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Student Newspaper of Augusta University Volume 59, Issue 1 Wednesday, October 5, 2016
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The Fresh Start Issue Photo: Morgan Hayes
bellringer_au The Bell Ringer at Augusta University bellringer_news
University’s new Cyber Institute holds ribbon-cutting Page 3
AU marks Student Service Members Day Page 4
Suicide Awareness Prevention and LASER Talk Page 5
Honors program celebrates 20th Anniversary Page 6
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Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Photos of September
Jamie Sapp | Staff Augusta University hosted the Moon Festival and Confucius Institute Day on Sept. 21. The Moon Festival began shortly after the ribbon-cutting of the Confucius Institute.
Kait Fruechting | Contributor The Crochet Fairy, Kaye Ferguson, and Donovan Winters, offered free hugs to people at the 36th Annual Arts in the Heart Festival on Sept. 18 in Augusta, Ga.
EDITORIAL STAFF editor-in-chief Jamie Sapp jsapp270@augusta.edu copy editors Alexandria Bennett abenne19@augusta.edu Will Cheney wcheney@augusta.edu staff writers Seqhoia Sinclair sesinclair@augusta.edu contributors Laura Bell lbell2@augusta.edu Sheenu Chirackel schirackel@augusta.edu Kait Fruechting kfruechting@augusta.edu
Kait Fruechting | Contributor After completing their 1.2-mile swim in the Savannah River, participants run and prepare for their 56-mile bike ride in the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta. The first wave began at 7:40 a.m. on Sept. 25.
Morgan Hayes mohayes@augusta.edu Tim Howard thowar20@augusta.edu Jacob Tomberlin jtomberl270@augusta.edu adviser Todd Bennett tobennett@augusta.edu Direct advertising inquiries to: Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief jsapp270@augusta.edu Address all correspondence to: The Bell Ringer JSAC Building, Room 237 2500 Walton Way Augusta, Ga 30904 706-737-1600 www.aubelllringer.wordpress.com
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Jamie Sapp | Staff Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis (left) and guests attend the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony of the Cyber Institute in the Universiy Hall at Augusta University on Sept. 16.
New Cyber Institute opens By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief It was a great, sunny Friday morning as students, faculty and community members joined in the opening ceremony of the new Cyber Institute in University Hall of Augusta University at 11 a.m. on Sept. 16. The crowd of people filled the first floor of the University Hall with laughter and grand excitement. At the opening ceremony, it highlighted the greatest effort and dedication into creating the new Cyber Institute at the university. Gretchen Caughman, executive vice president and provost for academic affairs, greeted the audience with welcoming remarks before introducing the guest speakers at the ceremony. “So we embark on the very intentional path to build strength and capacity in the cybersecurity education and to establish meaningful partners with the military, government and industry, to capitalize on this unprecedented chance to become a national leader in the field,” she said. “And we’ve been busy.” Caughman listed numerous events that occurred within the years leading up to the opening ceremony of the Cyber Institute, including the university’s first Cyber Education Summit in October 2014; the creation of the Cyber Institute in June 2015; and new Augusta University President Brooks Keel in July 2015. After thanking the audience for attending the ceremony, President Brooks Keel said that anytime a ribbon-cutting event occurs it is a great day, describing it as “the birth of a child.” “It’s a new opportunity for great things that you know are going to come, as that child grows up,” he said. “This ribbon-cutting today is, of course, the birth of our own child. We are looking forward to how this child is going to develop… how it’s going to help us do the things that we know we need to do with at Augusta University to support the cyber command at Fort Gordon and
Jamie Sapp | Staff Student Matt Tennis (seated) gives a demonstration on “Hacking (Metasploit)” in the stateof-the-art cyber lab inside of the new Cyber Institute on Sept. 16.
support all the areas of cyber throughout the United States.” President Keel said a cyber tsunami is hitting Augusta University, and AU and the community must prepare for it. “We got to make Augusta not just a military-friendly town, which we’ve always been and are so proud of that,” he said. “But we got to make it a business-friendly town for all of the cybersecurity contractors... and Augusta University plays a significant role in that.” Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis attended the opening ceremony. He said what a great day for the Cyber Institute. “Augusta’s economy has historically been known for medicine, the Masters, the military, and manufacturing,” Davis said. “When you think about where we are today on the very edge of what’s happening from a cyber perspective and now to be able to proper up a cyber institute here, our region’s destiny has been totally transformed for the next several generations.” U.S. Representative Rick Allen of Georgia 12th District said the Cyber Insti-
tute is the new frontier in modern warfare. “The growth of this is going to be astronomical as we defend our country, our cyberspace and our entire infrastructure over years to come,” Allen said. “With the U.S. Army cyber commands transition to Fort Gordon, numerous tech companies and jobs coming to our area now for the opening of the Cyber Institute, the CSRA has the potential to become the security, technology and innovation of the southeast.” Maj. Gen. John B. Morrison, commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, said the army must work closely with industry partners and academic institutions, such as Augusta University. “The critical importance of cyber education and research, both today and in the future, will take on new meaning,” Morrison said. “The threat is real today. The threat will only grow in the future.” Cyber Institute Director Joanne Sexton gave shout-outs and closing remarks at the ceremony. Director Sexton
said the ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a special day for Augusta University, for the Cyber Institute and for the students. “In planning the Cyber Institute, I have had the privilege of being part of a very, dedicated team with membership across the university who helped plan, design and build the Cyber Institute,” Sexton said. “I am especially proud of our cyber lab that was specifically designed to teach cyber security.” After encouraging remarks from all of the speakers, the speakers finally cut the blue ribbon. Guests entered into the Cyber Institute to observe the new facility, which includes 15 offices, the state-of-the-art cyber lab, a small bar area, and a lounge room for students. Inside the main cyber lab, students and staff members performed different cyber lab demonstrations at five stations. The five stations consisted the following demonstrations: Network Monitoring by Harry Zane; Password Cracking by Andrew Keller; Malware Demo by Magalie Hernandez; Hacking (Metasploit) by Matt Tennis; and GenCyber Robots by Tori Lineberry and Miguel Morell. There is more to come for the Cyber Institute as upcoming events and programs are approaching. On Oct. 12-13, Augusta University is also hosting the 2016 Cyber Georgia in the Harrison Education Commons Building at the Health Sciences campus. According to the university calendar, the theme of the cyber summit is “Industry, Academia and Government: Strengthening Cyber Security.” Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.
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Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Jamie Sapp | Staff Left Photo: Student service members, veterans and guests stand up for the national anthem during the Student Service Members Day ceremony in the Washington Hall Towers on Sept. 22. Right Photo: Cadet Devaughn Moore speak to the audience about the meaning of being a student service member.
Student service members honored By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief
The first day of fall was Sept. 22 and what better way to celebrate it by honoring student service members. Augusta University and the City of Augusta joined in a ceremony to honor students and veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life. The ceremony took place at 11 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Washington Hall Towers at the Summerville campus. Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis proclaimed Sept. 22, 2016 as Student Service Members Day in Augusta, Ga. With the proclamation, it honors both student service members and veterans on the first day of fall. Meredith Rausch, professor in the department of counselor education, leadership and research, welcomed the audience at the ceremony. “What better way to recognize the transitions that you all made and to choose this day as your day for the rest of our lives,” she said. “Mayor Hardie Davis was asked to
proclaim today Student Service Members Day, and he willing did so and quite quickly, I might add. I was so pleased that he (Davis) too recognized the amazing work that you all do and was ready to honor you for that work.” After the welcoming remarks, Rausch asked those in the military branch to stand up in honor for their military service before students and guests stand up for the national anthem. After reading the Student Service Members Day Proclamation, Rausch gave the proclamation to Russell Keen, executive vice president for external relations and chief of staff to the president. Lt. Col. Jessica Williss, department chair of military science, introduced herself before introducing her cadets Jessica Wolf and Devaughn Moore to the audience in the ceremony. The cadets shared their experiences and goals on being involved in military service. Jessica Wolf, cadet and active duty green to gold student, said she settled on being in the military because she wanted to
do a job that mattered, after taking on different career routes. “I settled on the military because as the open enlistment states ‘the purpose of the military is to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic’,” Wolf said. “The rights and the freedoms we have here are something that many of our citizens take for granted. It was certainly something that I took for granted before I joined the military.” When given the opportunity to prepare for the ceremony, Cadet Devaughn Moore said he did not fully consider what it meant to be a student service member. “A student service member is any and all individuals who volunteer to defend this country, and also realize the value of (pursing) a higher education,” he said. “A student service member is one who puts the well-being of others above their own and is committed to continual dual-development not only for themselves, but for those they come in contact with.” Other speakers include Carol Giardina, director of military and veterans services; Cody Ward, physician assistant
student and 2016 Pat Tillman Scholar; and Stephanie Merrill, chief strategist of public or private partnerships at National Security Agency (NSA). After being part of the ceremony, junior R.O.T.C. student Chadelle Sappa said she loved the ceremony and that the city of Augusta recognized students and veterans on the first day of fall. “I really liked that the city has recognized us as an official day to commemorate service men and women because transitioning is a tough thing to do,” she said. “So the more support that we have from our school and our peers, it makes the transition a lot easier.” Sappa said the ceremony helped her to know that the city of Augusta is behind them in their transition. “Education is why we are here, but it helps us to become better leaders in higher level of education,” she said. “To see that we have this support from our city, especially our professors, it seems like it’s more encouraging.” Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.
Tuyll and her “Introduction to Research” class were also involved in the celebration. The class took turns reading the U.S. Constitution at the Teardrop at noon. The U.S. Constitution matters because the U.S. presidential race of this year is getting close to an end and Americans still have time to vote. However, only a small percentage of Americans know about the vice presidential candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties, according to a recent survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution includes the freedom of speech, “or of the press,” as well as “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” To end the celebration, faculty members held a discussion panel in the JSAC Coffeehouse about free speech on campus to remind people why the U.S. Constitution still matters. The panelists were Andrew Goss, department chair of history, anthropology and philosophy; Debra van Tuyll, com-
munication professor; Robert Mullins, assistant professor in social sciences at East Georgia State College; and Craig Albert, assistant professor in political science and moderator of the panel. The panelists discussed topics such as policies on free speech to trigger warnings and safe zones at colleges and universities. When discussing the guild structure in U.S. universities, Goss said the structure has adapted slowly to the changes and pressures of democracy. “You can write these policies, guild writes policies, and boy, universities write policies,” he said. “They write policies in reaction to these new democratic and other pressures. I think a lot of that does not move at the speed that many stakeholders would like. They don’t think it moves fast enough.” Goss said a lot of challenges can be addressed if policies are written with broad involvement from stakeholders throughout the university and the community. During the panel, van Tuyll discussed the regulation on free speech at campuses, including University of Chicago’s stand on
trigger warnings and safe zones in Aug. 2016. Van Tuyll said Augusta University has defended free speech on campus much more than offended it. She also said AU does not have any speech codes. “Thus far, there has been no calls for a speech code here on this campus,” she said. “We have not had any resolutions or rules passed regarding micro-aggressions, hate speech or any other form of speech that’s (somehow) objectionable, and that’s a good thing. I personally would like to see us go further. I would like to see our university pursue achievement of that green light rating, in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.” Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, is an organization that defends individual rights at U.S. universities and colleges. According to the 2016 annual report on the FIRE website, no university or college in Georgia is currently on the green light list for no threats on free speech. Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.
University celebrates Constitution Day By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief Sept. 17 marked Constitution Day and Augusta University celebrated on a sunny Friday, Sept. 16, on the Summerville campus. Some students may wonder, what is it? Why does it matter? Does “We the People…” sound familiar? Constitution Day celebrates the signing of the final version of the United States Constitution, which recognized all American citizens and was signed by 39 delegates on Sept. 17, 1787. Congress created Constitution Day in 2004 and required schools to recognize the national day on or close to Sept. 17 every year through educational events, according to an online article published on Sept. 27 in The Washington Post. In recognition of the national day, students and faculty joined in various events on the Summerville campus. A democracy plaza and a photo booth session took place in the JSAC Breezeway. Communication professor Debra van
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Panelists speak on innovative work By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief To celebrate innovative, creative and collaborative work, Augusta University hosted the LASER Talk that brought students, faculty and community leaders together on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in the JSAC Ballroom. For those whom do not know what LASER means, it stands for Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous and it is a program sponsored by the Leonardo/The International Society for Arts, Sciences, and Technology. The purpose of the non-profit organization is to bring artists and scientists together for great, informal conversations. The title of the LASER Talk was “Synthesis: Bridging Science and Art Through STEAM Education.” At the evening event, the atmosphere of the room filled with laughter, excitement and curiosity. Scott Thorp, chair of the department of art, welcomed the audience and later gave faculty and community leaders an opportunity to introduce themselves as well as share information on their work that related to art and science. Zach Kelehear, dean of the college of education, spoke to the audience about the Integrative STEAM Education initiatives.
Jamie Sapp | Staff Left to Right: Panelists Scott Thorp, Eric Parker, Kendra Sue Finch, and Ashley Gess speak to the audience about innovative work at the LASER Talk on Sept. 13 in the JSAC Ballroom.
He said the craft of teaching and the art is the science of what people do, which adds onto the aesthetic element in making people qualitatively different. “Augusta University has challenged all the deans and challenged the science of doing different, to shake it up and make a difference,” Kelehear said to the audience. “I stand before you honored to take on that challenge.”
Kendra Sue Finch is a Spanish teacher and the Technology Integration and Innovation Coordinator at Westminster Schools of Augusta. Finch is an alumna of Augusta University. Finch said her role is to help teachers find innovative teaching units for their students in transforming education within the classroom. “I was taught by some amazing profes-
sors and those professors instilled in me a passion to think outside the box, and to try new things in the way that I would teach grammar and vocabulary,” she said. “…I didn’t want it to be boring. My professors inspired me to something dynamic in my Spanish classes and push the limit and try to find new ways to shaken up my classes.” Finch spoke to the audience about the impact of design thinking upon herself, her teaching and her students, when she discussed about a previous research project with her sixth-grade students at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Ga. to help blind students and sighted students play together through a textured checkerboard with 3-D pieces. Assistant Professor Ashley Gess of the Integrative STEAM Education and co-founder Eric Parker of theClubhou.se and HACK Augusta also presented their presentations at the LASER Talk. Toward the end of his presentation, Parker said he didn’t think he was going to help ‘a bunch of techies,’ when talking about HACK Augusta. “I am an architect,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to be helping a bunch of ‘techies’… But I want to make change and the only way I can see it is to do it from where I am, which is what I am doing.” Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Council seeks to raise awareness By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief September is nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the United States. To bring awareness of suicide prevention, the Student Wellness Council, along with the Counseling Center, participated in various activities at Augusta University. The Student Wellness Council (SWC) and the Counseling Center joined together on Sept. 7 for the World Suicide Prevention Day Table in the JSAC Breezeway. Sept. 10 marks as World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people with suicidal thoughts and suicide occurring frequently. President of Student Wellness Council and senior kinesiology major Blessing Eka said counselor Elizabeth Humphrey from the Counseling Center worked well with the SWC by providing supplies and giveaways at the table to bring awareness about suicide prevention. “It’s a very, big topic on campus,” Eka said. “We’ve had a couple of deaths in the school. I’m not sure if it was related to suicide, but I know it had to do with something psychological.”
If you are experiencing difficulties or having suicidal thoughts, seek help at the Counseling Center on both the Summerville and Health Sciences Campus. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911.
The Counseling Center also provided the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training on both the Summerville and Health Sciences campus for people to know warning signs of suicidal behavior and refer it on campus. Senior education major Gareth Karpel said the council wanted to make sure people understand to seek a friend’s help, even if they wanted to be anonymous. “Sometimes, you will be the last person that could make an impact,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of students are aware with all the stress everything adds up and depression is a real thing.” Suicides, including gun suicides, are a huge problem in
the U.S. According to a New York Times article published on October 8, 2015, more than 60 percent of people in the country who died from guns died in suicide. When asked about the connection with suicide and gun violence, Karpel said it is surprising that women are the highest users of guns in suicide. “To me, that’s shocking,” he said. “That means that there’s definitely something not being addressed… or whatever it may be. Any of those statistics, when you look at them, is very surprising – and it should lead to more discussion and questions.” With students getting concerned about finals and exams, Eka said it gets stressful. “With family values, and ‘you have to go to school and you have to do this,’ it just takes a toll,” she said. “We just wanted to build a platform and get students to know that it is okay to talk. Get it out. Don’t keep it bottled in.” Not only is September recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Eka said September is also Emotional Wellness Month. In honor of National Women’s Health Day, the Student Wellness Council hosted a yoga day event on Sept. 28 for students from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the JSAC Hardy Room. Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.
Crime Log September 21 - 30, 2016 Incident (Classification) Simple Battery Entering Auto Simple Battery Theft by Taking Entering Auto Simple Battery Theft by Taking Theft by Extortion Sexual Battery Simple Battery Simple Battery Criminal Trespass
Case Number 16‐0220 16‐0221 16‐0222 16‐0223 16‐0224 16‐0226 16‐0227 16‐0228 16‐0229 16‐0230 16‐0231 16‐0232
Date/Time Reported 09/21/16 – 12:39 09/21/16 – 12:39 09/21/16 – 13:07 09/22/16 – 02:24 09/25/16 – 10:55 09/23/16 – 12:03 09/25/16 – 07:41 09/25/16 – 09:56 09/26/16 – 11:37 09/28/16 – 19:35 09/29/16 – 01:36 09/30/16 – 11:35
Date/Time Occurred 09/21/16 – 12:39 09/21/16 – 12:39 09/21/16 – 13:07 09/22/16 – 02:24 09/25/16 – 10:55 09/23/16 – 12:03 09/25/16 – 07:41 09/25/16 – 09:56 09/26/16 – 11:37 09/28/16 – 19:35 09/29/16 – 01:36 09/30/16 – 11:35
General Location AUMC AUMC Lot 61 Oak Hall AUMC AUMC AUMC Oak Hall AUMC AUMC AUMC Maxwell PAT
Disposition Arrest Inactive Inactive Inactive Active Inactive Unfounded Active Active Active Active Active
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Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Jacob Tomberlin | Contributor Students, faculty and their family members attend the Augusta University Honors Program’s 20-year anniversary picnic hosted outside of the program’s Quad Wall Building.
Honors program marks 20 years By Jacob Tomberlin Contributor The Augusta University Honors Program celebrated its 20th anniversary with a picnic outside of the Quad Wall Building on Aug. 26. The event had double the number of people anticipated and a surprise visit from the new university president. “Thank you for doing this, and thank you for choosing Augusta University for your education,” President Brooks Keel said over the sizzle of burgers and hot dogs. Though the style of celebration surrounding the honors program’s 20th anniversary was playful enough, the tone struck by the administration was nothing less than serious as they praised the program and offered encouragement to its current students. Tim Sadenwasser, who has been the program’s director for the past seven years,
“We started with shabby digs, but had big dreams. Looking around me, it seems some of this came true...” - Beth Fanning
began the event by introducing a parade of university administrators who began to extol the program. Among those faculty was Gretchen Caughman, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This is near and dear to my heart,” said Caughman. “The honors program is something I feel passionately about.” Honors Program Coordinator Ana Merloiu said she estimated having around 150 in attendance. However, more honors program members and friends continued to RSVP until the event grew to around 250 guests.
Merloiu, who has been the coordinator since December of 2014, organized the event. “I was working on the website, and then I realized ‘Wait, it’s been 20 years,’” she said. “We wanted to recognize faculty and also welcome the freshmen.” The Honors Program began in 1996. Beth Fanning, who was the program’s first director, was in attendance at the picnic. She commented on how the program has grown since her time as director. “We started with shabby digs, but had big dreams,” she said. “Looking around me, it seems some of this came true. It really is amazing to see so many people.” Carol Rychly, vice president for academic and faculty affairs, spoke to the current honors students. “Take advantage of all the opportunities you have here,” she said. “By being in the honors program, you are in touch with
some of the very, very best faculty we have here at Augusta University.” The event was also a chance for the program to award the first Honor’s Faculty Teaching Award. After calling on nominations, the award went to communication professor William Bryant. “I understand the significance of it and the responsibility I have to teach some of the best and brightest students at this university,” Bryant said. After the ceremony, the picnic began in full, complete with Frisbees and veggie hot dogs. “I’ve really been happy that we’ve had such a good turn out, but such a good mix of people,” Sadenwasser said. “I think it shows there’s a lot of excitement about the program and a lot of support from the people above us.” Contact Jacob Tomberlin at jtomberl270@augusta.edu.
Smokefall highlights vivid characters By Laura Bell Contributor
Laura Bell | Contributor Communication professor Doug Joiner introduces the actors to Smokefall.
A narrator named Footnote, a girl named Beauty who drinks paint water, and a Colonel who can’t remember what he ate for breakfast. These are just a few of the vivid characters that we find in Noah Haidle’s Smokefall. Communication professor Doug Joiner will be directing the actors as they take on these eccentric characters on the stage. The cast in this production may only be five actors, but the story will have your head spinning within the first five minutes. From talking fetuses to a character who does not talk, this play will have you constantly guessing. In an interview with the director, Joiner said Smokefall is funny that it’s touching. “It includes the audience in a world that we all lived before or do so now,” he said. When asked what part he was most excited to see the actors bring to life, Joiner said “The
world of the play and the characters on stage… I would have to say all of it.” The actors starring in this production are Benjamin Evans, Allison Berres, Rick Davis, Ceara Hester, and Neil Davenport. Opening night will be Nov. 10 at the Maxwell Theatre. Admission for Augusta University students is free and admission is $10 for the public. Military, Senior, Student/child, and staff discounts are available. Tickets can be purchased at www.augusta.edu/ maxwelltheatre or by visiting the box office. The production does contain strong language and themes so viewer discretion is advised. Contact Laura Bell at lbell2@augusta.edu.
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Jamie Sapp | Staff (Left to Right) Ansley Taylor, Kimberly Gresham, Brikkel Rucker, Samantha Berry, and Dasia Jennings are members of Black and Blooming. The mission of the new organization is to empower black women on campus.
Black and Blooming
Organization empowers black women By Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief A “sisterhood blooming together” is what a new organization is about this year. Black and Blooming blossomed in the spring semester of 2016 and its goal is to empower black women at Augusta University. Junior public relations major Kimberly Gresham is the president of Black and Blooming. After transferring from Georgia Southern University to Augusta University, Gresham said there were not many African-American organizations or anything similar on campus, except for sororities. “With talking to Samantha, I found out that somebody shared the same thought,” she said. “So we just built from that, and we shared ideas to other people that we thought would be interested to see if it would be worth making a whole group.” Gresham said it was a challenge for the organization to find an adviser. However, the organization was able to find Melissa
“I feel like it will be beneficial to the campus. And it will open more doors and more opportunities for us...” - Ansley Taylor
Hudson Hall, an AU career consultant, before the first week of classes started in the fall semester. Black and Blooming hosted an interest meeting on Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. in the JSAC Coffeehouse, where a great crowd of black women appeared with great and exciting interest. Vice president and junior communication major Samantha Berry said the turnout was better than she expected. “It was pretty good,” Berry said. “It was way better than I thought.” Gresham said the members were excited with the number of women interested in the organization. “We were pretty excited because we had people who wanted to be more than just a ‘sign-on’ member,” she said. “They
wanted to be an active member.” Black and Blooming not only hosted their first interest meeting on Sept. 15, but the organization also participated in Augusta University’s Day of Service event on Sept. 24, according to their Instagram page. Secretary and junior communication major Brikkel Rucker said the organization makes her feel excited. “In high school, I came from a predominately white high school (and community),” Rucker said. “So we didn’t have anything like this at all. So coming here, I just expected it honestly. It’s cool to have somebody have that thought because I thought about it, but I never acted on it… But for somebody to think about it, actually act on it and get it started with a whole bunch of people, I am excited about it.” Junior social work major Ansley Taylor went to the interest meeting on Sept. 15. She said she thought it was a great opportunity for black women to do great things. “I feel like it will be beneficial to the campus,” Taylor said. “And it will open
more doors and more opportunities for us because we will be that stepping stone.” When approaching a group of black women about Black and Blooming, Rucker said the women’s faces lit up in excitement and the women were immediately interested in the organization. “That matters so much because honestly white men and women have so many different things for them,” Rucker said. “And this is just one thing that we want to grab onto, hold onto and make it work.” Black and Blooming is hosting its first open meeting on the second floor in the Atrium Room at Allgood Hall on Oct. 6 from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. The organization is also hosting a product drive on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the JSAC Breezeway. The product drive consists of feminine products, toiletries and monetary donations for women who cannot afford to buy these items themselves. Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@ augusta.edu.
Lights, Laughter and History By Sheenu Chirackel Contributor
Photo | Reducedshakespeare.com The Reduced Shakespeare Company peformed “The Complete History of America” at Augusta University’s Maxwell Theatre on Sept. 13.
On Tuesday night, the renowned and hilarious Reduced Shakespeare Company performed “The Complete History of America (abridged): Election Edition” at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Augusta University’s very own Maxwell Theatre. It was a glorious event that brought together students, faculty and community members to enjoy the fast-paced and witty rendition of America’s history. While the show filled the theater with laughter and left
some with tears (from the laughter), what set the show apart from other comedies was that the Reduced Shakespeare Company managed (quite spectacularly) to bring to light a concept many of us forget: Learning can be fun! They did everything from talking to acting, and even singing about the days of Amerigo Vespucci, the Revolutionary War, World Wars I and II, and even the upcoming election! The Company’s utilization of such different forms of entertainment made you forget that you were, in fact, learning in a most unconventional way.
Sitting there on those red cushioned seats on that Tuesday night was like sitting in on the coolest history lecture presented by the cast of Hamilton — it just left you in awe and in want of more. So students take note, learning can be great as long as you make it great. Try rapping about the cell cycle or singing about derivatives because you just might be surprised at how much you enjoy it. Contact Sheenu Chirackel at schirackel@augusta.edu.
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Wednesday, October 5, 2016
The Peach Belt needs a new member By Tim Howard Contributor The past fifteen years has seen the Peach Belt Conference – the home of Augusta University athletics – achieve a level of stability and grow like it never had before. That period saw the conference lose three schools to the NCAA’s Division I, then add five schools – North Georgia University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Flagler College, the University of Montevallo, and Young Harris College – between 2005 and 2012. The addition of these five institutions put the Peach Belt Conference’s membership at an all-time high of 14 schools – seven in each of the conference’s two divisions, the PBC East and PBC West. During this past summer, the University of Montevallo announced that it would be leaving the Peach Belt Conference in the summer of 2017 to return to the Gulf South Conference, which it was a member of prior to joining the Peach Belt Conference in 2009. In their brief stay in the Peach Belt Conference, the Montevallo Falcons men’s basketball team was a consistent contender, winning a regular-season conference title in 2015 and two conference tournament titles in 2012 and 2015. The Falcons advanced to the NCAA tournament every season, peaking in a run to the Division II national championship game in 2012. Along the way, they started a rivalry of sorts with Augusta, knocking the Jaguars out of the PBC tournament four times – perhaps most notably in the 2010 Peach Belt conference tournament semifinals in Aiken, S.C., when Augusta was the number-one ranked team in the country. Augusta returned the favor twice in 2011, first by winning a road contest at Montevallo that gave head coach Dip Metress his 300th career victory and then by beating Mon-
“Replacing a successful program like Montevallo so quickly might give the appearance that the Peach Belt is desperate for a new member, but to sustain its size, replacement is necessary.” - Tim Howard tevallo in the conference tournament semifinals in Aiken. Augusta advanced to the PBC tournament championship game, which it won. Though Montevallo was not a geographic rival like USC Aiken or Georgia College, the Falcons were a successful rival, one that could go pound-for-pound against the best of Augusta’s teams in the regular season and the postseason. Games with Montevallo were always sure to go down to the wire and keep fans in their seats, whether the paper matchup seemed lopsided or even. With this departure, Augusta will lose a great rival, and the Peach Belt will be back to 13 teams with unbalanced divisions, just as it was prior to the addition of Young Harris in 2012. Fortunately, there is a possible solution to the balance issue. The Peach Belt Conference could go after Middle Georgia State College, located in Macon, and persuade the university to make the leap from the NAIA to the NCAA, just as it did with North Georgia and Georgia Southwestern. Unlike other potential PBC additions in East Georgia and Coastal Georgia, Middle Georgia has more benefits than those institutions. Middle Georgia sponsors a sufficient amount of programs – men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, softball, volleyball, women’s cross country, and club football. The university has adequate facilities – its basketball
What’s Up? Upcoming Campus Events in Oct. 5-14 Oct. 5: •
Zeta Tau Alpha: Pink Picnic at the JSAC Patio (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
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Purple Night Lights at the Teardrop on Summerville (6 p.m.)
Oct. 6: •
National Depression Screening Day: JSAC Breezeway (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Student Center (11 a.m.-1p.m.)
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Black and Blooming: Open meeting in the Atrium Room on the second floor of Allgood Hall (4:45-5:45 p.m.)
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Video Game Tournament in Washington Hall Towers (5-10 p.m.)
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“Let’s Talk: Undocumented Students in American Higher Education” in the JSAC Ballroom (6 p.m.)
Oct. 7: ZTA’s Faculty Breakfast in JSAC Coffeehouse (7:30-10 a.m.) Oct. 10: Cinema Series film at the Maxwell Theatre (1 p.m. & 7 p.m.) Oct. 11: •
“Pause for PAWS” at the Teardrop (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
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“The Good, The Bad, and The Complicated: Experiences in Coming Out” at the JSAC Coffeehouse (2:30-4 p.m.)
Oct. 12: •
“Pig Out” at the Grove on the Summerville campus (11 a.m.)
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2016 Cyber Georgia in Harrison Education Commons (1-7 p.m.)
Oct. 14: Fall Pause
venue, Morris Gym, has a capacity of 1,200, and NeSmith Field seats about 2,000 spectators, a large number for a Division II soccer stadium. Geographically, Middle Georgia would fit perfectly into the PBC West, restoring balance to the two divisions, and encouraging rivalries with nearby Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and Georgia Southwestern in Americus. Middle Georgia would be the Peach Belt’s first institution in Macon, giving it a foothold in each of Georgia’s five largest cities. In terms of enrollment, Middle Georgia would fit well – the university had an undergraduate enrollment of 7,676 in the fall of 2015 among its five campuses. The split-campus aspect of Middle Georgia could cause minor issues, but North Georgia’s enrollment is split between two campuses in Dahlonega and Gainesville, and it has not caused any notable problems in regards to athletics. Replacing a successful program like Montevallo so quickly might give the appearance that the Peach Belt is desperate for a new member, but to sustain its size, replacement is necessary. This process would take several years, as Middle Georgia would have to meet specific criteria to transition from the NAIA to the NCAA’s Division II. It would take some time for the Knights to field consistently successful teams that could go toe-to-toe with the best of the Peach Belt among all of their teams. But it has been done before, as Georgia Southwestern captured the PBC West title in 2011 and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2011 and 2014. It might seem like a long shot, but one day, Macon could be home to a Peach Belt member. And who knows, Middle Georgia might become the next thorn in Augusta’s side – or vice versa, of course. Contact Tim Howard at thowar20@augusta.edu.