Oct. 26, 2017 - Vol. 60, Issue 1

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Student Newspaper of Augusta University Volume 60, Issue 1 Thursday, October 26, 2017

www.aubellringer.wordpress.com

The Cinema Series How a well-curated selection of films shown at the Maxwell Theatre inspire its patrons Page 6

Photo By: Zhenya Townley

@aug_bellringer @augbellringer @aug_bellringer

Editorial on the campus carry law at Augusta University Page 3

Keel speaks at the State of University Address Page 4

JSAC to offer gender-neutral bathrooms Page 5

AU men’s basketball team to play against Clemson Tigers Page 7

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Thursday, October 26, 2017

The Premiere of Luna’s music video

Jamie Sapp | Staff (Top) The cast of the “Friends” music video for the indie band Luna pose for a photo with director and assistant communication professor Matthew Buzzell on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. in the Maxwell Theatre. (Bottom Left) Students from the Agency, a capstone course for senior communication students, stand on stage as they are being recognized by professor Buzzell in front of the audience.

NEWSPAPER STAFF editor-in-chief Jamie Sapp jsapp270@augusta.edu online + design editor Zhenya Townley ztownley@augusta.edu copy editors Natasha Ramaswamy nramaswamy@augusta.edu Rachel Shomer rshomer@augusta.edu staff writer Madison Brown madbrown@augusta.edu contributors Will Cheney wcheney@augusta.edu

Caroline Grant cargrant@augusta.edu adviser Todd Bennett tobennett@augusta.edu Direct advertising inquiries to: Jamie Sapp Editor-in-Chief jsapp270@augusta.edu The Bell Ringer bellringerproduction@gmail.com 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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THE BELL RINGER

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Editorial

HB 280: Is AU still on edge?

In light of Georgia House Bill 280 (or HB 280), there have been many questions raised about the campus carry law beginning with the differences between concealed carry and open carry.

According to the statute listed under the bill, concealed carry of a weapon is defined as being, “carried in such a fashion that does not actively solicit the attention of others and is not prominently, openly, and intentionally displayed except for purposes of defense of self or others.”

In simpler terms, this means that someone, as long as they have the correct permit, is allowed to carry a weapon as long as it is not displayed openly.

With HB 280, a license owner is allowed to carry a handgun while it is fully covered by clothing or contained within a bag.

Some restrictions apply with the state law, of course.

Students are not allowed to carry the weapon into a classroom if there is a student under the age of 18, into any building where athletic activities take place, into administrative or fac-

“We need to educate ourselves in protecting each other, and allowing university officials to protect us as well.” ulty offices, or into a disciplinary hearing of any kind.

Open carry is far different than the concealed carry that is allowed on college campuses.

Open carry of a weapon is when someone with a firearm license is allowed to openly carry a weapon in most public places.

However, in the state of Georgia, there are currently no laws that allow anyone to openly carry a weapon of any kind on college campuses.

Since July 2017, Georgia became one of 10 states in the U.S. to allow handguns on college campuses legally. For the state’s universities and colleges, such as Augusta University, licensed owners can have handguns only in a concealed manner.

For Augusta University, there haven’t been any recent shootings at the Summerville or Health Sciences campuses before or after the “campus carry” legislation came into effect.

From this past summer to

this fall semester, the Augusta University Police Department has provided active shooter training sessions and public forums on campus carry with a fair amount of attendance from the community.

In addition, Augusta University was named the safest college campus in Georgia this year back in April, according to ADT Security Services.

However, anything can happen.

A shooting occurred on Oct. 5 around 12:45 a.m. across from AU Medical Center near the intersection of 15th Street and Harper Street, which resulted in the death of a woman.

An email from the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) was sent to students, faculty, and staff in connection to the nearby shooting. The email also included safety tips for the community to follow, such as using the buddy system and using the RAVE Guardian app.

Of course, crime incidents occur here like other colleges and universities in the country some more than others.

There are students and faculty members have doubts on how the campus carry law is protecting them and others from harm.

As a community, it is important to be concerned.

In order to understand better about HB 280, let’s start with knowing basic carry laws in the state. We need to educate ourselves in protecting each other, and allowing university officials to protect us as well.

It is also important to note that every licensed owner of a handgun doesn’t need to bring it to campus all the time just because they have one.

So, does this mean that AU is still on edge with the law? Do students know enough about the law?

This begs the question as to why some students are not showing their concern for this law.

According to an article in The Augusta Chronicle published in late August, the university’s police department had low attendance for one public forum compared to other public forums with good attendance.

In fact, no students showed except for a man from the Student Health Center.

Why isn’t this issue at large now, when it needs to be talked about the most?

The campus carry law is meant to protect the rights of protection as well as oneself.

Those that are licensed generally know how to shoot and disable a firearm. But for those that carry illegally, students should better their knowledge on what to do if an active shooter is on campus.

Since professors are unable to bring firearms with them to classes and students can, it should be in agreement that those who are willing to holster a gun should take the initiative to learn all there is to know about how to use it properly in public.

It should come as a responsibility.

Whether or not students bring a gun to campus out of spite or solely for protection, campus carry has now presented everyone attending a public school with the realization that in many locations around the United States past and present, this law may save lives.

Mental illness on the rise in LGBTQ students

“#MeToo” campaign raises awareness on sexual assault

By Madison Brown staff writer

By Caroline Grant contributor

As I have experienced my own struggle with mental illness over the past few years, I have met a variety of people with mental illnesses. The most common ones are depression and anxiety disorders among members of the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ college students are considered to be extremely high risk for suicide attempts, according to The Trevor Project’s website.

With the struggles that occur through coming out, facing discrimination, and having an overall lack of support, it shocks me that the suicide rate isn’t higher.

Coming out of the closet as gay was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I was so worried about what my family would think that I developed an anxiety disorder. When I finally did come out, my family assured me that they still loved me.

My experience with coming out may have ended positively, but not everyone that comes out is so lucky. When deciding to come out, LGBTQ college students have to weigh significant risks. Will their families disown them? How will they support themselves if that happens?

LGBTQ students must face the consequences of being out, whether that is through loss of family support or discrimination from professors and fellow students.

The consequences can lead to LGBTQ students developing mental illnesses that, when left untreated, can lead to suicide attempts.

Discrimination against LGBTQ stu-

dents is another factor in the rising number of college student suicides. Augusta University is no stranger to such discrimination. Last year, posters promoting anti-LGBTQ ideas and white supremacy were plastered around campus. This is another reason for the rising suicide rates.

When members of the LGBTQ community see signs that call them ‘disgusting’ and ‘immoral’ because of who they love, it makes the campus unsafe and lowers their sense of self-worth.

Students may also face discrimination from students and faculty members.

This could be from people using slurs against those students or protesting at Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) meetings.

Faculty members can discriminate against them by using their power and influence to make classes harder for those students.

This type of discrimination can cause students to not attend classes because they no longer feel welcome.

I believe that mental illness is so prevalent in LGBTQ college students because of the lack of support that they receive while in college.

College is stressful and terrifying all on its own, but when you add in the stress from facing backlash because of your sexual orientation or gender identity, the stress doubles.

It’s been proven that LGBTQ college students are almost five times as likely to commit suicide than other students are, so what I want to know is: Why isn’t more being done to prevent this from happening?

Why are we letting LGBTQ students become just another statistic?

Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.

Actress Alyssa Milano spearheaded the “#MeToo” campaign on Twitter on October 15, a social justice movement dedicated to raising awareness for victims of sexual assault and harassment.

Milano encouraged female victims of these crimes to come forth and tweet the phrase, “#MeToo.” Within 24 hours, the hashtag had been tweeted nearly half a million times.

One of those tweets was posted by yours truly.

Most women can identify with being catcalled, sexualized, objectified, or simply treated differently because of their gender. Whether it be on the receiving end of workroom chuckles because of how good your butt looks in the new uniform or getting catcalled on the street, sexual harassment is no new concept. But how frequently does it occur?

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center in a press release, it states that “one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.”

In 2014, organization Stop Street Harassment commissioned a 2,000-person national survey in the USA. The survey found that 65% of all women had experienced street harassment. Among all women, 23% had been sexually touched, 20% had been followed, and 9% had been forced to do something sexual.

In 2013, a study of 93,000 LGBTQ individuals in the European Union found that half avoided public spaces because of street harassment and most reported high

levels of fear in locations like restaurants, public transportation, streets, parking lots, and parks. In 2009, 79% of LGBTQ hate crime victims were people of color, while 50% were transgender women.

The day after Milano’s event began, I woke up to the phrase “Me Too” plastered across my Facebook feed, as it seemed like almost every woman I knew could relate to what I had also experienced.

Not only did it increase the public’s knowledge of the issue at hand, but it raised awareness as to how often this is happening to women every day. As more actresses such as Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o, Reese Witherspoon, Rose McGowan and Rosario Dawson spoke out, more awareness was raised and the words “me too” became a symbol of solidarity.

As the face of Harvey Weinstein plastered newsstands, it was comforting to see a global embrace of sisterhood, as though the world felt a little safer once we found a light in the dark.

The women, men, and trans people of our generation have a new story to tell, and it doesn’t come with silence or shame.

By breaking our silence, we break the stigma surrounding sexual harassment and abuse. No victim carries a desire to relive their traumatic experience by reiterating it; though when we do, we not only encourage the support of each other, but we encourage the support of survivors. We strengthen and empower each other by taking power back into our hands.

That’s where it looks best anyways, right girls?

Contact Caroline Grant at cargrant@ augusta.edu.

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Thursday, October 26, 2017

News

Madison Brown | Staff Augusta University president Dr. Brooks Keel is being interviewed by news organizations regarding his plan for the future of the university after giving his first State of the University Address at the Maxwell Theatre on Friday, Oct. 20.

Keel outlines his plan for AU

By Madison Brown staff writer Augusta University’s faculty and students gathered in the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre as President Brooks Keel gave the State of the University Address at noon on Friday, Oct. 20.

The State of the University Address began with introductions by Dr. Wendy Turner, professor of history in the Department of History, Anthropology, and Philosophy; Stephanie Myers, president of the Graduate Student Government Association; and LeDarius Scott, president of the Undergraduate Student Government Association.

President Keel began the State of the University Address by giving a brief history of the institution. He got the crowd laughing by mentioning the various names that the university has gone through before finally settling on Augusta University, and assured everyone that this name was here to stay. Then he moved into what he called, “updates on where we are now,” where he began to discuss the progress that has been made and the challenges the university will face in the upcoming years.

President Keel made it clear the people he considered to be a top priority are the students and the patients of Augusta University. The goal he has always had for Augusta University is to provide the best education possible for students of every major.

Also, President Keel discussed the increase in student enrollment each year.

After announcing that the Class of 2021 is the largest class yet, he projected that we are currently on track to reach our goal of 11,000 students in the Class of 2024.

Augusta University has made a lot of progress during the past two years with President Keel as president.

“We were very specific in developing this strategic plan,” Dr. Gretchen Caughman, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said. “It will be a lot of hard work, but it is still doable.”

Madison Brown | Staff President Keel begins his State of the University address at the Maxwell Theatre.

In the past two years, 1,000 journal articles were published, nine international and U.S. patents were issued, and over 110 million dollars were donated in support of the university.

There has also been a lot of expansions taking place and being planned for the future. The Georgia Cancer Research Center, located on Laney Walker Boulevard, is scheduled to be finished by May of 2018; the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, located on the Riverfront campus, is scheduled to be opened in June of 2018; and the College of Science and Mathematics is scheduled to move from the Summerville campus to the Health Sciences campus.

Though plenty of progress has been made, there are still numerous challeng-

es that Augusta University will face in the upcoming years. The first challenge President Keel addressed was the lack of parking spaces available on the Summerville campus. He assured the audience that he is aware there is a problem with parking and that they are working tirelessly to fix it.

The next issue that he highlighted is even though Augusta University is the only public medical school in Georgia, we are still ranked seventieth in terms of the National Institute of Health (NIH) funding.

The next challenges he covered were the university’s aging facilities and the unbalanced student to faculty ratio.

After listing the challenges, President Keel began to discuss his strategic plan and how its focus areas would help to resolve those challenges. The four main focus areas that he outlined were education, research, clinical care, and outreach and economic development.

The strategic priority for education was to prepare a diverse student body that will provide lifelong contributions to the communities they choose to live and work in.

For research, the priority focus is advancing the knowledge of cultural, economic, health and societal needs of the surrounding communities through research and scholarships.

The strategic priority for clinical care was to build exceptional patient and family-centered care throughout the community.

And lastly, the strategic plan he set forth for outreach and economic development was to build a stronger impact through the community and surrounding regions through economic and cultural development.

President Keel ended his address by assuring everyone in the audience that although there are many challenges, he is positive we can overcome them and continue to help Augusta University grow and prosper.

When asked if she thought that the challenges and the strategic plan was too ambitious, Stephanie Myers said that no plan could be too ambitious with the right support.

“I don’t think it’s ever ambitious, especially not with the support of all the administration, faculty members and students,” Myers said. “I think that we could have all the parts of his strategic plan completed within the next five years.”

When asked the same question of whether or not this strategic plan is too ambitious, Dr. Gretchen Caughman, the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said that it would be difficult but not impossible.

“We were very specific in developing this strategic plan,” Caughman said. “It will be a lot of hard work, but it is still doable.”

In the words of President Brooks Keel, he said it is important to recognize how much progress Augusta University has made while still acknowledging the challenges we will have to face in order to make the university the best it can be.

“We can take one nice sigh, take a drink and rest, then keep going again,” Keel said.

Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.

THE BELL RINGER

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AU hosts 2017 Cyber Georgia

By Jamie Sapp editor-in-chief With October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, there is no better way to recognize the importance of cybersecurity than at Cyber Georgia.

This year’s Cyber Georgia began Oct. 12-13 in the Education Commons at Augusta University.

With cyber threats hitting Augusta like a “tsunami,” the agenda of the program focused on global cyber threats and the preparation for cyberattacks in public health.

Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, who serves as commander of the U.S. Army Cyber Command, attended the program as the keystone speaker on Friday, Oct. 13.

Guests included former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss; executive vice president for academic affairs and provost Dr. Gretchen Caughman; and U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga. In a press conference, Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone answered questions from media organizations relating to the impact of cybersecurity and cyber education in Augusta, Ga., and other local areas.

Nakasone said one of the key aspects is having a university and

Jamie Sapp | Staff Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, who serves as the keynote speaker for 2017 Cyber Georgia on Friday, Oct. 13, in the Education Commons, addressed topics relating to global cyber threats. Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (back) held a Q & A session later with Nakasone after the presentation.

a research facility nearby a city that allows growth to occur, when asked about the approval of a new master’s program in the Cyber Institute at AU. “Augusta University’s ability to guard our master’s degree

program I think is critical f or Augusta and certainly our efforts here in the area,” he said.

When discussing in depth about recruiting and training people in cyber education, Nakasone said passion is important in

the workforce.

“Think about the people that we’re trying to attract in our workforce,” he said. “We have great people and one of the things that we look for is that twinkle in the eye, that ability to look at a

problem and say, ‘Hey, I may not get this right now, but overtime I am going to be relentless in getting after this problem.’”

Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.

JSAC will offer gender-neutral bathrooms for students

By Jamie Sapp editor-in-chief Starting next week, gender-neutral bathrooms will be offered and made accessible for LGBTQ students in the Jaguar Student Activities Center.

With October as LGBT History Month, the timing of the gender-neutral bathrooms seems right.

Assistant Director of Student Life and Engagement Garrett Green discussed in depth on the process of having gender-neutral bathrooms in place and the ideal location in the JSAC that would be accessible for LGBTQ students.

For Green, the process started with a qualitative research project that he is currently working on for his doctorate degree in educational innovation.

Green said the project focused on experiences that LGBTQ students had at Augusta University.

“From that project, I interviewed like three or four people that identify as LGBT,” he said. “And from talking to them, I get to learn about their experience

“That is what I really hope becomes a product of this... creating more of an open-minded student body here,” Garrett Green, assistant director of SLE, said. in different ways that the university was supporting them and different ways that they felt like they weren’t.

From those interviews, I got some ideas on making the LGBTQ experience here better.”

One of the ideas included having gender-neutral bathroom signs, specifically in the game room.

In order to obtain approval on the new bathroom signs, Green spoke with the Director of Student Engagement, Joe Pierce, on the idea and connected with Gina Thurman, Assistant Dean of Student Life.

“Both of them (Pierce and Thurman) thought that it was a good idea,” he said. “So from there, we went ahead and purchased the signs, and they should be in stalls sometime next week.”

Green said he hopes students can develop a productive dialogue that allows them to expose themselves

to different ideas along with people with different identities.

“From this dialogue, be educated and be open-minded at learning that, ‘Hey, this person is no different from me. They just have different identities from me, but they are an Augusta University student that is trying to successful in the same exact way as I am,’” he said. “That is what I really hope becomes a product of this - not only making the LGBT population feel welcome, but also creating more of an open-minded student body here.”

In addition, in order to make LGBTQ students at Augusta University feel more , a new LGBTQ pride flag is now hanged up on display with other flags in the JSAC Breezeway.

The pride flag was publicly revealed for the first time this year in Philadelphia, according to an article in the Philly Magazine. The pride flag is more inclusive with black and brown stripes in order to recognize people of color that identify themselves in the LGBTQ community.

Contact Jamie Sapp at jsapp270@augusta.edu.

Crime Log Oct. 12-21, 2017 Incident (Classification) Theft by Taking Theft by Taking Theft by Taking Simple Battery Disorderly Conduct Simple Battery (Family Violence) Obstruction Theft by Taking Simple Assault Theft by Taking Theft by Taking

Number 17-0278 17-0279 17-0280 17-0281 17-0282 17-0284

Date/Time Reported 10/12/17 – 15:46 10/13/17 – 09:37 10/14/17 – 17:57 10/15/17 – 20:15 10/15/17 – 23:04 10/17/17 – 00:22

Date/Time Occurred 10/12/17 – 15:21 10/12/17 – 10:00 10/14/17 – 17:40 10/15/17 – 20:10 10/15/17 – 23:04 10/17/17 – 00:22

General Location FB Bldg.

CA Bldg.

University Village AUMC AUMC AUMC

Disposition Inactive Inactive Unfounded Active Arrest Active

17-0285 17-0286 17-0288 17-0289 17-0292

10/17/17 – 07:13 10/17/17 – 13:38 10/19/17 – 12:20 10/19/17 – 15:07 10/21/17 – 13:31

10/17/17 – 07:13 10/03/17 – 08:00 10/19/17 – 12:20 10/19/17 – 08:16 10/21/17 – 13:31

Lot 05 AUMC AUMC Anderson Ave. AUMC

Arrest Active Active Active Active

PAGE 6

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Zhenya Townley | Staff (Left) Communication professor Matthew Buzzell talks with a guest after the ‘Columbus’ showing on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the Maxwell Theatre. (Right) Professor Buzzell gives a brief introduction of the fiilm to the audience during the 1 p.m. screening .

Cinema Series serves as a big win

By Zhenya Townley online + design editor Every August and December, communication professor Matthew Buzzell finds himself in New York City. His mission is to find films to bring back to Augusta University to show at the Cinema Series during the semester.

Buzzell watches three films a day for five days. It is an undertaking, but he is thrilled to do it.

With him, he brings back a select queue of films that he believes will prompt the students and audience in discussion. After all, that is the mission of the Cinema Series.

On average, the Cinema Series shows two films a month, and each film presents its own message. While some films may be alike in material, others are purely for the imaginative minds that take a seat either during the 1

p.m. or 7 p.m. show.

The first showing of the semester was “Pete’s Dragon”.

While the 2016 Disney film was not the most usual choice to start the series, it did serve as an icebreaker for what was to come later in the evening. Following the 1 p.m. show, the audience gathered in the theatre again for an evening screening of the critically acclaimed film, “A Ghost Story.”

While both films are on the opposite sides of the spectrum, they are produced by the same person.

Originally, it was planned for producer Toby Halbrooks to make an appearance and participate in a Q&A session with the film’s viewers. However, he was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. That did not stop the audience from gathering on the portico to talk about what they

had just seen. “‘A Ghost Story’ was a tremendous turnout,” said Buzzell. “To see all those young people gathered in the lobby and out on the portico after the screening discussing the film; that’s the big win.”

Dating back to the 1970’s, the Monday Night Film Series, as it was formally called, showed films at the Maxwell Theatre. Later, they were screened on 16mm film in Butler Hall, a building that is no longer erect. While in high school, Buzzell would see these films.

In turn, this experience changed his life’s course.

After living in California for some time, he came back to Augusta. The Monday Night Film Series was still taking place, and it was being shown in University Hall. Attendance was low as was

the quality of the screenings.

Under Buzzell’s care and guidance, the films were moved back to Maxwell Theatre for a better curation. He took it upon himself to ‘rebrand and rebuild’, as he puts it.

As of now, the big picture for the Cinema Series is to have more films shown, additional guests, and to have more of an eventbased schedule.

“The budget has not grown in any significant way,” Buzzell said.

“I have to be very creative.”

Although limitations might exist, students still see The Cinema Series as a cause worthy of celebrating.

Seniors Drew Thomas and Cynthia Panzella are two of the top filmmaking students in the Department of Communication.

The Cinema Series has inspired them to step back and take

a look at the power of a film.

“A good film should make you think,” Thomas said. “Professor Buzzell’s goals are always aiming towards that.”

“The Cinema Series helped me to grow,” Panzella said in agreement. “I considered films an art form that I can pursue.”

The Cinema Series serves as a conduit of creative communication to Augusta University and its patrons.

Films such as the upcoming screening of “Dracula Has Risen from the Grave” in celebration of Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 28, give way to the trajectory of where the Cinema Series is headed.

“I love being the director of the Cinema Series,” Buzzell stated. “The most important thing is that it brings me a lot of joy.”

Contact Zhenya Townley at ztownley@augusta.edu.

Pura Vida: Living the Pure Life

By Natasha Ramaswamy copy editor If the movies are to be believed, there is nothing quite like flying.

In the stereotypical scene, the hot summer air blasts past as a hero soars through the rainforest. All around them, trees and flowers blend together in a blur of colors, and as they whirl past they can smell the thick aroma of Earth and spices. Their pulse racing, their heart beginning to thump faster and faster until they are not sure if they are terrified or thrilled, but they do know that whichever it is, they are having the time of their life.

Eventually, they begin to slow down, and when they finally stop they are standing in the middle of a rainforest, surrounded by birds of every species imaginable. Looking around, they inhale deeply, taking in the feeling of the wild.

In real life, one can get this experience in one of two places: a sci-fi novel or Costa Rica.

From March 31 to April 8, 2018, while all the greatest golfers in the country migrate to Augusta, Ga., to compete for the title of the Masters Tournament Championship, a group of first-year Augusta University students will hop on a plane to experience this world away from home.

According to the study abroad office website, AU stu-

Courtesy of the AU Study Abroad Office Here is an image for the Costa Rica study abroad program.

dents will get to earn credit for introductory Sociology and Inquiry classes while doing everything from “staying overnight with a local Tican family to zip-lining from a mountain so high [they] can see both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans and observing wildlife which live in the canopies of the forest.”

However, according to study abroad adviser Hannah Carley, the most important part of this study abroad program is not the experiences a student sees outside but rather the transformation that takes place within one’s self.

“Going beyond your safe ‘bubble’ at home by studying abroad is when you can get out of your comfort zone, get away from everything that is familiar, and really get to know yourself,” Carley said.

The best way to describe the culture of Costa Rica is through the words of their most famous saying. “Pura Vida,” which translates to “living the pure life,” is the proverb that forms the heart of the Costa Rican lifestyle. Here, tradition is as important as modernization, and while new innovations are celebrated, the people work hard to keep in touch with their roots.

Despite all this, the native Costa Ricans welcome everyone, regardless of their cultural differences.

Past study abroad student Anjali Patel had this to say about her experience: “Despite [their differences], everyone is so kind, open, and welcoming, you never really feel out of place,” Patel said.

In the end, the AU Costa Rica Study abroad trip is a chance for students to learn about themselves by learning about others, an experience that in Patel’s words, “cannot truly be described, [but rather] you have to go through it yourself to realize how impactful it can be.”

Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at nramaswamy@ augusta.edu.

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 7

Augusta University goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Natasha Ramaswamy copy editor This October, Augusta University and many different organizations around the campus hosted events throughout the month to support philanthropic efforts in curing breast cancer.

One in eight women will develop some form of breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

In fact, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women to the extent that it is recognized as the second leading cause of death of women worldwide.

With that being said, almost everyone has been impacted by breast cancer in some way, whether that be through a journey of their own or through the journey of a loved one.

Unfortunately, though research regarding new treatments for this disease has come a long way in the past decade, there is still much to be discovered if a real cure is found.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world [to help] increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.”

During the week of Oct. 16, Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted a “Pink Week” to raise both money and awareness for breast cancer.

On Monday, ZTA members flooded the Jaguar Student Activity Center (JSAC) ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they handed out ribbons, flyers, cotton candy and pink lemonade. Throughout the rest of the week, ZTA hosted more events such as an all-you-can-eat “Pink Pancake” dinner in the Oak Hall Connect Space and Courtyard, a Chick-fil-a “Pink Picnic,” and a “Just Dodge It Dodgeball Tournament” to raise both awareness

“...October has been an opportunity for people and organizations across the Augusta area, both in AU and the nearby populations to come together for breast cancer awareness month.” for breast cancer and funds for ZTA philanthropic efforts towards breast cancer research.

In addition, the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University hosted their annual “Pink Pumpkin Party” on Sept. 30. Here, members of Augusta and nearby Georgia communities brought their families to AU to receive breast health information from the Augusta University Breast Cancer Team. They also participate in pink pumpkin decorating contests, face painting, photo opportunities, and costume contests.

In the end, October has been an opportunity for people and organizations across the Augusta area, both in AU and the nearby populations to come together for breast cancer awareness month. Together, they have worked ceaselessly to provide both information and money towards an eventual cure for this disease and to support those who are either currently affected by cancer or are cancer survivors.

Due to the joint efforts of people worldwide in support of breast cancer research, October will no longer be Breast Cancer Awareness Month someday.

Rather, it will be known as a month to celebrate the finding of a cure.

Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at nramaswamy@augusta.edu.

Jamie Sapp | Staff A pink ribbon is put on display by Zeta Tau Alpha in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on the JSAC patio on Monday, Oct. 16.

Sports Jaguars to battle Clemson Tigers in game exhibition

By Will Cheney contributor For the second year in a row, the Augusta University men’s basketball team will carry out an exhibition against a notable Division I opponent. The 2016 opener featured a trip to Kansas to battle Wichita State University, a game in which the Jaguars fell by six.

This season, however, they will stay closer to home. On Thurs., Nov. 2, the Jags will hop across the Savannah River and head north to take on Clemson University.

The Jags are coming off a twenty-four to eight season that ended with the Southeast Regional semifinal appearance.

While the glaring absence of former star Keshun Sherrill will be felt, Dip Metress’ club still returns a helping of veteran experience. Senior forward Kyle Doyle

led the Peach Belt Conference in shooting percentage (58.9) last season while averaging over five rebounds per game. Right behind Doyle in shooting percentage was Tamyrik Fields (56.3), also a senior forward. Fields was top five on the team in scoring, field goals made, blocks and steals.

The Jags feature seven freshmen this season, including highly touted center Jack Foley. The 6’11” Virginia native could have a major impact as the only true center on the roster.

Clemson Tigers finished the 2016-17 season at a 17-16 clip, which was good enough for twelfth in the final ACC standings. Redshirt junior guard Shelton Mitchell battled a few injuries last season, but still averaged over ten points per game and led the Tigers in assists and threes, shooting over forty-five percent from beyond the arc. Junior forward Elijah Thomas tops returning

players in blocks, despite seeing limited minutes last season.

The important thing to keep in mind about this exhibition is the ultimate goal of both teams.

Preseason exhibitions are valuable assets to college basketball programs. The opportunity for a coach to gauge the chemistry their players share in a live setting can go a long way toward avoiding a shaky start to the season.

Expect a competitive atmosphere, but know both teams have larger goals in mind beyond this game.

Tipoff for the Nov. 2 showdown is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson.

Admission is free, and the university has arranged for a bus to take students to the game.

For more information, contact Leza Witherington, assistant to the Dean of Student Life, at lwitherington@augusta.edu.

Contact Will Cheney at wcheney@augusta.edu.

Sports Schedule Women’s Golf at Ladies Fall Intercollegiate on Oct. 28 Men’s Golf at Savannah State Tiger Invitational on Oct. 30 Men’s Basketball at Clemson University on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball at Lander on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball at Barton on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.

Men’s Cross Country at NCAA Championships (10K) on Nov. 18 Source: augustajags.com

E V C E N A T L E D A R

The Cinema Series “A Bloody Good Double Feature” Oct. 28 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Fright Night

Write to Heal

Oct. 30 7 p.m.

Oct. 31 12 p.m.

International Festival

Yoga Class

Nov. 1 11 a.m.

Nov. 3 10 a.m.

Fanny’s Fantastic Food Frolic

Music Therapy

Nov. 9 7:30 p.m.

University Singers Nov. 16 7:30 p.m.

Source: calendar.augusta.edu

The CREW’s

Nov. 13 1 p.m.

Say Yes to Service Excellence!

Nov. 17 2 p.m.

Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience Nov. 7 1 p.m.

Future Georgia Educator’s Day Nov. 15 8 a.m.

Mom’s Connection Nov. 21 10:20 a.m.