Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
GCSU’s new music building
A space designed for sound
Kate Walker Contributing Writer
This spring, GCSU plans to finish construction on a new music building, located on the corner of Wayne and Montgomery Streets, a short distance from the main campus. The building will provide a dedicated rehearsal space for the music department’s large ensembles, including the choral ensembles, band and orchestra.
According to Don Parker, the chair of the music department, this will be the first music
What to know about ICE in Georgia
Allie Smith Staff Writer
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, activity in Georgia has recently surged, raising concerns among many. There have been reports of raids in workplaces, neighborhoods and schools that have raised alarms throughout communities. New enforcement and authorities have caused this increase in the activity of ICE operations.
One of the more significant concerns is ICE’s ability to enter locations that were not previously
allowed for them to enter such as schools and college campuses. ICE has historically avoided schools, hospitals and places of worship under certain policies.
Reports have suggested they have been seen near colleges in Georgia, leaving many students fearful.
“I dislike ICE being able to wander into school and detain children,” said Jacub Gonzalez-Labra, a sophomore English, Liberal studies and Spanish major. “The attention and fear the children must get is definitely something that will
haunt them. A school is a haven that provides knowledge. It feels safe to be in a classroom because you are there to learn and gain knowledge not to worry about your safety.”
There’s been an increase in raids across Georgia, including Atlanta and Athens, which have been reported to have a higher possibility of workplace and home raids. President Donald Trump put programs like The 287(g) Program to allow Georgia sheriff’s offices to work directly with ICE.
An article was written in Atlanta News
What are the best study spots at GCSU?
Molly Goff Opinion Editor
OPINION
In recent memory,
Like many students, I am not the biggest fan of studying. That being said…I love a good study spot! It has taken now a full year of being at GCSU to know what the dos and don’ts are about studying on campus.
You may be thinking, “Well Molly, what are the “dos” and “don’ts of studying on campus?” It all boils down to location, level of quietness, activity and personal preference. Personally, I love a study spot where I can lock in for hours but have time pass a lot faster than what is actually occurring in the spot.
Here are 10 cool spots that I believe hit all of those marks for a spectacular study
spot, starting with the easiest to access, and ending with my favorite hidden gems:
1. Russell Library second-floor green chairs. These were a personal favorite last year for me because, on the second floor, you can still talk with friends and get work done simultaneously without disrupting any other students hard at work. The chairs also have a great “sky” view of a large part of the library’s first floor.
2. Russell Library second-floor couch and beanbags. Way in the back of the second floor, passing the green chairs, circulation desk, printers and multiple tables hard at work with students contemplating midterms, is a somewhat hidden turn that takes you into a corner with couches and beanbags to - comfortably -
work on all of those assignments due Friday.
3. Russell Library third-floor study rooms. I love a study room because you are closed in which means you will actually lock in to do all of the work you set out to do. Study rooms can be easily reserved by going on Unify to the service apps tab, or at the circulation desk on the second floor of the library if you are making one last minute.
4. Russell Library third floor. When you didn’t prepare for a study room, and they happen to be all booked, do not fret! This is what the third floor, or what I like to call the “quiet floor” is here for! On the third floor, it is completely silent with a ton of enclosed type spaces to be quietly hard at work.
See STUDY | Page 9
First recording immigrants’ reactions regarding the recent raids.
“Reports of coordinated efforts to detain undocumented migrants in metro Atlanta sends shock waves through the immigrant community, leaving some people – even some legal immigrants – wondering what happens next,” said Brittany Ford, a reporter for Atlanta News First.
In response to ICE’s increased presence, multiple different communities have different reactions and perspectives on this. Latino communities are fearful and anxious
facility built on campus since Porter Hall was constructed in 1939.
Since the construction of Porter Hall, the Music Department has gone through many changes both departmentally and in musicality like the return of the music therapy program from the Health Sciences Department in 2020. More than 75 years later, the music department has grown to require more space to accompany modern sound quality and acoustics.
“It will provide us with a larger space that is more sound and more conditioned for what we need,” Parker said. “Obviously, when you try to create music, you want to hear in that space, and you want to make sure that the instruments that you have are maintained as well.”
The new building will include a band and orchestra room, a choir room, practice rooms and studios, storage facilities and a student lounge area. The facilities have been specifically designed for musical purposes with high ceilings, extra thick insulation and climate control features to regulate humidity and moisture levels.
about being separated from their family. As well as black immigrants face the same risk but often feel overlooked when immigration enforcement comes up.
“I think communities around us and even within the school are ignorant to the reality of what is occurring,”
Gonzalez-Labra said.“ If you take a second to hear from multiple sides and personal accounts you can understand how much hurt this is doing towards a community that has in some way impacted your life even if you don’t realize it.”
Transgender athletes in competitive sports
Benjamin Clark
Asst. Sports Editor
Transgender athletes in American sports have become a significant topic of discussion, with various perspectives and policies impacting their participation. The debate spans across professional, collegiate and youth sports, as well as public policies and societal debates.
Recently, an executive order passed by the Trump Administration has banned trans women, men transitioning/transitioned to women, from participating in sports with girls and women. This executive order has caused upheaval in the trans community, and the larger LGBTQ+ community nationally.
Trans women at GCSU seem to be upset by this executive order passed by the new president and express their concern for the future of representation in sports.
“I feel like we need equal representation,” said Kai Williams, a sophomore music education major. “I feel like there should be the opportunity for trans women to be represented in sports, I will say that In some sports I can see why it is seen as a bit of a discourse because I trans woman will have a bit of a strength advantage but I still feel that the options should be there, and in some sports there should be a trans league.”
The debate’s main controversy is that trans-women may have a competitive advantage due to phys-
ical differences such as muscle mass, bone structure and endurance, even after undergoing hormone therapy. Critics argue that this could create an uneven playing field. While some who support the order argue that the presence of trans-women in women’s sports could create an unhealthy environment, others argue that the policy is an act of transphobia.
“I personally feel that it is an act of transphobia,” Williams said. “This is because, one, most of these legislations have been towards trans-women specifically because for some reason trans-women are used to fearmonger and are the target towards these sorts of things.” .
See ATHLETES | Page 4
As corny as they may seem, there is always a lesson to learn from even the cheesiest of rom-coms.
Matthew
ICE
Continued from page 1
If ICE were to enter classrooms, many have said they would have different reactions. Some may feel fear, while others may express noncompliance or unanimity. The atmosphere could be filled with a mixture of confusion, anxiety and anger.
Students may question their safety and wonder how their futures are af-
fected by the government’s more profound action with ICE. Faculty who are sympathetic to immigrant rights may be forced to balance between teaching and protecting their students.
An understanding of ICE’s history is important to understand the new developments. The attacks on Sep. 11, 2001, prompted the Department of Homeland Security to protect the U.S. borders and enforce immigration laws.
Over the past few years, their responsibilities have increased, with
Nursing recruitment fair
Shadimon Smith News Editor
The annual nursing recruitment fair was filled with GCSU nursing students donning their business attire and scrubs on Monday, Feb. 10 in Magnolia Ballroom. The fair started at 11 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m.
The fair helps students meet potential employers and find what field they want to go into.
Some employers that were in attendance were Autumn Lane Health, Well Star, Georgia Department of Community Health, Morgan Medical Center, Centurion, Piedmont Health, HCA South Atlantic, Emory Health Care, Archbold and Northeast Georgia Health System.
GCSU nursing students showed up looking for externships and job openings. Students attended with multiple copies of their resumes and badges.
“I’m really hoping to get an externship for this summer with one of the hospitals around Atlanta,” said Anna Sorckoff,
a junior nursing major.
“Hopefully in pediatrics or the neonatal ICU.”
Autumn Lane Health and Rehab is located in Gray, Ga., and offers 24hour nursing services, pharmacy services and outpatient rehabilitation.
“I’m here because we’re recruiting any nurses that we can find to come and work with our long-term care,” said Verdine Young, a social worker from Autumn Health and Rehab. “So that’s the main qualifications that they need to be, you know, a qualified RN to come here.”
Nursing students walked through the ballroom with tables on each side of them with one to three representatives from each company waiting to tell them about the opportunities at their respective companies.
Students could also get professional headshots done in between talking to the different companies that attended.
Another company that attended is the U.S. Renal Care and they are one of the leading kidney care providers in the U.S.
VOLUME 105 | NO. 2
Editorial Board
Delaney Derry.................
Editor in Chief
and have a location in Milledgeville. They had openings for hemodialysis registered nurses, and peritoneal dialysis registered nurses, who work in outpatient facilities to treat patients with kidney disease.
“We are looking for someone who wants a fast-paced work environment and someone who wants flexibility in their work schedule and someone who is really looking to build relationships with patients,” said Kellie Crumpton, director of operations at U.S. Renal Care. “So that’s one thing about being outpatient. We have patients that come into you every week.”
Students spent their time talking to the recruiters about the open positions and where to apply for externships. The tables had information sheets, brochures, job descriptions and swag for the nursing students to take home.
Centurion Health had a table at the fair and they provide care for the corrections system of Georgia and Florida.
Paige Blakemore............
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significantly more methods of enforcement. ICE’s raids have faced legal challenges and opposition, especially regarding how detainees were treated and the ethics of the whole operation.
“There have been recent ICE raids in Georgia, particularly in the Atlanta area,” said Valeria Paladines, a freshman biology major. “I’ve heard that ICE is using deceptive tactics, like pretending to be conducting a different kind of operation, to trick immigrants into letting them into their homes.”
Georgia’s role is significant to the frequent ICE raids. The state has passed laws like “Georgia’s HB 87” known as the Georgia Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act. Which has been condemned for targeting undocumented workers and racial profiling. With ICE’s actions in Georgia, citizens see this as a broader push to enforce stricter immigration laws, with many questioning the ethical and moral impact of these policies.
They give all healthcare for the incarcerated and have been for 17 years. They were looking for nurses for the multiple prisons across Georgia to work in various fields from pre-natal care to trauma.
Licensed practical nurses start off making 30 dollars and registered nurses can start between 41 and 44 dollars an hour at Centurion.
Another employer in attendance was Georgia Department of Community Health and they were looking for anyone who was in healthcare and wanted to work in government administration.
They would work
as a surveyor for the state to help ensure the safety of the patients.
“So many of our positions that we offer specifically for the healthcare facility regulation division, which is a division of the Georgia Department of Community Health, is surveyors,” said Asif Asani, a human resource specialist at the Georgia Department of Community Health.
“So these are compliance nurses, compliance specialists, that go out into the facilities to conduct surveys on site.”w
To become a surveyor nursing students have to be registered nurse and have at least
five years of professional nursing experience. The nursing students even had a chance to speak with the graduate school professors from GCSU. GCSU offers students to go into a graduate program and come out with their doctorate as a nurse practitioner. This program can take two to three years and is another option for students before they join the workforce. All nursing students in attendance had a chance to meet recruiters from companies that they knew about as well as ones they did not face to face in hopes of finding their future job.
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Professor spotlight: management Juan Ling
Madi Hummel Staff Writer
Management is one of the many degree paths offered through the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology and is becoming one of the most popular major choices among students.
Juan Ling is a professor of management and the assessment coordinator for the College of Business & Technology at GCSU.
Ling has been teaching for 20 years and is well-rounded in experience.
She is involved in programs that focus on women leaders in higher education, including the Higher Education Resource Services, or H.E.R.S. Institute and the Georgia College Women’s Leadership Faculty Fellows Program.
Ling has received the University Award for Excellence in Scholarship as well as the College Award for Excellence in Scholarship, twice.
Alongside teaching, Ling uses her management skills to work with the community. During the first week of February, Ling was a member of the planning committee for a Lunar New Year celebration in Atlanta.
“I assisted city staff with stage management, vendor and sponsor recruitment, marketing and volunteer coordination,” Ling said. “The event was a huge success, driving a crowd of nearly 10,000.”
Before receiving a PhD in business administration from the University of Kentucky, Ling worked at Proctor and Gamble, where she focused on training and employee socialization.
“This experience deepened my curiosity about management and organizational behavior,” Ling said. “It inspired me to further explore the field.”
Ling has utilized inspiration and curiosity to pursue her aspirations since childhood.
Her teachers encouraged her to grow and inspired her to become an educator.
“When I was a child, I spent most of my waking hours at school, surrounded by teachers who played a significant role in my learning and growth,” Ling said. “My teachers not only imparted knowledge, but also nurtured my curiosity; they encouraged me to explore new ideas.”
Ling has been teaching in the management program at GCSU for
16 years and is passionate about guiding her students.
“Management focuses on planning, organizing, leading and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals efficiently and effectively,” Ling said.
The program is helpful to students integrating into the workforce.
Students in the program develop necessary skills that will benefit them in their careers, regardless of the industry.
“Strong management ensures smooth organizational operations, fosters innovation and creativity and helps organizations adapt to changes in the external environment,” Ling said.
Management provides a skill set that can help anyone make a meaningful impact
on their organization.
Ling is teaching two courses this semester; Organizational Behavior and Principles of Management.
“I hope the knowledge students gain in my class will enable them to become effective employees and increase their chances for success in their careers,” Ling said.
The management program at GCSU is a one-ofa-kind program that offers invaluable expertise.
“The program offers a diverse range of courses that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to excel in the workplace,” Ling said.
Students can choose from specific fields in management, including human resources management, logistics and transportation and sales to define their skills and
individual experience.
Professors in the management program tailor their courses to focus on the success and proficiency of their students.
“What truly makes the department unique is the dedication of its faculty,” Ling said. “The professors are experts in their fields; they are also deeply dedicated to helping students grow academically and professionally.”
In the ever-evolving job market, fundamental skills like management are becoming more and more important for students to possess.
The management field is continuously changing. New challenges and priorities are influencing how management handles different operations.
“In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on management in remote and hybrid
Department of Education potential disband
Amelia McEwen Staff Writer
President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order at the White House aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, or the ED. The dismantling of the ED would be done in an attempt to cut federal spending and relay educational responsibilities to the states.
The Department of Education aids 50 million students and about 130,000 public and private schools where most of the spending is ordered by Congress. Billions of dollars worth of aid are dispersed across a population of students with disabilities and schools in low-income communities.
According to the Department of Education 2024 budget summary, $126 billion was distributed to the new Federal student aid in the 2024-2025 academic year to help students afford a postsecond-
ary education through grants and scholarships.
While technically, Trump can dismantle the ED, it is a complex legislative process requiring consideration for all flowing parts. A significant legal challenge is gaining approval from Congress.
Conversations of moving Federal Student Aid, or FSA, to the Treasury Department have been present. Millions of college students who rely on federal assistance face the risk of their school affordability being altered. Programs like Pell Grants, work-study and Public Service Loan Forgiveness are some examples that could be prone to changes if this order follows through.
If the FSA were to move to the Treasury Department, there could be loan delays from the additional currency and changes in scholarship and grant eligibility.
“My biggest concern is that this change is going to be so unfair to fu-
ture students that do not have the same economic access to education as others do,” said Jenna VanSant, a sophomore liberal studies major.
GCSU staff are also left
lications. “That changes the way that we market and the things we offer to students might be different for the next class.”
Trump’s plan to dismantle the ED requires
wondering what changes they will have to face.
“There’s so much up in the air that could change the experience here at Georgia College and its potential,” said Alan Weston, director of marketing and pub-
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consent from Congress, and congressional approval of the order would require a majority vote in the House and Senate.
If possible for the plan to follow through, the states would have to manage the federal
funds independently. This could potentially lead to challenges in maintaining the current programs that disadvantaged students rely on, including Title I which is the largest source of federal funding that is allocated to public schools across the United States.
“I am afraid of how this will impact future generations to come,” said Sarah Waldron, a sophomore sociology major. “This idea to overturn the Department of Education will promote inequality.”
The argument critics of the ED lean toward is the concern of taxpayer money and that it allows the federal government to insert itself into local decisions regarding education.
However, with this, there would be greater state and local control, and advocates for the order argue that states can accommodate the specific needs within their community, reasoning why education is best
working environments, the integration of Artificial Intelligence and the DEI, diversity, equity and inclusiveness, in the workplace,” Ling said.
Other current impacts on management are new emphases on employee well-being, following COVID-19 and company sustainability. To achieve long-term success, companies need to start prioritizing these areas.
“How to effectively manage and lead changes is a topic for all of us to consider,” Ling said. “Which makes management an even more important skill to have.” Management is one of the fastest-growing job fields. Having the skills to organize, lead, and understand organizations will continue to be useful for students entering the workforce.
managed at the state level. Significant cost savings are also at hand. With the dismantling of the ED, there is room to redirect those savings to state education or other critical needs. However, Trump has not specifically stated his plans for redirecting the savings.
The executive order itself is composed of a plan to direct the nominee for the Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to wind down the agency and to convince Congress to abolish the ED.
“Because I told Linda: ‘Linda I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job,’” Trump said. The White House is pressuring federal workers to quit to reduce the size of the federal government and cut spending. Dozens of Education Department employees are being put on paid leave.
The future of the Department of Education has yet to be determined and many await the decision of Trump.
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor
ATHLETES
Continued from page 1
The participation of transgender athletes in competitive sports in the United States raises difficult questions surrounding fairness, inclusivity and respect for all involved. As society’s comprehension of gender and athleticism progresses, the debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports will undoubtedly continue to evolve
Some in the GCSU community share in this sentiment, arguing that the policy could be determined as transphobic, however in reality might just be done to respect the fairness of the game.
“Knowing Donald Trump, I believe that
there might be some layers of transphobia,” said Cooper Treadaway, a junior business administration major. “However, how I see it is that I think that it’s not necessarily fair, competitively speaking for trans athletes to compete in women’s sports. There are certain physiological and hormonal differences that provide a certain advantage, athletically speaking.”
The history of trans-woman’s inclusion in sports has proven to shake the foundation of America’s social divide, creating many who believe the sanctity of competitiveness should be preserved, while others believe rights are being violated in policies
that are too traditional.
The history of policies in the U.S. surrounding transgender women in sports has evolved gradually, with significant shifts in societal attitudes and growing recognition of transgender rights in the past few decades.
Before the 2000s, there was very little public discourse surrounding the inclusion of trans athletes, with many recognizing this time as an era of “trans invisibility.”
The NCAA implemented its first guidelines for transgender athletes in 2011. These guidelines allowed transgender athletes to compete in the gender category they identified with, provided they met specific hormone levels.
This was the first major policy change in this direction and sparked massive debates surrounding the true ethicality of these reforms.
The mid-late 2010s saw increased attention. The trans movement began to make massive strides in its own visibility and representation on a national social scale.
By 2015, the International Olympic Committee, ICO, changed its policies to allow trans women to compete without requiring any surgery, as long as their testosterone levels were below a certain point.
Also in 2015, the NCAA issued a policy permitting transgender women to compete in women’s sports without
requiring surgery, as long as they met certain hormone requirements. The Trump Administration executive order is a direct response to this policy, with the overturning of this policy many in the trans community have recognized this as a degradation of their rights.
As more trans ath-
Luka Doncic & Anthony Davis trade
Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer
In a blockbuster, unexpected late-night trade, the Dallas Mavericks traded MVP-caliber player Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, shocking the media and sports fans.
Dončić, the six-year point guard, won accolade after accolade with Dallas, becoming the Rookie of the Year in the 2018-2019 season and placing top-10 in MVP ranking every year since. Dončić averaged 28.1 points per game with the Mavericks this season, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.
In terms of highlights in Dallas, Dončić knocked down a 73-point performance during the previous season, which tied him for fourth all-time in most points in a game by a single player. Dončić also performed electrically in that year’s playoffs, fueling a Dallas finals appearance. Dončić already made a name for the Mavericks, with seas of
fans dawning his jersey. On the other hand, Anthony Davis also made a name for himself in the league. The 13-year 6’10” center has had a hall-of-fame level career,
mances to having a teammate as spectacular as Lebron James; however, even outside of playing with James, Davis performed at an elite level. Davis, a former num-
year, Davis averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks.
While Davis is still a top center in the league, due to his age of 31, many fans see his age
progression of the trade. With Dončić’s free agent year being 2026, Harrison explained how he believed conditioning for Dončić was going to be an issue. Dončić
collecting nine all-star appearances, placing top in Defensive Player of the Year four times and a finals ring when he won in 2020 with Los Angeles.
“It was probably the biggest trade I’ve seen in the NBA in my lifetime,” said Ty Soukdhaysong, a freshman finance major.
Many may credit some of Davis’ career perfor-
ber one overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans, formerly the Hornets when Davis was drafted, which he jumped out to a hot start, placing second for the Rookie of the Year award. With New Orleans, Davis averaged similar, all-starlevel numbers, to what he had with Los Angeles. With the Lakers this
as a significant red flag. The Lakers did include a buffer for the future in the deal, pick-swapping the Mavericks 2025 second-round pick for their 2029 first-round pick. President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, explained the thought
now weighs around 280 pounds, a far cry from his 230 a few years prior.
It was explained that the Mavericks gave Dončić time off in November to lose some of the gained weight; however, Harrison did not see enough improvement.
While the Lakers now boast a duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić,
gain visibility, and with the continued rise in state-level legislation, it’s likely that these issues will continue to evolve in the coming years, with many in the greater LGBTQ+ community seeing this policy as a setback, but not a total defeat.
losing a center like Anthony Davis potentially created a hole in the offensive scheme; however, many fans look at the acquisition as a move for the future and not for the current, seeing how James just celebrated is 40th birthday, while Dončić is at the prime age of 25.
“He’s going to represent the next generation for the Los Angeles Lakers,” said Ethan Mattace, a freshman chemistry major. “Taking over for LeBron James.”
The Lakers may very well have the next-generation version of James and are preparing for the future with the trade; while Dallas transitioned to a winnow thought process in trading for Davis. Both teams look to continue their seasons strong, where the Lakers sit at a 32-20 record and the Mavericks at 29-26. According to the ESPN NBA Power Index, Los Angeles maintains a 99.5% chance of making the playoffs, while Dallas sits at 49.7%
letes
Los Angeles Lakers Guard Luka Doncic
University of Pennsylvania Swimmer Lia Thomas
Caroline Pollock recognized as player of the week
Bryan Cohen
Contributing Writer
Caroline Pollock, a senior outfielder on GCSU’s softball team, was named Zaxbys’ Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 2.
In the two-game series against Young Harris College, Pollock batted .400 including a home run and two RBI that would come in the season opener. She also showed patience at the plate, drawing a walk in the second game.
“I think there’s always room for improvement in all aspects of the sport, but I’m pleased with how I’ve done thus far,” Pollock said.
Since her award-winning performance against the Mountain Lions, Pollock has performed well at the plate, now having seven hits in 21 tries, including a dou-
ble to sit third on the list for OPS on the Bobcat softball team (.941) OPS. She’s remained patient at the plate with a 3:2 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
run from junior outfielder Maddie Todd to give the Bobcats a fourrun lead in game two.
“Caroline’s one of my best friends,” said Jacy
a senior comes with an added responsibility: leadership. Leadership happens behind the scenes, preparing the next class of players to
They’re like my sisters.”
While many fans see the team on a gameto-game basis and view them for a few hours every week, this team
In a doubleheader against the Newberry College Wolves on Friday, Feb. 14, Pollock continued her impressive season, notching two hits to help lead her team to a win to split the series, one of those hits being an RBI single followed by a three-run home
Singleton, a freshman pitcher. “I think she’s such an inspiration to me; she’s lighthearted about the game, but she’s also so determined to get things done and win.”
While performing on the diamond is considered the most crucial part to fans, being
perform at that next level.
“I’ve told several people this, that this is one of the best teams that I’ve been a part of, just for many aspects, it’s not just a softball team,” Pollock said. “We have a bond that I haven’t had with most other teams that I’ve ever played with.
has clicked on another basis. Working behind the scenes to create a fresh and exciting dynamic that, according to Pollock, is few and far between.
“Everyone looks up to her,” Singleton said. “You could probably ask anyone on the team.”
Bobcats take series opener in doubleheader
Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer
The Georgia College & State University Bobcats baseball team lit up the scoreboard in the two-game doubleheader against Lynn University on Friday, Feb. 14, outscoring the Fighting Knights 18-5 in the two-game series opener.
Junior pitcher John Luke Glanton started on the mound for the Bobcats for game one while the Fighting Knights sent out freshman Justyn Hart.
Both pitchers worked quickly in the first innings. However, GCSU struck first in the bottom of the second for a pair of runs.
Coming into the season, the Bobcat softball team gained a new coaching staff. While that may have affected many other athletes, the new coaches and the bond that these players had previously formed carried them well through the transition.
“I’ve only been playing for them for a couple of months now, and I feel like I’ve developed as a player and person because of Coach Johnson and Soza and their influence on us,” Pollock said.
The softball team opens a four-game weekend on the road at noon on Saturday, Feb. 15, in Greenwood, S.C. The road-stand begins with a doubleheader: game one against Lenoir-Rhyne University and two against Carson-Newman University. The Bobcats look to extend their threegame winning streak.
“I thought as a team collectively we hit the ball pretty well today,” Wuerth said. “We kept scrapping and found a way to pull it out.”
GCSU tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third, once again taking advantage of an error by Lynn. Senior infielder Matthew Mebane scored a pair of runs by a combination of errors by the third baseman and catcher, while junior outfielder Evan Cowan and Wuerth singled to each drive in a run.
Three more for the Bobcats came across the plate at the bottom of the fourth, with a big blast by junior outfielder Carson Phillips, which traveled 388 feet, and sophomore outfielder Charlie Banks followed up an in-
The Bobcats put runners on first and second via a walk and a fielding error by the third baseman. Junior infielder Gabe Wuerth, who struggled to open the season, drove them home fast with a double to the left-center gap.
ning later with his home run, a solo shot straight down the line, a few feet from the foul pole.
Phillips singled for an RBI later, scoring junior infielder Ben Hamacher to bring his RBI total to four and scoring the Bobcats’ eleventh and final run of the first game.
Glanton collected the win for GCSU on six shutout innings with five hits while striking out four batters.
Senior pitcher Mason Brown started game two for the Bobcats, while pitcher Austin Barnao did the same for the Fighting Knights. Barnao only lasted an inning and a third for Lynn, as GCSU jumped off to a quick one-run lead in the first inning from an RBI single by Cowan and then tacked on five in the second inning.
The Bobcats sent the
entire lineup to the plate in the bottom of the second, loading up the bases quickly, and sophomore first baseman Braeden Smith sent two home on a single to the right side. Phillips and Mebane followed that with consecutive RBI singles, and Cowan scored another via a fielder’s choice to plate the fifth run of the inning.
Throughout the rest of the game, each team added a run to their total with an RBI single.
“I thought I threw the
ball pretty well today— kept my team in the game and gave us a chance to win,” Brown said. “I’m glad I had everyone’s trust behind me. It gives me the confidence to go out there and do my job.”
Brown left the game after seven innings of one-run baseball, striking out a pair and giving up only five hits.
Freshman pitcher Brian Lowry came out of the pen in relief. However, a Lynn batter came out of the gates with a home run to right-centerfield.
Lynn took advantage of a duo of errors and a hit by pitch from Lowry, scoring two runs in to begin the ninth, and scored another on a double. The Fighting Knights had the tying run up to bat with two outs in the inning when coach Nolan Belcher played his hand to a relief pitcher and reigning Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, senior pitcher Will Sims, who blew a fastball right past the batter to close out the game and collect the save.
Courtesy of GCSU Athletics
Senior pitcher Bradley Wilson winds up on the mound
Courtesy of GCSU Athletics
BUILDING
Continued from page 1
“It will definitely have a more modern look to it than the current facilities we’re in, which is very attractive for recruiting students,” Parker said.
Currently, music students rehearse in a variety of places, including Porter Hall and the McComb building, which was the old bookstore warehouse on Wilkinson
Street. While the McComb building has the space required for large ensembles, there have been issues with proper spacing and the building’s condition. The choral ensembles also rehearse on the third floor of Porter Hall, which has very low ceilings that prevent proper sound quality.
“We’ve been kind of scattered in the McComb building and all over the place,” said Meghan
Bennett, a junior music education major. “We have really just been needing a space with good practice rooms and acoustics for all of our ensembles to be able to rehearse adequately, and so we’re really excited for this big building.”
In addition to the new rehearsal and practice rooms, students are also looking forward to a dedicated lounge space for socializing outside of
Life after lockdown
Brianna Heard Staff Writer
Though the quarantine and social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic are years behind, many on the GCSU campus still experience its lingering effects.
From shifts in classroom dynamics to lasting changes in mental health, the pandemic’s effects stretch beyond the initial shutdown.
In the 2022 CNBC article “Mental health damage from Covid could last a generation,” Holly Ellyatt shares how mental health challenges were brought on by the pandemic and may last for years.
“Many psychologists and psychiatrists have reported an influx of people seeking mental health support during the pandemic, with the unprecedented global health crisis causing an increase in anxiety and depression as well as exacerbating existing mental health conditions,” Ellyatt said.
The pandemic dis-
rupted nearly every aspect of daily life, leaving individuals to navigate a new normal. For students, this meant adapting to drastic changes in their academic and social routines while dealing with the stress of a global crisis.
The isolation that accompanied the pandemic was especially challenging for students who were affected during the most developmental years of their lives. For many, the quarantine forced a pause in their fast-paced, social lives.
“I feel my social skills would have been a little better if I didn’t lose that year and a half of not seeing anyone,” said Laura Sabine, a sophomore public health major.
According to Ellyatt, psychologists believe the mental health impact of COVID-19 could be felt for years.
Many people missed milestones and moments that can not be re-lived.
“This stage in my life was very difficult for me,” said Catherine Stephens, a sophomore
public health major.
“No friends to talk to for days, no teachers or faculty to ask questions to, limited human interaction and teaching myself curriculum even though I’m a very visual learner.”
Many students struggled with maintaining a routine, leading to a decline in academic performance and overall well-being. The absence of classroom discussions and peer collaboration further contributed to feelings of isolation and detachment from their studies.
When schools switched to distanced learning, many students lost motivation and found it difficult to stay on track. Assignments and tests were open resources and many students saw no reason to put in real effort.
Without the structure of in-person classes, procrastination became more common and the lack of direct interaction with teachers made it more difficult to stay engaged.
“I feel that I would
class. Much like the Integrated Science Complex, the new music rehearsal building will feature both indoor lounge seating and an outdoor veranda.
“People are really excited about having that lounge space,” said Kelsey Carpenter, a junior music therapy major. “A lot of times, in our current space, people just kind of sit on the edge of the rehearsals, so I think that’ll be something that
people really enjoy.”
The new rehearsal building’s planning and construction has been a three-and-a-half-year process, as the music department navigated where to place a large building. The department plans to finish the new building in late spring of 2025, and then spend the summer break purchasing and installing new furniture, sound equipment and instruments before opening the building in the fall of 2025.
“We appreciate the fact that the university is recognizing that we do need these types of spaces in order to provide students with a great experience,” said Parker. “This particular facility is going to allow us to be able to do some things in the future that we have not been able to do in a bigger fashion.”
have had a better education if it wasn’t online,” Sabine said. “I remember getting very lazy with little motivation.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, students have focused on getting their lives back in order by rebuilding their social lives, motivation and overall well-being.
Destiny Cavener, a junior graphic design major, believes that the isolation period during the pandemic negatively affected her social skills, but that the end of the pandemic has brought her some positive changes.
GCSU’s go-to workout classes
Lily Reynolds Staff Writer
GCSU proudly houses its Wellness and Recreation Center on West Campus, a central spot for student health and activities. The center’s popularity with many students regarding staying fit and healthy lies in the various workout classes offered each week.
The dynamic facility blends three essential university departments under one roof: Student Health Services, Counseling Services and the Department of Wellness and Recreation.
Numerous programs and activities are available to students through the Department of Wellness and Recreation to encourage recreational engagement, mental health and physical fitness. Students can access fitness facilities, participate in aquatics programs, engage in both organized sports leagues or casual free-play activities and take part in outdoor adventure programs.
The center’s diverse benefits ensure that every student can find activities that match their interests and fitness goals. For students who may feel intimidated by the idea of working out in a public space, like that of GCSU’s gym, scheduled workout classes offer a group alternative that invites comfort in numbers, in terms of exercise.
The structured nature of workout classes helps students stay active through the commitment of sign-
ing up in advance and once students have signed up, they are more likely to attend. Classes can build accountability that can make it harder to procrastinate, unlike going to the gym independently which can make it easier to postpone for anyone.
Other advantages of working out in a class include learning more about the gym from the instructor, feeling more at ease because there are more people
“I have become more motivated,” Cavener said. “Especially when it comes to work and school-related activities.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges, students have shown resilience. While the pandemic altered the college experience, it also highlighted students’ ability to persevere and redefine success in a changing world.
“I am now a flexible learner,” Stephens said. “I have come to peace with my alone time and I am now heavily interested in both mental and physical health careers.
“I really like how they help keep me in shape and how it helps me feel productive afterward,” said Chloe Bruck, a freshman nursing major. Other classes talked about are yoga, a mind and body practice that can build strength and flexibility and may also help manage pain and reduce stress. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation.
around and having fun with your friends.
One of the popular classes talked about amongst students is Pilates classes. Pilates is a strengthening class focused on smaller movements, more control and improving physical and mental wellbeing.
“My favorite classes that they offer are definitely Pilates and yoga,” said Grace Williams, a freshman psychology major. ”I personally love yoga with Emma the instructor. I love how she gives us themes of what to wear, and there’s always something to look forward to.”
Like Stephens, many students have taken the challenges of the pandemic as an opportunity to grow and redefine their goals. The shared experience of navigating isolation, uncertainty and academic hurdles has left a lasting impact, pushing this generation to value adaptability more than ever.
For many, it became a turning point that shaped their priorities and future aspirations.
“The pandemic wasn’t so horrible in my opinion and will greatly influence the future of my life and career,” Stephens said.
Williams noted her preference for solo weight training, mentioning a set routine that works best for her individual needs.
“I wait a certain amount of time in between each set and that’s what works best and how I see the most progress,” Williams said. “However I like to do cardio in the form of workout classes because I tend to push myself more and I also think it is a good social outlet,”
Classes offered here an alternative class is a 40-minute burn. A low-impact full-body workout to build strength, it is broken into four targeted sections using weights and resistance bands.
“I like the burn because you workout every part of your body: abs, arms, legs, then glutes and you can use whichever weights you want and go at your own intensity level,” said Ellie Godwin, a freshman mass communication major.
Brianna June, a freshman exercise science major who teaches Pilates-barre fusion classes, got her teaching certification from home and expressed how she knew she wanted to teach in college.
“GCSU’s fitness classes were perfect for me,” June said. “I love getting to know the girls attending class and it’s so fun to teach people my age.”
Students can access classes through the app or website IMLeagues, after purchasing the group fitness class pass costing $10 per semester. Pre-registration for classes opens on Sundays at 12 p.m. for classes taking place the following week.
Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Director
Artificial Intelligence in the classroom?
Hope Martin Staff Writer
With the relatively recent rise of common-use Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT, there has been an ongoing debate over the ethics of using it for educational purposes.
AI has been a major topic in educational debates of late. Online sources do not always agree on what the definition of AI is.
Most definitions share similar stances that AI is a technological tool doing complex tasks that would normally require human problem-solving. However, this still casts a wide net on what AI is and what it does.
Many people similarly struggle to define what counts as AI, and what does not. While people might not think of grammar-checking tools as AI, many grammar checkers have recently implemented AI to help restructure sentences or correct grammar.
This issue of defining AI becomes apparent when it comes to creating rules and regulations around it. Some strongly believe that using AI is plagiarism, but do not think of using Microsoft’s grammar-checking tools or Grammarly as using AI.
At GCSU, there is
an ongoing discussion about the use of AI in the classroom. Multiple GCSU faculty referred to various committees being made to handle AI or rules possibly being in the talks to address AI on a university-wide level.
An AI Policy Review Committee was created recently, which allows faculty and staff to give opinions on how AI will affect the college.
Craig Callender, an associate professor of English, does consider the use of AI to be plagiarism and wants to remind students that one type of plagiarism is taking an outside source’s ideas and not giving credit.
“While I do think using AI to write a paper is plagiarism, I consider it ethical to brainstorm ideas or check a text for grammar and style with AI,” Callender said.
Nicholas Creel, an associate professor of business law who teaches business ethics classes, believes that for idea generation and grammar checking, AI is acceptable, but that anyone using it for more complex work without disclosing its use is in dangerous territory.
“In a period of a lot of ambiguity, I want a lot of clarity,” Creel said.
Jim Berger is the director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
and believes there’s no clear line when it comes to plagiarism and AI. He, similarly to other faculty, suggests professors be proactive about addressing AI usage, whether that is to be for or against using it.
Some professors have had to make tests more
false positives opens up the door to someone being accused of something they didn’t do,” Berger said.
One measure that can be taken to protect students and professors from AI plagiarism is for students to write their assignments in
difficult for students and teachers as a consequence of attempting to prevent AI usage. Professors have also employed LockDown Browser to prevent the use of AI and cheating.
Many professors do not use AI-detecting tools, however, due to their accuracy issues.
“Any percentage of
Google Docs or a similar program that tracks progress and edits. A student’s ability to answer follow-up questions regarding their work to verify its originality can also safeguard against AI use accusations.
Saad Akhtar is a computer science major who believes that many students will cheat regard-
less of AI since many were cheating before AI was created. Akhtar believes that AI is plagiarism, as AI is generative and collects its information online.
“It is not the same as putting things in your own words,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar also brought up the issue that people who have better grammar skills and a wider vocabulary are more likely to be flagged for AI plagiarism, which leads to students producing lower-quality work to avoid being accused of using it.
“Learn about AI, because they will want it in jobs,” Callender said. “But be ethical about it.”
Professors and faculty are also increasingly using AI for classes. Callender says that he uses AI for proofreading and to create Kahoot questions. Berger thinks that AI has made some work tasks more efficient.
“Use AI to supplement, not replace, traditional learning,” Berger said. “Just like any tool, be aware of its advantages and disadvantages. If folks who use AI avoid the learning process, then they avoid the work it takes to get to the end product.”
Professors were not concerned about their jobs being taken by AI but did think that AI would forever change the
“Valentine’s Day Rendezvous” at GCSU
Kaidee Bolden
Contributing
Writer
The GCSU Music Department’s Max Noah Singers hosted a choral concert called “Valentine’s Day Rendezvous” at 7:30 p.m. in Magnolia Ballroom. Selections in the concert ranged from songs like Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” to the popular “From the Start” by Laufey and also included a few original songs composed by members of Max Noah Singers.
The concert served as an opportunity for the Max Noah Singers to show off their skills in a fun and whimsical way to community members and other students alike. The Max Noah Singers’ Valentine’s Day Rendezvous tradition goes back to 2007, with
this year being its 18th year in performance.
Jennifer Flory, director of choral activities and professor of music at GCSU, explained the tradition of the annual Valentine’s Day Rendezvous started as a fundraiser, but as it continued it became an opportunity for anyone to do a solo.
The fundraiser incited excitement and became a well-liked tradition for the students involved.
“I thought it was a really good way to have everyone in chorus present their own skills and talent and just allow everyone to express their more creative side of singing”, said Jenna Nelson, a freshman music education major.
The last three numbers that the Max Noah Singers performed were
choral arrangements of “Wannabe” by Spice Girls, “All-Star” by Smash Mouth and “Cake By The Ocean” by DNCE. Despite being completely different from the songs’ original styles, they were big hits with the audience, gaining thunderous applause, as well as some laughter from the crowd.
“I love the songs that we worked on for this concert,” said Julianna Valcheff, a sophomore mass communication major, and Max Noah Singer. “I’m a Billie Eilish person so I really loved ‘What Was I Made For’ and ‘Wildflower,’ but all the pieces were really fun because they were more modern and based on pop songs so I felt like that was a really nice way to bring more people in to see our songs.”
The Max Noah Singers also serve as an outlet to find and create lasting friendships, according to Valcheff.
“I’ve had people join, and then I see their friendship flourish, and I hope that’s what I’ll do,” Valcheff said.
For the seniors of Max Noah Singers, this concert provided one of the final opportunities to perform with the group they have come to cherish.
“Singing has been something I’ve always loved to do and I love singing in choirs because of the community it builds,” says Anna Ogletree, a senior music therapy major. “Getting to sing with my friends is a feeling like no other.”
Savannah Greene, a senior liberal studies
job world and may cause disruption. Akhtar and other students thought that while it may not entirely eliminate jobs, AI could greatly reduce the amount of computer science or editing jobs.
“There will be massive displacement in white-collar jobs,” Creel said. “It will affect education significantly, but AI can’t replace human interaction. It makes our role all the more important.”
Professors and students both are concerned about the accuracy of AI. Creel and Akhtar both said that accuracy is a big concern, however, citing that it needs to always be double-checked to find the source of anything said like you would while using Google.
“AI can be used as a tool but it needs rules and regulations, just like other tools,” Akhtar said. “There’s no ethical boundaries in the world of AI currently.” Akhtar gave music sampling as an example, explaining that sampling is allowed only in certain uses, to prevent plagiarism. Akhtar believes AI should be similarly relegated.
“Everybody has to learn to grapple with it,” Creed said. “You can’t pretend it’s not there anymore.”
major describes the atmosphere of the Max Noah Singers as empowering and impactful. She expressed that despite changing her
formed an original song written and composed by Greene about their freshman friend group.
“We met orientation day, and we’ve stuck ever
major from music she can’t walk away from the music concerts and events offered at GCSU.
For seniors like Greene, Ogletree, Riley Greer and Preston Raburn, this concert was different from years past. The quartet per-
since and now we’re graduating,” Greene said. “It’s been four years of a crazy ride with this group,”
For everyone involved, whether performer or audience member, the Valentine’s Day Rendezvous was a show filled with love, talent and passion.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Bella McComis | Digital Media Editor
ARTS & LIFE
Trisha Paytas’ big broadway break
Sarah Burnhart Staff Writer
Trisha Paytas made her Broadway debut in “Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream” at the St. James Theatre in New York City on Monday, Feb. 3. Long-time followers of Paytas know that her lifelong dream was to be on Broadway, and she has now achieved it.
“I’m all for fresh perspectives in theatre and Trisha Paytas on Broadway is a bold move, especially because she has a huge following and could bring new people to the stage,” said Emily Harrell, president of APO and a senior theatre major.
Paytas is a 36-yearold American media personality. Being on the internet since 2006, she has garnered a big
and diverse fan base.
In the early years of her YouTube career, Paytas faced multiple controversies regarding her videos. Backlash from her videos ensued from characters Paytas created or mimicked, some of which were that of another race, like her character “Trishii”, an Asian popstar to which she created a music video that was later taken down.
While being a YouTube star, Paytas has also grown an immense fan base on TikTok. With over 10 million followers and one billion likes, she is one of the most famous influencers on the internet.
Paytas asserts herself within the internet deemed pop culture icon status through music videos like Em-
Tesla cybertrucks
Why are they so polarizing?
Hope Martin Staff Writer
Tesla Cybertrucks have been a point of contention ever since their official debut at the end of 2023.
Many generations of vehicles have garnered unwanted attention for their unlikely appearances, such as the threewheeled Reliant Robin, the Nissan Cube and the PT Cruiser. For better or for worse, instead of judging the cars for how well they performed, people remember them for being out of the ordinary.
The Tesla Cybertruck has earned a similar reputation.
“It makes me think that someone’s goal was to take their kindergarten drawing of a truck and make it a real truck,” said Kell Carpenter, associate director for access services for the GCSU Ina Dillard Russell Library.
Many students share the same sentiment of the vehicle being ugly.
inem’s “We Made You” and many YouTube videos, especially ones featuring David Dobrik, or the “Vlog Squad.”
Along with being an internet icon, she is also an advocate for eating disorders, previously posting her own experience and struggle with the disorder. In 2015 she brought the discussion to YouTube, inciting many other creators and fans to share their own experiences and tips to raise awareness of the disorder and others like it. She also strives to let her audience know that things do indeed get better.
Paytas takes inspiration from Taylor Swift’s monumental “Eras Tour,” with her own tour called “The Eras of Trish Tour.”
The show was a one-night-only musi-
cal that showed the life of an influencer as she pursued her dream on Broadway. The cast was filled with Broadway legends, such as Grammy, Tony and Emmy-winning actor Ben Platt, Golden Globe-winning actress Rachel Zegler, up-and-coming stage actress Joy Woods and Tony-award-winning actress Sutton Foster.
The story starts with Paytas having a nightmare she would never perform on Broadway. She soon receives help from multiple Broadway stars and achieves her dream. It is described as when Broadway’s biggest fan becomes its brightest star.
GCSU has a thriving theatre scene which includes Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honors fra-
ternity on campus with members from multiple majors and theatre interests. The theatre and dance program puts on many shows and recitals throughout the year that bring in family, friends and people who want to experience the joy of theatre.
“Theatre is meant to be fun and open to anyone,” said Jane Carr, a junior mass communication major. “It doesn’t have rules.”
Most recently, the GCSU Department of Theatre and Dance put on “At The Wedding,” a play about an unstable woman crashing her ex’s wedding, and then chaos ensues. The performance brought in a lot of people who would have never thought to go to a play but ended up enjoying it.
“I think that everyone should have a chance to experience the beauty of live performance, and this is her chance to do that,” said Ethan Rogers, a sophomore theatre major.
Paytas has become a big deal with today’s teens, and they have their opinions on her new rise to Broadway stardom. Theatre professionals and enthusiasts are welcoming to anyone who wants to try out or experience the theatre.
“While some might question her background, theatre has always been about pushing boundaries,” Harrell said.“ Her presence could help evolve the space and make it more inclusive for a diverse audience.”
However, some students report hating the Tesla Cybertruck more than any previous odd-looking vehicle, due to issues in Cybertruck production quality and mechanical failures.
Tesla Cybertrucks have had recalls, misaligned body plates, problems with aero wheel covers coming off, accelerator issues and rusting, among other issues. Carpenter suggested that the Cybetruck values form over function, but many believe the function is poor as well.
“I’ve seen many reports of them not being built well,” said Asher Balmes, a sophomore English major. “Not to mention the infamous time when Elon Musk was showing the window’s durability off and someone threw a ball through the window and broke it.”
Carpenter also noted that there was a recall with Tesla Cybertrucks
over residual soap, which was used as an unauthorized lubricant, being left on the accelerator pads, causing them to stick.
Other students pointed out the notoriety for explosions Tesla Cybertrucks have had due to its lithium battery and the water leakage issues.
Some say the Tesla Cybertruck is outright dangerous.
“The slanted window and shape of the hood make it hard to see over it,” said Hannah Beth Chapman, a sophomore history major. “It’s so dangerous for children if they haven’t been hit already. Other cars do what it does but better.”
Many students have issues with false advertising or false promises when it comes to the Tesla Cybertruck.
“The Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat,” Elon Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla.
The Cybertruck has been advertised as a durable, off-road vehicle. Despite claiming to be waterproof, the vehicle has had rusting issues due to the lack of proper coatings and has even become completely immobilized and dysfunctional after going through a puddle.
“It’s a scam, they advertise it as being bul-
letproof, but I saw a video where they shot it and there were bullet holes all through the door,” said Cameron Carland, a freshman exercise science major.
GCSU students and staff also had moral and ethical qualms with supporting Musk or the culture behind the Tesla Cybertruck.
“Elon Musk wants technology that doesn’t need to exist,” Balmes said. “Some of the stuff he’s doing is good but a lot of it is not. I’d go so far as to say most of it is not. Just drive an SUV or a Sedan.”
Tesla Cybertrucks are not hated by ev-
eryone, however.
“Cybertrucks are the future but we aren’t ready for it,” said Roberto Bojorquez, a senior management major.
Bojorquez said the Tesla Cybertruck is eccentric and fun, likening it to a toy for adults. He continued that innovation often has issues like manufacturing defects and other issues.
“The Cybertruck is polarizing,” said Sam Friedman, a freshman biology major.
Carpenter believes there’s always a segment of the car market where people hate the car, but there is an intense core group that loves it.
Tesla Cybertruck
STUDY
Continued from page 1
5. Russell Library first-floor booths and tables near Books & Brew. This option is when you want to be near some action of the Books & Brew or need an excuse to grab a coffee before you get back to your assignments.
6. Blackbird Coffee. This may be a stretch for “on campus”, but Blackbird Coffee, a coffee shop located downtown, is so easily accessible from campus and can be the perfect place
for coffee, quiet studying and the perfect ambiance. They too have a quiet area downstairs in their shop, as well as a whole section of tables you can easily study at, have a caffeine recharge and get a little coffee shop serotonin boost.
7. The Den. The Den is an interesting study spot because while they do have a quiet area in Donahoo Lounge, and some tables in the main area, a lot of the time is taken up during normal school hours by patrons of Einstein’s Bros Bagels, or the campus Chick-fil-A. If students
aren’t eating at those tables, the quiet area hours only extend from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., eliminating super long study periods after classes.
8. Front campus outdoor tables. I prefer this choice for studying, but the weather in Georgia, especially Milledgeville, is such a gamble. It is hard to plan exactly when to study outdoors in general. When I get to study here though, it is beautiful. I love this pretty campus!
9. Health Sciences Commons. My first of two hidden gems on GCSU’s campus is the
commons located in the health science building, third floor. The commons have huge ceilings, which makes for a nonclaustrophobic atmosphere and is generally empty and quiet when I’m there! I spend hours upon hours studying there, and there are whiteboards and a ton of materials out if I ever want to switch out my studying habits. The tricky part is whether, as a mass communications major, it’s sacrilegious to work in the health sciences commons…
10. Integrated Science Complex. The ISC
Mock trial regional tournament
Benjamin Clark Asst. Sports Editor
As the Regional Tournament for GCSU’s Mock Trial Team approaches, two groups of attorneys and witnesses will travel to Atlanta and New Orleans to debate and perform in a courtroom setting.
GCSU’s team A is headed to Atlanta on Feb. 22 and 23, going against teams from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina.
GCSU’s team B is taking a long drive to New Orleans on Feb. 15 and 16, competing versus teams from Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Georgia.
This year’s case, Shannon Shahid v. Taylor Hopson, presents a dramatic civil trial dealing with the contested will of Hopson and Shahid’s
father, Avery Bancroft.
The plaintiff, Shahid, argues that her half-sibling Hopson had a hand in her billionaire father’s death whilst aboard a luxury train. The court’s decision will determine which sibling has the legal right to Bancroft’s billion-dollar estate, with sibling rivalry and family drama heating tensions in the courtroom.
The coach of Mock Trial, and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at GCSU, Adam Lamperello, explores his opinions on the one main quality that a student would need to be successful in a Mock Trial.
“Passion,” Lamperello said. “If you’re going to be successful in Mock Trial, just like if you’re going to be successful in the legal profession and in life, you have to want to be successful and be willing to do whatever it takes
to achieve your goals.”
Lamperello has been the coach of GCSU’s Mock Trial team for the past five years and reflects on his experience with GCSU’s previous teams, as well as the strength of this year’s team.
“This year is the year,” Lamperello said. “[The current team] has for the first time in Georgia College history exemplified the work ethic needed to be successful, and the process needed to be successful. They have shown that they have the intangible skills and the work ethic to make the team great, all of them have worked hard and taken mock trials to new heights.”
Lamperello’s confidence in the team’s potential at the tournament appears nearly unshakeable, with Riley-Kate Miller, a sophomore political science major and
the captain of A Team, sharing in this sentiment.
“We have been working all semester on solidifying our case theory and making sure it’s perfected,” Miller said.
“With this last month, we are trying to clean up our case and performance, everyone has been working very hard so I’m very excited to go against other schools.”
Derek Kim, a junior political science and philosophy double major and captain of GCSU’s B Team, holds this same assurance in his team’s preparation, remarking on his team’s potential going into the tournament in New Orleans.
“I’m very confident,” Kim said. “It feels like there is a genuine real chance at advancing. I truly feel it, and I think the rest of our team would say the same.”
The path to region-
is my absolute favorite hidden gem of study spots on campus. My first major was Biology, which required many hours of studying after lab sessions. The atmosphere was always quiet and there wasn’t a lot of foot traffic when I studied for long hours. Additionally, this place offers a peaceful environment for studying with various seating options, both indoors and outdoors. The new facilities are impressive, and I often run into some of my favorite Biology lab partners here. We still keep in touch despite
changing my major, the true test of friendship. Overall, a study spot is what you make of it. Some days you will get the best study spot that you hope to continue to use for the rest of the semester, and others you gotta take what you can get. Studying sometimes can be daunting, but it’s very necessary. Other times when you make it fun with friends or a sweet treat, it can be a core memory in the college experience.
als is a difficult journey, with many members of each team having differing opinions on how the case should be presented. Montana Arnold, a sophomore political science major and a witness for the A Team, expresses her perspective on how her team compromised on disagreements.
“I think we all embrace our disagreements,” Arnold said. “Everyone brings new perspectives and no one has a bad one, so we bring everyone good ideas together. I think a lot of times there’s a negative connotation when it comes to disagreements when in reality they should be viewed in a positive light because disagreements and critiques lead to innovation, which helps us evolve our case theory.” Should the teams prevail in regionals, they will get a bid to the national tournament where they will compete against the best schools in the country. The teams, along with Lamperello, will have to use their ingenuity and innovation to mold their case theories into convincing arguments to topple the best of the best and put GCSU on the map.
Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Are
rom-coms realistic or is it all
Molly Goff Opinion Editor
I always say I have three hobbies in college: working out, reading and binge-watching movies, specifically romantic comedies. Of my top three favorite movies, my second favorite of all time is “13 Going On 30.”
“13 Going On 30” is a romantic comedy about the main character, Jenna Rink, and her obvious love interest and best friend, Matt Flamhaff. The movie begins with Jenna at age 13, desperately wanting to be “30, flirty, and thriving.” With magic and chaos ensuing at her 13th birthday party, she ends up becoming her 30-year-old self and navigating relationships the way she always wanted.
What I love most about this movie is that we get romance, comedy and a lesson learned in such a thoughtful way. The movie concludes with Jenna realizing how good she has it being 13, rather than the idyllic 30.
Another takeaway I learned and may even be more important than the main message is the idea of “friends to lovers.”We see in the media so much the idea of “enemies to lovers” or the “bad boy” or a trope with rebellion, where in reality someone you love most likely will be someone you are friends or acquaintances with.
Jenna realizes in the movie that Matt, her best friend that she didn’t choose the first time around, is the one for her and the one to marry; this was ironically revealed when their 30-year-old selves had a heart-to-heart right before Matt’s wedding day… to someone else.
In reality, we do not get a chance to rewind time like in a romantic comedy, but what I love about the final messages in them is that we learn the lesson from the movie itself so that we don’t have to make those mistakes, or can relate if we already have.
In an effort to deep dive into if romcoms really are an accurate depiction of real life or just fantasy, I came across an article from Medium, titled “The Realism Of Rom-Coms.” Throughout the article it suggests that the unrealistic aspect from rom-coms is from the unexpected meet-cute and that first meetings have to be so impact-
hopeless romance?
ful. In reality, that isn’t always the case.
Although, the ending line struck me.
“At its heart, rom-coms are stories of foolish humans like us who fall in love, make mistakes and try again. What is unrealistic about that?” said Praise Vandeh, a writer for Medium.
If we all strive for the goals that the characters in these rom-coms want, which is true love even with trial and error, maybe rom-coms aren’t all that off from real life. But that isn’t with a little drama and magic involved.
Sometimes the rom-coms with the best lessons happen to have the most extravagant plots. I was talking with my friend Kaley when we discussed our favorite rom-coms. I was excited to know we had one favorite in particular, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.”
“Recently, I’ve been rewatching the series “‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,’” said Kaley Parham, a senior psychology major. “I do really enjoy them because they’re lighthearted and it’s easy to fall in love with the characters.”
“To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” has a plotline where Lara Jean Song Covey and Peter Kavinsky fake date in an attempt to act unbothered by their current relationship complexities.
In reality, do most people fake date? Probably not. But in this romcom, it is romantically endearing as they end up falling in love
as the main characters often do.
Parham had another point though, one that brings us back to my main point: the most realistic trope in a romantic comedy is “friends to lovers,” compared to something as outlandish as the ideas in “The Notebook.”
“Relying on rom-coms for a realistic depiction of love gets tricky because of the dramatization,” Parham said. “I think ‘The Notebook’ is an example of this because their relationship is toxic and most likely would not have worked out in real life, but because their love is so intense and passionate, it seems desirable to viewers. I think a more realistic rom-com is ‘When Harry Met Sally’ because the friendship dynamics ring more true to the real world.”
The dramatization and glamorization of rom-coms is the same concept that gets me to love reality television as well. It’s an escape from the real world that can give us a sense of relaxation or peace. Sometimes though, the best rom-coms are the ones we can relate to and can have open conversations about from its content.
That isn’t without saying one last important concept on the topic: the toxic glamorization of relationships and situationships based on romantic comedies. In theory, they should be lighthearted and have two underlying emotions, humor and love.
“We might not think watching sappy romantic comedies could affect our concept of expectations between men and women. The hyper-romantic reality of rom-coms impacts our perception of our relationships or, should I say, ‘situationships’ in our lives,” said Camryn Bacon, in her article “The Toxic Reality Of Rom-Coms” for A-Line Magazine. This distortion of reality can lead us to believe that dramatic twists and turns concluded in 90 minutes with a happy ending is the norm in our own lives. As we consume these stories, we may subconsciously accept unhealthy behaviors as acceptable in the pursuit of romance, mistaking conflict as passion and misunderstandings as exciting. This can foster unrealistic standards for what it means to connect with someone, leaving us disillusioned when real relationships fail to mirror the scripted charm we’ve grown accustomed to.
As I reflect on these films, it becomes clear that while we may not live in a cinematic universe, the emotions stirred by these stories mirror real-life experiences. They remind us that love often unfolds in unexpected ways and can bloom naturally from deep friendships. Let’s embrace the charm of romantic comedies and their engaging plots and more importantly, let’s celebrate the friendships that may lead us to the greatest love stories of our lives.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
