4 02.01.2023
NEWS
Major spotlight: Enviromental Science Kate Verity Staff Writer GC may seem like a small and remote university tucked away in central Georgia but it offers much more than many
realize.
Most
students, when asked, can name somewhere around 20 majors offered at GC. However, according to GC’s own website, there are over 40 majors offered to students. One major that is less common
among
stu-
dents at GC is Environmental Science. According to GC’s Fall 2022 Fact Book, of the 5,379 undergraduate students that enrolled, only 81 chose to pursue a degree in environmental science. These
lesser-known
degrees sometimes go overlooked by prospective students who would actually thrive in the
es an Environmental Sci-
and research sides of his
ence B.S., one sentence
environmental
states, “The Bachelor of
major. His sureness in
Science in Environmen-
his future was not al-
tal
prepares
ways so certain, though.
students to explore the
“Ironically, in high
Sciences
interrelationships
science
be-
school, I was a dra-
tween human and natu-
ma kid,” Sadler said. “I
ral systems and to think
wasn’t really good at sci-
critically and analytical-
ence, but I really liked
ly in order to solve the
nature a lot, and I de-
environmental
prob-
cided drama probably
lems facing our society.”
wasn’t the right thing
This is all important
for me to do in college.”
information, but it may
Even after settling on
be intimidating to a
environmental science,
high school senior who
Sadler did not know
is unsure what they tru-
what path he wanted
ly wish to pursue in life.
to pursue right away.
One excellent way to
“I’m more on the sci-
get a better idea of what
ence and research side,
a degree program has
although initially, com-
to offer is to talk to a
ing into college, I want-
student of that depart-
ed to go into like policy
ment,
and work with like the
particularly
an
upper-level student who
EPA
[Environmental
has taken many different
Protection Agency] and
courses that the program
such,” Sadler said. “My
has to offer and knows
freshman year, I was
their major very well.
with the environmental
One such student of
science club, and I was
department. One rea-
environmental
science
also with Young Dem-
son for this discrepancy
is Henry Sadler. Sadler is
ocrats because I wanted
could be that the depart-
a senior environmental
to go more into policy.”
ment descriptions are
science major who has
However, as a senior
complex. This complex-
interests in both the sci-
at GC, Sadler can look
ity is more easily under-
ence/research side of the
back at his time and
stood by students who
degree and the policy-
point out the corner-
are actively pursuing the
making aspects. Despite
stones that got him on
major already than those
having interests in both
the path he’s on today.
who are on the fence.
of these fields, Sadler
For example, on GC’s webpage that summariz-
Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor
ology course required
department.
Whatev-
Sadler went into his
for his degree- BIOL
er major a student may
college career uncertain
1107. He believes that
choose to pursue, hav-
of exactly what he want-
to be the lowest grade
ing peers to lean on and
ed to do with his life and
he’s made in a course
work with makes almost
unsure if environmen-
his entire college career.
any project easier. Meet-
tal science was even the
“It was definitely a
ing people was one of
right fit for him. But he
weeding class,” Sadler
Sadler’s biggest pieces
stayed and now knows
said. “I got a D in that
of advice to freshmen.
he wants to work in con-
class and that definitely
“Meet people in your
servation and forestry.
made me second guess
class,”
empha-
After talking to a sea-
my major a little bit, but
sized. “I really class
soned student in any
I think that the main rea-
friendships, and even if
department, it is much
son that happened was
it’s just study groups, they
easier
that I hadn’t become situ-
can take you a really long
what the degree entails
ated with enough people
way. Talk to your profes-
and what opportunities
to be more vocal about
sor, go to office hours,
are available. Environ-
being in study groups.”
send emails, and always
mental science, for one,
In his first semester
This just proves the
put your first name in
goes so much further
has chosen to concen-
of freshman year, Sadler
importance of having
the e-mail, or they’ll
than just appreciating
trate on the scientific
took an introductory bi-
connections within your
forget who you are.”
the beauty of nature.
call it ‘aspects of health.’”
Censorship in public universities Grace Robertson Staff Writer
In September 2022, a tenured Valdosta State University biology professor, Dr. Leslie Jones, was told to change how she teaches about topics such as sex and gender
to
understand
are based on birth as-
ions of the university
parents
complain,
spect for other people,”
signment and person-
or the USG (Universi-
Hom discussed the im-
Schwarts said. “I mean,
al identity, respectively.
ty System of Georgia).
portance of these topics
you can not discuss a
pressed their thoughts
Hom,
and how they should be
subject that is controver-
on
is biological, and gender
an associate professor
addressed by universities.
sial without acknowledg-
Kara Nitschke, a se-
is a cultural construct,
of philosophy at GC
“These are precisely
ing that there are people
nior psychology major,
in her Evolution and
and
coordi-
the sorts of things that
who have beliefs that are
explained her opinion
the Diversity of Life bi-
nator of women’s stud-
a college really should
different
yours,”
on academic freedom, a
ology course, which led
ies, discussed the event
be sharing, you know:
Schwartz
explained.
central element of tenure.
a parent to complain.
and how it affects stu-
the fact that intersex
dents
professors
individuals around the
Jones teaches that sex
Dr.
Sabrina
program
to
Sadler
than
students the
ex-
situation.
arose
“I understand that it
people exist, that sex
around the issue of tenure
makes people uncom-
in public universities.
is not always a sim-
and the fact that colleges
fortable, but if everything
nation questioning how
“We live in a very
ple binary,” Hom said.
can not censor the lessons
makes
race and gender are
politicized world, and
The Foundation for
of tenured professors.
able, then how do you
sex and gender argu-
taught in an age of pro-
the degree to which
Individual Rights and
“We always hope and
learn?” Nitschke said.
ment that are discussed.
gressivity. GC professors
the facts are getting
Expression is fighting
expect to see the admin-
Lydia Hayes, a fresh-
One argues that sex and
explained their thoughts
politicized
to protect Jones under a
istration speaking up for
man mass communica-
gender are categorically
and
that
ly difficult,” Hom said.
proposed violation of the
those basic values — to
tion major, described her
the same, while another
their opinions do not
In addressing the po-
First-Amendment right
maintain those kinds of
belief on the discourse.
asserts that the concepts
directly reflect the opin-
litical divide that caused
to academic freedom.
basic standards — and
“Since it is a public
or else she will be removed from the course. There are, most commonly, two sides of the
The situation led to
emphasized
and
is
certain-
Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor
The HUB at GC is the home to Cultural Center, LGBTQ+ Center, and the Women’s Center.
Joanna Schwarts, who
Controversy
GC
college, you can not re-
is a marketing professor
one of them,” Hom said.
ally tell those professors
at GC, co-lead for the fac-
“I really do believe that
what to teach if students
ulty group Diversity Peer
one of the benefits of ten-
do not want to hear what
Educators and is on the
ure is to give professors
they are teaching,” Hayes
Diversity, Equity and In-
the leeway to research
explained. “As long as
clusion Committee of the
topics that might be con-
they do not say their
College of Business and
sidered controversial be-
opinion on the situation,
Technology,
described
cause, depending on your
then I think that is fine.”
her thoughts as well.
view, there are things
There is a continuous
“I am absolutely a
on the right and the left
discourse on the topic
proponent of academ-
that are controversial,”
of sex and gender be-
ic freedom, but I really
Schwarts said. “It does
ing taught at universi-
think that there is no
not have to be a politi-
ties that does not seem
freedom
cal issue. You could just
to have an end in sight.
re-
freedom
comfort-
is
without
academic
you