AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
www.grubellringer.com
VOLUME 58, ISSUE 2
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
Keel addresses complex issues By Shellie Smitley news editor In an exclusive interview for The Bell Ringer on Oct. 7, President Brooks Keel spoke candidly on topics ranging from living in Twin Gables to funding departmental budgets at Augusta University. Keel said that while he is enjoying his position as president, it keeps him busy. “It is going about 120 mph but it has been a blast,” Keel said. “..it has been a lot of fun to be back in my hometown, but it’s been an incredible experience of trying to get my arms
around the complexity of what this university is now...I don’t think that you could ever really be prepared for how complex an entity like this is.” Keel said living in Twin Gables is a “fantastic opportunity” and this is the first time he and his wife have lived in such a large, old house. “It is just Tammie, me and two cats... Sam and Gus,” Keel said. He said he is amazed how much Augusta has grown since he was a student. He is encouraged by the number of activities downtown and the new businesses in the Harrisburg area. He said there is a need for both the university and the city to develop
Published book includes professor’s research By Shellie Smitley staff writer Associate Professor Darla Linville’s essay, “Becoming Sexual and Gendered Subjects: The Identities Young People Claim and the Freedoms within Them,” has been published as a chapter of a book. The essay is included in, “The Meaning of Sexual Identity in the Twenty-First Century,” edited by Judith S. Kaufman and David A. Powell. It was published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in January 2014. Linville said the essay includes findings from a research project she conducted as a doctoral student at the City University of New York from 2007 to 2008. “In hindsight it is not that surprising, but it was surprising when I first started,” Linville said. “...Teenagers didn’t have a bigger picture of who was the lesbian (and) gay community in the city of New York...in the nation...they didn’t feel connected to bigger structures outside the small group of students that were friendly and supportive of them in their schools.” Linville said the research study included a group of New York high school students that identified as lesbian, gay or bi-sexual. Her research was guided by aspects of the “care of the self model” suggested by French philosopher Michel Foucault. “The aspects that were the most important or the pieces that really
SHELLIE SMITLEY | STAFF
Associate Professor Darla Linville holds a copy of the book that includes her findings on a study she conducted as a doctorate student.
jumped out at me the most was this piece called ethical substance that Foucault talks about,” Linville said. “…He is really talking about what are the ways that we present ourselves as this kind of being that we want to be in the world.” According to the essay, the subject negotiates social boundaries that encourage presentation of their selves in certain ways. “...This idea of not wanting to be summed up by a single aspect of their identity,” Linville said. “Not wanting to be seen as some stereotype of gayness and wanting to be seen as this more complex person but still being recognized as having a gay attraction...” Linville said even though recent political moves make it possible for more conversations about LGBT issues to take place, she likes the post-modernist and post-structuralist ways of thinking. “...I really like this idea that there is not this single, ethical good that exists beyond human beings that is for us to discover or understand,” Linville said. “…We as a human community create together our understanding of what is good, what is right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, and that changes over time…Why do we structure society the way that we do? What happens to people who push up against the edges...and ask for recognition of something that is considered non-normative?” Linville said she presented the essay at a conference organized by Kaufman and Powell in 2010 and they approached her about including it in the book. Linville said the book focuses on the different views younger people have about sexual and gender identities compared to previous generations. “The young people whose voices are represented in this essay actively engage in asserting a subjectivity of sexuality and gender that feels comfortable and pleasurable to them,” according to the essay. Linville said the book can be purchased on Amazon.com or checked out through the University System of Georgia library system. sbarb@gru.edu
better marketing strategies when it comes to events. He said he expects that when students start traveling between the campuses more businesses will emerge. To address the parking needs of both campuses, Keel said the planning process of building multiple parking decks will start in the future. He said funding, along with the option of a public-private partnership, are in the discussion stages. Besides parking decks, he said increasing the bus service between the two campuses, block- scheduling, and the expansion of evening classes are possible solutions to facilitating parking af-
ter the math and science classes are moved to the Health Sciences campus. Keel said he hopes this will be a more pedestrian- friendly university in the future. “We are trying to address it (parking) the best we can,” Keel said. He said it is impossible to build campus housing or a parking deck on the Summerville campus. “We can’t really do any building on the Summerville campus,” Keel said. “There is no land to expand the surface- level decks and the Summerville campus is sitting on a huge Civil War relic.” Keel said a change to look for in
the downtown area will be the name change of Georgia Regents Health System. “They have not made that decision yet,” Keel said. “It probably will (change).” A decision Keel said remains to be seen is how far the partnership between the Georgia Regents Health System and University Hospital will go. He said partnership talks range between “let’s just be good neighbors,” to “what would a merger look like.” “A merger is certainly possible,” see KEEL STORY on PAGE 5
ADRIENNE HAYES | STAFF
Retired Maj. Gen. John A. Davis lectures on cyber security issues on Oct. 8 in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom.
Cyber ethics lecture previews Augusta’s future in cyber world By Adrienne Hayes staff writer Retired Army Maj. Gen. John A. Davis said a tidal wave is coming as he delivered his lecture, “Ethics in a Cyber World” to Augusta University on Oct. 8. “Think bigger,” Davis said, referring to the move of the Army’s Cyber Command from Fort Meade, Maryland, to Fort Gordon, Georgia. “I don’t think you understand the enormity of the tidal wave coming here.” Davis’ remark echoes a report from WRDW.com on Aug. 18 in which Thom Tuckey, executive director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon, said the initial estimate of 3,700 new employees for cyber command by 2019 had increased to an expected 4,700. Davis’ lecture centered around three lessons he said he has learned during his 35-year career. The first lesson focused on building partnerships by cultivating one’s own strengths and credibility. He said the “Four I’s: Internal, Interagency, International and Industry” are the types of partners that are important for protecting cyber environments.
Davis said if partnerships are not developed “you will fail spectacularly,” and ethical issues such as privacy versus security and civil liberty versus security complicate legislative measures. Davis, now a civilian, said he values privacy. Regarding security monitoring activities, he said “it’s not about your email – it’s your malware, the code. We could (not) care less about the content of your email.” Of the second lesson pertaining to risk, Davis said, “We say that cyber is a technical issue. I think it’s a human issue. I haven’t come across a single issue that wasn’t caused by human deficiency.” Davis offered advice to leaders when he said, “… If you can cultivate a culture of accountability and standards, you can eliminate your problems … threats today are very sophisticated. (Cyber attacks) will happen, but it doesn’t have to be catastrophic.” Davis said the third lesson is “don’t expect the Calvary to come for everything” because it is important for companies to handle their own issues and take preventative measures. According to Davis, the Department of Defense recently
added a third mission to its cyber efforts and now “The DOD is responsible for defending the nation in all domains, including cyberspace.” He said, “It’s a very, very high bar to get these cyber forces engaged” because the cyber forces are “only to counter something of significant consequence.” According to the DOD, critical U.S. infrastructure intrusions have increased in the last three years and these are the types of threats the DOD is expected to counter. At the conclusion of the lecture, Davis opened up the floor for questions. On his perspective of the Hillary Clinton email scandal, Davis said, “First of all, I believe that what she did was not illegal. Her predecessors did the same thing.” When asked about what students can do, Davis said he recommended that youth support and organize grassroots movements. On how education plays a role, Davis said successful past-public education efforts on social issues regarding littering and drunk driving are good examples. He said it is vital that we start looking at cyber in the same way. adhayes@gru.edu
Faces on Campus How do you feel about the name change?
“I love the fact that we have put Augusta back in the forefront of our name.” - Ralph Herndon, Information Technology Services
“I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand it is really good that we are changing the name but I felt it should have been Georgia Regents University of Augusta ...now there’s going to be so much confusion when it comes to identity to us students that graduate from this university.” - Harry Zane, senior Applied Information System and Technologies major
“I feel like it was what the students wanted beforehand. I do not like the process, and I just think it is just what the city wanted in the first place.” - Dominique Bond, senior Social Work major
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
OPINION www.grubellringer.com
editorial
The voice of
Augusta University
There is no such thing as fairy dust
EDITORIAL STAFF editor-in-chief SARAH CARTER scarte14@gru.edu copy editors ERICA RUGGLES eruggles@gru.edu AMY PERKINS aperkin4@gru.edu news editor SHELLIE SMITLEY sbarb@gru.edu arts & life editor JOSHUA ADAMS jadams35@gru.edu sports editor TIM HOWARD thowar20@gru.edu layout editors ANNA DRESSER adresser@gru.edu JAMIE SAPP jsapp270@gru.edu staff writers INESHA HOWARD icarruth@gru.edu LUCIA CONKRIGHT lconkrig@gru.edu contributors ADRIENNE HAYES adhayes@gru.edu KRISTEN BAGLEY kbagley1@gru.edu IARINA DEVOS idevos@gru.edu SUMMER KEEPERS skeeper1@gru.edu photographer SIDNEY FOWLER sfowler@gru.edu advertising manager POSITION AVAILABLE visual journalists POSITION AVAILABLE online producer POSITION AVAILABLE social media coordinator POSITION AVAILABLE adviser RICHARD KENNEY rkenney@gru.edu Direct advertising inquiries to: scarte14@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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Letters to the editor must be accompanied by the author’s name, phone number and email address. All columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author. The views expressed in the Editorial section do not necessarily express those of The Bell Ringer, a designated public forum.
SARAH CARTER | STAFF “Dreams can only become reality when one is willing to put in the necessary time and effort to see those dreams and aspirations...”
“When you live for a strong purpose, then hard work isn’t an option. It’s a necessity.” Steve Pavlina I can hardly believe that midterm has come and gone. Now, we must begin to prepare ourselves for the challenges and rigors of finals week, which will be here before we know it. Where did the time go? Sometimes it seems as if all of our days, weeks and months, figuratively speaking, sprout wings and fly by. But, this always serves to remind me that our lives on this earth are really but a vapor and that every moment is precious and not to be taken for granted. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance that we strive to live lives full of joy, purpose and meaning throughout our college years and beyond. For many undergraduates, this is accomplished by dedicating themselves to their academic goals, participating in community service initiatives, spending quality time with family and friends, devoting themselves to a particular hobby or pastime, becoming a leader within on-campus, community, or faith-based organizations, going that extra mile to help others or simply being present in the moment. For most, including myself, finding a balance between academic coursework and personal endeavors may seem utterly unrealistic or impossible. In reality, learning and understanding how to achieve this harmonious balance between the two can prove quite challenging, but doable. As my
mom often says, “How do you eat an ‘elephant?’ One bite at a time …” All things worth achieving in life will in some way involve hard work, commitment, motivation and a desire for excellence. So, there is, unfortunately, no such thing as fairy dust. There is no fairy godmother who can grant us our wishes, no special spell that we can chant and no potion that we can take that will make all of our dreams come true. Dreams can only become reality when one is willing to put in the necessary time and effort to see those dreams and aspirations blessed and come to fruition. I believe it is imperative that we, as students of Augusta University, understand the significance of accomplishing hard things and the wisdom gained from learning from our mistakes, especially during our college years. Reflecting on my own personal experiences, I understand how tough balance is to achieve and how difficult these lessons are to learn. Therefore, I encourage each and every student at our university to consider how they spend their time both on and off campus. Evaluating how one’s time is spent can reveal a lot about someone, especially the values he or she holds dear and their importance in that person’s life. This time in our lives is truly precious and will not come around again – will you choose to work hard, find your balance and make the most of every opportunity you have been given this year?
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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
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
ARTS & LIFE www.grubellringer.com
Spotlight cast on cinema series Joshua Adams arts & life editor
Movie buffs at Augusta University are in for a treat this October because there will be two screening events on campus. The Cinema Series, co-chaired by Communications Professors Matthew Buzzell and Rick Pukis, will feature three films during these two events. Buzzell said the first of these events will take place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will feature the new documentary “Meru.” “It is the winner of the 2015 Sundance Film Festivals Audience Award,” Buzzell said. “It is a film that details mountain climbing in the Himalayas and it has received
rave reviews.” The second event will be a retro-horror double feature on Oct. 24, Buzzell said, and will start at 7 p.m. “We’re going to be screening two rather terrifying films from decades past,” Buzzell said. “We’ll be screening “Shock Waves” (1977), [which is] an underwater, Nazi zombie film and “The Beyond” (1981), [which is] an Italian horror film directed by Lucio Fulci.” Between the two horror films, there will be a screaming contest, Buzzell said. Cinema Series events are always free and take place at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theater, Buzzell said, which has the viewing quality comparable to both the Evans and Regal theaters.
“Our mission, as it stands today, is to provide the students, the faculty, the staff and the general public rarified opportunities to see films and experience cinema that they can’t find in their local multiplexes,” Buzzell said. “We don’t show films that screen at Regal or Evans Cinemas.” An added bonus to the Cinema Series, Buzzell said, is that cell phone use is strictly prohibited. “You have to pay $14 to go to a movie theater to see people text during a movie, and we don’t like that,” Buzzell said. “We like people to have the pure experience of enjoying the cinema and have a lot of fun.” jadams35@gru.edu
Student with disorder shares story By Iarina Devos contributor
“I hope you have another child because Iarina will never be normal.” That is how Dr. Robanescu, the first Romanian doctor who examined me, gave the cruel diagnosis to my parents. From that moment on, my mother knew that my life would never be easy and definitely not normal. While most people want to live a normal life full of experiences, happiness and fulfilled dreams, about two to three live births out of 1,000 in the U.S. are affected by cerebral palsy (CP), the most common motor disability affecting children. CP is a congenital brain disorder at the level of the central nervous system. CP is a disease caused by hypoxia, which means that there is loss of oxygen in the brain before, during or shortly after birth. The lack of oxygen in the blood causes irreparable damage to the brain, which may lead to symptoms such as increased muscle tone, difficulties with balance, problems with thinking and difficulties with vision. Although there is symptomatic treatment, CP cannot be cured. Although many children with cerebral palsy grow up to have a normal life, it is surely not an easy feat. The costs of a normal life are intensive therapy sessions and special attention in all daily life activities. The most precious evidence I have is my own experience. I identify myself with this group of people that want to be as normal as they can. In the ‘80s, when I was born, all these things about CP were not known in my native country. Even now, there are children in Eastern Europe who do not know all the necessary information about their
disability. My family had many questions about CP that no doctor could answer. The unknown was unbearable for my mother and she started to develop her own theories. She was convinced that the events in Chernobyl caused my CP. Chernobyl was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred in 1986, the same year I was born, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, an Eastern European country next to Romania. The explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western part of Russia and Europe that caused particular types of cancer and other health disorders. One of my grandmothers blames the gynecologist who delivered me. Others even blamed my parents for not being religious enough. For so many years, I was looking for an answer. I needed a reason so I could go further with my life. When I turned 20, I changed my mind and I just stopped looking for a reason. It is not an issue for me anymore. I have CP with hemidystonia on the right side of my body. My right hand and leg are the most affected body parts. I have increased muscle tone and involuntary movements. These motor symptoms are aggravated by physical and emotional stress. Every stage in a healthy person’s life raises challenges for children diagnosed with CP. When they are babies, their parents are normally looking for cures and trying new innovative treatments hoping that doctors were wrong when they first told them there is no cure for this disorder. While in school, children with CP go through long physical therapy sessions and they also undergo
several surgeries recommended by the best health care providers. Neurologists, orthopedists and physical therapists are constant figures in the life of a child diagnosed with CP. They become family that children learn to appreciate and cherish along the years. They help these children in their attempt to live a normal life. In my case, thanks to the three surgeries I underwent during my childhood in Romania, I can now walk fine; however, I have difficulties walking fast, running, standing on one leg and maintaining balance. By the time I was 18 years old, I had four surgeries: three on my right leg and one on my right hand. It is still difficult to open my right hand. Even after I underwent the second surgery, I can only use it to stabilize cans or hold my keys. I do not have the fine motor movements to manipulate objects with my right hand. According to the surgeon that operated on my hand, Dr. Ilse Degreef from the University Hospital in Pellenberg, Belgium, my hand could never get better. She assured me that I will never have a perfectly functional right hand. For me, a 22-year-old woman at that time, it was the most devastating news a doctor ever told me. However, the most difficult period in a person’s life is the teenage years. For most with CP, this is the worst stage. They are angry and have so many existential problems and questions with no answers. The most crucial moment for a person with CP is when they accept themselves and the fact that they will never be cured. The neurologist I see now in the U.S., Dr. John Morgan, told me during one of my first appointments with him, “Iarina, you need to get a good look at yourself in the mirror and accept who you are because you will never be
cured.” Although that was the hardest thing somebody ever told me, it was the most precious lesson I ever had to learn. Dr. Morgan was the only doctor out of more than 20 that I met in my life that dared to tell me the truth. As the years go by, this disability can continue to challenge people’s well-being. People used to think that CP was only a physical and emotional matter; research has shown that this disability affects the entire body. Even though their physical strength is limited, people with CP need to find a physical activity that would help them have a normal, healthy life. When I was in high school, I frequently had abdominal pains. Every time I would go to the doctor, he would tell me that my metabolism is very slow, and he would give me medication to help my organs function better. Then, I decided I needed to live a healthy life and that I needed to start looking for an activity that would help me with my metabolism. I basically started a new, healthier lifestyle. I started by eliminating fats, heavy meat and junk food from my eating habits and I replaced them with fruits, vegetables and smoothies. I go to the gym three to four times a week, depending on my daily schedule. Since I made these changes in my life, I genuinely feel better both mentally and physically. Besides friends and families, there are so many associations and organizations out there anxiously willing to help children and young adults with disabilities. In my case, ASCHF-R helped me hold my head above water whenever I felt like I was drowning in this big wide world. It is a Romanian association for children with physical disabilities.
This organization helped my family and I a lot since I enrolled when I was four years old. ASCHF-R, the abbreviation known in Romania, sees the world as a place in which children and young people with physical and associated disabilities can exploit their potential and become full members of the society. Members and families strongly believe in the idea that the full potential of the child and young person with disabilities can and should be capitalized. ASCHF-R’s mission is to develop programs with and for children and young people with physical disabilities and their families in order to facilitate social inclusion. I always saw this association as our little normal world where nobody stares at you, nobody bullies you and nobody asks you what is wrong with your leg or with your hand. Everyone with disabilities needs to go through a process of accepting themselves and learn to live with their impairments. Identifying myself as a disabled person is a daily challenge and I just try to be the best version of myself. I have the help of all the health care providers and I want to fight every obstacle I encounter in my daily life. Over the years, research has shown that nothing about cerebral palsy is black and white. The diagnosis, the symptoms and the trajectory of development of each child varies according to his or her brain injury. Only certain health care providers and the special attention that society provides make it possible for children with CP to have a normal life, while sad stories from the past can only remind us how research and human nature are in a constant evolution that makes all of us better with each passing day. idevos@gru.edu
Garden city grub: Solé By Amy Perkins copy editor The secret is out. Solé, a new restaurant on Broad Street amidst some vacant shops and offices, is on the tongue of many sushi lovers. There is no ‘Open’ sign so it was a little unnerving. Entering Solé, the first thing you will notice is the large open area and a very well stocked and lengthy bar with only a couple of tables and a barrel stand. It seems a little uninviting, but do not let that scare you away. Modern touches in the simplistic décor and lighting provide a relaxed setting to conduct work meetings or hang out with friends for a while as pop hits play in the background. The restaurant turns into more of a bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. There is a very large open patio with a fire pit, new pool table and
classic string lights that make you feel like you are cozying up in a warm mountain cabin, echoing the barrel wall lights inside. If you do not have an acquired taste for sushi, there are plenty of other items to choose from. Made from local produce, items range from a Greek salad and burger with a fried egg and cheese to beef filets with mashed potatoes. For the less adventurous, Solé offers grilled chicken and bacon sandwiches or the meal that never fails, a chicken finger basket. The sushi menu is broken into two parts: Maki rolls with 22 options and specialty rolls with 13 options. The Mozzarella Jalapeño Grit Fritters are one of Solé’s most popular “appetizers” - in quotations because you can make a meal of them. Our waitress, Shayna, was a delight and promptly brought out our fritters with hardly any wait time. An order consists of four very
large triangle-shaped, golden fritters. They are cheesy, buttery, salty and sweet all in one bite. You will not want to leave any on the plate. The Buffalo Bleu Cheese Chicken Nachos, a mouthful to say, was our second shared tapa. Shayna also brought this out quickly and with a smile. Shayna recommended that we try the Fireside Roll, which we ordered along with the Solé Roll. The Fireside Roll is a Maki sushi roll with spicy tuna, shrimp and cream cheese. This roll was my favorite of the two, as it was spicy and sweet. The Solé Roll is a “futo style (roll) with tuna, crab, shrimp, avocado and cream cheese.” This particular roll is flash fried with a crab salad on top. The roll itself was soft with a light crunch, but it was a little bland for my taste. The portion sizes are very large for the prices you pay. The Fireside Roll came with
JOSHUA ADAMS | STAFF The Solé Roll, pictured above, is a futo-style sushi roll with tuna, crab, shrimp, avocado and cream cheese. It is also fried and then topped with crab salad.
eight pieces for $5.99 and the Solé Roll came with 13 pieces for $11.99. The Maki Rolls are all $8.99 or less and the Specialty Rolls range from $8.99 to $11.99. Solé has many weekly specials. Mondays offer all-you-can-eat sushi for $13.99, however, expect to be waiting in line if you do not make
a reservation. On Wednesdays, they offer buy one get one free sushi and have an extended happy hour. The restaurant also offers half priced wine bottles on Thursdays. Solé is open Monday to Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m., with lunch on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. aperkin4@gru.edu
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Jaguar spirit now found at the mall By Summer Keepers contributor
Augusta’s very own local university has begun selling merchandise in a popular sports store located in the mall. Finish Line, a sporting apparel store located on the second floor of the Augusta Mall, has recently partnered with Augusta University’s athletic department to begin carrying a line of sports attire. On Sept. 1, 2015, a brief summary about the new apparel was posted on jaguarsroar.com, the university’s athletics page, informing fans, students, faculty and alumni that they can get their school spirit somewhere other than the bookstore. The well-known athletics retailer, which has more than 600 stores nationwide, according to its website, is currently selling two GRU hoodies for $40 each to see how well the items sell and how often Augustans would buy the
TIM HOWARD | STAFF
Jaguar apparel can be found at Finish Line in the Augusta Mall as well as the bookstore.
articles of clothing. Taylor Lamb, director of athletic media relations, expressed his concerns and overall feelings about this high-dollar partnership. “GRU’s division of communications set up a deal with Finish Line and agreed to have at least 80 percent of the merchandise sold,” Lamb said, “simply to get a better understanding of what types (of merchandise) and how much they would need
to have in the stores.” Lamb added that the university was able to have its merchandise sold at Finish Line thanks to a licensing group. “Teaming with Learfield Licensing Partners gave us that opening door for Finish Line,” he said. Some potential questions and problems that could affect the sales of the merchandise is how the university’s name change will affect
its partnership with Finish Line. There are two possible outcomes: people will buy the GRU apparel, or people will not buy it, which could result in Finish Line terminating its partnership with the university. Lamb was quick to point out that despite the university’s name change, its athletic teams would still be considered GRU athletics. “All GRU athletic
teams will continue out the year playing as GRU and not Augusta University,” Lamb said, “but we are Augusta University, not GRU.” Finish Line will continue to sell GRU apparel until further notice. The university’s sweatshirts will be located on a table next to sweatshirts representing other universities in Georgia such as the University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Southern University, along with various out-of-state universities such as Duke University and the University of Miami. Since this article was written, the university’s athletic department announced on Sept. 29 that all of its teams would begin competing as Augusta University effective immediately, according to Clint Bryant, the university’s athletics director. skeeper1@gru.edu
Professor teaches Tai Chi By Kristen Bagley contributor Rick Pukis brings his communications skills to the forefront as a Tai Chi instructor in the Kinesiology department of Augusta University. Pukis, a professor for the Communications department, has taken his love for Tai Chi to another level. Interested in the Chinese martial arts as a kid, Pukis studied Kung Fu before he became involved with Tai Chi practices. “I have been interested in Chinese martial arts for most of my life,” Pukis mentions. Pukis’ presence in the Kinesiology department or wellness courses was not known by many of his very own colleagues. Teaching Tai Chi previously, he decided he wanted to implement a wellness class where students could learn how to do Tai Chi.
“Tai Chi works on relaxation, and you have to incorporate mind and body together,” Pukis says. “It takes a lot of concentration. When you are doing this concentration, you forget about everything else in your life. With the health benefits, there is many, there is stretching aspects and strength aspects. There is even Chinese principle to it that energy flows through your body.” “There was a student that came to class with a terrible headache and came up to me after class, and said, ‘Ah I feel great now!’” Current students looking into activity classes are unaware of the Tai Chi class that Pukis teaches. Pukis says that if you are looking for a way to relax and get away from everyday struggles, than this wellness course is a great opportunity for a student to explore. “It is something different from what I had taken for my wellness courses, but if they had offered it when I was needing
those courses I would have loved to try it out.” Brooke Stephens, a senior Kinesiology major, replied. In Pukis’ life, Tai Chi has impacted and helped him react in a calmer manner in certain situations. Without the practices of Chinese martial arts, remaining calm would not have been possible. “I use some of the principles of Tai Chi in my teaching, the relaxation and calming. I have had some people complement me on my demeanor, sometimes saying ‘Wow, you reacted to that so calmly.’” In any case, whether a student is enrolled in a communications course or a wellness course instructed by Pukis, Tai Chi will be incorporated within his teaching styles. He believes that in his communications classes, these practices can calm students and help them better succeed throughout his courses.
agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge away from the Portland Trail Blazers, but otherwise their roster looks much like it did last season. All those “old guys,” like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginóbili, are still producing at a high level alongside younger talent like Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. There is no telling how far they can go. Los Angeles might see both of its franchises in the postseason, but not in the order that it used to be for so many years. The Clippers expect to compete for a title with a deep lineup, a successful coach and a controversial free agency decision. Over the summer, DeAndre Jordan announced that he was leaving Los Angeles for the Dallas Mavericks, with whom he made a verbal commitment. Not longer after that commitment, news broke that Jordan wanted to go back to Los Angeles, and a few days later, he signed a new contract with the Clippers. The story, which was highly unusual because a player reneged a verbal agreement with a team, may have hurt the Mavericks, who traded away many players to free up salary cap space for Jordan. Regardless, if you were a Clippers fan or a Mavericks fan, the entire ordeal was so bizarre that you could not help but look at it. In the same building that Jordan will be playing in this season – the Staples Center – the Lakers are hoping to make the playoffs in what may turn out to be Kobe Bryant’s final season. The Lakers, led by rookie D’Angelo Russell and sophomore Julius Randle, look
to send Bryant out in style despite fierce competition from within their own state, let alone their own home arena. Of course, you cannot discuss California teams without mentioning last year’s champions, the Golden State Warriors. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors will perform one season after winning a title. Will they stay hungry in their quest to win a second title, or will the championship disrupt team chemistry? Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, a handful of teams look to challenge the Cavaliers for conference dominance, including the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks surprised many last season by racing to a 60-22 record, the best record in the East, but they seemed to slow down in the playoffs when they had trouble dispatching the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards and were then swept by Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. Atlanta may not claim the top spot in the East as they did last season, but if they can stay consistent and play their best in the playoffs, they will not have to worry about its regular season record. There are so many possible ways this NBA season could go. Predictions will be torn apart, expectations will be shattered and hopes and dreams will be incinerated. Rather than making expert predictions, let us just sit back and enjoy the madness as it unfolds before our eyes.
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New season brings hope, energy By Tim Howard sports editor At the conclusion of last season’s NBA Finals, I was left wondering the same thing that many other basketball fans were probably thinking: What if Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had been healthy? I am no Cleveland Cavaliers fan, nor am I a fan of whatever team LeBron James is on, although I like keeping up with his performances night after night. But even a casual basketball fan could say that the series would have been more exciting if the Cavaliers had their full lineup on the court. A person can argue about a team not having a healthy lineup, but that is part of the thrill of the NBA season. Just like in baseball, you have to be at your best not just for a long regular season, but also for a long playoff run. In the NBA’s case, its two finals participants will have played in and won three best-of-seven series by the time they make it to the championship series. Basically, to win it all, you have got to stay consistent for a long time, or you will not be bringing home any hardware. The new season brings hope for some teams who came up just short last season, be it a perennial playoff contender like the San Antonio Spurs or a team new to the postseason like the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs came up short last season, falling in seven games to the Los Angeles Clippers on a last second shot by Clippers point guard Chris Paul. For this season, the Spurs signed free
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The Hot Corner Tim Howard sports editor
Who will be this year’s Mr. October? Now that the Major League Baseball’s regular season has officially wrapped up, it is time for the 10 teams left standing to make one final push for a World Series title. For teams like the New York Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals or the Los Angeles Dodgers, the postseason is familiar territory and winning a World Series is expected, not just something to hope for. Other teams who have not always been as fortunate, such as the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers, are back in the postseason hoping to atone for disappointment in recent World Series appearances. Then there are the Chicago Cubs, the team with a passionate yet tortured fan base that has not seen a World Series title since 1908 and has not even made it to the World Series since World War II ended. Will this be the year that the Cubs finally win it all and break the various curses that their fans claim have been placed on the team, or will the Curse of the Billy Goat rear its ugly head and stop the Cubs? Meanwhile, a few teams that have gone through long postseason droughts are making their long-awaited returns, perhaps none more surprising than the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros. Canada has not sent a team to the playoffs since 1993, when Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run that won the World Series for the Blue Jays. All four of Toronto’s division rivals – the Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays – have seen some sort of postseason success over the past two decades while the Blue Jays were left to watch the playoffs at home. But this year, three of those teams will be watching the Blue Jays make their long-awaited return to the postseason. Down in Texas, the Houston Astros last played in the postseason in 2005 when they were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Ten years may not be as long as 20 years, but unlike Toronto, Houston recently suffered three consecutive 100-loss seasons from 2011 to 2013 and went through growing pains in moving from the National League Central to the American League West. Houston was supposed to become a playoff contender in the next few seasons, but not many had expected them to make the jump so quickly. With exciting players like slugger Evan Gattis and light-hitting José Altuve, Houston finds itself in the playoffs for the first time since Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio wore Astros gear. While their playoff appearance is limited to the wild card game and not a division title, teams that have won that game have gone on postseason runs, as was seen last season when both World Series participants – the Royals and the Giants – played in and won their respective wild card games. After a 20-year postseason drought, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be hosting the National League wild card game for the third consecutive season. Two years ago, they topped the Cincinnati Reds before bowing out to the Cardinals in the National League Division Series. Last year, they lost to the eventual World Series champions, the Giants. This time, they take on the Cubs in a match up of two young and exciting teams both trying to stake a claim in a division that has largely been dominated by the Cardinals, as of late. It is tough to discuss playoff droughts without mentioning the New York Mets, who have not played meaningful October baseball in nine years, even though I have already written plenty about them. But I can say that winning the National League East – a division that was supposed to belong to the Washington Nationals – is no small achievement. The Mets’ pitching staff has looked great in the regular season, but this will be the first playoff appearance since 2006, so their match up with the Los Angeles Dodgers and their one-two punch of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the National League Division Series will be a great way to show how far their pitching staff has come and how much further it needs to come. When it comes down to it, this postseason’s lineup does a good job of mixing in contenders (Yankees and Cardinals), upstart regulars (Royals and Pirates) and teams that are ending long periods of futility (Astros and Blue Jays). Perhaps this year’s playoffs and World Series will be as interesting as the regular season has been. But, worry not, fellow Braves fans – we will be there again one day soon. thowar20@gru.edu
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Dog bites student on campus By Shellie Smitley news editor A leashed dog that appeared to be a dachshund, belonging to Augusta University student Hannah Phillips, bit another student during an event on the Summerville campus on Sept. 16. Audrey Mbah, a pre-nursing student, said the skin on her knee was penetrated when the dog bit her. “....I was going to get popcorn and I looked to the right and saw a small dog,” Mbah said. “ I actually asked the owner if the dog bites before I proceeded to pet the dog. She told me
SHELLIE SMITLEY | STAFF Students in Van Tuyll’s class read aloud the 27 Amendments in celebration of Constitution Day on the Summerville campus.
Professor stumps history students on Constitution Day By Lucia Conkright staff writer Most college students may not know the significance of Sept. 17, but the students of Debra van Tuyll’s History of Journalism class are not among them. The importance of the Constitution was at the forefront as students gathered in the campus courtyard to recite the 27 amendments in honor of Constitution Day. The event was orchestrated by van Tuyll, journalism professor at Augusta University since 1996. She said the university celebrated Constitution Day with a large celebration the first year, but in following years, events honoring the day have been off and on. “It comes and goes,” van Tuyll said. “About six or seven years ago, the government started making a big deal out of Constitution Day, and encouraging us to celebrate it.” Students of van Tuyll’s class met in the university courtyard at 1 p.m. and gathered around the raised teardrop in the middle of the walkway.
They proceeded to step up on the teardrop, one at a time, and read an amendment. Students continued to read through the amendments until 2:15 p.m. Van Tuyll said that she had originally thought to read the Supreme Court decisions, but that seemed “a little esoteric.” She said this left her with the amendments, which were shorter than the Constitution, but not as wellknown throughout the student population. “I’ve heard the amendments before,” said Haley Harris, a senior at Augusta University and one of van Tuyll’s students. “But saying them aloud like that was really cool.” The event reflected the method used by speakers in the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries. “While campaigning, candidates spoke to large crowds at open-air forums. Often candidates would stand on stumps to give their speeches, a practice termed ‘stump-speaking,” according to the State Historical Society of Missouri’s website, or shs.umsystem.edu. “Going into journalism, it’s good
to get to know the Constitution,” Harris said. “Saying it out loud helps ingrain it into your head.” Jacob Tomberlin, a junior who also participated in the event, said he thought it was a little weird at first, but once students got started it was exciting. “It was super interesting to put yourself in the shoes of people reading these,” Tomberlin said. “Back then they were pretty provocative ideas.” According to van Tuyll, she hoped that students would take away a stronger understanding of how things were for speakers back in Revolutionary times and what it felt like to have the stage. “We’re always up on a soapbox, in a way,” van Tuyll said. She hoped the activity would encourage her students in their journalism studies and help them pay more attention to things they know. “It’s important not to forget our history,” Tomberlin said. “And those ideas are still real today.”
As of April 2014, Georgia residents are able to register to vote online and by downloading the mobile app, “GA Votes.” “The reason, (for developing online voting registration) was to give better access and to provide more convenience to people seeking to register to vote or update their voter registration information,” Lynn Bailey, executive director of the Board of Elections of Richmond County, said. “There is a mobile app too that is actually very very cool. The mobile app is called ‘GA Votes,’ and that is available in either Apple or Android. You can register to vote quickly at your convenience.”
SHELLIE SMITLEY | STAFF A display located in the Augusta Municipal Building encourages patrons to vote.
Bailey said besides making the process easier for the election office and for potential voters, she thinks the app is a good way for college students to promote the voter registration effort. “It’s been wildly popular,” Bailey said. “Thousands of Georgia citizens have registered to vote since 2014. It was used very heavily prior to the November 2014 election in particular and it has continued to be used this year. We are in an off- election year right now, but as we get closer to the 2016 election I suspect that we will see more and more people take advantage of it.” Bailey said potential voters can register on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.ga.gov. Both the website and the app allow users to look up their registration status, make changes to their address or name, download a sample ballot or an absentee ballot and find their polling location. She said that people can register at the age of 17 1/2 but cannot vote until they are 18 years old. “Keep in mind that next year is a huge election year,” Bailey said. “We will start off on March 1, with the presidential primary. That will be a big election. The primary for president will have many many candidates from both of the major parties, so a big election there. Moving on from there we’ll have a general primary on May 20 and the (presidential) election will be Nov. 8.” Martha Ginn, associate professor of Political Science, said college-aged students have an “apathetic attitude” toward voting even though they register to vote.
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Students evacuate Washington Hall as smoke alarms students and faculty By Shellie Smitley news editor Students, staff and faculty evacuated Washington Hall on Sept. 3 at approximately 11:30 a.m. as fire alarms went off and smoke was seen in the second floor hallway. Jenn Morey, a senior Communications major, was in a performance studies class taught by Melanie O’Meara on the second floor of the building when the alarms went off. “I saw arts students from the second floor and they were like running down the stairs,” Morey said. “They looked like art students and they were like ‘go go go go go.’” James Chrisman, Public Safety officer, said there was no actual fire and that the smoke was caused by a floor buffer. “(There was) nothing to it,” Chrisman said. Kenny Reames is the main-
tenance supervisor of technical trades and facilities operations-electrical and said that Ted McNeal (Public Safety) arrived at the scene quickly and the source of the smoke was found “in two minutes.” He said a maintenance worker had pressed down too hard while using a floor buffer to wax. The excess pressure caused the wax to heat up and smoke. “It was just an accident,” Reames said. “Everyone exited the building like they were supposed to.” O’Meara said she had not received an email stating that there was a drill. She ushered her students outside and encouraged them to stay together. “It always scares me (when the alarms go off) and especially when I saw the smoke, I was more concerned,” O’Meara said. “I was concerned for my students.”
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Keel Story CONTINUED from PAGE 1
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Georgia offers voters app and poll positions By Shellie Smitley news editor
no, so when I reached to pet the dog, the dog ran up to me and stood on top of my leg and he bit me...I called the police first and then later on I started feeling soreness and some pain so I wanted to call the ambulance to make sure everything was ok.” According to Chris Adcox, sergeant at Public Safety, Phillips said she thought the dog was startled but the dog was up to date on its shots. Adcox said as part of standard operating procedure Animal Control was called. Phillips had no comment.
She believes many young people do not believe their vote matters. “The reality is young voters are more likely to be democratic than republican and in the state of Georgia that means that their voice potentially does matter more,” Ginn said. “Well South Carolina and Georgia both, the graying of the republican party, which tends to dominate these two states, and now you have more and more young democrats entering it, they could potentially shift the direction of not just the state legislature but the national legislature as well.” Michelle Haynie, senior Communications and English major, said she is registered and intends to vote in the next presidential election. She said she was not aware Georgians could register online. “It makes sense because there is an app for everything,” Haynie said. Bailey said she thinks it is possible voters may be able to cast their ballots online in the future. “I think there have been many earnest efforts made in that direction,” Bailey said. “As of yet we have not, as an election community, been able to find a way that is secure enough.” Bailey said the polls hire temporary workers and she encourages college students to apply. “It is a wonderful experience for anyone and we are always looking for good young people to work at the polls,” Bailey said. “And I think that is true probably across all counties in Georgia.” sbarb@gru.edu
SARAH CARTER | STAFF President Keel laughs after discussing the sale of Pepsi products at the university.
Keel said. “But what I think you are going to see is more mutually beneficial opportunities like the Ambulatory Care Center...” Keel said a definite need for change exists in amenities like food services at both campuses. “I want us to start thinking about food courts and more food services across both campuses,” he said. “... You can’t really have a residential campus without having the things that most people need to have...” According to Keel, two things not likely to be seen at the university are the sale of Pepsi products or a football team. “...I haven’t looked at the pouring rights here to tell you the truth... Coke is king in the state of Georgia,” he said. “...This is a Coke state and that is my commercial for the day.” Keel said football is a “tremendously expensive prospect.” He said there have been, however, some talks about using the “old Green Jackets stadium” for both the university’s baseball and softball teams. He said he and his wife attend as many of the home sporting events they can. He said the Christenberry Fieldhouse has a better basketball court than Georgia Southern University. Keel said changes that can be expected in the future are making sure that both libraries have the facilities they need to be part of a research university, expanding the STEM em-
phasis to STEAM and the addition of online classes. “One of the real benefits of the merger is it allowed us to become a more comprehensive university,” Keel said. “...it allows us to really emphasize the arts and humanities that we have here... my wife has already met with the chair of the art department... about putting student and faculty art... in the public part of the president’s home so when I entertain donors (I) want to be able to say, ‘that’s some of the work my students are doing,’ so they can visualize where the money is going.” Keel said in the past fundraising efforts for the university have been project-based. He said it is important to find out what an individual donor’s passions are and “linking” them up in order to donate in that area. He said funding the higher travel expectations placed on the faculty at the Summerville campus will be a greater challenge than funding for the faculty at the Health Sciences campus. “Many of the faculty on (the Health Sciences campus) that go to meetings, there is an expectation that those are funded through grants ...that same expectation will hold for the Summerville faculty... it is going to take some time before we get to that point.... it is an issue that we know we need to address.” sbarb@gru.edu
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GRU Health System name is likely to change By Shellie Smitley news editor Although it remains Georgia Regents Health System, President Keel said on Oct. 8 that the name of the hospital is likely to change. “They have not made a decision yet (but) it probably will,” Keel said. “The reason that I can’t be definitive is because it is a decision that the board has to make.” Keel, who is CEO of the health system, said the board’s next meeting is in a couple of weeks and the name change will be discussed. “They are not, just like we, (the university), are not under a timeline to make a change right away,” Keel said. “We need to think a little bit
about what that is going to be.” Keel said he thinks it makes sense as the university moves forward to co-brand the two entities. “To have two totally different names would not make a whole lot of sense.” He said he thinks a good amount of thought and discussion will be given to how the Augusta University name can be used to fit with the health system. Keel said the hospital is a huge complex and a “beast in and of itself.” He said it is important to make sure it is a profitable hospital that supports both the academic and research missions the university has. sbarb@gru.edu
GRU OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS Attached is an image of the resignation of Wesley Martin that looks like it was written on a spiral notebook sheet of paper.
Employee says GRU officer is a ‘nasty pig’ By Shellie Smitley news editor
PHIL JONES | GRU University President and CEO of Georgia Regents Health System Brooks Keel said on Oct 8 that it does not make any sense for the two entities to have different names.
Stadium talks hit home By Shellie Smitley news editor Brooks Keel, president of Augusta University, said there have been talks with the city about leasing the “old Green Jackets stadium” located in the Lake Olmstead area. “I had a brief meeting with Dr. Keel,” Jason Eller, head baseball coach, said. “…It is something that we have been dreaming on for the last couple years, about having that stadium as ours exclusively. Right now we lease it from the Green Jackets so we have to share it.” Eller said the stadium is much more equipped to handle the “fans, the players, and the whole NCAA baseball practice experience” better than the Christenberry Fieldhouse baseball field. Keel said the Christenberry field does not have dug outs, restrooms or concessions. “We had to get port-a-potties and we don’t really have a locker room...,” Eller said. Eller said because the Christenberry field was in “such rough shape” the team was unable to have a NCAA practice last year. “It is really not great for our players and visiting teams, but sure not good for spectators,” Keel said. Eller said he is thrilled with the communication going on with the city and that Coach Clint Bryant is handling the talks. Eller said he be-
lieves moving the team to the Lake Olmstead stadium would be a wonderful asset to the team and the city. “To be able to have all the infrastructure that Lake Olmstead provides, we would be able to provide study hall for our student athletes,” Eller said. Other amenities would include “... a weight room that would be exclusive for baseball and softball, if softball is over there, a team room for meetings... a place to eat pre-game meals... It would be one of the top facilities in the country.” He said the Green Jackets are hoping the 2016 season will be the minor league team’s last season at Lake Olmstead stadium. “... I think that would make great sense if we can get it,” Keel said. “If the upkeep on it is reasonable, I would really like to take advantage of that because (then) I think that you would have a great place for our baseball team to compete, and I think there is land for the softball as well...” According to augusta.greenjackets.milb.com, Lake Olmstead Stadium has been home to the Green Jackets since 1995. “The lure and appeal of playing at a minor league stadium (is) really big for a college baseball program like ourselves,” Eller said.
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Wesley Martin, public safety officer, resigned on Sept. 28 after an investigation found that he violated two university work rules and two standards of public safety conduct. On Sept. 15, Eugene Maxwell, assistant chief of police, was called to the College of Dental Medicine in regards to several sexual harassment complaints made by female employees of the college. On Sept. 28, Martin was given a notice of discharge and he turned in his written resignation. According to documents obtained by The Bell Ringer, that included copies of the allegations. According to one complaint, Wesley text messaged a business
office clerk in regards to a female orthodontic resident that she was waiting on. The message included Wesley’s desire to perform a sexually explicit act on the resident. In a statement taken by Officer Christina Compton on Sept. 15, Martin said to a female employee, “Oh, you’re just being a whore.” According to a written statement taken Sept. 15 after a sexually explicit remark, a female employee told Martin that “he was so nasty” and a doctor “thought he was a nasty pig.” The statement also included that on Oct. 14 Wesley told the employee that she had a big (chest). In another complaint, Wesley told a female employee that he could see through her clothing, made comments about her chest area and spoke of a sexually explicit
act with another employee. According to a Sept. 21 memo from Maxwell, Martin did not deny the allegations made by the employees of the college and stated “that they would often make comments of a sexual nature back and forth to each other.” Martin’s actions are a violation of the “Professional Image Standard of Conduct” and the “On and Off Duty Standard of Conduct” contained in the Public Safety Policies and Procedures Manual. In addition, his behavior is a violation of two University work rules, including sexual harassment, according to the notice of discharge. sbarb@gru.edu
The Bell Ringer will be accepting applications for staff positions for Spring semester. All positions will be open to full-time students from any major. Journalism experience preferred. Openings for: Editor-in-Chief News Editor Arts and Life Editor Sports Editor Layout Editors Online Producer Social Media Coordinator Staff Writers Visual Journalists Advertising Manager
Please pick up an application in AH E122 and return it, completed, by Nov. 2, 2015. Follow-up interviews may be required. Questions? Email the adviser, Dr. Rick Kenney, at rkenney@gru.edu. SHELLIE SMITLEY | STAFF
The Augusta University Jaguars practice during an inner-squad game at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Oct. 11.