Volume 55, Issue 2

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

www.asubellringer.com

VOLUME 55, ISSUE 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS | PAGE 3

ARTS & LIFE | PAGE 6

Public Safety gets flashy new rides to aid in effectiveness and efficiency.

A new bar in Summerville makes mouths water all over Augusta.

SPORTS | PAGE 10

Jaguars volleyball poised for return to the top of the Peach Belt in 2012.

Regent University to file suit against BOR Holliman removed as SGA president

By JILLIAN HOBDAY news editor

W

hat’s in a name? Possibly a lawsuit.

Like many students, alumni, faculty and community members, officials of Regent University in Virginia said they feel the name “Georgia Regents University” needs advising.

Regent University is filing a federal trademark infringement complaint against the Georgia Board of Regents (BOR) for its decision to name the merged Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences universities “Georgia Regents University,” according to an email from Regent University to WJBF News Channel 6.

Prior to the Aug. 7 name selection, Regent University wrote to the BOR ask-

ing them to choose a name without the word “Regent.” Regent University officials claimed the new name would cause confusion among prospective students, “especially in today’s online educational environment,” and said “such a similar name could dilute the Regent University brand,” according to the news release.

Carlos Campo, Regent University’s president, said the university name is a federally registered trademark and the letter was their attempt to protect their trademarked name. However, despite trying to work “amicably” with the BOR, Regent University filed a complaint after the BOR made its final decision.

Officials from Regent University said they anticipate the complaint will lead to further examination by the BOR and, in order to avoid further legal action, hope a compromise can be reached.

According to Peter Flanagan, an assistant professor of political science, a lawsuit of this type would take several years. However, preliminary or temporary injunctions may settle the complaint before it goes to trial. Regent University could ask the district court to prevent the use of the word “Regent” until the matter is settled.

A Regent spokeswoman told the Augusta Chronicle the lawsuit would be filed the week of Aug. 22. As of Sunday, the suit had not been filed with the U. S. District Court in Augusta, Ga. “I’m sure they would like to file it sooner rather than later,” Flanagan said.

“Especially if they’re asking for an injunction. In that case, they could have a hearing on that within a month of the file. So it is in their best interest to file it soon.”

jhobday2@gmail.com

Changing face downtown

Banners announcing Georgia Health Sciences University’s name change from the Medical College of Georgia hang on buildings around its downtown campus.

GHSU, which officially changed its name on Feb. 1, 2011, will undergo its fifth name change in school history when it merges with Augusta State University to become Georgia Regents University in January 2013.

The name change was estimated to cost more than $2 million but was halted when rumors surfaced about a possible merger.

SGA prepares for semester, Communications department addresses internal controversy prepares for leadership change

By LEIGH BEESON copy editor

T

he Student Government Association held its first meeting of the academic year Friday, officially calling the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m.

Before discussing any official business, President Andrew Phillips, a senior political science major, swore in 10 senators. He explained that it is a senator’s job to “represent students and find out student opinions on things” to the best of his abilities.

Eddie Howard Jr., the SGA advisor and acting assistant vice president for student life, guardedly addressed the recent controversy over the removal of Ethan Holliman from the organization’s presidency.

“It’s easy for people to make assumptions and say things when they have a microphone to be able to say it, and there’s no one else around to be able to combat what was correct information as opposed to incorrect information,” he said. “And so what I ask that you do is (realize) there’s both

sides of the story. There’s a right side and a left side, and in the middle there’s truth.”

Howard also emphasized that the SGA is not a forum for senators to air grievances against the university system or Augusta State University’s administration.

However, senators do have the right to engage in public protests, provided that they do not claim to represent the views of the SGA while so doing and differentiate their “individual passions” from their role as SGA senators.

Former SGA president Barinaadaa Kara, who graduated from Augusta State with a political science degree and currently pursuing his master’s at the university, encouraged incoming officers to take their positions as student representatives seriously.

“What I will let you guys know is that you might be in this room, but a lot of people know about you guys outside of this room,” Kara said. “And if you guys can bear that in mind for what you guys do, I think it will help you a lot moving forward.”

kbeeson1@aug.edu

By KRISTIN HAWKINS arts & life editor

C

hange is coming atop the Department of Communications and Professional Writing.

Rick Davis, the assistant department chair of the communications department, said he was shocked after hearing the news that at the end of this semester Pam Hayward, the current department chair, would be moved from her administrative position to a strictly teaching role.

“I was as shocked as anyone else,” Davis said. “I understand they are thinking about new di-

rections and they are looking for a leader with national credentials, but if they would’ve waited a year or two, they would’ve had one with Pam.” There was talk of Hayward having to stop teaching and shifting into a full-time administrative position as department chair to keep her position, though Davis said he did not believe Hayward was ready, or willing, to give up teaching.

“This isn’t a demotion; this is a lateral move,” Davis said.

“Plus she will still get to do what she loves.”

Andrew Tarr, a senior pubsee HAYWARD on PAGE 2

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Pam Hayward, current communications department chair, will be moved from her position by the end of the fall semester, but will continue to teach.

By TRAVIS HIGHFIELD editor-in-chief

W

ith a charming smile and a deep Southern drawl, Ethan Holliman plays every bit the role of a politician only now, without the office.

Following his abrupt dismissal from the Student Advisory Council Retreat, held Aug. 1 through Aug. 3 at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Ga., Holliman was removed from his position as president of the Student Government Association by Eddie Howard Jr., former Director of Student Activities. Former Vice President Andrew Phillips has since accepted the role of president with JoAnna Molina filling the vacant vice president position.

Holliman’s dismissal from the retreat, Phillips said, was the result of an altercation between Holliman and University System of Georgia’s former Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tonya Lam. The retreat, which featured several activities to promote camaraderie between student government presidents throughout the University System of Georgia, requires prior permission to miss any particular event. Holliman contends he was given permission to miss the 2-hour long ropes course that was to take place Aug. 2, but was confronted by Lam after the activity for being the only president not in attendance.

“I was given no indication that it would be a problem if I did not participate in the ropes course,” Holliman said in a letter to The Bell Ringer. “I was certainly not aware that if I missed the activity I would be asked to leave by the conference leadership committee. Surprisingly, Ms. Lam denies our original conversation and now claims that she ‘denied my request.’ I must clearly state that Ms. Lam’s new position regarding our conversation is false.”

By missing the ropes course, Holliman voided a contract he signed on the first day of the retreat that stated participants would be required to attend all activities for the duration of the event. When informed that he must leave the retreat, Lam alleges Holliman intimidated her after she grabbed the contract from his hands, Phillips said.

“I was told that she snatched it from him,” the political science major said. “I guess he had it in his hands and wanted to make a copy of it. That’s what Ethan told me - that she snatched from him and he snatched it back from her. Ms. Lam sent Eddie Howard an email basically saying everything that had happened. Apparently, after the whole snatching of the contract happened, it escalated and I don’t know if he raised his voice or whatever, but she felt intimidated to a certain extent that she called security.”

With the evidence that was presented to him, Howard said he was then able to make an informed decision to remove Holliman from his position as president of the SGA. “He was removed as a result of a violation to the student government constitution,” said the acting assistant vice president for student life. “As the adviser of the student government association, I have the right to remove any senator or student executive officer for a just cause if I deem that it is necessary. There are times when, in a rare occasion, that I will remove a student just because I don’t think their behavior reflects what I feel should be representative of our student body. When and if I remove any student, they have the ability to repeal my decision to the dean of students.”

Holliman elected to not appeal Howard’s decision to remove him from office. He said he believes his removal is the result of a long history of disputes with Howard over the role of the student government in Augusta State University’s future.

“To be honest, it is obvious to me that Mr. Howard decided to capitalize on the accusations made against me because he found it politically advantageous to remove me from office,” Holliman said. “No doubt, we have had disagreements in the past regarding policy and the future jurisdiction of the student government at Augusta State. In fact, during my tenure as vice president, Mr. Howard attempted to remove me as chair of the student senate because I made the comment that the SGA was truly run by a dictatorship under the guise of a democracy due to his constant interference.”

Past incidents played no role in the decision, Howard said, as the single incident that occurred at the retreat was enough to warrant Holliman’s removal.

“When he was vice president, we had conflicts in regards to what his role should be as vice president and what my role should be as see HOLLIMAN on PAGE 3

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

NEWS

Canned goods expose truths about murder, hunger

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

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 sports editor JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER jgarner6@aug.edu chief reporter RON HICKERSON rhickers@aug.edu production manager KELSEY DONNELLY kelseydonne@gmail.com production assistant JACQUELYN PABON jpabon@aug.edu

Bringing the statistics to life, Kim Davies’ sociology of murder class is collecting canned goods to illustrate the number of murders that occured in the United States in 2010, setting a goal of collecting more than 14,000 cans.

Davies, a professor of sociology and the chair of the sociology department at Augusta State University, frequently uses object lessons in her classes to create tangible connections to course material.

“Every term I teach sociology of murder, I ponder whether or not RON HICKERSON | STAFF I can do an activity where I can Davies stores food collected from the class in her office, waiting to cart them all have students really connect with to the Tear Drop Sept. 6 to illustrate the sheer number of U.S. murder victims. how many murders are going on, as opposed to saying, ‘Hey look at In 2008, Davies first depicted “Shortly before school started the board’ or ‘Look at the website: there’s 14,500 or so murders,’” the number of murder victims (Lightsey) sent this email out that by having one class collect more (ASU) was part of this collecshe said.

According to the FBI Crime than 20,000 paper clips; string- tion for food, and I thought, ‘Oh, Report, 14,748 people were mur- ing them together; and stretch- this is perfect,’” Davies said. “’I ing them from can get students to get involved.’ dered in the the third floor of Granted, it would cost the students United States in University Hall some money, but maybe I can get 2010.

Raising all the way to them to get others involved.” that many cans the entrance of Lightsey, a co-coordinator from the 51 stuAllgood Hall. of the Stop Hunger Now event, dents in the class Next, she had said there are three goals for the may seem a little another class drive: collecting canned goods for daunting, but collect pennies the Golden Harvest Food bank, Davies said she that were then packaging meal bags that can be received a lot of donated to a bat- shipped internationally and colpositive respons- -Pam Lightsey tered women’s lecting enough money to start a es from students shelter.

Most Backpack Program through the after announcing the project. They told her they planned to get their recently, she had a class cut out food bank in which food will be sororities, churches and families faces from magazines and paste distributed to local schools for involved. By gathering these com- them on 60 poster boards, which kids to eat over the weekend. The munities together, Davies said the were then displayed around the canned goods raised for the event will be directly donated to the drive’s goal should be achievable. Allgood Cafe.

“30,000 kids die every year of hunger-related, preventable causes.”

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

staff writers KARL FRAZIER NIKKI SKINNER FARRELL BROWN contributors WINCHESTER ROBINSON circulation manager TREY UNDERWOOD zildjianman08@gmail.com advertising manager HANNAH FOERSTER hannahrosefoerster@gmail.com web master SI-LONG CHEN schen1@aug.edu JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

This empty shell of a building makes the history of the Spotted Cow, a competitive price textbook store in Daniel Village.

By JACQUELYN PABON production assistant

by

ASU students.

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PRINTER

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

see HUNGER on PAGE 3

Spotted Cow says goodbye to the Hayward rising market and cost of competition

senior reporter TAMIKA LAMPKIN

is published

food bank, and from there, the organization will distribute the food accordingly.

“They do great at what they do,” Lightsey said. “I’m sure they’ll get it into the hands of those who need it.”

The event seeks to make an international impact as well as a local one, especially when it comes to feeding children.

“30,000 kids die every year of hunger-related, preventable causes,” she said, creating the scope of world hunger.

Ricardo Bravo, an attorney and off-campus advisor to the Rotaract Club, said by supplying children with food, the food collected will give children energy that will help them learn and will let them work and become contributing members of society.

Davies said she favored the drive because students will not only be raising awareness about murders in United States but also be thinking about the number of people gone and why these murders happened. Further, they will also be helping feed people who do not have enough money to feed themselves.

“As a professor, I always want to get people thinking, but the fact that we’re helping people eat is a good thing, too,” she said.

Bravo said the event is unique in the community that it creates.

“It’s a community involvement where the volunteers are from all walks of life - different community groups, different organizations coming together to work toward a common goal and a common program,” he said. “That’s

A local-competitive textbook store closed its doors after the market for textbooks changed course. With nowhere else to go, students flooded the Augusta State Bookstore only to find empty shelves from heavier foot-traffic.

The owner of Spotted Cow, Gould Barrett, said the rise of online textbook availability as well as the process of Augusta State University’s financial aid program put a damper on the store’s success. With financial aid money directly deposited onto a JagCard, Barrett said he believes students are more likely to use the ASU Bookstore.

“Even if it’s more expensive, most people will opt to go over there and charge their financial aid credit than to wait for the refund,” Barrett said.

They began to see a decline in sales as online competition began to increase.

“Another factor was online books from Half. com and Amazon,” Barrett said. “We did sell a lot on those sites too. But I think it was just increased Internet competition, which is good. It’s good for students because it makes the price of books come down.”

Barrett said the process of financial aid created a monopoly for the university store.

“Think about it, Augusta State takes your financial aid and put it on an account,” Barrett said.

“They don’t just issue it to you. Think about how unfair that is. You should be able to shop online or shop wherever you want to with your money.”

Recent changes in the book market also played a part in the store’s closure.

Without a sound, promotion nor one last banner flight around campus, Spotted Cow closed its doors without warning. Puzzled students arrived at its location in Daniel Village only to find an empty shell of their prized textbook store. Mi-

chael Jenks, a junior marketing major and textbook-price hunter, said Spotted Cow was always a helpful source of price hunting for textbooks.

“Even if I wasn’t sure what I was buying, they always had an input for me,” Jenks said.

“They knew how to help me look for it. They even had an idea about which professors wanted which textbooks. They were a lot of help, and their prices were very competitive.”

Barrett felt his 15-year-long legacy at Spotted Cow helped change Augusta’s textbook market for the better.

“We had a good thing,” Barrett said. “When we first went into business, Augusta State’s Bookstore wasn’t real friendly. They almost acted like they were doing you a favor when you came into the store. And all they had was pretty much new books. So by us being there, it forced them to be a little nicer and more accommodating to students, and it also forced them to offer used books.”

Michelle Neely, the manager of the Augusta State Bookstore, said the store has seen a major increase in sales and book buy-backs.

“I know that the foot traffic has increased, and the way we ran out of some textbooks was a big factor.” Neely said. “It started with buybacks during the summer because we got more books back that we normally do. I just thought that Spotted Cow was giving less money back than we were.”

Even with more foot-traffic, the ASU Bookstore saw a rise in competition with the online stores. Neely said they will be working with new resources for students.

“I think the online factor is really where students are going anyway,” Neely said. “One of the things that we are doing to try and help our students out is in the spring semester we are bringing in textbook rentals and e-books. And we are working on a new website.”

With this new website, students will be able to buy books and rent books online as well as purchase e-books online.

jpabon@aug.edu

lic relations major, took one of his last communication electives with Hayward just to have the experience of being her student.

After battling health issues, Tarr said Hayward took it upon herself to ensure the proper procedures were taken to get him back on track academically.

“I didn’t want to seek out special favors and attention because of my medical issues so I tried to take care of everything I could,” Tarr said. “She sought me out; she wanted to make sure I wasn’t penalizing myself.”

Davis and Tarr both said Hayward fulfills her roles as administrator and professor flawlessly.

“I know this change has nothing to do with her competence as either an administrator or a leader,” Davis said.

“There is something new in the air and I’m sure it comes from, what I call, a fusion of the two universities.”

William Harpine, the communications department chair at USC Aiken, explained the role of department chair as somewhat an intermediate job.

“You are a member of the faculty and participating fully as a faculty member, but you are also an administrator responsible for enforcing and following the university’s rules and procedures,” Harpine said. “It is kind of an in between position.”

Harpine has attended conferences with Hayward and has maintained occasional contact with her regarding student concerns each has encountered at their respective universities.

“I have a high opinion of her, and (in) my contacts with her she has always been very professional, alert and communicative,” Harpine said.

Davis also praised Hayward’s professionalism.

“She pays careful attention to detail, which you hope the chair will do; she is scrupulously fair,” Davis said.

“She does her best to make sure everyone gets to teach the course they want to teach. She just an excellent administrator and leader. I have nothing negative to say about her at all.”

Replacing someone so well respected may prove difficult for the administration, which is already facing questions about potential department turnovers as a result of the upcoming merger.

Charles “Skip” Clark, the dean of the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, declined to comment on what he deemed “personnel matters” and refused to explain the process of obtaining a nationally-accredited department chair.

Harpine explained that, although each university has its own rules and procedures for hiring department chairs, the decision is ultimately left to administration.

“Many universities, in my experience, have a rule that the department chair serves at the pleasure of the dean and the president of the university,” Harpine said. khutchi2@aug.edu

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 3 www.asubellringer.com

New 2012 Dodge Chargers for a more effective police fleet on the vehicles,” Kilpatrick said. “And Public Safety, their vehicles are on the road 24/7 because when one shift In an effort to increase the relileaves, the next shift picks ability of its fleet of patrol cars, Deup and takes on the same partment of Public Safety officials vehicle.” replaced two of its cars in July after Once Public Safety years of use. secured the funds, she said In accordance with state conthe request was sent to the tracts and guidelines, the new cars, Department of Administwo Dodge 2012 Chargers, were trative Services (DOAS), purchased from Aiken Ford for which looked at the request $22,117 each, said Deborah Kiland where the funding was patrick, the office manager of the coming from to pay for the Physical Plant and fleet manager of vehicles. After DOAS apall the vehicles that all Augusta State proved the purchase, Public JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF University departments use.

Safety then had to fill out a One of the Dodge Chargers, which will be the new model for Public Safety vehicles, sits next to two of its aging counterparts Jasper Cooke, director of Pubpurchasing order and send it lic Safety, said the old cars, a 1999 in the Public Safety parking lot. The Chargers were purchased to replace older and less-reliable Chevrolet and Ford models. to Kilpatrick. Next, she sent Ford Crown Victoria and a 2006 the funds to pay for the vehicles. the purchasing order to the DOAS, which stamped it “approved” Chevrolet Impala, were in dire need of replacing. The Crown Therese Rosier, vice president for business services, said and sent it back to her in order to send the purchasing order to the Victoria had more than 198,000 miles on it, and the Impala had funding came from lapsed institutional funds. dealer buying the cars on July 5. cost the college a lot of money in repairs and maintenance, even “At year(’s) end we usually go ahead and look at what hapAfter receiving the new cars, Kilpatrick said the old vehicles needing to have its transmission replaced. The department then pened during the year,” she said. “Let’s say we fronted a professor were sent to Atlanta Metropolitan College for free as an inventory decided to “cut its losses” and replace the cars instead of paying for the whole year and they decided not to teach in the summer transfer after the DOAS determined the two cars were still usefor their upkeep. or something. Those funds that were budgeted for them become able for the much smaller campus.

But Kilpatrick explained that replacing the vehicles is not a lapsed because they don’t go to somebody’s salary. Over the year, Cooke described the new Dodges as the “standard police simple action. all those funds accumulate and people submit their needs… We package,” designed to take a lot of abuse and a great addition to “It is a detailed process,” she said. “It’s not simply like, just use the money for that.” the Public Safety fleet.

‘We want a new vehicle. We got a 2007; we’re tired of driving Rosier said she, along with other departments’ vice presi“With all the stuff that we’ve got going on with (University) a 2007.’” dents, will compile a list of each department’s needs and, looking Village, (Christenberry) Fieldhouse and everywhere else, we’re First, she said Public Safety had to receive a justification for at the whole campus, determine what is the highest priority. They just making sure our vehicles as mechanically sound as we can,” replacing the vehicles from the fleet’s lead mechanic, taking into decided that replacing the cars for Public Safety was one of the he said. “I would hate to be in a car responding to an emergency account the car’s age, mileage and the repairs it might need as more important needs on the list for the year. call and knowing the car could fall apart at any time. We’ve been well as the repairs to it that have already been done. After being “When you have vehicles that putter around campus – the fortunate…. to replace some of the old cars so we have a more determined justified, Public Safety was responsible for securing stop-and-go on campus, slow moving traffic – it takes its toll reliable fleet.”

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

Educating while being educated Holliman Recruits join the education program

By TAMIKA LAMPKIN staff writer

Augusta State University’s Department of Education is starting the year off with a bang.

On Aug. 14, students crossed from core curriculum classes into the Teacher Education Program, bringing the total number of students involved to 65. Andrea Shelton, the undergraduate pre-admission advisor for the program, said there are a total of 1,000 students who are pre-admits before they enter the program.

“Students have to complete their entire core curriculum before considering entering into the Teacher Education Program,” Shelton said. “As well as maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better.”

The program is an intense one to get involved in, Shelton said. Generally, a student will complete 1,000 hours in the field before graduating from the program. Shelton said the program gives all students a chance to work in their careers before they graduate and enter into teaching as a profession.

“The transition into the program is a big deal for students,” Shelton said. “It is also a huge accomplishment.”

Once accepted into the program, students form small groups within their fields of expertise. The education department does this small group exercise to keep students together.

Sydney Sutter, a senior studying early childhood education, said the groups help students retain information and introduce them to others who are going through the same situations as they are.

“The program gives each student a chance to form friendships with people that will go on to last a lifetime,” Sutter said. “It is one of the perks of being in the education program: You will always have someone to talk to that is experiencing what you are.”

SYDNEY SUTTER | CONTRIBUTOR

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

adviser,” Howard said. “We had to work through those issues, but those particular situations, in my opinion, had nothing to do with my decision to remove him. He could have not had any confrontation with me (prior) and based on what he did at (the SAC retreat), I would have still done the same thing.”

Holliman, who is no longer enrolled at Augusta State, is currently working as a personal assistant for Lee Anderson, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress. He plans to reenroll for the spring semester to continue his studies.

Howard said he stands be-

rhickers@aug.edu

hind his decision to remove Holliman.

“I would not have removed him unless I felt like there was a very good reason to remove him because I knew the person that was elected by the student body to be the SGA president is a significant thing,” he said.

“My thought would be, as an adviser, my senators would understand that I would definitely not do that unless I felt like it was extremely necessary to do.

I would also not remove a person like that unless I had a conversation, at that point, with my vice president because I don’t take the removal of an elected official lightly. If I had the opportunity to do it again I would probably do the exact same thing.”

thighfie@aug.edu

Heather Loungeway walks around the room observing her “kindergarten” class. She is modeling what a teacher should do in the classroom while students are working.

“The classes that I take now are better for me; they are more hands on,” Sutter said. “Not to mention a lot of fun.”

Sutter is also the vice president of Kappa Delta Epsilon, the department’s honorary fraternity. It includes men and women and are education students who have maintained a 3.0 in their upper division classes. Kappa Delta is open to all education majors and promotes teaching and education beyond the classroom setting.

Sutter said she would dread the days of going to class to hear endless lectures after lectures before she entered this program. Now she loves to attend class, looking forward to each new experience the day may bring.

Tamara Samuels, a junior early childhood education major, said the program gives her a chance to teach in class and out in the field. The in-class scenarios give students a chance to experience real-life situations.

“I have always had a passion for teaching,” Samuels said. “I enjoyed playing teacher as a child, making lesson plans and tests at a young age.”

Samuels said she knew she want-

ed to teach the moment she entered college because of her love for children.

“Children love you unconditionally no matter what,” Samuels said.

She said the most difficult part about teaching small children is the ability to keep their attention on the task at hand. Samuels said as long as you remain actively engaged with the children and help work through hard and discouraging lessons the challenges soon diminish.

“The in-class training we receive along with the hands-on experiences we go through help us with tough situation,” Samuels said.

Samuels said the workload can be stressful for students. She said as long as a student has great time management and is ahead on assignments you will be fine. The key is to enjoy every minute of one’s learning experience.

Samuels said she plans on teaching while further her degree and receiving her master’s in education.

“Students should consider a degree in education because it is both fulfilling and exciting,” Samuels said.

tlampkin@aug.edu

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Hunger CONTINUED from PAGE 2

the more beneficial part of this project: It helps to bring a community together; it helps to create a charitable activity that will translate to concrete resources.”

Davies said her class will meet Thursday at the Tear Drop in front of Payne Hall and gather all the cans it collected to illustrate the sheer number of people killed in the U.S. Then, passersby can see the cans and engage in

a dialogue with the students.

“If they are explaining not only are we helping people eat but we’re trying to think about how much murder is going on in our society, and perhaps we’ll go on to the next step to say, ‘Well, why are there so much?’” she said.

For students interested in helping the class reach its goal, canned goods can be deposited in the collection bin in Allgood Hall or give them to the Sociology Department office located in room N218.

ASU one of first to launch new learning management system representatives participated in an involved process that included testing and evaluating different systems. In the end, Desire2Learn tested the most positively among the task force and was The University System of Georgia is begin- chosen as the USG’s new learning management ing the process of changing learning manage- system. ment systems for campuses throughout the state Stuckey said the USG has initiated a threeas Augusta State University officials launch De- tiered approach to bringing about this change sire2Learn for the fall semester. where three groups of colleges across the state Formerly students and faculty through- will launch Desire2Learn one-by-one. out the USG have relied on GeorgiaVIEW, a Deb Richardson, the director of the center learning management system owned by Black for teaching and learning and a professor of psyBoard, to access syllabi, assignments and other chology, said Augusta State has been chosen to course information. Now, students and faculty at be a part of the first “cohort” participating in the Augusta State will access the information they switch. Accompanying Augusta State are Bainneed through the new system. Lance Stuckey, bridge College, the College an instructional technolof Coastal Georgia, East ogy specialist at Information Georgia College and MidTechnology Services, said the dle Georgia College. change is not limited to AuRichardson said Augusta State. gusta State was chosen as “(This switch) wasn’t part of this first group besomething that Augusta State cause of the merit of its ITS individually said, ‘This is department and its center what we’re going to do,’” he for teaching and learning. explained. “It came about as She stressed the importance

-Lance Stuckey an initiative from the Univerof having faculty work colsity System of Georgia. The laboratively with ITS colleagues in order to product that we knew as GeorgiaVIEW… had bring about this change. reached the end of its life cycle.”

As a result of her desire for collaboration, From there, Stuckey said the USG formed a Richardson along with David Hunt, an assistant task force made up of faculty, staff and student professor of sociology, and Beth Pendergraft, an representatives from various USG institutions assistant professor of early childhood education, to find a new learning management system. The

rhickers@aug.edu

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

“One of the chief complaints we got with GeorgiaVIEW was its lack of mobile technology.”

teamed up with Stuckey and Maureen Akins, an assistant director for instructional services, in order to help train faculty members as well as students over the spring and summer semesters.

“We want faculty to help with the training of faculty,” she said.

Stuckey said the training aspect was the most difficult aspect of the switch.

“A lot of professors here on campus will leave for the summer to do research or various other commitments that they have, and so being able to accomplish faculty training is a challenge over the summer,” he said. “But our faculty members have stepped up to the plate, and many of them have said, ‘This is something that we want to do. We want to commit to learning. Our students have told us that this is something that they want us to use, and we want to show that we care about what our students say.’”

Part of the reason Desire2Learn was originally chosen was because of its accessibility and ease of use. Hunt said this is a welcome change from the old GeorgiaVIEW system.

“It’s easier to use for both students and faculty,” he said. “The email system is more efficient. There are increased applications for discussion. It’s going to be very effective for both

online classes and classes where teachers put information online.”

Stuckey agreed. Calling the old system “clunky” and “cumbersome,” he said Desire2Learn is a much more streamlined system and that most of the complaints with GeorgiaVIEW should be solved through the new system.

“One of the chief complaints we got with GeorgiaVIEW was its lack of mobile technology,” he said. “(Mobile devices) couldn’t hold it. It was heavy on javascript and heavy on files.

It’s very mobile friendly, and working with it is just a breath of fresh air.”

He said he was excited about the new change and has received a lot of positive feedback about the system from both faculty and students.

“They’ve helped us make refinements along the way to sharpen the way things are presented,” he said “Because we are in that first group going in Fall 2012, some of the things that our faculty members and our students have told us have had an impact on the way the entire University System of Georgia will interact with and consume this product. It’s been a big thing – a giant undertaking.”

rhickers@aug.edu

PAGE 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

the opinion pages: editorial Consolidation v. merger In the last issue of The Bell Ringer, we ran a box on the front page announcing that we will refer to the merging of Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University as such.

While that statement was by no means groundbreaking, we at The Bell Ringer want to make it clear that the decision to use “merger” instead of “consolidation” to describe the transition was not made to support or oppose the process in anyway. In fact, a decision wasn’t reached until after a thorough process which included analyzing the definitions of both words before debating the options amongst ourselves; the end result being the word “merger” as the clear favorite.

And for those of you who are wondering exactly how all of this transpired, allow us to explain.

The first step in the process involved researching the definitions of the words “consolidate” and “merge” to better understand what the two actually mean at their most rudimentary level. The word “consolidate,” as it is listed on Dictionary.com, means “to bring together into a single or unified whole.” While the end result of the merger is, in fact, a single entity, it is very difficult to say that we will be unified. We are merging an established medical school with an established liberal arts college. The two student bodies and facilities are much too different to just shuffle together and consider them unified at all.

An alternate definition of “consolidate” states that it involves “(discarding) the unused or unwanted items and (organizing) the remaining.” Although this is one step closer to an accurate description of the merger, we refuse to believe that any

unwanted items are going to be discarded throughout this process. After all, the name Georgia Regents University is the most unwanted item of all things merger-related, yet it still stands as the name of new institution.

With “consolidate” in the books as an unworthy choice, we then moved on to our eventual pick: merger. Dictionary.com defines the word “merge” as “(causing) to combine to coalesce.” Simple, but that was still not enough to describe our particular predicament.

The alternate definition lists the word “merge” as meaning “to combine, blend or unite so as to blur the individuality or individual identity of.” This was the definition that we were searching for because it rings most true with the situation here in Augusta, Ga. The emphasis in this definition isn’t on unity, it’s identity. Augusta State isn’t concerned with how well it can blend into a unified mass with its sister institution, Georgia Health Sciences; it’s worried that it will completely lose its identity. This identity has been fought long and hard for and it is an identity that Augusta State clearly won’t surrender lying down.

Which brings us back to why The Bell Ringer will continue to use “merge” and all of its different forms to identify this transformation process until its completion in January: It is simply far more suited than its counterpart. We at The Bell Ringer are all for the growth of this institution, but call this merger what it is, not what just sounds the best to outsiders. And now that we have made our choice clear, we ask our administration, faculty, staff and students to jump on board. Do not let our well-established identity regress any further.

Reliving the Disney magic “We lived by the motto ‘Hakuna Matata,’ which means ‘no worries.’”

TAMIKA LAMPKIN senior reporter tlampkin@aug.edu This summer, I introduced my 5-year-old son to the most magical place on Earth. Yes, you guessed it: We went to Disney World.

I usually don’t like to spoil my son; I like for him to know the importance of earning the things he has. But for five days, the world was his oyster, and Disney World was his playground. As we jumped from park to park and experienced the thrills of each ride, I slowly became a child again myself. I began to relive my own childhood memories of Disney World.

We ran around the parks with Mickey ears and fun hats. We watched live shows and theatrical presentations. We rode on a safari across the “African Sahara” and fed animals. There were 3-D movies and firework shows as well. One thing about Walt Disney is that you will not leave any of his parks with regret.

One of his parks will offer more to do in one day than a city can offer in one week.

As the days flew past, I realized I have really become that parent – the parent who says, “Here is where I first saw Mickey” and “I remember that ride like yesterday.” Usually I need a nap after being in the draining sun all day, but I found myself going for 12-plus hours each day. There is something about the atmosphere that is simply magical at Disney World. It makes you forget about

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to address an issue that has bothered me for quite some time now: the attitude of the people employed in the registrar’s office.

Allow me start from the beginning. My first semester after transferring from Georgia Southern University to Augusta State University, I was dropped from all of my classes by mistake. I had to go see the people in the registrar’s office to see how to get back into my classes, but they simply told me they could do nothing to put me back into the classes THEY mistakenly dropped me from and that I should just wait to see if anyone dropped the classes in order for me to reenroll. I did eventually find my way back into all of my classes, but it was an inconvenience that could have been completely avoided.

Fast forward a year and a half to the beginning of this semester where I received an e-mail from the Registrar’s Office stating that I had been dropped from all of my classes, as the panic set in I realized it must be ANOTHER mistake. After remembering how I was treated the first time this happened to me, I dreaded going to the Registrar’s Office to see what could be done to put me back into the closed classes that I could not otherwise get back into. As luck would have it, I found that this time the customer service (or lack thereof) had not even improved by the slightest. The moment I stepped into the office, the student employee at the desk was having a conversation with another employee about how annoyed they were about a certain student who had just stepped out of the office, which I found to be highly unprofessional. They both just stared at me as I began to explain to them my dilemma. The student then started to explain the long and involved process of getting back into my classes which consisted of all of my professors sending emails to another person in the Registrar’s Office, then having the person send my professors a form for them to sign and, after all of this, I would have to pick up the form and hand deliver it back to the Registrar’s Office. Oh, and In order for this to remedy my situation, it would all have to be done by 4p.m. the following day.

When I asked to speak to the person in charge about this process, the student rolled her eyes and proceeded to call the person in charge to come to the front area to talk to me, all the while making it very clear that she was not happy to help. While standing in the front lobby of the office waiting for the person in charge to make her way up to talk to me, another employee came up to me asked exactly what I was having problems with. I told her what the issue was and also explained that I was waiting for the person in charge to come up and talk to me. She just looked at me threw her hands in the air declaring, “I just wanted to help, but if you don’t want my help then fine,” and stormed back to her office.

All of that being said, I do not blame the Registrar’s Office for dropping me from my classes; I know that ball was dropped by another office. However, I find the lack of customer service in the Register’s Office to be quite unnerving. For us to grow as a university, this has to be addressed immediately.

Sincerely, Christina Leanhart cleanhar@aug.edu

your cares and just have fun. We lived by the motto “Hakuna Matata,” which means “no worries.”

During our visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, my son had to remind me that by 5 p.m. we had still not eaten lunch for the day. After lunch, we got the infamous chocolate-covered Mickey Mouse ice cream pop. This changed my son’s life forever. He could not stop talking about the ice cream he had just demolished before my eyes.

On the ride back home, my son awoke from a much needed slumber and began to run down everything we did in the five days that had passed. He began talking about the live characters we saw at the park, the rides he rode and the food he ate. He even recited songs from the live performances we watched.

I knew at that moment I had made the right decision by taking him to Disney World for his summer vacation.

The decision to take my son to Disney World was a no-brainer; I knew that it would be worth the time and money (a lot of money). Needless to say, my family and I had the time of our lives. The laughs we shared and the memories we have will live on forever in our hearts.

And some day my son will be able to tell his own child, “See, that’s where I first saw Mickey” and “I remember that ride like it was yesterday” as the tradition continues.

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

you

do have an opinion on things at ASU

if so, email us at

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bellringerproduction@gmail.com

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@g mail.com

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PAGE 5 www.asubellringer.com

a public forum You’re not handicapped: A reminder from Georgia’s Don’t you dare park there GOP chairman to vote “There is a special place in hell for people who abuse handicap parking.”

“Collectively and as individuals, you will guide the direction of our country.”

SUE P. EVERHART chairman Georgia GOP info@gagop.org

JILLIAN HOBDAY news editor jhobday2@gmail.com My mom is in a wheelchair.

She had two heart attacks and a severe stroke last summer all in the span of one week, leaving the left side of her body paralyzed.

Being paralyzed means a few things for her: She can’t cook, she can’t take a shower by herself, she can’t get in and out of bed by herself, she can’t, she can’t, she can’t... and, finally, she can’t drive.

Having a paralyzed mother means a few things for me: I have to prepare her meals, I have to help her shower, I have to get her in and out of bed, I have to, I have to, I have to... and, finally, I have to drive her around town.

I do not typically have pet peeves, but if I had to choose one, just one, I would probably choose, well let me put it to you plainly - there is a special place in hell for people who abuse handicap parking.

Yes, I’m talking to you (and many are going to get upset by what I’m about to say, so earmuffs for little baby ears): The just barely 55-year-old man who was the first in line at the DMV on his birthday because “age is a given right, and I deserve it”; the obese woman who refuses to walk those extra few steps at the grocery store; those who don’t even HAVE a placard and decided “Hey, that’s a cute picture of a wheelchair, maybe I’ll park there”; and, lastly, those who abuse their spouse’s, grandparent’s and parent’s disabilities.

More specifically, the 22-year-old girl, yes girl, with five kids who stole her grandmother’s blue tag.

Oh, I almost forgot about the middle-aged individuals who have no apparent disability other than extreme laziness.

I have had to, more than once, park on the opposite side of the parking lot, help my mother get out of the van and into her wheelchair and push her to our destination. It doesn’t really bother

me so much that I have to walk, but it makes her sick after sitting in a bumpy wheelchair for three minutes.

If my mother doesn’t have to get out of the car, I refuse to park in the handicap parking space, even though the vehicle I am driving has a legitimate disabled parking placard because I know there is someone else who needs it far greater than I do. Sure, it might be hot outside, and it might be a mile-long walk to the sliding glass doors of Target, but if she’s not getting out of the car, I’m not parking there.

I’m thinking about inventing some kind of transport machine where I can literally zap your car to the parking lot of another building across town just so I can make my mother’s life a little easier. It’s hard enough having your daughter take care of you, but I cannot imagine being unable to use the one luxury she has as a disabled person.

So when you get wherever you’re “going,” I’m sure someone will be there to greet you with a placard of your own: “I’m a lazy, uncaring individual, and I deserve to (I guess I’ll keep it PG) walk until my feet fall off.”

JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

Jeanne Yu demonstrates “real” handicapped parking.

Why should you read this column? Read on, my friends “I never like to think of myself as arrogant, but I do believe we all have something worth saying and worth listening to.”

RON HICKERSON chief reporter rhickers@aug.edu Stay with me for a second while I break the Third Wall.

When you glance at the columns in The Bell Ringer, why should you pay attention to anything we write? Let’s get personal: Why should you read anything I write? I’m going to venture to say you probably don’t know me, haven’t met me and wouldn’t know what I look like if not for the headshot next to this column. What could possibly be so important about what I’m saying that you would stop and read a complete stranger’s opinion?

These are the thoughts that come to my mind when it’s my time to write a column for The Bell Ringer. To be honest, I always blank at the task and sit staring at a white screen as I try to think of what’s important enough or even interesting enough for people to pay attention to me to go on and on for 500 words. I overthink the column and begin asking “Will people even read this?” or “Do I even have anything important to say?”

The late radio and television writer, Andy Rooney, said that writing requires some degree of arrogance because a writer has to believe that what he or she writes is worth reading.

I never like to think of myself as arrogant, but I do believe we all have something worth saying and worth listening to.

And why should we listen? Listening to others gives us new experiences.

I see things differently every time I listen to someone who has more life experience than I do. I always walk away richer. Life experiences are not just a matter of age but what people have done with their lives. I’ve been married for two years and my wife and I have been homeowners for almost a year. I’m constantly seeking out people who have been homeowners or married longer or than I have and people do the same with me.

Listening to people also makes us think. While you are (hopefully still) reading this column you may agree with what I have to say and it reinforces your thoughts. You may disagree with me, but it makes you think about why you disagree with me and makes you have to justify your opinions to yourself or others.

Listening to others gives us new ways of looking at things. It makes us stop looking at the world through your own rose-colored glasses and look at the world through different lenses. This is why I love listening to people’s stories. As a writer, I know the power of a good story. A great story draws us in and makes us forget about ourselves. Stories invite us into people’s minds and allow us to imagine what life is like walking in their shoes.

So, why should you read this column or any other column? Because reading them will get you out of your own head.

Welcome back to campus!

Over the next few months, you will have the opportunity to stake a claim in what will perhaps prove to be the most pivotal presidential election in our nation’s history. For many of you, this will be your first chance to vote for the President of the United States of America, and, for others, perhaps a chance to look back upon your vote four years ago and the direction our nation has taken since 2008.

I would like to encourage each of you to take an active and engaged approach to this year’s election cycle. Whether you get involved with a political organization on campus, host an on-campus voter registration drive, volunteer for a campaign around town or simply lend an ear to a candidate, you can make a profound difference on your campus and across the great State of Georgia.

As college students in today’s economic climate, you are facing an increasingly unclear future. Few students leave for college with dreams of moving back in with their parents four years later, scouring the employment ads and struggling to pay down debt. This is today’s reality, though; I implore you to stand for a better future.

The silver lining, however, is that you have a voice to be heard. Collectively and as individuals, you will guide the direction of our country.

Register to vote by Tuesday, October 9. Vote on Tuesday, November 6. Celebrate on Monday, January 21 as we inaugurate the next President of the United States of America.

You are the future, and your time is now.

Giant granite slabs in Elberton prepare world for apocalypse “We all sat in the car silent as we drove away contemplating the mystery of the Georgia Guidestones.”

This summer my boyfriend and I visited my family’s lake houses on the edge of Elbert County, Ga. The trip takes around one hour to travel from my apartment in Evans, Ga. After spending the hot summer day out on the dock fishing, we decided to travel to the granite capital of the world, Elberton, Ga., to visit the Georgia Guidestones.

My family and I piled into the car and headed out to the middle of nowhere. Driving down Highway 77, which is more than seven miles north of Elberton, we found nothing but farmland, grass, cows and the occasional broken-down car on the side of the road. We made our final turn down a long dirt road, and there they were: the Georgia Guidestones.

I had heard about the guidestones from my brother, who is interested in post-apocalyptic matters. I was intrigued because of my love of the television series “The Walking Dead,” which is about a zombie apocalypse in the state of Georgia. After my brother’s intense description of the guidestones, we had to check them out.

The guidestones resemble a modern-day Stonehenge made of granite rock, standing 19 feet tall. The monument is comprised of four slabs of granite standing vertically and forming the letter X with a center slab standing in the middle as support. There is another slab lying horizontally across the top of all five vertical slabs of granite. Also, there is a slab lying on the ground with a map and a description of the layout. It marks a time capsule filled with supplies for the apocalypse.

As we walked to the monument, we were able to read the inscriptions on the four major slabs. Each slab was inscribed with a different language on each side with the same message.

The languages were as follows: English, Rus-

Jacquelyn Pabon production assistant jpabon@aug.edu

sian, Hebrew, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, Spanish and Swahili. The message provides a guideline for survivors to follow after an apocalypse has destroyed society.

The message reminded me of a different version of the Ten Commandments. The stones read: 1. Maintain Humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

2. Guide reproduction wisely- improving fitness and diversity. 3. Unite Humanity with a living new language. 4. Rule Passion - faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason. 5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts. 6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court. 7. Avoid petty Laws and Useless officials. 8. Balance personal rights with social Duties. 9. Prize truth- beauty- love- seeking harmony with the infinite. 10. Be not a cancer to the earth – leave room for nature – leave room for nature.

The slabs serves both visual and celestial purposes. The four main stones are oriented outward to show the migration of the moon during the course of the year. The center stone was also drilled so that the North Star is always visible through the eye of the slab. The horizontal slab forms a calendar with the use of the sun.

The information marker next to the Georgia Guidestones explains that the monument was created in the ‘80s by an anonymous group of Americans living outside Georgia.

The slab mentions that speculation pointed to a man named “RC Christian” as the monument’s creator, but nothing could be proven.

As we left the site, I noticed an eerie silence around us. There was no sound, not even the sound of the wind. We all sat in the car silent as we drove away contemplating the mystery of the Georgia Guidestones.

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Visitors to the Georgia Guidestones read the inscriptions in order to prepare for their impending doom.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

PAGE 6

ARTS & LIFE www.asubellringer.com

Indian Queen takes bar scene by storm

By NIKKI SKINNER staff writer

I

t’s always nice to see a new bar open in Augusta, Ga. A couple weeks ago, a new watering hole called the Indian Queen opened on the corner of Wrightsboro Road and Monte Sano Avenue in the building that used to house the Gun Cabinet.

It’s refreshing to see a new bar with a different vibe opening in Augusta. Many of the city’s bars have the same artistic, grunge-type feel to them, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It fits the community, although it is an enjoyable change of pace to have a different type of venue. Other types of people who are not into the grunge scene can go to the Indian Queen to have a few drinks.

The exterior of the building is very plain, nothing flashy or ostentatious. The building is made of dark wood that creates a relaxed environment. When you walk in the front door, the relaxed atmosphere continues. Everything is made of light hardwood, from the ceiling to the floors, mimicking the experience of a vacation in a log cabin. The windows are covered in wrought-iron bars, but it doesn’t make you

feel unsafe; it adds a touch of character to the place and blends in nicely with the scheme of things. There is a small sitting area with nice leather couches if you want to sit back, relax and talk away from the bar.

Unlike most bars, Indian Queen does not have that dark and dank feeling upon entering. It is a well-lit bar, and there is no lingering smoke smell, which is always nice, because smoking is not allowed inside. There is a nice porch outside and a sitting area for patrons and their friends to go if they would like to smoke.

It is a very upscale, laid-back place to go relax. The music is not too loud like in other bars. While I was there, they were playing music along of the lines of Michael Bublè or Robbie Williams – soothing music, though I’m sure that will change as the crowds change. They also have two televisions behind the bar for sports. The bartenders are even nice enough to turn the music down and the game up if you ask them.

The service was great. The bartenders were very attentive, not only to me but other customers as well and always made sure their drinks were to their taste. They were very good at making small talk and making you feel comfortable. Other bartenders even approached us to ask how our

KELSEY DONNELLY | STAFF

Ryan O’Hagan, a bartender at the Indian Queen, is know for his mixed drinks, particularly his signature drink ‘Cool as a Cucumber.’ A cucumber, jalapeño and tequila concoction that girls were found gossiping about in the ladies room.

drinks were and if everything was OK. I would definitely recommend going and grabbing a few drinks at the Indian Queen, and it’s close to campus for you to

Forgotten but not lost: Chronicling Augusta State’s history FLYING HIGH: A CENTURY OF SERVICE

go after a rough day of classes to take a load off. It’s the place to go if you are tired of seeing the same bar scene.

nskinner@aug.edu

Around Town

Help hardcore overcome hard times

By JACQUELYN PABON production assistant

CONTRIBUTED BY AUGUSTA STATE ARCHEOLOGY LAB

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 restored in the summer of 2012 after lightening caused structural damage to the pole.

By TAMIKA LAMPKIN senior reporter

E

ven a campus flagpole has a story.

Augusta State University’s flagpole was once the Augusta Arsenal’s flagstaff. The flagstaff stands 100 feet tall, flying the American flag that is 12 feet by 8 feet wide. The structure is not only massive but historical as well.

Fred Ricketson, Augusta State’s campus architect, said the structure was built with an art of construction.

“This skill was (a) highly recognized trade of the time,” Ricketson said.

The Augusta Arsenal received the flagstaff in the spring of 1897.

According to archival documents written by Bill Wells, it was built in a very patriotic time period, the period after the Civil War and during the uprising of the Spanish-American War. Although the flagstaff is rumored to have made it to the arsenal as a gift from the Northern states, it was manufactured by Nelson O. Nelson specifically for the Augusta Arsenal.

There were a num-

ber of identical flagstaffs that were distributed to arsenals and government buildings across the United States of America during this time.

“The grand structure of the flagpole reflects the pride and spirit of Americans during the historical period it was built,” Ricketson said.

“It directly reflects the pride of Augusta State in this day and age.”

The flagpole stands tall in front of Paine Hall. Today, Paine Hall is Augusta State’s financial aid building.

According to Janet Jordan, the archeology lab supervisor, it was the headquarters for the soldiers during the arsenal days.

“It was the viewpoint from across the campus for all soldiers to know where to report,” Jordan said.

According to the Wells’ document, when the structure was originally built, pipes were funneled together to help it stand tall. There are 25-foot poles that were stacked on top of each other to create the 100-foot tall statue.

“With today’s technology we can use a crane to stack structural pieces on top of one another,” Ricketson said.

“In the time period it was built, there was no crane to help build the structure.”

Jordan said Augusta State has been working on the flagstaff with a grant for the government as a restoration project. The project came about after a storm in the summer of 2011.

Lightning struck a tree limb, causing it to fall on one of the cables and break a structural section of the pole.

“Members of the physical plant took the flagstaff down for safety reasons last summer,” Jordan said. “It was erected again this past summer after the proper repairs were made to the structure.”

The government grant came about for the flagstaff because it is one of the last few standing models of a flagstaff that is as grand as it is. Flagstaffs are now half the size of the one standing tall on the Augusta State campus.

With the erection of the flagstaff came a new feature. Inserted at the top of the staff just below the flag are light-

TRAVIS HIGHFIELD | STAFF

In the summer of 2012, the flagstaff was restored after lightening struck the pole, causing structural damage.

emitting diode (LED) lights. The low-efficiency lights are only on at night. The bulbs last 10 years and are a great step toward helping the campus become more energy efficient while illuminating the flagstaff, enabling

the American flag to shine day and night.

“It is a cool new feature that helps bring out the beauty of our campus,” Ricketson said.

tlampkin@aug.edu

It is amazing to me how the small and dwindling hardcore-music community consistently posts on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr about how Augusta, Ga., never gets any “good shows.” I feel the urge to explain the reason for our waning scene and feel the need to suggest ways in which it can grow.

Circa 2005, the music scene was comprised of metal heads and metal-core kids. (Fans of metal-core are typically ‘Nu-Jacks’ and listen to genre of music comprised of metal infused with hardcore breakdowns.) Every night, you could find 100 to 200 patrons flooding the hallwaysized venue that is Sector 7G. The venue flourished with business from bands all over the United States and even bands from Europe because the same three promoters worked their asses off getting those groups here. After a while, Sector had become such a popular hotspot for shows in the southeast that bands would skip over Columbia, S.C., and Atlanta to have a chance to play at the hole-in-the-wall venue Sector once was. While working there, I believe I saw, at most, 700 people crammed into that tiny venue for Unearth. Augusta hardcore shows were successful only partly because of the bands that would travel here. The primary reason the scene thrived was because of the great support of the local hardcore community. Let’s face it; the more people who came to the shows, the more the bands enjoyed performing.

Now, with the constantly changing music scene, the metal-core fans fade to the backburner as melodic hardcore steps to the forefront. Unfortunately, the promoters with metal-core connections from the past do not have the connections for the newer and more popular hardcore bands on the rise. And when those promoters book metal-core bands today, the shows are nothing like they were before. The number of patrons has dropped dramatically, with only around 40 or 50 people in attendance, leading us to the deficit in shows we have today. With few stepping up to the plate to try to establish relationships with booking agencies and no one to front the money for a band’s guarantee, the shows in Augusta have come to a screeching halt.

With not a dime in reserve for shows, there is nothing we can do but get our names out there. My suggestion is to get in the car and travel to out-of-town shows.

Speak to bands, and let them know where you are from. Give a name back to our town that once flourished in the hardcore community. Our beloved venue has history, and we can make it work. We can make Augusta a hardcore destination again; we just have to put in the effort to do so.

jpabon@aug.edu

THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 7 www.asubellringer.com

By NIKKI SKINNER staff writer

A

gathering of floats and boats on the Savannah River provided locals with an inexpensive but adventurous vacation from their daily lives.

Cole Watkins, who graduated from Augusta State University with a degree in business last spring, said he enjoys spending most of his time on the river. He runs his own business called Watkins Tours. The product of a successful business class project, Watkins Tours offers kayaking trips on the river.

Watkins said he used skills he knew well to turn a profit. It was later that the idea behind Floatilla came into the picture.

“I was just hanging out with my buddies at the pool one day,” Watkins said. “We were goofing off with an inflatable couch. I said, ‘We should try floating this thing down the river.’

That’s how it all started.”

At the beginning, the Floatilla was just a way for Watkins to get his

friends together. They enjoyed being outdoors and out on the river, Watkins said, so he and his friends decided to spend the day floating down the river, and to his surprise it, was a great hit.

In the summer of 2010, Watkins made a Facebook event page to help get others involved. Thus the first Floatilla was born. Since then, the Floatilla has happened at least twice a year and seven times total over a period of two years. Watkins was able to hold three events this year with attendance as high as 74 people.

“I love going out there, never knowing who is going to show up,” said Morgan Fordham, a transfer stu-

dent at Augusta State. “It’s crazy how many new people you can meet. After spending five hours together, you walk away with so many new friends.”

The only requirements for this event are bringing a float of any sort and having a good time, Watkins said, although many floaters pack coolers with snacks, something cold to drink and sunscreen. They launched the boats and floats at the Strom Thurmond Dam and floated down the

river to the Fury’s Ferry Ramp. It takes a total of five to six hours.

“We’ve had a little bit of everything floating down the river: inflatable couches, blow up mattresses, kiddie pools and your general floats,” Watkins said. “Some go as far as making rafts to float down the river complete with Astroturf. Though no matter what you float on, I do suggest having a life jacket just to be safe.”

To Fordham, time flies by because they are so busy listening to music, eating, drinking and jumping off rocks into the water. With so many different people and personalities, no one is worrying about time, she said.

At this past Flotilla, Watkins said he decided to take it a step further and help the community. He asked the participants to donate money to the Ronald McDonald House because Floatilla is a free event. He then personally delivered the proceeds.

Watkins said he plans to raise money for an organization again, but he is unsure if he will pick the same foundation each time.

“I thought it was a great way to ask people to give back to the community,” said Jill Reeves, a senior early childhood major at Augusta State.

“Especially since so many people usually attend, I love it.”

nskinner@aug.edu

The show will go on: Lyceum Committee lacks student support

By WINCHESTER ROBINSON contributor

T

he fine arts series begins its new season Sept. 15 in the Maxwell Theatre. The selection process began after Kelly Thomas, the director of the Maxwell Theatre, received calls from hopeful agents wanting to bring their clients’ shows to the venue.

Thomas made a list of the available performances and presented the list to the Lyceum Committee. This board consists of student representatives and faculty members who determine what performances the student body would like to attend.

“We meet and people bring ideas to that meeting,” Thomas said. “I’m

the one who makes most of the contact with the agents.”

The program, paid for by Student Activity Fees, provides free performances for students throughout the year, according to Thomas. He also works in conjunction with Eddie Howard Jr., the acting assistant vice president for student life, to fund the performance.

Once the group agrees on a performance, it is then sent to the Student Activities Committee, which is in charge of allocating the Student Activity Fees to fund the performance.

“The Lyceum Series’ focus is to bring in things that really support the academic mission, in regards to exposing students to different types of genres,” Howard said.

The boards work in tandem to

provide great quality shows, but more representation is needed, the directors said. The Student Government president has the ability to appoint students to the committees at the beginning of each semester year. There are 60 students needed to fill the panels. The amount of students varies from year to year but has never filled every seat, Howard said.

Ethan Holliman, a senior political science major, said more student representation is needed to provide a fair support of the Student Activity Fees.

“It’s difficult to find this amount of students,” Holliman said. “The power of these choices should be given to the Student Government Association.”

Students interested in signing up for one of the groups can go to the

SGA website www.aug.edu/sga and click on ‘Committees’ to view the different panels that are offered on campus. A student can also find the necessary forms to fill out to join a board.

“We’ll kick-off the series with Hill Harper, famous for his role on ‘CSI: NY,’” Thomas said. “He’s giving a speech titled ‘Building a Foundation for Your Life’ on Sept. 15 at 7:30.”

The Maxwell Theatre will partner with the Harry Jacobs Music Society to present “Cantus” on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. This collection, made up of nine men, originated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., said Linda Bannister, a professor of voice for the music department and the artistic director for the Harry Jacobs Music Society.

The group shows the true mean-

ing of how to communicate within a delegation whether it is with or without music, she said.

“Singing isn’t just making noise and getting it out,” Bannister said.

“It’s creating a collective sound where you really are working with one another.”

Students are completely involved with each performance hosted by the Lyceum Series. Their involvement ranges from attending performances to making the decisions on who receives the opportunity to stand center stage in the Maxwell Theatre.

“Our goal is to provide students the opportunity to see things that they’ve never even seen before,” Howard said.

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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.

wrobins2@aug.edu

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

PAGE 8

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THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 9 www.asubellringer.com

SPORTS JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER sports editor

NFL and college football often praised for parity, but the facts tell a different story

Expect more of the same on the gridiron this fall Not everyone is big on surprises.

Some people like to set their alarm clock for the same time every morning, eat the same lunch every afternoon and watch the same TV show before bed every night. These people wrap themselves in routine like a warm blanket.

If you happen to be one of those who likes the status quo, then the 2012 football season will be for you.

For years, the NFL has been held up as the professional sports league that promotes the most parity. Teams are ostensibly built through the draft, and the NFL features a system that guarantees the worst teams get the top picks. In theory, the bottom-feeders should be able to rise out of poverty quickly, while the powerhouses should have a short run at the top before falling back to the pack.

There was a time when this idea had credence.

From 1994 to 2005, traditionally sad-sack teams like the Chargers, Falcons, Rams, Buccaneers, Panthers and Seahawks were able to make it all the way to the season’s final game. It was during this period that the NFL established its reputation as a league for upward mobility.

Since that time, however, the feel-good stories have for the most part dried up, and the NFL has become remarkably easy to forecast. Want to know which teams will be good this fall? Look at the franchises with top-notch quarterbacks. Want to know which teams are destined to spend January at home? Look at the squads with shaky signalcallers.

Rule changes to protect passers and take the teeth out of secondaries have had the unintended consequence of effectively eliminating balance in the NFL. The only way for a perennial loser to reverse its fortunes these days is to land a top-flight thrower, like the Lions found in Matthew Stafford.

Organizations like Cleveland, Buffalo and Jacksonville that have been unable to acquire franchise quarterbacks have been mired in irrelevancy for years, despite amassing numerous high draft picks.

It may seem like an oversimplification to place a franchise’s worth entirely on the ability of its quarterback, but consider these facts: The last nine Super Bowls have been won by what most pigskin observers would generally agree are the six best triggermen in football at the moment Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. The last non-elite quarterback to even lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance? You have to go all the way back to 2006, when Rex Grossman led the Bears to the title bout, to find such a player.

It’s fashionable to pick a team like the 49ers or Texans to win the Super Bowl on the backs of their bonecrushing defenses. But history says the odds are strongly in favor of one of the aforementioned Big Six leading his team to another Lombardi Trophy.

The college game does not place as large an emphasis on having a great quarterback, but it has become equally as predictable as its professional counterpart. Actually, it would be more accurate to say college football has remained predictable, because it has always been a sport with a clear delineation between the haves and have-nots. Scholarship limitations put into place in 1994 were supposed to level the playing field, but they have not been effective of late in breeding parity.

In college football today, there is the Southeastern Conference and there is everyone else. The SEC has produced the last six FBS national champions, and after watching Alabama dismember a top-10 Michigan team on a neutral field, I don’t see any reason to believe that streak will be coming to an end this season.

As the SEC continues to pile up national titles, the discrepancy between the SEC and other leagues is likely to incrementally widen even further. And that’s saying something, because as the Alabama-Michigan game proved, the SEC’s elite are already in a different stratosphere compared to the top teams in the other “power conferences.”

The two clashes between Alabama and LSU last year may have turned out to be duds, but do not be surprised if you’re watching those two teams in another January rematch this winter. Poll voters will likely do everything in their power to avoid subjecting college football fans to such an unappealing conclusion to the season, but the Crimson Tide and Bayou Bengals may be so vastly superior to everyone else that it won’t matter.

All of this is not to say this will be a boring football season. As always, there will be nailbiters and upsets and breathtaking plays. There are twists and turns in every season that no one can predict.

The 2012 NFL and NCAA campaigns will be no different.

I cannot tell you exactly how these movies will go. But I can give you a pretty good idea of how they will end.

jgarner6@aug.edu

Diverse schedule positions Lady Jaguars for success in 2012-13 season “It should be a good chance to see where we stack up this season.”

- Lady Jaguars’ head coach Kory Thompson

By NIKKI SKINNER staff writer The Lady Jaguars’ golf team will be playing at locations both new and old and facing some familiar foes in the upcoming season.

The team is scheduled to play in four tournaments during the fall season, beginning with the Dale McNamara Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., on Sept. 17.

“We haven’t played in Tulsa’s event, which looks like a good field,” Augusta State coach Kory Thompson said. “It should be a good chance to see where we will be stacking up this season.”

Thompson made it clear that getting ready for a golf season isn’t the same as preparing for a baseball or basketball season. Golf teams face off against various squads depending on the tournament field, so the competition is always changing.

Senior Marit Bjerke expressed excitement over this year’s slate of events. She said it is one that sets the team up for success, though the Lady Jags do have two tournaments back-to-back with one day

of classes before they hit the road again.

Another senior, Natalie Wille, said she was enthusiastic about the new locales on the team’s schedule.

“I’m excited; it’s going to be a lot of new courses that I haven’t played before,” Wille said. “New challenges are always good.”

The members of the team have been practicing during the offseason, both individually and as a team, to prepare for the season, Thompson said.

The coach said a few players competed in tournaments back in their hometowns during the summer to stay ready for whatever this season’s schedule may hold.

During the spring semester, the Lady Jags will participate in five more tournaments.

Highlighting this portion of the schedule will be the team’s home event, the Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate at Forest Hills Golf Club March 15-17.

Thompson said there will be a deep field of teams at this season’s Intercollegiate.

Vanderbilt, Texas, Kentucky and Purdue, all of which participated in the 2012 tournament, will be returning to Au-

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Natalie Wille, one of six returning golfers for the Augusta State women’s golf team, watches an approach shot to the green during the 2012 Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate.

gusta, Ga., next spring.

“That (tournament) is going be one of the better ones for us,” Thompson said. “(It is also) more exciting seeing as it is on our home (course).”

The team will also be revisiting some other courses this season. Wille said she is excited about returning to Sorrento, Fla., for the UCF Challenge. The Lady Jags finished in ninth place in that event this February. Wille has played in the tournament in each of her seasons at Augusta State

and said she feels comfortable there. She finished second among the Lady Jags in Sorrento last season and said she is hoping to have another strong showing there again in 2013.

The Lady Jaguars, who earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals in the spring and return six players from last year’s roster appear ready to tackle the task of a challenging array of venues, Thompson said.

nskinner@aug.edu

upcoming schedule men’s golf Sept. 8-9 Northern Intercollegiate, Rich Harvest Farms (Sugar Grove, Ill.)

women’s golf Sept. 17-18 Dale McNamara Invitational (Tulsa, Okla.)

volleyball Sept. 7 - vs. Palm Beach Atlantic & North

Greenville, USCA Invitational (Aiken, S.C.) Sept. 8 - vs. Wingate & Nova Southeastern, USCA Invitational (Aiken, S.C.)

men’s & women’s cross country Sep. 15 - Mountain Dew Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.)

Sept. 11 - vs. Erskine Sept. 15 - vs. Barton (Spartanburg, S.C.) Sept. 18 - vs. Newberry

The Bell Ringer’s College Football Top 10 1.

Alabama (1-0) Look ready to repeat after thrashing Michigan in Dallas.

2.

USC (1-0) Matt Barkley started his Heisman campaign in fine fashion against Hawaii.

Weekend Results

Results from the Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 weekend Volleyball

Aug. 31 – vs. Tusculum, L, 3-1 Sept. 1 – vs. Catawba, W, 3-0 Sept. 1 – vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, W, 3-2

3.

LSU (1-0) Likely on cruise control until hosting Alabama on Nov. 3.

4.

Oregon (1-0) The Quack Attack hung half a hundred on Arkansas State in the first half alone.

5.

Florida State (1-0) Dominant performance on both sides of the ball versus Murray State.

6.

Georgia (1-0) Looked shaky against Buffalo, but still the most talented team in the SEC East.

7.

South Carolina (1-0) Needed help from the zebras to survive Vanderbilt.

8.

West Virginia (1-0) Followed last year’s 70-point seasoncapper versus Clemson with 69 in their 2012 opener.

9.

Oklahoma State (1-0) New quarterback Wes Lunt was perfect in 84-0 throttling of Savannah State.

10.

Arkansas (1-0) Defense had problems against FCS Jacksonville State in first game of the post-Bobby Petrino era.

Men’s Cross Country 7th place, Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic

Women’s Cross Country 16th place, Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic

Men’s Golf Season begins this week Swedish sophomore Robin Petersson (pictured) headlines the returnees for the men’s golf team as it attempts to win its third national championship in four seasons. The Jaguars’ fall schedule begins on Sept. 8 at the Northern Intercollegiate in Sugar Grove, Ill. Augusta State will play in five different states and make a trip to Puerto Rico over the course of the 2012-13 season.

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

PAGE 10

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 www.asubellringer.com

SPORTS Volleyball team expecting return to PBC prominence

By JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER sports editor Following a two-year recession, the volleyball team is hoping for a spike back to the top of the Peach Belt Conference in 2012.

The Jaguars posted a 22-12 record in 2009 but managed just 27 combined victories over the past two seasons. However, led by outside hitter Alex Rohlfing, the 2011 Peach Belt Freshman of the Year and a preseason all-conference selection, the good times could be returning for Augusta State this fall.

Rohlfing led the conference in kills, kills per set and points per set during her rookie campaign.

She also ranked among the team leaders in digs and blocks. As impressive as her freshman season was, though, head coach Sharon Bonaventure said Rohlfing has only scratched the surface of her potential.

“Being a sophomore, she’s got a lot of growth still to happen, but she has such a high ceiling,” the coach said. “As long as we keep the pressure off her and she keeps working hard every day, it’s going to be interesting to see where she ends up by her senior year.”

Having one season under her belt will benefit her as she prepares for her sophomore campaign, Rohlfing said.

“I’m so much more comfortable this year,” she said. “Now I know the ropes of everything and know all the teams in the conference that we’re going to play, and you kind of feel like you have an upper hand.”

Bonaventure, who was hired to the post in March 2009, said Rohlfing possesses many of the traits of Jessica Howard, one of the coach’s former star players. Howard was named a Daktronics All-American during her senior season in 2009.

“I walked into a great situation,” Bonaventure said. “You can’t argue with an All-American – you just ride on her coattails. She did a lot for us, and Alex did a lot last year, so we’re hoping other players can step up and help her out.”

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

The Augusta State volleyball team returns 10 players from last year’s 16-19 squad that advanced to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The Lady Jaguars have added six new players to this year’s team, which has been tabbed to finish fourth in the conference by league coaches.

“We just want to try and take it as far as we can as the last ‘Augusta State’ team. I want to give that name a nice sendoff.”

- Senior outside hitter Mandy Irizarry Among the players who are expected to ease the burden on Rohlfing are seniors Mandy Irizarry and Krystin Wahlig. Irizarry, along with Meredith Berce, is one of two holdovers from the ‘09 team, while Wahlig, the team’s primary setter, returns for her second season with the Jaguars after spending two years at John A. Logan Community College in Illinois.

Irizarry, an outside hitter, said Berce, Wahlig and she have embraced the responsibility that comes with being senior leaders.

“We know what to expect,” Irizarry said. “We know what’s coming, so it’s our duty to show the freshmen the way. Coach is going to explain everything to our younger players, but we can back her up.”

Though only in her second season, Rohlfing, too, has taken the newcomers under her wing. She said she can relate to the pressure and trepidation that comes with being a freshman and has made a conscious effort to ease the transition to the college game for the

new players.

The 10 returning letterwinners from the 2011 squad will assist in the development of four first-year players. While it might be overly ambitious to expect any of her freshmen to have the same kind of instant impact Rohlfing had last season, Bonaventure said there is an opportunity for each of them to help the team this fall.

“When we recruited Alex a year ago, we looked for the same characteristics in her that we did in these freshmen,” she said. “There’s no reason why we can’t have another Freshman of the Year for the conference.”

In addition to the quartet of freshmen, the Jags will also work two transfers into their playing rotation. At 6’2 and 6’0, respectively, Jenna Keeler and Maggie Darling will add a significant amount of height to the roster. Middle blocker Keeler comes to Augusta State by way of Cameron in Lawton, Okla., where she played two seasons.

Darling, an outside hitter, spent her freshman year in the Big East at

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Outside hitter Mandy Irizarry goes on the attack against USC Aiken during the Peach Belt Tournament last November. Irizarry is one three seniors on the Jaguars’ roster.

Syracuse.

Irizarry said the infusion of the six newcomers give Augusta State its most talented roster since she has been with the program.

“A lot of our newcomers are really consistent players, our transfers especially,” she said. “Our freshmen still have some freshman tendencies, but you can see their potential.”

League coaches see potential

in the Jags as a team, as evidenced

by Augusta State being selected to finish fourth in the conference despite last season’s 16-19 finish.

For Irizarry, finishing her career on a winning note is a priority.

“We just want to try and take it as far as we can as the last ‘Augusta State’ team,” she said. “I want to win a banner in our last year and give (that name) a nice sendoff.”

jgarner6@aug.edu

Women’s basketball coach Teymer reels in coveted assistant Boyd

By KARL FRAZIER staff writer The Lady Jaguars recently welcomed a new assistant coach to their staff.

Courtney Boyd, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, was hired to the Augusta State staff in August.

She said she learned about the opening at the university this summer and realized she could get a two-for-one deal.

“I heard about the assistant head coach position being open and heard about their master’s program,” Boyd said. “I realized I can do something I love and get my master’s degree at the same time.”

Nate Teymer, who is entering his third season as head coach of the women’s basketball team, said he is very excited about having Boyd as a part of his staff and had attempted to hire Boyd previously.

“I have been trying to recruit her ever since I was coaching at Southern Polytechnic State,” Teymer said.

“When her name came up, I jumped on the chance of hiring her.”

Boyd went to Keokuk High School in Keokuk. She attended Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College for two years. While there, she led the team as the starting point guard to the national championship in 2007. She then transferred to Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, where she graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education. She was named the school’s female student athlete of the year during her senior season.

Although she is only 26, Boyd has experience under her belt. Last season, she was the assistant coach at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. She helped lead the Vikings to their best record (30-6) in school history while winning the NAIA Midwest Collegiate Conference and going to the Elite Eight. While it was hard to leave her home state, Boyd said she has been getting a lot of support.

“It has been a smooth transition,” Boyd said. “Someone would always come to help me out with things I did not know.

The people here have made it an easier transition for me.”

While Boyd has not met the players yet, she said she is looking forward to working with them. She wants to assist the program in any way she can.

“I want to help improve the program,” Boyd said. “I have the opportunity to work with great, young athletes.”

The Lady Jaguars are coming off a 12-16 season but still made it to the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference Championships. All but one of their players – guard Amber Peterson – is returning from last season’s team. The Jags have also added Tanchelle hollingsworth, a junior college transfer from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. Their first game is Nov. 16 against rival Paine.

“I am looking forward to this season,” Teymer said. “I can’t wait to see how (it) turns out.”

Teymer said he is excited about working with Boyd. He

enjoys the characteristics she adds to the program.

“She brings a lot of enthusiasm among the students, and she also brings knowledge,” Teymer said. “It is not often you find someone her age with her kind of intelligence and experience.”

While assisting Teymer, Boyd will also be pursuing her master’s degree in educational leadership. Although Boyd does not know what will happen in the future, she said she is looking forward to working with coach Teymer and his staff.

“I will be here at least two years,” Boyd said. “After two years, I don’t know. I am happy to be working with coach Teymer. I feel like I can feed off of him. I love it here.”

Teymer said he hopes Boyd will stay around as an assistant after she obtains her master’s degree.

kfrazie9@aug.edu

KARL FRAZIER | STAFF

New women’s basketball assistant Courtney Boyd brings a winning pedigree to the Jaguars, having won a national championship as a point guard at Kirkwood Community College and helping lead Grand View to 30 victories in 2011-12.

By the numbers

20 5 13

Consecutive wins for Grand View, new Augusta State assistant coach Courtney Boyd’s former team, last season

Returning starters for the women’s basketball team in 2012-13, led by forward Laci Schreiber, who started every game in ’11-12 and averaged 7.4 points and 7.3 rebounds Home games for the women’s basketball team this season, beginning with Claflin on Nov. 20

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