March 3, 2015 - Vol. 57, Issue 11

GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY

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VOLUME 57, ISSUE 11

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Alumna Jags victory aired on CBS talks of travels

By Haley Harris news editor Graduate, educator, journalist and activist Samantha Borders decided to travel to areas many people would be leery of visiting in order to make a difference.

Borders visited Georgia Regents University Feb. 16 on behalf of the Anthropology Student Union to discuss her time spent in the Middle East with a presentation called “Rethinking Normal Challenges & Discoveries in Middle Eastern Fieldwork.”

Borders received her Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in anthropology, according to a biography furnished by Angela Bratton, associate professor of anthropology.

“Personally, (as to) why I chose to study Middle Eastern culture, (there) are several different factors,” Borders said. “… I had a see ALUMNA on PAGE 3

contributed by angela bratton

Samantha Borders spent time adapting to the culture of the Middle East.

Georgia Regents

“And they have fever, and then they get a rash that is usually fairly bright red. It would be palpable if you put your hand over it. It feels sort of like sandpaper.”

Measles is a RNA virus that affects the respiratory system, Murray said. He also said that nine out of 10 people who aren’t protected against measles will contract it if exposed.

“It’s just one of those viruses that is very, very contagious,” he said. “It stays on surfaces for two to three hours and in the air for a couple of hours.” see VIRUS on PAGE 2

see HISTORIC on PAGE 2

timothy howard | staff

Measles prevention is discussed on a local level

By Jessica Sager copy editor

Measles, which made news with a recent outbreak in California, is a contagious but fairly preventable disease.

Wanda Gillespie, a nurse epidemiologist at Georgia Regents Medical Center, said symptoms of measles include symptoms similar to that of a cold, like a runny nose, sore throat and fever. One distinctive symptom of measles is a rash, which starts on the patient’s head and goes downward. “(The) classic hallmarks (of measles) are the three Cs: cough,

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Measles is a virus that targets the respiratory system and can be fatal.

coryza - which is essentially profuse runny nose - and conjunctivitis or redness of the eyes,” said Dr. Dennis Murray, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

Roman Hill

Presidential Search

Athlete aids in helping youth

Search committee meets for the first time

By Timothy Howard staff writer

By Richard Adams editor-in-chief

Roman Hill is known for two things: his basketball career and his rap career. But the Georgia Regents University senior is also working with Augusta’s mayor to help inner-city youth.

Hill has been working with Mayor Hardie Davis on a project called My Brother’s Keeper. President Obama launched the project nationally in September 2014, according to WhiteHouse.gov.

My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge aims to use a “cradle-to-college-and-career” strategy to improve the lives of young people, regardless of their circumstances, according to WhiteHouse.gov.

Davis accepted Obama’s challenge, making Augusta one of five cities in Georgia to take on the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, according to a Jan. 29 article

by Susan McCord in The Augusta Chronicle.

Clint Bryant, director of athletics at Georgia Regents, said it was by chance that Hill was able to meet the mayor and learn more about My Brother’s Keeper.

“I went to a forum at the Richmond County Technical Career

The presidential search committee - 21 community, staff, faculty, student and university system representatives assigned with the task of finding a successor for Georgia Regents University President Ricardo Azziz - met together for the first time Thursday as an official body.

“You’re not here by accident,” said Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the University System of Georgia. “We on the staff, working very closely with the (Board of Regents) chairman Mr. Pruitt, have spent a number of hours, many hours, putting together this committee.”

Huckaby charged the body with the responsibility of presenting the Board of Regents with three to five candidates for the position before the end of June, when Azziz’s current contract with the university system expires. Because Georgia Regents was developed to be a first-tier research institute, Huckaby said,

richard adams | staff

SGA President Michael Banks introduces himself to the new committee.

this search will be quite different.

“The effort that we are about here, as we begin to search for the president of a research university, is different than the search process for the non-research universities and colleges in our system,” Huckaby said. “And I think it’s different because it speaks to the very high importance that we hold this journey that you’re embarking on. That’s why you

By Amy Thorne arts & life editor The Board of Regents has recently given Georgia Regents University final approval to begin a transportation enhancement project intended to improve pedestrian safety and visibility, which includes narrowing Laney Walker Boulevard.

Phil Howard, vice president of facility services at Georgia Regents, said construction will run from R.A. Dent Boulevard to 15th Street, more than a third of a mile.

A grant application for the project was submitted back in 2008, Howard said. The Georgia Department of Transpiration approved the project’s budget in October of last year. The Board of Regents gave the project its final approval Feb. 11 of this year.

“We’re reducing from four to two lanes,” Howard said. “We’re adding a bike lane, either direction. We’ve not got more real estate to work with. We’re doing raised pedestrian crosswalks, wider, flatter. That actually helps because they are raised to slow traffic.”

He said the construction crews will also be doing a substantial amount of landscaping along the road and creating some buffer zones to create more space between pedestrians and the traffic and eliminating parallel parking on the curbs to improve sight lines along the roads.

Howard said some aesthetic improvements will also be made, such as adding lighting.

The GRU student body cheers on the basketball team during a live CBS Sports broadcast of the game. Read on PAGE 11.

Virus:

Historic street to be altered

have seven or eight (regents) on this committee and it’s chaired by regents.”

Leading the search committee is James Hull, a member of the Board of Regents who said he describes himself as a “life-long Augustan”; Hull, a real estate developer and namesake of the Hull College of Business, asked every search committee member to express the traits their ideal candidate possessed, in order to start the group thinking about a formal job description.

“The committee will have to come to an agreement on how you want to tell the world about this position,” Huckaby said.

Hull started the conversation with what he thought entailed the perfect fit, in terms of the type of personality and skill set that the presidential position would require. He said, in closing, that being able to communicate and lead through example were key traits he’d be looking for.

“One that’s very important to see PRESIDENT on PAGE 3

Magnet School a few weeks ago,” Bryant said. “And I just thought it would be important that I invite Roman to go with me, because I know he has some interest in inner-city youth.”

Hill said he accepted the invitation, not only out of politeness, but also because of his desire to help young people.

“I came across that opportunity through Coach Bryant,” Hill said.

“He called me one morning since that’s the type of stuff that I’m into anyways: helping kids and using my story as a testimony for other kids.

And when Coach Bryant called me with that opportunity, we went for it … I got to meet a lot of important people and build some strong relationships.”

Bryant said he believes that Hill can speak to young people and relate to them in a way that local leaders and politicians may not be able to.

“I think that Roman, because of his age and his ability to be a rapper, speaks a language that a lot of young teenagers and young adults can understand,” Bryant said.

Dip Metress, head coach of the Georgia Regents’ men’s basketball see ROMAN on PAGE 3

CBS Sports Coverage

Lokal Loudness

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J.A.G. Station Page 3

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Award show unites music community

Students address lack of media outlet

CBS Sports covers Salute game

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NEWS www.grubellringer.com

Professor writes guide 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 ANNA DRESSER adresser@gru.edu PHYLICIA CORNELIOUS pcorneli@gru.edu SIDNEY FOWLER sfowler@gru.edu photographer ALEJANDRO SMITH alesmith@gru.edu JEAN-PAUL CASSAGNOL jcassagn@gru.edu cartoonist DAQUAN MIDDLETON dmiddle6@gru.edu advertising manager ASHLEY SHELTON ashelto9@gru.edu webmaster JACOB SCHARFF jscharff@gru.edu Direct advertising inquiries to: Ashley Shelton, Advertising Manager ashelto9@gru.edu Address all correspondence to: The Bell Ringer 2500 Walton Way Augusta, Ga 30904 706-737-1600 www.grubellringer.com

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

Shellie Smitley staff writer

Julie “Juli” Sibley, art professor, recently published a book entitled, “Earth Friendly Fabric Design.”

Sibley said the book is a guide and compendium of fabric design ideas and techniques using environmentally safe dyes. She said she became concerned about carcinogenic exposure in her 20’s and that many dyes are carcinogenic and toxic to people and the environment. “(The book) first originated in my own love and care for the earth,” Sibley said. “And in realizing over the years that artists have a lot of occupational hazards, in terms of the chemicals that they are exposed to for painting and other creative processes.”

Sibley said the book, which originated from a compilation of CDs she created, took more than three years to complete. The book includes artwork created by students and friends, as well

contributed by julie sibley

Julie Sibley poses with Rick Davis in Renaissance dress attire during one of the Humanities classes.

as Sibley’s original artwork.

“The first CDs were great,” Sibley said. “But, personally, I - especially with an art book - like something that I can hold in my hand. I am a visual person and a lot of people are visual learners, and some of us that are older, too, don’t automatically look for things online.”

Sibley said she thought

Historic CONTINUED from PAGE 1

“One of the things that we’re doing is eliminating all the overhead power lines, electric and some of the low voltage utilities like Verizon,” he said.

Students and pedestrians who regularly cross the road won’t have to worry about this, Howard said.

Traffic will be detoured around Laney Walker.

“We’ll have nice crosswalks, but we won’t have any vehicles going down that way,” Howard said.

“Contrary to popular belief, it’s not as heavily used of a road as one would think.”

Howard said the project will affect more people than just students.

“Aesthetically, the community will definitely benefit (from the project),” he said. “In fact, the design elements that we’re putting on Laney Walker are being coordinated with the city for their 15th Street enhancement project.”

Howard said he doesn’t think the community will be losing a piece of history by changing the road. If anything, he said, the university is making it a nicer road.

“Again, part of this project is really about student safety and pedestrian safety, but it is around making this campus, in whole, a more pedestrian-friendly campus,” he said. “And this does it both aesthetically and functionally.”

Jonathan Robertson, the construction project manager, said he

that writing this book would be a valuable contribution to fabric design.

“It is earth friendly,” Sibley said. “It’s nontoxic.

It’s something you can do at home with real simple tools and material and there are so many fabric processes that are so toxic in nature that especially schools now are getting very concerned about large number of stu-

estimates, but cannot confirm, that the construction will last about 8 to 9 months.

“Expect to have the contract done around the end of March,” he said. “(That includes) preconstruction work, getting the workers badged and getting a traffic control and start(ing) within a couple of months when we get them.”

After that, he said, construction can begin.

Christine Miller-Betts, Executive Director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, said the reduction of the road was a good compromise between preserving the history of the boulevard and enhancing the university’s campus.

She said Georgia Regents originally wanted to close Laney Walker; her camp did not. After much discussion, the two sides finally reached an agreement.

“It’s safer now,” Miller-Betts said. “Anybody who’s interested in touring Laney Walker Boulevard can do it, just slower.”

Miller-Betts said she thinks the compromise is a “win-win situation” compared to the alternative of closing the area. athorne@gru.edu

amy thorne | staff (bottom right) and contributed by jonathan robertson

In order to improve pedestrian safety and visibility, Georgia Regents University will be doing construction on Laney Walker Boulevard by means of narrowing the road.

dents and colleges being exposed to fumes and chemicals that are carcinogenic.

Those were the reasons that I really felt like I wanted to make the effort to present this and have it out in the world ... There are truly some amazing artists here.”

Wendy Slaton was Sibley’s printmaking professor at LaGrange College and said she has known Sibley

since 1979.

“Her awe of nature comes through in her work, and she brings that to her work,” Slaton said. “When you look at her works of nature, you too are inspired with that awe of nature and that wonderful relationship she has with nature.”

Sibley taught at Georgia Regents University in 2013 and 2014 and said she is now a faculty member of the John Campbell Folks School.

Pam Parrish, owner of Morning Song Gallery, said the gallery has exhibited Sibley’s work for 14 years.

“I think her talent that she presents to her students in the end shines through them, and then they can enjoy what they have learned from her,” Parrish said. “I think Julie’s talent shines, and you can’t help but be touched by it.”

Sibley said the book is available worldwide through Amazon, online at Barnes and Noble and through her publishing company CreateSpace. sbarb@gru.edu

C-Span to cover Augusta

haley harris | staff

National TV network, C-Span, will be featuring Augusta in its cities tour edition and will focus on historic landmarks such as Woodrow Wilson’s home.

Virus

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

Gillespie said measles mostly affects people who aren’t vaccinated against it.

“The best way to prevent the spread is to get the vaccine,” she said. “And I think the more you can arm the public with what the benefits are, as well as what the risks would be to get any type (of vaccine), is the best way to help them make an educated and informed decision.”

People in the U.S. are usually given two measles vaccines, Murray said. Unlike vaccines against some other diseases, like tetanus and diphtheria, the second measles vaccine is not a booster.

“When I give a measles vaccine or we give a measles vaccine to a child who’s between the ages of 12 and 15 months... (about) 95 out of a hundred will respond with an antibody,” he said. “That means that 5 percent of those individuals did not. And so the second dose of measles vaccine, typically given just prior to entering kindergarten, is to treat those people with what we

Campus Crime Log

call primary vaccine failure. In other words, that five out of a hundred that did not respond to that first dose ... will respond, so that, in essence, after two doses of measles vaccine in this country, all but about two or three people out of a thousand have an antibody.”

If someone comes down with a virus, such as measles, they should not take antibiotics for it, said Amy Abdulovic-Cui, an assistant professor in Georgia Regents University’s biology department.

If someone who isn’t vaccinated thinks they’ve been exposed to measles, Murray said, an option is to get the vaccination.

“It’s a live attenuated virus,” Murray said. “So, in other words, it goes into your body and gives you a sort of minor little infection with the measles. But it’s not one that’s contagious, and it boosts your immune system.”

Murray said there has only been one case of measles in Georgia in 2015.

Jasper Cooke, director of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, said that, to his knowledge, there has never been an outbreak of measles at Georgia Regents. jschucke@gru.edu

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TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

President CONTINUED from PAGE 1

richard adams | staff

Inesha Howard is interviewing Amber McCray for the J.A.G. station (left), and Drew Dawson works at 90.7 WACG-FM (right).

J.A.G. station

Need for a voice

By Richard Adams editor-in-chief

The lack of a mass media outlet for students to use and operate is a campus need staff and students at Georgia Regents University are combining forces in order to address.

Drew Dawson, station manager at 90.7 WACG-FM, said when he arrived at Georgia Regents in August 2013, he had several meetings with the administration in which this need was highlighted.

After speaking with the presidents of the student government associations from both the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses and “floating” the idea of a student-run radio station by them, Dawson said their feedback suggested a change in direction. “(Their consensus) was that a radio station might not be something that was necessarily appealing to this generation, because so many people are consuming information by way of video and online,” Dawson said. “And so the idea at that point came to be a multimedia platform that would include audio, video, as well as digital or print elements on a website. Inesha (Howard) took that and it became the J.A.G. Station.”

Around the same time Dawson was investigating a solution to the charge he’d been given by the administration, Karen Mobley Belk,

coordinator of student development and engagement, said she gave Howard, a student assistant who’d communicated her desire to become “the next Oprah” with Mobley Belk, the task of assembling a brief video segment on the GRU Gospel Choir.

“One of the things I looked at was matching up an opportunity where we had a university need that she could kind of assist in spearheading from a student perspective,” Mobley Belk said. “So I started doing research on other campuses, and I realized that we were one of the few campuses that did not have a student-run media outlet with a television station.”

Dawson said he became aware of Howard’s work to establish a student-run digital media platform through Michael Banks, president of the undergraduate SGA. “The whole idea behind this is that this is student-run,” Dawson said. “It’s not something that I, as a staff member, will be imposing on student organizations.”

Howard, a junior communications major and president of J.A.G. Station, said the content, which will all be web-based, currently consists of profiles of student organizations and events, as well as a weekly round table discussion.

“I just want it to be something different for students,” Howard said. “I just feel like at other universities, bigger universities, I see students have (for example) mini-real-

ity shows, they have sports shows, they have these big TV stations just for their school. And I would love for J.A.G. Station to grow to that.”

Howard said she is going to begin with a core group of trusted staff.

The challenge facing Howard, Dawson said, will be getting “buyin” from more students willing to step into leadership positions.

This is not the first time a project like this has been launched; from spring 2009 to the beginning of fall 2009, The Bell Ringer covered an attempted student-run television station called JagTV. In the end, the work of providing the purposed three hours of programming every week and broadcasting difficulties proved too much for the staff, student executive producer Samantha Taylor told The Bell Ringer in fall 2009.

Danielle Harris, senior media relations coordinator at Georgia Regents and a former media specialist who was involved with the JagTV project, said the need still exists for communications majors to have opportunities to get involved with mass media journalism.

“I think, if there’s a way that, if it’s not JagTV or something, that can resurrect it, to get the students another opportunity in journalism, I think that would be perfect,” Harris said. “I mean, it’s great. It adds to the academic experience.” radams99@gru.edu

New vice president assigned for research

By Jessica Sager copy editor Dr. Michael Diamond was named as senior vice president for research at Georgia Regents University on Feb. 11, according to the GReport.

“He has been with us since his coming to GRU as vice president for clinical and translational research,” said Gretchen Caughman, provost of Georgia Regents. “… The senior vice president for research is the administrative official that’s responsible for really overseeing and shepherding the research portfolio of the entire university.”

Diamond said his work varies from day to day. He meets with researchers, department heads, the provost and others.

“There are efforts to help identify individuals that have interest in different areas from throughout the campus,” he said. “So we had a meeting, for example, related to women’s health, and investigators that came from … 25 different colleges, including Summerville campus.”

While collaboration between the Health Sciences and Summerville campus colleges is encouraged, Diamond said he is also trying to encourage groups to work together within the campuses.

“I think our goal needs to be, depending on what the area of interest is, is who can bring something

to the table,” he said. “Who can bring expertise and experience and knowledge (from a) different point of view so that the ultimate project that’s designed and undertaken and submitted for funding ... has a better chance of being successful and, also, so that the results that ultimately would be achieved are more meaningful and have greater importance.”

Diamond said he has done a diverse range of research himself.

“If I speak to someone who wants to conduct a project, I probably have some ideas of what it would take to do those projects,” he said. “I can share that information. Also, I think by still being an investigator myself, I recognize the infrastructure that would be helpful to many investigators.”

Rickey Hicks, dean of the college of science and mathematics, said he first met Diamond in early 2014.

“We’ve worked on several projects now, particularly since he is the senior vice president for research,” Hicks said. “He is involved in helping us hire new faculty members. He’s involved in establishing research collaborations between faculty in the college of science and mathematics and various colleges on the Health Sciences campus. He’s helped me facilitate some of my research activities here on campus. He’s very interested in expanding undergraduate research

opportunities for both campuses, so the students from the Summerville campus have an opportunity to be involved in research projects and the medical college and the dental college or, actually, any of the laboratories down on the Health Sciences campus.”

Diamond is “very student-oriented, patient-oriented,” Hicks said.

“He’s the kind of person that you enjoy having a cup of a coffee with or discussing very serious matters,” he said. “He takes things very seriously. He’s a really, really nice, caring person.”

Caughman said she thinks it is fortunate that Diamond took on the role of senior vice president of research. “(The position) is a very important one, and I was impressed throughout my talking with individuals,” she said. “Because he had been in the interim role already, and so I was very careful to speak with a variety of faculty and deans and department chairs, that kind of thing, in terms of how they saw him …

To a person, they talked about how collegial he was, what a thoughtful person and good listener he was.

And, really, they all had the sense that he really understood their issues, and, if he didn’t, he realized he didn’t and really worked to understand them better - and that’s key for a leader. So I’m just really very, very pleased with him.” jschucke@gru.edu

me, that I think a great leader should have, is a high emotional intelligence quotient,” Hull said. “That’s the ability to approach issues calmly and with empathy, allowing our president to be productive and very effective.”

Don Grantham, a community representative and chairman of the State Transportation Board, said he felt Hull’s list of traits for the ideal president laid the groundwork for the rest of the committee.

“The challenges that are going to be facing this individual will be huge, will be tremendous,” Grantham said. “But with the help of our Board of Regents, with the help of our chancellor, with the help of this community – and I think this community has shown support for this university – then that individual should not have an easy walk, but a much softer walk.”

Roman

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

team, has coached Hill for the past four seasons. Metress said he knows Hill not just as a basketball player, but also as a person and a positive influence to those around him.

“This guy is a special guy,” Metress said. “He is going to make an impact on the Augusta community. He came down here four years ago and got his degree in December and, unfortunately, his basketball career is over with his knee injury. But he is the type of person you would like to have running around your program.”

Grantham said he believes personality will be a key factor in choosing the next president because of the community interaction necessary.

Whatever the job description, one thing would not be changing about the position, Huckaby said: The president of Georgia Regents University would still be the head of the entire enterprise.

When asked why there was only one student representative chosen to be a part of the search committee, Huckaby said there is usually only one student on each search committee.

“That’s tradition,” he said. “… if you start adding multiple people from each sector, you get a size of a community that is just unmanageable. This size is large, quite frankly. You have to stop somewhere.

I’m very impressed with (Michael Banks), the student representative … Mr. Banks seems to be well informed, very articulate and he’ll do a good job.” radams99@gru.edu

Bryant said he thinks that Hill would be a good person to collaborate with Davis.

“I think that Roman Hill, due to his background and due to his interest in inner-city youth and his desire for them to make the best of themselves, I just thought it would be a good fit,” Bryant said. “And, hopefully, through that initiative that President Obama had talked to the mayors when they were at that convention in Washington, D.C., about, and our mayor wanting to institute such a program, I just thought that it would be good that Roman could get some face time with the leadership in our city and see if there’s any way a guy like him can be a part of the solution.” thowar20@gru.edu

timothy howard | staff

Roman Hill helps give youth opportunities for change through My Brother’s Keeper.

Alumna CONTINUED from PAGE 1

lot of questions initially upon going to the Middle East: ‘Why do you care?’ ‘Why do you as an American care about me?’ They would cite things like the Iraq war, they would say Americans don’t care, they don’t listen. Essentially, I chose the Middle East because I care.”

Bratton said she worked closely with Borders while she was a student at Georgia Regents and also advised her.

“The reason why (fieldwork and traveling abroad) are important for an anthropologist is that that’s a rite of passage for us,” Bratton said. “It changes your status. So it’s one thing to sit here and read about some places and talk about it, and it’s another thing to experience it.”

Borders said anyone who is thinking of doing fieldwork in the Middle East must be aware of some factors.

“You must be flexible,” Borders said. “There is this idea of things will come to you, things will happen. This is a general attitude that you’ll find in the Middle East.

And it will, but you have to relax.”

She also said that language is a major factor that must be addressed.

“One of the best benefits of traveling abroad is having that appreciation for who the other, whoever those others are, that they are those real people,” Bratton said.

Borders said she traveled alone and learned how to adjust.

“You have to step outside of yourself,” Borders said. “There are experiences that some of us may or may not have had that you won’t understand … I had to learn how to be a good neighbor because

my neighbors were very generous.

They offered me a chicken, several chickens, in fact. Gave me two chickens, and when those chickens didn’t make it, they brought me about six chicks.”

The Middle East will continue to amaze one with its people’s generosity, Borders said.

“Get to know people,” Borders said. “Sit in the cafe. Drink coffee and strike up a conversation with people around you. They’ll most likely want to talk to you ... how am I going to represent them (in my research) if I’ve never spent time with them?”

Though there are many positives, there are also precautions to consider as well, Borders said.

“If you research in the Middle East, there is a chance that you will be in a conflict zone,” Borders said.

“I constantly struggle with this. I am searched every single time I enter Israel. I am interrogated every single time I enter Israel. I am asked down to the most minute detail.”

Borders said people need to be reminded that an open mind is a necessity.

“Wherever you go in any sort of research, no matter what you study, you’re going to always bring something with you,” Borders said.

“You bring ideas. You bring opinions. You bring who you are.”

Borders has been accepted to a doctorate program and is planning to continue living between the U.S. and the Middle East.

“One of the things that I admire about her is that, besides her intellect and her interest in research, she has a very strong passion and, I should say, compassion for people,” Bratton said. “Her research questions are very much driven by hope of changing things to help make it a better world.”

hharris9@gru.edu

THE BELL RINGER

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OPINION www.grubellringer.com

editorial

Staff ushers in a new era I

f you’re studying communications at Georgia Regents University, chances are you’ve had a class with Matt Bosisio. For the 10 years he’s taught here, he’s also been The Bell Ringer’s advisor.

About two weeks ago, The Bell Ringer staff was told that “Boss” is leaving Georgia Regents and moving to another state. While we are happy and excited for our professor, this change in the The Bell Ringer family will take some getting used to.

Bosisio isn’t the only person leaving The Bell Ringer. Three members of The Bell Ringer’s current staff are graduating seniors; another is graduating in Fall 2015.

Since the beginning of spring semester, we’ve been talking about the changes the fall semester will bring for the paper. We’ve talked

about the people who may remain on staff, and who the new staff members may be. We’ve talked about how to do things better and how to prepare others to do the jobs by which we’ve honed our skills for almost a year.

For those of us who are graduating, it is disconcerting to realize that in a couple of months we will lose the identity we’ve had as college students, an identity we’ve had for four or more years. For everyone who is leaving The Bell Ringer, it is strange to think that we won’t be sitting down at our desks in the office or looking over practicum students’ copy, same as usual, when fall comes around.

As for staff members who stay on for another semester or year, it will take some time to adjust to a new staff. We don’t just work together at The Bell Ringer. We

eat together, listen to each other’s playlists, lend each other movies, share classes and, once a year, enjoy a memorable trip to GCPA in Athens, Ga. In other words, every new staff member is a new friend, and every departing staff member is a friend whom we’ll miss seeing every day.

And now our advisor is leaving, too. He also teaches the practicum classes all journalism majors must take and from which most of our staff writers come.

As we’ve evolved from clueless practicum I students to paid staff, Boss has been the man who pointed out our errors, complimented us on that great headline or reassured one of our staff after a particularly difficult story.

It would be easy for us to feel sad and nostalgic. It would be easy to consider The Bell Ringer’s

identity as being inseparable from its advisor or even certain staff members. But that feeling would be totally contradictory to what The Bell Ringer is and what it stands for.

The Bell Ringer is a place of change and challenge. It is a place for students to hone their skills before tackling the real world of journalism. It is an opportunity for professors to mentor outside of a

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

Better laws needed for marijuana A

The Mardi Gras-themed Jaguar Jam tailgate was one of many school spirit activities during homecoming week, Feb. 16 to 21.

Memories last far past Homecoming H

omecoming week has ended at Georgia Regents University, leaving many people with new memories and experiences to remember in their lives.

After my first experience being a homecoming ambassador, I was pleased to help people with various events during homecoming week.

I was also pleased to help myself with Jamie Sapp achieving my staff writer goals during that week.

As a homecoming ambassador, there were four main goals that I wanted to achieve: preparing and participating in various events, using different forms of communication and finding satisfaction.

A few weeks before homecoming week, the Homecoming Executive Council, The CREW, the homecoming ambassadors and I knew that we had to prepare for this major multiday event.

With a few meetings and various ways of communication, we were able to connect with each other and know what our duties would be.

Each ambassador had to make room on his or her schedule to participate in various events for the homecoming week.

With participation, I joined in three main events: car chalking, “Wear GRU, Get Food,” and Jaguar Jam. Each event had unique concepts and activities that focused on topics based on homecoming

“

I was satisfied with myself for actually going out to participate in something that was important for Georgia Regents.

-- Jamie Sapp

week.

From car chalking to Jaguar Jam, the level of excitement and anticipation increased by each day.

As we connected together as a group, it seems that the majority of us were in the Jaguar spirit.

As homecoming ambassadors, we had opportunities to spread news with students, faculty and the public using different forms of communication.

With Twitter, Facebook, fliers and face-to-face communication, I was able to communicate with people to help them know what various events and activities would occur.

Although there were many people that had some idea of when homecoming week starts, some people didn’t know about it. But I felt really confident when I had taken the opportunity to tell other people about homecoming week, so that they would enjoy various activities and support Georgia Regents.

After my first time experience, I was satisfied with myself for actually going out to participate in something that was important for Georgia Regents.

Being a homecoming ambassador was something that I wanted to join in when I was a freshman. Not only did I meet new people and have some fun, but also I gained confidence and knowledge all together. With those things, I can say that I would like to become a homecoming ambassador again.

”

After homecoming week ended, I realized how much I actually achieved within that time period.

For example, I was able to finish homework and study some notes for my classes ahead of time.

I was also able to pass a few tests, register classes for the next academic year and catch up on some TV shows.

But I honestly realized that in order for me to become a homecoming ambassador again, there are two main goals that I need to achieve: time management and sleep.

With time management, I found my class schedule conflicting with activities and events that I wanted to join in during homecoming week. There were a few times when I was going to freak out over what days that different class assignments were due, what meetings I had to attend or what time I was going to eat.

As for sleep, there were some days during homecoming week that I had about six to seven hours of sleep before a class. Although I normally don’t take naps, I took every opportunity to have them within my schedule – whether it was for an hour or just 15 minutes.

For any individual that wants to become a homecoming ambassador for next year, make sure that you manage your time wisely or you are going to stress yourself out. As for sleep, please make sure to have a lot of time for that.

jsapp270@gru.edu

traditional classroom. It is, ultimately, a place for people – both professors and students – to leave, better than when they entered.

The Bell Ringer wishes Professor Bosisio all the best, and thanks him for helping 10 Bell Ringer staffs become better writers, editors and people (who, in total, have won 72 awards at the GCPA conference). We hope he has enjoyed this time as much as we have.

push to reform marijuana laws is spreading throughout America.

The public debate has reached Georgia thanks to various advocacy groups and a few lawmakers who have pushed the marijuana debate to the forefront of Georgia politics.

I applauded the efforts of state representative Allen Peake and State Senator Curt Thompson for filing marijuana legislation that has sparked a much-needed James Bell discussion on contributor how best Georgia should deal with marijuana.

Rep. Peake wants limited medical legislation (House Bill 1) while Sen. Thompson wants a more comprehensive law (Senate Bill 7) allowing for in-state cultivation and dispensing of various forms of cannabis. SB-7 is the better approach to getting medicine to the masses.

We know public attitudes have changed dramatically over the past decade. A majority of voters support some form of marijuana decriminalization and more than 80 percent of voters want medical cannabis and lawmakers have shown strong support. With a stroke of a pen, patients and parents of seriously ill children could be receiving cannabis in just months, not years.

So why has medical marijuana legislation stalled in Georgia?

I quote Sen. Renee Unterman: “These parents don’t understand how the General Assembly works, but this building is nothing but politics,” she said after killing a medical bill in the final minutes of the 2014 session.

This year, Gov. Deal has become an obstructionist by forcing Rep. Peake to scrap plans to cul-

tivate cannabis in-state and allow legal access. Instead, they have cooked up an alleged “immunity” bill that forces parents and caregivers to try to acquire cannabis extracts from other states and smuggle it back to Georgia, risking arrests and violation of other state and federal laws.

Peake has gone as far as saying that civil disobedience is in order and will risk going to prison to get the medicine to the children.

Admirable, perhaps, but foolish considering no one needs to be put at risk to get a natural medicine to children and adults who may benefit.

Why would a lawmaker be willing to take a stand against the federal government and risk prison time, but not stand up against the governor of his own state?

Rep. Peake should have followed through with the proposed legislation and allowed the General Assembly to vote. If Gov. Deal rejects it, he has the power to veto.

It is shameful that the leadership of Georgia has forced parents to parade their children in front of the media like a circus and beg for a natural medicine that may improve the child’s quality of life, if not save their lives.

We should get behind legislation like SB-7 that allows in-state cultivation, whole plant therapeutics and doctors to determine how best cannabis should be used as medicine.

Let’s stop kicking the can down the road and let’s pass legislation that does not create a black market, protects public safety, provides medicine to those in need and does not criminalize medical patients.

Governor Nathan Deal ... have mercy!

georgiacareproject@gmail.com Bell is the director of the Georgia Campaign for Access Reform and Education, or Georgia C.A.R.E.

Corrections for Issue 9, Feb. 3 In the news article “Search council members recommended” (pg.

3), SGA President Michael Banks nominated 10 students, not eight.

Corrections for Issue 10, Feb. 17

In the editorial “More to SGA than money” (pg. 3), the number of student organizations was incorrect; there are approximately 140.

In the arts and life article “95 Rock exits Augusta” (pg. 5), the correct frequency for the new station is 95.5 HOT - FM.

PAGE 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

BDSM misconceptions: It’s Movie provokes thought on not always ropes and whips attitudes toward virginity

I

t seems our culture has really taken an interest in making the bedroom a little less “vanilla” and a little more leather-clad. And the pop culture phenomenon “50 Shades of Grey” has inarguably taken the closet doors off their hinges.

You can’t fault a single book or movie for leaving out pieces of information about such a broad lifestyle as BDSM. The objective of “50 Shades” is to tell a tumultuous, melodramatic love story, not educate middle-aged housewives on how to use a blind fold and riding crop on their significant other.

True, the movie doesn’t touch on some Amy Thorne important aspects of arts & life editor BDSM culture, so I’m here to clear up any misconceptions.

I’ve been practicing BDSM as a submissive for more than three years now.

Though I’m no expert, I can explain more in one article more than E.L. James could in a trilogy.

So, what is BDSM? It’s hard to define, but boils down the idea of sexual expression through power play. You have two main roles, the dominant (dom) the person who assumes the role of power and gives orders to be obeyed, and the submissive (sub) who allows the dom to take control over him/her.

The term BDSM involves sets of letters, each pair with a different meaning. In a nutshell, the pairs include B/D (bondage & discipline), D/S (dominance and submission) and S/M (sadism and masochism, or even sadomasochism). . It’s important to understand the following: IT’S ALL ABOUT CONSENT. Consent and trust make up a good

BDSM relationship. Otherwise, it’s sexual abuse. Let your partner know what you’re comfortable doing and you’ll be fine.

NOT ALL BDSM PLAY HAS TO REQUIRE PAIN. Unless, of course, you’re into the sadistic or masochistic side of it, you shouldn’t have to experience pain if you don’t want to. Be aware, however, that most BDSM play does involve pain in some way.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DANGEROUS. Safety is a priority whenever you’re engaging in BDSM activity. Two common guidelines for safe play are Safe, Sane and Consensual (SSC) and Risk Aware Consensual Kink (RACK). Partners can also agree on a specific word for submissive to use if they have reached their limit.

IT’S NOT ALL WHIPS AND ROPES. Though many people like to use floggers, whips, restraints, clamps and other tools to engage in “sensation play,” not everyone has to use hardcore toys.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO INVOLVE INTERCOURSE. That’s right. The objective is maximum pleasure, but that doesn’t have to include sex. BDSM is ultimately more of a psychological than physical experience.

PARTNERS CAN SWITCH ROLES It’s not uncommon for a sub to also play the role of a dominant, and vice versa, if the couple agrees to it. Some people can switch roles just as easily as they can sex positions.

You should be sure to educate yourself on this practice before starting. Anyone looking to engage in a new form of sexual play should always read any kind of literature available on the subject before beginning. The internet has a variety of resources to find credible information and talk to those who can give you proper advice.

Be safe and go have fun. athorne@gru.edu

I

saw “Fifty Shades of Grey” the day it came out, and I was shocked.

The sex every five minutes and the chains were whatever, but I am talking about when Anastasia told Christian that she was a virgin. Once I heard her say that, I literally sat and thought about it for a minute.

This girl was a college student that was probably 22 years old, and I am sure some people were thinking, “Do girls or guys like that even exist anymore?” The answer is yes, and I am one of them.

I feel that once someone finds out that a girl, or guy, over the age of 17 is a virgin, they are Schylo Phillips instantly stereotyped. columnist The stereotypes could be negative, such as virgins, especially male ones, are losers, not good enough for a sexual partner, socially awkward or there’s something physically or mentally wrong with them.

The stereotypes could also be positive, in some aspects. Virgins, especially girls, can be seen as pure and innocent, which can sometimes be admirable characteristics to a potential partner.

Someone being a virgin in his or her 20s and above fascinates people. Peers and even parents wonder why this person has waited so long to lose their virginity.

They also wonder how someone could be waiting for so long, particularly in a society that puts a lot of pressure on individuals to participate in sexual acts and over sexualizes everything.

For example, a couple of months ago I went to the doctor for a checkup. As usual, the doctor asked the question, “Are you, or have you ever been, sexually active?” and I said no. At the time I was 21, and the doctor

looked at me with a shocked expression and replied, “Really? Are you serious?” Yes, I was very serious. The doctor explained that he did not expect me to be one, especially at my age.

According to a Huffington Post article that I read, the average American man and woman lose their virginity, defined as having vaginal intercourse, at 17.

So why would someone decide to prolong the process? For many virgins, it is a deliberate, ideological choice.

It could be because of religious beliefs, a moral code, the fact that they do not want to get pregnant or they haven’t met the right person yet.

For me, it is a combination of all of these reasons, and I am sure each individual has a meaningful reason as to why they wait.

Most of the time, being a virgin has no impact on my life. My only complaint is that I do feel left out sometimes. Every other book, movie, show, conversation, etc., includes sex or some sexual act. I cannot relate to any of it.

If I end up in a conversation with a group of friends talking about their sexual escapades, I end up asking a lot of questions, or I just exit the conversation. Other than that, I maintain a pretty normal and healthy life as a virgin.

Having sex is an extremely personal decision and as time goes on, society’s views on sex will change, but having it is ultimately up to each individual.

I hope that virgins in 2015 will not let society trick them into believing that they have to rush into participating in any sexual acts before they are ready. If you are sexually active now, no big deal. Staying a virgin for a while longer, also no big deal. To each his own!

sphill17@gru.edu

Say no to paying more for access

I

really like Facebook and Pinterest. I bet you do, too.

Chive, Reddit, Pinterest, Facebook, your cousin Felicia’s blog: No matter what your Internet preferences are, net neutrality makes that happen.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, Jamie Lowe voted to produce contributor and uphold net neutrality rules.

Net neutrality is commonly defined as the principle that internet providing companies, known as ISPs, shouldn’t favor or block particular websites and should give equal access to all Internet content and websites, regardless of content.

Sounds good, right? That’s because is it.

In January 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals struck down the FCC rulings on net neutrality. So for the last few months there have been feral, mangy ISPs lobbying to gain control of Internet content.

Why, you ask? If Comcast and other ISPs had the power to favor content, the company could market your Internet.

What do I mean when I say “market your internet”?

Marketing your Internet means favoring the higher-paying web-

sites over all others. Potentially, in the future of a non-neutral net, you would go to an ISP and have to select a level of Internet. If you couldn’t or didn’t want to pay higher Internet fees, you wouldn’t have access to the whole Internet.

“Uh-huh. So, how does that affect me?” you ask.

Again, you like Netflix, Facebook and the cute polar bears on Coca-Cola’s homepage. You probably even like Pinterest and your cousin Felicia’s blog. In a non-neutral Internet? Bye Pinterest.

Bye Felicia.

Seriously! You read that correctly! In an Internet controlled by big businesses, the highest-paying websites would get more traction and speed than lower, non-paying websites. That’s not all right.

If Felicia is writing about her political activism on her blog, or you’re using Pinterest to research marketing strategies, you’d have to pay more to view them. That means people who aren’t paying more don’t see that content or those ideas.

Can you name another country that limits its Internet access? I can: North Korea. Take a moment to pause and think about that bombshell.

Personally I feel that big business running my access to the whole world via the Internet is not acceptable, no matter what they charge. jamienicolelowe@gmail.com

Net neutrality protects people from having to pay more for certain sites, like Netflix.

Age adds to college I

was once a student here: It was 11 years ago and I was a young, immature know-it-all that had the world at his fingertips. This university was a combination of second-tier students with bad attitudes sitting in classrooms run by instructors so bitter and opinionated they didn’t deserve the title of professor.

Brad Clark Dealing contributor with the joke of politics and bureaucracy that defined this institution of higher learning is what led me to join the Army.

I spent six years away becoming a better friend, student, adult and person, learning to define myself. This university did the same, while on a slightly different timescale.

Exiting the Army, I decided that everyone and everything deserves a second chance, including Augusta State University.

Just as I am getting used to the place, it starts changing with the

merger. While I am upset at the loss of the use of Augusta in the name, I understand why the school went this route. Becoming a R1 institution will, in the end, benefit not only the school, but its students and the community.

Just like a person, this university is growing and ever changing.

There are high points and low points, as this is college, a learning experience - not only for the students enrolled, but for the school as well.

While I am a typical bitter veteran that gets angry at fellow students who have profound ignorance when it comes to world events and experience in today’s society, ranging from current events to personal responsibility for checking a class syllabus for assignments, I now see a professionalism in the instructors and professors that was lacking a decade ago.

While the administration and bureaucracy of Georgia Regents University isn’t functioning at 100 percent yet, the facility and its faculty are damn near there.

The obvious difference from then to now is a desire to actually expand knowledge and to inspire

self-awareness along with critical thinking and responsibility, instead of just checking the box and influencing the pupils with biased opinions and views.

I know that I am talking about the university as a whole, but my experiences only encompass the general education classes and then the political science and communications departments. I can tell you that the growth of these two departments of the past decade is one to be proud of. Every instructor genuinely cares about their students, promotes informing and educating them, all while continuing their own education or research or experience in the field they are teaching.

The biggest problem I see now in the classroom is the students themselves.I see professors having to teach things that should have been taught in high school.

GRU is a place we all enter and attend in order to learn, and just like us, the university is learning. It is learning what it takes to be a top college and what needs to be done in order to prepare those attending to reach their full potential.

bclark7@gru.edu

THE BELL RINGER

ARTS & LIFE

PAGE 6

www.grubellringer.com

Jean-paul cassagnol | staff

Dancers and models participated in the third Show Me What You Got Hair Show hosted by the Black Student Union at Georgia Regents Universtiy. The show was meant to involve more students in campus activities.

Hair show engages students

By Taylor Mitchell staff writer

The Georgia Regents University Black Student Union held its 3rd Annual Show Me What You Got Hair Show in the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre Sunday.

“The show was good,” said Chill Ay Chillz, on-air personality and assistant program director for Foxie 103 Jamz. “I liked it. It was better than last year, but not as good as what next year is going to be. We found out what some of the issues were last year, and we tried to fix them for next year. So next year, we will find out what this year’s issues were and we will fix them and that show will be better than this one.”

Chillz said he thinks there needs to be more planning and rehearsals next year. He said the show could be huge and that Georgia Regents has been a great platform for it.

Keeping the show at Georgia Regents would be great, he said, but he’d like to see it grow enough to move it to the Bell Auditorium.

“It was a little difficult to work with in the beginning but we did it and made it all come together,” said Jasmine Olden, a model who participated in the show. “I got my start modeling here in this hair show last year, and I love it. Moving into the future I feel like we should work on organization, because it gets crazy behind the curtains. I definitely plan on continuing to model for this hair show. I look forward to making this

show bigger and better. We can only go up from here.”

Olden said modeling gives a person a big boost of confidence and they can do whatever they want when up on stage; she said every girl likes to dress up and get pretty as a way to express herself without constraints.

Hair shows are also very different, Olden said, because the hair doesn’t always fit the person’s personality, so they have to be able to shift who they are to pull off the hairstyle.

“What I love most about this show is the creativity and time that people dedicate to doing it,” said Tracey Bland, president of Black Student Union. “People don’t seem to understand that shows like this

“The organization is very organized,” Quiller said. “And you know, I feel like they’re trying to do positive things for the community to expand people’s perspectives, people’s cultural perspectives.”

Fredrick Grant, an English professor at Georgia Regents, said the English Club has much to offer students.

“The English Club really, I think, offers a lot of opportunities for students to engage in the exploration of literature in a more intimate way than in a class setting where you have maybe 20 to 40 people learning about a particular piece of literature,” Grant said. “(It offers) a small sort of setting, where you can really engage in any piece of literature, or some piece of the culture, at least that you can still explore in a way that you might study a piece of literature.”

The club is not limited to literature, he said.

“We certainly talk about movies and TV shows and music and things like that,” Grant said. “But we still explore them and appreciate them in the same way that you might appreciate a piece of literature, for example.”

Carr said the club wants to involve the community with Georgia Regents.

“It is a goal of ours to kind of branch out and reach out to other people outside of GRU campus as well as to the people on GRU campus,” she said. “And … we’re hoping to involve or do various activities that will involve kind of

the parents at GRU, as well as the community. But we want to focus on especially the parents that attend GRU. We feel like there’s not a whole lot of extracurricular things that they can do with their family.”

Carr said she hopes to have reading sessions and other activities with students’ children.

Staci Reiter, a senior double majoring in English and history, is the vice president of the English Club.

“We’re hoping to renew an emphasis on reading,” she said. “We want to be involved with the community as much as possible. So we want to do like library readings … book drives where we have people bring in books that they aren’t using.”

Reiter said anyone is welcome to join the English Club.

“You don’t have to be an English major to join,” she said. “Anybody (is welcome) who likes the idea of working in the community, having fun, and, you know, bringing attention to the importance of literature, despite the fact that it may not be your chosen major.”

Reiter also said the activities depend on how involved people are with the club. “(If) the people that are really motivated, then it can have a really big impact,” she said. “But if people are less motivated, not so much, and I know that is up to the leadership. However excited the leaders are, that’s how excited the members will be.”

English Club seeks to share literary joy

By Jamie Sapp staff writer The English Club has plans to use literature to bring awareness to Georgia Regents University and the community in Augusta.

Samantha Carr, a junior English major, is the president of the English Club.

Carr said the club was previously not chartered. It became officially chartered at the end of the spring semester of 2014.

Carr said she plans to get everything about the English Club posted on Facebook and have more members in the club.

“As of right now, our numbers are a little low, since our club is just getting started back,” she said.

“And we’re hoping that this will push it along for people to know that we are out there, and we would like to, you know, come together and promote.”

Membership fees wouldn’t be the best thing to have for the club, Carr said. Her role in the English Club is mainly to help organize events.

“As a general member, all of us as members, we kind of promote the awareness of why literature is so important,” Carr said. “We are going to bring opportunities to both the community and the campus to engage in … an analytical review of it; maybe like a book club, or such things as that.”

Walter Quiller, a junior English major, said the club is trying to do positive things for the community.

jsapp270@gru.edu

require a lot of prior planning and continuous work that you really can’t do without an amazing team.

As student organizations, it really is our job to hold events that people want to come out to and support.

We carry the burden of the student life here on campus. Reaching out into the CSRA community and even with our school, gives people at our school a venue to come out and mingle with their classmates and peers.”

Association is key, Bland said.

She said that, most of the time, people just come to campus, go to class and leave to go home.

Events like the hair show aim to bring everyone together to support each other, she said.

She said she enjoys seeing her

friends perform. The whole college experience, she said, is about coming out and supporting each other.

“It’s really sad that I’m about to graduate, but I would like to see this tradition continue,” Bland said.

“This is the third year we have done this here on the Georgia Regents campus in a row, and from this point on I feel like it can only get better. I’m very sure that the next president will keep the ball rolling.

We learn from our mistakes and I would really like for this to still be something that is around on the college campus, because this really is an opportunity for people to network, get their face out there for bigger and better opportunities and it promotes diversity as well.” tmitch22@gru.edu

joshua adams | Staff

Members of the Musketeers dance troupe entertain students Feb. 24 at the JSAC.

‘Unplugged’ series showcases talents

By Joshua Adams staff writer Student-run production group The CREW has developed the monthly event The CREW Unplugged to showcase the many talents of Georgia Regents University students.

JoVawne Fletcher, a senior majoring in public relations at Georgia Regents University, is vice president of public relations of The CREW and organizes The CREW Unplugged events.

“The CREW Unplugged is a new series that Jaguar Production CREW is testing out,” he said. “We wanted something to liven up the campus more, create more tradition and culture. We started The CREW Unplugged just to get students around the campus to showcase their talents and brighten up the university.”

Deonte Morrison, a senior majoring in information technology,

performed with his hip-hop group, tentatively dubbed The Musketeers, Feb. 24.

“I sold people my heart, my passion,” Morrison said. “I love dancing. I really like battling people. We have a little group, they’re like my family, and we meet up every Friday to practice. We do hiphop dancing, which is an accumulation of a lot of different arts and a lot of different styles: like b-boy, break dancing, bone breaking, sudden animation, flex style, pop and lock and a lot of footwork. This was my fifth performance. I’ve performed on campus, at church and at a wedding.”

Ashley Elim, a junior television and cinema major, performed at the previous CREW Unplugged event Jan. 27.

“I’ve been singing all my life, I’m in church and everything, but I just started my career this past see CREW on PAGE 8

What are Georgia Regents University students playing?

Furman Downer, a freshman cellular/ molecular biology major

Coleman Moody, a freshman pre-nursing major

Chris Montiel, a sophomore premarketing major

Tyler Graves, a senior biology major

Brian Sargent, a sophomore accounting major

Let us know what you’re doing by emailing bellringerproduction@gmail.com

PAGE 7

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Garden City Grub Sidney Fowler

contributor

haley harris | staff

(Left photo) Adam Harris Thompson (left) and Adam Joseph Sams (right) share the stage. (Right photo) Claire Storm sings lead for Chainsaw Masscara.

Augustans select best local talent

By Haley Harris news editor

Augusta’s very own American Music Awards goes by the name of Lokal Loudness Choice Awards. On Feb. 21, it brought together some of the city’s best talent.

John “Stoney” Cannon, producer of Lokal Loudness and co-owner of M.A.D. Studios, is a singer/song writer and musician in three local bands.

He said Lokal Loudness Choice Awards has been handing out awards since 1995.

“We’re actually the longest running independent music organization in the Southeast,” Cannon said. “And we currently have the longest running independent music awards in the Southeast.”

He also said that music in the city resides strongly in the downtown Augusta area and he enjoys the unity and bond between musicians.

One musician, SeddyMac, who was nominated for the James Brown Award For Fave Soul/Hip Hop Artist, said that Lokal Loudness was about coming together as artists and not as competitors.

“This whole thing is about coming together. Support,” SeddyMac said. “Whether you’re rap, hip-hop, country, rock, whatever. We all need to support each other.”

Cannon said the award show has been held at several different locations but mainly in the Sky City building.

There are 18 awards overall, he said. Some include fa-

HALEY HARRIS | STAFF

Local artists compete for titles during the Lokal Loudness Choice Awards.

vorite vocalist, guitarist, bassist and others.

Over the years, the amount and types of awards have changed. This year jazz and spoken word were added.

“We try to update it,” Cannon said. “At first it was just really basic independent awards and it was mostly held at other events ... we changed that to where now the public goes online and not only votes, but they nominate. They pick the nominees.”

Cannon said the event tries to avoid using the term “best,” and instead, uses the term “favorite” in order to better represent the awards’ meaning.

“Each of our awards is a favorite award, not a best award, like the best of Augusta or Augusta Magazine’s best,” Cannon said. “We don’t count it as best because there’s so many different genres and music and stuff that we do it more as a favorite because that’s what it is and people vote for each one.”

Cannon said he plans to keep Lokal Loudness around for many years to come and hopes it will keep the support it already has.

“We’ve been around over 20 years and don’t plan on stopping any time soon,” Cannon said. hharris9@gru.edu

Trolley tour provides rich history, food

By Phylicia Cornelious contributor Joshua adams | staff

The Independent Cinema Night at Sky City showcaseds film, art and music.

Indie cinema night highlights local art

By Joshua Adams staff writer Various works of art by local artists were showcased at Sky City’s event Independent Cinema Night Feb. 23.

Alex Taylor, the main organizer of the event, said the showcase featured different types of independent art such as abstract photography, stencil work, classical painting, abstract colleges, sculptures, film and music, all of which were produced by artists from Augusta.

“The goal was to try to change people’s impression of art in Augusta,” Taylor said.

“We brought in local visual artists, musicians and filmmakers and try to prove people wrong.

We put on a free event that brings people together ... There are truly some amazing artists here.”

Taylor said his goal with

this event was not to simply create entertainment.

“Art is the last thing to naturally form within a society and we have that luxury now,” Taylor said. “What are we doing with it? If we’re going to dominate the world, let’s do it with our innovations and imaginations.”

The event was put on in an effort to revolutionize the way Augustans perceive art, Taylor said.

Taylor worked on all three films that were shown: a preview of his own film “The Milk Man: A Return to my Roots,” the short “Caterpillar” by David Field and “Samuel’s Game,” written and directed by Jared Outten.

Coco Rubio, the owner of Sky City, said he was thankful for how well the artists put together the event. jadams35@gru.edu

Ding! Ding! Here comes the trolley, carrying a Firehouse sub and knowledge just for you.

If you haven’t heard, let me share the news: The historic district in Augusta has much to offer!

There is a trolley that runs through the city that will give anybody and everybody a glimpse of the history birthed right here in the city of Augusta.

Have you heard of a Mr. Button Gwinnett? Better yet, did you know that Augusta had its own Button Gwinnett Street?

Well, if you didn’t know, Laney Walker Boulevard was once known as Button Gwinnett Street.

This history, better yet knowledge, was passed on to me simply by reserving a spot on the history trolley that runs yearround here in historic Augusta and then making sure I made it on time to take a trip through history.

There are several different

history rides, including but definitely not limited to, a one-hour Lunch and Learn tour, in which I participated, two different two-hour tours profiling the history of Augusta’s Summerville area and the historic downtown area, a ghost trolley, and a golf and heritage trolley.

The one-hour tour has about six stops, with each stop better than the last.

Stops within the one-hour tour included Union Baptist Church, various sorority and fraternity houses and the home of the Tutt Family.

At each stop, you are given a detailed description on how the location or the people who visited and lived there had a major influence in shaping Augusta into the city it is today. The tour has such ambiance that the hour whisks by pretty quickly.

I suggest that, if you want to find out more, reserve your spot on the tour for a Friday or Saturday afternoon.

The history is here, and it all starts with a trolley ride.

TakoSushi is tasty

G

rowing up in Hawaii and moving to Augusta can give one doubts about eating sushi here.

However, TakoSushi in Surrey Center left nothing to be desired by the end of my meal Monday night, Feb. 23.

Going out for sushi in Augusta definitely made me feel skeptical. But after much deliberation and constant suggestions from friends and colleagues to go and try it, I took a chance and decided to go all out.

I have eaten at TakoSushi before; however, I would usually stick to the Mexican side of the menu for the most part for fear of being utterly disappointed with the sushi.

Eating bad sushi would make me sad and miss Hawaii so much more than I already do.

I was determined this time would be different and that I would try one of my all-time favorite rolls or, rather, something close to it, then try fish that I’ve never tried before.

Upon arriving at the Surrey Center location, I was met with wonderful service and an environment rather comforting, regardless of the above average noise level for a Monday.

I sat at the sushi bar and decided to order the bento box. It had a little bit of everything.

This order came with some sides, one being miso soup, which was very tasty.

The soup was lukewarm; just the right temperature. The broth was savory and the little cubes of tofu were nice and soft. The chopped green onion garnish added just enough to make each bite crisp, leaving you wanting more.

The next side item was a cucumber salad. It had diced cucumber on the bottom, sprouts and shredded crabmeat on top drizzled with Ponzu sauce.

Because my companion for the night is allergic to shellfish, I requested to get this side dish packed to go to avoid him somehow getting some of it and going into anaphylactic shock. That would be a real drag, seriously.

Next came the bento box. Inside contained a volcano roll. It had fresh tuna and cucumber wrapped in rice and seaweed with avocado and tuna slices on top with teriyaki sauce drizzled on the whole roll.

The roll was amazing. It was beautifully crafted. You could tell the chefs really know what they’re doing.

Next to the roll were 12 sliced sashimigrade, assorted fish. It had white tuna, salmon, tuna and tilapia, three of each kind.

It was my first time tasting white tuna, and it was amazing. It melted in my mouth like butter. The salmon was so good and different from other salmon dishes I’ve had that I actually asked the chef what kind of fish it was! The tilapia was a little tough but still enjoyable. The tuna was soft with hardly any fat, which is a good thing in my opinion.

Then I had the chefs’ choice of sushi.

I was given a slice of white tuna, salmon, tuna, tilapia and yellowtail individually atop white rice. Each one was great and suitably portioned.

For the amount of food I received, the variety and the quality, I would gladly order this dish again.

It turns out trying new things can be rewarding. Even though the sushi didn’t come from home and wasn’t made the way I’m used to, it gave me a new perspective on something that still brings me joy.

sfowler@gru.edu

pcorneli@gru.edu

Faculty Sspotlight: Meet Trudy GrinBy Richard Adams editor-in-chief

Richard Adams | staff

Trudy Grindle cheers up staff while keeping university buildings clean.

“Marvelous Monday, terrific Tuesday, wonderful Wednesday, tremendous Thursday, fabulous Friday, and sensational Saturday and Sunday, spiritual Sunday.”

This is how Trudy Grindle, an environmental services technician assigned to the second floor of Allgood Hall, said she describes the days of the week.

During five of these days every week, she said, her duties require her to sweep, empty trash cans, clean the bathrooms, dust and mop the floor, check on the office suites and break rooms, and polish the light fixtures and door panels.

But she does much more than that, said Tina Zimmerman, administrative assistant for the office of the dean of arts, humanities and sciences, which is one of the spaces that Grindle

tends to daily.

“It’s a delight to have her come in every day and cheer us up,” Zimmerman said. “She contributes greatly to the morale, and it just makes coming in every day, it adds something special to your day.”

Grindle said that if she ever seems to ignore someone, it isn’t out of meanness, but instead, because she can’t hear that person. see TRUDY on PAGE 8

Sidney fowler | contributor

Takosushi offers up a wide variety for sushi lovers.

THE BELL RINGER

ARTS & LIFE

PAGE 8

Beck displays talent Beyonce still strong

By Richard Adams editor-in-chief

“Morning Phase,” the twelfth studio album by Beck Hansen, known simply as Beck, opens with an orchestral swell so delicate, no vocals are applied. The artist stands behind the music, waiting, orchestrating.

Because he enlisted the help of the same session musicians employed to make 2002’s starkly emotional “Sea Change,” “Morning Phase” is considered an extension and thematic progression upon that album, which chronicled Beck’s reaction to the abrupt end of a nine-year relationship, one that left his typically soulful and plaintive voice scoured, empty and raw.

Without use of effects, Beck’s dejected, questioning lyrics on “Sea Change” seem to be pulled up from out of him, as if yanked back into the light, barely

rescued and traumatized, from the bottom of a perilously deep well.

As in with all recoveries, there must be a long period of rest afterward.

And so, twelve years and four albums later, “Morning Phase” finds Beck expressing the sound of a soul survivor revived, waking back into a world that once caused him so much pain.

Lyrically, Beck addresses that abyss often in “Morning Phase,” whether it be through the image of a soul lost at sea, or an avalanche crashing down; but in the track “Turn Away,” instead of despairing, he tells his listeners “Turn/ Turn away/ From the sound of your own voice … Hold, hold the line/ That fixes you in time.”

While “Sea Change” is tonally beautiful, there is an emergent warmth to “Morning Phase” quite unlike anything on that earlier record.

It is as though his emotions and confused happiness here are flowers peeking through the last snow thaw of winter: a golden tone, a sun-kissed feeling wholly absent from the blue-black kaleidoscope of “Sea Change.”

By returning to the instrumentation and themes of “Sea Change,” Beck shows that a life lived past the pain allows for additions; this time around, a few banjos show up, and there’s some slide guitar and harmonica, too – almost like instruments assembling for a slow dance at a country hall after a long day of hard work.

There is a lot of memory and ambiguity in this album, not typically the type of things that sell records.

This is the artistic integrity Kanye West spoke of, though he didn’t seem to note the fact he was standing a few feet away from a perfect example of it. radams99@gru.edu

By Jordan Barry production manager

“Yonce all on his mouth like liquor.”

Yep. That’s right, folks.

Kanye did it again. When Beck beat out Beyonce for best album of the year at the 2015 Grammy Awards, Kanye proceeded to bash the anti-folk artist in favor of his favorite fierce pop queen.

While Kanye was being ridiculous when he accused Beck of not being a real artist, I have to admit that his wholehearted support of Beyonce is not ill-placed.

She has pipes that can kill, puts out culturally relevant music and her music videos are always on point.

Her most recent album, self-titled “Beyonce,” was in the running for Album of the Year for good reason.

Queen Bey surprised all of her fans when she released the album overnight on iTunes in December

Local music academy teaches soul to pupils

By Joshua Adams staff writer

Deanna Brown Thomas, daughter of the late James Brown, created the James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils (J.A.M.P.) to demonstrate the importance of music education and honor her father.

Thomas, president of the James Brown Family Foundation, said J.A.M.P. is continuing Brown’s Legacy.

J.A.M.P.’s goal, she said, is to provide an environment where talented children can thrive and be heard.

“It’s a situation where you have different young kids who come from broken homes and a lot of crazy backgrounds,” she said. “And you can bring them into an atmosphere that’s caring and nurturing, a loving atmosphere, but still fun for them. There’s no telling what you can get out of a talented child, be-

Trudy

CONTINUED from PAGE 7

“I’m hard of hearing,” Grindle said. “Sometimes (students), some of them will talk to me, and I don’t hear them. When they’re talking to me from the back, I can’t hear. If they’re in front and I can hear them and they are talking, I can read their lips.”

The loss of her hearing came from a bout of childhood illness, Grindle said. Because of the difficulties she’s had over the years with hearing aids, she decided 21 years ago to do without.

During a difficult time in her life, she said, she came across an object she would end up collecting throughout her life.

“I love first aid kits,” Grindle said. “When I divorced my kids’

cause every child has a talent.”

The children learn to play music by James Brown, Thomas said, but they also learn much more than that.

Thomas said that it’s also important that the youth learn discipline.

“In order for these kids to stay in J.A.M.P. they’ve got to keep their grade-point average up,” Thomas said.“If they need tutoring, we help them with tutoring.”

The children and their parents love J.A.M.P., Thomas said.

“The community has embraced it,” she said. “They are worldwide.

MTV from Japan will be here tomorrow to film these kids.”

Group drummer, Funky Drummet, will be attending Georgia Regents University this fall as an optometry major.

“The point of J.A.M.P. is to get kids doing something positive with music.” he said. “We have ages four

daddy, I always wanted to vote, I always wanted to give blood. And so, when I went and gave my blood, they had a little first aid kit they’d give me. And from then, I just loved collecting all different kinds. I got one at home, I doubt I’ll ever use it, that you can use when you go in the woods hunting and camping and all.”

In 2014, Grindle was awarded the first ever William H. Bloodworth, Jr. Award for Excellence in Facilities Performance. Murray said after she’d made a case for Grindle to be selected as the recipient of the award, the manager for the grounds maintenance department who had just presented his own nominee for the award, agreed with Murray that Grindle was one of a kind.

Murray said Grindle’s work attitude is one such that no matter where she is, if she sees something dirty, she is going to clean it.

2013. Then, in November 2014, she released a platinum edition with a few new songs and extended versions of some of the originals.

“Beyonce” is full of sexually explicit songs that offer a look into Beyonce and Jay-Z’s relationship.

“Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” “Blow” and “Rocket” are not for the faint of heart, and they are the main reason the album got a parental advisory warning on iTunes.

However, those who have criticized Beyonce as being overly sexual in this album in order to prove that she is not boring now that she is married should take a step back.

First of all, she’s always put out some sexually expressive songs on her albums. Second, she’s not only singing about her sexual empowerment and exploration on “Beyonce.”

Mrs. Carter gets real with her fans in her songs “Jealous,” “Mine” and “No

to 18. Basically, we pass what we learn to the younger ones so that, hopefully, when they get to be our age, they can do the same thing and make a continuous cycle.”

J.A.M.P. member Baesetta Fly plays bass and occasionally sings for the group.

“I started when I was 12 and I noticed I had musical talent when I started playing guitar,” Fly said.

“When J.A.M.P. was holding auditions … I figured I would try it, and I got in. They put me on bass and it just broadened my horizons.”

She said music is very important to her.

“Music has given me opportunity to travel,” Fly said. “It’s important for me to keep up my musical skills. You have to learn to carry yourself as a musician. Music is important to me because it’s inside of me, and I know that I can take that and do something with it.” jadams35@gru.edu

Joshua adams | staff

CONTINUED from PAGE 6

Richard adams | staff

“She is a go-getter,” Murray said. “She’s one of those employees that knows her job, and she just does it without being told. That’s a very rare quality.” radams99@gru.edu

jbarry3@gmail.com

The James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils teaches students proper musicianship.

Crew

Grindle is the first to receive an award for excellence in facilities performance.

Angel,” which are clear expressions of her frustrations in her marriage, and make it evident that she and Jay-Z are working through real problems.

Other songs, like “Yonce” and “Flawless,” are about female empowerment.

“Heaven” is a sweet song about losing a friend. And Yonce even featured her daughter, Blue Ivy, on the album in her song “Blue.”

Finally, Beyonce snatched up a song written by Sia called “Pretty Hurts,” which speaks on the pressure for women to be perfect and the insecurities that come along with it.

From sexual exploration to female empowerment, real relationship problems and a few heartfelt songs, Bey really covered it all in this album.

She is a very well-rounded artist and has earned her crown. Bow down to Queen Bey!

April,” Elim said. “I’m a music minor right now, so I can get the education for it. I’ve been in choirs and can read music. I’ve been working with producers in the area, as well as Atlanta, just to get a feel for it to eventually be able to do it all on my own. I eventually want to perform, write.”

Elim said that she has a project that will be released May 18, with a listening party May 16.

“I think CREW Unplugged is a good idea,” Elim said. “There’s a lot of people in Augusta and GRU that have talents that don’t really get the chance to be showcased.

Maybe they don’t have enough time or have enough opportunities to do so. The fact that CREW gives us the

time and opportunity to perform is a really good thing.”

Fletcher said The CREW has two upcoming Unplugged events: one March 21 at the JSAC patio, the other April 27 at the amphitheater.

“We are always looking for the next act that wants to be featured in the next CREW Unplugged,” Fletcher said. “You could stop and ask any crew member and they’ll let me know.” jadams35@gru.edu

Joshua adams | staff

Students are able to show off their skills each month through CREW Unplugged.

PAGE 9

comics

Read it in The Bell Ringer

Across

Down

4. The GRU ___ team recently had eight

1. Contributor Phylicia Cornelious wrote

games cancelled or postponed.

about her experience on an Augusta ___

9. Dr. ___ is the new senior vice presi-

tour.

dent for research at Georgia Regents.

2. Samanthat Borders discussed her trav-

11. Augustans got ___ and loud Feb. 21.

els in the ___ Feb. 16.

13. Men’s golf team member Robin Pe-

3. ____ Grindle collects first aid kits.

tersson is a ____ junior.

5. Our Garden City Grub column features

14. According to a front-page story, ___

____ this issue.

is highly contagious.

6. _____, a senior at Georgia Regents, is

16. Two columns mention the new movie

working with Mayor Hardie Davis to help

“____.”

youth.

17. Back in 2009, students launched ___.

7. The Black Student Union held its 3rd

Good Luck!

Answers for last issue: Across: 5. Justice 6. Power 9.

Carnival 10. KingCake 12. Coconuts 14. FrenchQuarter 17. Indians 18. Parades Down: 1. Harlequin 2. Mask 3.

NewOrleans 4. SameDay 7. Free 8. January 11. Lent 13. Throws 15. Faith 16. FatTuesday

annual ___.

8. Juli Sibley wrote a book called “Earth Friendly ___.”

10. ____ Boulevard is going ot be narrowed soon.

12. Students can show off their talents with The ___ Unplugged.

15. Independent Cinema Night included a short film called “___.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 10

sports www.grubellringer.com

Team makes Peach Belt

By Richard Adams editor-in-chief The GRU Augusta women’s basketball team closed the regular season with its highest offensive record of the year when it played against USC Aiken Feb. 25, and won 91-70.

Prior to the game, Head Coach Nate Teymer said the team, roughly 75 percent of which is composed of new players, was finally beginning to gel together.

Before the evening’s tournament-qualifying win, the team had won six out of nine games after a slow start and a seven-game losing streak.

“The learning curve took a little bit longer than probably what we wanted,” he said. “But whenever you have a big, new group coming in, just trying to get everyone used to playing with one another, that kind of aspect of it, it was difficult.”

The winning streak gave the team a much-needed burst of energy, especially because it brought more home crowds to subsequent games, said Kariel Hutt, a junior forward and the team’s leading scorer this season. But coming to this

richard adams | STaff

Tavia Sykes drives the ball against USC Aiken players during the PBC-matched home game Feb. 25.

point, she said, has not been easy.

“Yes, we had to fight,” Hutt said. “There was a lot of work, a lot of practice, a lot of running, a lot of doing extra work in the gym by ourselves, but we got it done.”

Assistant Coach Special Jennings said building the importance of teamwork in the minds of the individual players has been key to the successes the team experienced during the latter

part of the season.

“I think once they started understanding that and seeing that, it just became better for us,” she said.

“Chemistry is not just something you throw on the table and it forms. You know, it’s chemistry; you’ve got to mix it in, you’ve got to kind of work it, you’ve got to kind of figure it out. Our chemistry became better on the floor, and that’s how we were able to put ourselves in this position.”

In the second half of the Aiken game, Hutt collided with teammate Kayla Roberts, a junior guard. The accident took out both players for the duration of the game, Teymer said. “(During the Aiken game) we needed somebody to help take the scoring and rebounding, and it just makes some people play more minutes … than they’re accustomed to,” he said. “But I was proud of the way the girls, they

didn’t let it rattle them. People stepped up, they subbed in, they played well.”

Tavia Sykes and Erika Waters were put in place, Teymer said. In doing so, the makeup of the play changed more toward a forward guard lineup rather than the original configuration, that had two post players with three guards in.

Finding players that will fit a team is always a goal in recruitment, he said, and those efforts have finally paid off this year.

“I’m proud at how the season has transpired,” Teymer said. “It was a great exclamation point to put on the regular season, saying, you know, we went through some adversity in the beginning of the year, and we came together and we were capable of doing something like that. If it was December and somebody would tell people that Augusta would beat Aiken by 20 plus the last game of the year, (people would think) that you were crazy.”

The team ended its season with a loss at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals against Columbus State, 66-53. radams99@gru.edu

Student follows golf to Augusta

By Jessica Sager copy editor

jessica sager | staff

Robin Petersson, from Sweden, practices his swing at the golf course next to Christenberry Fieldhouse before the next game.

Robin Petersson was introduced to golf during summer break when he was 11. He would end up traveling from his home in Sweden to study and play golf in Augusta, where he is now a redshirt junior at GRU. “He is obviously the most golf-intelligent player on our team,” Head Coach Jack O’Keefe said. “I like to say he has the highest golf IQ in that he understands practice things, tournament things, on-course things, off-course things, so he just is a well-rounded young man in all aspects of life.”

Petersson said he first visited the United States

when a Swedish Golf Federation program called the Collegiate Golf Experience brought him to Florida.

“After that trip, I knew that it was something I really wanted to try, at least, because everything looked cool,” he said. “I remember we visited University of Florida. We got to see the football stadium and stuff, and that’s way different from back home. We don’t really have school sports, but I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to develop my game.”

O’Keefe said Petersson “has a chance to do some really good things” both on the team and, possibly, as a professional golf player.

Petersson is majoring in

finance, and said that if he doesn’t golf professionally, he might work as a broker.

Even with a career in golf, Petersson said, he will be able to use his major to invest the money he makes.

Broc Everett, a redshirt freshman, said Petersson has “definitely earned his spot” on the golf team.

“I was there when he got his first hole-in-one, over at Forest Hills over here,” he said. “That was pretty cool, because he’d never had one before in an actual round of golf and so he was really excited about it … It was pretty cool to just be there with him and see how excited he was picking it up out of the hole.” jschucke@gru.edu

Sherrill pushes heart over height

By Timothy Howard staff writer

On the court, Keshun Sherrill is known as a fierce competitor and versatile point guard, but the redshirt sophomore is more than just a basketball player.

Sherrill was born in Statesville, N.C. He and his family later moved to Troutman, N.C., before settling in Cleveland, N.C., where he currently resides, Sherrill said.

Sherrill played basketball at West Rowan High School in Mount Ulla, N.C., under Head Coach Mike Gurley. Gurley was GRU Augusta head coach Dip Metress’ roommate when the two were in college, and was best man at Metress’ wedding. “(Gurley) told me to come look at Keshun,” Metress said. “On the day we went to look at him, we looked at four kids on the same day, two of which signed to Division I programs. Keshun was the last one we saw. And I remember turning to Jamie (Quarles, GRU Augusta assistant coach) after Keshun had just scored 33 points, and I said, ‘Do you realize that Keshun is the best one of these four guys, and we have the best chance of getting him?’”

Sherrill said he decided to play basketball at what was then Au-

gusta State University not only because of the way former players and coaches welcomed him during his official visit, but also because of the numerous championship banners displayed around Christenberry Fieldhouse.

“When I saw all of the banners, it was sort of like my old high school,” he said. “And because I come from a winning program as well, I knew coming to Augusta State – now GRU – I knew that this was a winning program. That’s what brought me here.”

Senior point guard D’Angelo Boyce, who has played with Sherrill for the past two seasons, said he believes that Sherrill’s talents extend beyond scoring points.

“His first year, he wasn’t able to play, so he redshirted, and he pushed everybody in practice like he was already on the team, and like he was already a leader on the team,” he said. “And then, when he actually got the chance to play during his freshman year, he just competed and he didn’t let anybody just run all over him.”

Sherrill, who is listed as 5 foot 9 inches in the Jaguars’ media guide, said he has taken inspiration from other similarly sized basketball players to play hard and suc-

ceed, including NBA point guard Nate Robinson.

“Nate’s quote is, ‘Heart over height,’” he said. “That’s all it takes. You look at all the short guys that are and were in the NBA – Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, Muggsy Bogues. Yeah, they’re 5 foot 7 inches, 5 foot 8 inches tall, but their heart is as big as a lion’s, and that’s all it takes when you’re out here on the court. It’s not all about height – just have heart, and you will succeed.”

Sherrill has received accolades in his career – he was named to the all-county team every year of his high school career, and was the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year for the 2013-14 season, according to jaguarsroar.com.

Sherrill said he has yet to win a team championship of any kind, which has motivated him on the court.

“We’re just trying to win a championship,” he said. “As long as I’ve been playing basketball, I’ve never had a ring, unlike (former Jaguars) George Johnson, or Garret Siler or Jamie Quarles. We were in a position to win a championship last year, but we came up short. So this year, I want to send the seniors out with a ring or a banner, something

timothy howard | Staff

Throughout the regular season, Keshun Sherrill leads the team to season wins.

to remember this season by.”

Metress said he is proud of the work ethic that Sherrill displays on and off the court.

“I’ve been a head coach for 19 years, and he’s up there, with skill level and work ethic, with all of the good players that I’ve had,” he said.

“And a lot of times, you coach really good players who aren’t great workers; they’re just great players because they’re good. But Keshun has that combination.” thowar20@gru.edu

The Rookie Report Anthony Garcia sports editor

Two teams, one vision

I

t’s one thing to keep track of stats when you’re an editor. It’s another thing to keep track of stats when the stakes are high for your school teams.

The Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals are underway, and both of the GRU Augusta basketball teams have a crazy amount of momentum behind them.

The GRU Augusta men’s basketball team is at a high unlike any other that I’ve witnessed since I began here in 2011. Here’s a recap of what the team did in this season alone: A nationally-broadcast home game, an easy placing at the PBC Tournament game Saturday, an 11-game winning streak since mid-January, a 23-6 standing for the 2014-15 overall season, and five seniors graduating with a legacy to leave behind.

I’m curious to see how next season will play out without the likes of Devon Wright-Nelson, Devonte Thomas, D’Angelo Boyce, Henry McCarthy and Roman Hill. Hill has been working with mayor Hardie Davis on a project called My Brother’s Keeper (full story on front page), and Head Coach Dip Metress celebrated his 250th win as coach for the team at the game against Francis Marion Feb. 18.

For the women’s team, the path to the quarterfinals has been a difficult one by comparison. With an almost completely new team and new assistant coach this season, Head Coach Nate Teymer had to build his team up to this point. Though it has only two 3-game winning streaks this season, with a 9-18 standing, the team managed to play as the fourth seed of the tournament.

When I had to edit stories for the women’s team, just reading quotes from the players and Teymer, it’s clear the team members dedicated themselves to growing together as a team.

The stress and challenge was high, but this is the first time that the team got to the PBC tournament in a long while. And with Teymer’s past record, his work this season has been remarkable.

Both basketball teams attract good attendance numbers each home game, and the more I’ve attended the home games, the more exhilarating it’s been to watch and exhilarating to be a part of.

These next few days are going to be interesting.

Both teams are waiting for NCAA Tournament qualifying results, and the semifinals and finals take place March 7 and 8.

Whatever happens after this tournament, win or lose, I’ll be paying attention more than ever next season.

agarci11@gru.edu

PAGE 11

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Soldiers and Jags gather for live broadcast victory

timothy howard | staff

(Left) Vlad Cobzaru takes the opening tip of the military game, with play-by-play announcers covering the broadcast with CBS Sports (Top Right) and fans hold signs for guard D’Angelo Boyce (Bottom Right).

Jags perform well despite cancellations

By Anna Dresser contributor Though eight games were cancelled or postponed for the GRU Augusta softball team, the Diamond Jags are still confident about the season.

Inclement weather had an influence in the cancellation of the doubleheader against Carson-Newman, a home game scheduled for Feb. 18, and the Catawba Invitational Softball Tournament in Salisbury, N.C., Feb. 20 to 22, according to jaguarsroar.com.

The Catawba Invitational Softball Tournament is a Southeastern tournament hosted by Catawba College, and according to jaguarsroar. com, the Jaguars were set to play Belmont Abbey, Catawba, West Virginia State, Glenville State and a doubleheader against King University that weekend.

The tournament gives the team good experience and gets it ready for conference games, right-hand pitcher Paige Deschaine said.

Head Coach Melissa Brocato said the Catawba tournament was cancelled with no intentions of rescheduling. The doubleheader against Carson-Newman is in the process of being rescheduled, but

there is no permanent decision on the date of the makeup game.

“There won’t be an opportunity for all the teams to get together again,” she said.

Brocato said that having eight games cancelled in one week may seem like a big deal, but it is not uncommon.

The team likes to play the games more than practicing, Brocato said, and practices become “a little monotonous and boring” when early games get cancelled.

Deschaine said she has high hopes for the team.

“We were expecting a sweep, of course,” she said. “We were already coming off of two wins from Newberry.”

The team went ahead with the following scheduled games, doubleheaders against Queens and Tusculum last weekend, which moved it ahead with two wins, and is currently 8-2 for the season.

Both Brocato and Deschaine said they are very confident in the team’s ability and are ready to take on the new season.

“We are definitely ready,” Deschaine said. “I think we are going much further than last season. I am very confident in the team’s ability.” adresser@gru.edu

jamie sapp | STAFf

Lissa Murakami, graduate assistant to Head Coach Michael McGrath, practices with the Lady Jags at Newman Tennis Center.

Tennis teams play well

By Jamie Sapp staff writer

The GRU Augusta mens and women’s tennis teams are finding their strengths as they continue to score well for the season.

On Feb. 10, the women’s team won against Clayton State with a 5 to 4 match in the Peach Belt Conference. According to jaguarsroar. com, it was the Lady Jags’ first PBC win for the season.

The women’s team also won a match against Montevallo Feb. 13, with a score of 6 to 3, its second win in the PBC. Monica Gonzalez, a sophomore marketing major, said she played in a No. 1 doubles slot with Marie Vin

in the doubles competition Feb. 10.

“When I saw the girl playing doubles, she was playing really good, you know, pretty well,” Gonzalez said. “So my specialty was trying to find a way to play to her ,because she plays really fast.”

Vin, a sophomore political science major, said she and Gonzalez almost won in the doubles competition against Montevallo Feb. 13.

“It was 9 to 7, so it was really good,” she said. “It was close. We were about to win, but they came back.”

Gonzalez said there are moves that help her concentrate on a game, and that working on her conditioning would better her play.

For the men’s team, the Jaguars

won against West Alabama Feb. 13.

The Jaguars scored a 5 to 2 victory match in the nonconference game.

Moritz Gehlhaus, a freshman business management major, said he played No. 3 in the singles game.

“I was playing number 3 because our number 3 was injured, especially in the second set when it was tied and was close in the middle of the second set,” he said.

“But the players that weren’t playing, they were here at the fence and cheering. It pushed me more and it helps a lot.”

The men’s team won four straight wins since West Alabama, while the women’s team lost to Flagler 9-0 in the Feb. 23 game. jsapp270@gru.edu

Students share their passion for MLB season

R

eady or not, baseball season is here! The start of the new season for Major League Baseball brings along warmer weather, more time outdoors and the thrill of the ball game.

I personally do not know much about the rules of baseball; however, I do know that there is nothing Phylicia like being at a Cornelious baseball game. contributor The sun beaming down over the diamond field, bats cracking, umpires shouting calls and baseball players in uniform ready to win,

the game can be a truly thrilling experience.

The MLB preseason starts March 3 and continues through April 4. This leaves about two weeks for fans to make any last minute preparations for the season.

So what does the start of baseball season really mean?

“It means warmer weather, which makes me more excited than the actual baseball game,” Sarah Boudet, a junior communications major, said.

With the start of the professional season right around the corner and our Jaguar baseball team already in session, the buzz on campus is all about baseball.

Last year’s champions, the San Francisco Giants, made a historic win against the Kansas City

Royals, winning by a home run.

Then the retirement of Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees added more fuel to the fire of speculation as to what the start of the MLB baseball season will bring. So, I asked students around campus how they would define being ready for baseball season.

“Being ready for baseball season can be defined as, for the fans, keeping track of their favorite teams,” Terrell Wilburn, a sophomore communications major, said.

“They should pay close attention to how team members describe the effects of good practice in preparations for the upcoming games.

By this, the fans can make good predictions.”

Preparations by the team are what the fans depend on. Being

ready for the game also entails proper scheduling for the fans.

There is nothing worse than having your mind set on attending the big game, then realizing you can’t go because a conflict in your schedule.

Part of being ready for the season is “just getting excited and making sure your schedule is ready for every game,” Jacob Tomberlin, sophomore communications major, said.

Along with proper scheduling, you must have proper baseball attire for game day. Baseball caps with your team’s logo are a must.

The cap is just the beginning of fan attire, however. As a fan, there is a feeling of elation when putting on my replica New York Yankees jersey and baseball socks.Putting on my baseball uniform makes

game day a reality, no matter if I am watching the game at home or at the stadium.

Beyond watching the game, eating ballpark food is a one-of-akind, mouth-watering experience.

Just thinking about eating a loaded hotdog with loaded fries while the bases are loaded makes me hungrier for the season to start.

With anticipation for the professional season to start, there is much joy to be obtained from watching college baseball, specifically with our GRU Augusta baseball team.

Currently, our team has a 5-8 record this season. Head Coach Jason Eller should be given much credit for helping to take our team to the next level.

pcorneli@gru.edu

PAGE 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

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