Issue 4 | Volume 101

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.”

See SOTU | Page 2

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS RACIST

No matter how hard Republican extremists try to change the narrative

Hannah Adams Asst. Opinion Editor

The 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

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-

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.

See GRAMMYS | Page 7

white man, proved this point after flying a Confederate 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 Staff Writer

The GC men’s basketball team hosted 3-23 Clayton State for their homecoming game on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Coming off four straight losses, the Bobcats looked to get a big win in front of the larger homecoming crowd.

Despite multiple lead changes throughout the game, the Bobcats would stay strong and eventually come away with a needed victory, 71-68.

With the Bobcats still missing key players in sophomore guards Zyair Greene and Luke Chism, the short-staffed team had some key play-

ers step up in the victory.

Freshman guard Brenden Rigsbee continued his breakout season, leading the Bobcats with 24 points and seven rebounds. Rigsbee is embracing the lead role and, despite his age, he has shown great leadership to the team.

“My teammates and coach just keep putting their trust in me, and that really means a lot to me,” Rigsbee said. “The last thing I want to do is let them down, so I am going to keep working at it.”

Rigsbee had a successful night from the charity stripe, going 11 for 12 at the line.

See HOMECOMING | Page 6

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 Staff Writer

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.

The conditions these prisoners endured were 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 the U.S.

“Being 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.”

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

Editorial Board

Katherine Futch..............

Cale Strickland................

Claire O’Neill...................

Rebecca Meghani..........

Lily Pruitt............................

Hayden Flinn....................

Brennan Schmitz...........

Jennifer Crider.................

William Van de Planque..............................

Abigayle Allen..................

Hannah Adams...............

Anjali Shenoy................

Marissa Marcolina.........

Connor Patronis.............

Robert Trotter...................

William Burke..................

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

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-

Nicaragua has dealt with President Ortega — and his tendency 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 future negotiations 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.

Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega

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

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.

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-

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

“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.”

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.

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.

Anjali Shenoy | Digital media Editor

Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

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.

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

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-

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

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

NBA trade deadline creates chaos

Drew Bogumill Staff Writer

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 late-night hours ahead of the trade deadline, Nets superstar Kevin Durant was traded to the Suns.

The blockbuster trade had Durant and T.J. Warren sent to the

HOMECOMING

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The Bobcats have struggled throughout the season at the freethrow line. However, they earned many trips to the line against the Lakers, shooting 26 and making 20.

The Bobcats shot the ball extremely 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 seven for eight from the free throw line. He also pulled in six rebounds.

“I started off the game slow,” Davis said. “But

Suns for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder. The Nets also acquired four unprotected future firstround picks (2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029) as well as a 2028 pick swap.

This trade marks the end of the superstar experiment in Brooklyn, with Kyrie Irivng and James Harden having also been traded. According to ESPN, this trade was finalized after Durant put in his second trade request in only eight months.

Durant will now be paired up with superstars Devin Booker, Chris Paul

then in the second half, I was able to get to the free throw line a lot, and that really helped out my confidence, which led to me making a couple of shots.”

Davis has really stepped up this year when the Bobcats needed it and embraced a larger-than-expected 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 have gone either way.

“I’m just really proud of the guys because I could tell how bad they wanted this win,” said

and Deandre Ayton in Phoenix. This superteam is almost sure to wreak havoc across the league.

The next big trade was that of fellow Nets superstar Kyrie Irving.

The Brooklyn Nets traded Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in another massive deal.

Irving, an All-Star starter, requested a trade on Feb. 3 after talks on a possible contract extension with the Nets broke down. He will now join his fourth team in seven seasons.

The Dallas Mavericks received Irving and Markieff Morris, while

head coach Ryan Aquino. “They really fought for it when they could have just let off the gas, but they kept going.”

As the large crowd cheered on throughout

the Nets acquired Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

The Mavericks lost point guard Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks in free agency over the summer, leaving Luka Dončić to have to carry the entire workload by himself. Now, Dončić will pair up with Irving for what could be the best backcourt in the entire NBA.

Kyrie is the first player in NBA history to average 25 points, five assists, and five re-

the game, the Bobcats tried their best to put on a show and give the fans a reason to come back.

Some of the highlight plays were an Austin Sloan dunk and a

bounds while still getting traded mid-season.

Jakob Flores, a senior and management major at GC, is a big New York Knicks fan and had a lot to say about the trade deadline.

“The trade that surprised me the most was the Kyrie trade because it does not seem like the right fit for him,” Flores said. “Honestly, I am upset with the moves we [the Knicks] made or did not make. Josh Hart is one of the additions we made, but I don’t see him having a huge impact.”

Michael Larruso, a sophomore business

Brenden Risgbee chasedown block that got the crowd on their feet.

With only two games left in the regular season, the Bobcats are looking to finish off

major at GC, is a Hawks fan and was pleased with the decisions from the front office.

“I was happy about the moves we made,” Larruso said. “We added Dejounte Murray [prior to the season] and Saddiq Bey while getting rid of both Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky.”

The NBA trade deadline this year brought a lot of excitement and shocking trades, and we can only wait and see how they turn out for each team.

the season strong and end on a high note.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the Centennial Center to take on Flagler College for senior night.

Phoenix Suns acquiring Kevin Durant in blockbuster deal

Marissa Marcolina

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

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 statement that caused a social media uproar.

“This doesn’t happen 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 England and just built himself up from the top.”

Regardless of Styles’s meaning behind his speech, the odd choice

Since its establishment in 1959, the Album of the Year category has only been received by Black women three times in the history of

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.”

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.

of words began a conversation involving the intentions of the Recording Academy and their questionable choices of the past.

the ceremony, with the last being Lauryn Hill’s 1998 album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

The category’s racial controversy is

The queens of pop ignored by the Grammys

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

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’

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-

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

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.

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

“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.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Courtesy of Grimes media kit

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

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 by the end of the year.

According to “The New York Times,” the new prices will be like that of sporting events, Broadway shows and concerts, with the middle seats being the most expensive tickets and the front row being the cheapest.

“Value Sightline” tickets will be $2 less and

“Preferred Sightline” tickets will be $1 more.

Sightline excludes movie times before 4 p.m., discounted tickets on Tuesdays and members of AMC’s loyalty program, A-List. Also, discounted tickets for children and seniors still apply.

This change will only take place in theaters that use reserved ticketing, so Milledgeville’s very own AMC theater will not be affected. Broke college kids do not have to worry about pouring out extra pennies when their favorite movies hit the big screen.

With the rise of the streaming age and the decline in moviegoers, movie theaters have been trying to find ways to entice people back into the theaters over the past two decades.

As reported by “Variety,” box office revenues have declined 61 percent since pre-COVID, 2019. However, only 5 percent of US theaters have been forced to shut down since the start of the pandemic.

Some filmmakers have spoken out against AMC hindering the way their art is portrayed.

Actress, director and producer Elizabeth Banks, best known for her work in “The Hunger Games,” told “Insider,” “For me, it’s about access. I just want to make sure that we are creating as much access to our entertainment as possible.”

Acclaimed American actor Elijah Wood, best known for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, took to Twitter to address his negative feelings on the change.

“The movie theater is and always has been a sacred democratic space for all, and this new initiative by @ AMCTheatres would essentially penalize people for lower income and reward for higher income,” Wood said.

When asking GC students their thoughts on the ticket price changes, many had differing opinions.

“People are definitely going to other theaters,” said Erin Finnegan, a first-year mass communications major. “I’ve already switched from AMC because of their prices.”

tions major, compared the pricing to that of the controversial ticket monopoly, Ticketmaster.

“This is like the Official Platinum of Ticketmaster,” Jalbert said. “These are like the ‘bet-

it,” said Mccomis. “Who really wants to crane their head? If you get in there late, you’re paying $15 to have a headache.”

In a statement made by Eliot Hamlisch,

Finnegan went on to say, “I feel like the price difference should really depend on the way you’re watching it. Like, 3D should be more. If I’m just going to watch a standard movie on a standard screen, it doesn’t matter where I’m sitting.”

Isabella Jalbert, freshman mass communica-

ter seats,’ and they’re not even better seats. They’re the same as everything else, just so much more expensive.”

While many were unhappy with AMC, others had optimistic outlooks, including Bella Mccomis, a freshman English major.

“Personally, I’m a fan of

Marvel release radar: too much to handle?

Davis Shaw

Staff Writer

Entertainment giant 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 is copied by many other franchises of the day, many fans have experienced oversaturation.

This sentiment started surfacing around the first few post-“Avengers: Endgame” releases.

Many fans say the reaction is a response to the quantity-over-quality practice that the studio established.

The popular Marvel director Joe Russo, who made films like “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Infinity War “and “Avengers: Endgame,” even weighed in on the situation.

“The corporate agenda is: Do you like chocolate ice cream? Well, here’s chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, here’s chocolate ice cream with fudge,” Russo said. “It’s their job to turn the money printer on.”

Bailey Parker, a sophomore English major, weighed in on the handling of the current MCU.

“I’ve been keeping up with the MCU, probably since “Captain America: The First Avenger” was released,” Parker said. “I’ve watched ‘WandaVision,’ ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and ‘Hawkeye.’ Out of those, I do think that they’re worth watching. As far as the others go, I’m not really interested.”

An interesting point brought up by Parker was the fact that the only Marvel shows that she had not watched were the ones that were more recently released.

“The direction that Marvel is going hasn’t really interested me,” Parker said.

from the beginning.

“I think at least ‘Loki’ is worth a watch, since a lot of that show sets up

AMC’s vice president and chief marketing officer, he praises the new ticketing system, saying, “Sightline at AMC accommodates both sentiments to help ensure that our guests have more control over their experience, so that every trip to an AMC is a great one.”

“I just feel like they’re starting on a decline.

She even mentioned how the oversaturation of the franchise might affect the audience attendance of future projects.

“I think the quality of the past few movies has been bad,” Parker said. “Show-wise, the ones that I’ve seen were good. The recent ones, I heard, weren’t the best. I think the quality will deter audiences.

Sloan Freeman, a sophomore environmental science major, has also been keeping up with the MCU

the future MCU,” Freeman said. “I’m sure in shows like ‘She-Hulk,’ there are some references and lore, but at the same time, I’ll just figure it out on TikTok or YouTube.”

He brings up an inter-

esting point, as long-time viewers of the MCU can, in fact, start skipping certain projects through recaps on social media sites, like YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

Freeman also thinks that the new oversaturation of Marvel with the introduction of the TV shows will hurt the franchise.

“I think, potentially, it could,” Freeman said. “If they take it in the right direction, then everything is smooth sailing and fine. It just depends on if they want to keep fo-

cusing on the TV shows.”

The oversaturation of Marvel and, more specifically, the MCU, could have a big negative 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 MCU going forward, season two and “Secret Invasion,” a show about famed alien villains the Skrulls taking over Earth, will be the only two shows released in 2023.

The newest “Spiderman”

Anjoli Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

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

-Sloan Freeman

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

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-

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.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Cale’s cinema critique: remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman

Cale Strickland

Managing Editor

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 favorite — if not my favorite — actors of all-time.

After reading a handful of articles on the museum’s plans to honor him, I found myself, once again, going down a YouTube rabbit hole, spending close to an hour watching bits and pieces of his old interviews and rewatching clips from my favorite performances of his.

Within minutes, I was in tears — and I felt weird about it. At the time of Hoffman’s passing, I was a 12-year-old with no idea who he was.

When Kobe Bryant, one of my childhood heroes, passed away in 2020, I felt as if my devastation was justified. Basketball was, for years, a cornerstone of my life. I can still remember sitting in front of my family’s small tube TV, watching Bryant win his fifth and final title with my father. The image of Bryant standing on the scorer’s table, looking out at the L.A. faithful, arms outstretched as confetti falls to the floor, is seared into my soul.

Yet, Hoffman’s impact on my love of film is not any different

from Bryant’s impact on my love of basketball.

Paul Thomas Anderson is my favorite director of all-time, and he cast Hoffman in five of his first six films, including “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “The Master” — three films that are foundational for me.

It is hard to put into words exactly why I connect with Hoffman’s work as much as I do, but one thing is for sure: His range was undeniable.

Just within his handful of collaborations with Anderson, Hoffman mastered a myriad of peculiar personalities. As an oddball outcast, he steals the show from his big-name “Boogie Nights” co-stars, Mark Wahlberg and Julianne Moore. In “Magnolia,”

he stands out amongst an all-star ensemble — which includes prime Tom Cruise — as an angst-ridden nurse. He finds himself screaming at Adam Sandler — a tall task in and of itself — in “Punch Drunk Love.”

Oh, and in “The Master,” he joins Joaquin Phoenix — one of the best actors, if not the best actor, of his generation — in an eerie exploration of manipulation and power.

Yet, despite his alltime acting pedigree and plethora of roles in high-brow productions, Hoffman was far from pretentious. He gives just as powerful of a performance in J.J. Abrams’s “Mission Impossible III” as he does in the Coen brothers’ comedic classic “The Big Lebows-

ki.” Whether he was on the set of a big-budget blockbuster or an austere Oscar contender, Hoffman’s esteem for each project was ever-present.

I am often reminded of Hoffman’s acceptance speech for his one Oscar, which he won for his leading role in Bennett Miller’s “Capote.” In a matter of mere seconds, he thanked a handful of

his loved ones, including his mother, for their support, and he rushed off the stage, as if he was scared of the spotlight beaming down on him. He did not attempt to deliver a grand, sweeping provocation on the art of acting — because he did not need to. He left it all on the screen. Rest in peace, Mr. Hoffman.

Courtesey of Philip Seymour Hoffman media kit

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-

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 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

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

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

It is incredibly sad that one of the worst

ist’s beliefs is the unbudging perspective that 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.

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-

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 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.

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, “re-

cruit more muscles in less time…[whereas]

Pilates exercises may be more isolated to a small, specific movement.”

When a person works large muscle groups,

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 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.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Kevin Seefried

FLAG

The problems with voting in the U.S.

Adam

J.D. Asst. Professor of Criminal Justice

Some people should be denied the right to vote. Indeed, the notion of “one person, one vote” is utterly ridiculous and deleterious to a properly functioning democracy. One need look no further than my experience at a polling station several years ago to understand the basis for this sentiment.

One voter, while standing in line, loudly stated, “I only come here for the free food” (the polling station was serving free donuts, with the poll workers devouring them at an alarming rate).

Another voter, no more than twenty years old, paused before entering the voting booth and asked his girlfriend, “honey, who am I supposed to vote for?”

Then, a woman who looked like she was 150 years old, was told by her children, “granny, just push the buttons for the Republicans.”

I was mortified. This “democracy” in the United States. This is how we elect our leaders. This is how we determine who makes economic and social policies that impact hundreds of millions of citizens. And

this is why the United States is riddled with incompetent leaders and intractable leadership. It has to change – now.

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Put simply, morons should not vote.

The weed-smoking high school jock (jerk) who is obsessed with the captain of the cheerleading team and barely maintaining a D average should not vote. The oblivious frat boy who believes that his blood alcohol level is more important than his IQ, who thinks Coors Light is a dietary supplement, and who accidentally wanders into a voting booth, should not be allowed to vote.

Members of the KKK, and racists generally, should not vote. Homophobic and sexist jerks should not vote. Chronic alcoholics, who have spent only seconds of their lives with a blood alcohol level under .08, and drug addicts who spend every second of their lives praying for another line of cocaine, should not vote. The physically and emotionally abusive narcissist, who makes a career out of ruining others’ self-esteem, should not be allowed to vote.

Why? The question should not even have to be asked.

Democracy only works when you have an educated citizenry. A citizenry that can make informed choices regarding matters of public policy. A citizenry that can make discerning judgments concerning who should be selected to lead this country. The individuals described above are the antithesis of an informed citizenry, and their vote only serves to promote the ignorance that they embody and that so much of our politics today encompass. Instead of being allowed to vote, they should be shipped via Federal Express to North Korea.

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If you don’t like this idea, then consider the proposal that some votes should matter more than others. Think about it: should Justice Elena Kagan’s vote be equal to the vote of the weed-smoking jock who thinks that Judge Judy is a Supreme Court justice, or that Elvis is still alive? Or the conspiracy theorist who believes that the moon landing was a hoax? Should Bill Gates’ vote be equal to the vote of a KKK member or Neo-Nazi? Or the ignorant citizen who believes that

the Milky Way Galaxy is a candy bar?

Of course not.

Let’s face it. There are many idiots –and bad people – in the United States and elsewhere. Allowing them to vote – or giving their vote equal weight to more informed citizens, is a prescription for democracy’s deterioration.

As such, the concept of “one person, one vote” should be rejected. Instead, citizens should be required to show a minimal level of knowledge regarding the structure and function of government, and of current political and social issues, to be allowed to vote. And they should be required to have a certain degree of moral character – one that eschews, among other things, racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Otherwise, we will continue to elect leaders -- and promote policies – that reflect that ignorance of the voters and the insidiousness of politicians who capitalize on ignorance and malevolence to gain power.

That should stop – now. The real threat to democracy is not fascism. It is morons.

Forget democracy. It’s time for an epistocracy.

Lamparello,