@TheColonnade
@TheColonnade
The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia College & State University bobcatmultimedia.com
March 11, 2025
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Women’s history month Allie Smith Staff Writer March is Women’s History Month, a month-long holiday to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It is a reminder of the role women have played in shaping our society, both in the past and right now for their equality and justice. The celebration of women’s history began as a week-long event in Sonoma, Calif. in 1978. The week-long commemoration took place during March 8, which is now known as International Women’s Day. The success of the Sonoma event led to a larger movement of recognition. By 1987, Con-
gress declared the month of March as Women’s History Month, after a petition by the National Women’s History Project. International Women’s Day plays a significant role in today’s society and means a lot to women around the world. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “For ALL Women and Girls: Right. Equality. Empowerment,” which projects the ongoing fight for gender equality and empowerment of women in the world. “I feel like this year’s theme is important because it emphasizes the need for inclusiveness and progress in securing rights, showcasing true equality and empowering all women and girls worldwide,” said
Autumn Taylor, a sophomore education major. At GCSU, Women’s history month is very important to the students and faculty. The university has been immensely proud of recognizing women’s history, especially given its history as an all-women’s college until 1967. One event taking place this week is on March 12 in Russell Library. Department of Communication Instructor and Director of Public Affairs, Amanda Repess, is hosting a Times Talk on “Modern Misogyny and the Trajectory of Women’s Rights.” Other events taking place this month will be announced on GCSU’s Front Page. See WOMEN’S | Page 7
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Spring break escape
The wicked side of winter
Do you prefer a staycation or a vactation?
A surge in this season’s flu cases
Molly Goff
Amelia McEwen
Opinion Editor
Staff Writer
OPINION
In
recent
memory,
With spring break just around the corner, students at GCSU are weighing their options for rest and relaxation. This year, I get to go out of the country for spring break! Although in years past, I have been on many staycations during my break. I define the term staycation as a vacation away from the world where you stay at home and practice self-care. It is so important to prioritize self care, as midterms, registration and so many other academic stressors are at the forefront of our lives right now. As I always do, I chat with my friends about what they are up to for spring break. I hear multiple vacations, activities and plans mentioned, but my favorites have to be the unique ideas to stay booked and busy. “For spring break, I’m going to Saint Simons Island for a week with a group of friends,” said Audrey Sercer, a freshman marketing major.
Julia Jensen | Art Director
Vacations are often characterized by travel to exciting new destinations, provide a change of scenery that can rejuvenate the mind and body. While traveling is exhilarating over break to dissociate from the college world, sometimes a staycation is in order. “A staycation usually stops short of a road trip and doesn’t require any flights,” said Brittany Anas from Forbes. It’s a chance to check out new restaurants
that
have
opened in your city, see a theater performance while it’s on tour, or book
a hotel that’s getting a lot of buzz. For those who want to get out of town, it could be a day trip or an overnight stay in a nearby mountain, lake, or beach town.” Staycations also eliminate travel-related stress, allowing students to allocate more time to leisure activities without the pressures of logistics. You can still create a trip of a lifetime while staying local, where trying new things does not stop past going out of the state or country. See SPRING | Page 9
This year’s flu season in Georgia has shown an exponential rise in cases than recent years due to the severe circulating strains and low flu vaccinations, resulting in more Georgians facing hospitalization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has officially ranked Georgia’s flu season this year as a high severity season, with the last one being in 2017-2018. Since October 6 2024 there have been 70 deaths in the state and 4,164 influenza hospitalizations in the Atlanta metro area. The high number of cases in the state emphasises the severity of this year’s flu season and how important it is for individuals to understand how to prevent the spread of the virus. The most common variants of the influenza virus are types A and B. These two types are transmissible through
humans. Georgia has had majority Type A cases during this flu season. Type A has two different types: H1N1 and H3N2. They have dominated this flu season due to how quickly and effectively they spread. H3N2 spreads more frequently, resulting in more cases. Data presented by the CDC describes the effectiveness of the influenza vaccines this year. “Despite increased circulation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses, which are generally associated with lower Vaccine Effectiveness (VE), estimates from this influenza season were consistent with those from the 2023–24 season and seasons associated with higher VE over the last 15 years,” the CDC said. Even though there have been more severe strands of the type A virus this season, the flu vaccines have been able to keep up in effectiveness, highlighting the importance of receiving the vaccine to prevent the spread of the illness. See FLU | Page 3
Atlanta Hawks season overview Benjamin Clark Asst. Sports Editor The Atlanta Hawks’ 2024-25 NBA season has been a mix of challenges and notable achievements. As of recently, the team holds a 28-34 record, placing them third in the Southeast Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference. One of the main reasons behind the Hawks’ successes has been due to star players on the team, for example, Trae Young, Jaylen Johnson and De’Andre Daniels. Point guard Trae Young has shown exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities. In the season opener on Oct. 23, 2024, he recorded 30 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a win against the Brooklyn Nets. Young immediately followed with 38 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals in the next game ver-
sus the Charlotte Hornets, becoming one of the only players to have back-to-back games of at least 30 points and 10 assists to start a season. GCSU Hawks fans have differing opinions about Young, with some noting both his flaws and his triumphs. “Trae Young is a huge ball hog,” said Cade Steel, a junior history and philosophy major. “He’s a net positive for the team, one of the best passers, and best offensive players. His defense is so bad. He’s a great distributor, but until he figures out how to guard a traffic cone, he will probably never have the value that we pay him for. I just think he’s pretty overrated.” Young continues to be the team’s offensive centerpiece. His playmaking skills and scoring ability remain elite, and his leadership is crucial to the team’s success. See HAWKS | Page 5
NEWS | PG. 4
SPORTS | PG. 6
ARTS & LIFE | PG. 7
OPINION & MISC. | PG. 9
USERY FORUM HOSTS JUDGE STEVE C. JONES
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IN THE PBC
BOBCAT MEDIA PRODUCTIONS FILM FEST
WHO’S REALLY THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL?
The GCSU Office of Leadership Programs and forums seek to inspire leadership for the pubic good.
The Bobcats traveled across the Southeast taking wins and losses on the road to victory.
High school and college filmmakers from across the state gathered together to celebrate and view short films .
As Disney continues to reimagine its classic fairytales, many see it as an opportunity for greater representation.