The Colonnade, March 1, 2022

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GC dissolves SAE Eric Boyd

Editor-In-Chief

Olivia Wilson | Staff Photographer

The Bobcats will host #6 seed Lander at home in the opening round of the PBC Tournament on Tuesday, March 1.

Cardiac Cats win overtime thriller on Homecoming Ty Peavy

Staff Writer GC won in spectacular fashion Saturday Feb. 26 in front of a packed-out Centennial Center crowd during homecoming weekend with an 84-82 nail-biting win in overtime over Columbus State.

The Bobcats had an amazing shooting night going 48.4% from the three-point line. There were 21 lead changes in the game, and the score was tied 14 times.

Even with the impressive offensive performance, CSU hung in and made it a very

intense game until the very end. With this win, GC secured the third seed in the PBC, advancing to the PBC Conference Tournament.

Redshirt-senior guard Jordan Thomas led the way for the Bobcats finishing with 19 points, shooting 50% from the field, six assists, and four rebounds. Senior guard Wesley Simpson also had an impressive performance finishing with 15 points, five assists, and eight rebounds.

While Thomas and Simpson both had dominating performances, the whole team played extremely well. Redshirt-junior Chapin Rierson

dropped a much-needed 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench.

Forward Langston Gaither had a big game for CSU finishing with 26 points, and he played a huge role in CSU being able to hang around all game and force overtime.

Thomas drew a foul, sending him to the line in overtime for a chance to put the Bobcats up by two with eight seconds remaining. After sinking both free throws, Thomas and the Bobcats called timeout to set up their defense for the final shot.

Coming out of the timeout, CSU looked to Gaither for the final shot of the game. After a cou-

ple of passes to advance the ball down the floor, Gaither caught the ball on the right wing and threw up a 3-point prayer, fading to his left. The shot rimmed out and the Bobcats came out on top.

The Bobcats finished the regular season with a 21-6 record, their best record since 2009.

“21-6 is probably the most wins we have had in a long time,” said head coach Mark Gainous. “The Peach Belt is the best it has been since probably 2010, and we have See BBALL | Page 4

GC has dissolved the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter in response to a hazing incident that occured last semester, the school announced in an email on Friday, Feb. 25.

The investigation has consisted of the University, Milledgeville Police Department and SAE Nationals—all of whom have now issued sanctions.

Prior to GC’s decision to dissolve the chapter, MPD arrested eight brothers involved in the incident for hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor. SAE Nationals has also revoked the chapter’s charter.

Even after levying the death penalty against the organization, the investigation is still ongoing.

“The case remains active because further student conduct proceedings against individual members of the now defunct SAE chapter are still ongoing through the Office of Student Life,” said Omar Odeh, associate vice president for strategic communication.

The University’s decision comes as a disappointment but not a surprise.

“It’s unfortunate that that had to happen, but

when someone gets hospitalized, you have to take action,” said Molly, who requested her last name be kept private. “I guess they threw good parties.”

The incident in question occurred on Nov. 10, 2021 at the fraternity house on South Wayne Street. While details are unclear, the alleged incident sent one underaged student to the hospital for “alcohol-related sickness.” The student has since returned to classes.

GC Greek life organizations have been punished for hazing in the past, but this is the first time in recent memory the school has dissolved a chapter.

“I would like to remind all members of the campus community that we have a zero-tolerance policy toward hazing and other behaviors that jeopardize the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students,” said Shawn Brooks, vice president for student life, in an email to students.

SAE has more hazing deaths nationwide than any other Greek life organization, according to a poll from Bloomberg.

In March 2014, SAE announced all new members must complete the pledgeship process within 96 hours of receiving bids in response to a series of drug and alcohol related incidents.

KD can’t lose

For years, the Kappa Delta sorority has wowed students with a homecoming campaign that’s more than meets the eye Charlotte Joiner Contributing Writer For several years now GC’s Kappa Delta chapter has put its best marketing efforts forth to ensure a successful homecoming campaign. This year, their hard work paid off again as sisters Alyssa Borko and Sydney Bates won queen and duchess respectively.

To the untrained eye, it may appear as though KD’s campaign is run on enthusiasm and the zealous love of sisterhood, but the sophistication and attention to detail goes beyond what many may realize.

“They pay a lot of attention to graphic design,” said Amanda Respess, professor of strategic communication. “Then they make sure that it has creative continuity across all channels so when you see their banners, signs across campus and social media, there’s consistency—you have no doubt when you see a KD message that it’s a KD message.”

Mackenzie Pickle, sophomore VP of recruitment and marketing for KD, has been hard at work strategizing KD’s home-

coming campaign since November. Expectations bring pressure which Pickle finds both demanding and rewarding.

“It’s been a long time coming, and February 14 when we could finally show everyone what we had been doing, it was another big milestone for us,” Pickle said. “It was definitely a collaborative effort. Win or lose, we’ve made new friends and been able to connect with other Greek-life which has been awesome.”

Borko, GC Homecoming Queen, has been in Pickle’s shoes having run KD’s campaign herself in previous years. Borko notes that it’s given her a well-rounded perspective now serving as the queen nominee.

“It was a full-circle moment,” Borko said. “I’ve been on homecoming committee and then I’ve run homecoming for two years, so I’m kind of on the other end of it. I’ve been the person behind the camera and behind all the plans. It’s a really special moment to be now representing these girls that I was working with previously.”

NEWS | PG. 2

SONNY PERDUE USG CHANCELLOR Sonny Perdue, former Georgia governor, has been named the sole finalist to become the chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

See KD HOCO | Page 7

Courtesy of Mackenzie Pickle

GC homecoming Queen Alyssa Borko (left) and Duchess Sydney Bates (right)

SPORTS | PG. 5

SOFTBALL SPLITS BIG SERIES The GC softball team split their two-game series Friday Feb. 25 with Anderson Univeristy, who is ranked #19 in the nation.

ARTS & LIFE | PG. 6 THE SHOW MUST GO ON GC’s upcoming play, Ride the Cyclone, has had a turbulent lead up to opening night with a professional actor from Atlanta having to step in and play the lead role.

2

KATIE FUTCH, NEWS EDITOR JAYLON BROOKS, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

03.01.22

NEWS

Sonny Perdue named Chancellor of USG Kate Verity Staff Writer Last week, Sonny Perdue was named sole finalist to be Chancellor of USG. This has led to outcry among university professors in Georgia who see this appointment as an attempt to politicize higher education.

Perdue previously served in multiple political offices in his career. He was a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1991 to 2002. Although he was originally a member of the Democrat party, he switched to a Republican platform in 1998.

Perdue also served as Governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011. He was the first Republican governor of Georgia since the 1870s. During his presidency, Donald Trump selected Perdue to serve as the United States Secretary of Agriculture. He served from 2017 to 2021.

Since former USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley stepped down in June 2021, the Georgia Board of Regents has considered several candidates for the position. The Chancellor’s role in USG is to lead the system with the Board of Regents.

The Board currently had nineteen members, four of whom were appointed

by Governor Brian Kemp in the last year. All four of these recent additions are expected to vote in favor of selecting Perdue, who has Kemp’s support.

Dr. Scott Buchanan is GC’s Chair of the Department of Government and Sociology. Buchanan said that historically, chancellors would come from within the realm of education. However, a national trend has developed where leadership roles within education systems, like USG, are given to those who have experience in politics.

“Part of that simply has to do with the fact that most of the job of

Ya Like Jazz?

Avery Hobbs

Contributing Writer Amici Café was filled with a lively audience and the sound of jazz Tuesday, Feb. 22. Jazz Jam Session is an event put on every year by the GC Music Department to give students and faculty a place to perform and engage with the Milled-

geville community.

“We have been doing it [GC Jazz Jam Session] for many years now, it’s a way to get the school music department to connect with the community, it’s a way to get into the community with jazz music,” says Chris Enghauser, event coordinator and GC double bass instructor.

Courtesy of Anna Wylie

Cutline

administrators, these days at the highest levels is to raise money and garner political support,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan said that the wave of former politicians leading schools may pose a threat to higher education if political ideologies leak into the classroom.

“I think it poses a danger if it got into the classroom – in other words, what’s being taught and trying to control what professors are saying,” Buchanan said.

“But as far as the overall day-to-day administration of a college, university or university system?

No, I don’t have great concerns in that sense.”

However, another GC professor held more fears about the future of USG. This professor, who chose to remain anonymous, said that it appeared the Board was trying to put politics and personal advancement above the students and faculty of the University System.

“Perdue has already done things that demonstrate that he is going to put politics ahead of science,” this professor said.

“As Governor then as Secretary of Agriculture, he took steps to sequester knowledge and cover up some unethical dealings.”

Perdue did serve under former president Trump, who is a politically controversial figure. There is also some controversy surrounding Perdue regarding climate change. He has publicly said that he does not fully subscribe to the theory of human-caused climate change. Likewise, it has been rumored that during his time as Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue buried research linking climate change to agriculture damage.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is one body that is unhappy about Perdue being named as sole finalist.

When his candidacy was first announced last sum-

mer, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reached out to the Board, warning them to keep political motivations out of the selection process. Since last week’s announcement naming Perdue as sole finalist, AAUP reached out to SACSCOC, requesting that they issue a second warning.

SACSCOC refused.

SACSCOC has the power to strip Georgia schools of their accreditation. Their warning in 2021 implied that a politically motivated Chancellor selection process could put accreditation statuses in USG at risk.

The SACSCOC’s refusal to issue a second warning to the Board of Regents may imply that losing accreditation is not an immediate threat.

Buchanan was dubious that Perdue’s appointment would be enough to affect schools’ accreditations.

“I’m not convinced that his selection in and of itself is going to get credentials revoked,” Buchanan said. “Now if it turned into a situation where he or elected officials began to try to involve themselves in the day-to-day runnings of the classrooms, that sort of thing, that could become an issue.”

JC Gaylor is a senior political science student at GC. Gaylor is also the Chairman of GCSUGOP, the College Republicans group on campus.

He is looking forward to seeing what Perdue will bring to USG and does not see his appointment as overtly political.

“I’m excited by it,” Gaylor said. “At the end of the day the chancellor job has had political appointees in the past. I mean look at our president, Cathy Cox. No one cares that she was a Democrat politician for the state. But whenever it’s a Republican politician, it’s doomsday.”

The event featured performances from faculty, students and members of the community playing combinations of Jazz Music.

Students, like GC freshman and music major Preston Raburn enjoyed being able to play alongside their professors and friends.

Raburn has been involved with music for as long as he can remember.

He plays the Alto and Tenor Saxophone and plans to be a music instructor after graduation.

Several students stressed what a good opportunity it was to be playing for a crowd like the one at Amici, because of the environment that type of audience creates.

Max Harley, GC junior elaborated on the importance of perform-

ing in a community environment, “This is our only chance to engage with a crowd that’s informal because most of the time at our regular concerts, it’s a quiet audience that is remaining professional, whereas here [Amici] we’re playing for a loud restaurant.”

Jazz became popular in the 1920s for its celebration of an individual’s performance style, which offers a million different takes on one song. The audience gets to experience something new every time they listen.

“Jazz is its own art form, and you are able to express yourself through your instrument and say things that even words may not be able to say,” Raburn said.

Among the community members featured in

the Jazz Jam Session was Wendell Harrelson, GC alum and retired teacher.

Wendell Harrelson was born into music and has been playing his entire life. He studied at the Navy school of music before his time at GC. Harrelson recounted playing the Saxophone in the Navy as well as in the Red Coat band at the University of Georgia. He plays every type of Saxophone and travels from Macon to play in events like the GC Jazz Jam Session.

“Any time I get the chance to play with the faculty it’s a lot of fun.”, said Harrelson.

When COVID-19 hit, the music department suffered alongside the campus.

Bigger classrooms, masks and outdoor

performances quickly became a necessity.

This new semester, however, has seen an increase in the audience sizes and engagement with performances.

“It varies, every night is a little different. You never know what to expect. I noticed that more people are coming out because they are ready to enjoy hearing live music versus hearing canned music,” says Don Parker, GC Music Department Chair.

GC Jazz night is an exciting opportunity for both musicians and audience members.

The GC Music Department doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon and aims to set up more events in the community.

VOLUME 99 | NO. 5

@GCSUnade

@TheColonnade

Editorial Board Eric Boyd............................Editor-in-Chief Wendy Cravey..................Managing Editor Katie Dean.........................Art Director Katie Futch........................News Editor Jaylon Brooks...................Asst. News Editor Ben Grunert......................Sports Editor Hayden Flinn....................Asst. Sports Editor Lilyana Kovacheva........ Arts & Life Editor Rebecca Meghani..........Asst. Arts & Life Editor Marissa Marcolina.........Digital Media Editor Carrie Grace Irwin......... PR Manager Rob Trotter.........................Ad Sales Manager William Burke...................Faculty Adviser

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3

KATIE FUTCH, NEWS EDITOR JAYLON BROOKS, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

03.01.22

NEWS

GC HAS NO. 1 ACADEMIC RATE AMONG STUDENT ATHLETES IN THE U.S. Drew Oldham

Contributing Writer GC recorded a 93% academic success rate for the 2020-2021 school year. They tied with Michigan Tech for the highest academic success rate in the nation for athletes in public Division

II

Academic

Schools. success

rate is the percentage of all athletes, including walk-ons and transfers, that are able to successfully graduate from their respective college.

Athletic

Director

Wendell Staton Staton said he credits this remarkable rate of academic success among athletes at GC to the time management skills that they must learn in order to balance their obligations as a full time student and an athlete focusing on perfecting one’s craft.

“It’s all about time management, what

athletics

that’s teach-

es better than any other skill,” Staton said.

Staton said he feels as if the rigid and busy schedule one has as an athlete requires them to truly focus on assignments in order to finish them in a timely manner. This leads to work being done more completely and proficiently.

Olivia Wilson | Staff Photographer

Brandon Thomas transferred from Mercer University due to the welcoming environment in the GC athletic department.

struggling

academical-

ly, they can receive support from this network.

This network of support is in place for GC’s women’s soccer team.

“We check in regularly with our student athletes to make sure they are doing well,” said Head Coach Tinna Gallagher. “If they need help we are sure to put the resources they need for success in front of them.”

Coach

Gallagher

also reinforced the importance of academics

Additionally, athletes

with her squad by in-

have a network of people

stituting a team goal of

holding them account-

averaging a 3.5 GPA.

able, including coaches

In order to help reach

and teammates. If an

this goal, Gallagher pro-

OP/ED

athlete

is

vides a clear and orga-

nized schedule of practice and team functions players are required to be at, while maintaining open communication between players and staff. This has cultivated academic success among her players as several have been recognized as part of the Presidential Honor Roll for the PBC, the PBC’s All-Academic Team, and United Soccer Coaches Association Academic Award.

This academic success is not just limited to soccer. Senior Brandon Thomas of men’s basketball and senior Jordan Bowie of women’s tennis can both boast the fact that they have earned the Elite 16 Award, a

recognition given to the athlete with the highest GPA in their respective sport out of teams who qualify for the conference tournament.

Bowie is a nursing major at GC and is doing her practicum at the Atrium Navicent Hospital in Macon. She credits her busy schedule of being a student athlete and nursing major to her success in school.

“My teammates and I notice that we actually do not do as well in classes when we are in the off season as we lack the motivation and discipline we must have while in season to succeed in tennis and in class,” Bowie said.

She continued, saying

The dangers of banning books Katie Futch News Editor GC split their midwIn early February, the Forsyth Board of Education banned eight books from their school libraries: • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson • Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera • L8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle • Me Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews • Nineteen Minutes

by Jodi Picoult • Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison • The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle On the same day the

Board of Education removed these books from school property, Gov. Brian Kemp visited Forsyth County schools and spoke to his educational goals for 2022. Removing “obscene items” from school property was one of his main goals for this year.

The banned books deal with sensitive, difficult and somewhat awkward topics. All Boys Aren’t Blue is the memoir of a young Black boy growing up in the LGBTQ+ community. Me Earl and the Dying Girl is about a boy who befriends a girl dying from Leukemia.

Nineteen Minutes discusses a school shooting.

While these books contain thematic elements, language, violence and sexual content, these are topics today’s youth face in day-to-day life.

The superintendent

was notified by a parent who said there were books of concern on school property. The local school board decided to remove the books due to “pervasively vulgar” content.

This brings up the broader issues of the effect of literary censorship in the public-school system. Local school boards have the authority to remove things that they find vulgar or explicit. However, those terms are subjective, and it can be dangerous to allow school boards to censor literature based on their own beliefs.

In other words, it is unconstitutional to ban a book from a public-school library. There have not been enough court cases about literary censorship to provide precedent or to set standards on what should

or should not be allowed in a school library.

Banning literature that one might find explicit or obscene can be more harmful than beneficial. High school is a pivotal point in young adults’ lives – it is where they become prepared for the real world. In order for them to grow into adults, they have to be ready to read about them.

For a book to be banned, it has to receive a complaint from someone – either a parent, teacher or someone else in the school district. The school board will then review the book. The problem with this system is that the parameters for book banning are vague and unclear. Thus, a school board could stick to a particular set of ideologies or beliefs and ban books that don’t align with those principles.

that she feels that being forced to use her time much more effectively while in season has contributed a great deal to her overall academic success.

This culture of both academic success and athletic prestige is part of what motivates dynamic student athletes like Brandon Thomas to come to GC. Thomas recounted the appeal that GC had to him in his first campus visit that eventually led to him transferring from Mercer University.

“It was all about that first moment. GC is a nice place, a nice campus,” Thomas said. “It’s welcoming and I felt that it fit my future aspira-

tions better than any-

Topics like sexual identity, offensive language and race are the most censored subjects in the public-school system. This ignores the fact that young people’s lives reflect these subjects on a day-to-day basis.

Up until recently, literature that dealt with the LGBTQ+ community was completely absent from public-school curriculum. But with over 11.7% of the youth population in the U.S. identifying as LGBTQ+ according to a nationwide survey performed by the CDC, it is important to represent and educate on sexual identities.

When you make a book unavailable to a student population, it is the same as forcing your beliefs on others.

Literature should not be avoided because it brings up difficult con-

versations. Instead, these conversations should be fostered in the school system. Youth need to be aware and educated on subjects they run into every day. Whether it is sex, race, religion, politics or language, they must develop an understanding of these matters. By depriving children of these conversations, educators are doing more harm than good. When they go to college, they will be forced to face reality. But with a lack of education and knowledge on real-world topics, they will be ignorant.

Ignorance fosters uniformed youth and segregation.

When they are uninformed, they cannot make safe and correct decisions.

where else I considered.”

Thomas,

a

public

health major, manages to hold a perfect 4.0 GPA. He looks to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health and eventually become a doctor, all while putting in valuable minutes as a starting guard for

men’s

basketball.

The hard work and diligence that has led to the remarkable success of these phenomenal student athletes is not just a compliment to their gifts but to the success of the entire organization of GC athletics.

It’s

just

a

giv-

en, it’s just what we do here,” Staton said.

4 BEN GRUNERT, SPORTS EDITOR HAYDEN FLINN, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

03.01.22

SPORTS BBALL

teams in the conference.”

Continued from page 1 the most wins, so I am very proud of the guys.”

In the PBC Tournament, the Bobcats will be hosting the sixth seed, Lander University. Lander finished 13-

The

team

is

ex-

tremely motivated after a final four loss in the PBC Tournament a season ago, which prevented them from making the Division II NCAA

Tournament.

14 on the season, going

“Last year, we had a

0-2 versus the Bobcats

limited crowd because

in the regular season.

of COVID, so let us pack

“Anything is possi-

this place out,” Gain-

ble,” Gainous said. “Any

ous said. “Spread the

team in our league can

word... 7:30 pm Tuesday

beat anybody, even the

night. Let’s get this win.”

Olivia Wilson | Staff Photographer

Senior guard Wesley Simpson attempts a shot over CSU defender in Homecoming game Saturday Feb. 26.

of the season, the team’s

the NCAA tournament.

The

sole focus was to get

Bobcats

play

back to the PBC tour-

their first-round match-

The Bobcats have had

make the tournament

high aspirations all sea-

nament to get over the

up on Tuesday Mar. 1 at

beat some of the top

son long. From the start

hump and finally make

the Centennial Center.

TH E

two teams who did not

Last year, we had a limited crowd because of COVID, so let us pack this place out.

-Mark Gainous

final

GC Score Recap

MENS MENS BASKETBALL BASKETBALL 84

82

Home

SOFTBALL SOFTBALL 11 Game 1

0

8

6

Game 2 Katie Dean | Art Director

5 BEN GRUNERT, SPORTS EDITOR HAYDEN FLINN, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

03.01.22

SPORTS

Student section breathes new life into GC hoops Paul O’Neill Staff Writer GC Men’s Basketball closed out their regular season with an exciting 84-82 overtime win against Columbus State at home. The Bobcats finished the season with 21 wins and only 4 losses (13 wins and 5 losses in conference play), earning themselves a top three ranking in the Peach Belt Conference.

All in all, the victory topped off a very impressive season for the Bobcats. Not only were the players impressive, but their fans showed up in a big way as well.

The team’s great success has been fueled by the growing GCSU Stu-

dent Section, located adjacent to the opponent’s bench. The average attendance for games in conference matchups at home rounded out at a whopping 1,258 people, marking GC’s first season with basketball attendance higher than 1,000 fans since the 2015-16 season.

The student section was first introduced this year, and GC freshman Trey McCallum believes it has made a huge difference.

“You could definitely feel the energy shift in our direction when we would make a big play,” McCallum said. “A student section definitely brings a lot more fun to the game.

Not only does it make it more fun, but also

makes it feel like a better sense of community.”

The last full regular season came in the 2018-19 campaign, when the overall attendance sat at just 745 people per game and 775 for conference contests.

GC junior and exercise science major Aidan Broker feels like the section brings a new experience for a lot of students.

“Personally, I had never been to any of the basketball games before this season,” Broker said.

The last time GC home games brought in more than 1,000 fans per game, the Bobcats were 18-11 in the 2015-16 season and 11-8 in conference play. Superstar Terrell Harris was averaging 24.6 points per game,

which helped to draw a big crowd every game.

“I wouldn’t say it (the student section) is a game-changer for the team, but it most definitely serves as a morale booster and gets them more fired up,” Broker said. “I even asked one of my buddies who plays basketball about it, and he said he loves the energy the student section provides.”

The student section has given many GC students a sense of school spirit and community as the Instagram account, @gcsu_studentsection, has gained over 400 followers since its first post in January.

The Instagram page does more than simply post updates of game

scores. It also advertises dress-up themes (such as “White-Out” and “Jersey Day”), along with many shareable memes.

“I found out about the student section back in January through Instagram,” Broker said. “I think my friend posted one of their pictures on his story. I now follow them on Instagram.”

Before this spring, students may have wandered into a basketball game and sat alone whilst cheering for their team. Now the student section provides a place where anyone can go and join a big group of fellow supporters.

“A student section makes every game so much more fun,” McCallum said. “It not only

gives a sense of community, but it is also a great way to support the team and the school.”

The GC men’s basketball team will head into the postseason with their heads held high as they host #6 seed Lander University at the Centennial Center for a shot at the PBC semifinals.

A student section makes every game so much more fun.

-Trey McCallum

Olivia Wilson Staff Photographer

The GC Student Section lets former Bobcat Kohl Roberts hear it at the free-throw line during GC’s home game against Flagler Feb. 2.

GC Softball splits series with #19 Anderson Bailey Clark

Senior Writer The GC softball team (6-10) traveled to No. 19 Anderson University (16-2) Friday Feb. 25 and split the series, beating them in Game 2 to hand the nationally-ranked squad their second loss of the season.

The Bobcats dropped Game 1 in a five-inning 11-0 loss as they recorded only two hits.

GC freshman Divina Checo and sophomore teammate Ashley Schell had the lone hits of the contest, both of which were doubles.

Macy Banks got the pitching start and the loss in the circle. She allowed five earned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work. Milledgeville local Brayden Latimer got the first relief effort, then rookie Kaitlyn Anders closed the contest, going 2.1 innings.

In the second game, the Bobcats turned the matchup on its head and stunned the Trojans, picking up an 8-6 victory. GC scored eight runs on nine hits, notching four runs in the first

inning and three in the seventh. A huge first inning kicked off with freshman Jaycee Haycraft reaching first base via walk before big hitter Jessica Owens launched a double to right field to bring Haycraft across for the score. In the biggest play of the game, transfer Shea Zweifel launched her first home run as a Bobcat over the left centerfield fence to drive in two of her teammates.

The three-run homer set the tone for a bounceback GC performance.

The Bobcat bats cooled off in the next period then regained some rhythm in the third as sophomore Brooke Lougher plated teammate MacKenzie Martin on a sacrifice fly to right field. After a big fifth inning from the Trojans, the Bobcats trailed going into the seventh, but the bats came alive when it mattered most.

GC sophomore Sydney Newberry kicked off the inning with an absolute rocket to left field for her first collegiate home run. With two outs late in the period, Checo came up clutch

Bailey Clark | Contributing Writer

GC teammates Sydney Newberry and Montana Ledbetter compete against Anderson University Friday Feb. 25.

with bases loaded as she smacked a two-RBI double through the left-center gap to put GC up 8-6 and secure the win.

“It felt so good,” Newberry said. “ It was super exciting being able to step up in that situation. I was the lead-off that inning so my goal was just to get on base and get some momentum rolling. All of my at-bats, I was just telling myself that if it’s there I’m swinging because recently I’ve been getting behind in counts and having to hit pitch-

es that aren’t necessarily the best. Both of my hits that game were on first-pitch strikes, so it worked. The homer definitely gave me some more confidence that I’ve been needing at the plate, so I’m just going to try to continue on this path.”

Montana Ledbetter got the Game 2 pitching start and win for the Bobcats. Ledbetter started the game then was pulled out for sophomore Golden Thrower. Ledbetter was put back into the game in the fifth inning

to finish what she started.

She allowed one earned run on one hit and added a strikeout to her boxscore. This marked the first nationally ranked team Ledbetter has beaten in a Bobcat uniform.

“It always feels great when you beat really good competition,” Ledbetter said. “I never had any doubt in my mind that we couldn’t beat Anderson. My riseball and drop curve were really working for me because they didn’t know if it would go high or low

through the zone. When I got re-entered, I wanted to prove that I was able to pitch against this team. I kept a good attitude and pushed through the adversity, which helped us get the win. I proved who I am and what I can do to win for this team.”

The Bobcats are back in action Friday Mar. 4 on the road at Lander University to kick off conference play. Game 1 is set to kick off at 4 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available at GCBobcats.com.

6 LILYANA KOVACHEVA, A&L EDITOR REBECCA MEGHANI, ASST. A&L EDITOR

03.01.22

ARTS & LIFE

Spring Break: March 12-19 Tennessee Cabin - 3 bedrooms, 8 beds, 2 baths - $180 per night w/ $252 discount - Cleaning fee is $150 / Service fee $163.48 - Total price is $1,321 before tax, after is $1,485.06 Amentites - 14 guests - Laundry room/Iron - Basement and main floor plus 2 outdoor decks - Beautiful lake view - 3 double beds, 2 queen beds, 1 air mattress - 1 couch - Full kitchen - Towels, shampoo, hair dryer, bed sheets, toilet paper - Wifi Left Over in Budget 314.94 Gas/Travel $80 - $3.ol - $3.20 /Travel time 7 hrs - Kroger and Chevron gas stations - Average cost from GA to TN $83 for 407 miles each way using 14 gallons Drinks/Food $200 - Sam’s Diner - Sandwich meat about $4 - $70 for 10 pounds of sandwich meat - Bread $00.88 - $2.38 around $14 for 9 loaves of bread - All together is $91.42 which leaves $108.58 for restaurants, souvenirs, etc.

- Soda $5.67 per 12 pack, 6 cases cost $34.02 leaving $74.56 - Water is $20.95 a case, 3 cases is $62.85 leaving $11.71 - Or get beverages around $24.99 a bottle and get 4 using the $108.58 left over

Drama in the drama: Professional actor steps on the scene in Milledgevile William Van De Planque

With three weeks left

the Cyclone: The Musi-

before the showtime of

cal, a lead role is vacant

Contributing Writer

GC’s 2022 Spring mu-

and needs to be filled.

sical production, Ride

Max Mattox is an At-

lanta-based actor from Peachtree City, Georgia.

He is working exclusively in and traveling the country for “PAW Patrol Live!”, which is a live adaptation of the Nickelodeon hit animated show for kids.

Being back in town for about a month before going back on tour, Mattox is contacted by Iona Sun Holder, director of Ride the Cyclone, to recruit him for the show.

“My one thing was I have to have a gym membership here, I have to have a place to stay,” Mattox said. “They got me all the things, so I was like you know what, I’ll do it. It’ll be fun.”

Once Mattox landed in Milledgeville, he got to work right away, providing the professionalism that was needed to get the show back on the road.

Although in the final weeks of preparation for the show things may seem fast-paced for the student actors, this type of work was much less high-pressure than what Mattox was

used to professionally.

“The college world is a lot more relaxed,” Mattox commented on the contrast with his professional experience. In the professional world, there are hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line the first day, and actors are given two weeks to rehearse before the opening of a show, as opposed to months for a college-level production.

Mattox recognized Sun Holder would have a different approach to directing the student actors versus a professional actor. For the director, it was much easier to work with a professional actor because everything comes to him more naturally.

The student actors have a lot to learn from Mattox and his experience, as he has so many answers and insight for them.

“It’s actually a fantastic experience for the other actors,” Sun Holder said as she discussed how the addition of a professional presence on the stage was an amazing opportunity for the

students in the show.

Iona Sun Holder, who is also co-owner and operator of the local coffee shop, Blackbird Coffee, has directed numerous plays for Georgia College and was asked last spring if she would direct this year’s

spring

musical.

Sun Holder decided on Ride the Cyclone after seeing that the show was performed in the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, one of the only theatres in the country to do the musical, a few years ago, and it was very new and different, especially to bring to the GC stage.

The show is about an hour and 28 minutes long, and with no intermission, it truly does feel like a rollercoaster ride.

“I really do feel like people are going to be like, I want to see that again,” Sun Holder said.

She wanted people to come out of the show like they do getting off a roller coaster, talking about their favorite twists and turns and how much they want to ride it again.

7 LILYANA KOVACHEVA, A&L EDITOR REBECCA MEGHANI, ASST. A&L EDITOR

03.01.22

ARTS & LIFE KD HOCO

Continued from page 1

They were using

KD’s marketing all the tools in the prowess goes beyond traintegrated marketing ditional tabling and signs communication around campus. Borko toolbox: in-person notes that one of their best selling, paid placements strategies has been to pass with signs, tabling, sales out soda cans with tags promotion, digital. tied to them showing pictures of their nominees.

In addition to the ing Duchess and marketing social media posts and major, said her marketing on-campus promos, KD classes have taught her effecpartnered with Olde Tyme tive strategies for targeting Hotdog Stand to give a 15% their niche of GC students. discount when customers “Specifically my consumer show them their infographic.

“That makes a positive asso- behavior class—I’ve noticed ciation between getting a good that since homecoming all of it deal on something and KD has come together,” Bates said.

The curriculum’s focus on and you’re like ‘hey that makes me like them more,’” professor how to target a consumer has Respess said. “They were using made a positive impact on the all the tools in the integrated campaign. Bates notes that it’s marketing communication been an interesting challenge toolbox: in-person selling, marketing people to people paid placements with signs, ta- instead of products to people.

Bates explained that bebling, sales promotion, digital.”

Bates, GC Homecom- cause KD has a winning streak,

-Amanda Respess

people are more likely to vote for them. To the KD’s, having a good reputation is everything.

KD’s winning strategy likely isn’t going anywhere, so other organizations will have to adapt their campaigns if they hope to be successful.

“Well I know for a fact KD has lots of marketing and mass comm majors, so they’re putting into practice what they’ve learned,” professor Respess said. “I think the other organizations should put communication people in charge of this because they understand those tools and tactics.”

Courtesy of Mackenzie Pickle

Sydney Bates (left) and Alyssa Borko (right)

Taste of Milledgeville: The Cookie Company Rebecca Meghani

Milledgeville,” said Toll-

Tollison. “By the time I

pid’s Crush, and turning

Asst. A&L Editor

ison. “It was around

graduate, this can grow

it to be St. Patrick’s Day

A new company has

January, we started test-

into something bigger.”

themed. Along with that,

gained popularity in the

ing stuff out and trying

She started with a

she also wants to do a

past month, within the

out Valentine’s flavors.”

Facebook post on her

Lucky Charms cookie.

student body and the rest

It started in her kitch-

personal page with just

“I’m wanting to do

of Milledgeville. Kait-

en where she would test

a plate of cookies. Af-

a

lin Tollison, owner of

different

and

ter seeing the popu-

menu and wanting to

The Cookie Company,

let her family taste test

larity, she decided to

offer a few flavors all

launched her business in

them. She was inspired

create an Instagram to

the time,” said Tollison.

early February and has

by Crumbl, a popular

launch

“So, every month, have

sold over 400 cookies.

cookie

Through

She runs a home-based

flavors

her

business.

different

monthly

it

new cookies but keep

cause of their cookie size

grew at an unexpectedly

a few of the old ones.”

bakery while working

and the fun flavors that

fast rate when she an-

She expresses that she

at a management com-

they have. Though she

ticipated to start small.

hopes to have a store front

pany and finishing up

has elements of Crum-

“I

her

full-time.

bl in her company, she

March

Tollison began her

company,

be-

the

app,

started

selling

in the future, depending

boxes

before

on if it gets enough busi-

wants to do something

I created the March

ness. She plans on in-

idea for the company in

different with hers and

menu,”

Tollison.

corporating more ideas

January while visiting

create flavors that peo-

“It happened super fast

into her business, like a

her sister in Greeneville.

ple have not tried before.

and this isn’t something

cookie subscription box.

“Every time we would

“In my mind, I want-

I have been thinking

From a small Facebook

visit, we would always

ed this to be an experi-

about for even a year.”

post to an ever-growing

get a box and we started

ment and get some feed-

thinking that it would

degree,

said

she’s

Instagram page, there

back so that by the time

thinking about bringing

seems to be much ex-

be really cool to start

May comes around, I

back one of her most

citement for the future

something

can really pump it,” said

popular

of The Cookie Company.

similar

in

For

March,

cookies,

Cu-

1. Red Velvet This red velvet was more cookie-like, in terms of its texture. With the chew-y qualities, it was crumbly and crispy on the inside that broke into a softer consistency when bitten into. Easily, one of the most aesthetically pleasing cookies.

Rating: 4/5

2. Sea Salt Toffee With it not being a popular flavor, the expectations weren’t high but it exceeded them by far. With the attributing factors like the salt, the size and accoutrement, they all complimented each other and improved the cookie flavor.

Rating: 3.5/5

3. Chocolate Chip The classic chocolate chip. This cookie was the perfect amount of crispy on the outside and softness on the inside. The morsels inside were delightfully huge and was only an added plus to the size of the cookie itself.

Rating: 3.5/5

4. Cupid’s Crush This cookie had a similar texture to a moist cake.

While it was a larger cookie, the insides were as soft as a cloud. The cream cheese icing and cookie crumbles on the top, only added to the appearance, as well as the taste. The balance between the cookie and icing was the perfect ratio and wasn’t over-powering in sweetness.

Rating: 4/5

5. Red Velvet & White Chocolate Chips This one is for the people that have a major sweet tooth. The white chocolate chips and red velvet together had a very high sweetness level. The density and texture of the cookie makes it enjoyable to eat.

Rating: 2.5/5

Olivia Bowen | Staff Photographer

Kaitlin Tollison, owner of The Cookie Company, at the Big Splash Event at Sinclair Marina.