AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
www.grubellringer.com
VOLUME 58, ISSUE 3
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Vienna Boys stun Augusta By Lucia Conkright staff writer The Vienna Boys Choir performed at Augusta University’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theater on Oct. 22 in a sold-out performance of songs from around the world. The performance was called “stunning” by some members of the audience. The historical choir, around since the 14th century, gave a performance titled, “Around the World in 80 Minutes,” featuring songs from England, Japan, and of course, Vienna. One of the Vienna Boys Choir touring groups, called Mozartchor, was led by choirmaster Bomi Kim and was made up of 24 boys from around the world, according to the choir’s official website. Kim said this performance is one of 50 concerts the choir is performing in the U.S. on their tour. “It’s not easy, especially for me and the boys,” Kim said. “We do our best in every single concert. It’s a different acoustic, a different piano and different formation. We must figure that.” Kim said despite the many concerts and long hours spent traveling, the choir loves what they do. “It’s really fun for me, and for the kids,” Kim said. “You can imagine we are family. We drive together. We eat together. We are a big family.” The tour is only one part of the boys’ lives, according to Kim. Upon acceptance after their auditions, the
Campus mourns loss of student By Shellie Smitley news editor
COURTESY OF LUKAS BECK
The Vienna Boys Choir, pictured above, performed to a sold-out crowd on Oct. 22 at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theater.
“
They were magnificent. It was better than I had even planned for... -- Breana Walton
”
boys live at the choir’s school in Vienna, where they do most of their practicing. “I think the thing that makes them special is the fact that they are a resident program,” Linda Banister, a professor of music at the university, said. “These kids live in the school from the time that they’re eight or nine. They stay there until their voices change, which means they’re probably there for five
years.” According to Kim, the concert tours are the boys’ favorite part of being a “Vienna boy.” “They like concert tour, because they don’t have school,” Kim said. “The concert is the best part for me, and for the kids, I hope.” The concert began at 7:30 p.m. and lasted until around 9:30 p.m. “The first time I saw them, I was 17-years-old,” Banister said. “They were amazing. I’ve seen them since and they’re still amazing.” Breana Walton, a junior at the university, never heard of the Vienna Choir Boys before and was “floored” by the performance.
“They were magnificent,” Walton said. “It was better than I had even planned for. I mean I knew it was going to be great...” While the choir often sung unaccompanied, several of the songs were accompanied by Kim on piano. Throughout the performance, other instruments such as drums and a guitar were played by the boys. “Their uniformity is amazing,” Banister said. “The way they get on stage, the way they stand. That’s what makes a good choir...” The choir opened their perfor-
Graphic design paints art’s future By Inesha Howard staff writer Students have a new graphic design program in the Department of Art, according to Scott Thorp, department chair. Thorp said he was not sure who came up with the idea to bring graphic design to the school because he was a new faculty member as of July 1. He said that he assumed there was an ongoing trend to have graphic design areas throughout the Department of Art. “There’s always a need you know, for that kind of side, art and design,” Thorp said. “So I think it was just a growing need that developed over time.” Julie Sibley, a part-time art faculty member, said that graphic (design) has been needed for the program for a long time. “The former art department chair used to say that we were not gaining students to our department because we didn’t teach that,” Sibley said. “To do well as an artist in today’s cultural environment, you need those skills.” Carrie Dyer, an assistant professor in the Department of Art, will be teaching the graphic design classes. According to Thorp, they were hired around the same time. He said that he is her mentor for this school year and that he has been helping her write the curriculum for the class. He said Dyer is a combination of graphic design and fine artist and fits really well within the department. He said that she is very ambitious, smart and talented. With this new program, Thorp said it definitely would attract more students to the school and the Department of Art. The course is already being offered and there are students on a waiting list to take the class for the Spring semester. “I could only imagine that the program will continue to grow and we plan for it to grow,” Thorp said.
see VIENNA BOYS on PAGE 4
Michael Wilson, a 20-year-old pre-biology sophomore, was found dead in his student-residence at University Village. According to the Augusta Chronicle, Mark Bowen, Richmond County coroner, said on Oct. 26 that the death has been labeled as suspicious. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:50 p.m. on Oct 24. Christen Carter, from the university’s Division of Communications and Marketing, said the death is not being treated as a homicide. “The autopsy was done at Newberry, SC., and there is good news and bad news to that,” Chief deputy coroner Kenneth Boose said. “They have pinned it for toxicology which means it could be two to three weeks before we get the results back, but if we had sent it to the GBI Crime Lab it could have been 8 months...” Mark Allen Poisel, vice president of student affairs, sent a mass email to students and faculty on Oct. 26. “Understandably, many students, faculty and staff may have been affected by this death,” Poisel said in the email. “…The University Counseling Center is available to help address any emotional needs of our students. As a community we should be sure to help each other through difficult times.” sbarb@gru.edu
Chalk wars erupt on the Summerville sidewalks By Shellie Smitley news editor
RANDY PACE | GRU
Carrie Dyer, Assistant Professor in Augusta University’s Department of Art, looks at a topography-related photo.
Thorp said that one short-term goal for the graphic design program is to define a really good model of graphic design that includes web and print based classes so that students will be prepared for anything. Along with the classes, Thorp said they have a professional development strategy that they are bringing in for upper-level courses to help with client interaction. As a whole, he says the short-term goal for the program is to get it running well and to give students professional experience. “The long-term goal is to use this as a catalyst for other design programs such as motion media, industrial design and things of that nature,” Thorp said. Sibley said she thinks that this graphic design program will make students better artists. She also said it will make them continue to be artists in some kind of way whether it is through teaching or curating. This program will give them opportunities that they will not have without this program. icarruth@gru.edu
A small chalk war erupted Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 on the sidewalks of Augusta University’s Summerville campus debating religious beliefs versus the coming out of LGBT students. Chalked messages in support of GLADD Spirit Day and Coming Out Week were altered and answered with counter-messages in support of religious beliefs opposing homosexuality. According to Maj. Eugene Maxwell of Public Safety, those responsible cannot be identified “unless they turn themselves in.” There are no cameras in University Hall or in the Jaguar Student Activities Center that can record activities outside of the buildings. “Even if they did (figure out who it was), it is not against our policy,” Scott Wallace, dean of student life, said. “It is everyone’s sidewalk.” Wallace said he was not comfortable with the actual altering of messages and would hope that students would treat each other with dignity and respect. “It is not about being uncomfortable with the messages
OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS | GRU
Religious ideas, such as the one above, counter the chalk messages written in support of Coming Out Week on the Summerville campus.
or being uncomfortable with the content of any of the messages,” Wallace said. “It is the behavior of altering what someone else did ... there were altering by both sides.” He said he understood that both LGBT students and religious students were upset by the other groups’ messages. He said the incident will not be investigated any further because no law or university policy was violated. “I think it was civil enough,” Wallace said. “I think that altersee CHALK WAR on PAGE 4
Faces on Campus If you were running for President of the United States, what would your platform be?
“I’d probably run on healthcare. It’s a complex system with many issues. Transparency and fairness need improvement. Fair pay for clinicians and fair prices for patients are important,” said Jonathan Gill, second year physical therapy student.
“It would be to get back to our Constitution. It’s our founding document. It’s not perfect, but we’ve fixed issues with amendments and it’s served us well. Once we return to our roots, we can branch out to fix the rest of our issues. America is a great country and we should take pride in it,” said Medical Library Associate Shannon Terral.
“I would run under the platform of lower taxes for the middle class, more funding for education, seeking private funding for education, and reform in food and pharmaceutical industries,” said Janice Clarke, first year medical student.