The Tragedy of Apalachee High School
Shadimon Smith News Editor
Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old, along with Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, math teachers, lost their lives in a brutal school shooting on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. An additional eight students and one teacher were injured and hospitalized after the shooting. They all are expected to survive.
“A mixture of fear and devastation,” said Kathryn Lowe, a junior marketing major. “I wanted to feel for those people, but I can not relate personally. As like, someone who will one day have kids in school and being someone who has went to public school, its terrifying.”
The shooter was Colt Gray, a 14-yearold student, who has now been charged with four counts of felony murder.
The shooting started around 10:15 a.m. Gray left his algebra
class 30 minutes prior under the guise of needing to go to the office.
Law enforcement received the first distress call around 10:20 a.m. and arrived at the school shortly after with the school resource officers. A resource officer confronted Gray, and he surrendered.
Before the shooting, the school was notified by Gray’s mother, around 9 a.m., that she had received a message from her son and that the school
PARIS 2024: THE PARALYMPICS SONGS OF THE SUMMER
Emma Jow
Contributing Writer
The Paralympics are an international, multi-sport competition following the Olympics that allows disabled athletes to compete in a variety of events.
The Paralympic Games include many events similar to those of the Olympic Games modified to accommodate athletes with impairments, however, where there are 40 total Olympic sports, there are only 28 total sports in the Paralympics.
First introduced in the 1960 Roman games, the Paralympics this year are a hub for over 4,400 athletes and 170 teams. The word “para,” meaning “alongside,” was introduced to the name in 1989, and is included in order to demonstrate how the Olympics and Paralympics work together in harmony to encompass all international athletes.
Despite the original intention for the two games to be equal, the Paralympic athletes are often regarded as overshadowed or underappreciated by their able-bodied Olympic counterparts.
After dominating in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA moved into the Paralympics, continuing to break records and bring home medals. Team USA placed third in overall standings with 105 total medals, including 36 gold, 42 silver and 27 bronze.
“A total of 127 U.S. medalists graced the podium, including 53 firsttime Paralympic medalists, and 29 athletes securing multiple medals,” according to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Team USA secured 2 golds in archery, 10 golds
in athletics, and 10 golds in swimming, with Matt Stutzman breaking the World Record in men’s archery, also being the first-ever armless archer to win a Paralympic gold.
Leanne Smith and Christie Raleigh-Crossley set world records for their respective swimming events, and the USA women’s sitting volleyball team claimed a third consecutive title.
Molly Goff Staff Writer
Whether tuning in via Spotify, Apple Music or radio, this summer was defined by the songs that soundtracked every moment.
From the sultry beats of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” to Charli XCX’s rebellious anthem “Brat,”and Billie Eilish’s viral album “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” the season saw fierce competition for the title of song of the summer.
Music influenced the summer experiences of many GCSU students. With sun-soaked beach trips, late-night drives and memorable moments with friends, students found themselves repeatedly hitting play on their favorite tracks, solidifying them as summer anthems.
“‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ was played the most because it just feels like a song you would hear at the beach, and I played it a lot
Opinion: Harris-Trump Debate
We, The People, Deserve Better
Samantha Paton
Contributing Writer
How did we get here?
Twelve years ago, I watched my first debate. It took place in 2012, and it showcased a tournament between Senator Mitt Romney and former President Barack Obama. I leaned towards my television screen as both candidates stepped onto the stage, shook
hands and walked mindfully back to their podiums. Fast forward to now, in 2024, I watched a very different narrative unfold. I observed two candidates who offer very different futures to the American people, step up on stage, awkwardly shake hands, and begin to fight and argue, further dividing the American people.
So, how did we get here?
How did Americans create this election? To understand this, we must understand the major events that have happened between the first 2024debate and the most recent one. July 13th, shortly after the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Trump was nearly killed at a rally in Pennsylvania. The outcomes of this were criticism towards federal security and protection, and
at my job, which happens to be on the beach,” said Nadia Cofer, a sophomore nursing major. “You always want to listen to it when it’s sunny, it’s an upbeat song, and a universally happy experience altogether. That’s what summer is.”
For many GCSU students, the summer was filled with jobs, internships, beach days and road trips with friends. In this atmosphere, upbeat and motivating tracks dominated playlists. Carpenter’s “Espresso” from her album “Short n’ Sweet” quickly became a favorite among students for its catchy beat and relatable lyrics. Carpenter’s ability to capture a carefree, adventurous spirit of summer resonated with listeners.
“‘Espresso’ is the cheeky, uniquely mature sound of taking the keys to your parents’ car and driving down to the shore,” said Rolling Stone.
a bizarre trend of ear bandages being worn by Republican supporters all over America.
This event shortly transcends into the Republican National Convention,
where Trump announces his long-awaited running mate, — JD Vance — and proudly accepts the Republican nomination for President.
should find him. The school officials searched for Gray but did not locate him in time to stop the attack.
Mugshot of Colt Gray | Barrow County Sheriff’s Office
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face off on ABC
Paris 2024 Games Official Stamp
See APALACHEE | Page 3
GCSU’s 2024 Nursing Recruitment Fair
Shadimon Smith News Editor
Nursing at GCSU has been a prominent major since its establishment in 1987. This has led to thousands of students coming to GCSU to study nursing.
“Nursing was a field I felt I could help the most people out,” said Christeena Rinker, a senior nursing major. “I love people and being around people and helping them.”
One way GCSU helps its students is by hosting nursing recruitment fairs, which this year was held on Monday, Sept. 9. It was held in Magnolia Ballroom, starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m.
The fair opened with nursing majors standing outside the doors with their resumes and backpacks ready to meet the many healthcare professionals from over 25 different medical facilities. Some present were Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Northside Hospital, Shepherd Center, Ethica Rehab, Wellstar Health System and Emory Healthcare.
Students attend these events looking for future positions and internships. They all dressed to impress with slacks and button-ups or even their scrubs from their clinicals.
“Today we came so that we can talk to hospitals to find our jobs for the rest of our lives,” said Rinker. “I am an extern in labor and delivery.”
All the employers in
attendance had tables filling the room. Each table was decorated with tablecloths displaying the names of each of the respective hospitals. Many had pens, business cards and information pamphlets to hand out to the nursing students of GCSU.
“It is a wonderful event,” said Rai Harris, chief nursing officer at Regency Hospital. “I come every time they host it just to be able to get connection with the up-and-coming nursing students. And really be able to promote our hospital and what we do in hopes that we can find the right match.”
There are many different paths for students
Increases to Milledgeville’s water & sewer rates are on the horizon
Cali Snodgrass
Contributing Writer
A new ordinance was passed for an 18-month, three-phase plan to change how the fees and rates for water and sewer services charge residents in Milledgeville.
The new ordinance was discussed on Aug. 27 and is based on the size of pipeage each residential or commercial building uses. The rate increase will also be determined if the home is within city limits or not — water charges are less expensive to homes inside of Milledgeville city limits than those outside. This ordinance will also affect water and sewer tap-
ping and connection fees and changes to deposits or other related fees.
Sewer tapping is the main place where the home’s sewer line connects to the main sewer line. Then these changes will change how much each person’s deposits will be.
“All residential water and sewer customers have ¾ inch or 1-inch size lines,” said Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan. “Therefore, more than 85% of the lines are 1 inch or less. The water and sewer fees on a 1-inch line, on average, will increase by about 55%.”
This means that residents of Milledgeville will have higher water bills.
VOLUME 104 | NO. 1
Editorial Board
Kate Verity.........................
Paige Blakemore............
Julia Jensen.......................
Shadimon Smith.............
Emma Eslinger................
Brennan Schmitz...........
Benjamin Clark...............
Kylie Rowe.........................
Mary Ciucevich...............
Delaney Derry..................
Isabella McComis..........
Matthew Malkowski.....
Rebecca Ocampo..........
Kassie Arps....................... Eva Galova........................
Sarah Crowder, a sophomore criminal justice major, was worried her rent might increase.
“Since I rent, I could be paying more for this,” Crowder said. “We got this house because it was so cheap, and for us to be told it could be not as cheap really sucks because the house is not that good for it to not be cheap.”
Other students were not as worried due to the nature of their leases.
“My landlord covers water,” said Livi Langston, a junior English major. “So it wouldn’t affect me, but it would affect him, and per our lease, he can’t increase rent on me.”
Parham-Copelan has
Sports Editor
Arts & Life Editor
Asst. Arts & Life Editor
Opinion Editor
Digital Media Editor
Digital Media Editor
PR Manager
Ad Sales Manager Faculty Adviser
offered some insight on where the additional funds from this new ordinance would go.
“The funds generated by water and sewer fees goes into the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund to be used for the costs associated with providing water and sewer service to City of Milledgeville Water System customers,” Parham-Copelan said. “These costs fall into the category of water and sewer treatment, delivery, collections and maintenance.”
Milledgeville has a history of struggling with water contamination due to old pipes that have rusted or damaged over the years. However, these funds might be
in the nursing major to take. After graduation, they can work in labor and delivery as a Family Nurse Practitioner, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, a Nurse Educator or in Nurse Midwifery. At GCSU, students build the skills needed to enter the work field through clinicals, lectures and simulations.
“I am looking for nurses that are looking to get a foundation in both critical care and medical-surgical,” Harris said.
“We [Regency Hospital] are a critical illness recovery hospital. So we’re able to offer the best of both worlds, if you will.”
At the fair, there
were even some GCSU Alumni at a table for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, or CHOA.
“We went to school here, me and Anna Catherine,” said Jenny Brightwell, a Certified Nurse 3 at CHOA. “And we wanted to come back and tell people how much we love working at CHOA and how nursing is a great career.”
Recruitment fairs are to help students at GCSU build their networks and allow them to see the different routes they can take after graduation. Building these face-to-face connections helps recruiters to build a stronger connection with the future nurses of the world.
used to ensure a better quality of water for the people of Milledgeville.
The ordinance shows that facilities with the largest pipes could see their rates increase by hundreds of dollars.
“The city never takes lightly increasing fees on its residents,” Parham-Copelan said. “But water and sewer rates have not increased since 2010, while necessary costs have increased fairly significantly, at least in the last 4 years. The increase is necessary to maintain the system and to make necessary improvements in the water treatment plant and delivery infrastructure.”
The first phase of this ordinance will begin on Jan. 1, 2025, followed by the second phase on July 1, 2025 and then the third and final phase beginning July 1, 2026. The information on the exact changes in price will be published in Section 90-8 of the Milledgeville Code of Ordinances.
@TheColonnade @TheColonnade
Contributing writers are always welcome at The Colonnade. Contact thegcsucolonnade@gmail. com for more information.
If you have a tip or wish to contact The Colonnade, email thegcsucolonnade@gmail. com or message our Instagram @thecolonnade.
The Colonnade is now primarily published online. Read at issuu.com/thecolonnade or on bobcatmultimedia.com.
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
APALACHEE
Continued from page 1
In May 2023, Georgia sheriff had visited Gray’s home and spoke with both Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, in reference to anonymous threats of a school shooting. Colt Gray denied knowing about the threats and law enforcement determined that there was no probable cause for arrest at the time.
“If the parents knew about the issues and they constantly had to move and the father knew as well, why would he buy his son a gun; why would he allow him to have access without his guidance?” said one anonymous GCSU faculty. “And why would you not let your school know ‘Hey, he has issues, he’s got problems can you help me?”
Colin Gray, 54, was arrested in connection with the shooting, as he knowingly allowed his son to possess the firearm used in the attack. He has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. He has recently asked for separation from other inmates due to fear of being harmed.
Charles Polhamus, Colt Gray’s maternal grandfather, commented on the arrests of his son-in-law and grandson, blaming Colin Gray.
“He needs the death penalty,” the grandfather said of his son-in-law, Colin Gray.
Colt Gray was given an AR-15 style rifle for Christmas by his father and
used it in the shooting on Sept. 4.
“How did a kid get a gun in the school?” the anonymous GCSU faculty member said. “Why aren’t there metal detectors already in the schools? The school’s not paying attention.”
Colt Gray’s mother released an open apology to the people affected by the shooting. In the apology, she says that her son is not a monster.
“If I could take the place of Mason and Christian, I would without a second thought,” Marcee Gray wrote, referring to the two 14-year-olds who died in the attack. “As a parent, I’ve always said that the loss of one of my children would be the only thing that I wouldn’t be able to come back from. I feel all of your pain and devastation. I grieve and cry with you.”
Some feel as though both parents need to be arrested.
“If the father knew the son had issues and they already moved,” said an anonymous source. “She knew about the problems and she should have been arrested too.”
Apalachee High School is the 45th school shooting to take place in the United States this year. Georgia officials are looking into new policies – policies that will help students’ mental health, detect guns and encourage people to store guns properly. Lawmakers are also looking into creating a “red flag” law that allows the state to temporarily remove guns from individuals who are displaying concerning mental health issues.
GCSU’s economic impact
Emma Eslinger Asst. News Editor
As a result of GCSU’s local impact, Central Georgia’s regional economy has increased to $308 million. The amount has grown by 1.8% over the last year and $26 million over the previous three years. GCSU has created 2,838 jobs, both on and off campus. These jobs provide income for college students and people in Milledgeville.
“Creating more jobs directly impacts the region surrounding us because of how this affects the economy,” said Keeley Casalou, a junior marketing major and economics minor.
“More people working means increased income for all those people. That money goes back into the surrounding region in the housing market, restaurant industry, small businesses, etc. It will lead to a big increase in demand in the market which means more profits for business and potentially even more job openings.”
This economic impact from GCSU goes into Baldwin, Bibb, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Washington and Wilkinson counties.
“Besides the job market, GCSU has a large economic impact on the profits of local businesses,” Casalou said. “When school is in session it brings thousands of students pouring money into the local community. This is a very positive effect. However, there are downsides
as well. Thinking about the summer when students are gone, many businesses will experience a decrease in profits due to a decrease in the number of consumers. These could be profits that are essential to the business functioning.”
With the amount of students and faculty GCSU holds and supports throughout the year, GCSU and its surrounding area are highly impacted. Whether this be through the economy or providing jobs and income for families.
“The best way to think about GCSU’s impact would be to imagine Baldwin County without GCSU,” said Cullen Wallace, an assistant professor of economics. “Obviously, a good number of faculty, staff and students would not live here and would not contribute to the local economy. It must be true that because GCSU exists, there are benefits to Milledgeville and the surrounding area; however, I’m doubtful that we can precisely estimate this impact.”
During GCSU’s Weekend of Welcome each August, the incoming freshman class participates in GC Gives Day. Groups of students spent the day working at 37 different
sites across the Greater Milledgeville area.
Some work sites included Bike Walk Baldwin, Georgia War Veterans Home, Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot, Inc., LLC and Stepping Stone Child Advocacy and Sexual Assault Center. It is estimated that GC Gives Day generated approximately $120,000 worth of student-donated labor.
Macie McCollough, a freshman biology major, participated in GC Gives Day this year. Her group sorted board games at the Local Boys and Girls Club.
“I enjoyed GC Gives Day when it came down to meeting new people in my grade and major,” McCollough said. “I feel like it didn’t relate to my major and it wasn’t super correlated to what I’m passionate about. I think it impacts the community around Georgia College more than we think it does because a lot of hands does a lot of work.”
It is clear that GCSU makes a big impact on the region through GC Gives Day. Through the amount of labor that GCSU provides the community, GCSU inevitably makes quite the economic dent.
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
Apalachee High School is in Winder, Ga.
The early weeks of college football are in the books
Hudson Taylor Staff Writer
Week one and two of the 2024 college football season have concluded, and although fans were not anticipating any upsets, they would be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised.
The first game of the season kicked off in Aviva Stadium located in Dublin, Ireland between No. 10 Florida State and unranked Georgia Tech. This was supposed to be the redemption game that Florida State needed after controversially missing out on the College Football Playoff a little less than eight months ago, but Georgia Tech was ready to play spoiler with quarterback Haynes King under center.
Florida State started hot, scoring on their opening drive thanks to a 28-yard touchdown by redshirt senior running back Lawrence Toafili. Georgia Tech would answer quickly by scoring on their first drive as well. Right before halftime, Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a career-long 59-yard field goal to tie the Yellow Jackets with a score of 14-14.
Georgia Tech came out in the second half committed to stopping the pass, as they shut
out the Seminoles in the third quarter. Late into the fourth quarter, the Seminoles tied the game with a touchdown run by Roydell Williams. The game came down to the last play to decide the winner. With only seconds to go, Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr sealed the deal with a 44-yard field goal, winning 24-21.
Kirby Smart and No. 1 Georgia picked up right where they left off last season, defeating No. 14 Clemson 34-3. What was a competitive game in the first half quickly got out of hand for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, as they allowed five touchdowns in the second half.
New SEC teams No. 3 Texas and No. 16 Oklahoma rolled, outscoring their opponents collectively 103-3.
After revamping their offensive line, the Colorado Buffaloes won their season opener 31-26. With Heisman hopefuls Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter returning, there will be a lot of points put up this year for the Buffaloes. Sanders threw four touchdowns, with three of those going to Hunter.
To cap off the first week of football, the No. 23 USC Trojans faced off against the No. 13 LSU Tigers. Without former Heisman Trophy
winner Caleb Williams, USC came in with high hopes and were ready for a new start. LSU, without their former quarterback Jayden Daniels, also a Heisman winner, was ready to prove Ve-
down mid-way through the fourth quarter, taking the lead 20-17.
With one minute left in the fourth quarter, LSU kicker Damion Ramos kicked the game-tying field goal. The celebra-
gas right, as they were a 4.5-point favorite.
With both teams scoring ten points in the second quarter, the game was tied 10-10 at halftime. Late into the third quarter, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier threw his second touchdown of the game, giving the Tigers a 17-13 lead going into the fourth quarter. USC scored a touch-
GCSU fall sports preview
Brennan Schmitz Sports Editor
With the beginning of the fall semester, GCSU’s fall sports teams are starting their 2024 season campaigns. All of the Bobcat teams look to improve on their progress from the previous season, as well as collect some hardware to add to the trophy cases.
After finishing the 2023 season with a 1417 overall record and a disappointing 1-11 conference record, the Bobcats’ volleyball team will need to be more effective in conference play. Luckily, the team can look to players like sophomore right-side hitter Rosa Fisher and junior rightside hitter Camryn Carlton, who led the team in kills last year with 77 and 71, respectively.
In the 2024 season, Fisher has already posted some impressive performances, tallying 49 kills and 11 digs in the Bobcat Classic. GCSU volleyball looks to improve upon its current 3-5 record at Francis Marion University on Sept. 20.
“We did a lot of team-building off the court,” said Sarah Pipping, a junior outside hitter. “We worked on establishing a standard for the team and what level of excellence we were going to strive for.”
The Bobcat women’s soccer team has had an excellent start to the season, boasting a 3-1 record, most recently shutting out Valdosta State University 3-0 on the road.
Courtesy of GCSU Athletics
Senior Morgan Amrozowicz readies kicks the ball
The team will play through their schedule with a chip on their shoulder this year, as they were knocked out of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament by Columbus State University in the quarterfinals in the 2023 season, giving up five goals in the loss.
The Bobcats return all of their leaders in points, a stat headed by senior forward/midfielder Morgan Amrozowicz and junior forward/midfielder Ava Martin, who both had six. This should be an advantage in getting wins this season and setting an example for the younger players.
The GCSU men’s and women’s cross country teams were both picked to finish fourth in the PBC. They began their 2024 seasons with races at the Eye Opener in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where the women placed seventh out of 17 teams, and the men placed ninth.
The Bobcats’ top performer for the women’s race was Lauren Thisdale, who posted a time of 19:57.5 and placed 51st
overall. Evan Rehrauer led the men with an 8K time of 27:00.0, which earned him 43rd place.
Last season, the men’s cross country runners ran two races last season where they placed second, which were their best overall performances of the year. They will need to place high more consistently this season to bring in some hardware.
The women also never placed higher than second, but they seemed to find more consistent success in their races, as they also ran races where they placed fourth and sixth.
The golf team recently opened their season at the Bearcat Fall Invitational, hosted by Lander University. They for 11th place with a score of 587.
The Bobcats are coming off of a lackluster 2023-24 season, but they have the chance to improve on their game on Sept. 23, where they tee up again at the Mizuno Intercollegiate hosted by the University of North Georgia.
was not a good feeling.”
ESPN’s college gameday crew took a trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan in week two, where No. 3 Texas would take on the defending champions, No. 10 Michigan. New head coach Sherrone Moore is looking to prove that Michigan is still a top team in college football.
This game went from bad to worse for the Wolverines, as they fell into a 24-3 hole going into halftime. With little room for error in the second half, Michigan kicked a field goal midway through the third quarter, trying to inch their way back into the game. However, Texas QB Quinn Ewers threw his third touchdown of the game late in the third quarter, and that would be all she wrote for the Wolverines, as they would lose 31-12.
tion was short lived, as USC scored a touchdown with eight seconds left in the game, going home with a win in week one.
“I was in shock, had such high expectations going in and was disappointed,” said Andrew Gardner, a junior marketing major and LSU football fan. “Losing the first game of the season for the fifth straight time
“Texas beating Michigan at the Big House in a blowout was a very impressive win,” said Tyler Gardner, a senior finance major. “As a Georgia fan, Texas seems like their biggest threat to win a national championship.”
No. 8 Penn State, No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 16 Oklahoma State all won their games by very close margins.
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty ran for 257 yards and six touchdowns in week two. He followed
that up by rushing for 192 yards and three touchdowns against No. 7 Oregon. Averaging 10.2 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, Jeanty has entered that elite category of Heisman candidates. Coming off one of the biggest wins in school history, No. 23 Georgia Tech dropped their game to unranked Syracuse 31-28. The game of the week came from South Bend, Indiana, where No. 5 Notre Dame would take on Northern Illinois. Notre Dame was fighting for their lives in an extremely unexpected game facing a team who was picked to lose by 28 points. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard opened the scoring early into the first quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run. Northern Illinois fired back with an 83-yard touchdown reception by Ethan Hampton. Going into the third quarter, Northern Illinois had a surprising 13-7 lead. Both teams had trouble on offense, and Notre Dame had a 14-13 lead late into the fourth quarter. With just seconds to go, Northern Illinois made a 35-yard field goal to take the lead 16-14. Notre Dame could not score, and they would lose at home.
THE RACE FOR WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Kate Briesemeister Staff Writer
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two well-known WNBA players, are in competition for the “Rookie of the Year” award for the 2024 season.
Clark is a well-rounded point guard for the Indiana Fever, and Reese is a talented forward player for the Chicago Sky. The WNBA season will come to an end on Sept.19 as the playoffs begin on Sept. 22.
Caitlin Clark is known for her record-breaking college career which led her to be the first draft pick in the WNBA. Clark has a multitude of career accomplishments and records at the University of Iowa. Her most note-worthy awards include National Player of the Year award in the 20232024 season and the all-Big-Ten award
for the first time in Iowa history.
From playing at the University of Maryland to playing for Louisiana State University, Reese made a huge impact in the women’s basketball community. Reese received the SEC Player of the Year award in 2024 and led the SEC in scoring and rebounds in the 2023-2024 season.
In Clark’s first professional season, she has recorded 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. Reese’s averages include 13.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals. Clark leads the WNBA in assists, even as a rookie. She also already set the record for most three-pointers made. Reese recorded the league’s best single-season record for rebounds as well as broke the double-double record. (10 or more in two of 5 statistical categories)
The opinions on whether Clark or Reese should win the upcoming award of “Rookie of the Year” are extremely varied among students at GCSU. A few random students passing on the college’s campus had their own thoughts on the rivalry.
Some students have strong opinions on Clark winning the award.
“Clark deserves the award more due to her recent season statis-
tics and her sportsmanship compared to Reese,” said Trey Celaya, a junior marketing major student. Other students believe Reese is the only viable option to win.
win due
Kylie Rowe | Arts & Life Editor
Benjamin Morrison, Jalen Milroe and Travis Hunter
“Reese should
to her presence on social media and her ability to help lead her team,” said Sarah Richardson, a junior exercise major.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever guard Angel Reese, Chicago Sky forward
PARALYMPICS
Continued from page 1
Although Team USA has secured these victories, amongst many others, the vast majority of the U.S. population is completely in the dark regarding the Paralympics. When asked, four GCSU students, including one student-athlete, stated they had not watched any of the Paralympic games.
Cross country student-athlete Shipley Smith stated he watched “the whole Olympics,” dedicating the most time to track, volleyball and ping-pong. These are all sports that are present in the Paralympics, however, Smith stated that he did not watch any of the games, despite seeing a few promotions for them.
The Paralympics were viewed so much less by Americans, especially Americans who showed interest in the Olympics. This speaks volumes when considering the popularity of disability representation in sports in the United States.
Two GCSU students shared that they did not watch any of the Olympics, beyond this, they expressed that they had never even heard of the Paralympic Games.
“I just didn’t know that they ex-
isted,” said Sarah Peek, a freshman mass communication major.
“I’ve never seen anything about it. I think it’s a good thing, though.”
“Yeah, I agree,” said Alexis Pellegrini, a freshman environmental science major. “I saw some promotion for the Olympics on my Instagram but I’ve never seen anything for the Paralympics. It seems cool.”
The Paralympics are seemingly underrepresented in media, with the limited representation providing no opportunity for the event to expand beyond a set of select viewers.
Young people consume news and information at the highest rate from social media. This presents a disconnect, when the official Olympics Instagram account has 11,700 posts and 12.9 million followers, while the Paralympic Games have no Instagram account at all, official or unofficial.
The Paralympics seem to be a step behind in regards to expanding their audience and raising viewership. In continuation, oftentimes the small amount of media coverage the Paralympics receives is hindering rather than helping them.
Surprises and excitement in the NFL
Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer
The start of the 2024 NFL regular season gave fans a match-up of the ages: the reigning 2023 NFL most valuable player, Lamar Jackson, led his Baltimore Ravens against the 2022 NFL MVP, Patrick Mahomes, leading his defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Both teams took home their division titles in the previous season, with the Ravens snagging the most wins in the American Football Conference, or AFC. However, the Ravens’ win total was not a sure advantage, as the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game over the Ravens by a touchdown, propelling them to win the Super Bowl two weeks later.
Unsurprisingly to fans, this game made a good case for the best of the opening weekend, with the Chiefs once again winning by a single touchdown, with a score of 27-20. However, the Ravens put up a fight until the very end, only losing on a toe-scraping touchdown that was overturned by the referees.
Week one had a lot planned this year, with the day following the AFC Championship rematch being another rivalry game between the Philadelphia Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, and the Green
Bay Packers, led by QB Jordan Love. This game was like no other seen in NFL History, as it was the first NFL game to be played in Brazil.
Both these teams had a lot to prove as well.
The highly-touted Eagles tailed off in momentum towards the end of the 2023 season, falling in the Wild Card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Green Bay Packers made it to the divisional round last winter.
Both teams put up a fight, yet Philadelphia pulled off the first NFL win in Brazil with the Eagles debut by star offseason acquisition Saquon Barkley and his 109-yard, 2-touchdown performance.
Many teams performed well during week one’s festivities, yet some did not meet their fan base’s expectations.
The Buffalo Bills took down the Arizona Cardinals with a score of 34-28 after trailing by a touchdown at half. The main story of this game was that fourth overall draft pick, potential star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., only received three targets during the game, finishing with a reception total of one for four yards.
A QB match-up of two former top draft picks, the Houston Texans against the Indianapolis Colts, ended in a shootout, with both teams scor-
ing two touchdowns in the final fifteen minutes. Nevertheless, Houston pulled out the victory.
The start of the Broncos and Seahawks game featured two field goals and two safeties for Denver, as well as a field goal and touchdown with a missed point after touchdown, or PAT, kick for Seattle. Despite a slow start, Seattle would win this game by six over Denver.
Former Cleveland Brown Baker Mayfield played excellently in the Buccaneers’ win over the Commanders, throwing for four touchdowns. If Mayfield continues passing like this, all-time wide-receiving talent Mike Evans may be on the fast track to tie Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice’s consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season record of eleven.
Tension hit the Miami Dolphins this weekend as star receiver and player-voted number one player in the NFL, Tyreek Hill, was detained by the police hours before their game against Jacksonville. Luckily for the Dolphins, Hill suited up against the Jaguars, collecting seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown, to which he promptly did a handcuff celebration in the endzone with his teammates.
After the game, fans seemed upset with the Jaguars’ performance.
“They’re going to suck,” says Max Krapf,
When the media coverage and promotional coverage for the Paralympics is already limited, it can be damaging for the small amount of exposure regarding disabled athletes to be negative.
The disabled community has long struggled with being overlooked, not only on the international scale but also within smaller, individualized communities.
GCSU does have an acclaimed Student Disability Resource Center where disabled students can go to receive aid allowing them to achieve their full potential academically. The University does not, however, offer any services for disabled students to participate in physical outdoor sports.
As an NCAA Division 2 program, GCSU places an extreme emphasis on sports, with over 60% of students also participating in intramural sports. Despite this, there are no disability-specific sports at GCSU, nor are there specific programs for disabled students to play in standard sports programs.
Whether it be on an international or local scale, the disabled community lacks representation, which houses a variety of negative ramifications for the state of disability progress in the U.S.
a freshman math major and a skeptic Jacksonville fan, not showing too much support after his team’s week one performance.
The NFL’s number one overall draft pick, Caleb Williams, struggled in his debut, only amounting for 93 yards with zero touchdowns and a 48% completion rate. Yet, Chicago’s defense told the story of this game, sacking sophomore QB Will Levis three times and picking him off twice. The defense also scooped and scored a blocked punt, amounting for two defensive touchdowns in the win over Tennessee.
The first overtime game occurred in Detroit. It involved a matchup of QBs who used to play for the opposing team: Matt Stafford and Jared Goff. Both QBs had similar stat lines, with the reigning NFC North champion Lions winning the year’s first Sunday
Night Football game with a final score of 26-20.
For the Atlanta Falcons, the start of the season did not go as planned, with a loss by eight to the Steelers, whose offense is called by former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.
“They’re going to be good,” said Coleman Jones, a freshman finance major and Falcons fan.
The first Monday Night Football of the year hosted the New York Jets at the San Francisco 49ers.
Both teams looked to push deeper into the season this year. Jets
QB Aaron Rodgers only made one passing attempt the previous year before tearing his achilles tendon against Buffalo. The 49ers were on the losing side of Super Bowl LVIII in the previous year and are looking to bring home the Lombardi trophy for the first time since 1994.
On paper, both teams have some of the best rosters in the NFL. However, the question is if they can put everything together and win out. Rodgers played more than four snaps in his opening game this year, but that did not change anything for the 49ers who continued to outplay their opponents, winning 32-19 over New York, even without being able to start last year’s Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey.
Even after a big win against New York, 49ers fans are still wondering how the San Francisco juggernaut can improve.
“They need a committed wide receiver,” says Gunnar Stringfield, a freshman finance major and 49ers fan.
Fans will need to continue to watch the NFL in the coming weeks in order to find the answers to questions raised in weeks one and two.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Nicky Nieves (sitting volleyball) and Steve Serio (wheelchair basketball) were the flag-bearers for Team USA last summer
Herty Hall’s Hidden Gem
The William P. Wall Museum of Natural History
Jaylen Mahayag Staff Writer
The William P. Wall Museum of Natural History, located in GCSU’s Herty Hall, houses an extensive collection of natural specimens from across the globe. The museum is dedicated to the study of Earth sciences, with a focus on paleontology, and remains a hidden gem for the Milledgeville community. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and offer free admission to the public.
The museum’s collection features everything from vertebrate and invertebrate fossils to preserved mammals, reptiles and birds.
“We’ve tried to concentrate the displays to make it easy to see the change in life over time on Earth,” said Ashley Quinn, a collections manager for the museum.
Popular exhibits include dinosaur fossils, eggs and the massive Père David’s Deer, which is often a hit with visitors due to its antler size.
Students play a significant role in the museum’s ongoing research.
Over the years, they have contributed to fossil excavations and published peer-reviewed journal papers. One notable collection includes Pliocene fossils from the Santa Fe River in northern Florida that are approximately 2.5 million years old. To obtain the fossils, students were required to scuba dive in order to retrieve them.
Another collection is from the kaolin deposits near Gordon, Georgia, dating back about 36 million years. These local fossils give insight into the history of Georgia and underscore the importance of the region in paleontological research.
The museum also boasts collections from distant locations, such as Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Starting in 1983, the collection is one of the
museum’s oldest. . These fossils, dating back 25 to 36 million years, include rhinoceroses, horses and camels — species that evolved in North Amer-
events once the museum reopens. A celebration is being planned to mark the 25th anniversary in 2025.
As part of the uni-
recent memory,
ica. Closer to home, the museum displays fossils from Brunswick and Gordon, Georgia, which include Colombian mammoth bones and other prehistoric animals.
These collections highlight GCSU’s unique position as both a research institution and a repository for significant historical findings.
The museum is recognized as an official repository for the National Park Service, further solidifying its importance in the scientific community, according to the GCSU website.
Herty Hall is set to undergo renovations, which will close the exhibit space for two years. The collections, however, will remain safely housed in climate-controlled rooms.
“We have about 40,000 specimens that will be stored in the collections room, and everything in the museum will be covered to protect it from damage during construction,” Quinn said.
The museum’s exhibit spaces will remain closed to the public and students until renovations are complete. Despite the closure, plans are already in place for special
MILLY SUMMER RECAP
In recent memory,
Chloe Sanders Staff Writer
Milledgeville saw many exciting and long-awaited changes this summer that had many students and locals alike excited for the upcoming fall season.
The popular Metropolis restaurant, located in downtown Milledgeville, made the big move into the vacant building on North Wayne Street, announced in March of 2024 and completed before the summer break. Students who left for the whole summer that barely got to enjoy the restaurant’s new upgrades are now back and taking full advantage of them.
The reopening was so exciting, and we love the new additions. ‘Metrop’ will continue to be a regular spot for us.
-Kelsey Sanders
re-opening occurred in late June of 2024.
Eclectic maintains an affinity for unique gifts and its eclectic accessories, now with a building that offers more space. The store continues to sell a variety of jewelry, gifts and home accessories.
Outside of downtown Milledgeville, the long-awaited Publix opened on June 26, 2024.
small shops have opened up as well. Vacant shops are left in the shopping center, waiting to be occupied by potential businesses.
versity’s academic outreach, the museum regularly hosts biology, environmental science and museum studies classes.
“My freshman year, second semester, I was taking historical geology, and we’d go to the museum often to look at certain items. It’s honestly really cool and I think everyone should go to it at least once,” said Clay Anderson, a senior, management information systems (MIS) major.
Some students have even been lucky enough to go into the full-dome planetarium which features state-of-theart graphic projection.
The museum’s role as a research hub and its unique collections, which are uncommon in the Southeastern United States, make it a vital resource for students, faculty and the community. The museum remains a cornerstone of academic life at GCSU. In many ways, the museum stands as a testament to the collaborative work between faculty, students and the broader scientific community.
In addition to a new location, Metropolis has undergone a significant transformation to a more sophisticated and modern atmosphere. Metropolis still serves the same variety of Mediterranean and Indian cuisine, with new additions added to the menu since its re-opening in May.
“Metropolis has been a restaurant my friends and I have gone to for years,” said Kelsey Sanders, a junior marketing major. “The reopening was so exciting, and we love the new additions. ‘Metrop’ will continue to be a regular spot for us.”
Along with the move of Metropolis, the accessory store Eclectic relocated from its previous location to a building neighboring the new Metropolis on North Wayne Street. The announcement of the shop’s move took place in March, while the shop’s
News broke in spring of 2024 that the grocery store’s doors would be opening soon, exciting many students and locals.
“Once I heard that a new Publix was opening this year, I got really excited,” said Hut Fahnestock, a senior business major.
“I couldn’t wait to finally get ‘Pub Subs’ and all my other groceries there,”
On opening day, any customers who entered the store were greeted by the brand new isles of food, the bakery, the deli and sub area and a plethora of self-checkout stations to accommodate any grocery needs. Since then, the new Publix has enjoyed great success, thanks to a friendly and welcoming staff.
“The staff at Publix is always so helpful and kind,” Fahnestock said. “They do whatever they can to make sure you get what you want.”
Along with Publix, located in the new Lakeside Commons, multiple
Since the move of Metropolis, many shops have opened up including a vibrant new sandwich shop called Doc’s. Doc’s offers handcrafted toasted sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, and drinks along with a variety of sides.
“Our shop is rooted in the belief that the best sandwiches start with the freshest ingredients and a love for the craft,” said Sammy Roberts, owner of Doc’s Sandwich Shop.
Aside from the opening of Doc’s, another new shop called Da’Ville has opened up, serving brunch and breakfast. Da’Ville offers traditional breakfast items like pancakes and eggs, while also serving special breakfast and lunch dishes like their Lakeside Special and Camilla Slater’s Lamb Chops and Grits. The opening of new restaurants like Doc’s and Da’Ville bring unique and familiar foods and flavors to downtown Milledgeville. Milledgeville is constantly evolving, and with the growing populations of both locals and students, new businesses and restaurants open every Inyear. recent memory,
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor
ARTS & LIFE
STUDENT OPINIONS ON AN UPDATED PAWS
Kylie Rowe A&L Editor
During the summer of 2024, someone made the decision to update PAWS. Whether that was GCSU’s decision or up to the University System of Georgia (USG), this update has frustrated many on the GCSU campus.
In a Front Page update in March of 2024, students were warned that Banner version 8 was being replaced with version 9 by GCSU’s IT team. The update was mandated by the USG IT, which means that every student in the USG had to relearn the new PAWS system.
While it may not seem like a big deal that the format of a website changed, GCSU students have had difficulty adjusting to certain aspects.
“I think it was hard to figure out at first and there was not a lot of direction of how to get to the things I needed like my schedule,” said Gracie Hagen, a senior mass communications major. “Eventually, I figured it out. It was just a learning curve that felt unnecessary.”
GCSU students are fighting left and right to adjust to the new process. Seniors, especially, are finding the switch difficult after spending three years learning a certain way of doing things and having to adjust abruptly.
“It’s difficult to navigate and tricky to find what you are looking for,” said Nicole Rubin, a senior marketing major. “I’m a senior this semester, so having this sudden change has been
difficult because I am used to the old system.”
Though GCSU gave an alert of the change in March, when the site was being changed officially, they never gave any direction or crash course to the students. Rubin felt that the Front Page post was not enough.
“I wish the school gave us a heads up the system was changing because I remember last registration period, it was difficult to find my course schedule, find out what time classes were offered, etc,” Rubin said.
This USG-forced step into the future may make PAWS easier to navigate for future generations that do not remember the original setup, but for those bobcats that are stuck in their ways, the adjustment means
spending their last one or two years confused while attempting to find their information.
ianna Martin, a senior psychology major. “It is also more confusing to navigate. Especially
“I think the new PAWS is a lot less visually appealing,” said Il-
considering the loss of C.A.T.S., which made it really easy to browse all the classes GCSU offers.”
However, not all students think that the PAWS update is the worst. GCSU’s attempt to rebrand into a more modern college atmosphere is arguably unsupported by the PAWS update.
“I find the new PAWS update to be more modernized and to represent our university, which is constantly adapting to student preferences and changes to better our college and campus,” said Eve Briscoe, a junior English major. “Personally, it has taken some getting used to as I used the previous PAWS frequently, but the update is easy to navigate and less ‘busy’ than the previous system.” Whether students love or hate the new PAWS, it seems that it is here to stay.
GCSU attempts world’s largest Tamia Dance Line
Ryan Grant Staff Writer
On Thursday, Sept. 12, the first-ever World’s Largest Tamia Line Dance event was held in GCSU’s Magnolia Ballroom, and the music took over central campus. This event was hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Belonging; along with the Black, Latino and Asian Student Alliances.
Any student or staff member was welcome to the event to emphasize The Hub’s goal of inclusiveness. During the event, volunteers with OIB asked that attendees sign their names and collect any of The Hub. merch that included calendar lists and button pins in the ballroom lobby.
There was an incredible turnout of the practice event held the week before. The volunteers were given the chance to teach line dancing to whoever attended the main event. A GCSU Department of Theatre and Dance instructor, Desaree Murden played a large part in making this event both authentic and inclusive to anyone willing to learn the dance.
“A culture of connectedness on campus that fosters positive morale and mutual respect for all students, faculty and staff” said Jennifer Birch, coordinator at the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, when asked about the goal of the event.
At GCSU, the OIB promotes the belief that every student matters no matter how small a group may be.
During the event, there was popular, lively music drawing in students and staff. The overall ener-
SONGS
Continued from page 1
For many, summer is synonymous with freedom and creating lasting memories, particularly on trips to the beach. These moments become intertwined with music, and certain tracks can evoke powerful memories long after the season ends. For some students, the summer was not just about fun but also about empowerment.
“It’s hard to pick just one song to capture my summer experience, but two that stick out to me are ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus and ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls,” said Ansley Youngerman, a se-
nior history major. “Both of these songs have girl power vibes, and I spent this summer spending time with friends making memories.”
The resurgence of empowering, nostalgic tracks like “Wannabe” played a big role in shaping the summer soundtrack for many students, especially those looking for a mix of modern hits and throwbacks. Whether it was reliving the 90s or finding new ways to celebrate female empowerment, songs like these resonated deeply with listeners.
In addition to pop, there was a significant resurgence of alternative, rock and folk genres this summer. What were
gy was very high and everyone that went was very excited to be there and win fun door prizes. Current students can include themselves in future events like this to help teach the GCSU community about cultural activities that would otherwise go unknown.
“It requires a lot of intricate footwork, but it’s so popular in African American community circles,” Birch said.
The popularity and culture behind the dance, she says, is what inspired this event that she ran.
The overall turnout of the event was less than expected with only 20 people showing up. In the middle of the scheduled event, there were a total of 15 people dancing in the ballroom to popular music.
“I know someone on the board for the Black Student Alliance and he recommended to check
once considered niche genres gained mainstream traction, especially among younger listeners who were exploring a wider variety of music.
“‘Love Your Guts’ by Happy Landing is my favorite song of the summer because I got really into folk music, and it has that modern folk music vibe I really like plus it’s fun to drive to,” said Sonni Stephens, a sophomore Spanish major. “ I think the song of the summer has to be a song that fits the energy of how you want your summer to be, and something that is upbeat and enjoyable to listen to.”
The growing popularity of alternative and folk music is indicative
of how this generation’s music tastes are expanding beyond traditional pop. Whether it is the sunny, breezy vibe of indie folk or the rebellious energy of alternative rock, the variety of genres making their way into students’ playlists reflects a shift toward more eclectic listening habits.
As the summer of 2024 comes to a close and students settle back into their academic routines, this year’s summer soundtrack left a lasting impression. For GCSU students, the songs that defined their summer were not just catchy tunes — they were a reflection of their moods, experiences and memories.
From nostalgic
it out,” said Jayden, an attendee at the event. Some people gain awareness of events like this through recommendations and friends.
“Usually, I first start going to campus events to hang out with friends that go to them,” said Elijah Reyelts, who likes to go to events hosted by The Hub.
Unfortunately, Reyelts did not attend the event, but would have been more likely to in the case that the event was brought up by a friend.
The event was downsized and moved because of the weather that moved in Thursday afternoon. Without the inclusion of the event’s backup location on campus signs, students were not well informed on whether or not the event would have continued.
throwbacks to girl power anthems and the growing prominence of alternative and folk genres, the songs of the summer told the story of a generation finding its musical identity. Whether you were
dancing with friends to Miley Cyrus or cruising down the highway to “Happy Landing,” the soundtrack of the summer of 2024 will continue to resonate as the weather cools and fall approaches.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
In recent memory,
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
What did you do last summer?
Delaney Derry Opinion Editor
Ladies and gentlemen, school is in session! It is gotime. The long-awaited summer break we all crave semester after semester is officially over. Life is back to long hours in the library and late-night cram sessions the day before a quiz. What did summer look like for GCSU students? Is it all the beauty and aesthetic we see on Instagram or is the reality less glamorous?
On social media, summer is always fun pictures at the beach with friends, campfires and s’mores or simply sleeping in on a Tuesday when any other month you might have had to wake up early and finish that essay you had been procrastinating for the past week… yeah no, that has never happened to me either. Whatever the case, summer does not seem to truly be the end of the semester the way it once did in elementary or middle school. College is just an endless void of work, assignments and going from one place to the other, but in the busyness of being a college student, when should we truly settle down and rest? We certainly do not spend all of June and July just relaxing. School may be out, but we are still at work. Whether it is actually working a job or taking more classes, summer is not a time for us to just rest up for the next school year. Is it really beneficial for us to just take the entire summer off?
According to the “Stanford Report”, having a summer job may actually make a difference in improving academics because it encourages better ways of thinking. I whole-heartedly agree. When you are out of school, I think it is more beneficial to keep yourself busy with things rather than just taking the whole summer off. Since I have been in college, I have not had a summer completely free with zero responsibilities. The summer after my freshman
year I studied abroad and took two courses in Paris. My second summer, which was this previous Summer 2024, I went on a beach project for eight weeks while working a 40 hour week job at a hotel.
Now, I am not saying all students should be like me and fill their summers with busy schedules and leave no time for rest. Finding the right ways to rest, especially after a really chaotic semester, is really important. But it is beneficial to students to continue the grind even after the semester is over.
“I went on this really cool thing called Summer Leadership Project,” said Emily Granier, a junior environmental science major. “I am a part of Campus Outreach at GC and they do this trip to help students learn the gospel and grow in their faith. I feel like this summer was a good way for me to catch up on making money since I do not make a lot during the semester. It was cool to take that opportunity through Campus Outreach to work and get out of my comfort zone.”
Granier went on the same trip that I did this past summer, and I can attest that it truly was the coolest opportunity ever. It personally helped me to develop new skills while working at a very fast-paced and quick-thinking kind of job, and I am confident that the same can be said for other students who spend their summers doing something productive. I do feel like my own experience of keeping my summers filled with activity has helped me during the academic year. I feel as though I can focus my attention more on the tasks at hand and not have to struggle so much adjusting to a new and full schedule of balancing classes, work and a social life.
“If I were to have stayed home all summer and just rested, I would have gone crazy,” Granier said. . “I think it is better to find rest academically, but it was more beneficial for me to keep working and go on SLP.”
There are ways of finding rest during the summer
that do not have to mean taking the whole summer off. The break can be a fun-filled time with friends while also keeping you productive. But summer break is definitely much needed. Students are in desperate need of time to just breathe every now and then, but summer can be a great time to not just keep up the pace but also get ahead. Whether through taking classes, working, going on a trip or even learning in a different country, take advantage of the summer and broaden your horizons, get out of your comfort zone, make a little money or even just find something to keep yourself from going crazy from boredom. No one ever got anywhere standing still, and is that not the whole reason we are in college — to get somewhere? So, when you think about it, what did you do this summer that can be useful for the new semester? And what might you do next summer to advance yourself in ways beyond the classroom?
On this season of Dancing With the Stars...
Delaney Derry Opinion Editor
“Dancing with the Stars” is back again for Season 33. The season premiere is Tuesday, Sept. 17, and the new cast for this next season is quite an interesting lineup.
You have your runof-the-mill actors and actresses like “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Tori Spelling, who I am personally excited for. Then, you have your reality stars like Joey Graziadei from “The Bachelor.” Finally, there are your athletes, like Olympic gold medalist Stephen Nedoroscik, who I think could be considered a reality star because the 2024 Paris Olympics felt more like a reality show than a decades-old competition, but do not even get me started on that… Regardless, this new season is cast with a perfect range of celebrities with diverse claims to fame. Well, it is almost perfect. In this new season, there is one “celebrity” that is creating a lot
of buzz for the show, and that is Anna Sorokin, otherwise known by her moniker “Anna Delvey.”
According to ABC News, Sorokin is known as the “fake heiress” who committed numerous financial crimes and whose gilded lifestyle inspired the Emmy-nominated Netflix show “Inventing Anna.” Sorokin was convicted on eight counts. She scammed countless people, hotels and banks and made her way using invalid credit cards or fake bank statements to create the illusion of wealth. She even scammed people by creating a private club and art foundation called the Anna Delvey Foundation to entice wealthy donors and further her brand. She was sentenced to 12 years in
prison but was released on good behavior in 2021. Sorokin has told the media that she was given special permission from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave house arrest to be on the show. Now, both she and the show are receiving a lot of backlash for her casting.
“Looking at the ethics of the whole thing, I do not think letting someone who just got out of jail to dance on a show is a great idea,” said Jack Ulrich, a junior management major. “Also, wasn’t Carol Baskin on it one year? Whatever racks in the most views, I suppose.”
I really enjoy “Dancing with the Stars.” I love seeing celebrities I know compete against each other, wear glam-
orous outfits and dance complicated numbers. It is so fun. However, if it is cool to let a convicted felon compete on a show that is meant to be wholesome and fun entertainment, then what are the standards for casting someone for the show and what makes someone a true celebrity? Just because Sorokin is well-known, can she be considered a celebrity? I know she already has a whole show about her life, but is that even actually a good thing?
“I love Dancing with the Stars,” said Lexie Anderson, a Milledgeville resident. “I love seeing my favorite celebrities dance and have fun outside of their normal context, but I am confused by Anna Delvey. I just don’t know how they al-
lowed a convicted felon on the show. They always talk about the celebrities and their backstories, and I am just interested to see what they’re going to tell her story.”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the interviewer asked Sorokin if she was going to be bejeweling her ankle monitor for the show, and she said yes and that her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, was going to do it for her.
Guess what? She really meant it. Sosa got to work. She now has a rhinestone ankle monitor ready to match each of her dazzling dance costumes. Who does she think she is? Lindsey Lohan? No one could pull that look off again. It was just too iconic. It is like they are trying to do something with Sorokin and appeal to the younger viewers, but I just do not think we are reacting the way the showrunners anticipated.
Or maybe we are? Maybe the producers expected negative atten-
tion, but attention is still earning them views, and, by extent, money. Maybe they knew from the beginning that Sorokin’s inclusion was going to be met with mixed reviews but chose to include her anyway to get the attention of people who do not usually tune in each season? Even if this was the motive, it stills leaves me questioning. Is it even ethical to have Sorokin on the show? I am not entirely sure about that, but I do know that the show is about dancing with the “Stars.” I do not think that Delvey is a star. I am interested to see how they will tell her story, and if there will be a turnaround in the viewers’ opinions of her inclusion in the show. For the show’s sake, I hope so because it is one that I have enjoyed since I was a kid. At the very least, I am positive that this season will be one that is very entertaining and definitely one that fans will not quickly forget.
Delaney Derry | Opinion Editor
Dancing With the Stars logo
OPINION
DEBATE
Continued from page 1
But the show is far from over. On July 24th, Biden, the incumbent and expected Democratic nominee, withdrew from the race. It was assumed that Biden would throw his support behind current Vice President Kamala Harris, but some democratic players, such as Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, took much longer to endorse Harris. Nonetheless, Harris was confirmed as the nominee at the Democratic National Convention where performances such as Lil Jon’s, ‘Down for What’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground’ set the tone for what will be the most historic election in American history.
The handshake felt around the world
So much has changed, yet so much is still the same. Eight weeks from Election Day both candidates are working endlessly to convince America that they would be best fit to carry the nation on their backs for the next four years. The purpose of debates is to create that personal connection with the American people and allow them to see how you would best lead. I looked forward to seeing who prepared the best policies and who would best take care of the American people. Instead, I witnessed what seemed to be the most uncomfortable and awkward handshake ever presented to my eyes. This was the first handshake in a presidential debate since Trump and Hillary Clinton squared off in 2016. This was a bold move on Harris’ part and one that definitely stuck with the American people. She set her tone for the debate, and Trump set his.
Economy
The moderators started strong with a question related to one of the most important issues facing the American people: the economy. Harris is promising the American people she will cut taxes, especially for middle-class families, but after 30 seconds of her deliverance, she blamed Trump for the broken economy that preceded her administration. She stated that if he comes back into office, Trump’s policies will blow the deficit. Trump makes no hesitation to defend his policies and delivered one of his infamous Trumpisms, saying that the Biden-Harris administration’s plan for the economy is “like Run, Spot, Run” in a not-so-clear comparison to the simplicity of a children’s book. In between his insults towards his opponent, Trump promises to cut taxes, which seems to be a trending approach, in addition to foreign tariffs towards adversaries such as China and Russia. Trump also made sure he did not move onto the next topic without throwing one last insult towards Harris, or more so her father, by calling him a Marxist. He even offered to send her a MAGA hat. Trump really seems to love his merch.
Abortion
After many minutes of quarreling, the two prospective leaders of the free world then move on to discuss one of the more divisive topics: abortion. Trump, highlighting the Democrats’ failure to get legislation passed securing student loan forgiveness, prophesied that Harris would fail at passing legislation to protect abortion too..
Trump appeared to seek to modernize his stance on abortion but struggled to find a sturdy middle ground. In an attempt to deliver her message to the American people, Harris delivered a strong argument on the need for abortion protection in a way Biden was never able to. She highlights cases where women are struggling to receive care in instances where they are actively seeking to have a child, and did well presenting her case instead of attacking her opponent.
Immigration
In every question, Trump will make sure he incorporates immigration, except, of course, when the question is related to immigration. Once im-
Transfer of power, January 6, and Elections
Would it be a debate if Jan. 6, 2021 was not mentioned? Of course not; it’s 2024. A peaceful transfer of power is a big topic for the American people as we watched hundreds of Americans storm the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Harris stands her ground, saying Trump was fired by 81 million people and is having a hard time dealing with it. Trump’s response was to blame Jan. 6 on Nancy Pelosi and, of course, circle it back to immigration. When asked what the country needs to ensure a peaceful transfer of power next January and fair elections Trump says, “We need a wall and good elections.” Foreign Policy
My personal aspiration is a career in national security, so my ears perked up a little bit more when the topics of Ukraine and Gaza surfaced. Since Biden has been in office, we have pulled our troops out of Afghanistan and are no longer directly involved in any major global wars. I care deeply about America’s involvement with our
migration is the subject of the questions, Trump’s answers seemed to shift to Harris rallies, World War III, how he fired his staff and how the Department of Justice has failed him.
Trump was not the only candidate who failed to deliver solid answers on the topic of immigration.. Besides the single mention of the unpassed border bill, Harris turns this question into a narrative of her own by inviting Americans to attend Trump rallies, claiming Trump wants to terminate the Constitution and then insisting we turn the page on the same old playbook of American politics.
But there was one comment in particular that surprised the American people. In the last eight years that Trump has been in the political spotlight, there have been some just objectively wild phrases to leave his mouth, but most pale in comparison to the accusation that immigrants are eating “the dogs, the cats, and the pets.” But hey, his voice is once again trending on TikTok as people make videos of their pets’ reactions to what Trump is saying with a new trend of users satirically (and safely) putting their pets in pots.
this is related to affordable health care. Harris turns it back to be on topic, and this time, the topic sticks with Trump. Since its adoption during the Obama administration, the Affordable Care Act has been eternally up for discussion. According to Trump, the Affordable Care Act was lousy but should only be changed if there is something better. Harris rebuttals with a plan to strengthen healthcare while keeping private insurance. We then hear another famous Trump line, outlining that “he has a concept of a plan, but he is not president yet.” I guess we have to wait and see what happens if he gets elected.
foreign allies and adversaries, and I can admit that I am concerned about the current status of American foreign affairs. This was also presumed to be an advantage for Trump and his team going into the debate; however, this, like everything else, turned into a weapon to be used against him.
Trump continues name-calling and attacks Harris’ foreign strategies and potential policies. However, on the flip side, I feel that Harris’s foreign policies do not strike me as significantly stronger. She is far from a saint in the battle of name-calling and insults, claiming “Putin would eat Trump for lunch.” (I wonder how that meal would go.)
Harris stands her ground though, asserting that she has met with Zelensky five times and is actively working for our foreign adversaries to stabilize the global sphere of power. Healthcare, climate change, guns, what…
Why is it that healthcare and climate change always come last? I sit tirelessly, waiting for the debate to be over, when I suddenly learn that Harris and running mate Tim Waltz are both gun owners. I am unsure how
What ‘The People’ still want We have discussed the topics that were mentioned, but what about the topics that were not mentioned? As a native Georgian, I find it insulting that there was no mention of the school shooting at Apalachee High School and that there was no mention of gun control and discussion surrounding gun laws in America. As a young first-time voter, there were very few topics that simply applied to just me. In comparison to the last debate in July, where a question related to education turned into a conversation about which candidate was better at golf, there was no semblance of a question related to education or job retention opportunities. I will be graduating in two years, and along with many of my peers, I am worried about the job market and a stable economy. Another topic that I and many other young voters are concerned about is mental health care. The number of people struggling with mental health problems are way too high and prominent an issue, especially in the younger demographic, for a potential president to not talk about. I, and many others, would be intrigued to hear what either candidate will do to tackle the mental health epidemic that I see creeping into this country. Both candidates love to talk about crime rates, but what about criminal justice reform? Let’s talk about overcrowded prisons we have and the slow-moving justice departments all over America. I also found it surprising that, even four years after the widespread protests surging the nation about police reform, that there was no focus on police brutality or police system reform. Harris, being a former prosecutor and district attorney, should at least acknowledge that the system is broken, and Trump, who has made it clear that he believes the Department of Justice has failed at their job, has said nothing outside of the fact he was not given a fair trial. What about the millions of Americans who might feel similarly?
To close, I have a message for both Trump and Harris: I am one of the American people, and I have had enough. We, the people, deserve better.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump
