend many events at Georgia Regents during the homecoming week. As homecoming ambassadors, participation, the usage of social media, preparation and satisfaction are important factors that will make us work better and together as individuals and as a team. Participation is going to play a major role for the homecoming week. As homecoming ambassadors, it is our job to participate in events and activities at the university, to work smarter and harder during
Richard Adams | Staff
Members of the ROTC chalk their vehicles Friday in preparation for homecoming and the military appreciation game on Feb. 21.
the homecoming week and to communicate well with the public. There are many duties that each homecoming ambassador is going to handle for different events. Whether they are large or small duties, these duties are very important for the team, for the university and for the public in order for the homecoming week to be a great success and a remarkable moment for everyone. During the homecoming week, each ambassador has to attend and participate in at least one event. There are several major events that any ambassador can attend and
participate in on the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses. Some of these major events include the Georgia Regents homecoming court elections, The GRU Race, Jaguar Jam, GRU vs. Lander and a variety show. The use of social media will also play a major role in homecoming week. Social media is currently one of the most important forms of media. It is very easy to see, and it is very easy to use and extend to people. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the three main social networks that are going to help us
spread news on events, people and activities during the homecoming week. Whether the news is seen in posts, text messages, tweets, commercials or messages, the students, the faculty members and the public will know what events are occurring on the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses. When using social media, each ambassador has to be relatable, reliable, positive and up-to-date. When viewers get on each ambassador’s account, whether they are on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, not only will they obtain new information on homecoming week,
but also each ambassador is going to be the judge on what kind of information is on his or her account. Not many people want to see any inappropriate comments, pictures or something that is really negative toward people. So, we have a job to present information in a positive and appropriate manner. Preparation is what every ambassador will have to understand. As homecoming ambassadors, we have to learn how to deal with the unexpected issues that will occur. Some of us may have a situation that is out of our control, such as having sickness or a family emergency. Although it may not have been anyone’s fault, it is our responsibility to cope with our issues before these affect other people around us. If a specific activity at an event during homecoming week goes wrong, then we have to think and create options in order to make everyone satisfied. Satisfaction is what every ambassador will want to get out of this opportunity. Are you happy as a homecoming ambassador? Do you like being a team member and working with the team appropriately? Would you like to take this kind of opportunity again for next year? Those kinds of questions are important, because no one wants to join in something that they don’t like participating in. Before homecoming week begins, we have to be happy and satisfied with the job, help our teammates and prepare ourselves for all things that will come to us.
jsapp270@gru.edu
Finding the beauty in my natural hair L ast week I was at a restaurant with my twin sister, and we walk past an older African-American couple, whom I would say had to have been in their early 70s, and all of a sudden I hear the wife yell, “Hey Angela!” So I turn around, and she says, “My husband and I saw you and the first person we thought of was Angela Davis.” I look at her with a smile that I have smiled a hundred times and say, “Thank you so much, I get that all of the time!” She then continues to tell us about how she was an active member of the Civil Rights Movement when she lived in Alabama, and seeing me reminded her of her younger days and all of the wonderful memories she has had and experiences she lived through. Now what in the world would make anyone think I was Angela Davis? It’s not my skin complexion, and it’s not my facial features. But if you haven’t guessed already, then I must spill the beans and say: It’s because of my Afro. I have a medium length Afro that I wear almost every day; it’s
full of kinks, coils and curls that bounce around on top of my head, attracting more attention than I could have ever wanted in my life. I have been natural for almost three years now, and it has been amazing. One thing is for sure, being natural is a lifestyle, and in the past few years, it has re-emerged as a movement in the African-American commuVictoria Phillips nity. However, contributor wearing natural hair/Afros is no stranger to the African-American culture. It emerged from society as a popular style during the mid to late 1960s, and became a staple look for many African-Americans well into the late 1970s. It was able to become a political symbol, which redefined black pride. When a person thinks of an Afro, terms like Civil Rights, Black Panther, Michael Jackson (early), Soul Train and Black is Beautiful come to mind. It was regarded as a form
of self-love and self-acceptance for the hair and beauty that you were born with. Fast-forward to 2015; natural hair is everywhere again. You can walk outside of your door, and you will see natural hair wherever you go. If you turn on your television, flip through magazines or look at billboards, you’ll be greeted with beautiful natural styles. One thing that I love to see when I walk around campus is the diversity of natural hair that has been flooding our school. Just two years ago, finding women with natural hair was something that wasn’t going to happen often, but today I look around and I see so many beautiful textures and styles that I can’t contain my excitement, and I want to question everyone on how they got their look and what products they use. I see a wide array of big chops, braids, twists, curls, big Afros, little Afros and every color and style one can think of. As wonderful as I personally think rocking your natural hair is, in my past three years of experience I have come across a handful of people who “don’t understand.”
They don’t understand why I walk out of my house looking the way I do, or why I “never have my hair done.” But being natural is more than hair. It’s being able to say to the world that I am beautiful the way that God made me, and I refuse to let the opinions of others stop me from living my life the way that I deem fit. It was a hard transition at first; I had been getting my hair chemically relaxed for seven years, and I had no idea how I was going to manage my hair, or what it would look like once I cut all of my perm out, but I was ready to change and be the person that I wanted to be. I experimented with Bantu knots, twist outs, braid outs, buns and many other things. There was a lot of trial and error in the care and management of my locks, but everything I know now is from practice and researching what worked with my hair and what didn’t. One factor that I love about being natural is the versatility. I can go from curly to straight and every style in between in a matter of hours. It has definitely given me more confidence in my appear-
ance, and I have been showered with love and acceptance from my amazingly supportive twin (who is also natural herself), family, boyfriend, friends and even strangers. In the past year specifically, I have received so much recognition for my Afro on social media that I am overwhelmed with gratefulness. I have been featured on numerous pages on Instagram that promote the love of one’s natural hair, and I have been featured on two wellknown blogs about natural hair. In the end, I could honestly care less if people accepted me or not when I made the choice to be natural, but I am glad that I was accepted with open arms into such an amazing community. My goal is to always promote natural beauty, and even inspire young men and women to take that leap and give going natural a chance. I love this age we live in, because it is so diverse and amazing and accepting, and it is my hope that things only go up from here.
vphilli2@gru.edu Phillips is a senior history major at Georgia Regents University.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
OPINION www.grubellringer.com
Corrections for Issue 9, Feb. 3 In the sports article “Bull rider holds on for prizes” (pg. 10), the names McKennon and Kaitlyn Wimberley were misspelled. In the news article “Mental health seminar experts offer insight” (pg. 3), the name Dy’Meshia Newsome was incorrectly capitalized. In the byline for opinion piece “End of embargo may help Internet users” (pg. 5), Giorgi Khatiashvili’s name was misspelled. In the arts and life club profile “Club makes promise of abstinence” (pg. 8), La-Joya Bush’s name was misspelled.
Peace deal still teeters on the edge Wisdom is a reward T
he media is discussing how bad relationships between President Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand. Without consulting the White House, Speaker Boehner invited Bibi, as everyone calls Netanyahu, to speak before Congress in opposition to a nuclear deal with Iran. In response, Obama declared that he will not Giorgi Khatiashvili meet Netanyahu because of “a contributor practice of not meeting with leaders right before their elections, two weeks before their elections.” (Israeli elections are scheduled on March 17, 2015.) Vice President Biden announced that he will not attend Netanyahu’s address and several Democrats are considering skipping the speech. But what everyone is missing and forgetting is the point that this is not the first case of a U.S. administration having tough times with Bibi. In his book “The Missing Peace,” Dennis Ross, U.S. envoy to the Middle East from 1988 to 2000, describes in great detail problems and disappointments that the Clinton administration had with Bibi: “Neither President Clinton nor Secretary Albright believed that Bibi had any real interest in pursuing peace … too often [Bibi] would make his decisions based on strictly political calculations.” Today, the Iranian nuclear program is a stumbling block between Obama and Netanyahu. Bibi said
that he has “a profound disagreement with the United States administration and the rest of the P5+1 [the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom France and Germany] over the offer that has been made to Iran.” On the other side, Obama said that “it does not make sense to sour the negotiations a month or two before they’re about to be completed.” A couple words about the Iran nuclear deal: We don’t know yet what the agreement would look like, if concluded, but the negotiating powers, and especially the U.S., should prevent the emergence of an accord that, to quote Henry Kissinger, will leave Iran with “an enrichment capability within one year of a nuclear weapon.” Taking into account Saudi-Iran rivalry to dominate the region, most likely Saudi Arabia will “insist on building the same capability,” as Henry Kissinger said, which could trigger a process of nuclear programs throughout the region. Meanwhile, we should hope diplomacy will work and a comprehensive and durable agreement will be reached that leaves no questions or uncertainties; as President Obama noted “the options if we don’t get a diplomatic resolution … are narrow and … not attractive.” Torpedoing fragile negotiations is not in anyone’s interest. The best we can ask hardliners in the West and in Israel is to “give peace a chance,” at least until the end of nuclear talks.
gkhatiashvvili@gru.edu Khatiashvili is a graduate assistant at Georgia Regents university currently studying in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
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Individual 1st place Impact Award for Best Editorial Cartoon: Morgan Barry 3rd place Best Entertainment Story: Haley Harris 3rd place Best Review: Amy Thorne Staff 1st place Campus Community Service: Editorial Excellence 1st place Best Editorial or Editorial Series
T
he plight of being a nontraditional student is a journey that has me contemplating many of the dynamic aspects of becoming old. College life has taught me once again to hold my head up high. This is my education, an education that I did not have the opportunity to acquire when I was young. This is my dream and it has become a goal to check off my bucket list. I never imagined that I would actually make it this far and attend a university once my life had gone down certain roads. This is a gamble and an honor that demanded that I endure and survive life in order to fulfill it. It is not the same experience that I would have had 20 years ago. I don’t go to parties; I have too many responsibilities at home. If I apply for jobs on campus they look at me like I am crazy. I am too tired to stay up late studying. I share a class with my daughter, who will graduate the same time that I do. I have totally different ideals and values than most of my classmates. I have, at times, been made to feel as if I should be embarrassed to be going to school. There are times that I have actually felt under-challenged. But you know what? I love it. I love it because I am changing and I am evolving. I am not stagnant. I am learning and I am becoming somebody that I want to be. I am sharing this experience with my daughter. I have nothing to feel
embarrassed about. I regret that I did not do it 20 years ago, but I will not have to regret that for the rest of my life. I love studying and I love getting good grades. I have been able to experience things that I would not have been able to experience otherwise. I love my grandchildren and Shellie Smitley it is providing staff writer hope that I will be able to offer them something more in the future. I am setting the example of striving for something more. Let’s face it: The jobs out there suck. I would rather be going to school than working some job I hate. The exposure to diversity in a controlled setting is giving me an opportunity to become more accepting. According to aacu.org, 73 percent of college students can be viewed as nontraditional after considering seven listed criteria. Then why do I spend most of my time feeling like an outcast? There are no clubs on campus that are specifically designed to heighten the awareness of, celebrate the existence of, nor address the plight of the older, nontraditional student. The setting up of class availability is not decided with the nontraditional student in
mind. Activities are not conducted in a way that embraces the older student. Curriculum is set up to cater to the stereotypical, fresh out of high school, student. There is a bias and a discrimination that exists once you are old and going to college. You are not given the same opportunities and most often not met with the same enthusiasm. I want to enjoy my experience and my education to the fullest. I want to get everything that I can out of this. Does that make me a bad person? No, it makes me a person that knows better than to take anything for granted. This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal for me. I can’t put it on the back burner again; I don’t have that much time ahead of me. I hope my degree will lead to something wonderful in my life. I have at least 15 years to work once I get out of school. Maybe that’s not enough time to change the world, but it’s enough time to change what I would have been doing had I not attended and graduated. In the worst case scenario, I set the example of why you need to have your priorities in order and stick to your guns when you are young. So kudos to all of those older, nontraditional students out there! It’s only bad to get old when you are not out there doing what you love to do. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
sbarb@gru.edu
GRU can help Augusta
T
he prosperity of downtown Augusta has been declining for quite some time. In the past few years, we’ve seen multiple businesses open and close due to a lack of customers. Less and less people are attending events of any type each year because of how downtown is perceived in the area. While some people feel that downtown is unsafe, others claim that there isn’t much going on. I’ve even heard some claim that it is too far away. Joshua Adams Whatever it is, staff writer there must be some way to remedy these issues. In efforts to expand its campus and increase enrollment, Georgia Regents University has devised a Master Plan that includes new campus sites and new housing for future students. As a result of the ongoing Master Plan, GRU acquired land to build these new facilities. Amongst these purchases is the Augusta Gold and Gardens club. The riverfront land is two blocks from Broad Street, where many businesses and events are located. As a part of strategy planning, the question “What do we need?”
is asked. To answer this question, GRU board members look at many external factors, including trends and projections of GRU enrollment and Augusta’s population. According to www.gru.edu, enrollment has increased by 50.3 percent in the past three years. It is also projected that enrollment will increase by 47.6 percent by 2023. That would mean roughly 4,000 new students. To answer GRU’s question, I believe we will most certainly need more student housing to accommodate the projected increase in enrollment and population. GRU officials also realized they needed to address the future housing situation. According to the Augusta Chronicle, some existing student housing near the Health Sciences campus will be replaced. Work on the housing will begin in May. The project will result in roughly 700 bedrooms for the projected enrollment increase. While the completion of this project will accommodate a portion of the future students, I think it would not be a bad idea to consider one more option for student housing: The former Augusta Golf and Gardens land would be an excellent choice for more student housing. While GRU considers ways to expand and improve its campus, it would be wise of officials to consider ways to help improve downtown Augusta’s prosperity. As all of us would like GRU
to become a nationally known university, we must think about what most college towns have in common: a historical, lively and prosperous downtown. A perfect example of a positive relationship between college and city would be that of the University of Georgia and Athens. UGA is one of Georgia’s most popular universities, while downtown Athens is one of Georgia’s most prosperous cities. Why? The campus and downtown are largely within walking distance of each other. Imagine what a riverfront student housing facility within walking distance to Broad Street could do for our downtown. Students could walk over to Broad Street to study at a cafe, eat at a restaurant or shop at one of our local shops and markets. During the weekends, they could go grab a drink at a bar and walk home safely, as student housing in walking distance could minimalize drinking and driving. I believe we would see more businesses opening, more people attending quality events and a safer downtown. If Augusta became more fun for students, I believe it would attract more students to GRU in the long run. If we want to put Augusta on the map as a historical, cultural and educational mecca, GRU must work toward improving the community of downtown.
jadams35@gru.edu
THE BELL RINGER
ARTS & LIFE
PAGE 5
www.grubellringer.com
Cakes carry Creole charm By Richard Adams editor-in-chief
Richard adamS | staff
(Top) Devontay Jones prepares dough for a King Cake, a staple of Mardi Gras season. (Bottom Right) A plastic baby, representing Jesus, is hidden within the cake. Tradition says that whoever finds the baby must buy the King Cake for the next year.
One local bakery has taken a New Orleans C.arnival tradition, and transplanted it to Waynesboro, Ga. At the beginning of February, Pineland Bakery began baking King Cake, owner Curtis Martin said. “I, personally, had never (heard of King Cake),” Martin said. “I did it because my service technician for my heating and air-conditioning company is from Louisiana, and he asked me why we don’t make King Cake.” This, Martin said, started him and his staff on a journey of research and experimentation. “Obviously, if you’re going to make a product and sell it to the public, they’re going to ask questions on the history and why you’re doing it,” Martin said. “I usually do a little research myself, obviously, for the recipe itself, and also just the history of it. It was just interesting, cause the baby stands for baby Jesus.” Errol Laborde, editor of New Orleans Magazine and Louisiana Life magazine, said he has watched over the years as the production of King Cake went from a small local tradition to a worldwide phenomenon. “As a kid (growing up in New Orleans), maybe there was one bakery that made King Cakes,” he said. “It wasn’t as pervasive as it is. And the King Cake that they made was a fairly plain King Cake. It was a bakery called McKenzie’s. And it was pretty much a big cinnamon bun.” It was around the ’80s, Labor-
de said, when different bakeries throughout the city began playing around with the original recipe, figuring out ways of doing different kinds of King Cake. Some bakeries layered it with various flavors and fillings like strawberries, cream cheese, pecans and even chocolate. “I just realized (this past year) how big it has become,” Laborde said. “I think what you’re seeing is it’s one thing that everybody can be competitive (with). The big bakery can be there, but also the little country bakery.” Martin said he decided to keep the Pineland recipe simple, forgoing other possible fillings for pecans. He plans to serve King Cake only part of the year, partly in keeping with custom, though he intends to offer it within a wider window than the French celebrations Carnival is based on, he said. In traditional French bakeries, said Manuel Verney-Carron, owner of Manuel’s Bread Cafe in North Augusta, the inspiration for King Cake, Galette des Rois, is served only during January. The unique tradition of King Cake, Laborde said, is now much more diverse than its European ancestry. Like Mardi Gras itself, it is a reflection of many different cultures, communities, tastes and religious affiliations. It is now, he said, a culinary art, practiced by not only traditional French bakers, but also Italian and Vietnamese immigrants in New Orleans, and small independent business owners with a taste for the entrepreneurial spirit. radams99@gru.edu
95 Rock exits Augusta By Joshua Adams staff writer
Radio station 95 Rock recently switched over to a new station, Hot 95, airing old-school hip-hop and rap. The switch has received mixed opinions from Augustans. Former host of 95 Rock shows “Homegrown” and “The Radar,” Joe Stevenson, said he appreciated the opportunity to work for the station. “I had a one-hour special every Sunday,” Stevenson said. “I wasn’t an employee of Beasley Broadcast. I was given the opportunity to have a radio show, which is pretty cool.” It’s not unusual for radio stations to switch formats, Stevenson said. He said he appreciates the efforts to bring the station back, but it may be too late. “I think it’s great that there’s enough people that are voicing their opinion that they want the radio station back and that they miss it,” Stevenson said. “I wish that support would have been as vocal all along and it would’ve kept the station around. ” Curtis Fease, a freelance writer and administrator of the Facebook page Bring Back 95 Rock, said he was not excited about the station’s switch.
“
We really want the station to come back. But if we can’t manage that, we just want a rock station in general --Curtis Fease
”
“I don’t think they were ever given the chance to succeed,” Fease said. “It was the only rock station in Augusta. You probably know that they kind of took it off the air a while back, and put it on a terrible station that you couldn’t hear unless you were next door to the station. People complained, and it got put back on.” Fease said the Facebook group is taking measures to bring the station back. “We really want the station to come back,” Fease said. “But if we can’t manage that, we just want a rock station in general. Currently, what we’re doing now is trying to make sure everybody knows about the concerts ... I also came up with an idea that we should boycott Beasley broadcasting.” Travis Wright, a spoken word poet commonly known as Brotha Trav, said he was very excited to hear the new station, Hot 99.5. “I graduated from high school
in 1988,” Wright said. “The format of music they play on that channel speaks to my age group, which has kind of been left out on the radio. We’d call it classic rap. We can find classic rap on online radios, but we can’t turn a dial and hear music from our era. There’s a lot of excitement.” Wright said that rock music may be falling out of popularity, and hip-hop is becoming more popular. “The popularity of hip-hop is kind of taking over,” Wright said. “More people are listening to rap than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Hip-hop is becoming so universal, so I could see people leaving rock and going to rap.” Hot 99.5 plays old school hiphop, which Wright said will be more wholesome than existing rap radio stations. “Everybody’s talking about shooting each other and doing all kinds of crazy drugs,” Wright said. “I have teenage sons, and now I can turn to that channel and we can ride in the car together; whereas if I turned to some of these other hiphop channels, it almost makes my skin crawl. Just because of the content of the music, I usually end up changing the channel.” jadams35@gru.edu
Focus Features
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan play iconic leading roles in “50 Shades of Grey.”
‘50 Shades’ film portrays book well By Haley Harris news editor
I
once read that sex isn’t supposed to hurt unless you want it to. “Fifty Shades of Grey” tied up theaters Valentine’s Day weekend and was the ‘dom’ of the box office as it seduced audiences with Christian Grey’s charm. And I have to say, he did aim to please. Two types of people lined up for tickets to watch the film: those who had read the erotica trilogy
and were curious to see the words come to life, and then those who heard all the BDSM rumors and were curious to watch a movie that dared to push R-rated limits and not be a porno. I was on the book-reader side of the spectrum. Anyone who has heard the words “fifty shades” immediately thinks sex, but anyone who has read the books knows the focus is actually on the characters. see FIFTY on PAGE 7
What are Georgia Regents University students watching?
Daniel Clontz, a sophomore biology major
Nikki Wilder, a senior television & cinema major
Grayson LaHatte, a junior political science major
Elizabeth Mclean, a freshman dental hygiene major
Phillip Austin, a sophomore marketing major
Let us know what you’re doing by emailing bellringerproduction@gmail.com
PAGE 6
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
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START READY FOR LEADERSHIP. START CLIMBING HIGHER.
START READY FOR THE FUTURE. START TAKING CHARGE.
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START STRONG with Army ROTC. You’ll develop leadership skills that allow you to lead in any career while earning money for your college tuition. And, when you graduate and complete Army ROTC, you’ll commission as an officer in the U.S. Army. Learn more at goarmy.com/rotc/j872 For more information about scholarship opportunities, contact Ryan Dimm at (706) 667-4795 or email rdimm@gru.edu ©2008. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.
THE BELL RINGER
ARTS & LIFE
Augusta actors travel M
elanie O’Meara, Stephanie Farmer, Evan Baker and I embarked on a journey from Augusta to New Orleans for the annual Patti Pace Sidney Fowler contributor Festival. Upon arriving in New Orleans, we checked into Hotel St. Pierre. The hosidney fowler | contributor tel was incredible. It had A group of participants in the Patti Pace Festival crowd the lobby of Marigny Opera House. a relaxed, rustic vibe. We decided to a few breaks in between. to explore the city in a Stephanie and Evan pertake a look at the space This year’s Patdifferent way than that formed first. Stephanie where the festival was ti Pace Festival was of a typical tourist. performed two pieces. to take place the folhosted by University of My group had to go The first was about a lowing day. We walked Louisiana. There were to a coffee shop, order family and how they about a mile to the performers from Texas, what the barista sugsuffered an unfortunate Marigny Opera House. Illinois and quite a few gested, then get referred demise. The second I The following day from Georgia. to another coffee shop. really liked: She asked was the first day of the As part of the Once there, we would the question of what festival. It consisted of festival, we were broken repeat the process. does it mean to be a introductions, a brief up into groups of people On the second day woman. Being a female, lecture, some perforfrom different schools. of the festival there were I connected with a lot mances, a workshop and We were given a task, more performances. of what she portrayed.
Evan performed a piece about a farmer and how his family was being forced off their land. I was moved, and I think it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one. We also got back into our groups from the challenge the previous day. This time, we all came up with a scene incorporating aspects of our experience. I didn’t go to the festival to perform, but I was so glad I got the chance. It was our last night in town, and we took in the chance to enjoy some of the parades taking place. In all, the trip was great. I really liked being around performers who shared their passions and creative way of self-expression through theatre and performance. I was incredibly influenced and felt inspired to participate in the Patti Pace Festival again next year.
sfowler@gru.edu
Cardboard Castle hosts sweet event By Jacob Scharff webmaster
shellie smitley | staff
“Asylum for the Broken Hearted“ is one of the paintings in musician John Mellencamp’s “American Dreams” exhibition at the Morris Museum of Art.
Mellencamp’s art comes to museum By Shellie Smitley staff writer
The artwork of John Mellencamp is on exhibit at the Morris Museum of Art through April 12. Kevin Grogan, director and curator of the museum, said the “American Dreams” exhibition in Augusta is the last scheduled museum showing of the artwork. “If people don’t see it here, they won’t see it, at least not for a while,” Grogan said. Prior to coming to Augusta, the paintings were shown at the Museum of Art - DeLand, Florida. Lisa Habermehl, director of marketing, said that the exhibition of Mellencamp’s oil and mixed media paintings received a favorable response. “It was an exceptional exhibition that drew museum goers or visitors from not just across the state but from across the U.S.,” Habermehl said. “It really attracted, not just kids and diehard fans, but people who appreciate his art and his style. He is a very busy man with so many things: theater, concert tour (and) everything. This is a very unique opportunity for anyone to see his artwork.” Pam Coffman, education
Fifty
CONTINUED from PAGE 5
So I applaud Dakota Johnson (playing Anastasia Steele) and Jamie Dornan (playing Christian Grey) for stepping into the big shoes of two imaginary characters who have intriguing personalities and succeed in making the audience both blush (Dornan) and giggle
curator at DeLand, said she believes that the Mellencamp exhibit has educational value for all ages. “The thing about Mellencamp’s work that is so great for education is that his paintings all have stories in them,” Coffman said. “And they are layered stories and the characters are all prominent in his paintings. I think his work really lends itself to that storytelling process.” Grogan said that Mellencamp’s artwork is challenging and some of it is dark and grim. “Obviously, John Mellencamp is a man who has very deep feelings about a lot of social issues and this, in addition to his lyrics, is the way that he characterizes those feelings.” Grogan said. “I would like to think that he has a good sense of humor, but you would never guess that from looking at the paintings.” Grogan said Mellencamp was originally scheduled to appear at the Augusta Museum, but those plans have been cancelled. Mellencamp will be performing in a concert at the James Brown Arena in Augusta on June 20, according to the venue’s website. sbarb@gru.edu
(Johnson) at the same time. But let me point out my small aggravations. Christian was more comedic than necessary and Ana seemed more confident than I remember. Mr. Grey needed to intrigue me and leave me interested, not have me laughing at his obdurate arrogance. Ana, though her confidence was amusing, should have been more genuine and likeable.
Saturday, Feb. 7, Cardboard Castle Games held an event called Geek & Sweet. John Gibbs, the director of admissions at Agamacon, the Augusta Gaming Anime Members Assoc. Convention, said the group created the event. The group is looking to get enough support to create its own convention in Augusta’s downtown area, Gibbs said, and the Geek & Sweet event was one of the first steps down that path. “I’ve been working on something close to this for the past eight years, just giving names to people and getting together the different businesses to try to coordinate different things,” Gibbs said. One of those first businesses was Level Up, where Agamacon held its Geek and Eat event last year. That was followed by its Geek & Treat event in October at Calvary Comics and Collectibles. Robert Tenemak, the co-owner of Cardboard Castle Games, is a big fan of the geek world and said he would go to the event regardless of whether or not he owned the store. Tenemak said he strongly believes that Agamacon could one day reach the level of Dragoncon in Atlanta. Stephanie Pierce is the director of marketing for the Agamacon group, and said she also wants to see the group expand in the coming years. She said most of the marketing for Geek & Sweet was word-of-mouth. Pierce said she “volunteered herself as tribute” when a Let me end with a warning for those who assume the film is not sexual. Yes, the film contains nudity. And yes, the film has strong sexual content. So, if you go into the theater expecting all the rumors to have been overdramatized and not true, you will be in for a rude awakening. But I encourage you to take the time to realize that director Sam Taylor-Johnson offers so much more than that
friend in need came calling for graphic design and that’s how she ended up as director of marketing. Pierce said she expected a turnout of 45 to 50 adults to come to the event and a fair number of children, as well. Pierce and Gibbs said they want to expand to the Marriott downtown and want the whole Augusta Convention Center to be the playground for their big event eventually. They said it will be years before the event gets big enough to need the whole convention center. At most conventions of this sort, Gibbs said, celebrity attendees are a big deal. “(I) definitely would like to have a lot of the voice actors that are in up-and-coming anime, video games even,” said Pierce. “(There are) producers of various companies, such as FUNimation, that attend quite a few conventions in the Southeast that I know of. Definitely, we would love to have guests.” jscharff@gru.edu
PAGE 7
Garden City Grub Jamie Sapp
staff writer
Shop offers variety
S
ay goodbye to the old flavors of popcorn and hello to cookies, cakes and wings. Poppin’ Stop is becoming “pop”-ular with art and flavored gourmet popcorn. Poppin’ Stop is a company that sells mainly gourmet popcorn and candy, with more than 50 flavors of popcorn to choose from. Constance Johnson is the owner and artist of Bites and Brushes, which is a paint-and-dine company where she teaches people of all ages how to paint while they eat and meet new people. Johnson said she met Amber Jacobs, owner of Poppin’ Stop, on an online women’s networking group on Facebook, and they came together as work partners. Ifyou love the taste of popcorn and art, then Poppin’ Stop and Bites and Brushes will give you the opportunity to taste various flavors while making art. Jacobs said the variety of gourmet popcorn is becoming popular for people to enjoy. I visited the shop to find some new flavors to try. Being around these various flavors reminded me of being at a party. You are going to see a large table of food and drinks that your stomach is hungry for, thinking “I have to try all of this!” Starting with Fruit Punch, there were four flavors that were mixed in together that made the popcorn super sweet – Strawberry, Lemon, Green Apple and Blue Raspberry. Out of the four flavors, Lemon and Strawberry were a little overpowering but still remained deliciously sweet. The two new flavors, White Chocolate-covered Strawberries and Chocolate-covered Strawberries, both had the right balance of sweet chocolate and strawberry flavor mixed in together. Cookies n’ Cream won my heart as one of the best popcorn flavors. Not only was it sweet, it was also creamy and mouth-watering with the crumbs and the cream from the Oreo cookies covering it so well. Creamy Dream had a world of toffee inside, making it creamy and buttery, while Red Velvet had cake and cream icing inside. While working my way through the multitudes of gourmet popcorn, my eyes and taste buds introduced me to something zestier. My reality shifted quite vigorously as I came face-to-face with Pizza, Wings, Loaded Baked Potato and Buffalo Blue Cheese … popcorn. Loaded Baked Potato and Pizza upheld a salty presence, all while Buffalo Wings and Buffalo Blue Cheese catered toward a Southwestern spice, creating a perfect balance between both salty and savory. As a result, I bought a large bag for $10 that included half of Cookies N’ Cream and half of Creamy Dream. Since I wanted to give some friends a little taste, I bought four sample bags of popcorn, which include Cookies n’ Cream, Pizza and Strawberry Cheesecake. With a coupon, I spent almost $16 on my purchases and received customer points for them. Although the prices of each flavor and size vary, it would best to try the free samples first before determining what flavors of gourmet popcorn you want to buy.
jsapp270@gru.edu
Rachel cox | contributor
One fan comes in character to the local gaming and anime convention.
for the audience to experience. She successfully translated the book and delivered the sensual expectations anxious audience members anticipated. So, if you want to see some steamy interactions, awkward explorations and become submissive to the oh-so-intimidating Christian Grey, head off to the theater. But maybe don’t go with your mother. “Laters, baby.”
hharris9@gru.edu
jamie sapp | staff
Strawberry Cheesecake makes one of several sweet flavors at local popcorn shop, Poppin’ Stop.
PAGE 8
comics
Mardi Gras
Across
Down
5. Purple represents ______.
1. Folks may dress up as ____ for Mardi Gras.
6. Gold represents ______.
2. Choose an elaborate ______ to wear.
9. Though sometimes called this, Mardi Gras is
3. Mardi Gras was celebrated in _____ as early
not the same thing as ________.
as the 18th century.
10. Let’s bake a _______ for Mardi Gras.
4. Like Easter, Mardi Gras isn’t on the _____
12. ______ are considered treasures during
each year.
Mardi Gras.
7. Some call Mardi Gras “The Greatest _____
14. Visitors visiting the ____ should be careful
Show on Earth.”
during Mardi Gras.
8. The Carnival season begins in _____, long
17. The Mardi Gras _____ parade on Mardi
before Mardi Gras.
Gras and Super Sunday.
11. Mardi Gras takes place right before ____
18. ______ are a popular way to celebrate
begins.
Mardi Gras today.
13. You’ll want to jump and grab for beads,
Good Luck!
Answers for last issue: Across: 3. againandagain 4. rodents 6. punxsutawney 7. dance 9. grandmother 10. woodchuck 12. marmata 13. mayor 14. six Down: 1. beauregard 2. billmurray 5. tonguetwister 6. pests 8. edge 11. cellphones
stuffed animals and other “_____.” 15. Green represents ______. 16. Mardi Gras is also known as __ in English.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
THE BELL RINGER
PAGE 9
sports www.grubellringer.com
Baseball team plays hard By Rebecca Perbetsky staff writer The GRU Augusta baseball team is looking to repeat its opening day game throughout the season. Head Coach Jason Eller said the team played well on opening day, and the large crowd that was there helped with the momentum of the game. “The fans were loud,” he said. “I think the boys really fed off the energy. We answered back in the first inning and ended up having an awesome opening day.” Junior left-handed pitcher Matthew Kuhlenberg said he thought the team was excited about opening day because of all the excitement leading up to the beginning of the season. “Playing here is an advantage for us,” he said. “We got after them really early, and every hit we had just kept falling, and we did everything right. We pitched well, we kept the ball low, caught a lot of ground balls, we hit some in the gap offensively and ran the bases well- just an overall great team win.” Junior right-handed
anthony garcia | staff
Left-handed pitcher Matthew Kuhlenberg pitches at the bottom first of a home game against Paine.
pitcher David Bermudez said opening day went well because of all the anticipation leading up to the game. “It went pretty good,” he said. “We hit the ball, we pitched well and everybody played well. I feel that we were very enthusiastic and excited about the first game because it was at home and we were all into the game: the whole game, every inning and every out.” Bermudez said fans
coming out to support the team played a big part in the team’s success on the field. “Last year, we didn’t have as many people (come out),” Bermudez said. “This year we know people support us and they have our backs. We just want to play for them and let them come watch us more.” According to jaguarsroar.com, things went south after opening day for the team, as it went on to
lose all three games on the road. “We went to Newberry the next day and got beat by a pretty good preseason All-American,” Eller said. “Something kind of happened at West Georgia, and then it is tough to win at Erskine; they are ranked in the Southeast poll, so we have played three really good opponents. Wished we would have played better after the opener, and look-
The Harlem Legends and Cecil Herrin Breast Cancer Warriors raise funds together.
Harlem Legend raises big funds By Timothy Howard staff writer
A group of former Harlem Globetrotters teamed up with local people for a charity game before a near-capacity crowd at Greenbrier High School Feb. 7. The Michael Douglas Youth Foundation, which also comprises the Harlem Legends, helped organize the event with Cecil Herrin, a survivor of male breast cancer, according to the event’s handbill. The Harlem Legends are “a group of professional athletes, former players of the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL and past USA Olympians and other professionals,” according to harlemlegends. com. “We came together with the foundation to create the event to raise awareness for male breast cancer, a form of cancer that is not well known,” Herrin said. Instead of playing a travel team, the Harlem Legends played against the Cecil Herrin Breast Cancer Warriors, a team organized by Herrin that is composed of a group of people from the CSRA, ranging from firefighters and local law enforcement to teachers and community leaders, according to the event’s handbill. “(The team comes together) to assist different schools and organizations in their fundraising efforts with our celebrity basketball show,” said Harlem Legends player Michael Douglas. Herrin, who runs Cecil Herrin Construction Company, said he was diagnosed with male breast cancer
timothy howard | STAFF
A player for the Harlem Legends performs before the fundraiser game.
three years ago. After becoming cancer-free, he said he decided that he needed to do something to raise awareness for male breast cancer. Greenbrier High School women’s basketball coach Stefanie Basinger said the event came together with the high school and her team through circumstance. “Michael Douglas had met Cecil Herrin just by chance,” she said. “Cecil’s nurse is one of my best friends, so they needed a gym and a facility to be able to host this event, so the girls’ basketball team took it on as host, just trying to help make it happen for him to raise money for male breast cancer.” Herrin said he was glad that the event had a large turnout, because it meant there would be more money to go towards male breast cancer research. thowar20@gru.edu
rperbets@gru.edu
Men’s golf team works on technique By Jessica Sager copy editor
timothy howard | staff
ing to hopefully follow that up on Saturday, get back to home.” One thing that will help the team get back to playing like it did opening day is getting outfielder Clint Hardy healthy, Eller said. But Hardy is not the only component that will help the team get back to playing great baseball, Eller said. Offensively, the team is working on putting men in scoring position, Kuhlenberg said. “We have really struggled on the road lately with getting guys in with men on second or two outs or bases loaded,” Kuhlenberg said. “Pitching wise, just keep the ball down. We have left some balls up in the zone lately, and some good teams have taken advantage of that, but besides that we have been competitive. We are just trying to put a complete game together, and I think we are very close to doing that again.” The team’s efforts came through Saturday with its following game, a doubleheader against Paine. The Jags took wins on both games, 12-5 and 14-0.
The GRU Augusta men’s golf team is trying new practice methods before its first game of the semester March 9. Head Coach Jack O’Keefe said sports psychologist Morris Pickens came to Augusta to work with the men’s and women’s golf teams. “We talked strategy, we talked about course management, we talked about attitude, we talked about drills and how to think on the golf course,” he said. “So it was very, very, very helpful and we’ve structured our practices now to fit the topics that he discussed and that kind of focused on the areas that we need to get better on. So it was a real educational experience for them. … From a coaching standpoint, I picked up a bunch of new thoughts, ideas and plans for practice and how to coach better on the course in tournaments and here at practice, also.” Fundamentals and technique are a part of what the team has to practice, O’Keefe said, but the team needs to practice its performance more. “Technique is where you’re working on a certain drill or a certain position of the golf swing,” he said. “Where you’re trying to maybe work on an area of your game that’s hurting … so the fundamentals are the corrections that you’re trying to make. But when you’re out there playing golf, you have to get the ball in the hole and you have to get it in good positions to where you can get it around the golf course better.” O’Keefe said the team now has drills that work “the mental and physical side of golf.” “We play a game called two step,” team member Jake Marriott said. “So when you hit it on the green, one of your opponents gets to pick up your ball and take two steps and then drop your ball. So, like, if you don’t hit it in the middle of the green, they can take two steps and drop it into a bunker or the water or something like that. So it
just makes you play safe and think about where to hit shots, instead of just firing at the flag every time.” The team is also working on techniques for dealing with distractions, team member Meechai Padung said. Distractions, he said, include such things as wind and playing partners. “Some techniques would be to just figure out during what time you need to really zone in and focus on what you’re doing,” he said. “Because you can’t, it’s too exhausting to focus for four and a half, five hours in a row, so really you need to just kind of take your time between the shots …” The team will start qualifying the week of Feb. 16, O’Keefe said, and will play six rounds that will decide which of the players will go to the team’s first tournament of the semester. “We have a good schedule,” O’Keefe said. “We have a couple tournaments close by … and then also we have our home event in April the weekend before the Masters, so that’s always a big event. I’m excited. We’ve got some good things that we did in the fall that hopefully we can carry over, and then with these new changes and all. I’m real excited to see how we can start the tournament season out here in March.” jschucke@gru.edu
jessica sager | STAFF
Junior Maverick Antcliff practices with teammates at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Rookie Report Anthony Garcia sports editor
Super Bowl XLIX review
“W
hat happened?”
Whether you were rooting for the New England Patriots or Seattle Seahawks, almost everyone asked this question during the last minutes of Super Bowl XLIX, before the Patriots took another Super Bowl title. The controversial pass ended what was already one of the tightest Super Bowls I’ve ever seen, and my question following the play is a big “what if?” The first quarter was a back-and-forth scrimmage, with neither team at an advantage, despite what looked like a sloppy defense from the Seahawks. The second quarter didn’t let up, either. Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell gave the first points for the game after passes to Amendola and Edelman. But the Seahawks didn’t take it, with quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch leading their team to its first game points before break: a 14-14 tie. The Seahawks took the lead 24-14 during the third quarter, but the Patriots got together to gain one over Seattle during the final quarter with a 14-point lead, 28-24 with only a few minutes left in the quarter. Now, before I move onto the elephant in the room, the final quarter, the play that possibly cost the Seahawks its second consecutive Super Bowl title, let me analyze the scenario. The Seahawks’ Head Coach Pete Carroll’s decision to have Wilson pass to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and not Lynch at the 1-yard line was, in my opinion, a tight and risky call overall. You’ll always be risking a 50-50 chance of scoring so close to an end zone, and had Carroll allowed Wilson to pass the ball to Lynch, there still may have been a scrimmage. That being said, the truth of the matter is nobody saw that play coming. And that being said, this was all “Beast Mode.” Had the ball been passed to Lynch instead, most likely Pats fans would have lost it. It was at that point, actually, that I realized I was rooting for the Seahawks the whole time. I suppose I wanted something different this time - for the Seahawks to get a second title (and for the camera to stop hugging Brady every other minute), but that’s just me. Fans alike are calling this the worst play call in Super Bowl history, and while I think that’s an exaggeration, this is one of those Super Bowls I won’t soon forget. agarci11@gru.edu
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
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Jag’s homecoming game set to broadcast live nationwide By Timothy Howard staff writer CBS is heading to Augusta soon to broadcast a local sporting event for the nation; but this time, CBS won’t be here to cover the Masters. The Jaguars’ Feb. 21 basketball game against Peach Belt Conference foe Lander will be televised nationwide by CBS Sports Network. According to jaguarsroar.com, the game coincides with Senior Day, Military Appreciation Day and Homecoming. It is also one of only five Division II men’s basketball regular season games to be televised by the network during the 2014-15 season. In addition to the festivities hosted by Georgia Regents University, CBS Sports Network is highlighting this game as the inaugural Division II military “Salute” game, according to NCAA.com. Clint Bryant, GRU Augusta director of athletics, said he thinks that the chance to have a game televised nationally is a precious gift, not just for Georgia Regents, but for Fort Gordon and the Augusta area. “I think any time you get to expose the university and our community to over 100 million homes, and the relationship Georgia Regents University has and has had with Fort Gordon over the years, it will only mean greater exposure for our
timothy howard | STAFF
Head Coach Dip Metress rallies the men’s basketball team after a media time out during a home game against Flagler Feb. 11.
university and greater exposure for our athletic department,” he said. Dip Metress, head coach of GRU Augusta men’s basketball team, is no stranger to nationally televised games, as he coached the 2007-08 Jaguars to the Division II national championship game in Springfield, Mass., which was televised on CBS. In addition, a 2010 home matchup against conference foe Montevallo was televised on
CBS Sports Network, according to jaguarsroar.com. Metress said he is excited about the chance to showcase his team for a national TV audience. “Since it’s our only Saturday home game, that game will be a big thing,” he said. “We’ll be on national TV, which is the third or fourth time we’ve been on it since I’ve been here.” Assistant Coach Jamie Quarles,
who played for Metress on the 200708 national finalist team, said he understands the excitement of playing on national television. Quarles said he wants his team to focus on Senior Day, as well as the game. The Jaguars’ five seniors – point guard D’Angelo Boyce, small forward Devon Wright-Nelson, power forward Henry McCarthy and shooting guards Roman Hill and Devonte Thomas – will be honored for their
contributions. “I think it’s going to be really big for our five seniors who have been instrumental in most of our … wins this season,” Quarles said. “And it’s going to be a big thing. Most of their parents are going to be there, all of their families are going to be there, and it will be Military Appreciation Day and everything that comes along with the excitement. We’re going to focus on keeping calm and keeping it relaxed, and hopefully we will come out and treat it like any other game: one that we need to win.” Metress said he wants the win, but he also wants his players to realize what is happening; he wants them to “enjoy the moment.” “Play the right way- by that late in the season, we should know what to do,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity, and it’s a tribute to Coach Bryant and the success we had to get that game on TV.” Not only is the Feb. 21 game being televised nationally, but the USC Aiken home matchup on Feb. 25 will be broadcast by News Channel 6, which Bryant said is unique. “The USC Aiken game is being carried by WJBF, a local televised game,” Bryant said. “So there are not many Division II schools that can say that they have two TV exposures in the same season, one being national and one being local. So we think that is pretty cool.” thowar20@gru.edu
Men’s team defeat Flagler for season By Timothy Howard staff writer After missing 16 of its 27 shots and scoring 28 points against conference foe Flagler, the GRU Augusta men’s basketball team had to come out stronger in the second half to win the match. The Jaguars made an efficient 45-point outburst in the second half, and coasted to a 73-48 win Feb. 11. With the win, the Jaguars improved their record to 19-5, 11-4 in the Peach Belt Conference, and tied with UNC Pembroke for the PBC East Division lead, according to peachbeltconference.org. “(The team) was not crisp in the first half, offensively,” Head Coach Dip Metress said. “We weren’t passing the ball crisp, and we weren’t cutting the ball crisp. But in the second half, we cut harder, and we passed crisper, which led to open shots. So it was a good team effort in the second half with ball movement.” Metress said his team’s first half woes were partly due to a defensive scheme used by Flagler. “Tonight was the first time we had faced an extended period of zone defense,” he said. “And because we’re a pretty good shooting
team, it kind of caught us off guard, and we weren’t very crisp against it.” Senior shooting guard Devonte Thomas said the Jaguars were too relaxed during the first half. “(We) were being too passive instead of attacking their gaps,” he said. “In the second half, we made a change. So we attacked the gaps, ran our motion, set a couple of screens and got stuff flowing. And after that, we were able to get the ball distributed to each other and get open shots.” Those open shots were the result of a defensive clampdown by the Jaguars in the second half, where they held Flagler to 24 points on 9-of-21 shooting. Without the pressure of having to respond to each Flagler basket, the Jaguars were able to hit 56.3 percent of their baskets in the second half, according to jaguarsroar.com. “The first half was a little slow, but in the second half, everybody came together,” senior shooting guard Roman Hill said. “They played smart, they played together, they listened and they brought it. I’m proud of them.” Freshman forward Tamyrik “T.C.” Fields scored two of his eight points on a rim-rattling dunk late in the second half. “(Metress wanted the team) to play hard-
er and go out there and get the win,” he said. “And everyone else took their own initiative and put their own input in, and it worked, because everyone felt the passion.” Thomas said he was proud of Fields’ contributions, as well as his maturity. “(He) stepped up and made some big plays,” he said. “He’s an upcoming sophomore, and he’s going to be one of the main focuses on the team next year. He’s a hell of a rebounder, plays up-tempo and always brings energy to the team. He has transitioned a lot from a freshman to being more mature.” If the Jaguars finish atop the PBC East Division at the end of the regular season and win the first game in the PBC tournament, they will host the final two rounds of the tournament at Christenberry Fieldhouse Feb. 21 and 25, which has not happened since the former Augusta State University hosted the 2004 and 2005 PBC tournaments, according to jaguarsroar.com. Fields said he knows that once the regular season ends and postseason play begins, every single game is important “It’s going to be crunch time,” he said. “Everyone’s going to be focused. And if the conference tournament is at home, then it’s just going to bring a lot more energy to us
timothy howard | STAFF
Flagler guard Lydell Manigo tries to deflect the ball from forward Vlad Cobzaru during a home game.
playing.” The team won its following game, a road match against USC Aiken, Saturday, 77-66. thowar20@gru.edu
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