Single Copies Free February 11, 2025
Super Bowl 2025 Recap
Brennan Schmitz Sports Editor
Super Bowl LIX featured a rematch of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9 in New Orleans, La.
The Chiefs came into the game with a 15-2 regular season record, looking to make NFL history as the first-ever team to win three straight Super Bowls.
The Eagles approached the game with a chip on their shoulders, suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years prior and just missing out on Super Bowl LVIII with an NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 season.
The game started slow offensively, as the most explosive play came from the Eagles but was called back due to an
offensive pass interference call. Both teams were forced to punt on their first possessions.
Although the Chiefs defense was largely able to keep Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley in check early after an electric playoff run, Philadelphia managed to find some success in the air.
Near the end of the first quarter, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found wide receiver Jahan Dotson for a 27-yard gain to put the offense on the twoyard line. In a play that likely everybody knew was coming, the Eagles ran their version of the QB sneak, coined the “tush push,” and Hurts picked up a touchdown on the ground to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead.
The second quarter remained Philadelphia’s game, as their defense did not falter, keeping the typically explosive
Chiefs offense scoreless.
The Eagles offense managed to push down the field and come away with three points, pushing the lead to 10-0, and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes II threw an uncharacteristic interception that was returned for a touchdown by Eagles rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean, increasing his team’s lead to 17-0.
Nearing the end of the first half, pinned inside their own 10-yard line, the Chiefs offense looked to put some points on the board and go into the half with some momentum. However, Mahomes threw another interception to Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, which put Philadelphia in a very good position to increase their lead even more before halftime.
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Gaza
“The Bachelor”
It is back and better
Molly Goff Opinion Editor
OPINION
In recent memory,
For the past five years, I have looked forward to Monday nights as a delightful escape from reality, immersing myself in the world of “The Bachelor.” Each episode brings a mix of laughter and joy as I witness the often outrageous behavior of the contestants, all while indulging in my longheld dream of witnessing love unfold.
My viewing process has become a ritual: I start by watching all the promotional trailers to build excitement for the new Bachelor, and then I consult Reality Steve for the latest spoilers. Once I identify the frontrunner
for the season, I dive into the episodes to see how the storyline develops. However, this season marks a change for me. In light of the numerous scandals surrounding the show from 2021 to 2024—particularly regarding diversity and social awareness—I’ve decided to return to the franchise’s pure roots. This time, I’ll be watching without any spoilers and will share my thoughts on the premiere episode!
As the season kicks off, the iconic limo entrances outside the “Bachelor Mansion” set the stage for first impressions that can significantly influence the contestants’ chances with bachelor Grant Ellis. The first entrant, fittingly named Rose, is a registered nurse from Chicago. The producers’ choice to present her first is clever; the name ‘Rose’ holds significant symbolism within the franchise, drawing viewers back to the show’s core.
See BACHELOR | Page 11
TikTok ban commotion
Brianna Heard Staff Writer
The popular social media app TikTok went dark in the United States for 14 hours beginning on Saturday, Jan. 18. The Supreme Court supported a law aimed at protecting privacy, which ordered TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell to a U.S. buyer by Jan. 19 otherwise the app would become unavailable in the U.S.
When the TikTok ban was first announced, Americans were concerned about how many people would lose their jobs. TikTok is an app where social media managers, Etsy sellers, musicians, YouTubers, Twitch streamers and more come to share their creations or content and make a living from it.
“I didn’t realize how much I used TikTok until it went dark, especially just laying in bed scrolling before I went to sleep, so it just felt weird to have it gone,” said Mere-
dith Peyton, a junior sociology major. YikYak, a social media app with anonymous posts, was used by several students to express their frustration about constantly attempting to open the TikTok app out of habit and being unable to use it.
Users were taken by surprise as they began to receive access to TikTok, on Sunday, Jan. 19, after 14 hours of it being deemed banned in the U.S.
“The following morning I had plans that kept me off my phone, and I didn’t realize the app was back up at first. So, overall those 14 hours barely affected me,” said Georgia Barham-Taylor, a junior biology major.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Jan. 20 delaying the enforcement of the ban for 75 days. The delay gives TikTok more time to find a U.S. buyer to continue future use within the states.
See TIKTOK | Page 8
ceasefire brings an end to 15 month conflict
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Jan. 19 to end the ongoing conflict and address the urgent humanitarian needs of Israelis and Palestinians.
Hostages on both sides have begun to return and humanitarian aid in Gaza has been administered by international aid organizations in Europe and surround-
ing Arab states. The fighting has halted and displaced Palestinians have made their way back home to their families.
“Thank goodness. I mean, I wish it could have been a month or two months ago. Or a year ago. If it could stop even for a little while at this point, I’m all about it,” said Mark Huddle, Professor of History
There are three phases to the ceasefire
deal between Israel and Hamas that former President Biden addressed in a speech in the White House on Jan. 15. Many Americans are questioning whether or not the deal will truly end the 15-month-long war after learning of the phases.
Based on historical context, it is difficult to pinpoint when or if the war will be over.
“I don’t think either side will be satisfied on
territory because they both feel they have an obligation towards the land,” said Tamara Bean, a junior philosophy major. Israel and Palestine have had conflicts since the end of the 1800s. These conflicts pertain to territorial disputes, religious differences and political governance contrasts, which are several core reasons as to why both sides are struggling to compromise.
Various international mediators such as Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been working together to ensure the deal between Hamas and Israel is thorough.
Other international mediators such as the emir of Kuwait, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi, were working closely with Biden at
the end of his preseidnecy term to ensure the succes of the phases.
The first phase that Biden addressed in his speech is six weeks long and involves a complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the most densely populated areas of Gaza. Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages will begin to be released during this phase.
Amelia McEwen Staff Writer
Super Bowl 2025
Sara L. Crosby vists
The Bobcat’s baseball team faces tough competition as the season begins.
GAZA
Continued from page Hamas did not keep their promise when they said they would provide the names of the first three hostages set to be released during the first exchange. Israel then halted the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and continued to attack until the names
were released. The initial time for the truce to begin, Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m., was delayed by three hours because of this.
Despite the early setbacks, the ceasefire was successfully implemented to allow the release of the first groups of hostages.
Palestinians sang, prayed and cried as they awaited the arrival of the
hostages held in Israel. Thousands of Palestinian prisoners returned home to the most heavily derailed location in Gaza, the Gaza Strip. At the end of the first phase, all women, children and older men are expected to be returned to Israel by Hamas.
It is now expected for three Israeli hostages to be released every seven
days as long as Palestinian prisoners are returned in exchange. Israel has expressed that they will not be releasing Palestinians who were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
Negotiations on how to end the war completely will take place during phase one and roll over into phase two. If these negotiations surpass the timeline, the cease-
Professor Spotlight: Stephen Merritt
Shadimon Smith News Editor
GCSU has a multitude of professors and programs that help students achieve the careers they want, and one of those programs is the John H. Lounsbury College of Education which trains the future teachers of America.
One of those professors is Stephen Merritt and he has been at GCSU since 2022.
“I told them when I was interviewing that I am looking for my last job,” Merritt said, a Lecturer of Secondary Education. “I am pretty sure this is it.”
Inspired by his very own high school teachers, Merritt decided to attend Furman University where he
gained his Bachelor of Arts in history in 1993.
“History was always my favorite subject in high school,” Merrit said.
He also earned his teaching certificate for social studies for grades seven through 12, which he can still use today.
Merritt continued pursuing history for his master’s degree which he earned from the University of South Carolina in 1995. In 2005, he gained his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the same university.
Merritt has spent his time teaching, coaching and mentoring at schools focused on secondary education. He is now teaching graduate students and his classes are virtual. He can have up to 20 students at a time in his
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Editorial Board
Delaney Derry.................
Paige Blakemore............
Julia Jensen.....................
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Matthew Malkowski.....
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Kassie Arps.......................
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fire will remain in place until further notice.
The remaining living hostages will be released and the remainder of the Israeli soldiers will withdraw from Gaza. The third phase will allow for any remaining deceased hostages to be returned to their families.
Trump was interviewed by Fox News regarding the reconstruc-
tion of Gaza. “Think of it as a real estate development for the future,” said Trump. “It would be a beautiful piece of land.”
Updates are continuously coming out regarding the release of hostages and what will happen in the future of Gaza.
is fair to the students.
classes. Merritt’s students are on the track to teach grades six through 12.
“I am currently teaching field experience classes,” Merritt said.
nents have to involve five strands of study: technology in the classroom, classroom inquiry, specific content area appli-
“Which is where the students get to go into a classroom and learn the ins and outs of teaching.”
Along with field experience, students have to complete a student teaching internship. These multiple compo-
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cations, teaching literacy skills and diversity issues in the classroom including exceptionalities.
Some of his students are already teachers and are also playing other roles at their schools. Merritt tries to work with his students
because he has been in their shoes before.
“While teaching, I was also running different clubs, also sometimes having office duties,” Merritt said. “So my students say, ‘I don’t have time. I’m doing this. I’m doing that.’ I can give them a little flexibility, that I really want to truly understand where they’re coming from and why it’s good that we have teachers here that have actually been there.”
Merritt also works on helping students prepare for future tests and quizzes to ensure they are giving their students a fair chance on the test.
He also teaches a class for the education majors that works on further explaining fair tests and how to ensure the test
With history being Merritt’s main area of expertise, he teaches the education majors who want to teach sixth through 12th-grade history. Since he has taught these grades before he is able to work with his students for the best outcome for their students.
Merritt works to ensure his students have what they need to be successful in their current or future classrooms by checking that they know their content and understand what they are teaching to their students.
“One of the most important parts of being a teacher is knowing your content and the other knowing your students,” Merritt said.
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Stephen Merritt
H5 Bird Flu: navigating the risks to public health and agriculture
Kate Walker Staff Writer
A strain of avian influenza, known as the H5 Bird Flu, has swept across the United States’ poultry and dairy industries over the past year leading to devastating effects in the agriculture industry.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Feb. 5, the strain has been detected in 11,627 wild birds, 153,866,301 poultry, 957 dairy herds and 63 humans. The virus has rapidly spread across the country, with 51 jurisdictions having outbreaks in poultry and 16 states having outbreaks in dairy cows. However, there is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person, as most of the patients had known exposure to infected animals.
“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about right now, the main
thing is staying away from dying, sick birds,” said Emma Anderson, a senior nursing major.
But as the COVID-19 pandemic has left many Americans nervous about emerging diseases, the question has arisen as to what exactly bird flu is and whether or not it has the potential to develop into a pandemic.
“Bird flu is a strain of influenza that has traditionally infected only birds,” said Jennifer Walker, a microbiology professor at the University of Georgia.
“There’s human flu, there’s swine flu, there’s avian flu, there’s all kinds of strains out there, so avian flu is typically associated with birds.”
According to Walker, the virus spreads between animals through nasal secretions, saliva and feces. Just like any other strain of influenza, the bird flu mutates over time, but every so
often there’s an antigenic shift. Essentially, one animal gets infected with different strains of flu, for example, a pig infected with both swine and human influenza.
“As the two different viruses replicate, they actually swap genetic material and come out with what’s called a chimeric strain, where this new virus has a combination of both swine and human flu,” Walker said. “So that’s where one strain of flu now shifts and can infect a different species.”
While avian influenza has been an agricultural battle in the U.S. for decades, the potential of a chimeric strain that spreads between humans has many people concerned. But how likely is it that the H5 outbreak will develop into a pandemic?
“At this point, avian influenza is not being spread person to person, and that was the
key for COVID, that a human acquired the virus, and then the virus wasn’t able to transmit just from an animal to human but now has the ability to transfer from human to human,” Walker said. “That’s a whole other mechanism that the virus has to acquire.”
The CDC also noted that the current health risk for the H5 bird flu is low, though they are continually monitoring the situation and working closely with states to monitor human cases. Most of the cases have been mild, with symptoms such as eye redness, low fever, sore throat and nasal congestion, and the one death associated with the disease was complicated by underlying medical conditions.
While it may not be a reason for panic, it is still important for the general public to stay educated about bird flu and other emerging diseases, espe-
cially those in the healthcare and medical fields.
For those in close contact with hospitals and high-risk patients, staying informed of potential threats and evaluating one’s health and wellness must be a priority.
“I would say it’s a part of their jobs,” Anderson said. “Since it’s pretty small right now, it’s not really something to be worried about, but if some other type of infection were to emerge or if it would move farther along, then I would stay
really up to date on it.”
The CDC has encouraged the public to stay away from wild or domestic birds, especially if they appear to be sick or dying, as well as avoid consuming raw, unpasteurized milk. Those in the agriculture industry are also advised to avoid direct contact with infected animals using personal protection equipment, with continual monitoring of both animals and human workers.
America leaves the World Health Organization
Hope Martin Staff Writer
President Donald Trump ordered the United States to pull out of the World Health Organization, or WHO on Jan. 20. America has been a part of WHO since it was founded in 1948. Many Americans are unaware of what this means for the future.
The WHO work to keep people around the world informed about disease outbreaks and also cures for said diseases. The organization connects nations, partners and communities to promote health and serve the vulnerable.
The WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic being cited as the reason for the withdrawal. Other reasons cited were unfair onerous payments which are payments made under a contract that is more expensive than the benefits received and improper political influence on other members of the organization.
The U.S. will now be the only country, excluding disputed land, that is not in the WHO.
The WHO has said they hope the
U.S. will reconsider and that they can engage in a future dialogue to keep the relationship between the two.
The WHO has notably included even more controversial coun-
for pulling out are understandable, eventually there will be ramifications.
“Many more lives can be lost, especially with the loss of funding,” Ofori said. “There is important data that the
tries, such as North Korea and Russia.
“I didn’t realize the U.S. was the only country not in it,” said Amanda Nelson, a junior biology major.
“It is definitely something I think more people should be aware of.”
Many students did not know that the U.S. was the only organization not in the WHO after Trump’s executive order, with many expressing concern after hearing this.
Nikki Ofori, a senior public health major, thinks that while some reasons
WHO can provide the U.S. in case of any new emergencies, especially towards our own institutions like the CDC.”.
Ofori also expressed concern for other countries, and how the loss of the U.S. and its influence could affect medical issues such as vaccination rates in foreign countries and humanitarian aid.
“While I do agree that there are valid concerns about the WHO, ultimately I do not agree with pulling out,” Ofori said.
A professor of the sciences who chose to remain anony-
mous said that it was unfortunate that the U.S. pulled out of WHO.
The professor elaborated that the loss of humanitarian aid and medical information was unfortunate, but in the end, they do not feel qualified enough to comment on the reasons for withdrawal or to speculate much on the ramifications, a sentiment shared by some other students.
“If my wife needed surgery, I am not going to stand over the surgeon to say ‘Hey when I Googled this, this is how I was told it was supposed to be done,’” the anonymous professor said. “I leave that to the people who specialize in that. We will just have to wait and see.”
Many students shared a feeling of not feeling qualified or not feeling like they knew enough to speculate, with even more being uncertain of the ramifications and the future.
“Modern science works best with collaboration, whether state to state or through global collectiveness,” the anonymous professor said. “Issues aren’t isolated. It’s all connected.”
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World Health Organization
Southern gothic lecture
Paige Blakemore Managing Editor
The O’Connor Institute began its Inaugural Southern Gothic Lecture Series on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Pat Peterson Museum Education Room where Sara L. Crosby delivered a lecture on “The Rougarou and The Rise of Cajun Ecogothic.”
Crosby, a professor of English at The Ohio State University at Marion, comes from a long line of Cajun ancestry she displays proudly.
Grand Isle, a small island nestled on the coast of Louisiana, has been her family’s home since the 1700s. However, Crosby’s generational residence and many others are slowly disappearing.
Louisiana hosts over 10,000 miles of coastal wetland, yet the American oil industry has converted Crosby’s homeland into what she describes as a “petroleum sacrifice zone.”
Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reports they are the nation’s No. 1 export state and responsible for 90% of outer continental shelf oil and gas.
Over the past 100 years, this has led to land
erosion close to the size of Delaware, according to Crosby, destroying livelihoods and habitats.
Additionally, the deforestation of cypress trees and the construction of levees and dams have inhibited the wetlands of natural replenishment.
“You should really see it before it goes,” Crosby said to the crowd.
As explained by “Nature Communications,” nearly 75% of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands will be underwater by 2070. The loss of wetlands puts not only natural ecosystems at risk but also increases the state’s exposure to hurricanes, as the coast serves as the first line of defense.
“My family was sharecroppers since before the Civil War, so the land of Louisiana was critical to sustaining my family, and lack of resources is part of why they left,” said Katie Cooper, a political science and philosophy double major, who attended the event.
“My mother is from a small town in Louisiana, so I was familiar with part of Cajun culture.”
Voodoo, witchcraft, monsters and the unexplainable have always been placed on the mi-
nority populations of Louisiana in racist attempts to instill fear. While many fight to break the stereotype, the Cajun culture has chosen to embrace it to help preserve their beloved wetlands and homes.
The Rougarou is, more or less, a Cajun swamp werewolf, that has been passed down as a folk tradition dating back to the 1800s.
Originally deriving from the French words “loup garou,” meaning werewolf, the Rougarou can take on many forms as a shapeshifter. Renditions of it can be seen in popular culture and the emerging ecogothic genre, specifically in horror-related media.
Once a creature of folklore used to scare outsiders, the Rougarou is now a mascot raising awareness about Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands. Since 2012, the Rougarou Fest has been held every October on the weekend before Halloween, inviting both the local bayou community and visitors to engage in advocacy. All proceeds from the festival go to the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.
Crosby likens the
Rougarou to southern Louisiana’s version of Smokey the Bear and assertion of cultural worth.
“I admire how people are taking critical aspects of their culture, like the Rougarou, and strategically using them as symbols to bring awareness to environmental degradation,” Cooper said.
While Crosby remains hopeful about the future and continues to spread awareness of her culture and community, irreversible damage has already been done. Sharing pictures and anecdotes of her great-grandmothers, Crosby revealed that after Hurricane Ida in August 2021, she was forced to sell the home that had been in her family for over 200 years.
“I think we can’t say that there’s no hope unless we’ve actually really tried, and we haven’t actually really tried,” Crosby said. “We’ve been a national sacrifice zone. The damage is not repaired. Let’s actually make the most profitable companies in the history of the world fix, or at least try to fix, what they’ve broken. It requires more than what Louisiana can do on its own.”
Loundry lecture series on American education
Juli Minchey Contributing Writer
The John H. Loundry Distinguished Lecture
Series on American Education brought Dana Rickman to speak Thursday, Feb. 6 about the future of education and the visions of hope for future educators and students in K-12 schools today.
Rickman used the series to encourage the crowd of future educators to always work to improve the schools they are placed in so the students have a better future.
“American public schools are in jeopardy,” Rickman said.
Rickman continued to talk about hope for the future by telling the audience that their story and personal testimony matter to better approach students in the future.
While this hope is not
present in every school in Georgia, Rickman’s success for all students statewide is very present in her speech through the “Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024 by “Securing Georgia’s Future: Rediscovering the Purpose of Public Education”.
These issues are ways that teachers can work to improve the environment for their students.
Rickman promotes hope while also talking about the “Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2024” which is provided by Georgia Partnership For Excellence in Education.
The top ten issues are presented to promote the future success of K-12 education in Georgia.
Some of those issues are Resetting the Public Discourse: Rising Above Rhetoric and Division, Literacy:
Building a Strong Foundation, Student Mental Health: Adopting a Whole-Community Approach, Access to Quality Childcare: Removing Workforce Barriers and
school,” Rickman said.
To find something you love in school is to discover the hope of your personal future education. This is established and heavily encouraged
Career Pathways: A Demand-Driven Approach.
“I would say think about what it is you really love you know even if it’s I love tinkering, or I love poetry you know something I really love, and figure out where you see that in
once a student seeks out a teacher or friend who has the same passions. Rickman’s speech encouraged future educators in the crowd.
“I think my biggest desire is to help students,” said Hannah Salter, a senior early
education major. “I’ve always struggled with academics and all that it entails, and understanding that all students need help, and my desire is to know that each student is different and needs different accommodations just as I did when I had SLD, which is a Specific Learning Disability.”
Knowing that future educators of GCSU had the opportunity to sit in on Rickman’s lecture better prepares them for future students and abilities to encourage and promote passions in students’ hearts is the important impact they know they will have.
Rickman uses statistics to support that public education is headed in the wrong direction based on the population.
Some of the statistics that she shared were that
16% of adults expressed that education was going in the right direction, 32% were not sure, and 51% said that public education was going in the wrong direction.
“A desire for future education for me is advocacy for children, I feel in the recent childhood climate of education there isn’t enough advocacy for children,” said Carson Holtke, a senior early education major.
Rickman hopes that future educators and their communities come together to advocate for students who are receiving improper education.
The role of future educators, parents, siblings or any family member that is related to a student is to speak up for the education that exists today in hopes to keep students engaged.
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Despite some prior red zone struggles in the game, Hurts connected with WR A.J. Brown for a 12-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 24-0.
The Chiefs would need to be perfect in the second half to mount such a large comeback, but rather than Mahomes and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce taking over the remainder of the game like their usual playoff runs, it was the Eagles’ defensive line.
It seemed like Mahomes was running for
his life every play, as both the interior and the edges of Philadelphia’s DL were consistently winning their matchups.
Overall, the DL racked up 16 total pressures on the QB and recorded six sacks, the most against Mahomes in his entire career. With little to no time for the talented QB to read the extremely talented Eagles’ defense, scoring opportunities were few and far between for the Chiefs.
The Eagles offense remained consistent in the second half. Another field goal by kicker Jake Elliot, who was a perfect
4/4 in the game, and a 46-yard touchdown reception by WR Devonta Smith further increased the lead to 34-0.
Although the game seemed all but over at this point, the Chiefs continued to fight, and Mahomes found rookie WR Xavier Worthy for a 24yard touchdown to finally put some points on the board. The touchdown was followed by a failed two-point conversion to make the score 34-6.
This would not be the Chiefs’ final score, as Mahomes would later find veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins for a
The UEFA champions league
Madison Hummel Staff Writer
Europe’s top football clubs are entering the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League Tournament on Feb. 11.
The previous eight match days of the league phase have showcased heated competition between teams.
GCSU students recall some of the biggest upset matches in the tournament so far.
“Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in November,” said Ari Johns, a sophomore biology major. “Everyone was expecting Bayern Leverkusen to put up a better fight”.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz finished the game with a hat trick, with three goals in one game, against Bayer Leverkusen.
There have been multiple unpredictable
games so far. Notably, fans were baffled after the AC Milan and GNK Dinamo match on the final match day.
AC Milan was close to securing a spot in the top eight but was cut short after defender Yunus Musah received two yellow cards and was ejected from the game.
GNK Dinamo had the advantage for the full second half of the game and was able to put two goals past the weakened defense to win the game.
Following the end of the league phase, the top eight teams secured their spots in the round of 16 and will not have to play in the first leg of the knockout stage.
The Premier League, England’s top soccer league, is dominating the top of the bracket with three teams automatically advancing.
Currently, Arsenal is leading the table in
7-yard touchdown and Worthy once again for a 50-yard touchdown on an impressive catch and throw, both followed by successful two-point conversions.
The Eagles would go on to win the Super Bowl
points, followed by Aston Villa in second place and Liverpool holding its position in eighth place.
La Liga, the Spanish football league, is showing strong contenders as well. Two Spanish teams, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona, clinched spots in the next round placing third and fourth respectively.
As the Champions League moves into the next phase, the matchups are looking more intense. Teams will be playing based on the total score so far, and fans are expecting the competition to be tighter.
Both German teams left in the knockout round, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are expected to be strong competitors in the upcoming games.
The Manchester City and Real Madrid game on Feb. 11 is highly anticipated among fans.
The Celtic FC and Bayern Munich game on Feb. 12 is shaping up to be another good match.
The new format of the tournament will impact the upcoming knockout phase.
Changes were made to the existing structure for the 2024-2025 season.
“To introduce a better competitive balance between all the teams, with the possibility for each team to play opponents of a similar competitive level throughout the league phase,” said the UEFA Executive Committee, in an online article addressing the topic.
The top eight teams go straight to the round of 16, and teams ranked No. 9-No. 12 will play teams of the next lowest points in the knockout phase.
The winners of the eight knockout games will go on to play the top eight teams in the round of 16.
LVII rematch with a score of 40-22. Despite poor offensive line play, Mahomes would finish the game going 21/32 for 257 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Hurts finished the game going 17/22 for
221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as well as racking up 72 yards and a score on the ground. Hurts’s impressive offensive performance earned him Super Bowl MVP.
Arsenal Club
The new format will make predicting matchups in the round of 16 difficult.
The UEFA Champions League is one of the largest internationally relevant sporting events being held at the beginning of 2025.
Many students on the GCSU campus are not as interested in the Champions League or international soccer as they are in other sports.
Amelia McEwen, a sophomore mass communication major, is not an avid fan of soccer but watches some games, especially the World Cup.
“I believe that if more Americans focused on sports outside of the country,” McEwen said.
“Americans should definitely be interested and support European and international soccer. Soccer is an exciting sport to watch,” Johns said. “The world loves soccer, yet it has been slow to pick up in the U.S. The whole world cannot be wrong.” Soccer events like the UEFA Champions League are beginning to garner more viewers every year.
Simultaneously, Major League Soccer in the U.S. is receiving more attention with each season.
“Especially soccer, we could learn more about the games, and they would become more widely accepted here”. With each year, more Americans are catching on to the soccer trend.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
Expanding college football playoffs
Asst. News Editor
The first season of expanding the College Football Playoff has come to an end with Ohio State University taking the National Championship home.
The newly established 12-team playoff was something to get used to after 10 years of a 4-team playoff, with some people complaining about the system’s efficiency.
As the playoffs began in the 2024-2025 college football season, there were several differences in this season from years past.
College football has a long history dating back to 1869, but there was no champion until 1936 when the Associated Press released their rankings. These rankings determined the top 20 college football teams and helped decide a champion.
Following that, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), was created in 1998. The BCS made
the top 10 teams face off in different bowls games ending in No.1 and No. 2 playing each other, deciding a champion.
In 2014, the College Football Playoffs began with more fine-tuning throughout the league.
The 4-team College Football Playoff consisted of the four best teams that were chosen by The College Football Playoff selection committee. Their goal each season was to choose the best Division 1 teams for the three playoff games: two semi-final games and the national championship.
GCSU students expressed their opinions on the past playoff systems
“I think the committee had too much of a say in the 4-team,” said Abigail Lee, a junior psychology major
Many agreed with Lee over the 10 years of the 4-team playoff, which led to the system being changed once again.
The 2024-2025 college football season started the very first 12-team
playoff. The playoff season started with Oregon at No.1, Georgia at No.2, Boise State at No.3, and Arizona State at No.4. These four teams received a bye due to being in the top four ranked by the playoff committee.
A bye is when a team is automatically advanced to the next round of a tournament without playing an opponent to get there. Byes were put in place to help the top four teams so they don’t have a chance to get knocked out of the tournament.
Many people over the years of not only football but all sports have argued over the “Rest vs. Rust” debate. This debate asks if the players receive rest from their bye week/s or if they become rusty and are not able to live up to the task.
In this past season, the top four teams lost their first playoff game. Many argued that this was due to the rust built up from their byes.
Students at GCSU were asked what they
think of the top four teams losing with junior Jacob Cooper, a business management major, giving his input.
“I think it’s just a fluke,” Cooper said. “But I do think that the byes have a lot to do with it.”
“There’s such a long gap,” said Cooper. “Notre Dame had a tune-up game against Indiana and then played Georgia, so they were pretty fresh. So I think that has a lot to do with it, but not every time, conference champions have to win at one point.”
The “Rest vs. Rust” debate was not the only argument within the college football community this past season. Many football fans were shocked at the fact that Alabama did not make it into the playoff bracket.
“I think it was totally fair that they didn’t make it,” Lee said. “They lost to Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, I think the only people that were surprised were Bama fans.”
With the decision of
who makes it into those 12 teams relying less on the selection committee this season, many college football fans rejoiced.
Some believed that the committee was biased, favoring the SEC conference in the 4-team playoff every year.
After several playoff games were played this season, the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl decided who would be playing in the National Championship. Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 while Notre Dame played a closer game against Penn State that ended in Notre Dame winning 27-24.
The National Championship was held on Monday, Jan. 20 with Ohio State pulling out the win over Notre Dame,
GCSU baseball begins 2025 campaign
Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer
The GCSU baseball team opened its season ranked No.13 in the preseason American Baseball Coaches Association DII coaches poll. With the first few games underway, the Bobcats want to repeat their appearance in the Southeast Super Regional or go even further.
The team finished with a 37-22 record last year. Finished off by a walk-off home run by Matthew Mebane, the Bobcats won the Peach Belt Conference tournament. However, GCSU eventually lost to the Catawba College Indians in the Super Regional.
The Bobcats opened
their season Friday, Jan. 31, in a tough spot, facing the No.1 national-
pitching struggled in the earlier innings, the Bobcat offense put to-
of chemistry this year and the team is full of a bunch of guys that will
Wuerth is returning from an excellent season, batting .362 with
ly-ranked University of Tampa Spartans. While GCSU was the definite underdog in the series, they would push games one and two to their limits, only losing by one and two runs, respectively.
GCSU’s home opener was on Tuesday, Feb. 4, against Southern Wesleyan University. While
gether the possibility of a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases but could not leave with the win.
GCSU will play its first home series against Eckerd College, beginning Friday, Feb. 7, and concluding the next day with a doubleheader.
“I feel like we got a lot
do whatever it takes to win,” said Gabe Wuerth, a junior infielder.
The team retained many of the same players who won the championship last year.
While they could reach the top of the Peach Belt Conference, the Bobcats are nonetheless ready for more.
a .407/.447/.854 slash line stemmed from 14 doubles and 90 hits, which led the Bobcats in the 2024 season.
He worked significantly during the offseason, participating in summer leagues to develop and hone his skill set.
ending in a score of 3423. Some football fans argue that the SEC and the Big 10 conferences have too large an advantage and they will always take home the trophy.
The 2024-2025 college football season began with the first 12team playoff and ended with an Ohio State championship. While many say they love the new system, they still argue there should be tweaks made for a more seamless playoff season.
“I think it was just a rough year,” Cooper said. “A rough prototype for it, but it’ll get better.”
The College Football Playoff committee has yet to make changes but has not ruled it out for the 2025-2026 season.
While Wuerth slugged three home runs in the 2024 season, getting more home run production from the scrappy infielder could help the team take the next step offensively.
“There are definitely high expectations, expecting to be in Cary, North Carolina, this year competing for the World Series,” Wuerth said. With the season just beginning, it can be challenging to predict if the team can replicate or elevate last year’s success; however, the players seem confident in how their season will end this year.
“I’m looking to boost all my stats much more and add a couple of home runs to the stat line,” Wuerth said.
Rylee Holland
Ohio State
Courtesy of GCSU Athletic | Carson Phillips at bat
Is the NFL rigged?
Benjamin Clark Asst. Sports Editor
The idea that the NFL is rigged is a common topic of debate and speculation among fans, especially after controversial plays or decisions in big games. Leading up to the Superbowl, many in the NFL community have begun to circulate theories that the Kansas City Chiefs are getting special treatment from the refs on calls and flags thrown during their games.
NFL fans around GCSU have partially entertained these theories, however, remain skeptical of their true validity on a large scale.
“I don’t think that the league office is making calls on the field,” said Cade Steel, a junior history and philosophy major. “But what I do think is that refs in the back of their minds know that these are the big market teams, and these are the big market players, and they are always going to receive a little bit of favoritism. I think
the Chiefs are particularly egregious, I don’t think the refs are rigging it, but I also don’t blame people for saying it is.”
The NFL is governed by strict rules, and while human error in officiating can lead to controversial calls, the league is known for its efforts to maintain integrity and fairness. The referees and the league work to minimize bias, and there are rigorous systems in place for review and accountability.
One system is the referees’ ability to throw flags during plays, which stops the game and issues a penalty to the aggrieving team.
According to an article by Forbes, in recent years the number of flags thrown per game has risen, with more flags thrown in 2024 than in all subsequent years.
“I don’t really like flags because it disrupts things,” said Derek Kim, a junior political science and philosophy major. “But I do like how they are being softer with the calls on
things like roughing the passer and charging, as the small little taps do add up and lead to serious repercussions.”
Penalty flags have always been a way to protect the players and the integrity of the game, this ties into the controversy surrounding the sanctity of the NFL’s competitive environment by having referees throwing flags to protect certain teams or players.
Other GCSU students seem to share in Kim’s sentiment, that more flags thrown seem to disrupt and extend the game while creating a boring viewing experience for spectators.
“It just messes up the flow of the game when too many are thrown,” Steel said. “The main thing about flags is that you need to be consistent. The issue is that you go into any given game, and there will be 6 holds that are not called, then you go to another game and every hold is called.”
Whilst the conspiracy theories surrounding the current environment of the NFL seem to not hold much truth value, the speculations can be enlightening towards fans’ opinions on the current state of the game and the direction it is headed in the future.
Men’s college basketball approaches the tournament
Lily Reynolds Staff Writer
As March Madness approaches, the Southeastern Conference is mounting an unmatched push for multiple No. 1 seeds in the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Auburn University, led by standout center Johni Broome, currently leads the pack, while Duke University and the University of Alabama round out the projected top seeds. The SEC’s dominance extends past the top spots, with five conference teams positioned in the top eight overall seeds.
The Blue Devils, riding a 15-game winning streak, and Auburn, with 13 consecutive victories, have become visible as clear tournament favorites. Duke’s freshman, Cooper Flagg, has been particularly contributory to their success, including a decisive victory over arch-rival University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Auburn has successfully fended off upset bids from Louisiana State University
and Ole Miss, securing double-digit road victories in both contests.
“With Auburn being in the SEC, I have watched plenty of conference games this year, “ said Will Nelson, a junior management major. “I believe this year is the most competitive it’s ever been because the playing field has been leveled because of the new era of name, image and likeness.”
Name, image and likeness, or NIL, is the ability for college athletes to make a profit off of their name and playing ability, and by doing this, many of these teams on the SEC can pay big-time players to come to their programs.
Furthermore, Alabama has solidified its position in the top three behind sharp-shooter Mark Sears, bolstering its resume with victories over Mississippi State University and the University of Georgia. Over their past seven games, the Bulldogs have struggled, posting just two wins against five losses. Their only
victories came in overtime matchups—one on the road against South Carolina and another at home versus Ole Miss.
“The younger guys in the NCAA have been bringing an electric factor to the game, and for my team, UGA is doing better than I thought
ing top seeds has seen significant movement, with Iowa State University, the University of Florida, the University of Houston, Marquette University and Michigan State University all tripping in recent games.
Despite the University of Tennessee’s im-
with freshman talent
Asa Newell, ” said Davis King, a junior at Central Georgia Tech College.
Yet, recent progress has shown vulnerability among some SEC contenders, with Mississippi State facing a particularly challenging stretch after dropping five of their last seven games, including a surprising 27-point home loss to the University of Missouri.
The race for remain-
pressive 20-point victory over Florida without key players Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic, their earlier home loss to the University of Kentucky has positioned them closer to a No. 3 seed. Houston remains a strong contender following a convincing 14-point road win at West Virginia University.
The Big 12 conference continues to deliver noticeable finishes. Texas Tech University upset
Houston on Chance McMillian’s decisive free throws, while Baylor University shocked the University of Kansas by overcoming a 21-point deficit. North Carolina’s struggles have escalated with a 13-10 record, likely ending their hopes for a high tournament seed.
In the Big East, the University of Connecticut maintains its dominance despite missing freshman Liam McNeeley, showcasing exceptional shooting efficiency at 60% from the field.
St. John’s University strengthens its tournament case with key wins over Georgetown University and Providence College, maintaining a perfect record outside of Quad 1 competition.
Possibly the most compelling turnaround story comes from the Big Ten, where the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has dramatically reversed its fortunes after a six-game losing streak threatened their tournament hopes.
The Cornhuskers, who started the season 12-2 with notable wins over Creighton University,
the University of California, Los Angeles and Indiana University, have roared back into tournament contention behind Brice Williams’ exceptional performances. Williams led Nebraska to consecutive Quad 1 victories, posting 27 points in an overtime win against the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and following up with 28 points at the University of Oregon. These wins, particularly against an Oregon team boasting eight Quad 1 victories, have thrust Nebraska back into the tournament conversation after falling out of bracket projections just weeks ago. As the season enters its final weeks, teams are making their final pushes for tournament positioning. The unfolding of exceptional freshman talent, combined with traditional powerhouse programs maintaining their dominance, suggests this year’s March Madness could be one of the most competitive and exciting tournaments in recent memory.
Patrick Mahomes
National Collegiate Athletic Association
ARTS & LIFE
TIKTOK
Continued from page 1
Many Americans have questioned an infringement of rights when it comes to this ban.
TikTokers and content creators alike have expressed discomfort in the return to the app after a short period and indicate suspicions of censorship of certain news and topics of politics.
“TikTok is a major
source of information for me, so if it was permanently banned, I wouldn’t be able to access major news in the way I had before,” Peyton said, “America is also very big about freedom of speech so I feel as though the TikTok ban hindered that as well.”
The potential ban has left many Americans questioning how they will stay informed and connected in the future.
The Oscars
“It not only limits our freedom of speech but could also be seen as restricting freedom of the press, as many news stations rely on the app to reach a broader audience,” Barham-Taylor said.
The TikTok ban was initiated in 2020 by Trump when an attempt to ban the app fell through and the company made changes to U.S. data protections.
Highs and lows of the 2025 nominations
Sarah Barnhart Staff Writer
The Oscars, or Academy Awards, have dazzled movie lovers for almost 100 years. It is a time when all the actors and movie makers of the previous year can be praised for all their hard work. Nominations for the upcoming ceremony, taking place on March 2, were originally set to release on Jan. 17 but due to the LA fires it was then rescheduled and released on Jan. 23.
Since 1929, the Academy Awards have taken place and given way to plenty of memorable and historical moments, including the win of Best Supporting Actress to Hattie McDaniel as the first black Oscar winner and Halle Berry becoming the first black woman to win the Best Actress category.
For decades, the Oscars have had their fair share of controversies, snubs and seemingly undeserving winners and losers. One of the most notable controversies occurred in 2017 when Best Picture was announced incorrectly to “La La Land” when “Moonlight” was the real winner.
The 97th Academy Awards nominations hit the headlines in late January and people have mixed opinions on the nominated films. This year’s most nominated film is “Emilia Pérez” with 13 nominations total, was directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Grammy-nominated actress and singer Selena Gomez.
“Challengers,” directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Emmy-win-
ning actress and singer Zendaya, received a shocking zero nominations, despite its soundtrack receiving intense praise and a Golden Globe award.
“I was a little disappointed in the lack of nominations for Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers.’ said Chloe Butts, a junior theatre major. “The cinematography of the movie was truly a standout of this Oscar season. “There are a few movies I have not seen but a lot of people online are upset with the number of nominations they have received. I will definitely be tuning in to see what wins.”
The GCSU Film Club is a campus organization that comes together to watch and analyze films. Since its inception in April of 2023, co-presidents Daniel Hastings, a junior biology major, and Tommy Creekmore, a senior English and global studies double major, have shared their love and appreciation for film with other students at GCSU. Their opinions on the 2025 Oscars are considered due to their intense knowledge and analytical views on movies.
“With film being a combination of visuals, writing and music, I see it as the embodiment of what art can be,” Hastings said. “Thus, having a forum for discussion of a wide variety of films means so much to me, not just on the level of my furthered understanding of a work, but that everyone who attends also ponders on the film of the week.”
Hastings says his love for movies has always been clear, but when he first watched James Cameron’s “Avatar,” it awakened his adora-
After the bipartisan bill was signed by former President Joe Biden, Trump asked the Supreme Court to stop the ban on Dec. 27, 2024, so he could negotiate the dispute through political means once he took office.
Posts made by GCSU students on YikYak, shared anger over Trump using the ban as political gain and abusing his presidential powers.
One student made a post claiming this was a social experiment since the app was banned for less than a day, while others are concerned about the future of the app.
“If TikTok was sold to Meta, the only social media I will be using is YouTube,” said a GCSU student in an anonymous YikYak post.
When the ban was imminent many American users vowed to move to
other forms of entertainment including Instagram reels and the Chinese app Red Note. For now, the pending doom of TikTok will continue and many GCSU students will continue to enjoy the app while they can.
“If they want me to stop using the app, they are going to have to ban it again,” Peyton said.
tion. Creekmore’s adoration for film stems from his movie-loving family.
“The Film Club is a space that allows students of all backgrounds to come and discuss a wide assortment of films in a safe and analytical environment,” Creekmore said. “Part of our mission when we began the club was to encourage critically thinking about the media we consume and share films that members may have otherwise not exposed themselves to.”
When it comes to the nominations, Hasting expressed the nominations for the film “The Substance,” showcasing the appreciation of different genres by the Academy. Hastings and Creekmore expressed that the film “I Saw the TV Glow” directed by Jane Schoenbrun and depicting a supernatural world inside the TV was among the films snubbed for any nominations.
The most nominated film, “Emilia
Pérez,” has caused much debate and controversy across all mass media, with audiences finding it unworthy of the praise it has received. Across platforms like TikTok, users have found the film’s soundtrack and acting to other nominated films like “Wicked” unbearable and substandard in comparison.
“The Oscars have a lot of problems, but I do love them,” Creekmore said. “Do they get a lot of things wrong? Yes. Does the show feel like a disingenuous excuse to reward industry favorites? Also, yes. But even so, when the Academy actually does something great, and we get to see a speech from a truly genuine individual who loves the work they do, it can be incredibly moving.”
While the Academy has had its controversies and insane moments, it is truly a time when film lovers, filmmakers, actors and actresses can all come together to appreciate all their hard work.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Coping with graduated friends
Mary Ciucevich A&L Editor
The idea of graduation is often associated with high school and the journey of leaving one’s hometown and friends to go off to college, but most people tend to forget about college graduations and the impact of entering real-world jobs and careers. In college, students build longtime friendships that expand across all ages and grade years, often leading to abrupt separations due to one student’s graduation or the other.
“I have a few friends I met through film club a few years ago when I was a freshman or sophomore at the time and I didn’t even realize they were seniors,” said Sydney Auriemma, a senior mass communication major. “It was really jarring for me when they graduated because in college the clubs and classes you’re in you never actually know what
grade people are unless you specifically ask”.
Lifetime friendships can last past graduation depending on how a student maintains communication or how they cope with a particular friend’s departure from campus. Students who remain on campus while their friend goes out into the real world can reminisce on moments through a reconnection on social media or through a mutual connection to said friend.
Ellen Patton, a senior art major, connects with her graduated friends through text messaging and making time to meet up with them as much as she can. She holds a preference for text messaging over social media.
“Just making sure that you keep the connection, rather than just cutting it off cause you’re not seeing each other is important,” Patton said.
Different social media like Instagram, TikTok,
Snapchat and Facebook tend to be the main ways of staying up to date with friends over long distances. Instagram remains the main social media for Generation Z with 91% of user activity, according to Sprout Social.
Compared to Instagram, TikTok remains the place for discovery of the outside and pop culture world more than that of Instagram, which allows interaction with a friend’s life.
Despite having many options for staying in touch with friends, time can create a distance that can become hard to avoid or come back from. For college students classes, jobs or extracurriculars can impede their ability to stay in touch with graduated friends.
“I think it’s difficult because they’re starting new jobs, and it’s probably full-time, and I’m a full-time student, so it’s really hard to text, let alone try and see
them,” Auriemma said.
Recent college graduate students, like current students, may find their time taken up by new jobs or career paths.
Kylie Rowe, a recent fall 2024 graduate at GCSU, finds that making time to go to lunch with friends at least once a month can help a connection remain between friends. For the times where distance is imminent, she turns to Instagram which allows her to send reels or memes to friends as a means of establishing a connection, no matter how small.
Rowe establishes that although high school graduation is discussed more, she finds college graduation harder because most college friends live together for longer periods, developing deeper connections.
Upon entering the real-world job market, graduated college students may find themselves missing a col-
Gems of downtown Milledgeville
Spots locals love
Allie Smith Staff Writer
Beyond its historic charm, Milledgeville is home to unique spots that students and visitors overlook. From delicious restaurants to scenic outdoor views, these lesser-known gems offer a unique-to-Milledgeville experience.
While many people know about Millegesville’s historic sights, such as Central State Hospital, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion and Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at The Depot, there are many more unique places throughout the city that many people have yet to discover. These local gems highlight Milledgeville’s unique culture where small businesses thrive.
One of these unique locations is the Oconee River Greenway, a nature trail located at 420 E. Greene St. which offers a peaceful outdoor experience. The park is home to scenic walking trails, pathways and wooden boardwalks, as well as fishing spots with boat ramps, making it suitable for canoeing or kayaking along the river.
“The greenway is always perfect for an afternoon stroll or the fishing spot, the dogs love the dog park, and we love the trails,” said Sam Jones, a GCSU Alum. “I’d recommend walking through downtown to see what Milledgeville has to offer.”
The Greenway dog park is another feature of the Oconee River, great for dogs to run around leash-free and enjoy the trails with their owners.
While many locals know about the Greenway, it remains relatively unused by many visitors and students and is one of the underappreciated gems in Milledgeville, a must-visit
lege experience and the friends that came with it.
“What I miss most about GSCU, or college in general is seeing people in class, because I feel like there’s a camaraderie had, especially when you get further in your major, with like people you kinda know but not really and now you don’t really have that anymore,” Rowe said.
Ways to maintain a long-distance friendship between graduated students and current students in college start with an establishment of
Columbia St. This welcoming eatery caters to customers’ unique dietary needs, offering vegetarian and vegan options alongside classic kid-friendly menu items. This local sandwich shop has something for everyone to enjoy.
“A restaurant that I think is underrated is Stacked Sandwiches. It’s a sandwich place on North Columbia
spot that has something for everyone. It is not just the scenic views that go unnoticed in Milledgeville.
There are also plenty of local restaurants, bakeries and other shops that remain underappreciated.
One unique-to-Milledgeville location is Stacked Sandwiches, a lesser-known eatery located at 1827 N.
St. and I think it doesn’t get enough love,” said Isabella Akhlaghi, a sophomore finance major at GCSU. “Their turkey bacon Caesar wrap is so good.”
They are a locally owned and operated business that started in 2014 but in 2024 transitioned to new ownership by the Monica family: Denis, Zoey and Ashley. The Monicas have contin-
continuing a friendship before the friend leaves, then the creation of some type of tradition or ritual and then when seeing each other make sure to prioritize time and remain present. The next step involves a routine check-in with the friend, followed by a reminder that every friendship can have down moments, according to Wondermind.
“I think staying connected is really important because I can’t see my friends in class or at activities anymore,” Rowe said. “So you have to make more time.”
ued to expand the menu and maintain the shop’s reputation as a welcoming environment with high-quality food. Their commitment to fresh ingredients and friendly service makes Stacked Sandwiches an underrated gem in Milledgeville.
“It’s a being a part of a bigger part of a community,” co-owner Ashley of Stacked Sandwiches said. “It’s always fun for us to see different families come in and we get to watch their kids grow and be a part of this community on a deeper level.”
Ashley also mentioned that about 70% of her customers are locals and the rest are college students. Milledgeville locals often find the best unique treasures in Milledgeville, while students who have recently moved to the city may be unaware of them.
Beyond the well-known historical sites and the more popular bars and boutiques downtown, Milledgeville has many special spots that offer something for everyone. Whether it’s a walk along Oconee River Greenway or a delicious sandwich at Stacked Sandwiches, visiting these lesser-known spots allows visitors to experience Milledgeville in its authentic form.
For students, visitors and locals, taking time to seek out Milledville’s most unique spots is a worthwhile experience. Supporting small businesses, exploring rivers and discovering unique places helps foster a deeper connection to the historic city.
Mary Ciucevich | A&L Editor
Bella McComis | Digital Media Editor
Growing GCSU student enrollment
Kennedy Welker Asst. A&L Editor
GCSU welcomed a record number of freshman students to the university in fall 2023 and 2024, raising questions across campus regarding the carrying capacity of necessary GCSU student amenities such as transportation, housing and parking and causing uncertainty regarding the maintenance of small-class sizes and course availability.
Mike Cavalier, GCSU assistant vice president for University Communications & chief communications officer, has reached out across university departments to find the answers students want to know about the future of student enrollment.
While GCSU accepted its largest freshman class on record in fall 2023 at 1,816 students, the following year’s enrollment did not supersede it, dropping to 1,801 students. According to Joel Robinson, senior associate vice president of Enrollment Management, the university achieved lower freshman enrollment in 2024 by admitting 550 fewer applicants to GCSU, though the university received more applications than in 2023.
Total enrollment, however, has fluctuated more greatly over the years, Robinson explained.
Although the size of incoming freshman classes at GCSU has been at a record high for the past two years, the overall undergraduate enrollment for the university in fall 2024 was 6,006, only 162 students higher than the 5,844 registered in fall 2019. After 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an enrollment dip that has now fully rebounded.
Regarding why GCSU freshman enrollment increased substantially in fall 2023 and 2024, Robinson pointed to GCSU’s unique liberal arts education differentiators: that students can collaborate across disciplines in various ways and gain a uniquely broad perspective through their education.
GCSU offers high-impact practices or HIPs–learning experiences that apply classroom concepts to real-world situations, the GC Journeys Program and Leadership Programs across disciplines. These unique-toGCSU programs are not only offered to all but are popular among GCSU students with high success rates.
More than 68% of 2024 graduates participated in two more HIPs and over 27% participated in three or more. 58.4% of 2024 graduates completed the GC Journeys program and 38%
completed the Leadership Program.
Robinson also added that GCSU has launched new recruitment strategies in the past few years, geared towards high school students as early as their freshman year, which could be a contributing factor in GCSU’s growing enrollment rate. The university’s early recruitment strategy fosters a strong connection between applicants and the university long before application.
To maintain GCSU’s uniquely small class sizes and programs, administrations intend to both increase selectivity and limit enrollment to 1,750 freshman students in fall 2025.
“Our overall goal is to maintain an engaged undergraduate total enrollment while continuing to grow our online graduate programs,” Holley Roberts, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs said.
Roberts also assured that GCSU continues to maintain a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. In response to rising enrollment rates, deans and chairs are collaborating with the university registrar to hire qualified faculty to teach classes students need and ensure the necessary classes are offered.
Regarding the financial status of GCSU in response to the record number of freshmen admitted in the last two years, Susan Allen, interim vice president for Finance and Administration, offered some unique insight into the funding system of Georgia universities
Allen provided that state funding operates on a two-year lag; therefore, the funding GCSU received for this year is based on the number of credit hours processed in the academic year for 2022.
Though this technically means less funding is allocated to students for the 2024-2025 academic year, given that enrollment rates were lower in 2022, Allen assured that there is no financial strain, since enrollment is only 162 students higher than the university’s former record high.
Additionally, considering the GCSU administration’s plan to lower student enrollment in fall 2025, the funding received from the record undergraduate enrollment of 2023 should increase the student-funding ratio next year.
The high GCSU enrollment rates of the past two years have also raised questions regarding overcrowding and under-availability in residential halls and West Campus housing.
When asked how student dormitories and West Campus housing are adjusting to the strain of the increasing size
of freshman classes, Dan Nadler, vice president for student life and interim dean of students offered that residential halls have historically had strong occupancy rates, while West Campus apartments have not. The GCSU Panhellenic Council made a decision not to renew the contract for Sorority Living at West Campus in response to the record-high freshman enrollment of fall 2023.
“The additional beds coincided with the student enrollment growth,” Nadler explained. Student parking and transportation now more than ever have been an area of uncertainty for students due to the high number of freshmen admitted each year. Here is everything given to GCSU students to know about the effects of the growing student population on parking and transportation services and plans to remedy the situation.
Charles Cruey, director of auxiliary services said that in 2023, the year of GCSU’s record-high incoming freshman class, there was a spike in parking citations by over 1600 tickets. However, this increase in citations was not directly caused by the number of students, but by Parking & Transportation’s switch to the more efficient License Plate Recognition, LPR, system.
“Before LPR, manual enforcement by student workers limited efficiency,” Cruey said. “Since its introduction in January 2023, citations peaked at 5,601 but declined to 4,821 in 2024 as the campus community adjusted.”
According to Cruey, GCSU transportation services currently serve 1,500-1,800 shuttle passengers per day Monday through Thursday and
1,000 passengers on Fridays. There is an average occupancy on shuttles of 65%, with Tuesdays and Thursdays being the busiest days of the week for GCSU public transport.
Beginning in fall 2025, the shuttles will begin running every 6-10 minutes during peak usage hours, 7:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are also plans to remove the underutilized Greene St. stop by the residence halls entirely, to improve shuttle efficiency across campus.
Currently, main campus parking occupancy is approximately 90% or above while other parking occupancy is about 50% or lower. In fall 2025 there will be approximately 357 new spaces added to the Irwin St. parking lot for commuters, increasing parking spot availability near campus.
Starting in fall 2025, the university will also introduce elective student parking permits for $50 per semester, which students must purchase to park on campus. Parking and transportation services along with the Student Government Alliance, SGA, are working to ensure fair permit distribution, concerning priority criteria, such as class status or seniority.
GCSU’s record freshman class sizes of 2023 and 2024 have inspired changes all across campus in response to the growing student body. According to professionals across GCSU departments, demand in the areas of financial need, parking and transportation and student housing is being met and adjusted for in ways that strive to benefit the majority of the student population.
Bella McComis | Digital Media Editor
OPINION OPINION
BACHELOR
Continued from page 1
Typically, the second contestant out of the limo becomes a key player in the season’s narrative. Lithia, the second woman to arrive, comes equipped with a witty introduction and an emotional backstory involving a family loss. Her resilience resonates with viewers, making her a strong contender for Grant’s affection. Throughout the night, many women connect
with Grant by referencing his professional basketball background, which can help them bond or come across as forced.
The villain archetype emerges early with Alli Jo, eager to showcase her connection with Grant. However, her larger-than-life personality may alienate her from the group, creating potential drama.
Another character, Allisha, presents as a classic “not here for the right reasons” contestant. With her stereotypical
blonde beauty and a promotional tagline about wishing on love, she raises suspicion regarding her true intentions.
Among the women, Chloie stands out as a plus-size model who embodies empowerment and representation. Her introductory package highlights her journey toward realizing her dreams, suggesting she will play a meaningful role in Grant’s quest for love, even if she’s not the frontrunner.
This proves my point
for a fan favorite, and I am hopeful to see Chloie somewhere throughout Bachelor Nation.
“On night one, Juliana and Grant had a piano serenade and they kissed,” said Peyton Cusick, a senior computer science major. “She also had a long intro package and her editing made her a frontrunner in my eyes.”
My pick for this season is also Juliana, who captivates Grant with her Italian heritage, even bringing a cannoli to share during their initial
Flowers, chocolates and friends
Molly Goff Opinion Editor
February is my absolute favorite month.
It’s not just because it’s my birthday month, but more importantly, it’s the month of love! This time of year brings the famous (or infamous) holiday of Valentine’s Day, as well as the newer celebration known as Galentine’s Day. With the surge of platonic relationships among this generation, we, as college students, appreciate the idea of loving our friends. Whether it’s spending quality time together on “dates” or exchanging small gifts, it’s a wonderful way to express how much we value those around us.
With that in mind, here are 10 activities you can enjoy this Valentine’s/Galentine’s season with anyone you love around Milledgeville:
1. Coffee Date: With
college students’ busy schedules, making time for coffee is both easy and memorable, allowing you to brighten up a weekday. Morning Grind features a Valentine’s Day coffee menu filled with love and festivity!
2. Dinner Date: One of my favorite activities with friends is what we call a “Mexican restaurant debrief.” Nothing shows love like sharing queso and catching up with your besties. El Amigo, in particular, always has the best holiday decor, with its adorable heart garland adding a charming touch to our chats.
3. Movie Night: Rom-coms are the ultimate movie genre, in my opinion. Any excuse to curl up with a cozy blanket and bask in the warmth of a happy ending with friends or a partner makes for the perfect night.
4. Baking Date:
Hearts are an excellent shape—simple yet festive! You can opt to bake something elaborate, like a heart-shaped red velvet cake, or grab those iconic Pillsbury sugar cookies adorned with Valentine’s Day designs from Walmart.
5. Sweet Treat Run: Milledgeville boasts many local businesses offering heart-shaped candies, cookies, coffee and even cake pops at Starbucks. These delicious treats bring a little joy this Valentine’s season.
6. Valentine’s Day
Photoshoot: Capture memories through cute Valentine’s-themed photos. Gather your people, find a picturesque location (like sunset fields!), and wear some pink and red for added flair!
7. Wellness Walk: A walk is good for both body and soul. What bet-
meeting. Their conversation was accompanied by dreamy music, indicating a special connection.
Yet, there’s an intriguing twist to my predictions. While I have high hopes for Juliana, Alexe—a contestant who introduced a llama during her entrance—also appears to have made a significant impact. Her cheerful demeanor and humorous approach demonstrates her unique personality.
Importantly, Alexe received the first im-
pression rose, suggesting that she stands out to Grant and may go far in the competition. Overall, the first episode sets the stage for an exciting season ahead. With established frontrunners, budding rivalries and fresh personalities, it promises to be a captivating journey as we watch Grant navigate the complexities of finding love in the spotlight.
ter way to embrace the season of love than by taking care of yourself? Grab a friend or partner, find a scenic trail, and consider donning your most festive athleisure.
8. Arts and Crafts Night: Gather with friends or a partner to create sentimental crafts. There are plenty of places to find Valentine’s-themed supplies, such as Hobby Lobby, T.J.Maxx and Walmart.
9. Game Night: Bonus points for whichever group finds a love-themed game or
activity. Games not only bring people together but also emphasize the importance of quality time—one of the most vital love languages.
10. Lego Flower Making: My personal favorite way to celebrate this Galentine’s/Valentine’s Day is engaging in my new hobby—making Lego flowers! Recently, I built a set of succulents, which are far more reliable than any classic real flower. They last forever, are incredibly fun to create - and serve as a source of pride once completed. Priced between $35 and $100, they’re a great investment if you have some savings!
Above all, the essence of Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day lies in spending quality time with those you love. Love is one of the closest things we have to magic, and truly loving someone creates a sense of wonder that enriches our lives. So, whether romantic or platonic, take a moment this month to celebrate the bonds that make your life meaningful. Embrace the love around you and let it shine brightly this February!
Julia Jensen | Art Director
