Volume 55, Issue 3

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

www.asubellringer.com

VOLUME 55, ISSUE 3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

follow us @BellRinger_News

like us on facebook

NEWS | PAGE 3

Graduate student Katie Harris builds a successful photography business after Augusta State.

ARTS & LIFE | PAGE 7

Comedians invade a local bar every Wednesday night for laugh-out-loud shows.

SPORTS | PAGE 12

Local mixed martial arts reality show is hoping for a national audience.

Georgia Regents University: Need for campus ‘Fall pause’ only expansion examined as date of merger nears a one-time deal

By KRISTIN HAWKINS arts & life editor

By KARL FRAZIER staff writer

Facilities groups have come together to assess the need for campus growth and expansion as the date of the merger quickly approaches.

Fred Ricketson, the senior architect at Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University, was surprised by the announcement of the merger between the two universities.

“It was a shock to everybody, and all of a sudden we had to start looking at things in a different light,” Ricketson said. “It wasn’t all about what was important to ASU anymore; it was what’s the new university going to be.”

Ricketson has been with Augusta State for 12 years, helping transform the campus to its current state.

Augusta State had plans to expand the Wrightsboro Road campus and build a variety of buildings, including an academic building and new student housing, but those plans were “put on hold” when the merger was announced in January, Ricketson said.

After the plans of the merger were announced in the beginning of 2012, facilities groups from both campuses began to meet every week to develop a “vision” for the new university, said Jennifer Smith, the GHSU director of planning, design and construction.

Until it is known what types of facilities and buildings the new university will need, no plans can be put into motion, Smith said.

“We’ve done a lot of brainstorming,” she said. “And everyday it changes.”

The main focus for the group during the fall semester is to con-

With the support of faculty and students, the university has reinstated fall break.

Katherine Sweeney, the registrar and director of admissions at Augusta State, said the “fall pause” helps students and faculty endure a long semester.

“Several years ago, the faculty actually approached us because they were just flat-out tired by the middle of the semester during the fall,” Sweeney said. “So we looked at the calendar, and there was a way to put in a day or two for everyone to have a breather.”

While the plan worked for a few years, it did not last long. The administration pulled fall pause from the calendar because the semester would not have ended until Dec. 22, leaving little time for December graduations. The university then went a couple of years without a fall break. However, the change would not go away quietly.

“About two and a half years ago, the Student Government Association (SGA) approached us about reinstituting a fall pause because the students wanted it,” Sweeney said. “They put together a proposal, they gave it to me, I gave it to the vice presisee PAUSE on PAGE 2

Jordan White

CONTRIBUTED BY THE FACILITiES GROUP

The facilities team uses scales and blueprints to create rough sketches of potential campus layouts, including ideas for new academic buildings, student housing and a possible 900-space parking garage.

duct surveys and studies to figure out what students’ biggest needs are, Ricketson said.

“We couldn’t justify spending money on studies unless it was possible to put buildings there,” Ricketson said. “Now we are doing the studies to justify whether we should build things or not.”

In the fall of 2011, Augusta State conducted a study to help facilities groups understand concerns about on-campus dining from students. Smith said this type of re-

search will help prove to the Board of Regents (BOR) what type of expansion will be beneficial to the new university.

“The more people that participate in the surveys, the more valid the data is,” Ricketson said.

Not only is it important for the facilities groups to get the input of students but also faculty and staff members, as well as people within the community, Smith said.

“After January, we will have a good amount of data, and we will

probably get back in front of the BOR and see what comes of our information,” Smith said. “I think that the university system office... is glad that we are determining the need for any of these future buildings.”

Some of the concepts and areas the group has been looking into include expanding the Walton Way campus and determined how to utilize space in the most logical way, Howard said. see FACILITIES on PAGE 3

Professor spends month at Merger means changes for South Carolina monestary structure of SGA, campus policy “I did some research about them online and decided that I was going to go there,” he said. “Fortunately, they have a At what seems to be an un- monastic guest program where likely location for a monastery, you can sign up to stay at the one professor spent more than monastery for a month. So that a month learning the benefits of was what I did the first time I an uncluttered human mind. visited there.”

Will Bryant, a temporary The program, which generfull-time instructor in the De- ally lasts for 30 days, gave Brypartment of Communications ant the opportunity to live and and Professional Writing, work in close proximity to the spent 44 days at Mepkin Ab- monks. In his time there, Brybey in Moncks Corner, S.C., ant helped the self-sufficient to learn how the resident Trap- monastery with the cultivation pist monks use their silence to of their trademark product, live a life of fulfillment. Bry- mushrooms, which were then ant, who is in the last stages sold to local restaurants and of his doctoral program at the grocery stores.

University of North Carolina at The day starts early for the Greensboro, said his stay was monks, Bryant said, and everypart of his research for his dis- thing adheres a strict schedule. sertation titled “Contemplation “There is a schedule that and Mindfulness in Education: is set up for them throughout Between Self and the day that begins at Other in Modernity.”

3 a.m.,” he said. “The “I am studying, first thing they do is among other things, they meet in church silence and solitude for prayer. Then there and their effects on are times throughout us and how it impacts the day, seven times the process of eduactually, where everycation,” he said. “I one gets together as a mean education not community to pray. In COURTESY OF necessarily within the between that are meals PUBLIC RELATIONS confines of the walls Will Bryant and work detail.” (of the classroom), Though the monks but education that ocgenerally live a life of silence, curs within our culture and so- that does not prevent them ciety. I am interested in finding from providing some guidance out how silence and solitude af- to their guests, Bryant said. fects that type of process.”

“It’s not that they won’t While doing preliminary speak to you,” he said. “If you research, Bryant said he came have a question or something of across several articles that course they will. But if they do mentioned Mepkin Abbey and speak to you, they guard their decided he wanted to learn words very closely. They see more about the South Carolina monastery. see MONK on PAGE 3

By TRAVIS HIGHFIELD editor-in-chief

BREA BOUTWELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Eddie Howard Jr., Andrew Phillips and Doyin Olayinka search the SGA constitution for budget laws during Friday’s meeting.

By LEIGH BEESON copy editor Prompted by the impending merger, the Student Government Association is addressing key policy differences between Georgia Health Sciences and Augusta State universities.

President Andrew Phillips is reworking Augusta State’s current SGA constitution so that it will mesh better with GHSU’s constitution. Although the two SGAs will remain mostly separate after the merger, they are likely to collaborate on certain issues, Phillips said.

He later mentioned the potential of a campus-wide smoking ban, a policy already in place at GHSU. He said the administration hasn’t made a decision, but he predicts the policy will spread to the Walton Way campus.

“I think the idea is that they would like to make the policies the same for both campuses,” Phillips said before the meeting.

“So (while) nothing has been decided… I think there’s a big

push for us to go tobacco-free as well.”

Vice President JoAnna Molina said the SGA has little information regarding the possibility of a tobacco-ban, but she is in favor of the policy.

Although he admitted that he finds it annoying to have to walk through a miasma of smoke to get to class, Phillips said he can see both sides of the issue and suggested an alternative to a flat-out ban.

“We’re just two very different types of students,” Phillips said. “So I’m thinking maybe in the short-term we could just ease into it.”

The merger is also influencing SGA purchasing decisions because the organization doesn’t want to spend money on T-shirts or nameplates that will soon be obsolete. Junior kinesiology major Craig Cheesborough, who sat in on the meeting, told the senators that the school moniker doesn’t really matter, saying the SGA will be known for what they do, not what they wear.

kbeeson1@aug.edu

Jordan White, a 19-year-old Augusta State student, died Thursday from injuries sustained in a car crash on Washington Road, according to The Augusta Chronicle. White was airlifted to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital shortly after her car was struck by a Ford truck. Charges against the driver of the truck are pending toxicology reports. Two passengers, including White’s boyfriend, were also injured in the crash.

The Bell Ringer extends its condolences to the White family in this time of tragedy.

No debating it: The team is back

By TAMIKA LAMPKIN senior reporter

It’s back from a 44-year hiatus.

Augusta State University’s debate team ended its run in 1968. James Brady, a professor of communications, recently decided it was time for that to change.

“Why wouldn’t Augusta State want a debate team?” Brady asked. “Dr. Azziz has a vision of taking the joined universities to national prominence.

A creditable debate team can only help add to that national appeal.”

Brady coached the Georgia Military College debate team for the past three years. In those three years, he led the team to three consecutive intermural state championships while competing against seven other schools statewide. He was also a judge at the national championship. Brady said he can provide a great amount of experience and expertise to the new found team.

“It took off so well at GMC,” Brady said. “I thought surely a debate team would do great here at Augusta State.”

Last year, Augusta State reestablished a debate club, but it was not until the fall of 2012 that the charter was approved for a debate team. Before this approval, Augusta State was one of the few universities in Georgia that did not have a debate team, according to Brady.

Former members of the debate club are now active members of the debate team. David Drabiak, a senior public relations major, president of the debate club and a member of the debate team, will lead his team to the Ethics Bowl.

“Being a part of the Ethics Bowl keeps your mind sharp,” he said. “You are allowed a chance to learn other people’s views while deciding what is best and ethical in the situation.”

Being a part of the debate team is a great learning experience for him as well as the other students involved, Drabiak said. Julie Kane, a sophomore majoring in communications, said the debate team keeps her mind open, helping her to think beyond her own understanding and knowledge.

“So very often we have opinions with little information,” Kane said. “It is cool to get the right side of the story.”

Kane is the captain of the team but said she is more like a director. Her job is to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to speak and express his point.

The team has five members and anticipates adding two more before its first major national event on Nov. 10 in Baltimore. see DEBATE on PAGE 2

PAGE 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

NEWS Student publications: the freest form of press

By MINDY WADLEY contributor

The voice of

Augusta State University EDITORIAL STAFF adviser MATTHEW BOSISIO mbosisio@aug.edu editor-in-chief TRAVIS HIGHFIELD thighfie@aug.edu copy editor LEIGH BEESON kbeeson1@aug.edu news editor JILLIAN HOBDAY jhobday2@gmail.com arts & life editor KRISTIN HAWKINS khutchi2@aug.edu

While student reporters at the University of Georgia have had to fight for final editorial control of their paper, student publications at Augusta State University remain in the hands of student editors.

The walk-out and reinstatement of the student editorial staff of The Red & Black, UGA’s independent student newspaper, has garnered the attention of media statewide and nationally. The independent paper operates off advertising revenue under the leadership of a board of directors but with no input from the university’s administration.

On Aug. 15, after a memo was issued by one of the board members, the entire student editorial staff and the majority of the student writers, photographers and designers walked out, resigning from their positions at the paper.

According to statements on redanddead.com, the online forum chosen to be the voice of the former staff of The Red & Black, the resignation occurred “following a staff meeting concerning a draft memo

NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF

Erica Wright, on designing

the editor-in-chief of Phoenix a page for this semester ’s

written by a board member to the editorial director.”

The memo instructed the student staff and non-student editorial director to ensure that more good news is published than bad news, with emphasis placed on running special interest stories rather than ones about particular student groups. Additionally, the board of directors assigned greater powers

A chance to connect with volunteer organizations

chief reporter RON HICKERSON rhickers@aug.edu production manager KELSEY DONNELLY kelseydonne@gmail.com production assistant JACQUELYN PABON jpabon@aug.edu

staff writers KARL FRAZIER NIKKI SKINNER FARRELL BROWN contributors KAITLYN ALEXANDER RICHIE IANNACONE DANIELLE PELMORE ASHLEY TRAWICK MINDY WADLEY circulation manager TREY UNDERWOOD zildjianman08@gmail.com advertising manager HANNAH FOERSTER hannahrosefoerster@gmail.com web master SI-LONG CHEN schen1@aug.edu

is published by

ASU students.

Direct advertising inquiries to: Marie Pierce, National Sales Manager Media Mate mpierce@mymediamate.com

Address all correspondence to: The Bell Ringer 2500 Walton Way Augusta, Ga 30904 706-737-1600 www.asubellringer.com

editorial policy

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.

corrections policy

We strive to bring you accurately reported news. If you wish to report an error, please provide your name, phone number and a detailed description of the error and the necessary correction.

PRINTER

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

works issue.

to the editorial director, Ed Morales, who would be able to view articles and give final approval prior to publication.

The practice of prior review of student publications is not an issue at Augusta State, according to Debra van Tuyll, a professor of communications and the adviser to Phoenix, the student magazine produced by the university. If a faculty mem-

Community Involvement Fair Debate

sports editor JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER jgarner6@aug.edu

senior reporter TAMIKA LAMPKIN

magazine, upcoming

COURTESY OF CAREER CENTER

Students visit tables to learn opportunities at the 2009

about volunteer and internship Community Involvement Fair.

chosen career path is the right fit for them, Hudson said.

Amy Breitmann, a former Augusta State professor and a volMany students fear the un- unteer coordinator for Goodwill certain task of securing their first Industries, will provide students jobs, but this month all students with information on internships will have the opportunity to attend and volunteer opportunities within Augusta State University’s an- Goodwill Industries, such as “Santa nual Community Involvement Fair Wheels,” an opportunity for volun(CIF). teers to build bicycles for children A myriad of non-profit organi- in need around Christmastime. zations will set up in the breezeway In addition to tangible skills, of the Jaguar Student Activity Cen- the internship and volunteer opter, providing information about portunities Goodwill has availtheir services and how students able for students will help build can connect with their organiza- resumes and lead to new connection through volunteering and in- tions within the community. These ternships. At the fair, students will leads help students build relationalso have the opportunity to inter- ships that often lead to letters of act with the Augusta State Career recommendation, Breitmann said.

Center and learn about the different The American Cancer Society events going on this academic year will be another non-profit organias well as any free services offered. zation on site at the CIF. Rachel Melissa Hudson, a career cen- Winn, the community manager for ter advisor, said this year’s CIF is the American Cancer Society, will just one event within the services provide students with information the career center provides to help about the career opportunities curstudents reach their future career rently available. goals. The CIF, along with other “Classroom education is woncareer center-sponsored events, derful, but at the American Cancer will connect students to new op- Society, we love to see how indiportunities for volunteering, in- viduals perform in the workplace,” ternships and even potential jobs.

Winn explained. “How they inHudson explained it gener- teract with others, problem solve, ally takes new etc. Many staff graduates three in the “Unless you get out members to nine months field today startto find a job there and get real-life ed out as interns in their field or volunteers. experience ... then of interest, but As a non-profit, students can we like to hire you’re not really decrease this people who are time by getting not only pasgoing to be prepared involved with sionate about volunteering furthering their to meet the and internships. own career but requirements of According to also (passionate Hudson, many about) the missome employers.” employers resion of our orquire a miniganization.”

- Melissa Hudson mum of three Winn said to five years of she knows from experience to be considered for first-hand experience what volunentry-level positions. teering and internships can do to “Unless you get out there further one’s career path. She atand get real-life experience while tributes landing her first job after you’re in, whether it’s an intern- college to having experiences in ship, you volunteer on your own the workplace. or you work there part-time, then Although soon-to-be graduyou’re not really going to be pre- ates would benefit the most, Hudpared to meet the requirements for son indicated that the CIF will be some employers,” she said. ideal for all students.

Acquiring experience with “Everyone should come,” internships and volunteering pro- Hudson said. “It’s not just for sevides students with a better under- niors. Freshmen may have the standing of their chosen field and also helps them determine if their see FAIR on PAGE 3

By RICHIE IANNACONE contributor

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

“During this competition, the team will be faced with practical and professional ethical dilemmas,” Brady said. “The issues addressed will range from local problems to global concerns.”

Brady said most people look at a debate team as something sour, doom and gloom, but the students are having a great time.

“Though debates are serious in nature, it is truly a lot of fun,” Brady said. “My students are enthused and excited, and I feed off of their energy.”

In most debates, people are assigned their position. However, in the ethics bowl, no team is appointed a position. Teams do not have to disagree either. Although the nature of a debate is to challenge the opponent with a counterargument, students can agree and enhance each other’s

ber were to interfere with editorial decisions for any of the university’s three student publications, Phoenix, The Bell Ringer or Sand Hills Literary Magazine, they would be guilty of prior restraint, the illegal practice of a state preventing media from printing certain content.

Because The Red & Black editorial director was not affiliated with UGA but rather appointed by the board of directors, Morales would not be held to the same restrictions a state representative, such as a faculty member of a state school, would be regarding prior restraint.

Erica Wright, a senior public relations major and the editor-inchief of The Phoenix, said van Tuyll offers advisory input on the content included in the magazine but never interferes with editorial decisions.

“We value her opinion and input,” Wright said. “I don’t feel that she influences us to the point that she has a say on what we’re writing about.”

Former sports editor for The Bell Ringer and 2012 Augusta State graduate Hab Richardson agreed see PRESS on PAGE 3

arguments, according to Brady.

“By not having to choose sides, the debate ensures that each person involved in the debate obtains their ethical values while debating on an issue,” Brady said.

The best time to join the debate team is now. Kane said everyone is new and the ground floor is set and ready for a new foundation.

“We are so excited; this is year one for us,” Kane said. “It brings something positive and new to the school at such a negative time.”

Although the team is small, Brady said they have the passion of 10 times the number of members.

He said every student on the team is there for all the right reasons.

“Character development, critical thinking, and ethical leadership are vital to our school and nations success,” Brady said. “And that is what it is all about.”

tlampkin@aug.edu

[

JILLIAN HOBDAY I STAFF

After several years without one, students finally have a “fall pause,” a two-day break during the week after midterms.

Pause CONTINUED from PAGE 1

dent’s office (and) she sent it through various committees.”

The committee approved the proposal and reinstated the pause in the fall of 2012, according to Sweeney. Those who remember fall pause are happy with the results.

“I think it’s a good idea because you get to October and you’ve worked pretty hard for six or seven weeks at that point, and you need a little time off,” said Debra van Tuyll, a professor of communications at Augusta State. “It gives students a couple of days to get caught up on work.”

This year’s fall break will be Oct. 22 through 23, a week after midterm.

For most students this will be their first fall pause. Because of the twoday break, classes will end Dec. 10.

Last year, classes ended Dec. 1.

“Students complain that we have a week more for the final exam,” said Tan Tran, a junior accounting major at Augusta State. “I don’t mind because you have almost a month off during winter break.

Having a break in between the semester is perfect.”

Sweeney said another reason fall pause had been implemented is the switch from quarter to semester systems.

In the fall of 1998, Augusta State switched to the semester sys-

tem. When they were on the quarter system, they did not need a fall pause because school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Thus, the term was not as long, and teachers did not feel the need for a break.

Although students and faculty are excited about fall break, the celebration is not going to last long.

“Everything was great, and then in January they announced consolidation,” Sweeney said. “We (then) had to consolidate our calendar.

Georgia Health does not have such a fall pause. So we are following the Georgia Health Sciences University calendar. Therefore, there is no room for fall pause after this year.”

Even though fall pause will end after this semester, there is still room for change in the future. Sweeney said once the new university is established, the SGA can follow the same procedures, put together a proposal about a fall pause and bring it to the administration. Students are hoping the SGA can make another run at bringing fall pause back and making it longer.

“I really don’t see anything bad about (fall pause),” said Brandon Bailey, a junior political science major at Augusta State. “I think we should keep it, and instead of having a fall pause, we should have a fall stop.”

kfrazie9@aug.edu

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 3 www.asubellringer.com

Corrections:

The Bell Ringer staff woud like to address mistakes made in the Sept. 5 issue: - We mistakenly reported that Pam Hayward will no longer be department chair until the end of the fall semester. However, she will remain department chair for the academic year.

- On page six of the Arts & Life section, a photo was described as a flag pole but in fact was a memorial for Arsenal employees who lost their lives in the line of service.

Monk CONTINUED from PAGE 1

STEM lectures ‘shake up’ second series the time because you have the stress that is holding the two together.”

According to the team’s Augusta State Univerfindings, she said it predicted sity kicked off its second year that the probability of an of Science, Technology, Enearthquake with a magnitude gineering and Mathematics of 6.0 or greater happening (STEM) seminars Friday with in the next 50 years was beBeatrice Magnani’s lecture on tween 25 and 40 percent. the New Madrid Earthquakes From this research, she in the Central United States. said FEMA put together a Magnani, an associate rescenario of what would hapsearch professor at the Center pen if an earthquake with a for Earthquake Research and magnitude of 7.7 were to hit Information at the Univerity of the region again and found Memphis, gave a lecture about that it would result in $330 COURTESY OF M. BEATRICE MAGNANI earthquakes that occurred in billion worth of damage and what has been labeled the Magnani and her team of researchers cruise along the Mississippi 86,000 injuries and deaths.

“New Madrid region,” named River to discover information about fault lines that lie beneath the river.

Magnani’s lecture was after New Madrid, Mo. She Magnani offered was Hurricane Katrina in the seventh lecture in the hissaid that region, which consists of Missouri, 2005. tory of these seminars, said Christian Poppeliers, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, MisAt the lecture, Magnani began trying to an associate professor of physics at Augusta sissippi, Alabama and Arkansas, was famously explain why these earthquakes occurred in the State. He said the directors of these seminars use reported to have suffered from three earth- region’s history. She teamed up with a group personal connections to coordinate speakers for quakes with a magnitude greater than seven of researchers from different backgrounds and these events. between 1811 and 1812, but these earthquakes disciplines, such as physics, geology and his“We call them up, basically,” he said. “We are unique because the region is found in the tory. Together, they found the earthquakes that try to get a broad background of disciplines in center of the North American tectonic plate. occurred 200 years ago weren’t isolated events. order to show them that there’s a lot of stuff She explained that the earth’s surface is “What we found is that the three earth- out there.” covered by tectonic plates that are constantly quakes of 1811 and 1812 were just the latest of He said this is the second year these semishifting. It’s normal and only to be expected a long series - that these earthquakes actually nars have been going on, beginning after the that these plates collide and press against each occur every 500 years for thousands of years,” Savannah River Scholars Program gave Auother, causing earthquakes felt mostly by the she said. “This is the reason why today, due to gusta State a grant funding these events. These inhabitants of cities along the edges of the the events in the past, this region is called the lectures are an important part of the science deplates, but in the center of a tectonic plate is Sleeping Giant.” partment because these can show students how usually very little seismic activity. When an She said further study of the region re- people are using their degrees and expose them earthquake does occur in the center, Magnani vealed that there were several fault lines in the to a wide variety of research opportunities. said, it is known as a “low-probability, high- region in the center of the Mississippi River, Students who attended the event agreed. impact event.” revealing a possible cause for the earthquakes.

“Each one is really different and exposes CAMPUS CONCEPTS These are events that are highly unlikely “A fault is a rupture that shows move- you to a different field of science,” they said. but, due to a lack of preparation, cause cata- ment,” she said. “Cracks are just something “So you get a feel of what people actually do strophic damage when they do occur. These that cracks open, but with faults, there is a lot of in their research and an idea of what their reare not just limited to earthquakes but consist pressure that keeps the two lips touching each search is actually like.” of any kind of natural disaster. One example other, which actually makes them not slip all of rhickers@aug.edu

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

every word that they utter as very special and has a specific purpose for it. The reason they don’t talk as much is because they are trying to keep a certain amount of silence in themselves so that they can continue to pray.”

Bryant said he tries to emulate those teachings in his own classroom.

“As far as how I teach, I try to remind myself that the student has as much to offer me as I have to offer him or her,” he said. “So I am very mindful of how much I talk in class. Like the monks, I guard my words and try not to lecture them as much as I am trying to have a conversation with my students. I think that helps build rapport, and I think it helps build a friendship in the classroom so that we can both recognize that we are both here to learn; we are here for a purpose.”

Pam Hayward, the communication department chair, said Bryant has already applied the lessons he learned from the monastery in only his second year of teaching.

“Last semester, I had the chance to visit one of his classrooms, and it was a fantastic educational atmosphere in there,” she said. “I found myself getting caught up in what was going on in the class. He had a great rapport with every student in that room. They were open and willing to discuss and they went through the material in a very careful way. He has a real gift for teaching.”

Hayward, who taught Bryant as an undergraduate at Augusta State University, said she had maintained contact with him during his CONTINUED from PAGE 2 time in graduate school. that he never felt pressure from “He and I kept in touch over the years university officials to alter any and would see each other at conferences,” stories for publication. she said. “When I knew some of the areas he “As a matter of fact, I rewas studying, I asked him to come in and be member asking in one issue for a guest lecturer in my family and communihelp or suggestions,” Richardson cation course. He did an excellent job in the said. “I remember doing an arclassroom. I was really impressed, and it was ticle about curling (the Olympic really rewarding to see a former student come sport). That was a suggestion back and teach a class and do such a great from a faculty member.” job.”

Richardson went on to say he Not long after that, a temporary full-time feels a newspaper needs to have instructor position opened up within the coma balance of good news and bad COURTESY OF FACILITIES GROUP munications department, and Hayward said news in order to successfully sell Architechs within the facilities group uses graphic design the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. copies. tools to illustrate a proposed focal point for the new university.

“At the time when we had a temporary “There may be a small crossfulltime position open, he was coincidentally find out the interest through the section of people, students or ready to take a temporary job A U G U Sfulltime TA S TAT E U Nand I V E R S I T Y Soon to be GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY readers that want to read good surveys.”Facilities Services | Planning Design Construction it was the absolutely ideal fit,” she said. “I Though it’s hard to say any- news,” Richardson said. “You knew already that he would do a great job, thing for sure, Ricketson said the can’t stay in business if you don’t because I had witnessed it from a lot of difCONTINUED from PAGE 1 group will be looking into all sell, and what sells is a lot of the ferent angles.” negativity. It’s quite a pickle to be “Over 50 percent of the cam- possibilities.

Bryant will defend his dissertation this “The one thing I’ve heard in as an editor or as a journalist.” pus on Walton Way is parking,” spring. For now, he is still concerned with what The student editorial staff Howard said. “It would be an Dr. Azziz be quoted on more than he can take away from the monks, he said. opportunity to further develop once is that we are open to every- at The Red & Black was able “I think the monks can teach us a lot thing,” Ricketson said. “Nothing to reach a compromise with the that (area) with buildings.” about being patient with ourselves,” Bryant board of directors, and the editorAlthough every idea the is off the table.” said. “Being still. Being mindful of what we Even though a lot of discusgroups have come up with have do. Sometimes we just need to be quiet in our merely been concepts, the ideas sion has taken place among the chaotic world.” give the designers, architects and facilities team, Howard said it is thighfie@aug.edu developers a basis on where to important for people to underCONTINUED from PAGE 2 start once plans can be put into stand that nothing is set in stone.

“There was a notion out opportunity to get work expemotion, Ricketson said.

According to Smith, the there that there was already a rience for the first time (and) group has not limited itself to plan for the (Augusta State) cam- sophomores will get the opany one particular area of ex- pus,” Howard said. “We kept portunity to really establish The University of Florida announced hearing that there were going internships. Juniors will widen pansion or development.

Wednesday that Ricardo Azziz was “As far as developing into to be 10-story dorms and all of their network of professionals nominated for president of the university. the downtown area, I think we this modern architecture. We re- and fine-tune their experience.

According to an article by The are completely open to any of ally wanted to put that to rest and And then for seniors, it’s althat at this point,” Smith said. say that we’ve been conceptually ways good to widen your netAugusta Chronicle, Azziz “has no “We are just conceptually plan- planning. As we like to say, play- work and actually find jobs.” interest in the job and will not pursue it.” ning and thinking at this point ing with crayons and blocks.”

Along with information so it will be important for us to khutchi2@aug.edu about internships and volun-

Press

Facilities

[

[

AZZIZ:

Fair

in-chief and managing editor were reinstated Aug. 20. The joint statement released by the student editors, board and publisher included an apology from the students for walking out on deadline, as well as an assurance from the board that the student staff would have final control of editorial decisions with no prior review from non-student staff members.

Student journalists at Augusta State take advantage of the protections offered by being official publications of the university, which are considered public forums.

“If something is a public forum, then that means that it serves a particular purpose within the university community,” van Tuyll said. “That means that the administration can’t interfere with the publication of it. The student press at a state university is actually the freest press that there is.”

mindyawadley@gmail.com

teering, there will also be food and prizes given out to students who participate in the event, including $100 Visa gift cards.

The CIF will be held Tuesday in the breezeway of the JSAC. For students who are not able to attend this event, the Career Center will host a networking mixer in October to further enhance their career preparations.

rwi009@gmail.com

Graduate student finds personal success in commercial photography

By NIKKI SKINNER staff writer

Katie Harris, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, found her niche in photography.

During Harris’ sophomore year at Augusta State University, she changed her major from pre-medicine to fine arts with an emphasis in photography. Her goal was to become a successful artist.

In her anatomy class during her sophomore year, Harris found herself struggling with the material. After seeing some of Harris’ work, Donna Wear, a professor of biology, steered Harris in the right direction for her future career.

“It was time for lab practical,” Harris explained. “The pictures in the books were horrible, and no one was passing. So when it came time for the next practical, I decided to bring in my own camera and re-take all of the pictures myself. They were good enough that half of the class bought them from me. My professor even bought them to look over. Then she mentioned that maybe I was in the wrong field.”

While taking art classes at Augusta State, she began a side job in order to help earn extra money to pay for her art supplies.

In 2010, Harris applied for her LLC license. Her business then took on the name Swamp Fox Photography, which originated from her CB radio code name. Now, Swamp Fox Photography specializes in commercial wedding photography, but Harris has not lim-

NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF

Katie Harris working with Hudson Chamineak’s parents to get his attention for photographs.

ited herself to just this particular area.

Today, Harris finds herself working with different mediums. From ceramics to photography, she does it all, said Nina Daniel, a junior printmaking and photography major.

Many different artists influence her work.

Harris said when it comes to the commercial aspects of her work, she was influenced by Jerry Ghionis while, on the other hand, her fine art stems from the Modernism and Postmodernism periods. She does not always separate the two

styles; she strives to work with them simultaneously.

“She’s always very diligent and looking for new methods and ways to approach things,” Daniel said. “I like that she works with two very different mediums – fine art photography as well as commercial photography. She works well with all types of mediums and subjects and is always pushing her creativity.”

While Harris was still attending Augusta State as a full-time student, she was also learn-

ing how to manage Swamp Fox Photography.

She said it was strenuous at times, but she found a solution.

“My senior year I decided to slow down,” said Harris. “I started only taking two classes a semester. My business was getting so big; I couldn’t handle it, and I couldn’t neglect my business. It was paying the bills. Yet, I also knew I could not neglect my schooling.”

Harris said she did not feel pressured by graduation because of Swamp Fox Photography’s success. Even her professors had seen potential growth.

“I saw growth in her as an artist and as a person over the two or three years she did course work with me,” said Michael Schwartz, a professor of history and philosophy of art. “In some ways, her senior exhibition was a crystallization. I think a lot of the process of her working on it was a kind of integrating of her developments as an artist and as a person.”

Harris said she aspires to receive a master’s degree and to one day be a professor of photography. She is currently at Augusta State as a post-baccalaureate sitting in on classes and working extensively on her portfolio for graduate school. She is looking into attending colleges in New Mexico and Arizona.

“Don’t get discouraged,” Harris said.

“Whatever you put into thing you’re going to get out of it because everyone is complaining about the economy, but my business has tripled. I still put in the effort. You can find what you’re looking for; you just can’t give up.”

nskinner@aug.edu

PAGE 4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

the opinion pages: Public Safety: A call to action

STUDY

U.S. Embassies are falling to protesters and universities are clearing out in response to threats, except for one: Augusta State University.

Did you hear about the noise that sounded eerily similar to a gunshot around Allgood Hall Thursday? No? We’re not surprised since response was slow and underwhelming, according to witness reports. The end result is the slow transmission of information to the rest of the community that could have ended in a very tragic manner.

Was there any real threat Thursday? We don’t know. Should any possible threat such as this be taken more serious by Public Safety?

At a time like this, definitely.

The New York Times reports that both the University of Texas at Austin and North Dakota State University in Fargo cleared their campuses in response to bomb threats, which were received via telephone. The universities have an enrollment of more than 65,000 students combined, so you can only image the amount of coordination it must have taken to clear the two campuses.

In retrospect, Augusta State boasts an enrollment of less than 7,000 students, and when our staff called Public Safety to gather more information, we were brushed away. The campus wasn’t cleared, and classes continued as they would on any normal day.

Now, we know that Augusta State’s Public Safety is more than

capable of responding when the situation arises; we ran an article in the Aug. 21 issue of The Bell Ringer detailing the scenario training the department underwent a week before classes began. We also have a great deal of respect for those individuals who take part in keeping our campus safe on a daily basis. However, this kind of attitude toward a possible threat just cannot happen.

There is no way we can predict when and where these types of tragedies will occur. There was nothing distinctive about Aurora, Colo.; Blacksburg, Va.; or Columbine, Colo., to make them especially prone to their respective attacks, so why should we assume that Augusta, Ga., is immune to the same kind of tragedy? Just this past summer, our beloved First Friday was marred by a shooting that left six people wounded downtown.

As we move closer to the merging of Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences University, so grows our reach. We will be a sprawling institution stretching from Walton Way to Wrightsboro Road to downtown Augusta, and as we continue to grow, our safety itself is a rising concern.

We need to feel the presence of Public Safety in and out of times of distress to make us feel safe as a community. We need calls that pertain to potential threats to be taken seriously in the event that this is the one time that really merits action.

Stuck in the middle: My life as the middle child “For those out there who are struggling with their position as the middle child, know that you are important.”

KARL FRAZIER staff writer kfrazie9@aug.edu Have you ever felt out of place?

I have.

A few years ago, I was having trouble trying to figure out my role in my family. I was not the oldest, which meant I did not have the same responsibilities. I was not the youngest, which meant I could not get away with doing certain things anymore. That’s right; I was the middle child.

For a long time, I did not like being the middle child. I thought my brother was getting more attention than I was because he was the baby.

At the same time, I felt my older sister was getting more love than I was. During this period, I would go in my room and cry because I did not know what to make of the situation.

One day, my dad called me into his room to have a talk. He told me he saw what I was trying to do and that he understood where I was coming from.

He said he was the second of three boys out of 10 children, and he tried some of the same tricks I was doing of trying to get his parents’ attention.

He told me I had to be happy where I was and that it was okay to be the middle child. He told me to never feel like he or my mom did not love me as much as the other two. After my dad talked with me, I felt better about myself.

As I looked back over that period of time, I realized I was being a selfish child. I wanted to get all the attention without sharing it with my brother and sister. I felt because I was not the oldest or youngest, I did not fit into the mix. Despite my feelings, I can say my brother and sister loved and supported me through my roughest days.

When I turned 18, I apologized to both of them for the way I treated them. I told them they didn’t deserve it. They forgave me, and now I’m closer to them than I have ever been.

Now I can see the advantages of being the middle child. Since I’m not the oldest, I don’t have the same obligations or responsibilities that my sister has. Because I’m not the youngest, I am able to do more things than my brother. On top of that, I can be close to both of my siblings.

Sometimes older siblings aren’t as close to the younger siblings because the age difference is too much. I’m the mediator between my brother and sister and enjoy spending time with both of them.

For those out there who are struggling with their position as the middle child, know that you are important. You must be happy where you are and enjoy the pleasure of being caught in the middle.

ABROAD

editorial

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 5 www.asubellringer.com

a public forum On politics and social media Small decisions that could “ I’m over people shoving m a k e a g l o b a l i m p a c t their political views down everyone else’s throat.”

KRISTIN HAWKINS arts & life editor khutchi2@aug.edu I was always told that politics and religion were two conversation topics to never bring up. Yet it seems this time of year politics is about the only thing on people’s minds.

Personally, I’m over it.

I’m over the Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram feeds being filled with political banter, and I’m over people shoving their political views down everyone else’s throat.

I’m completely OK with people being politically involved and active. In fact, I encourage it. You know what isn’t going to make me choose one side or the other? Those dumb pictures or sayings or whatever else it is that people post on social media websites. If you want to reach out to people and have a political voice, do it somewhere else. Facebook isn’t a voice.

Facebook is SUPPOSED to be a means for people to interact with other people socially, but it has fallen far from that. I won’t get up on my soap box and say how I really feel about Facebook; that’s not what I’m here to write about.

I think it is important for people to get the facts about politicians. I think it is important for people our age to go out and vote. Just do the research first. If you want to persuade a person one way or the other, then print out the facts and show them what is good or bad about either component.

Snide comments and dumb pictures DO

NOT HELP. In fact, most people who pull for a certain political party don’t even know the candidate’s personal views.

I can’t act like I’m knowledgeable about the whole thing at this point. I read articles and watch the news and know bits and pieces, but by no means am I equipped to argue with anyone about politics. In time, I will do my own research, and I will pick whoever it is I feel is best for the position, but I probably won’t share it with the whole world. There is a reason that we vote in private: We have no obligation to share that information with anyone else.

Unless you are informed, unless there is a reason and unless you really have something important to say, let’s just leave the political talk to a minimum. If there are people who want to engage in those types of conversations with you, then by all means, please do. But don’t blow my news feed up, don’t talk out of your ass just because you want to argue, and don’t think that everyone wants to hear what you have to say.

Maybe it is time to fact check and see how much of an impact any given president has had or can have. There are a lot of factors involved. It’s not all about who is sitting in the hot seat. It takes a lot of people to make an impact. I wish people would take all elections as seriously as they take the presidential election.

Please don’t vote: An urgent plea to my uniformed peers “Voting is important, but more important than the actual act is making your vote an informed one.”

Two weeks ago, The Bell Ringer ran a column from the Georgia GOP chairman urging college students to vote.

I’d prefer you didn’t.

It’s not that I don’t respect your opinion, but, from my experience, most college students are not only ignorant of politics but are also blissfully unaware of how the real world works in general. So I’m going to do you a favor and fill you in on a couple of key issues in the upcoming election. If you insist on voting, please read my column before doing so.

First, Medicare and Medicaid need to be reformed, regardless of whether you want them to be. You aren’t entitled to someone else’s time and services (i.e. a doctor’s time and services); you have to pay for them.

And, quite simply, Medicare and Medicaid don’t pay enough. Why would you expect to be treated when you don’t pay the person treating you? Yes, doctors CAN refuse to take elective Medicare or Medicaid patients – at least, for the time being.

When Big Brother does finally step in and require all doctors to accept those entitlement insurance plans, hordes of doctors will quit because, despite what the liberal media will tell you, you can’t make a worthwhile living treating those patients.

Dealing with the stress of having people’s lives in your hands and the ridiculously high likelihood of being sued for malpractice at least once in your career, frequently when there was no actual malpractice, isn’t worth it if you get paid the same amount as a public school teacher. Because, when you think about it, those jobs, though both important,

you

do have an opinion on things at ASU

if so, email us at

?

bellringerproduction@gmail.com

LEIGH BEESON copy editor kbeeson1@aug.edu

are incomparable.

The second issue is, you guessed it, the economy. According to recent Gallup Politics, only 30 percent of Americans are satisfied with “the way things are going in the United States.” Although the highest percentage in years, the results still show that a large majority of Americans don’t like where our country seems to be headed politically. Further, only 6 percent of Americans don’t consider themselves “very satisfied” with the current state of our federal government. If that pathetic percentage isn’t a sign we need a change, I don’t know what is.

Third, perhaps the most controversial of issues, is abortion. I’m not going to try and push my beliefs on you, but even liberal media hubs like MSNBC and the Washington Post reported President Barack Obama’s stance on partial-birth abortion and born alive acts, which require treatment for infants who survive botched abortion attempts, as extremely liberal. You have to ask yourself if you agree with current abortion laws and if you want to continue to support a president whose record indicates a radically pro-choice agenda. If his views jive with your own, that’s your business.

For me, though, a president’s stance on abortion is a make-or-break issue.

Voting is important, but more important than the actual act is that you make your vote an informed one. So if you simply don’t care about politics, leave voting to the rest of us who actually do care about our country and its future.

Follow us on Twitter @BRingerSports @BellRinger_News Keep up with Jaguar sports online at: www.asubellringer.com

“I’ve been looking for ways in my life to stop feeding the causes of our world problems and instead aid my local community.”

RON HICKERSON chief reporter rhickers@aug.edu We’ve all heard the cliché: “What can I possibly do? I’m only one person.”

As much as I hate it, I catch myself thinking this as I look at the social, economic and environmental problems that pervade the world in which we’re living.

When I watch the news, I’m confronted with stories of sweat shops, people dying from hunger, sex slavery, child soldiers, pollution, oil crises and economic recession.

Even when I listen to the political speeches, both sides are saying America is in the toilet; both are looking for ways to make the nation better by caring for its sick, housing its people, feeding its hungry and providing aid for its needy.

I know this column is getting a little heavy, and you might be tempted to read one of the happier columns on this page. My point isn’t to drive you crazy with guilt (I’m too busy doing that to myself) but to make us think if there is another way of doing things that can make a dent in the issues that plague our societies.

What if, instead of looking for a way to solve each and every problem in the world, we started making small changes in our lives that would help solve problems on the local level?

I’ve recently been trying to do just that.

I’ve been looking for ways in my life to stop feeding the causes of our world’s problems and instead aid my local community. While there are times to get involved and bring awareness to national and international issues, I’ve decided my time is best spent trying to better my community. Not only does it make the idea of saving the world

a little less intimidating but it also brings about real, tangible results.

So here are some of the things I’ve started trying to do: I try to spend time with homeless people. I try and focus my attention on the homeless men in the area by spending time regularly at the Augusta Rescue Mission, getting to know the guys living there and reminding them that they are human beings who deserve dignity and respect.

I try to buy my clothes used from Goodwill. For me, buying used clothes is a great alternative way to fight against sweatshops used to make what I wear, essentially acting as a boycott. And what money I do spend goes to fund Goodwill’s job placement programs for the unemployed.

I try to buy locally-grown produce and hope to one day grow my own food so I don’t have to worry about the ethical sourcing of the food I eat.

And while I can’t stop world hunger by myself, I try to do my part by buying a little extra food when I go grocery shopping that I can donate to the charities like the Golden Harvest Food Bank, which can then distribute that food to people who need it.

Those are just some of the things I’m trying to do. As you can see, they’re very small, almost inconsequential, but what if we all decided to make these kinds of changes in our lifestyles? Think about how different our communities would look.

Then think about how different the whole world would look after each individual community bettered itself.

Writer’s block: How to cope with a universal problem

“It seems like the more serious I become about writing, the harder it is to express myself on paper.”

TAMIKA LAMPKIN senior reporter tlampkin@aug.edu

I have been trying to end a dysfunctional relationship with writer’s block for the past year.

Have you ever had a moment when all day long you have thought about what you want to write and how you want to say it and the moment you sit down at the computer you draw a blank? It seems like the more serious I become about writing, the harder it is to express myself on paper.

The worst part is when you know exactly what you need and want to say and cannot find the right words to express it. As a great writer, you should never settle for just good enough. I have learned to push my writing capabilities with every article or paper I write.

However, hope isn’t lost. There are a few tools that have proven to help me overcome my mental roadblocks to a finished product. One common thing that can help with a dilemma of this magnitude is to get up and walk away from the computer all together. Take your mind off the task at hand and try to give your brain a chance to rest.

Try going outside and taking a walk, making a high energy snack that will get your mind pumping or watching a little television to get your mind off the task all together. When you return to the paper, your mind will be clear and ready to tackle the paper head-on.

I have an even less conventional approach to writing that helps me. For one, I cannot write in a quiet room. If it is too quiet, my mind tends to wander off into different places. I always need some type of ambient noise in the background. I mostly turn on my television – no specific channel just as long as the noise is loud enough to hear but low enough not to disturb the creative process.

I also like to turn on music and clean a little when I am having a brain freeze. I find that cleaning helps get my mind off anything that is not dirty at that given time.

If that does not help, I like to go work out, go swimming or take a nap.

I can honestly say that when I return to the task after a few hours away, I am better than ever and ready to write something I can be proud of. There is one more way to get your mind off writing. Brace yourself; this may sound a little silly. It is more writing.

When you write about something you want to write about and not something that you have to write about, it is easier for the creative juices to flow. It is a known fact that continuing to write can help produce a better end product for what needs to be written.

With that being said, I am done writing what I want to write, and I am going back to the task at hand. Wish me luck and less writers block.

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

PAGE 6

ARTS & LIFE www.asubellringer.com

Augusta’s finest hour: Local festival brings art to life

By RON HICKERSON Chief reporter

F

or 32 years, the Greater Augusta Arts Council has been opening Augustans’ eyes through the Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival.

Arts in the Heart is known as a festival showcasing a variety of arts, crafts and food.

Brenda Durant, the executive director for the festival, said Arts in the Heart has exploded in size and scope since its first year in 1980.

The first event was held in the parking lot of the Augusta Municipal Building on Greene Street. The small-city festival had only one stage for performances and featured only a few artists, but the festival rapidly began growing, expanding to the grounds of the Augusta Museum of History until the former mayor of

Augusta, Ed McIntyre, began pushing for the festival to be held at the Augusta River Walk after it was completed, Durant said.

Durant began her work with the festival in 1997. During her time with Arts in the Heart, she has seen the festival go from hosting 32 artists to 104 artists and craftsmen who hold booths to display and sell their wares to the event’s patrons.

She said one of the biggest changes for Arts in the Heart came in 2011 when the festival again moved its location, this time to Broad Street in the center of downtown. Durant said the new location provided more shade and parking for the artists while also giving them more exposure.

“It just worked,” she said. “I just felt like we were finally home.”

The special events coordinator for the

event, Jamie Lowe, a junior at Augusta State University, agreed, saying last year was her favorite year working for the festival.

“The layout was really a dynamic change,” Lowe said. “We went from being in a couple of different parking lots in an Lshape to just having everything on two blocks of Broad Street altogether. It was really fun; we got a lot of great feedback on it.”

Durant said the new location gave the festival more of a big-city feel, describing the atmosphere as “electric.” She said the new layout also makes it nearly impossible to miss any of the booths on display at the event.

Lowe said the festival really makes people see Augusta differently. It lets them know that the city is not just some small town with nothing to do. “(Arts in the Heart) just opens people up

BREA BOUTWELL PHOTOGRAPHER

Soldiers salute the American flag durring a memorial service at the Augusta Arsenal. This flag pole was torn down and replaced with a taller one. The flagstaff had to be

BREA BOUTWELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

to our community,” she said. “I get people who say all the time, and it really bothers me, ‘Oh nothing ever happens in Augusta; Augusta’s so lame.’ And it really bothers me because I just point to Arts in the Heart and say, ‘Look, we have all this cool stuff in Augusta. You just have to open your eyes and go look for it.’”

Along with the artists and craftsmen showing at the event, the festival also famously hosts the Global Village in the Augusta Common, where groups representing different countries offer foods from their countries and visually display their cultures. Lowe said, more often than not, the food is so good that she wouldn’t be surprised if people kept coming back just for the food.

Sallie West, the outreach director of the event, said this is her first season working with the festival but said Arts in the Heart continually shows people how special this community really is.

“Recently someone told me, ‘This is Augusta at its finest hour,’” West said. “We have people from all around the world who live here who are showcasing what their cultures are all about. We have people … who are showcasing their talents in fine arts and crafts. We’re showing how active our art community is with all our performances…It’s just a celebration of everything that makes our city special.”

She said the festival also signifies the kick-off for the fall events season in Augusta.

Soon after Arts in the Heart, the Westobou Festival and the Augusta Symphony season begin, so Arts in the Heart causes a feeling of anticipation for the people of Augusta.

There is still room for the festival to grow, Durant said. This year, Arts in the Heart welcomed Laos, Spain and Turkey to its Global Village, and officials are constantly trying to coordinate performers who are waiting to get a space on one of the stages. They often have to turn people away.

“It’s nice when you have people that are trying to book in,” Durant said. “When you run out of room, it’s a good thing because that means you have to expand again.”

rhickers@aug.edu

The Channelheimer Ooompa Band takes the stage in the Augusta Common on the opening evening of the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival.

Author and actor Hill Harper takes the stage at Maxwell Theatre. For information on Harper’s visit, go to: www.asubellringer.com

Jazz festival brings art home

CONTRIBUTED BY DANIELLE PELMORE

Augusta’s Young Lions perform onstage at The Commons Jazz Festival Sept. 2.

By DANIELLE PELMORE contributor

O

n a sunny Sunday during Labor Day weekend in downtown Augusta, the inaugural Commons Jazz Festival & Art Walk took place.

During the art walk, guests strolled down the street to look at local artists’ pieces of work. In addition, entertainers who performed their talents, such as singing or dancing, were also highlighted. As the day wound down, local jazz artists were able to come and showcase their abilities and passion for their craft while the audience relaxed and nodded their heads along with the music.

“This is our third year doing a jazz festival on Labor Day weekend,” said Karen Gordon, a musician and founder of The Commons Jazz Festival & Art Walk.

“It is our first time doing a Sunday afternoon art walk, and we are very excited about it.”

The art walk resulted from conversations Gordon had with a friend who owns a local butterfly photography company.

They decided they wanted to start a community event. Gordon said she thought a jazz festival could serve this purpose; however, she figured not everyone in the CSRA would have the same passion for jazz as she and her friend. Therefore, Gordon decided to add the art walk, free of charge to the public, to the Uncommon Jazz Festival, which started in 2010.

An incident Gordon said contributed to her desire to create an event for the community was the July shooting at First Friday on Broad Street.

“It became more important to make the event more than music or art,” Gordon said. “It’s about our community and the people who live here, honoring the artists but also providing an alternative for our

family, our CSRA family.”

One of the featured bands at the festival was Augusta’s Young Lions, a personal project of saxophonist Joel Cruz, a member of the woodwind faculty at Augusta State University.

The Young Lions, who rehearse at Augusta State, are a group of students who have a growing passion for jazz and a motivation to improve their musical talents. The name of the band is a “generic term for the new guy,” Cruz said.

The Lions came about through a crash course given for those who wanted to play at his level, Cruz said. The course started in 2010 with only three weeks to put a concert together.

“They’re not just learning to be good at music, but they’re going to be active community members,” Cruz said.

Cruz said he makes his students work for the training they receive.

“There is only one way to training,” he said. “They have to make the effort to go out there. I’ll make them come out to meet me at performances.”

Within the group, Cruz said he wants his students to learn two life lessons, ones that Cruz said he struggles with personally – letting go and trusting.

“That’s what it takes to go through something brand new,” he said. “Not only to take on the training, but then to execute it well. They have to trust that it actually works, and let go of anything they knew about music in the first place. The result of it is not just really good music but the community involvement itself.”

Cruz said he hopes that through teaching music, life lessons and the importance of community involvement to his students, or “brothers” in his eyes, that these teachings will be taught again through his pupils to their peers.

dpelmore@aug.edu

Around Town

Aiken’s Makin’ Augusta festival look bad

By LEIGH BEESON copy editor

A

rts in the Heart of Augusta and Aiken’s Makin, two arts and crafts festivals, are stark con-

trasts.

First, in Augusta, you have to pay to browse the booths and see the performances, but in Aiken, the event is completely free.

That’s one of the problems I have with Arts in the Heart; why do I have to pay to look at crafts that I’m more than likely not going to buy? Granted, $5 in advance isn’t a whopper of a price tag, but that’s only for one person. An unknowing family of four with two children over the age of 10 could end up shelling out $28 at the gate just to get into the festival.

I’m not 100 percent sure what the Greater Augusta Arts Council uses that money for, and my guess is most of my fellow patrons don’t know either.

The second problem is the variety and number of vendors in the arts section. Aiken’s Makin, which is in its 36th year, features more than 150 vendors, according to the Aiken Standard. Augusta is a much larger city; its population was more than six times larger than that of Aiken, as of the 2010 census. So why does Arts in the Heart of Augusta only host less than one hundred such vendors? Surely there are more local artisans who wish to show at the festival.

Perhaps the cost to do so is prohibitively expensive to struggling artists? I can’t say for sure.

Third, pets aren’t allowed to attend Arts in the Heart with their owners. I admit this complaint may seem a bit petulant, but I tru-

A man examines merchandise opening day of Aiken’s Makin,

in an

ly enjoy meeting other people’s animals at festivals. In fact, at Aiken’s Makin, seeing pets trot down the sidewalk at the festival is part of the reason I enjoy it so much. One of my favorite animals from years past was a curly-feathered, white goose whose owner kept it on a leash. Nothing beats watching a goose waddle to and from booths at an arts and crafts fair.

I will admit that Augusta’s festival wins the food battle hands-down. With a variety of vendors from a plethora of countries – this year’s featured country was Germany.

Yum, schnitzel. – Aiken really didn’t stand a chance in that category. I can definitively say, though, while the lines for food were significantly shorter in Aiken, there’s a better variety in Augusta.

My final complaint centers on the location of the events. It’s no secret that I’m not particularly keen on downtown Augusta.

Because I don’t go to bars or strip joints, there’s really nothing for me to do down there other than eat (and why would I drive all the way from my Martinez, Ga., home just to have dinner?). After perusing the booths of Aiken’s Makin Sept. 7, I walked around downtown and was struck by how clean and beautiful the city’s downtown is. Unlike Augusta, Aiken’s downtown is thriving. Empty storefronts are few and far-between, and there are plenty of stores, restaurants and other attractions to keep out-of-town guests engaged.

I wish Augusta would live up to its potential. Arts in the Heart is a great means of doing this. Spruce up downtown, increase the number of vendors and make Augusta and its festival the destination they should be.

kbeeson1@aug.edu

one of arts and

the crafts

vendor festival

LEIGH BEESON | STAFF

tents on in Aiken,

the S.C.

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 7 www.asubellringer.com

Comedians bring laughter to local sports bar

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Dave Landau, a stand-up comedian from Detroit, cracks jokes for his audience at Somewhere in Augusta’s Comedy Zone Sept. 5, 2012.

By JACQUELYN PABON production assistant

T

ouring comedians from all over the United States stop to perform at a local sports bar to grab a few laughs from Augusta, Ga., fans Wednesday nights.

Somewhere in Augusta, a sports bar on Washington Road, invites traveling comedians to take the stage in the bar’s Comedy Zone. For a small fee of around $8, patrons can enjoy several hours of stand-up comedy from two comedians.

John Fiske, the owner of Somewhere in Augusta, brought comedy to the bar in 2008 and has been running it non-stop ever since. He said he refreshes the bar scene with different types of activities.

“I am always looking to find ways of bringing something to the marketplace that doesn’t already exist,” Fiske said. “So, we have poker here on Monday night. No one else is doing poker.

Everyone has trivia, and everyone has karaoke. I try to find things that are unique, like comedy.”

Although Somewhere in Augusta is not the only bar to hold a regular comedy night, its dedication to the idea has kept it alive.

“It is one of those things you have to stay committed to,” Fiske said, “I’ve seen a lot of different bars try and do stand up comedy or try to do a comedy night, and they just keep coming

and going. They don’t stick with it. And you are going to have successful nights, and then you will have other nights when you’re like, ‘Where is everybody?’ It is something you make a commitment to, and (you have to) stick with it.”

Fiske broadened his market for comedians through a booking agent who sends talent to the bar. Fiske said he rates them after the performance on how they have done and decides from there if they can return.

The bar’s Sept. 5 performance consisted of Dave Landau, of Detroit, and Mickey Mason, of what he called “a little meth town called Redkey, Ind.” Fiske described the show as risqué.

“They were a little crisp this week, more (so) than usual,” said Fiske.

In order to prep his comedians, Fiske speaks to them first about the type of performance he is looking for. If Fiske approves of their performance and the crowd roars with laughter, they are invited back after a six-month period.

“What I tell them is we are adults here having good fun,” Fiske said. “I just don’t think the F-bomb needs to be every other word. So have a good show. I am a little more into comedians like Steve Martin and Bill Cosby types, but when it comes to (people’s) humor, everyone is different. For our taste, we are sort of the ‘Bible South’. Let’s keep it somewhat clean.”

Before the show, the two comedians were found sitting in the back of the room having a drink and enjoying conversation with locals and each other in order to grab local information to

use to connect more with the audience.

“They are just guys, and this is what they do for a living,” Fiske said. “When they come in, they want to chit-chat with you. Part of the routine is that they want to put a little local humor in it. They will ask what is the name of the local strip club?

They ask, what is the really bad section of town? They use it to tie in and have a connection with the audience.”

On the other side of the microphone, the comedians are completely different in nature than while trying to entertain, earn money and get their names out there.

Landau brought the audience to tears because they laughed so profusely.

He started his career as a comic by making people laugh in high school during his five years of attending, frequently illustrating dirty images in his classes to draw laugher from his peers.

“I didn’t really know what I could do with those drawings,” said Landau, who now lives in California. “So I went to college briefly and studied theater and film. Then I started going to the Second City, which is a comedy theater. There was a chapter of it in Detroit. It started in New York and was how Saturday Night Live started.”

Landau began his acts with sketch comedy and improvisation but later moved into the genre of stand-up comedy.

“After a while, I realized my writing was stronger than my acting muscle,” he said. “I am not the strongest character actor, I guess you could say. And so I decided to get up there and try it alone.”

Landau’s performance at Somewhere in Augusta brought smiles and laughter to the faces of the regular patrons to the bar’s Comedy Zone.

Johnny Nichols, a regular to the Comedy Zone, said the Comedy Zone’s variety draws him in.

“It’s great,” Nichols said. “I’ve been coming here for probably about two and a half years. I haven’t seen anybody that wasn’t good yet. There is no other comedy place in Augusta that I know of. It keeps me coming back here.”

jpabon@aug.edu

Family night with a twist

By TAMIKA LAMPKIN senior reporter

T

here is a party on campus every month, and everyone is invited.

Augusta State University’s Jaguar Activity Board is at it again. The board, better known as JAB, created family nights for non -traditional students and their children once a month. On the roster this month was the Universal Birthday party. Shanese Nixon, a junior communications major, said the board is always looking for fun, new ways to get students and their families involved in activities at the university.

“Our chairperson came up with the idea while speaking with other members on the student activity family fun board,” Nixon said. “We want parents and non-traditional students to be able to be involved with campus activities.”

The idea behind the night’s festivities

was to celebrate everyone and their children’s birthdays. The JSAC ballroom was creatively decorated with balloons, bubbles and streamers.

Upon entry, each guest received birthday hats, party blowers and food passes. Nixon said the night was just another fun option on the campus.

“The main purpose of the night is to bring the community closer to campus,” Nixon said.

“There is no specific person (that is) wanted; these events are open to everyone.”

April Patio, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, said all of JAB’s events are targeted to everyone on campus. She said these particular events just give the organization an even better chance to reach out to parents.

“Our campus is one that gives back,” Patio said. “This is just another way for JAB to achieve that goal.”

Crystal Burns, a freshman biology major and also the assistant chairperson, said events like this are just one more way for people with similar interests to connect.

Patty the the face

TAMIKA LAMPKIN | STAFF

clown paints of 5-year-old

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Mickey Mason, of Indiana, leads the audience in a sing-a-long song.

a rainbow on Chasity Likins.

“This event, as well as others like this, is a wonderful way for people to know that other students on campus are in their shoes,” Burns said. “I don’t think its fair for any campus to

only focus on the traditional college student while leaving out those who are traditional.”

Not only was the room decorated but there were games at every corner with prizes for the children. Everyone enjoyed age-appropriate music and food as well. On one side of the room, Pammy the Clown painted artwork on the children’s faces while Magic Mike amused the children on the other end with his magic tricks.

Parents stood in awe at the detail and hard work the students on the board put into this event.

Shellie Smithley, a sophomore majoring in communications, said she always feels at home when the school has events like this for nontraditional students like herself. She bragged about the room being filled with all types of students and families as she stood in line to get her 10-month-old’s face painted.

“I absolutely love events like this,” Smithley said. “It helps me find adults who can relate to my situation.”

Patio said she is proud of the turnout and that everyone should look out each month for upcoming activities.

tlampkin@aug.edu

Goodwill Industries brings culinary institute to the city of Augusta

By KARL FRAZIER staff writer

H

elms College brings a new definition to culinary school.

David Ross, the department chair of Culinary Arts at Helms College, said the idea for Helms College came from the idea that people should always help others if they can.

“We are trying to supply education to people who may not otherwise be offered an education,” Ross said. “We want to give them the ability to go out, be productive in the world, get a job and so on.”

Ross said Jim Stiff, CEO and president of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, had a vision and believed Goodwill should have an educational side to it. Through Job Connection, a job referral service, Goodwill helps people get their GEDs or helps find them a job. Stiff has also been instrumental in the success of the Goodwills in the area.

“He’s taken Goodwill from making a turnover of $1 million to $30 million,” Ross said, referring to Stiff. “This is just referring to the Goodwill’s in Macon and the CSRA.” Ross said the college, which will open classes Oct. 29, is named after Edgar J. Helms, the founder of Goodwill Industries International. Helms founded Goodwill in 1902, collecting used house-

CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY VOGEL MARKS

Master Chef David for the opening of

Ross Helms

prepares College.

hold goods and discarded clothing from wealthy areas and training unemployed people how to repair those items. Helms College follows the Goodwill philosophy of giving everyone the opportunity to get ahead in life and be successful.

Helms College employees also understand the importance of saving people money, Ross said.

“We are offering an associate’s degree for $16,800, which is fantastic,” he said. “When you look at our courses and the prices we are charging for the courses, they are significantly less than what a full-profit school would charge.”

That price covers chef jackets, hats, shoes, pants, full knife kit and the books students will need for their classes. Ross said the administration of Helms College understands they are competing with some of the best culinary schools in the country, such as Le Cordon Bleu College, Johnson and Whales, and Culinary Institute of America (CIA). However, Helms College has a dedicated staff to help make the college better.

Although Helms College has lower prices, there are certain requirements.

“We require a GED or high school diploma,” said Joana Crockett, the student advisor at Helms College. “They also have to pass an entrance exam in order to be admitted to the program.”

Helms College will also have a 250seat conference center, a Mediterranean restaurant called Edgars, an outside dining area, chapel and museum. Ross said Helms is being monitored by other Goodwill stores.

“Augusta is going to be a form of a template for other Goodwills around the

country,” Ross said. “In the spring, presidents and CEOs from all the other Goodwills will meet here to see what we have done here, so they then can take it back to their states around the country and perhaps do the same thing.”

Helms College is offering an associate’s degree in culinary arts. While it will initially only be offering culinary arts classes, eventually the school wants to branch out by offering other classes. Ross said he is excited about teaching classes at Helms College and said he believes Augusta is the right city for their mission.

“Augusta has a lot of potential because there are a lot of people unemployed and on benefits,” Ross said. “There is a lot of people sitting and doing nothing.”

Helms College not only helps people through school but also helps people after they are finished. Once students have graduated, the college provides services for the students so that they can get employed, Crockett said. After a month of employment, the school will follow up on the student’s progress. Helms College hopes to expand in the future.

“We would love to see Helms College’s pop up all over the country,” said Susan Everitt, a public relations coordinator at Helms College. “There is certainly a need for education and great services to students.”

kfrazie9@aug.edu

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

PAGE 8 www.asubellringer.com

Forgotten but not lost: Chronicling Augusta State’s history From gunpowder to archeology

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

T

CONTRIBUTED BY THE ARCHEOLOGY LAB

Augusta State University’s Washington Hall undergoes one of its many renovations that ultimately transformed the old arsenal optical building into the current home of the art department and ASU bookstore.

Washington Hall’s military past revealed

By LEIGH BEESON copy editor

E

xploring the Guardhouse Museum provides a concise history of everything Augusta State University; however, some of the buildings in the old pictures are now unrecognizable.

One such building is Washington Hall. Prior to the founding of the university, the Walton Way campus served as the location of the Augusta Arsenal, which was constructed in 1827, said Kathy Schofe, the director of public relations and publications at Augusta State. Shortly after the Civil War began, the Confederate Army overtook the arsenal and its many buildings, including the building that was once attached to what’s now called Washington Hall.

“That building has been in use in some form, whether it’s the attachment, the addition or whatever, since the 1860s,” Schofe said. “What’s left is not from the 1860s, but it’s always seen service as the arsenal or the university.”

The U.S. Army added the current Washington Hall onto the end of the former Confederate shop building, which is labeled ZD1 and ZD2 in old blueprints and pictures located in the Physical Plant of Augusta State. With the new addition, the combined building stretched to more than 500 feet, said Fred Ricketson, the senior architect at Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences University.

“There was massive construction here in ’41 when they were gearing up for the war,” he said.

“Dec. 7, 1941, was when (the United States) entered the war, but we knew we were going to get into the war before it happened. With that said, we were gearing up, and we were making ammunition and weapons and selling them to the British and giving them to the British.”

Over the course of World War II, Ricketson explained, the arsenal employed thousands of people, and as pictures in the guardhouse show, approximately one-third of those employees were women. Classified as small arms repair with an optical shop, the building that is now Washington Hall again played an important role in U.S. war effort.

“I’m told that they used to take the rifling out of old machine gun barrels and refurbish them (in Washington Hall),” Ricketson said. “(They’d) take them down to the basement, test fire them and then send them back to the front.”

The old firing range is still located in the basement of Washington Hall, he said, but the space is relatively unusable and mainly serves as extra storage space for odds and ends of the university.

After the war ended, the army still owned and used the portion of campus where the building was located, Schofe said. It took what was then the Junior College of Augusta a couple of decades to acquire all the land Augusta State currently encompasses, and the land the old optical shop occupies was one of the last chunks of property purchased by the college.

The army tore down the old Confederate shop building just prior to Augusta State’s purchase of the land. The addition of Washington Hall, though, remained intact, Ricketson said.

While constructing a new parking lot years later, the foundations of the Confederate buildings that

had long since been destroyed were unearthed, leading the architect to assume the army simply “knocked the top off” the buildings.

Augusta College’s first major renovation to the optical shop building was in 1969. It created the College Activities Center, 37,505 square feet that housed game rooms, the cafeteria and the bookstore, Schofe said.

After becoming president of the university in the fall of 1993, William A. Bloodworth Jr., who is now a professor of English and American studies and president emeritus at Augusta State, decided the College Activities Center should have a more memorable name. Many of the other buildings on campus were named for military leaders, due to the university’s long history of military use, or university benefactors. There was no tangible connection to local African American culture, he said.

“Here we were in a community (that) had a long and proud history of African-American leadership, but there wasn’t anything on this campus that was identified with any African-American from Augusta,” Bloodworth said.

Noting how important it was and still is for students to feel emotionally-linked to their campus, Bloodworth said he set out to make sure African-American students felt at home at Augusta State. Eventually, a professor suggested that Bloodworth select Isaiah “Ike” and Justine Washington, the former a graduate of Paine College, City Council member and former principal at C.T. Walker and the latter a teacher at Paine and the first African-American woman on the Richmond County Board of Education.

“They were in their 80s at that time,” Bloodworth said. “They came into my office, and I said to them, ‘This is the situation. It would really be good if we had something on this campus that African-American students could identify with.’

And they immediately saw what I was getting at, just immediately… They agreed to let us use their name and agreed to give us upon their death their estate, and I was amazed – primarily because of their allegiance to Paine College – but they saw that this was important for this community.”

The Georgia Board of Regents had recently passed a policy that allowed university buildings to be named for living people, a previously banned practice. This made it possible for the Washingtons to actually see their name on the building and attend its May 1997 renaming event.

During that ceremony, Bloodworth said he was struck by how far the university had come.

“There were no black students here until the early 1960s,” Bloodworth said. “The University System of Georgia was segregated. And so you start out with an institution that has that kind of racial history to it, and you get to the point where you’re naming a building after a distinguished couple from the African American community in Augusta. It was a good thing to do.”

Ricketson said the construction of the Jaguar Student Activities Center prompted another renovation of Washington Hall in 2007 to change it from the cafeteria and student center into the current home of the art department, art labs, and ASU bookstore.

kbeeson1@aug.edu

he Archaeology Lab has not only seen, dug up and processed much of Augusta State University’s history, but the lab itself has historical significance.

The lab was officially founded in the 1980s when Christopher Murphy, the former director of the lab and a professor of archaeology, was asked to become the campus archaeologist in the face of the developing the campus. Due to new laws, archaeological digs and research were required as a part of these developments in order to protect any sites and buildings of historic value. Because Augusta State was built on a major historic site, the Augusta Arsenal, Murphy said he had his work cut out for him.

The lab was placed in Skinner Hall, which has since been demolished during campus renovations. The lab met there in a small seminar room about one-third of the size of the building the lab is in now, Murphy said. Because there were no sinks in the room, Murphy said they had to bring in tubs of water in order to start cleaning and processing the artifacts, which turned out to be another problem because they had no room to store their findings in the small space.

“It was better than nothing,” he said.

“But it was all we had.”

It wasn’t until 2000 when the lab moved into the small brick building be-

will research, but they are much smaller in scale.

“The biggest (site) is the campus, which is ongoing because there’s ongoing construction and reworking,” Jordan said.

Although Augusta State is not the only college in Georgia to have an archaeology lab on campus, the university’s lab has one quality that distinguishes it from others.

“We’re kind of unique in the fact that we are on an archaeological site with an archaeology lab,” Jordan said. “We actually get to work on the site and save all of the materials.”

Over the years, she said, the lab has found liquor and medicine bottles, ceramic items, building materials and even some ammunition. All these findings have given the lab some clues about the people who worked and lived at the arsenal.

Murphy retired from his position as a professor and the director of the lab in 2008 and was succeeded by Jennifer Trunzo, who said she has a lot of experience with historical archaeology and working on military sites. When she began working at the lab at Augusta State, she said, she was able to find artifacts and interpret the items that the lab found from her experience, making the job a really good fit for her.

Now, with all of the proposed plans for expansion in the current merger between Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences University, she said she expects to face the same busyness as Murphy did

RON HICKERSON | STAFF

Artifacts litter the counters of the Archeology Lab , revealing the history unearthed on campus.

tween the Science Building and the Pool House. Even the building had a rich history that was in need of protection from campus development, though, Murphy said.

“The mentality had to shift a lot in terms of the people who managed the campus and made decisions,” Murphy said. “They were going to tear this little building down. Now, this little building we’re sitting in, with a few alterations… was the powder magazine, and they were talking about tearing it down until somebody realized that this is a historic building, and they made the decision that they wouldn’t tear it down but be used for the Archaeology Lab.” He said the building’s construction was authorized to be built around 1870 as the powder magazine where the arsenal stored its gunpowder, ammunition and weapons, according to letters lab officials found. But the building had many more uses throughout time, even being used as the old weight room before the athletics center was built in 1989. Students can still see remnants of the chalk graffiti that the weight lifters left on the wooden walls to record their names and how much they could lift. Now the building has become the Archaeology Lab, where its workers as well as student volunteers clean, process, research, categorize and store artifacts found around campus.

Janet Jordan, the lab’s supervisor, said about 90 percent of all archaeological digs, in addition to research, are done on campus. There are other sites the lab

during his time with the lab. She said the sites are critically important to the history of Augusta and should be protected and preserved, which is exactly what the Archeology Lab intends to do.

“No matter where you dig on the ASU campus, whether it’s the Walton Way campus or either of the West campuses, we run the risk of running into things that are very historically important, not only to Augusta but to the general history of the military,” she said. “It’s very historically sensitive and, as GHSU sets in place its own expansion needs once we’re consolidated, I wouldn’t be surprised if over the next 20 years I end up ripping up half of Augusta.”

But to aid in her work, Trunzo, who is also teaches archaeology, started requiring her students to spend time in the lab processing artifacts, which includes labeling what each item is and creating an inventory of the item’s quantity. Students are currently processing artifacts from the Ezekiel Harris House on Broad Street so they can give all of the artifacts back to the house’s owners, simply because the lab is running out of storage space.

But in the face of consolidation and expansion in such close proximity to the Augusta Arsenal, protecting its history is the lab’s major undertaking.

“We have a lot of parts of the arsenal that are actually still standing on this campus, and historic preservation is a major issue on this campus,” Trunzo said.

rhickers@aug.edu

Gaming Club looks to expand activities following a growth in membership

By SI-LONG CHEN webmaster

T

he largest student organization on campus, Electronic Gaming Club (EGC), is seeking a brighter future.

With the rapid growth of members, officers of this club are forming a new policy in order to build a better reputation and encouraging more recreational activities outside of television monitors and game consoles.

The EGC was established in 2009 by Jeromy DeChant and Michael Jackson, with the support from James Tanner, who was the student activities coordinator.

“Myself and a group of amazing individuals started the club sort of out of both necessity and the desire to do something fun,” DeChant said. “We were just students who hung out together between class periods in the corner of the JSAC (Jaguar Student Activities Center). After some discussion, we decided that the best course of action is to form a documented and approved student organization. We wished to create an organization of people that share common interests

can come together, relax from studying, have fun and even form lifetime friendships.”

DeChant said many faculties opposed the idea of a gaming club, claiming it would distract students and draw a bad crowd. As time has passed, however, the Gaming Club has gained more members than any other club on campus.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to manage such a large group of people. The first club meeting of fall semester of 2012 began Aug. 30 in the JSAC Coffee House. This meeting was not anything similar to a frenzied video game party. During the meeting, policies and major ground rules were made clear to prevent any physical or verbal violence. President Alejandro Smith and Vice President Kristina Harper said the criticisms from Student Activities prompted adaptations in order to address the problem.

“We are actually one of the (most) hated clubs on campus,” Harper said. “There have been complaints about our members being loud, trashy and other problems with profanity and littering. A discipline team was created to make sure everyone behaves and cleans up trash. We also have very distinguished rules on time. Meetings do not start early and do not end late. Come means

come; go means go.”

Smith echoed Harper’s comments about the strict enforcement of rules.

“We don’t just nicely give warnings anymore,” Smith said. “Eviction will be taken immediately for those with any display of violence or uncooperativeness. We take this very seriously, even if it means contacting public safety.”

The rules are applied not only to the meetings on campus but also to activities outside of campus, Smith said. Members and the officers of the club try their hardest to redeem themselves from many infamous rumors and prove that there are valuable qualities in games.

This club is also divided into smaller groups, with one leader per group. Activities in the subgroups include video games, role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, card games and camping trips.

The camping trips are held every semester.

The main objective is to get students to enjoy nature outside of books, home, school and electronic devices. In addition, EGC also engages with fund-raising activities, such as bake sales.

Members and officers are also eagerly seeking for sponsors to host tournaments, Super Smash

Brothers, Tekken, and Soul Calibur to name a few, Smith said.

The number of members in the club continues to grow. Smith said the EGC is looking forward to a new name and merger with the Anime Club.

“We’ve done so much that we are not just electronic gamers anymore,” Smith said. “This name is not reflective of who we are. The Anime Club has had difficulties keeping the function of the club itself active, and they have been losing their members. Unless (Neil) Smith, the adviser of the Anime Club says no, the merger is definite.”

The Electronic Gaming Club of Augusta State University is striving to create a friendly environment, in addition to expanding social networking through games. DeChant, who currently lives in Hollywood, Calif., said he often returns to Augusta, Ga., just to visit this club.

“I am proud to see that the club is still alive and well,” he said, “When we started out, we never could have imagined how big it would become, in both size and in the hearts of the people who love it.”

schen1@aug.edu

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 9 www.asubellringer.com

comics:

entertain yourself

What’s Your Sign?

Virgo

Contributed by Kaitlyn Alexander

(August 23- September 22) This month is all about your professional life. Your personality is shining, and others are definitely taking notice.

Put yourself out there in matters pertaining to your career- the payoff will make you glad you did. Be careful to watch out for drama that could arise with those closest to you. They are noticing how much progress you are making as well and could become a bit jealous. Your love life is put on the back burner in a sense this month.

As you shine, you start to notice certain aspects of your life that are no longer of use to you. Your views of what you want in a partner are changing as well. Take notice of these new expectations now, seeing as they will ultimately shape the decisions you make from here on out.

Be

Draw comics in your free time?

a

part

of

Y O U R n

e w s p a p e and send your drawings to

bellringerproduction@gmail.com

r

follow us @BellRinger_News

like us

on facebook

Q u e e n Pillowtop Mattress Set

NEW $150

762-444-7615

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

PAGE 10 www.asubellringer.com

SPORTS Connolly races her way to the top of talented Lady Jaguars’ cross-country squad

JOHNMICHAEL GARNER

sports editor

“She’s going to be able to make a few more breakthroughs.”

After back-to-back championships, men’s golf team just fighting to remain relevant

National titles a distant memory There’s an old adage in sports that says it’s harder to stay at the top than it is to get there. The men’s golf program can testify to the truth of that statement.

In 2010 and 2011, Augusta State was the finest college golf team in the nation. Right now, they would probably settle for being considered the best team with the nickname “Jaguars.”

Augusta State struggled to a 10th-place finish in its season-opening event at the Northern Intercollegiate in Illinois last week. The Jags finished 45 strokes behind tournament-winning Indiana, and not a single player for Augusta State recorded a round of even-par or better.

Despite the sketchy performance, it’s too early for doom-and-gloom talk. Last year, the Jags staggered through the fall portion of their schedule before righting the ship in the spring and earning a spot in the NCAA Regionals. So there is precedent for the team turning things around after a ragged start.

Still, with one tournament in the books, it’s apparent that these Jags are similar to the back-to-back national titlists in name only.

A little over a year after running through Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and Georgia in succession during the match-play portion of the NCAA Championships, Augusta State did not garner a single vote in the preseason top 25. The Jags’ performance in their opening tournament probably didn’t cause any pollsters to rethink the omission.

Head coach Kevin McPherson knew when he took over the reigns from Josh Gregory after Augusta State’s second title that the rebuilding job he faced would be massive. All-Americans Patrick Reed and Henrik Norlander had departed, along with the fiery redheads Mitch Krywulycz and Carter Newman, two unsung heroes with a knack for coming through in the clutch.

McPherson did inherit two seniors, Taylor Floyd and Brendan Gillins, from Gregory, and those players were instrumental in helping Jags reach the postseason last spring. As the 2012-13 schedule picks up in earnest, McPherson will have to find a way to replace the consistency those veterans brought to the team last year.

Given the amount of attrition McPherson has faced over the last two years, it would be unfair to blame him for the program’s slippage. On the contrary, the job he did in getting the Jags to the NCAA Regionals last year was commendable. The new coach proved he could keep the program competitive through a period of transition.

For his next trick, McPherson will have to pull off something even more impressive: finding a group of golfers as special as the one that led the Jags to two straight titles.

One advantage McPherson has over his predecessor is the ability to use the school’s two national championships as a recruiting pitch. The prestige that accompanies that achievement, along with the university’s location in the golf mecca of Augusta, Ga., should allow McPherson to land his share of highly-touted recruits.

As Gregory proved, however, sometimes being lucky on the recruiting trail is just as important as being good. Reed fell into the program’s lap after transferring from Georgia. Norlander was headed for Minnesota before learning about Augusta State at the eleventh hour. Gregory took a gamble on Newman, a lightly-regarded local kid, and hit the jackpot.

Those kind of breaks just don’t come along very often, but they’re the kind of breaks that are essential for something as improbable as consecutive national titles to take place at a school like Augusta State.

For now, as McPherson looks to strike gold of his own, the coach has a seemingly solid young nucleus to build around. Sophomore Robin Petersson, Augusta State’s top player at the Northern Intercollegiate, has shown flashes of brilliance. Freshmen Meechai Padung, Jack Heasman and Viktor Edin each offer considerable promise.

But having a roster packed with so many underclassmen is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it means the team will have an experienced and established core in a couple of years. But on the flipside, it means that the present is likely to be riddled with growing pains.

It will be on senior Derek Chang and junior Alex Wennstam - the final links to the Jags’ 2011 championship squad - to lead the way as the kids learn their lessons. While it seems doubtful Chang and Wennstam will be part of a third national title, they can serve an important role in helping to keep the program afloat and laying the foundation for future greatness.

Augusta State has the right coach, the right players and the right pedigree to return to prominence in short order. But, for this year at least, Jaguar golf supporters may need to do a lot of hearkening back to those two magical Junes to be reminded of what this program can be.

jgarner6@aug.edu

- Lady Jags’ cross country coach Adam Ward

By ASHLEY TRAWICK contributor Alicia Connolly is a gem for the women’s cross country team.

The senior runner said her relationship with Augusta State began during her senior year at Mill Creek High School in Gwinnett County, Ga. Recruiters came to see her and liked what they saw.

“Coaches were recruiting me to run, and (Augusta State) coach (Adam) Ward was emailing me,” she said. “I took a tour of the school, and I really liked it.”

For encouragement and reaching goals, Connolly said she looks to her teammates to lead herself and the team in the right direction.

“As a team, I want us to be pumped with confidence and be able to make it to nationals,” she said. “When it comes to academic and per-

sonal goals, I just want to keep my GPA 3.5 and above.”

Ward said keeping Connolly - as well as her teammates and the men runners, whom Ward also coaches motivated is very important.

“One of the things I try to tell all the women and the guys is that they can’t stay satisfied,” he said. “They have to be constantly looking and asking what can I do to make myself better and not just in a year or in a season. It’s almost on a daily basis (asking), ‘What can I do today to make myself better? What little thing have I done to make myself better? Did I make sure I cover my hydration well? Did I eat well? Did I get enough sleep?’ A lot of little things you do can help prevent a lot of things. For our sport, a lot of people just think ‘Oh, it’s just running.’ There are a lot of things that go into it that we have to make sure we pay attention to.”

Ward also said Connolly has made a lot of progress since her freshman year.

“She was probably not fully aware of what she was capable of and being aware of what running really was and what she could do with it,” he said. “She was at the discovery stage of what her full potential was. Learning how to race, which for the average person that doesn’t know anything about running, is that it’s more than running miles every day then showing up on race day and just running. There is a sense of strategy involved. I think that and pacing is kind of a big thing. She’s learned a lot more about the pacing of things. I think in time, because she’s becoming a lot more in tune with her body, she’s going to be able to make a few more breakthroughs in terms of her race performances.”

However, being one of the best runners on the team has its challenges. Connolly’s teammate Jessica Carpenter, a sophomore kinesiology major, provided insight into Connolly’s behavior when she competes.

“She’s really tough on herself mentally,” Carpenter said. “She gets really down on herself, and it affects her performances sometimes, but

she’s a really hardworking person.”

As far as Connolly being a positive influence, both Carpenter and Ward said Connolly brings the team together.

“She gets along well with the rest of her teammates,” the coach said. “I would say every team has its ups and downs.

Alicia’s a pretty laid-back and carefree young lady, and she gets it from her mother. She’s one of the few folks that everyone gets along with.”

As for her start with running and competing, Connolly said she was inspired by those who know her best: her family members.

“My dad ran cross county and track when he was in high school, then my sister ran,” said Connolly. “I started in middle school when she was running, so I think my dad and sister influenced me a lot to run, and I just kind of stuck with it.”

Connolly will continue to make her mark at Augusta State competing in the Peach Belt competition in October.

She said she hopes her fellow Jaguars will continue to support her and her teammates as they progress this season.

atrawick@aug.edu

upcoming schedule men’s golf Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Olympia Fields/ FIghting Illini Invitational (Olympia Fields, Ill.)

men’s & women’s tennis Sept. 21-24 ITA Regional (Sumter, S.C.)

volleyball

men’s & women’s cross country

Sept. 18 - Newberry Sept. 22 - at Montevallo Sept. 25 - at USC Aiken Sept. 28 - at Flagler Sept. 29 - at Armstrong Sept. 29 - Lynn (Savannah, Ga.)

Sep. 22 - Falcon Classic (Montevallo, Ala.)

Local MMA fighter has sights set on UFC

By KARL FRAZIER staff writer With determination and a hard work ethic, a local fighter is poised to make his dream become a reality.

A native of Augusta, Ga., and an Augusta State student, Jason Faglier Jr. said he has been intrigued by mixed martial arts since he was a child. This style of fighting has been a tradition in his family.

“Ever since I was little, my dad has been training me in martial arts,” Faiglier said. “My dad was into martial arts and introduced me and my brothers into martial arts. It’s a family thing.”

Jason Faglier Sr., said he has been involved with MMA for many years and has always enjoyed it.

When the younger Faglier was still a child, he said his dad would enter him and his brothers into various tournaments.

However, Faglier Sr., said while he taught his sons MMA, he never forced them into doing it.

“I never made my sons do MMA.” Faglier, Sr. said. “They had a desire to do it on their own.”

Once he turned 18, Faglier Jr., was legally able to participate in his first fight.

Although Faglier enjoyed the sport, his mother was very skeptical of watching him fight and didn’t initially want him to do it. But after seeing his ability and skills, he was able to win her over.

“My mom was very nervous watching my first fight,” Faglier said. “But after she saw me win quickly and not get hit she felt more comfortable. After the second fight, she was convinced.”

While Faglier loves the physical

“He’s very talented. I hope UFC is able to see his abilities.”

- Jason Faglier Sr.

grind of MMA fighting, the most difficult part for him is the dieting.

“I must train a month ahead of the fight in order to get at the right weight,” Faglier said. “My normal weight is 145 pounds, but when I’m fighting my weight is 135 pounds.”

However, Faglier understands the importance of being in good shape and is willing to diet in order to make sure he is in the right conditioning. This is not a problem for Faglier since he trains four times a week.

“I train Monday through Thursday and take the weekend off,” Faglier said. “Then I come back Monday and start all over again.”

Faglier said he enjoys the physical contact involved in MMA fighting and enjoys when the referee holds up his hand after every victory. He also enjoys when the ring announcer calls his name during introduction his and entering into the cage. He prefers to stand up and fight his opponents as opposed to taking it to the mat. But he has won all of his fights by submission.

When he is fighting his opponents, Faglier said he likes mix two different styles of fighting into one. Faigler said he is also experienced in Brazilian JiuJitsu, which is mostly used during submission moves. Because Faigler pre-

fers to stand up fighting, his favorite style of fighting is Muay Thai.

“My main style of fighting is Muay Thai and Kempo,” Faglier said. “My dad taught me Kempo as a self-defense style of fighting.”

While Faglier is focused on making it into the UFC, he said he still understands the need to have another option available.

He is currently attending Augusta State and said he aspires to become a radio or sports announcer.

According to CNBC, MMA has become the fastest growing sport in the world. It has begun to take the place of boxing. Stars like Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson have helped MMA become a sport accepted by other countries. Faglier said he is willing to do whatever it takes to become a MMA fighter.

Faglier Sr. said his son has what it takes to make it to the UFC. “He’s very talented,” he said. “I’m so proud of him and I hope UFC is able to see his abilities.”

kfrazie9@aug.edu

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 11 www.asubellringer.com

Division I programs a possibility for merged university

By KARL FRAZIER staff writer As a result of its merger with Georgia Health Sciences, the Augusta State athletic programs could be poised to move up a notch.

Clint Bryant, the athletic director for Augusta State, said the university’s sports programs could soon make the transition to Division I. Currently, only the men’s and women’s golf teams compete at the NCAA’s highest level of competition.

For the other athletic programs at Augusta State, a move up would be a return to the old days, Bryant said.

“Augusta College, later known as Augusta State, was a part of Division I for six years from 1985 to 1991,” Bryant said. “In 1991, due to the formulation of the Peach Belt Conference, we dropped down to Division II in all sports except golf.”

In 1985, Bryant said Augusta State became a member of the Big South conference, and the first president of the conference was George Christenberry, who was also the president of Augusta College at the time. The conference included current Peach Belt Conference members

Follow us on Twitter @BRingerSports Keep up with Jaguar sports online at: www.asubellringer.com

Armstrong Atlantic and Columbus State. Augusta College left the conference in 1991 and made the move to Division II in the Peach Belt.

Augusta State’s move down came with restrictions, Bryant said.

“We accepted a classification with NCAA called the multi-classification, which said you can play in men’s and women’s sports up in Division I, but it could not be men’s or women’s basketball or football,” Bryant said. “Augusta State, along with 40 or 50 institutions in the country, was grandfathered into that classification. So we played Division I men’s and women’s golf, and we play our other sports in Division II.” In August 2011, Bryant said the NCAA lifted the restrictions, and the Jaguars were able to play Division I basketball teams.

Bryant said he is not taking the possibility of becoming a Division I school lightly.

“During the next several months, we will have a number studies, as well as evaluations, done on just a 10year strategic plan for the consolidated university,” he said. “We will also look at our facilities, as far as upgrading those facilities that we know need to be upgraded.”

Some of the facilities Bryant said he wants to upgrade are the baseball and softball complexes. They are also considering building a soccer field and track field. But Bryant said changing classification with the NCAA deals with money and being part of Division I does not come cheaply.

“The application fee is currently $1.48 million,” Bryant said. “There is a four-year process. So depending on when you do it, it very well could be a $1.7 or $2 million application fee just to apply.”

Bryant said Augusta State would

JOHN MCGINNIS | 1991 BELL RINGER ARCHIVES

Augusta College ‘s Derek Stewart glides to the hoop during Christenberry Fieldhouse’s opening game on Feb. 4, 1991, a 76-62 loss to South Carolina during the Jaguars’ tenure as a Division I program in the Big South Conference.

also need to find an athletic conference to add them in order to become a Division I school.

Bryant said some of the conferences the university would consider are the Big South, the Atlantic Sun, the Southern and the Colonial Athletic. He said the school will be diligent in evaluating and reviewing whatever they need to do to make the best decision for the institution if that is the best move.

However, Bryant said he is content with being a member of the Peach Belt Conference and playing Division

I in men’s and women’s golf. He said he is also pleased with the significant publicity that comes from being one of the nation’s best Division II basketball programs.

Competing at the Division I level would bring increased fame to the university, but men’s basketball coach Dip Metress cautioned that the step up in competition would pose challenges.

“The question is not who you are going to play in Division I,” Metress said. “It is who you can beat. There is a huge difference between playing

against people and beating people.”

However, while moving to Division I would have its obstacles, some say they feel the university would be able to make the transition a successful one.

“I think whatever direction we go as an athletic department is a good thing,” said Nate Teymer, the head coach of the women’s basketball team. “Our facilities are top notch.

I’m just happy being a part of Augusta State basketball.”

kfrazie9@aug.edu

Updated sports releases have local video gamers enthusiastic

By NIKKI SKINNER staff writer The end of summer and the beginning of fall annually produce a bumper crop of sports video games, and 2012 promises to be no different.

Madden 13 was released on Aug. 28. Justin Pittman, a senior game advisor at Gamestop on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway in Augusta, Ga., said the game has undergone several adjustments by the development team in hopes of making it more realistic for players.

“The newest thing about Madden this year is (that) it has a new physics system,” Pittman said. “It used to be when you were playing the game and you wanted to make a tackle, you just hit a button.

Now with the changes they have made, there are more physics involved. When you hit the dive button, they won’t just automatically tackle any-

more. The opponents are also given the option to break the tackle.”

Pittman said there were other changes made to this year’s iteration of Madden as well. Some were obvious, such as the change in players, which happens every year because football players are drafted in from college teams and are placed into the new version of Madden.

Another new feature has been added to Madden 13 this year called Connected Careers.

This feature is intended for those who enjoy fantasy football. Pittman said this mode allows players to create their own legacy and build teams as a coach. The player is able to access all of this from his console, phone or the Internet.

For those who enjoy the college game more than its professional counterpart, NCAA Football 13 came out earlier this summer as well, and fans of the game say it,

NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF

Robert “Bobby” Jones , 8, of Augusta, tries out this year’s edition of EA Sports’ Madden series at Gamestop on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway while shopping for video games with his brother.

too, has been tweaked from previous editions.

“The game speed is improving; it is more realistic

now,” Brandon Williams, 21, of Augusta, said. “It’s a great improvement to the game. I love the new physics of the

game. You have to now pursue the individual as a core, not just as a character. It is now like I am living vicariously through an animated character.”

Williams said another of the new features in NCAA Football 13 is ESPN-style presentation, giving the player the experience of a real college football game. New mascots have been added along with other college game-day traditions. Growing up around football and being a big fan of the sport, Williams said he appreciates the games becoming so lifelike.

The graphics are not only changing in the football video games but in other sports games as well. Michael Thigpen, of Augusta, said he enjoys playing EA Sports’ FIFA series. The newest release of that franchise will hit shelves Sept. 25.

“The graphics on the game are starting to get so realistic; it is like you are in a real

Intramural athletics provide diverse options

By FARRELL BROWN staff writer Augusta State’s intramural sports have been added to a process that could eventually rank these athletic teams among the university’s more popular features.

This year, Augusta State students have been invited to participate in Georgia Health Sciences University’s intramural program for the fall semester. In January, the two programs will become a consolidated program under the title “Jaguar Intramurals” with a full-time advisor in Zachary Wright.

“It’s all one new program as far as I’m concerned,” Wright said.

The program will include trained referees, schedule makers and more. After the consolidation of the two Augusta universities, it will function as part of student activities services.

“It is a way to have fun and have the full college experience,” said junior Craig Patillar, the Jaguar Intramural student supervisor.

The goal of the program, Patillar said, is to keep students engaged with sports and exercise, get students more involved with extracurricular activities as well as help students from Augusta State and Georgia Heath Sciences interact. There will also be a great emphasis on the competitions in general as the program looks to eventually send the best teams in the various sports to state, regional and even national competitions.

Fall semester intramural sports include men’s and women’s flag football; men’s and women’s disc golf; men’s and women’s indoor soccer; co-ed dodgeball; men’s and

“This really gives us a chance to do something to feel like a part of the school.”

- Augusta State student Rodney Ferguson

women’s table tennis; men’s and women’s 3-on-3 basketball; men’s, women’s and coed tennis; and co-ed volleyball.

The spring semester will offer men’s volleyball; men’s and women’s 5-on-5 basketball; men’s and women’s soccer; co-ed badminton; men’s and women’s racquetball; men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee; billiards; and men’s softball.

“I’m excited,” said junior Rodney Ferguson, who will play flag football and 3-on3 and 5-on-5 basketball as well as soccer.

“This really gives us a chance to do something to feel like a part of the school.”

Many students share this sentiment and look forward to being watched instead of watching others. Some people may not be cut out for Jaguars Activities Board or Student Government Association, and they may not have an interest in any of the various clubs our school has to offer, but most of the student body has an interest in sports, Ferguson said.

Anyone who rides past or walks around the main campus or the Christenberry Fieldhouse can usually see groups of students playing various games or wearing clothing adorned with sports logos. Jaguar Intramurals gives these students the opportunity to

actually participate under the name of their school instead of living vicariously through others, said Eddie Howard, the acting assistant vice president for student life at Augusta State.

“Within the next three to five years, it’s going to be one of the strongest programs that we offer,” he said.

Both Howard and Wright stressed that Jaguar Intramurals will be a “student-driven program” that will be expanded mainly through word of mouth. There are people in position to give students every outlet to boost the program as high as they would like to take it. They are also open to suggestions to improve the program as it grows. Student communication will lead to student satisfaction. The more the word gets out and the more students work with the advisors and apply for advisory roles, the better the program will be, they said.

The leagues are on a pay-per-team basis unless they are individual sports. There are also other jobs for students such as refereeing and scorekeeping. After starting with these positions, students can apply to move up to supervisor roles.

fbrown19@aug.edu

soccer game,” the 21-year-old said. “You can literally do stutter-steps, (and) you can stop, pick the ball up (and) dribble it. It as though you are in complete control of your player.”

These are just several of the games that are already out this year, along with NHL13.

Others have not been released yet, such as NBA 2K13, which will be made available to the public Oct. 2.

The greatest part about these games is that they appeal to a broad audience, Pittman said.

“Everyone really likes Madden,” Pittman said. “You get some kids that get it every year, and then you have those adults that have been getting it since the late ’80s. Then you have those die-hard sports fans who just love their teams, so it turns out to be a very diverse group of people who come in to purchase the games.”

nskinner@aug.edu

The Bell Ringer’s College Football Top 10 1.

Alabama (3-0) Tide looking invincible after 52-0 rout at Arkansas 2.

LSU (3-0) New quarterback Zack Mettenberger appears to be taking charge of the offense.

3.

Florida State (3-0) Seminoles have outscored opponents by an absurd 176-3.

their

4.

Oregon (3-0) Ducks haven’t been tested yet, but the offense looks to be as explosive as ever.

5.

Georgia (3-0) Dawgs rolled up a school-record 713 yards in 56-20 win over Florida Atlantic.

6.

Texas (3-0) Longhorns made statement with 66-31 road thrashing of Ole Miss.

7.

South Carolina (3-0) Barring a letdown, Oct. 6 home date with Georgia will be biggest game in school history.

8.

Oklahoma (2-0) Sooners get their first real test this week versus Kansas State.

9.

West Viriginia (2-0) Mountaineers look like a serious threat to win their maiden voyage in the Big XII. 10.

Florida (3-0) Not quite back yet, but road wins over Texas A&M and Tennessee were a good start.

PAGE 12

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

SPORTS Local show depicts MMA reality

By JORDAN WILLIAMS contributor The ever-growing sport of MMA is launching a reality show in Augusta, Ga. Titled “Georgia Boys: GritsN-Glory,” the show is about amateur fighters who have overcome a variety of hardships, whether it be growing up in a broken home, battling drug addiction or running into trouble with the law, said Randy Taylor, one of the show’s stars. The purpose of “Grits-N-Glory” is to reveal to its audience the lives of amateur fighters and the hard work they endure while trying to pursue their careers as a professional fighter.

Mark Crump, the owner of Reflecting Pool Productions, said the wife of one of the fighters approached him with the idea, and he hopped right on board.

There have been four months of production, with the first season already under wraps.

Taylor said he is excited and confident that “Grits-N-Glory” will be successful and that its appeal will extend beyond the local area.

“We’re going nationwide,” he said. “(The production team is) meeting with TruTv, TNT and several other networks.”

Taylor said there was a lot of publicity gained in the wake of the death of former competitor Tyrone “Teesta” Mims on Aug. 11 in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The loss of Mims happened during the show’s production, and the accident is what initially captured the attention of major television networks, Taylor said.

When watching the show, viewers may notice cast members wearing “Team Teesta” on the back of their shirts to honor their fallen comrade.

“If you’re dedicated you train three or four times a day. It’s your life.”

- Bart “Ironman” Weeks Bart “Ironman” Weeks, the owner of The Augusta Fight Club, said Mims’ death would not deter other fighters who knew him from continuing to chase their dreams.

“At first a lot of us were double-thinking if we wanted to fight anymore or run the gym anymore,” Weeks said. “But after we thought about it and really searched our hearts, we realized if one us would have passed away, (Mims) wouldn’t have stopped fighting. He would have fought harder and pushed harder.

So I took all that pain and hurt

and channeled it into positive energy and drive for him.”

Many people don’t understand how much work goes into being a fighter, jiu-jitsu coach Robert Rodgers said.

“If an individual decided they wanted to learn MMA, it would take two or three years of training before becoming ready for an amateur fight,” Rodgers said. “You got to have a ground game, you got to know your escapes, you got to know your submissions and you got to have a stand-up game.”

Developing the kind of well-

BREA BOUTWELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Bart “Ironman” Weeks, one of the stars of the new MMA reality TV show “Georgia Boys: Grits-N-Glory,” takes a 15-second breather before going another round.

rounded arsenal Rodgers described requires intense training, Weeks said.

“Today I woke up at 10 a.m. and did an hour of jiu-jitsu, then I went to the aquatic center and swam for about 30 minutes,” he said. “(I) came home, cooked

myself lunch, and went to the gym and lifted. I then left the gym, came here (to the fighting club) and trained, and then I’m about to train again in a minute.”

This is similar to the everyday routine for most full-time fighters, Weeks said.

“If you’re dedicated to it you train three or four times a day,” he continued. “It’s your life.”

On the show, there will be around 20 fighters, and all cast members are from Augusta.

According to the show’s website, the show will represent the Southern lifestyle and have a very country setting. A one-car garage shop was converted into a MMA gym where the fighters train, illustrating how the athletes are making the best out of a humble situation.

However, despite the fighters’ lack of a large, glamorous gym, those close to the show are excited about its potential.

“I believe that it will definitely go far because (viewers will) see reality,” said Katie Steverson, Crump’s girlfriend.

“Plus they’ll see real fighting, and who doesn’t like that?”

jwill143@aug.edu BREA BOUTWELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

James Reese, also known as “The Corner Man,” pins Bart Weeks during a training session for a new MMA reality TV show.

START PUSHING YOURSELF.

START geTTing moRe ouT of college.

START MOTIVATING OTHERS.

START SHAPING YOUR FUTURE.

START geTTing moRe ouT of life.

Start growing.

START geTTing moRe ouT of you.

START EARNING RESPECT.

START STRong.

Sm

There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Enroll in Army ROTC at Augusta State University to complement your education with the training, experience and skills needed to make you a leader. Army ROTC also offers an opportunity to compete for scholarships that can pay up to full-tuition and a monthly stipend to help pay for your education. And when you graduate, you will have an edge in life as an Army Officer and a leader. All it takes is enrolling in MSL101.

To get started, contact us at (855) 276-9516.

ASK ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! For more information, contact James Sherrill at jsherrill@aug.edu, (706) 667-4795, (855) 276-9516 or visit us on campus in Galloway Hall. ©2008. Paid for by the united States Army. All rights reserved.