Wallows headline GCSU’s annual spring concert
Mary Ciucevich A&L Editor
GCSU hosted its annual Spring Concert with band Wallows headlining alongside openers Medium Build and Battle of the Bobcats winner, Subatomic. The concert took place at the Centennial Center, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and music starting shortly after. During Homecoming week, students voted from a long list of artists on who they wanted to perform at the 2025 Spring Concert. The list consisted of artists like
Are personal essays rigged?
Molly Goff Opinion Editor OPINION
In recent memory,
Picture this: it’s your senior year of high school, and you are sitting down to write your personal essay for a college application. You’ve heard all the stories about parents, siblings, family members and friends, but you
want to be different and stand out.
When you search online for more inspiration, you’re stumped. You want your essay to have personal meaning, but to sound eloquent enough for admissions to see you have what it takes. Maybe that’s the problem. There’s no formula for what works. No magic theme that guarantees acceptance, so why do some heartfelt,
2025 NFL Draft
Brennan Schmitz Sports Editor
The 2025 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday, April 26, with several surprises for football fans.
The first round went as many fans and experts predicted it would.
With the No. 1 overall pick, the Tennessee Titans selected former University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
Ward started his college career at the University of the Incarnate Word as an unranked prospect. He then transferred to Washington State University, where he turned heads before transferring to Miami for his final year to make one final case to NFL teams, which turned out to be a strong one.
The next choice was generally agreed upon to likely be University of Colorado Boulder wide receiver/defensive back and 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter, and it was, but not to the team that originally held the second pick.
Before making their choice with the No. 2 overall pick, the Cleveland Browns traded spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that thought Hunter was too good a prospect to let go to another team.
With Ward and Hunter off the board, the New York Giants selected former Penn State University edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third pick. After a dominant regular season and playoff run with the Nittany Lions, Carter seemed like a no-brainer and the best player available.
The Giants would also pick former University of Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick, a player that teams seemed to like but not many saw being picked in the first round. Dart will likely have time to sit and learn behind recent veteran signees Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson before taking over New York’s offense.
See DRAFT | Page 4
Role Model, Neon Trees, T-Pain and many more. The concert’s artists, officially announced on the Friday of homecoming week, were to be Wallows and Medium Build. Tickets were sold at GCSU The Den for the low price of $20 each.
Wallows is a popular indie boy band fronted by Dylan Minnette, famous for his role as Clay Jensen in the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why.” The band has popular hits like “Are You Bored Yet?” featuring Clario, “Remember When,” “Pleaser” and “Calling After Me.” With the doors open-
ing, students who were eager to see Wallows had the opportunity to score barricade spots directly in front of the stage. For those who did not wish to stand the entirety of the concert, there was seating available on the sides of the pit area.
GCSU’s very own Subatomic opened the night with performances of original songs and concluded their set with “Where Is My Mind” by the Pixies.
Cole Smith, a sophomore psychology major and guitar player in Subatomic, detailed what the band tends to lean
unique essays still result in rejections?
“My personal essay was about my journey to hearing,” said Callie Paulk, a freshman elementary education major. “It took me some time to speak as a kid, so in turn my parents taught me a little bit of ASL [ or American Sign Language] until I learned how to speak. Even then, I was still struggling because I could not hear correctly, so I learned how to say words incorrectly which resulted in me going to a speech therapist.”
Paulk’s story about her journey to
towards when it comes to the covers they play or where their inspiration for originals stems from.
“I think when it comes to covers, we kinda just play grunge kind of music and that’s where our inspiration for a lot of our music comes in,” Smith said. “I know Will [bass guitar player] and I take a lot of inspiration from a band called Julie [..] and indirectly from Julie we get some Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth and maybe a little Slowdive.”
See WALLOWS | Page 6
hearing was real, yet it was inspirational to others. The goal of a personal essay is to have a takeaway and come out of it inspired, so why was she denied her first-choice school?
“I originally wanted to go to UGA, but did not get in. I think even if I did get in with my personal essay and other factors, I am glad I am here at GCSU and was accepted with those factors in this case because I fit better at a school like GCSU than UGA anyway,” Paulk said.
See ESSAY | Page 8
Navigating on-campus housing
What to know about traditional dorms vs GCSU’s West Campus
Madi Hummel Staff Writer
First-year housing may seem like a difficult task for incoming freshmen to navigate. GCSU wants to help alleviate the stress by providing new students with detailed information about housing and a smooth transition into college life.
There are seven residence halls on campus: Adams, Bell, Foundation, Napier, Parkhurst, Sanford and Wells. There are also apartment-style residence halls, called the Village Apartments, on West Campus.
Bell Hall is the designated Honors College residence hall and is the only dorm out of the seven on-campus halls located on main campus. The other six residence halls are all located in the southwest corner of central campus, on W Greene St. and near the Centennial Center.
It is roughly a 10-minute walk from the six central campus dorms to the main campus, and there are
bus stops located along W Greene St. that shuttle students throughout the GCSU grounds.
Anabel Kissel, a sophomore mass communication major, lived in Foundation Hall during her freshman year and regularly walked to and from class.
“It’s one of the furthest dorms on central campus, but the walk wasn’t bad at all,” Kissel said, “And if the weather was bad, I’d usually hop on the bus.”
There are generally two students in a room in the central campus residence halls. Bell Hall is unique in that it offers rooms for three students. All of the central campus
dorm rooms are suitestyle, meaning there is a bathroom in between two dorm rooms that four students share.
While the dorm halls are co-ed, there are no co-ed suites, and the bathrooms are shared by students of the same gender. Each bathroom suite has a main room with two sinks and a large mirror, a room for the toilet and a room for the shower.
“Having multiple racks in the shower room helped the four of us keep our products organized without having to tote things back and forth,” Kissel said. “I recommend getting racks that hang on the backs of doors.”
All of the residence halls have their laundry rooms with several washing machines and dryers that students must pay to use. There are also communal spaces, like study rooms, multi-purpose game rooms and large kitchen areas within each hall for the students to enjoy. The Village Apartments, located on West Campus, are located two miles west of central campus, off Highway 441. The West Campus Village Apartments are within walking distance of the Wellness and Recreation Center and intramural sports fields. See HOUSING | Page 2
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
GCSU West Campus Village Apartment Living Room
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
HOUSING
Continued from page 1
The Village Apartments of West Campus are more of an apartment-style residence hall compared to those of central campus, with the option of a four-person unit or an eight-person unit.
Each unit in the West Campus firstyear housing complex comes equipped with a fully furnished living room and a kitchen with several amenities.
Ari Johns and Summer Morse, sophomore biology majors, lived in the Village Apartments during their freshman year.
“It was great,” Johns said. “We would always hang out in the living room, and we became like a little family.”
Both the central and west campus residence halls include similar amenities in each room: full-sized bed frame, dresser, bookshelf, desk and chair. Each room also has a lockable closet for each student.
“One thing the dorms don’t have that I’d recommend bringing is an air purifier,” Morse said. “Everyone had them.”
Those planning on living in the West Campus residence halls should be advised that the complex is not within a reasonable walking distance of the main campus,
but given the distance and location, there is a bus system that runs out of West Campus for students’ convenience.
“I chose to have a random roommate and it worked out great for me,” Kissel said. “I filled out a questionnaire and got matched with a girl pretty soon after.”
Incoming first-year students should complete their housing application forms by May 1 of the year they will start attending. The housing application gives students the option of choosing between central and west campus dorms and preferred residence halls. Students are also able to confirm their desired roommates through
the housing application or fill out a short questionnaire to be assigned a random roommate.
“The sooner you complete the application, the faster you get paired with a roommate and find out what dorm you’ll stay in,” Kissel said. “Don’t wait until the last minute.”
The Central Campus and Village Apartment rates for the 2025-26 school year are available for viewing on the GCSU university housing website. For both central and west campus residence halls, utilities are included in the rates.
After first-year students complete the steps to live in the residence halls, the fi-
nal step is moving in.
The main move-in dates for the 2025 fall semester first-year students are Aug 1 -14.
Ellen Gunji, a sophomore art major and community advisor in Foundation Hall, will be one of the many helpers guiding new students during move-in.
“Move-in can get a little hectic, but there are always people ready to help,” Gunji said.
The Cat Crew, a group of GCSU volunteers, acts as movers for students who need help getting their belongings into their new dorm rooms.
“The Cat Crew helps out a lot,” Gunji said, “They are only at the residence halls in the
The truth about fluroide in our water
Brianna Heard Staff Writer
For decades, local governments across the United States have added fluoride to drinking water to help reduce cavities and improve dental health. Today, nearly two-thirds of Americans have access to fluoridated water, often credited with lowering the rate of tooth decay, especially in children.
Water fluoridation was first introduced in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1945, after studies showed that children who drank naturally fluoridated water had fewer cavities. The practice quickly spread across the country, supported by decades of research.
But recently, the conversation around fluoride has shifted. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has publicly called for the removal of fluoride from public water systems, citing concerns over the potential effects
of long-term exposure.
“We don’t need fluoride in our water,” Kennedy said on Morning Edition. “It’s a very bad way to deliver it into our systems.”
Following his statements, some states have begun to take action, moving toward bans on water fluoridation and raising concerns among health professionals and educators.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, community water fluoridation can reduce cavities in children and adults by about 25%. It’s also been recognized by the CDC as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Some critics argue that fluoride, when consumed in high amounts, could lead to negative health effects, including dental fluorosis, which is a mild discoloration of teeth and potential longterm risks, though those claims are still debated in the scientific community.
VOLUME 105 | NO. 11
Editorial Board
Delaney Derry.................
Editor in Chief
Still, the fluoride levels used in drinking water are carefully regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are considered safe by organizations like the American Dental Association. Others point to con-
skepticism about government-regulated health practices, have pushed the debate further into the public spotlight.
Among students on campus, awareness and opinions about fluoride in drinking water vary.
cerns about informed consent, arguing that individuals should have the right to choose what substances they consume, even in small doses. These concerns, paired with growing
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Managing Editor
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mornings, though, so make sure to come early.”
After move-in days, students will get acquainted with GCSU and their new dorms.
Each residence hall has multiple community advisors, or CAs, on duty at all times.
“As CAs, we’re here to help the freshman,” Gunji said. “We put safety first, but students can come to us about pretty much everything and we are happy to assist them.” As the next school year approaches, GCSU is overall excited to welcome new students to campus.
it being in my water.”
However, Georgia Barham-Taylor, who is a junior biology major, did not have concerns.
“I personally am not against adding fluoride to the water,” Barham-Taylor said. “However, I do understand why it causes worry in others.”
According to Roselyn Crisp, president of the North Carolina Dental Society and a pediatric dentist, eliminating fluoride could have the most noticeable impact on underserved communities, particularly those with limited access to routine dental care or who may not be able to afford fluoride toothpaste and treatments.
Kitchen Sink
“I had no idea that fluoride had been added to drinking water,” said Meredith Peyton, a junior psychology major. “I’m not really sure what fluoride is, and I feel kind of uneasy about
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Without fluoride in the water, preventative dental care may become less accessible to large portions of the population, potentially leading to a rise in cavities, tooth extractions and other oral health issues, especially among children and older adults.
“I think it is perfectly fine that the government
decides what is added to our drinking water,” Barham-Taylor said. “As long as these actions are backed by legitimate scientific data and the public remains informed.”
As more states like Florida, South Carolina and Ohio weigh the decision to keep or ban fluoride, the debate is far from over. For now, experts urge students and the public to stay informed and look at the science before jumping to conclusions.
“The U.S. isn’t known for doing well when it comes to public health,” Peyton said. “ However, it is important for the government to have control over what is in our water as they have more knowledge about it than the general public.” In the end, the future of fluoride in public water might just come down to finding the right balance between science, personal choice and what feels right for each community.
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The Colonnade is now primarily published online. Read at issuu.com/thecolonnade or on bobcatmultimedia.com.
Georgia announces tuition rates for Fall 2025
Amelia McEwen Staff Writer
Georgia tuition rates during the fall 2025 semester have been announced, revealing the usual relatively stable rates, with out-of-state and international tuition rates slightly increasing at some institutions. Online and in-person semester-based fees will rise at certain Georgia institutions and will fall at others.
State legislatures at the University System of Georgia, or USG, have worked continuously to keep tuition affordable for undergraduate students in the state of Georgia by integrating scholarships, such as HOPE and Zell. These scholarships play a pivotal role in keeping higher education affordable for Georgians.
These efforts align with USG’s mission to ensure that higher education remains accessible to keep Georgia an educated state.
Public universities in the state receive state funding, which lowers
tuition for in-state students. Out-of-state and international students do not contribute to the taxes being paid in the state and therefore, are met with higher tuition rates to offset their lack of contribution to the taxes.
Though most in-state undergraduate students will see no change in tuition, some institutions expect changes in other programs for the upcoming fall semester. According to USG, the 26 public colleges and universities will see a 2% increase in out-ofstate tuition and a 3% increase for international students concerning undergraduate studies.
These changes reflect ongoing investments in campus facilities, student services and digital learning platforms, ensuring that colleges in Georgia maintain their standings as respectable academic institutions.
Students at the University of Georgia, or UGA, will have their overall fees rise from $708 to $729. Additionally, online undergraduate fees will go from $11 to $422.
“I attend in-person classes at UGA and the fee increase doesn’t seem like much of a difference
Georgia State University is continuing to keep stable tuition and fee prices, aligning with the
to me,” said Helen McLaughlin, a junior psychology major at UGA. “When I look at other colleges outside of the state of Georgia, I honestly feel kind of bad because their tuition is so much higher than ours.”
McLaughlin emphasises how expensive it is to go to college in other states. Georgia works especially hard to keep tuition rates down, and even with a slight increase in fees, many students don’t see it as a very large obstacle, considering the circumstances of others.
U.S. - China trade war
Hope Martin Staff Writer
Chinese and American relations strain after 245% tariffs are declared, leaving many wondering how this will shape the American and global economy in the coming months or years.
125% of the tariff is reported to be reciprocal, 20% is to address the fentanyl crisis and 7% to 100% is a Section 301 tariff, according to the United States White House Fact Sheet. Section 301 tariffs refer to any additional tax applied to imports from nations that the U.S. feels violate fair trade practices.
This decision comes after a universal sweeping tariff initially announced to be 10% on all countries, but has steadily risen due to rising tensions.
“The tariffs are totally ridiculous,” said Roger
Coate, a professor of political science and public administration. “I don’t know any economist who supports the idea of a uniform trade war. The way he has rolled it out has been a disaster.”
In American markets, the S&P 500 fell more than 20%, something called a bear market, and signifies an aggressive downward turn of a market – similar to a bear’s claw swipe. The S&P 500 had its worst week since COVID began in 2020 and crashed the global economy.
The sudden downturn in global and especially American markets has made many people scared of a recession or depression.
“Generally speaking, I think people are too pessimistic about recessions,” said J.J. Arias, a professor of economics and chair of the depart-
ment of economics and finance. “In this case, there is a threat of a recession. I don’t think it’s inevitable by any means because the US economy is very resilient, but firms aren’t going to hire or expand in uncertainty. Even if the trade war ends, I worry that Canada and the EU have decided to just change their trading patterns.”
When the tariffs were incorrectly announced to be paused, the S&P 500 soared 9.5%, though the index is still below what it was before the tariff announcement.
While the White House has implied their tariff plan is well-liked and supported by economists, the actual matter seems to be more debated. With titles like “President Trump’s Bold Trade Action Draws Praise” and “Support Grows for President Trump’s
Georgia Institute of Technology is expected to raise its Master’s online tuition by 8%. Additionally, the online fees went from $107 to $440 per semester. This is the largest increase across the USG system for any program. Although these fees may be rising, Georgia Institute of Technology has some of the most affordable online programs in the country, highlighting Georgia’s dedication to affordable education.
overall goal of the USG. “Keeping tuition rates stable is a relief for my family and me,” said Keira Jones, a sophomore marketing major at Georgia State University. “It shows that the state is really prioritizing accessibility for education, and it gives students like me one less thing to stress about while focusing on our studies.”
This tuition stability ensures that students can focus on their academic goals, rather than financial burdens.
On the other hand,
Various other institutions, including the University of North Georgia, Clayton State University and Fort Valley, should expect to see fees rise as well.
Mandatory fees for students at Georgia College and State University, or GCSU, will be reduced slightly, allowing each student to save $2 every semester. Even though there are monetary savings at hand, there is still a conversation about how equitable tuition is in the state of Georgia.
“I don’t have the HOPE scholarship right now, and I’m experiencing a bit of trouble,”
said Sarah Waldron, a sophomore sociology major at GCSU. “I don’t understand why the tuition prices make a difference based on scholarship. My family pays taxes and contributes the same amount as other people to the state.” Waldron highlights her struggle, which many other students can relate to. She questions the fairness of tuition rates being influenced by scholarship eligibility, particularly when her family contributes equally to the state’s tax system. Her concern is parallel to how equitable it is for the financial burdens placed on students based on their academic experience.
As of now, Georgia tuition rates continue to stay moderately stable overall, with fee increases for certain programs at certain schools. As Georgia moves forward educationally, the tuition prices remind students and parents of the balance between affordability and the demands of a thriving education system.
America First Reciprocal Trade Plan,” the White House does not seem to plan to back down on tariffs anytime soon. Blanket tariffs are mutually harmful to all countries involved.
Students and faculty showed wariness over the tariffs and their possible effects.
“He’s destroying the human rights promotion of democracy, everything that the past republican presidents have stood for,” Coate said.
Due to the high tariffs and tension between China and the U.S., many Chinese manu-
facturers flooded TikTok and Instagram to “expose” how American goods are being made.
The volume of TikTok videos urging users to source products directly from Chinese factories rose by almost 250% during the week of April 13, according to the New York Times.
Manufacturers who have been exposing the real cost of goods push for Americans to buy directly from the factory, but it’s unclear how truthful some of the accounts are.
“It depends on the quality of the products,” Coate said. “That’s what international trade is about. It’s being able to get a quality product at the best price you can get it. That’s what our laissez-faire free trade is all about.” Students overall seemed disinterested in buying from manufacturers.
“I’m not sure I would buy from the manufacturers,” said Barbara Durr, a senior art major. Many news outlets also suggested Americans buy major purchases, such as phones or cars, now. GCSU faculty and students recommended the same.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping
DRAFT
Continued from page 1
With the 15th pick, after taking an offensive approach in recent first rounds, the Atlanta Falcons selected former University of Georgia edge rusher/linebacker Jalon Walker. After finishing the season 31st in sacks out of 32 teams, the Falcons needed a player who could get after the quarterback.
Atlanta’s front office continued to show commitment and aggression in improving the defense by trading with the Los Angeles Rams for the 26th pick, where they selected former University of Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr, a prospect with No. 1 overall evaluations going into the 2024 col-
lege football season.
“I loved the Falcons’ draft,” said Dylan Lewis, a senior marketing major. “Our defense was terrible last season, and it’s a pretty big reason why we didn’t live up to what we were supposed to.”
Rounding out their draft class, the Falcons selected University of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts in the third round, Oklahoma University DB Billy Bowman Jr. in
the fourth round and University of Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson in the seventh round.
Coming off of so many talented QBs such as Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Drake Maye being selected in the 2024 draft, it would be tough for this year’s QB class to compete, but there was a consensus that Ward and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders would both
go in the first round.
Ward was the first player off the board, but Sanders experienced a major backslide. Many were in shock that the first night of the draft ended without his name being called. There was even more shock when the second, third and fourth rounds went by without him being picked.
Eventually, Sanders was chosen in the fifth
round by the Browns after the team had already selected University of Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
Being the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, who also coached him at Colorado and Jackson State University, Shedeur Sanders has been under the spotlight for his entire college career, and his draft experience was no different. However, even though the entire football world watched him wait for longer than many thought he would to be picked, he took his selection by the Browns with excitement and an eagerness to get on the field.
Other QBs who were highly praised throughout their college careers dropped low in the draft as well. University
The 2025 NBA Play-In starts off the playoffs
Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer
The National Basketball Association Play-In Tournament started on Tuesday, April 15. The Play-In Tournament is the NBA’s version of Major League Baseball’s and the National Football League’s Wild Card.
However, this new addition to the NBA’s playoff bracket is very different from the conventional setup.
In its first appearance, during the 2019-20 season, if the eighth and ninth seeds were within four games of each other, the two teams faced off in two Play-In games.
If the eighth seed wins the first game, they advance directly to the next game. If the ninth seed wins the first game, it will advance them to the second round and the winner of that contest will move on to the next round.
However, entering the 2020-21 season, the NBA Board of Governors made a significant change to the layout.
The seventh and eighth seed teams, and the ninth- and tenth seed teams, opened the PlayIn with contests against each other. Following this, the loser of the sev-
enth and eighth seed game faced off against the winner of the ninth and tenth seed game.
Finally, the winner of the seventh and eighth seed contest plays against the winner of the middle game, which is between the loser of the seventh and eighth teams and the winner of the ninth and tenth seed teams.
Due to the Orlando Magic clinching their division, they instead faced the ninth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, rather than the eighth-seeded Miami Heat. The final, and tenth seed of the Eastern Conference, were the Chicago Bulls.
On the other side of the sport, the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies sat at the seventh and eighth seeds in the Western Conference, respectively, while the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks finished off the playoffs’ standings as the ninth and tenth seeds.
The first two games bega with the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Magic in Orlando, Florida, and the Memphis Grizzlies taking on the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California.
In the first game, the Magic ran away with the
score from the beginning, outscoring Atlanta 32-17 in the first quarter, and continued to pile on after the fact, with the final coming to 120-95.
A 26-point performance from point guard Cole Anthony fueled the Orlando offense in his 20 minutes of play, as the win over the Hawks instantly clinched a playoff position for the Magic.
On the other side, the first west-coast battle between the Grizzlies and Warriors was a bit closer. However, a 31-25 first quarter in favor of Golden State helped give the Warriors just enough to overcome the Grizzlies.
A 38-point game from trade-deadline acquisition Jimmy Butler and a 37-point performance from all-time Warrior Stephen Curry gave the Warriors the momentum for the win over Memphis.
The Miami Heat quickly put an end to the Chicago Bulls’ season on Wednesday, April 16, as a career game from guard Tyler Herro, which detailed a 38-point performance, as the Heat outscored the Bulls 39-28 in the first quarter, and 109-90 overall.
This is the third consecutive season in which
of Texas at Austin QB Quinn Ewers, who was one of the most highly touted high school recruits of all time and who saw lots of success in college, was not drafted until the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins. The Ohio State University QB Will Howard and Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard, the two signal callers who competed for the 2025 national title, were not drafted until the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, respectively. College players who were not drafted have a chance to sign with teams as undrafted free agents or make an impression on scouts with workout invites to rookie minicamps.
the Heat have ended the Bulls’ season in the Play-In Tournament.
The Mavericks were the first of the lower-seeded teams to dethrone their higher-seeded opponent, as they took down the Kings 120-106.
Dallas played off of a dominant 44-19 second quarter, and solid performances from trade deadline acquisition Anthony Davis with 27 points and Klay Thompson with 23 points.
Friday, April 18, held the final Play-In contests with the hot Miami Heat facing the Atlanta Hawks, looking to stay alive after the tough loss to Orlando, and the surprising Dallas Mavericks facing the Mem-
phis Grizzlies, looking to bounce back after the loss to the Warriors.
Beginning with the Eastern Conference contest between the Heat and Hawks, neither team was willing to give up the fight, staying even with an 86-77 score in favor of Miami entering the third quarter. However, with the clock ticking, Trae Young landed a layup to force overtime.
Nevertheless, the Tyler Herro dominance continued, bringing his point total on the day to 30, as Miami outscored Atlanta 17-8 in the overtime period to clinch a playoff spot.
The Grizzlies put up an amazing performance to end the Mavericks’
potential Cinderella appearance in the NBA playoffs, as Memphis bounced back from its loss to the Warriors.
Currently, on the eastern side, the Miami Heat are down 3-0 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were the one-seed in the conference, and the Orlando Magic are just behind the defending champion Boston Celtics in their series, 2-1.
On the opposite end, the Oklahoma City Thunder walked through the Memphis Grizzlies, sweeping the series 4-0 and the Golden State Warriors are currently the only Play-In team with a series lead, as they lead the series against the Houston Rockets 2-1.
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Trae Young
Formula 1 in the United States
Benjamin Clark Asst. Sports Editor
The symphony of roaring V8 engines has captivated American audiences for decades. NASCAR has dominated the American racing scene since its inception in the late 1940s, as the sight of bumper-to-bumper action on oval tracks has defined American motorsports. NASCAR has its roots deep within Southern culture and its all-American driver base; however, in recent years, a new force has begun to gain serious traction from across the pond: Formula 1. Once considered a niche take on motorsports in the United States, F1 has experienced a sharp rise in popularity in recent years. This growth has been fueled by a mix of marketing, globalism and breakout representations of the sport in American media.
Ford vs Ferrari, Drive to Survive and many other beloved movies and TV shows have increased American awareness towards European racing. Now, with three Grand Prix events on American soil — Miami, Austin and Las Vegas — F1 is no longer
just a European novelty. It’s becoming a fixture in U.S. sports culture.
“I started paying attention to Formula 1 be-
What truly sets the Miami GP apart is the electric atmosphere. Unlike traditional motorsport venues, Miami trans-
ami Grand Prix is also a major win for the city. In its debut year alone, it generated an estimated $350 million for
ences and show what the future of the sport might look like in America.
What sets F1 and NASCAR apart is not the lo-
cause it felt like the modern version of NASCAR,” said Cooper Treaday, a junior business administration major. “The fact that car brands compete and push the limits of design is really cool for me. The movie [Ford v Ferrari] definitely sparked my interest in F1 because it showed that racing isn’t just about speed — it’s about innovation.”
The Miami Grand Prix, in particular, has become a spectacle. Held around the Hard Rock Stadium, the event blends speed with notoriety, drawing A-list attendees and hosting extravagant VIP events.
forms its race weekend into a full-blown festival. The main attraction is in the incorporation of celebrities, athletes, musicians and influencers in the everyday events of the weekend.
The track itself is a 3.36-mile street-style circuit with 19 turns and long straights that encourage overtaking, something that often lacks on tighter F1 courses. It offers a mix of technical challenge and speed, with races frequently defined by how players use the two in tandem.
From an economic standpoint, the Mi-
the local economy and attracted more than 240,000 attendees over the race weekend. Local businesses, hotels and restaurants thrive during the event, each having special deals and later hours to accommodate the influx of F1 tourists.
For F1 as a brand, Miami represents a perfect storm of American appeal — sunshine, celebrity, speed and spectacle. It contrasts with more established circuits where tradition and history dominate. Instead of this, Miami is flashy, fun, and forward-looking, presenting a race designed to engage newer audi-
cation or the ambiance, but the experience. NASCAR typically features a longer event on an oval track, with heavier close-contact racing, pit strategy, and endurance.
The cars are all stockbased with little to no modifications and are relatively similar in design.
By contrast, F1 presents a global engineering arms race, with 20 drivers, 10 teams and 20 uniquely designed cars all created by the world’s most renowned automotive dealers.
Each car is built for speed, not endurance, with designers pushing the limits on aerody-
namics and innovation.
“I’ve always been a huge NASCAR fan,” said Sean Harrison a freshman history major. “I grew up watching it with my family, and there’s just something about the tradition and the close racing that feels like home to me. Lately, I’ve started getting into Formula 1 too. It’s very different, like the strategy with the pit stops, the different types of tracks around the world, and the whole atmosphere.”
Culturally, NASCAR commands a deeply loyal audience, especially within the American South and Midwest. Its appeal is through accessibility, as it remains cheap for casual fans and families to partake in its grassroots charm. On the other hand, F1 markets itself as an elite global racing experience, with the barrier for entry being much higher, both in terms of ticket cost and understanding the sport’s intricacies.
The rise of F1 has brought renewed attention to motorsports in general. Some NASCAR fans are becoming dual enthusiasts, appreciating the tactical finesse of F1 alongside the gritty drama of stock car racing.
Caitlin Clark is changing everything for the WMBA
Lily Reynolds Contributing Writer
Caitlin Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has transformed women’s professional basketball into a mainstream entertainment property and valuable business component. After being first pick overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark’s professional debut attracted over two million viewers across various platforms, making it the most-watched WNBA contest in over two decades and setting an all-time viewership record for WNBA broadcasts on ESPN, according to a recent report by ESPN.
“Caitlin really made me get into watching basketball to begin with in her college era,” said Cristina Ledford, a junior public health major. “I never really paid attention to the WNBA before Caitlin getting drafted.”
The draft itself drew an unmatched 2.45 million viewers, quadrupling the previous record from 2004 and representing a 328% increase from the previous year, according to the same report by ESPN. Her first ABC appearance in Indiana Fever colors continued this trend with 1.7 million viewers, following with the highest-rated WNBA game in the network’s history.
This rise in popularity has built solid business outcomes across the league. League merchandise sales have soared 236% year-over-year, with Clark’s jersey becoming a top seller.
For the first time, three franchises, the Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream, announced complete sellouts of their season tickets as fan interest reached uncommon levels.
Clark leads an exceptional rookie class alongside other popular college stars such as Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky and Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks. Collectively, they are driving unprecedented interest in the league. Clark, Reese and Brink rank among the top five in jersey sales during the season’s first week, reflecting their immediate commercial impact.
Clark’s commercial impact has increased beyond ticket and merchandise sales to profitable endorsement deals, as highlighted by a reported $28 million Nike contract. Having already acquired over $3 million in endorsements during her collegiate career, Clark now ranks among the most commercially valuable female athletes in sports, establishing new standards for sponsorship potential in the WNBA.
The timing of Clark’s arrival has also been advantageous, filling an important vacancy in the sports calendar and transforming women’s basketball into a more valuable revenue and engagement opportunity during a traditionally quieter period for women’s sports entertainment.
Even before Clark’s arrival, the WNBA was experiencing growth, with
viewership climbing 21% in 2023 to reach its largest audience in over 20 years and attendance hitting a 13-year high. Clark’s presence has dramatically accelerated this momentum, helping the WNBA establish itself as the superior in the growing women’s sports movement.
During her four years at the University of Iowa, Clark consistently excelled, averaging between 26.6 and 31.6 points per game while maintaining strong shooting percentages. In Feb. 2024, she became the all-time Division I women’s scoring leader and broke Stephen Curry’s NCAA single-season three-pointer record, among other milestones.
“Last year, when Caitlin Clark was at Iowa, that’s when I saw her and who she was because of TikTok,” said Emma Measley, a freshman business major.” Her fans would make Tik-
Toks that came up on my feed of all of her 3-pointers and the comments all talked about how good she is.” Known for her deep shooting range and exceptional passing skills, Clark earned multiple national player of the year awards before ending her college career with a loss to South Carolina in the 2024 national championship game. Her collegiate career equipped her with the technique and experience necessary for her professional journey in the WNBA.
“We’re building something big here,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
With Clark leading the way, the WNBA is continuing to strengthen its position within the sports world, creating new possibilities and setting higher standards for the future of women’s professional basketball.
Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark
Formula 1 Race Car
ARTS & LIFE
WALLOWS
Continued from page 1
As the winner of Battle of the Bobcats, a GCSU music competition that took place earlier this year, the band was given the opportunity to be an opener for the concert.
“When we finished the whole Battle of the Bobcats process, I don’t think any of us were really expecting us to win just because there were a lot of great bands there,” said Kat Vassileva, a sophomore environmental science major and guitar player of Subatomic. “So when our name was
called, it was more like an ‘Oh my god’ is this real-type moment and then I think we were all just really excited.”
The concert’s second opener, Medium Build, opened the show by discussing his own experience growing up in Georgia and his encounters with GCSU in the past. Medium Build is an indie/alternative band with popular songs like “Never Learned to Dance,” “Crying Over U” and the collaboration with Boygenius member Julien Baker, for their song “Yoke.”
“I thought they [Subatomic and Medium Build] were really cool,” said Odeya Atar, a sophomore biology major. “I had never seen either of
A case for tenure
Kennedy Welker
Asst. A&L Editor
Tenure is a protective teaching position typically appointed to a professor after five to 10 years of teaching and continued research, publication and service to one university that offers invulnerability to terminations except under extraordinary circumstances.
Originally created to safeguard free speech, tenure allows professors to teach in ways most suited to them, express opinions, conduct research and publish works that might otherwise have been prevented or delayed by copious amounts of oversight.
Many students have expressed concerns regarding tenure, how it can lead to professor apathy and negatively affect the classroom long-term, while others agree it is an important aspect of free speech in the university setting.
James Welborn, associate professor of history, was tenured and promoted in August 2021, marking August 2025 as four years of tenure status. Welborn will go up for a promo-
tion to full professor in the next academic year
According to Welborn, GCSU has a similarly rigorous tenure and promotion process to peer public higher education and liberal arts institutions.
In the field of history, tenure and promotion require multiple article-length publications or credit for other forms of publication, such as conference presentations of public history work. GCSU does not emphasize book publications as requirements, though they are encouraged and fully credited.
Wellborn believes in general, tenure is beneficial to teaching and student engagement as it incentivizes continued professional development that improves student learning experiences and outcomes. Wellborn himself claims his classroom has evolved partly due to his tenured status, but mostly as a result of his passion for being a great professor.
“Good teachers evolve as needed when necessary, sustaining what continues to work, discontinuing what perhaps once worked but no longer does, and
continually seeking out more effective and efficient means of maximizing students’ success in the classroom and beyond,” Welborn said.
Tenure provides faculty with professional and financial security, but is also essential to fully realizing academic freedom. It enables faculty to continually explore and evolve as lifelong learners and as educators.
“A truly committed teacher never stops learning and instills that lifelong yearning for learning in their students, regardless of subject or discipline,” Wellborn said.
One of the problems many students have with tenure is that it is a position that professors can obtain to take advantage of, as there is no longer a risk of termination except under extraordinary circumstances. Olivia Langston, a junior English major, shares this opinion.
“Tenured positions are in general respected, but when they’re taken advantage of, they’re taken advantage of to the fullest extent,” Langston said.
Ciara O’Riordan, a junior nursing major, also shared similar thoughts on tenure
“I see the potential of using Tenure to protect
GCSU’s summer plans
A break with a purpose?
Kate Walker Contributing writer
With finals just a few weeks away, students are making plans to get the most out of summer break – whether through vacations, summer classes, mission trips or jobs.
According to the Registrar’s Office, the last day of final exams for the spring semester is May 9, and the first day of classes for the fall semester is Aug. 18, leaving about three months for students to relax, study, work or travel.
Rebecca Whitten, a freshman education major, plans to divide her summer between work, summer classes and vacation, aiming for a balance of rest and productivity.
“I’m taking three classes this summer online, I’m working as a summer
camp counselor and I’m also going to the beach for a week,” Whitten said GCSU offers a wide range of summer opportunities and activities for students to participate in, including online and in-person classes, study abroad programs and department-led trips overseas. The university’s select choral ensemble, the Max Noah Singers, is scheduled to travel to Europe in June to perform in Berlin and Prague, and to participate in the Notes of Harmony: Berlin Choral Festival.
“I’m super excited, a little nervous because it’s my first time going out of the country,” said Sophia Tritto, a sophomore elementary education major and choir member. “But I’m more excited than anything,
them perform, so I was really looking forward to it. I even told my friend I had to go early because I’m gonna be in the pit and watch them perform.”
Shortly after the opener’s sets, Wallows made their way to the stage, opening with “Anytime, Always,” then transitioning to “Scrawny.”
“I thought it was absolutely insane that we were able to get such a cool experience for such a low cost too,” Atar said. “I’m more of a casual listener, but it was so awesome. Like, what do you mean Wallows was in Milledgeville? This was incredible.”
Wallows’ setlist consisted of older songs like “Quarterback,” “These
professors,” O’Riordan said. “However, I don’t think it’s generally used that way, and there are some tenured professors who should be fired.”
Wellborn believes that what he calls ‘professor complacency’ happens when faculty who’ve achieved tenure status are not rewarded for continuous productivity and progress due to a lack of enforcement in incentivizing reward policies.
According to Welborn, the lack of rewards for fully promoted positions has to do with the systemic issue in higher education that misallocates funding and resources on administrative window-dressing and recruitment rather than long-termemployedfaculty.
“It’s this larger systemic ill that generally accounts for faculty complacency, either through burnout or lack of motivation, but which is often erroneously blamed on tenure,” Welborn said.
For Welborn, tenure and promotion have been extremely motivating factors in his professorship. The financial stability and security of the position have allowed him to pursue continuous research in his fields and engage in creative teaching practices that would have oth-
and I’m just grateful to have this opportunity.”
Tritto noted that summer break is the perfect time for students to travel to other places and countries, applying their liberal arts education to explore diverse cultures and communities.
“Students going to other places besides where they’re from or what places they’re used to can bring about a lot of cultural benefits, they can truly understand how other people might live,” Tritto said “It’s just an amazing learning opportunity, and you can make amazing friendships on trips like this too.”
Whether students are returning to their hometowns or heading abroad, summer offers a chance to put the skills and knowledge gained at college into real-world practice.
“For the first part of
Days,” “Sun Tan,” “Uncomfortable,” and newer songs like “Bad Dream” and “I Don’t Want to Talk.”
Highlights of the night include Cole Preston, the drummer of Wallows, calling GCSU “Georgia State and College University.”
The concert concluded with “Are You Bored Yet?”, the most popular and wellknown song out of Wallows’ discography.
“Fabulous, fabulous, you know I’m just happy if y’all [students] are happy,” said Cathy Cox, President of GCSU. “And everybody seemed to have a really good time.”
erwise been prevented.
“Beyond my faculty role, it has empowered greater public engagement and social activism grounded in my research areas of expertise to inform public dialogues about history and social issues, without fear of reprisal from institutional or political authorities,” Welborn said.
While there are doubts within the student population surrounding the benefits of tenure to the university, students agree that it is a necessary position for job security.
“A positive to tenure would be that a professor who receives tenure can not be fired in response to recent legislation being passed and the current political environment,
the summer, I’m going to go home and give tennis lessons, coaching some kids at home,” said Rachel Black, a freshman Biology major and member of the Women’s ten-
cation Bible School for kids in Romania and just sharing the Gospel there. I’m really excited.”
Campus organizations like the Baptist Collegiate Ministry provide
nis team. “Then at the end of the summer, I’m going to get the chance to go through BCM and Send Me Now to Romania, so I’ll be there July 13-30. I’ll spend two weeks there doing Va-
Julia Jensen | Art Director
students with opportunities to travel and serve others during their summer break, as students may not have the time or resources to travel after they graduate. Black emphasized that this
including the removal of DEI,” O’Riordan said. Langston, who has had negative experiences with tenured professors in the past, also understands the importance tenure holds to the university.
“It protects job security in regards to free speech and DEI,” Langston said.
While tenure is a position professors can take advantage of in less than ideal circumstances, it is first and foremost a position that is essential to academic freedom. It is a safeguard against tyranny, whether it’s intellectual, political or cultural.
“Tenure is an essential part of that crucial aspect of real liberty in a truly free society,” Welborn said.
summer is a time for all students to make a difference in their communities, wherever they are.
“It’s a time away from school a little bit, just to go out into the world and really put in the brightness, the skills that we learn at school,” Black said. “I think it’s important to not only do those in the school environment but to also branch out and to do this wherever, if that’s Romania, if that’s in your hometown, if that’s at your job, wherever that is over the summer.”
From studying and working to traveling and serving, this summer is a time for students to grow, give back and discover more about the world and about themselves. Whether far from campus or close to home, the months ahead offer more than just a break, but also an opportunity to take what has been learned and live it out.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
CELEBRITIES IN SPACE
Pop star Katy Perry, Gayle King, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn went to space for approximately 11 minutes on April 14. This trip has garnered backlash from other celebrities, fans and others about the trip’s necessity.
“I did not appreciate Katy Perry’s trip to space,” said Chloe Butts, a junior theatre major. “I thought it was very out of touch and bizarre. I did not feel like it empowered women. It definitely was an us vs. them, the rich can go to space, while working families are struggling to afford groceries. An 11-minute space voyage does not justify the resources and damage.”
The six women were
aboard Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket that crossed the boundary of space and gave them a few seconds of weightlessness. Viral videos and pictures of Perry experiencing
til the day of launch.”
While Perry and the rest of the crew hoped that this all-women voyage to space would result in nothing but positivity, the women and men of
ing the Earth 48 times.
Perry on TikTok, condemning her space flight.
“Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into
weightlessness while holding a flower have garnered much attention.
“I feel super-connected to love,” Perry said in an interview with the BBC shortly after landing. “I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you-how much love you have to give, and how loved you are, un-
the internet are furious.
All over the social media app TikTok, people are complaining about the damage done to the world with this 11-minute trip to space.
Each passenger on a typical space tourism flight of 11 minutes emits at least 75 tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski slammed
space.” Ratajkowski said in a TikTok video. “For what. What was the marketing there?”
Actress Olivia Munn also made her opinion known on social media via an Instagram post.
“What are they doing?” Munn said in an interview days before the take-off. “I know this probably isn’t the cool
thing to say, but there are so many other things that are so important in the world right now,”
Arguments surrounding the price of eggs and living have continued to be a topic of conversation with the space mission. The main argument surrounding the amount of money celebrities like Perry spend when the average person is struggling to afford basic items.
“It is ridiculous,” said Camille Tobey, a sophomore mass communication major. “I don’t think that celebrities should waste money on pointless trips to space when people are starving in the world. They should have put that money to something more useful.”
While Perry and her crew claim to be the best thing for “women in STEM,” plenty of strides have been made for women in this field.
Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space in 1963, completing a three-day mission, orbit-
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, flying on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. During her mission, she operated the robotic arm to help deploy satellites. She was passionate about science education and inspiring young women to pursue science.
“It sounded cool at first, having an all-female crew go to space, especially with Katy Perry, who you would never think would go to space,” said Shira Funk, a sophomore environmental science major. “But the more I think about it, it would have been more empowering if they had done something to help the planet instead of making it worse.”
The crew’s trip to space was marketed as a step forward for feminism, but several people have seen it as a step back. While their intentions seemed pure, many women saw this as nothing but a publicity stunt.
Making student housing a home-away-from-home
Tips in comfort and organization
Sarah Barnhart Staff Writer Allie Smith Staff Writer
As the fall semester approaches, incoming freshmen and returning students alike are preparing to turn their on-campus living into a place that feels more like home. Whether with their own personal style or organizational hacks, students are finding ways to make their dorms both functional and comfortable.
Many students living in the traditional dorms or West Campus apartments focus on multi-purpose furniture and smart storage to keep their places cleaner and tidier. Storage bins placed under the bed and collapsible crates are common organizational techniques used to maximize limited space, which is a key aspect necessary for comfort.
“Finding containers to fit my stuff has helped, along with trying to keep only what I really want with me,” said Mallory Jones, a freshman accounting major.
Storage bins under the bed, rolling carts and collapsible crates are just a few of the budget-friendly tools that students use to maximize their space. Labeling bins and coordinating colors also help students maintain a sense of order without sacrificing style.
The Huffpost article “How to Keep Your Dorm Room Organized” stated: “Perhaps a more general rule for keeping your room organized is to
just have a designated space for everything. As elementary and obvious as that may seem, it’s important to really sit down and decide where you are going to keep certain things.”
Decorating for the holidays is a way students add seasonal joy to their on-campus living experience.
Putting out mini pumpkins in October or a small Christmas tree in December, or a floral wreath on the door in the spring is a great way to make the holidays on campus special and make campus feel more homey.
Students on a tight budget often shop at thrift stores, dollar stores, and create DIY projects to decorate their dorms and apartments. Other stores that are popular are TJ Maxx, Ross, Amazon and even TikTok shops, which are relatively affordable.
“I shop anywhere that has what I am looking for, but mostly Amazon and Target,” Jones said.
Pinterest and TikTok have become popular sources for inspiration for those seeking affordable but cute decorations for dorm rooms or apartments. Many students see organizational hacks and must-haves for dorm rooms that are perfect for creating a home away from home.
Even small details like removable wallpaper, artwork or peel and stick tiles for the desk or dressers help
make dorms feel more unique and custom to students’ personal styles without violating housing policies.
“I own fairy lights and a lot of random light-up signs that in the evening keep my apartment cozy and warm,” said Jailey Ferrer, a sophomore mass communication major. “I also have pictures of my boyfriend and family hanging around so that I feel like they are still there with me.”
For students sharing a space, communication is just as important as personal creativity. It’s recommended to set clear expectations between roommates early and discuss plans together to avoid any surprises.
While moving into a dorm can often feel overwhelming, most students
agree that small efforts go a long way in making the transition easier for them.
Personal touches, organization and communication with roommates are key to having a homey dorm on campus or at the West Campus apartments.
“I have cat-themed decorations because I have four cats at home, so having fictional cats by my side keeps me cozy and reminds me of them. My apartment is also Hello Kitty themed, meaning my soap dispenser, my shower curtain and bath mat, practically everything and that just brings so much joy to my life,” Ferrer said.
From tiny decor to pieces that work as both storage and decoration, students prove that even a small shared living space can be transformed into a home away from home.
Blue Origin’s all-female space mission crew
Courtesy of José Geneao
OPINION
ESSAY
Continued from page 1
Her story wasn’t just about her essay. It was about finding the right place - a school that accepted her not just for her story, but for her potential.
Still, the question lingers: Why didn’t her story, filled with empathy and strength, give her a competitive edge?
The answer may be that admissions can’t ethically compare one person’s adversity to another’s. Everyone faces different struggles, and comparing pain is a dangerous game.
“I feel personal as he’s got to have some special spark to them,” said Julianna Valcheff, a sophomore music and mass communication double major. “Whether that be a really great introduction that entices the
My personal essay for college admissions was about how my mom was my biggest role model.
Although if the admissions counselor reading the essay just lost their mom, that could create a subconscious bias you would never know about.
After taking away my own bias that admissions only takes students with the “best sob story,” I realized what it is all about.
Your application to college shows a counselor who you are and whether you would be a good fit for their university.
Ultimately, it’s not about beating someone else’s hardship or writing what you think colleges want to hear. It’s about being brave enough to be honest.
“I do not feel like personal essays are rigged, I feel like you have to be really good at describ-
reader. Or that can be a great topic that makes the reader have a lot of emotions. it doesn’t have to be a sob story because I think it just has to be a good story.”
Valcheff raises a valid point. Applicants often feel pressure to write the “perfect” essay as something deeply emotional or even traumatic, but admissions officers ideally want to see growth and introspection, not just pain.
say may be the deciding factor if all other aspects of their application are on the edge of being accepted or not,” said Ellen Sabo, a sophomore middle grades education major. “If factors such as GPA or standardized test scores aren’t strong enough, they may look deeper into the essay and personal experiences.”
The college application process is overwhelming. Seniors juggle SATs, ACTs and a future that feels too big to grasp, and while standardized tests quantify performance, a personal essay humanizes it.
For many, the essay is a final opportunity to show who they are beyond numbers. It’s where authenticity, vulnerability and voice matter most.
My hope is that admissions officers see our applications the same way we do — as carefully curated reflections of who we are and who we hope to become, and not as performances, not just as attempts to impress, but as stories that show truth, not just trauma.
The best essays aren’t always the saddest. They’re the ones that show strength, heart, and a desire to grow.
My freshman year do’s and don’ts
Goff Opinion Editor
The transition to college can feel like free-falling into a whole new world. But take it from someone who’s made it to the other side — with a little guidance, your freshman year can be one of your life’s most exciting and transformative times.
“Our whole life changes, it can be scary, but you learn so much about yourself and others,” said JoJo Garland, a freshman mass communication major. “You realize you can really do whatever you want to and that’s awesome.”
That realization is freeing and a little intimidating, but there are ways to make your first year more manageable, meaningful and even magical. Based on my own experience and advice from upperclassmen, here are a few do’s and don’ts to live by.
DO build your support system.
Sometimes that’s a roommate, other times it’s the professor who holds extra office hours. Don’t be afraid to ask questions - you’re not supposed to know everything yet.
DO try new things — even if you’re unsure.
“A great freshman year is going a little bit out of your comfort zone, not enough to be scared but enough to make memories,” said Molly Giusti, a sophomore elementary education major. “Freshman year is all about running around the residence halls laughing with your friends over nothing, going to the max, talking to that person in class, making friends at the week of welcome, joining that club or organization, and saying yes to as much as you can but making sure you still take time for yourself and your school work.”
freshman year, I would heavily recommend it since it made my experience so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.”
Clubs aren’t just resume builders - they’re where you’ll meet people who share your passions and stretch your perspective. Don’t miss out.
DON’T skip the traditions - they matter more than you think.
ing/painting the picture for the reader,” Valcheff said. “Because admission counselors do not know who you are. So it’s great to give a good amount of information to let them see the full aspect of yourself. Rather than just the story.”
Having a more holistic approach to your application is key, whether your personal essay is a “sob story” or just a “good story.”
I think a personal es-
I think that ‘sob stories’ are what people think colleges want to hear about, but in reality, I believe they want to see more about how you dealt with hardships and your experiences, rather than just what happened to you,” Sabo said.
In the end, it’s not about competing for sympathy. It’s about being seen. Every story, when told with honesty and heart, deserves that chance.
“Having a great support system while in freshman year can make it so much better, especially since this is the first time many students are away from home,” said Halle Bergstrom, a junior management and rhetoric double major. “Having friends, classmates, and faculty that you can ask questions to and rely on makes it so much less confusing and stressful.”
Find people who make you feel safe, heard and supported.
Getting good grades matters, but so does taking a chance on that one campus event or awkward icebreaker in class. Growth doesn’t happen when you’re comfortable. It happens by being curious.
DO join at least one club.
“Something that I loved experiencing my freshman year was the various clubs on campus,” Bergstrom said. “They’re such a fun way to connect with students outside your classroom and residence halls, making the college experience so much more engaging. Even if you can commit to one club your
“My one thing I say is a must during your freshman year is to go to midnight breakfast,” Giusti said. “It is the perfect finals week break, and just the atmosphere is so exciting, which can be hard to find at that time of the year. My biggest advice is to get a group together and wait in the line for the shirt and food, you won’t regret it.” Yes, the line is long and you have a paper due, but those small moments are what you’ll remember most.
DON’T isolate. DON’T overextend.
DO be kind to yourself. There will be hard days. You’ll miss home. You’ll fail a quiz. You’ll wonder if you’re doing this whole college thing right. That’s normal. Your job freshman year isn’t to have it all figured out. It’s to try, fall a little and to get up again - with a few new friends by your side.
Freshman year is as great as you make it. So get out there. Laugh in the halls. Go to midnight breakfast. Say yes and remember to take care of yourself, too.
Molly
Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor
Julia Jensen | Art Director
