Issue 4 | Volume 101

@GCSUnade

@TheColonnade

The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia College Feb. 21, 2023

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Biden’s State of the Union Address

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union address. Biden chose to focus on the economy, what he has accomplished and future initiatives. Some main focuses were economic achievements, assault weapons and unemployment. Biden gave several facts along with these points that created several moments of backlash.

“Liar!” said Representative of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District Marjorie Taylor Greene after Biden called out some Republicans for their beliefs on Medicare and Social Security.

Several of these up-

roars caused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to be seen mouthing the word “hush.”

Many of these uproars came because of Biden’s statistics that he continued to repeat and stand by. Biden claimed that 12 million new jobs have been created since he took office, more than 70,000 Americans per year have died from fentanyl and several others. These have created a lot of controversy, as many claim that these statistics are wrong and Biden’s fault. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there have only been 2.7 million new jobs, which is

about 9 million less than Biden claimed during the State of the Union.

Many Americans are blaming the fentanyl crisis on Biden’s decision to open the border.

Although these seem like the most controversial topics that were discussed, nothing compares to the banning of assault weapons.

“Ban assault weapons now,” Biden said.

“Ban them now, once and for all.”

Biden failed to elaborate on this issue, but it caused the most uproar in the House chamber. It was obvious that the Democrats were on the side of banning

them, considering Biden continued to use “we” when referring to the Democrats and “you” when referring to the Republicans.

Many GC students did not view the State of the Union address, as they were either too busy or did not care.

“I did not watch the State of the Union, because I am tired of the political atmosphere,” said senior criminal justice major Conner King.

“I did not, because I truly do not care about politics anymore,” said an anonymous GC student. “We are too divided, and it is sad.”

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS RACIST

No matter how hard Republican extremists try to change the narrative

white man, proved this Hannah Adams Asst. Opinion Editor point after flying a ConThe Confederate flag carries a symbolism that cannot be avoided despite the alternative narrative that some rightwing extremists like to play. It is a statement that represents some of the most vile and dark choices of this country, and it is a slap in the face to the progress that has been made in the United States. It sends nothing but a racist, sexist and harmful message to the public. There are still people in this country who defend the flag and their right to fly it, and that is a tragedy. Kevin Seefried, a middle-aged

See SOTU | Page 2

federate flag through the Capitol during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

This storming of the Capitol was a result of a rally and speech by Donald Trump, in which the past president made flimsy claims that the election was stolen from him. Following the rally, instigated right-wingers marched to the Capitol and stormed it like a bunch of angry children throwing a tantrum. Both Seefried and his son were in attendance at the rally, with the former opting to bring a Confederate flag.

See FLAG | Page 10

MEN’S BASKETBALL HOMECOMING Bruce Smith

ers step up in the victory.

Staff Writer President Biden at his State of the Union Address Feb. 7.

HARRY STYLES’S CONTROVERSIAL WIN AT THE 65TH GRAMMYS Grace Robertson Staff Writer

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, which was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, celebrated the greatest musical acts of the year on Feb. 5.

Many historic awards were presented that night, but not without the unavoidable controversy that the ceremony commonly provokes.

Beyoncé historically passed Georg Solti, a Hungarian-British conductor, for the record of most Grammy awards, with 32 wins.

Critics pointed out that although Beyon-

cé now holds the record for the most Grammy wins in history, her music is commonly recognized in R&B categories, rather than the genreless recognition of the general field awards.

The General Field awards, commonly known as the Big Four, include the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

Beyoncé has been nominated in the Big Four categories 18 times, only receiving one of the wins for Song of the Year with her 2008 No. 1 hit, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).”

This discussion brings

to light how Beyoncé’s music is highly recognized by the Recording Academy, but in categories that are traditionally offered exclusively to Black artists, which critics say is not as great recognition as some of the larger categories.

Jay-Z, American rapper and husband to Beyoncé, spoke about how the awards have not properly commended Black artists.

“Obviously, it’s music, and it’s all subjective, but you got to be in the ballpark,” Jay-Z said. “That’s all we want. We just want them to get it right because we love it so much.”

Beyoncé was nom-

Freshman

guard

The GC men’s basket-

Brenden Rigsbee con-

ball team hosted 3-23

tinued his breakout sea-

Clayton State for their

son, leading the Bobcats

homecoming

game

with 24 points and sev-

on Saturday, Feb. 18.

en rebounds. Rigsbee

Coming

off

four

is embracing the lead

inated for Album of the Year for her 2022 dance-pop album, “Renaissance,” along with other industry giants, like Adele, ABBA, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo and Harry Styles.

This year, Harry Styles took home the award for his 2022 pop-funk album, “Harry’s House.”

The announcement shocked fans and music lovers, as multiple music publications, like “Billboard” and “Pitchfork,” predicted Beyoncé’s win.

straight losses, the Bob-

role and, despite his

cats looked to get a big

age, he has shown great

win in front of the larg-

leadership to the team.

er homecoming crowd.

“My teammates and

Despite multiple lead

coach just keep putting

changes throughout the

their trust in me, and that

game, the Bobcats would

really means a lot to me,”

stay strong and eventu-

Rigsbee said. “The last

ally come away with a

thing I want to do is let

needed victory, 71-68.

them down, so I am go-

See GRAMMYS | Page 7

Bobcats

ing to keep working at it.”

still missing key players

Rigsbee had a suc-

in sophomore guards

cessful night from the

Zyair Greene and Luke

charity

Chism, the short-staffed

11 for 12 at the line.

team had some key play-

See HOMECOMING | Page 6

With

the

stripe,

going

PARKING PROBLEMS

SPORTS | PG. 6

NBA TRADE DEADLINE

ARTS & LIFE | PG. 8

OPINION & MISC. | PG. 10

Parking struggles continue to plague GC students and staff ’s schedules.

A series of multi-team trades sends seismic shifts through the league.

31 movies and nine TV shows later, is the MCU past the point of no return?

Is the low-impact exercise better aimed at long-term health than traditional weightlifting?

NEWS | PG. 3

MARVEL’S CONTENT CRISIS

PILATES VS. WEIGHTLIFTING

2

REBECCA MEGHANI, NEWS EDITOR LILY PRUITT, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

02.21.2023

NEWS SOTU

Continued from page 1 Other GC students felt that the State of the Union was a joke and ridiculous to watch.

“I think it is funny, all the shade being thrown around, be-

cause it is like a reality TV show, but it is just our government,” said senior criminal justice major Rhianna Vidrine.

While they may choose to side with one party or another, several GC students agree that no politician should have called out another.

“It is the status quo that you do not do anything during someone’s speech,” said Vidrine.

“I do not think it was right on either side, but especially for Biden, to call out anyone, because he referred to the Democrats as ‘we,’” said senior criminal justice major

Sydney Wilson. “He just kept looking down on the Republicans.”

There have been many outrages by young Americans in the days following the State of the Union.

Many have claimed that they have economic concerns and choose not to stand with Biden be-

cause of it. They are worried about the debt that the new generation will soon have to take over.

With prices soaring, many GC students seem to feel the same way.

“He excluded college kids, which are a lot of the people that do vote,” Wilson said.

The State of the Union caused a lot more controversy between topics that were already controversial enough. It seems to have further divided the two parties, and GC students seem to want nothing to do with it.

Nicaraguan prisoners are sent the the U.S. for relief The President of Nicaragua imprisoned his political opponents, U.S. gives them freedom Catherine Wall

The conditions these

Staff Writer

prisoners endured were

This past week, political prisoners from the country of Nicaragua were released and flown to Washington, D.C, where the Biden administration is offering their legal and medical support to help the former prisoners have an easy transition.

The U.S. and Nicaragua have had strained relations in more recent years, on account of the Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega, using repressive tactics against their own citizens, and also a growing relationship with Russia.

In 2021, Ortega ruthlessly took down and imprisoned several political rivals, along with critics who voiced their displeasure and anger over a widely corrupt presidential election.

horrific, with one political rival of Ortega, Hugo Torres, dying in the prison after being arrested on charges of

denounced the prisoners as traitors being ‘deported’ to the U.S,.” said “Politico” Editorial Intern Lawrence Ukenye.

Ortega himself called the prisoners “merce-

fellow for Latin America at Chatham House Christopher Sabatini seeing this as victory for Ortega, as ridding himself of so many political prisoners allows

“I think it was a very positive thing for the U.S. to accept these prisoners,” said GC political science professor Ben Clark. “It sends a message of support to those opposing

sands of immigrants with the argument that letting them in will increase the number of COVID-19 cases

in

“Being

the

U.S.

imprisoned

for being a political opponent is a threat to free speech and free thought,” said freshman nursing major Emma Laprade.

“While

I

understand

that some countries may have limitations on what one can or cannot say about the government, imprisoning

someone

due to their opinion is a

dangerous

option.”

Nicaragua has dealt with

President

Orte-

ga — and his tendency Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega

treason in 2021. The Nicaraguan government approached

the

U.S.

government about the release of the prisoners.

“A Nicaraguan judge

Being imprisoned for a being a political opponent is a threat to free speech and free thought -Emma Laprade

naries, coup-mongers and terrorists” per a story in “The Guardian.” People wonder why Ortega would release these prisoners that represented a threat to him when he has seemingly ruled with an iron fist.

Some see it as a sign of his frailty and that he is losing his grip on power and needs to improve U.S. relations to stay afloat. Others see it quite differently, with senior

VOLUME 101 | NO. 4

Ortega to contradict critics who focus on the human right and democracy abuses in Nicaragua.

This decision also allows Ortega to get international pressure off his back by answering the demands calling for the release of these individuals. Getting rid of problems like the prisoners allows his regime to survive — and without possible intervention from others.

the regime in Nicaragua and probably provides a positive image of the U.S. supporting refugees to counterbalance some of the negative publicity the U.S. has received internationally with policies like extending Title 42.”

Title 42 allows the government to take emergency action to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and allows them to expel thousands upon thou-

@GCSUnade

to imprison those who would see him ousted — since his rise to power 16 years ago.

The surprising event has

sent

shockwaves

through the international world, with some offering positive outlooks about

possible

negotiations

future between

Nicaragua and the U.S., while others can not see how things could change and if Nicaragua would ever regain democracy and be free of Ortega.

@TheColonnade

Editorial Board

Katherine Futch..............Editor in Chief Cale Strickland................Managing Editor Claire O’Neill................... Art Director Rebecca Meghani..........News Editor Lily Pruitt............................Asst. News Editor Hayden Flinn....................Sports Editor Brennan Schmitz........... Asst. Sports Editor Jennifer Crider................. Arts & Life Editor William Van de Planque.............................. Asst. Arts & Life Editor Abigayle Allen..................Opinion Editor Hannah Adams...............Asst. Opinion Editor Anjali Shenoy................ Digital Media Editor Marissa Marcolina.........Digital Media Editor Connor Patronis............. PR Manager Robert Trotter...................Ad Sales Manager William Burke.................. Faculty Adviser *All Opinion columns are the opinion of the columnist, not of The Colonnade.

The Colonnade is looking for staff writers, editors, designers, videographers, and more.

Contact thegcsucolonnade@gmail.com for more.

If you’re interested in writing for The Colonnade, email thegcsucolonnade@gmail.com.

Ad Disclaimer The Colonnade is not responsible for any false advertising. We are not liable for any error in advertising to a greater extent than the cost of the space in which the item occurs. The Colonnade reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy submitted for publication. There is no guaranteed placement of ads. The Colonnade does not accept advertising concerning firearms nor guarantee ads concerning alcoholic beverages.

Corrections

If you feel anything we’ve printed or posted online has been reported in error, please send an email to thegcsucolonnade@ gmail.com.

Copyrights

All stories and photographs appearing in this issue and previous issues, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted by The Colonnade.

Contact Us Office: Terrell 301 thegcsucolonnade@gmail. com bobcatmultimedia.com

3

REBECCA MEGHANI, NEWS EDITOR LILY PRUITT, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

02.21.2023

NEWS

GC parking services got new license plate software But it still leaves students with more tickets Lily Pruitt

Asst. News Editor In past years, GC parking has been horrendous for students. Fighting over parking spaces and being late to class are direct results of not being able to find parking spots.

GC has now implemented new rules for students who park in GC commuter-designated parking lots. Students now are not allowed to pull through parking spots or back in.

This is due to GC now changing to a license plate recognition software in all parking lots that allows students to

to be able to see the license plates in order to be read by the new system. This new system is exactly what law enforcement uses to patrol on highways. It is a very sophisticated system that does have its flaws, but overall, is more efficient.

“The cameras on the top of the vehicle can read tags up to 90 miles an hour,” said Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Brian English.

Due to this, GC now offers the option to buy a front license plate for $30. There are 4 options that all have pictures of front campus, but students seem to be

tice major Ryan Brewer.

Parking Services has seemingly switched over to this new system to ensure that when students are switching vehicles, they will no longer receive a “failure to display” citation. Further, the new system cracks down on students giving their tags to their friends and makes it easier for Parking Services to enforce their rules and patrol.

“Since we have implemented this, we have found employees that have not bought a permit in, like, two years,” English said.

Students are able to get free guest permits that they can use to avoid

Anjali Shenoy | Digital media Editor

use their license plate as their parking pass. GC Parking Services needs

very opposed to this.

“Honestly, it’s not worth it to buy,” said sophomore criminal jus-

getting citations for a certain number of days.

“I do think we are giving more tickets be-

cause we are able to enforce it more,” English said. “In the first three hours of today, we were able to write 29 tickets, which does not always mean it involves money.”

GC Parking Services also decided to issue tickets and citations electronically through students’ Bobcat emails instead of paper tickets.

In the same email that was sent out to students to inform them of the new changes for parking, GC added that the City of Milledgeville has a new parking advisory. They claimed to have been informed that the city would be resuming enforcement of all time limits, specifically in the two-hour and 30-minute parking spots that are located all around campus.

These new changes have added fire to the already chaotic parking situation in Milledgeville and around campus. Students are now getting more tickets than they normally do.

“I mean, I was 15 minutes late for the two-hour parking and got a ticket,” said an anonymous GC student. “It’s just ridiculous, and, honestly, it has made me think about leaving because GC has left little to nothing for students to park.”

Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

The only options students have to park are in two-hour parking spots, which are inconvenient for students who have back-to-back classes all day, parking in the already full commuter parking lot behind the public safety building, the other commuter parking lot on North Clarke Street or the commuter parking lot on Irwin Street, which offers a shuttle to campus. None of these are ideal options for students, so they have resorted to parking in the parking garage downtown, which is always full, or walking and taking shuttles for those

who live off campus.

“If you do not have an 8 or 9 a.m. and get there early, you will never get a parking spot,” said senior marketing major Shawn McElroy.

Students think that GC should add more parking for commuter students or even replace one commuter parking lot with a parking garage. Doing this would mean more patrol for GC Parking Services, but it could help students comply with the rules and regulations a lot easier.

“I think they should definitely add more lots,” Brewer said.

Major spotlight: biology Kate Verity Staff Writer One of GC’s more popular majors is biology. According to the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences webpage, they boast the largest number of majors on campus. The GC Fall 2022 Fact Book had 324 undergraduate students and 18 graduate students studying biology.

The biology program offers a few concentrations for students to choose from, one of which is a pre-med track. Senior Natanim Kefelw is a biology student with a pre-med concentration. She plans to use her biology degree to go to medical school.

“I think I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was maybe eight, or something, and I think most of us choose the biology route because chemistry seems really hard,” Kefelw said. “I’ve just always known what I wanted to do, I never really changed my mind and this [biology] is what people tell you is a good idea to get your prerequi-

sites for medical school.”

Although she never doubted that being a doctor was her dream career, Kefelw has admitted to wavering in self-confidence due to the difficulties surrounding her studies.

“People always ask you, they say ‘There’s so many easier ways or jobs!’ but I don’t think that I would be happy or fulfilled,” Kefelw said. “I think the only part I’ve ever wavered in is definitely in confidence. I’m okay with working hard, but what if my best isn’t good enough? You have to work and find people who will encourage you.”

Kefelw explained that COVID-19 has led to her plans to take a gap year after graduation. The 2020 pandemic lockdowns prevented many students across all disciplines from shadowing and taking internships, but this is especially true for students looking to enter the medical field.

To apply for medical school, students must have completed a set number of hours actually gaining on-site experience. This ensures

that those who apply are acutely aware of the lifestyle sacrifices and time commitments that being a doctor demands. For college students in 2020, it was impossible to log these needed hours because hospital staff was limited to essential personnel- no interns. Kefelw is planning to use the next year to make up lost time and gain this vital hands-on experience.

“After this semester, I will be taking one or two years off depending on how the MCAT goes because that’s a very difficult test,” Kefelw said. “Just because of COVID-19, a lot of people in my grade and the grade above us didn’t get the opportunities that we wanted. You have to have shadowing and volunteer hours to be able to apply because they want to make sure that this is really what you’ve decided on and what you really want.”

But Kefelw is adamant that if someone decides that medical school is truly their goal, they cannot allow anyone to scare or dissuade them.

“If you really want it

Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

bad enough, you just really have to look inside yourself and be like, ‘if this is for me, then I am going to work for it and I am not going to let anyone tell me that I can’t do it,’” Kefelw said. “Don’t make any decisions out of fear. I think a lot of the time I was so afraid of failure. I hate the idea that if I don’t get into a med-

ical school the first time, people will know. Failure is a part of the journey and you’re supposed to fail to know what it feels like to do better.”

MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test and it is a notoriously difficult, eight-hour test that students who wish to become doctors must take.

Even if Kefelw fails this exam, she will be able to go back, study harder and retake it. Students can take the exam up to seven times in their lifetime. Kefelw will have to work hard to pass, but she has studied hard as a biology student at GC and has taken many courses that will serve her well in the future.

4

REBECCA MEGHANI, NEWS EDITOR LILY PRUITT, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

02.21.2023

NEWS

Stop Cop City protests against development

Protests follow the death of Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán, a climate activist, during a raid on Cop City protesters in Atlanta, Georgia Rebecca Meghani News Editor

Opinion “Cop City” is a name that garnered national attention after tensions rose on Jan. 18, when a GA state trooper shot and killed an environmental activist. According to the “Atlanta Journal-Constitution,” the Atlanta City Council approved a $90 million public safety training center in 2021 following the Black Lives Matter protests.

They stated that the “state-of-the-art campus would replace substandard offerings and boost police morale beset by hiring and retention struggles in the wake of violent protests against racial injustice.”

“This training facility will not only help boost morale, retention and recruitment of our public safety personnel but will give us physical space to ensure that our officers and firefighters are receiving 21st-century training, rooted in respect and regard for the communities they serve,” said then Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

The development plans to build its facility through Weelaunee Forest, a 381-acre area that is one of the largest remaining undeveloped green spaces in Atlanta.

One of the most wellknown social movements that have been protesting for months is Stop Cop City (SCC), or Defend Atlanta Forest.

“To be clear — cop city is not just a controversial training center,” said Kwame Olufemi, an organizer with Community Movement Builders. “It is a war base, where police will learn military-like maneuvers to kill Black people and control our bodies and movements. They are practicing how to make sure poor and working-class people stay in line.”

SCC activists and other activists mostly engaged in peaceful protests, like tree-sits, encampments and local community events, with their more aggressive tactics being carefully targeted property damage and direct confrontation with police forces attempting to evict protestors from the forest.

These protests began to escalate when a protester, Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, otherwise known as “Tortuguita,” was shot when police raided a campground that held other demon-

strators. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, there is no body camera footage of the incident, and investigations are ongoing.

They stated that the state trooper fired in self-defense after the officer was shot in the abdomen; activists state that it was a state-sanctioned murder.

On Jan. 21, a more aggressive protest broke out in downtown Atlanta that caused damage to the Atlanta Police Foundation and other police property with explosives and rocks.

Six people were arrested on charges, including domestic terrorism.

This caused Gov. Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency to call in the GA National Guard.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shared tweets criticizing the protestors.

“Atlanta police are under attack by Antifa terrorists,” Greene wrote. “Left-wing terrorism is the biggest threat to democracy.”

There is no knowledge if the protestors are affiliated with Antifa, a decentralized left-wing movement.

Antifa came into light in recent years, during former President Trump’s administration while protests against racial injustice were occurring. President Trump said that the United States would designate Antifa as a terrorist organization. Antifa is better recently described as a loose movement of activists with no known official leaders and is organized into autonomous local cells.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “Antifa” as borrowed from a German phrase that opposes Nazism in 1946. In the United States, one of the first

groups was founded in 2007, Rose City Antifa. The movement itself became more visible in 2017 when members had altercations with farright groups on different occasions that gained national attention.

The members seek to fight against actions that they view as authoritarian, homophobic, racist or xenophobic. They promote a platform of stopping fascist, racist and far-right groups from spreading their views because of how they target marginalized people.

“The argument is that militant anti-fascism is inherently self-defense because of the historically documented violence that fascists pose, especially to marginalized people,” said Mark Bray, a history lecturer at Rutgers University and the author of “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.”

According to Bray, Antifa groups “use tactics similar to anarchist groups” and “have overlapping ideologies, as both often criticize capitalism and seek to dismantle structures of authority, including police forces.”

This does not specifically mean through ways of violence, as there are Antifa members who do not believe in aggressive actions, but rather in peaceful protesting. Using the movement Antifa to all protestors is mislabeled. While Antifa has made its presence known in the United States, the movement has been used as a scapegoat for other groups and situations making the label “Antifa” more of a threat than it is in reality. For instance, the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group, disguised themself during the insurrection as Antifa to avoid detection.

Greene placing all of the protesters under the label Antifa is false. While Antifa and other protesters can have similar desires for the outcome of Cop City, they can follow separate ideologies and tactics to get to that point. Along with that, protestors can follow a more extremist point of view without identifying as Antifa. Labeling all the protesters against Cop City paints them in a negative light and gives a false perception of the goals of movements like Stop Cop City (SCC).

The narrative set forth

by Greene’s statement against leftists is true to a certain extent. Similar to how leftists do have a far-left and extremist side, so does the right.

The statement of how left-wing terrorism is the biggest threat to democracy also applies to right-wing extremism.

Greene promoted heated rhetoric leading up to the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, which could be viewed as right-wing extremism. The insurrection was a threat to democracy with the threat of silencing millions of voters, including large numbers of marginalized and minority people who cast their ballots.

The Proud Boys played a significant role in the insurrection that promoted the violence and subversion of democracy.

While speaking at the New York Young Republicans Club, Greene commented on the accusations against her regarding her involvement in the insurrection.

“Then Jan. 6 happens, and next thing you know, I organized the whole thing along with Steve Bannon,” Greene said. “And I gotta tell you something: If Steve Bannon and I had organized that, we would have

won. Not to mention, it would have been armed.”

She later stated that her comments were sarcastic but by downplaying the insurrection, stating that she would have been armed and won is violent rhetoric that goes against the values of democracy. Boasting that she has the ability to win an insurrection can be received as a promotion against the ideologies of democracy. While she views it as sarcasm, far-right extremists can view it as a support for their actions and influence further action, like how Trump promoted action in his speech prior to the insurrection.

There is no dispute on whether or not damage and violence were created on the Atlanta streets, but it is questionable to state that all the protesters are involved in Antifa. There needs to be a recognition that the Stop Cop City movement began with the approval of the implementation of Cop City. These protests were rooted in protecting the local ecosystem, fear from the minority residents of the community due to the further militarization of cops in the city, and the cultural and historical significance and importance of the property.

While there was a steady increase in targeted violence aimed at police and their property, the fatal shooting of Tortuguita incited the violence that promoted Gov. Kemp to call on the GA National Guard.

The anger stems from the GA Bureau of Investigation saying that there is no body camera or dashcam footage of the shooting. Without having an accurate version of events and only the officer making it out of the altercation alive, it be-

comes increasingly more difficult to trust the police and their intentions.

GA State Patrol does not require troopers to wear body cameras which is an issue in itself.

This only pushes conspiracies that have the ability to further incite protests and violence.

Considering the number of tragedies that have taken place for people of color, it is absurd for the state to not require their officers to turn on their body cameras if it potentially has the ability to help their case.

This development itself is controversial in its disregard for the wishes of the residents of Atlanta. In 2020, the council made an effort to defund the police by withholding a third of the police department’s budget of $217 million if the department did not change its culture. This was defeated in an 8-7 vote. While this is politically representing the districts’ constituents, voting against this effort shows the ignorance of the current police culture and how much harm it causes to the Atlanta communities.

Cop City, the protests and the violence caused by it can be minimized through city efforts but by refusing to do so and sticking to the same agenda, no progress can be made. Blaming one political side and the other side not taking accountability can only further harm democracy and what it stands for.

The city of Atlanta needs to recognize the harm that will come from the development of Cop City to its people and its land, not only now but in future years ecologically, culturally and politically.

5

HAYDEN FLINN, SPORTS EDITOR BRENNAN SCHMITZ, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

02.21.2023

SPORTS

Women’s basketball comes up short to CSU

Star players Vick and Jackson go down early.

Emily Henderson Staff Writer The GC women’s basketball team played their homecoming game Saturday, Feb. 18, against Clayton State University. With the loss of two important players early in the game, the Bobcats came up short 58-69 despite their tremendous efforts until the last second.

“Losing them was definitely a curveball,” said Head Coach Ross Jolly. “Our team did a nice job on adjusting, but yeah, any time you lose someone, it is hard.

This is the fewest Harper [Vick] has played ever. She hasn’t missed a game for us in the four years that I have coached her, so it was definitely a weird thing with her not playing the last 35 minutes — Dashaun as well.”

Starting the first quarter, Clayton State focused on their defense against the Bobcats, making things difficult from the start. One mistake by the Lakers that GC took advantage of was their poorly-executed double-teaming. This allowed the Bobcats great success inside the paint

during the first quarter.

Both teams played a tight man-to-man defense, which helped keep the scoring close.

This defense caused ball movement to be the key to getting an open shot. The Bobcats’ top shooters were not as effective due to the Lakers shutting down three-point shot options.

Towards the end of the first, senior guard Harper Vick went down due to an ankle injury and would not return. GC ended the first down 13-15.

Sophomore guard Alexa Geary started a nice run for the Bobcats at the start of the second, knocking down two big three-pointers to give GC their first big lead of the game.

With the strong fullcourt defense from the Lakers, it was difficult for GC to move easily down the court. Once they could get down the court, the adjustments made from the first allowed the Bobcats to get by the Lakers’ defense.

With 26 seconds left in the half, junior forward Dashaun Jackson left the game due to a hand injury. Despite the Bob-

Marissa Marcolina | Digital Media Editor

Sophomore guard Ashyia Willis shoots the open shot over Clayton State’s defense on Saturday, Feb. 18.

cats’ offensive success, the game remained tight, and they lost the lead, ending the half 28-31.

The Bobcats had a slow start to the third quarter, allowing Clayton State to gain a big lead.

GC continued to play to the best of their abilities, but their shots were not falling. Other than their missed shots, everything else was working well for the Bobcats, but Clayton State still led by nine at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter was very similar to the previous. The loss of

Vick and Jackson had a big impact. Even with their continued efforts, shots continued to miss, and the Bobcats could not overcome Clayton State, losing 69-58.

Despite this loss, the homecoming game brought a different atmosphere for the women’s basketball team. Even with their much-improved season, this team still did not get the types of crowds that the men’s team received.

The homecoming game, however, brought a bigger, more excited crowd.

“Homecoming is probably one of our best games, just because of the atmosphere,” Geary said. “Everyone is just out there cheering you on, so it is just great to be able to play during the homecoming game.”

The Bobcats have two games remaining before the playoffs. GC is currently ranked eighth in the PBC (Peach Belt Conference) and are en route to the playoffs this season. The Bobcats can improve their rank with wins in these next two games.

“We just need to stay together as a team,” said senior forward Cassidy Markle. “We need to focus on the small things, like boxing out, taking care of the ball and stopping drives. So, if we put together the small things all together, then we can come out with the last two wins.”

GC plays their last regular game

season

home

Wednesday,

Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. to honor their two seniors, Vick and Markle.

6

HAYDEN FLINN, SPORTS EDITOR BRENNAN SCHMITZ, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

02.21.2023

SPORTS

NBA trade deadline creates chaos

Phoenix Suns acquiring Kevin Durant in blockbuster deal

Drew Bogumill

Suns for Mikal Bridg-

and Deandre Ayton in

the Nets acquired Spen-

bounds while still get-

major at GC, is a Hawks

Staff Writer

es, Cam Johnson and

Phoenix. This superteam

cer Dinwiddie, Dorian

ting traded mid-season.

fan and was pleased

Jae Crowder. The Nets

is almost sure to wreak

Finney-Smith, a 2029

Jakob Flores, a senior

also acquired four un-

havoc across the league.

first-round pick, a 2027

and management ma-

protected future first-

The next big trade

second-round pick and a

jor at GC, is a big New

round picks (2023, 2025,

was that of fellow Nets

2029 second-round pick.

York Knicks fan and

2027, and 2029) as well

superstar Kyrie Irving.

The Mavericks lost

had a lot to say about

the moves we made,”

as a 2028 pick swap.

The

the

deadline.

Larruso said. “We added Dejounte Murray [prior

The NBA trade deadline just came to a close, and there is a lot to talk about. This deadline involved some of the most trades in NBA history, with a couple being

very

valuable.

The first big trade of the deadline was between the Phoenix Suns and the Brooklyn Nets. In the

Nets

point guard Jalen Brun-

traded Irving to the

son to the New York

“The trade that sur-

end of the superstar ex-

Dallas

in

Knicks in free agency

prised me the most was

periment in Brooklyn,

another massive deal.

over the summer, leav-

the Kyrie trade because

ing

to

it does not seem like the

This trade marks the

with Kyrie Irivng and

Brooklyn Mavericks

Irving,

an

All-Star

Luka

Dončić

trade

with

the

decisions

from the front office.

“I was happy about

to the season] and Saddiq Bey while getting rid of both Justin Holiday

James Harden having

starter, requested a trade

have to carry the entire

right fit for him,” Flores

also been traded. Ac-

on Feb. 3 after talks on

workload

himself.

said. “Honestly, I am up-

and Frank Kaminsky.”

by

cording to ESPN, this

a possible contract ex-

Now, Dončić will pair

set with the moves we

The NBA trade dead-

late-night hours ahead of

trade was finalized af-

tension with the Nets

up with Irving for what

[the Knicks] made or did

the trade deadline, Nets

line this year brought

ter Durant put in his

broke down. He will

could be the best back-

not make. Josh Hart is

superstar Kevin Durant

second

request

now join his fourth

court in the entire NBA.

one of the additions we

was traded to the Suns.

in only eight months.

team in seven seasons.

The

trade

Kyrie

is

the

first

made, but I don’t see him

Maver-

player in NBA histo-

having a huge impact.”

Michael Larruso, a

a

lot

and

of

excitement

shocking

trades,

and we can only wait

blockbuster

Durant will now be

trade had Durant and

paired up with superstars

icks received Irving and

ry to average 25 points,

T.J. Warren sent to the

Devin Booker, Chris Paul

Markieff Morris, while

five assists, and five re-

sophomore

HOMECOMING

then in the second half, I

head coach Ryan Aqui-

the game, the Bobcats

Brenden Risgbee chase-

the season strong and

was able to get to the free

no. “They really fought

tried their best to put on

down block that got

end on a high note.

throw line a lot, and that

for it when they could

a show and give the fans

the crowd on their feet.

The Bobcats are back

really helped out my con-

have just let off the gas,

a reason to come back.

With only two games

in action Wednesday,

fidence, which led to me

but they kept going.”

Some of the high-

left in the regular sea-

Feb. 22, in the Centennial

making a couple of shots.”

As the large crowd

light plays were an Aus-

son, the Bobcats are

Center to take on Flagler

cheered on throughout

tin Sloan dunk and a

looking to finish off

College for senior night.

Continued from page 1 The

Bobcats

struggled

have

throughout

the season at the freethrow

line.

Howev-

er, they earned many trips to the line against the

Lakers,

shoot-

ing 26 and making 20.

The

Bobcats

shot

the

ball

extreme-

ly

well

throughout

the

game,

shooting

40.7% from the field.

Freshman guard Ian Davis took part in the good

shooting

night,

going four for seven from the field along with

shooting

sev-

Davis

has

really

The

Dallas

business

and see how they turn out

for

each

team.

stepped up this year when the Bobcats needed it and embraced a l a r g e r- t h a n - e x p e c t ed role as a freshman.

There was a little extra pressure on the Bobcats during this game, and that was due to it being homecoming night. The stands were packed, and the team put on a show in what was a game that could

en for eight from the

have gone either way.

free throw line. He also

“I’m just really proud

pulled in six rebounds.

of the guys because I

“I started off the game

could tell how bad they

slow,” Davis said. “But

wanted this win,” said

Marissa Marcolina | Digital Media Editor

Sophomore forward Austin Sloan throws it down with two hands versus Clayton State on Saturday, Feb. 18.

7

JENNIFER CRIDER, A&L EDITOR WILLIAM VAN DE PLANQUE, ASST. A&L EDITOR

02.21.2023

ARTS & LIFE GRAMMYS Continued from page 1 Beyoncé

has

been

nominated in the Album of the Year category four times and has lost to white artists each time — to Taylor Swift in 2010, Beck in 2015, Adele in 2017 and most recently, Harry Styles.

Sophie Hoffman, junior accounting major, explained

her

shock

when Harry Styles received

the

award.

“I was a little confused when he won,” Hoffman said. “So many people expected Beyoncé to win it because she’s worked so long and has more of a reputation.”

Styles accepted the award, but not without

making

a

ment

that

caused

social

media

“This

doesn’t

statea

uproar. hap-

pen to people like me

very often and this is so, so nice,” Styles said, leaving the Internet confused and upset.

“Thank you very much.”

Many questioned his word choice and pointed out the privilege of a cisgendered, straight, white man to make that statement.

Some fans argued that he was referring to his humble childhood in the speech, while others believed he was referencing his time spent in the boy band sensation One Direction, and how the boy-band-radio-pop route may have altered his reputation.

Blakely Queen, junior public health major, explained that Styles has expressed similar sentiments at his concerts.

“I can see the confusion coming from people,” Queen said. “He’s explained it at his concerts — that he grew

up in a small town in

Since

its

establish-

England and just built

ment in 1959, the Al-

himself up from the top.”

bum of the Year category

Regardless of Styles’s

has only been received

meaning

behind

his

by Black women three

speech, the odd choice

times in the history of

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

of words began a con-

the ceremony, with the

versation

involving

last being Lauryn Hill’s

the intentions of the

1998 album, “The Mise-

Recording

Academy

ducation of Lauryn Hill.”

and

question-

their

able choices of the past.

The cial

category’s

ra-

controversy

is

not new and specific to Beyoncé’s career.

Some of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time, including Michael Jackson’s 1979 album, “Off the Wall,” and Prince’s 1982 album, “1999,” were controversially not nominated in the category despite their massive commercial success and cultural influence.

Tatum McIntyre, sophomore marketing major, discussed the controversies.

“I feel like your race doesn’t matter; the kind of music that you put out matters,” McIntyre said.

“If you deserved it, you deserved to win.”

Since backlash in the past decade, the Recording Academy has adjusted some of their controversial operations.

In 2020, amid racial tension caused by police brutality, the Acad-

emy altered many of their categories’ titles.

The organization had previously received criticism for the title of their “Best Urban Contemporary Album” category, as it did not accurately describe the genre and was seen as an umbrella category to place Black artists’ work. This controversy led to the alteration of the title to “Best Progressive R&B Album.”

In 2021, the organizers decided to abolish their anonymous voting committees after allegations of bias, corruption and racism within the processes arose.

Harry Styles’s collection of this year’s Album of the Year award is not left without its misunderstandings and shock, but the Grammy Awards’ history of overlooking the success of Black creators makes the event a little less surprising.

“Don’t Think,” Deadmau5’s “Album Title Goes Here,” Kaskade’s

her 32nd Grammy and passing composer Georg Solti for the most Gram-

The queens of pop ignored by the Grammys Cale Strickland Managing Editor

Opinion On Feb. 5, just hours before the Grammys, singer-songwriter Charli XCX turned to Instagram to express her frustrations with the awards show.

Her post’s caption reads, “me not being nominated for a grammy for crash is like mia goth not being nominated for an oscar for Pearl and only further proves that people don’t wanna see hot evil girls thrive.”

Charli’s fifth studio album, “Crash,” was released in March 2022 and was eligible for several awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album.

“Crash” debuted to widespread commercial — and critical — success. It is Charli’s best-selling album to date, and “Pitchfork” listed the record as the nineteenth-best album of 2022.

Yet, it did not receive a single nomination.

Although “Crash” being snubbed is certainly frustrating, awards-season disappointment is nothing new for Charli. Despite rave reviews for “Pop 2,” “Charli” and “How I’m Feeling Now,” none of her projects have been recognized by the Recording Academy. Charli’s work has garnered a whopping total of two nominations from the awards body — both of which were for her early-career feature on Iggy Azalea’s hit single “Fancy.” She did not win for either.

Fellow experimental-pop artist Grimes agreed with Charli, commenting, “The Grammies are so irrelevant I wouldn’t even sweat it.

I stopped even clocking them in any capacity when I Was on the producer of the year board and they quite literally would not allow me to nominate anyone who wasn’t on a pre fabricated

list that was exceptionally boring. I was one of 3 women and the only person under 40 for sure.

It’s literally not a relevant thing. I tried to nominate Sophie and was told that wasn’t allowed.”

Sophie, the late producer Grimes’s comment references, was a visionary in the world of hyperpop and a frequent collaborator of Charli’s.

Her sole studio album, “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides,” was nominated for Best Dance/ Electronica Album.

Despite the critical and cult appreciation of her third studio album, “Visions,” Grimes has, time and time again, been rejected by the Grammys. She is still waiting for her first nomination.

Although Charli XCX and Grimes are not nearly as popular or well-known as Harry Styles or Lizzo — two of the big winners at this year’s ceremony — both are still celebrities.

Charli has over 15 mil-

lion monthly listeners on Spotify; Grimes has just under 5 million.

Additionally, the categories Charli and Grimes’s albums are eligible for — Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Dance/Electronica album — often have enough room to nominate lesser-known artists.

Three of this year’s nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album — Adele, Harry Styles and Lizzo — are big-name artists in their primes. ABBA and Coldplay, who are both wonderful bands in their own right, put out their best work years — if not decades — ago.

Further, Coldplay has racked up seven wins — and 34 nominations — at the Grammys throughout the band’s run.

The nominees for Best Dance/Electronica Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards — at which Grimes’s “Visions” was eligible for awards consideration — were The Chemical Brothers’

Courtesy of Grimes media kit

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

“Fire & Ice,” Skrillex’s “Bangarang” and Steve Aoki’s “Wonderland.”

No question, Deadmau5, Skrillex and even Steve Aoki, to some degree, are EDM legends — but The Chemical Brothers and Kaskade are not.

Even if Charli XCX and Grimes’s music is a little bit too left-of-center for the Grammys, it is the premier awards show in the world of music.

Just as the Oscars have the potential to shed light on forward-thinking films, the Grammys can — and should — highlight the work of radical artists redefining the rules of genre.

Perhaps no one understands this issue better than Beyoncé and Tyler, the Creator.

At this year’s show, Beyoncé made history once again, winning

my wins of all-time.

Yet, not one of her 32 wins is for Album of the Year.

After winning Best Rap Album for “IGOR,” a hard left turn — even for an artist as experimental as Tyler Okonma, also known as Tyler, the Creator — which pushes past our preconceptions of “rap music,” he called out the awards show’s continuous confinement of Black artists to the genre.

“It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys like me — do anything that’s genre-bending, they always put in a rap or urban category,” Okonma said.

It seems as if anyone pushing the envelope — socially or sonically — is pushing too much for the Grammys’ taste.

8

JENNIFER CRIDER, A&L EDITOR WILLIAM VAN DE PLANQUE, ASST. A&L EDITOR

02.21.2023

ARTS & LIFE

AMC ticket pricing game changer

Theaters will now price tickets based on seat location Paige Blakemore Staff Writer Sitting quietly in the dark, buttery popcorn in hand, Nicole Kidman’s infamous AMC commercial playing and the anticipation of seeing something one has never seen before. It is the feeling that never gets old.

When the lights go down and the projector starts up, everybody in the cinema becomes one.There is no experience quite like going to a movie theater.

On Feb. 6, AMC Entertainment announced a new ticket pricing system, called “Sightline,” that will be in effect in theaters across the nation

“Preferred

Sightline”

Some

filmmakers

excludes

AMC hindering the way

er theaters,” said Erin

controversial ticket mo-

movie times before 4

their art is portrayed.

Finnegan, a first-year

nopoly,

their head? If you get in

Sightline

communications

ets on Tuesdays and

and producer Elizabeth

major.

“I’ve

already

ficial Platinum of Tick-

members of AMC’s loy-

Banks, best known for

switched from AMC be-

etmaster,” Jalbert said.

alty

A-List.

her work in “The Hunger

cause of their prices.”

“These are like the ‘bet-

Also, discounted tick-

Games,” told “Insider,”

ets for children and

“For me, it’s about access.

seniors

apply.

I just want to make sure

This change will only

that we are creating as

take place in theaters

much access to our en-

that use reserved tick-

tertainment as possible.”

eting, so Milledgeville’s

Acclaimed American

very own AMC the-

actor Elijah Wood, best

ater will not be affected.

known for his portray-

Broke college kids do

al of Frodo Baggins in

not have to worry about

“The Lord of the Rings”

pouring out extra pen-

and “The Hobbit” tril-

nies when their favorite

ogies, took to Twitter

movies hit the big screen.

to address his negative

With the rise of the

feelings on the change.

program,

still

streaming age and the

“The

movie

New York Times,” the

to entice people back

this new initiative by @

new prices will be like

into the theaters over

AMCTheatres would es-

that of sporting events,

the past two decades.

sentially penalize peo-

and

As reported by “Vari-

ple for lower income

concerts, with the mid-

ety,” box office revenues

and reward for higher

dle

theaters

“This is like the Of-

the-

cratic space for all, and

being

the

have declined 61 percent

income,”

Wood

said.

expensive

tick-

since pre-COVID, 2019.

When

asking

GC

ets and the front row

However, only 5 percent

students their thoughts

being

cheapest.

of US theaters have been

on

the

ticket

price

“Value Sightline” tick-

forced to shut down since

changes,

many

had

ets will be $2 less and

the start of the pandemic.

differing

the

Ticketmaster.

mass

Actress,

been trying to find ways

most

going

director

p.m., discounted tick-

“The

seats

to

really wants to crane

been a sacred demo-

shows

it,” said Mccomis. “Who

the pricing to that of the

have

Broadway

tions major, compared

oth-

movie

to

defi-

nitely

ater is and always has

According

are

have spoken out against

tickets will be $1 more.

decline in moviegoers,

by the end of the year.

“People

opinions.

Entertainment

“The

gi-

ant Marvel is currently taking over the industry, with an average of three movies a year as well as a handful of TV show releases. Though this release schedule and the universe building format of the franchise

corporate

“The

direction

$15 to have a headache.”

In a statement made by

Eliot

Hamlisch,

Anjoli Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

The local AMC location in Milledgeville will not be affected by the ticket pricing change.

Finnegan went on to

ter seats,’ and they’re

AMC’s vice president

say, “I feel like the price

not even better seats.

and chief marketing of-

difference should real-

They’re the same as ev-

ly depend on the way

erything else, just so

ficer, he praises the new

you’re watching it. Like,

much more expensive.”

ticketing system, saying, “Sightline at AMC ac-

3D should be more. If

While

many

were

I’m just going to watch a

unhappy

with

AMC,

standard movie on a stan-

others

optimis-

ments to help ensure that

dard screen, it doesn’t

tic outlooks, including

our guests have more

matter where I’m sitting.”

Bella Mccomis, a fresh-

control over their experi-

man

ence, so that every trip to

Isabella Jalbert, freshman mass communica-

had

English

major.

“Personally, I’m a fan of

Marvel release radar: too much to handle?

Davis Shaw Staff Writer

there late, you’re paying

an AMC is a great one.”

the beginning.

esting point, as long-time

“I think at least ‘Loki’

viewers of the MCU can,

interest-

is worth a watch, since a

in fact, start skipping

of Marvel and, more

ed me,” Parker said.

lot of that show sets up

certain projects through

specifically, the MCU,

ice cream with sprin-

recaps on social me-

could have a big nega-

kles, here’s chocolate ice

dia sites, like YouTube,

agenda is: Do you like

that Marvel is going

chocolate

hasn’t

Well,

ice

here’s

cream? chocolate

really

from

commodates both senti-

It just depends on if they want to keep focusing on the TV shows.

cream with fudge,” Russo said. “It’s their job to turn the money printer on.”

Bailey Parker, a soph-

TikTok or Instagram.

Freeman also thinks that

the

saturation

-Sloan Freeman

the

new

over-

of

Marvel

omore English major,

with

introduc-

weighed in on the han-

tion of the TV shows

cusing on the TV shows.”

The

oversaturation

tive impact on the future of the franchise.

As of now, Disney announced

that

only

“Loki,” a show about the multiverse that will establish the basis for the

“I just feel like they’re

the future MCU,” Free-

will hurt the franchise.

starting on a decline.

man said. “I’m sure in

“I think, potentially, it

She even mentioned

shows like ‘She-Hulk,’

could,” Freeman said. “If

how the oversaturation

there are some references

they take it in the right

Invasion,” a show about

of the franchise might

and lore, but at the same

direction, then every-

famed alien villains the

affect the audience atten-

time, I’ll just figure it out

thing is smooth sailing

Skrulls taking over Earth,

dance of future projects.

on TikTok or YouTube.”

and fine. It just depends

will be the only two

‘Falcon

“I think the quality

He brings up an inter-

on if they want to keep fo-

shows released in 2023.

Many fans say the re-

and the Winter Soldier’

of the past few movies

action is a response to

and ‘Hawkeye.’ Out of

has been bad,” Parker

the quantity-over-qual-

those, I do think that

said.

ity practice that the

they’re worth watching.

ones that I’ve seen were

studio

established.

As far as the others go,

good. The recent ones,

The popular Marvel

I’m not really interested.”

I

director Joe Russo, who

An interesting point

best. I think the quali-

made films like “Captain

brought up by Park-

ty will deter audiences.

America:

Winter

er was the fact that the

Sloan

Soldier,” “Avengers: Infin-

only Marvel shows that

sophomore

ity War “and “Avengers:

she had not watched

mental science major,

Endgame,” even weighed

were the ones that were

has also been keep-

in

more recently released.

ing up with the MCU

is copied by many other franchises of the day, many fans have expe-

dling of the current MCU. “I’ve been keeping up with the MCU, probably

oversaturation.

since “Captain Ameri-

This sentiment start-

ca: The First Avenger”

rienced

ed surfacing around the

was

first few post-“Avengers:

er said. “I’ve watched

Endgame”

‘WandaVision,’

on

releases.

The

the

situation.

released,”

Park-

“Show-wise,

heard,

weren’t

Freeman,

MCU

going

forward,

season two and “Secret

the

the

a

environ-

The newest “Spiderman” releases have been some of the most popular films of the MCU of all time.

9

JENNIFER CRIDER, A&L EDITOR WILLIAM VAN DE PLANQUE, ASST. A&L EDITOR

02.21.2023

ARTS & LIFE

Grammys fashion review Hannah Adams Asst. Opinion Editor

Opinion Every year, viewers watch eagerly to see their favorite singers arrive at the Grammy red carpet, wearing the creations of iconic fashion designers.

Not only is the event renowned for awarding musicians for the talents they have displayed in that respective year, but it is also a huge event for the fashion world. Big name celebrities such as Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Lizzo are common faces to see each year. Although generally dressed by a stylist and a designer, celebs still sometimes take their red-carpet fashion to new heights by planting secret hints to their fans or making references to past work through their clothes. The looks can be very hit or miss, and each year there are those that exceed expectations by wearing a look that leaves a positive impression on their viewers. 2023 was no exception, and the list of best dressed on the red carpet this year are as follows…

Top Ten Red Carpet Outfits of 2023 10. Lizzo in Dolce and Gabbana: Lizzo looked ethereal in her orange ensemble prepared by Dolce and Gabbana this year. The star was a vi-

sion, with this look being perfectly executed, right down to the detailing of the flowers covering the piece. The jewelry, hair and makeup were kept simple, and all the attention from this look is drawn where it needs to go. The silver rings are a nice finishing touch.

9. Steve Lacy in Saint Laurent: Lacy was dressed to the nines in this Saint Laurent suit with a minor silver detailing at the breast pocket that complimented perfectly with his shoes. The look is sleek and simple while adding some fun and flair with the addition of sunglasses. Although this look is more on the simple side, it is a classic that will never go out of style.

8. Amanda Gorman in Prada: You can never go wrong with a timeless all- black look and this rings true with Gorman’s look on the red carpet this year. This look has

a beautiful subtle lace detail at the color, and the overall flow of the dress is incredibly flattering and elegant. The simple jewelry and hair were perfect for a look such as this, and Gorman was the very definition of timeless this year.

7. Viola Davis in Naeem Kahn: Davis looked absolutely stunning in this abstract gown that complimented her beautifully. The gown was simple but still remarkable, with the minor details of the pattern providing a flattering and artistic emphasis to the star. The silver earrings matching the silver of the dress is a nice addition that ties the look together.

6. Taylor Swift in Roberto Cavalli: Swift turned heads this year in a beautiful navy, twopiece gown adorned in silver sparkles. Loyal fans believe that the gown may be a wink at fans as

a nod to her latest album, “Midnights.””.

Others think the number could have been in reference to her “Fearless”- era Grammy dress, in which she received a nomination for her “1989” album.

Swift has been known to be a master of leaving discreet hints along the way before a new album or song release.

Regardless of any potential hidden messages, the two-piece set is classic and simple, flowing elegantly and matched perfectly with her simple updo and red lip.

5. Harry Styles in EGONLAB x Swarovski: Styles chose a colorful fun ensemble for the Grammys this year, which is fitting for the star’s persona. The outfit was topless except for two suspenders, and the bottom half consisted of a diamond- shaped pattern with colors like yellow, pink and purple.

Overall, this look was

flattering and perfect for Styles while also matching the star’s generally colorful fashion choices. It felt like a personal nod to his consistency in self-expression and the happiness he is known for exuberating during his concerts.

4. Beyoncé in Gucci: Beyoncé pulled off this stunning strapless Gucci gown that matched the ruffle detail also included in Lopez’s dress. The dress is elegant and perfect for the star, with the black gloves adding as a finishing touch to complete the look. The metallic layering is flattering for Beyoncé’s figure, and the black detailing of the ruffles tie together with the gloves. Overall, the look is both simple while also artistic and perfectly coordinated.

3. Kacey Musgraves: Musgraves wore a beautiful pink, feathered look that was perfectly timed with Valentine’s Day fes-

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

tivities. This look was fun, elegant, and flattering on the star. The makeup matches flawlessly with her look, and her hair is pulled up simply, not taking anything away from her outfit. The feathers are fun, celebratory and unique, placing Musgraves firmly on the list of best dressed at the Grammys.

2. Cardi B in Guarav Gupta Couture: Cardi B stunned in a royal blue figure-hugging dress that was vibrant and sculptural. The dress is fresh off the Paris runway, as it debuted recently during Paris Fashion Week runway. This dress is bold in both color and design yet still hugs her figure and flatters her body.

The color choice is beautiful, and the dress itself is tasteful and artistic.

1.Jennifer Lopez in Gucci: Lopez’s look is number one on my list for a multitude of reasons. The dress is beautiful, and the color is perfect for her. The silver is stunning alongside the navy, and the intricate design of her neck piece ties along the silver hangings of the dress.

Her hairstyle is classic, and the shoes match the ensemble flawlessly. The ruffles are a stunning finishing detail that tie the look together. This look remains timeless while also adding in minor details to add a flair.

Cale’s cinema critique: remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman Within

I

from Bryant’s impact on

he stands out amongst

was in tears — and I felt

my love of basketball.

an all-star ensemble —

weird about it. At the

Paul Thomas Ander-

which includes prime

time of Hoffman’s pass-

son is my favorite direc-

Tom Cruise — as an

ing, I was a 12-year-old

tor of all-time, and he

angst-ridden nurse. He

with no idea who he was.

cast Hoffman in five of his

finds himself screaming

When Kobe Bryant,

first six films, including

at Adam Sandler — a tall

one of my childhood

“Boogie Nights,” “Mag-

task in and of itself — in

heroes, passed away in

nolia” and “The Mas-

“Punch Drunk Love.”

2020, I felt as if my dev-

ter” — three films that

Oh, and in “The Master,”

astation was justified.

are foundational for me.

he joins Joaquin Phoenix

Basketball was, for years,

It is hard to put into

— one of the best actors,

a cornerstone of my life.

words exactly why I

if not the best actor, of

I can still remember

connect with Hoffman’s

his generation — in an

ite — if not my favor-

sitting in front of my

work as much as I do, but

eerie exploration of ma-

ki.” Whether he was on

his loved ones, includ-

ite — actors of all-time.

family’s small tube TV,

one thing is for sure: His

nipulation and power.

the set of a big-budget

ing his mother, for their

After reading a hand-

watching Bryant win his

range was undeniable.

Yet, despite his all-

blockbuster or an austere

support, and he rushed

ful of articles on the

fifth and final title with

Just within his hand-

pedigree

Oscar contender, Hoff-

off the stage, as if he was

museum’s plans to hon-

my father. The image of

ful

collaborations

and plethora of roles in

man’s esteem for each

scared of the spotlight

or him, I found myself,

Bryant standing on the

with Anderson, Hoff-

high-brow productions,

project was ever-present.

beaming down on him.

once again, going down

scorer’s table, looking

man mastered a myriad

Hoffman was far from

I am often reminded

He did not attempt to

a YouTube rabbit hole,

out at the L.A. faithful,

of peculiar personalities.

pretentious. He gives just

of Hoffman’s acceptance

deliver a grand, sweep-

spending close to an

arms

as

As an oddball outcast,

as powerful of a perfor-

speech for his one Os-

ing provocation on the

hour watching bits and

confetti falls to the floor,

he steals the show from

mance in J.J. Abrams’s

car, which he won for his

art of acting — because

pieces of his old inter-

is seared into my soul.

his big-name “Boogie

“Mission Impossible III”

leading role in Bennett

he did not need to. He

views and rewatching

Yet, Hoffman’s im-

Nights” co-stars, Mark

as he does in the Coen

Miller’s “Capote.” In a

left it all on the screen.

clips from my favorite

pact on my love of film

Wahlberg and Julianne

brothers’ comedic clas-

matter of mere seconds,

performances

is

Moore. In “Magnolia,”

sic “The Big Lebows-

he thanked a handful of

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

Opinion On Feb. 7, the George Eastman

Museum

in

Rochester, New York, announced its plans to permanently display a bronze, life-size statue of the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Hoffman, who passed away at the age of 46 in 2014, is one of my favor-

of

his.

not

minutes,

outstretched

any

different

of

time

acting

Courtesey of Philip Seymour Hoffman media kit

Rest Mr.

in

peace, Hoffman.

10

ABIGAYLE ALLEN, OPINION EDITOR HANNAH ADAMS, ASST. OPINION EDITOR

02.21.2023

OPINION FLAG

Continued from page 1 Although more than 80 people have been charged for participating in the riot, the Seefrieds have been criticized more harshly by the media for their involvement — and rightly so.

In Wilmington, Delaware, the pair surrendered to authorities. The arrest took place after the younger Seefried boasted his involvement in the rally to co-workers, clearly not showing shame or remorse for his actions.

Federal authorities identified these two men via a photograph that was blasted to the public, seeking assistance to identify the man carrying the Confederate flag.

It seems a common theme that the right wing loves to cry sentiments of oppression and persecution; in actuality, they are the ones proudly flying Confederate flags and maintaining supremacist values. There is absolutely no excuse for the Seefried men or any other individual

that tries to explain away their purpose for having a Confederate flag. It is basic knowledge that the purpose of the Confederacy was a fight in favor of slavery and utterly against its abolishment.

The Confederacy is not a nod to “southern heritage” as some right-wingers may claim.

It is a nod to some of the worst aspects born in the south, the dark history that precedes us and should symbolize nothing but shame and remorse. To claim it is anything else is simply an attempt to hide behind an excuse while maintaining supremacist values.

Unfortunately, a citizen’s right to fly the Confederate flag remains protected by the First Amendment. How many times will the First Amendment protect what is harmful, despicable, racist and supremacist before a change is made? For how long will citizens of this country be able to hide behind their First Amendment rather than take accountability for actions

that should not go unpunished? Thankfully, the Seefried men were required to take some level of responsibility for trespassing the Capitol.

But that does not excuse away the countless individuals that manage to weasel their way out of punishment for discriminative and damaging behavior. That does not change the shameful protection this country offers to those that do not deserve it, and the lack thereof to those that do.

So many of the people partaking in these riots and endorsing this behavior are white and privileged. And yet, so often, these same people still cry oppression, claiming that because they are being silenced for racist, sexist and supremacist remarks, they are somehow being oppressed.

This country should not have put privileged people in a position of security for being racist.

Because of that security, these people feel in a position of “oppression” when they are forced to finally take accountabil-

ity for their behaviors.

The Confederate flag is racist. Historic southern ideals are racist. If you are in support of these things, you are showing a backing for a time in history that was a war over

Opinion Editor By this point, I am sure that you have seen the boom of the Pilates industry on any form of social media. Whether it be your favorite TikTok influencer or your neighborhood workout fanatic, people are buzzing about the benefits of Pilates.

This poses the question: Are people out with traditional strength training and in with Pilates?

I have spent the past year learning how to use and move my body in ways that I never have before. During this process, I became an avid strength trainer, runner and I dabbled in Pilates and yoga for recovery workouts. Through this journey of self-discovery and pushing my body to extreme lengths, I have heard more and more of the people I look up to within the fitness community drop the weights and transition to Pilates. Maybe it is time for a change.

Pilates was originally created by Joseph Pilates and has now blossomed into a group of low-impact workouts. Pilates can be described as a series of movements performed on a mat or chair that aids in growing strength, stability and flexibility. Pilates works in strengthening your

muscles stemming from your core and spine, helping to support mobility and stability within the person completing these workouts. Many of the movements done within a Pilates class can be recognizable to those who have never taken a workout class. In the tonal.com article, “How

lunges, planks, and core work—from yoga, physical therapy, or the warmups and cooldowns in your strength training workouts. That’s because Pilates improves flexibility and range of motion, both of which are beneficial for all types of fitness goals.”

Pilates is used to

more to say on the matter aside from shame on you.

It is incredibly sad that one of the worst parts of rightwing extremist’s beliefs is the unbudging perspective t h a t

slavery. You are showing support for a brutality so Kevin Seefried

horrendous, disgusting and evil that it should do nothing but bring you shame over the sins of your ancestors. For those that defend these ideals, take accountability instead of making excuses and stop pretending that you are doing anything other than supporting slavery and toxic domination. And if you are white, stop pretending that you know what it is like not to be. I say this as a white person myself.

As a woman, I feel a personal outrage towards the women I see that defend this behavior and take part in it. Defend-

Pump the iron or practice Pilates Abigayle Allen

ing “southern culture and history” means that you are happily defending the premise that women are meant to be subordinate and submis-

within each workout is longer in comparison to traditional strength training, where a person will only be in motion for a matter of minutes.

Because of this, Pilates has been proven to improve flexibility – one of the main focuses of this type of workout.

Many tradition-

sive creatures. If you are a woman that defends the flying of the Confederate flag, you are supporting their ideals of the time. In The Atlantic article, “Gender, Race and Rape During the Civil War”, by Julie Beck, some of the standards maintained towards women during the Civil War are brought to light.

“If he was holding a gun to her head and she was scared to death, that was still considered that she had given her consent.”

If these are the type of values that you choose to defend, there is nothing

the number of calories burned throughout the day. Strength training activates multiple muscles and joints through compound movements.

These workouts are proven to be more efficient because they offer smaller, specific movements.

According to the tonal.com article, “How

they

maintain.

They

are unwavering in their feelings and consistent in their denial. Despite the progressive nature this country attempts to bring on in modern day, racism, sexism and white supremacism still reside under a blanket of protection in the U.S.. A blanket that continuously gets denied or talked around by the Republican party. It is the outlet to an excuse that Republican extremists use when they are claiming that they are being silenced for their beliefs.

they can burn more calories and create more lean

muscle

mass.

I am no expert, but I think in the combination of both heavy resistance training, low-rep weightlifting and lower-resistance, high-rep Pilates, a person could achieve a well-rounded muscle development. Pilates can help with mobility and flexibility, which are imperative when practicing traditional weight-training techniques. The core strength

gained

from

practicing Pilates can also help with practicing different compound lifts, such as front squats.

I think the bottom line to this discussion is that any movement is good movement. I think, in our society, it is so easy to fall into comparison of how someone looks based on the workouts they do rather than how that workout may make them feel. At the Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Does Pilates Compare to Strength Training?”

by Karen lorio Adelson, the author shares some of the familiar exercises one might experience in a Pilates class.

“Even if you’ve never taken a Pilates class, you might recognize certain moves—like

improve range of motion and flexibility, which can contribute to any type of workout.

The methodology behind Pilates is to focus on the eccentric, or lowering phase, of movement, in which your muscles are lengthened.

The time under tension

al strength-training workouts focus on the principle of progressive overload, which induces stress and forces your muscles to adapt.

As a person gains more lean muscle through strength training, they can boost their metabolic rate, increasing

Does Pilates Compare to Strength Training?”

by Karen lorio Adelson, strength exercises, “recruit more muscles in less time…[whereas] Pilates exercises may be more isolated to a small, specific movement.”

When a person works large muscle groups,

end of the day, it is imperative that you listen to your body, do what makes you happy and block out the outside noise. If you are stuck in a crossroads about where to start in your fitness journey, maybe try combining two different types and decide what works best for your body.

11

ABIGAYLE ALLEN, OPINION EDITOR HANNAH ADAMS, ASST. OPINION EDITOR

02.21.2023

OPINION

The problems with voting in the U.S. Adam Lamparello, J.D. Asst. Professor of Criminal Justice

this is why the United States is riddled

Democracy only works when you

with incompetent leaders and intracta-

have an educated citizenry. A citizen-

Of

Some people should be denied the

ble leadership. It has to change – now.

ry that can make informed choices

Let’s face it. There are many idiots –

right to vote. Indeed, the notion of “one

***

regarding matters of public policy. A

and bad people – in the United States

person, one vote” is utterly ridiculous

Put simply, morons should not vote.

citizenry that can make discerning

and elsewhere. Allowing them to vote

and deleterious to a properly func-

The weed-smoking high school jock

judgments concerning who should

– or giving their vote equal weight to

tioning democracy. One need look no

(jerk) who is obsessed with the captain

be selected to lead this country. The

more informed citizens, is a prescrip-

further than my experience at a poll-

of the cheerleading team and barely

individuals described above are the

tion for democracy’s deterioration.

ing station several years ago to un-

maintaining a D average should not

antithesis of an informed citizen-

As such, the concept of “one person,

derstand the basis for this sentiment.

vote. The oblivious frat boy who believes

ry, and their vote only serves to pro-

one vote” should be rejected. Instead,

One voter, while standing in line,

that his blood alcohol level is more im-

mote the ignorance that they embody

citizens should be required to show a

loudly stated, “I only come here for the

portant than his IQ, who thinks Co-

and that so much of our politics to-

minimal level of knowledge regarding

free food” (the polling station was serv-

ors Light is a dietary supplement, and

day encompass. Instead of being al-

the structure and function of govern-

ing free donuts, with the poll workers

who accidentally wanders into a voting

lowed to vote, they should be shipped

ment, and of current political and so-

devouring them at an alarming rate).

booth, should not be allowed to vote.

via Federal Express to North Korea.

cial issues, to be allowed to vote. And

Another voter, no more than twenty

Members of the KKK, and racists gen-

***

they should be required to have a cer-

years old, paused before entering the

erally, should not vote. Homophobic

If you don’t like this idea, then con-

tain degree of moral character – one

voting booth and asked his girlfriend,

and sexist jerks should not vote. Chron-

sider the proposal that some votes

that eschews, among other things,

“honey, who am I supposed to vote for?”

ic alcoholics, who have spent only sec-

should matter more than others. Think

racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Then, a woman who looked like

onds of their lives with a blood alcohol

about it: should Justice Elena Ka-

Otherwise, we will continue to

she was 150 years old, was told by

level under .08, and drug addicts who

gan’s vote be equal to the vote of the

elect leaders --

her children, “granny, just push

spend every second of their lives pray-

weed-smoking jock who thinks that

cies – that reflect that ignorance of

the buttons for the Republicans.”

ing for another line of cocaine, should

Judge Judy is a Supreme Court jus-

the voters and the insidiousness of

mortified.

not vote. The physically and emotion-

tice, or that Elvis is still alive? Or the

politicians who capitalize on igno-

This “democracy” in the United

ally abusive narcissist, who makes a

conspiracy theorist who believes that

rance and malevolence to gain power.

States. This is how we elect our leaders.

career out of ruining others’ self-es-

the moon landing was a hoax? Should

That should stop – now. The real threat

This is how we determine who makes

teem, should not be allowed to vote.

Bill Gates’ vote be equal to the vote

to democracy is not fascism. It is morons.

I

was

economic and social policies that impact hundreds of millions of citizens. And

Why? not

even

The have

question

should

of a KKK member or Neo-Nazi? Or

to

asked.

the ignorant citizen who believes that

be

the Milky Way Galaxy is a candy bar? course

Forget time

not.

and promote poli-

democracy. for

an

It’s

epistocracy.