Issue 7 | Volume 105

GCSU farmer and artisian market

Crochet, jewelry and books galore

Sarah Barnhart Staff Writer

Each year at GCSU, the Farmers and Artisans Market is held on Front Campus. The vendors make a circle with their tables, and students make their rounds to see what items are in store.

This year, there were over 40 tables, which included jewelry, clothes, 3D-printed animals and 3D-printed “Dungeons and Dragons” memorabilia. There were also a variety of tables with handmade earrings made of either clay or beads.

Some tables had art,

from little prints or entire canvases. Some art tables took commissions, where they would paint whatever was asked of them.

Front campus was filled with vendors selling stickers, books, bookmarks, flowers and flower arrangements, baked goods, pins and woodworkings. The most popular items sold were crocheted; every other table was swimming in yarn, with items like hats, tops or little animals. The animals seen most were cats, bees, octopi, jellyfish and more.

Although it was a GCSU event, locals of Milledgeville came to see

what the vendors had.

Many families with their children stopped by.

Ellen Patton, a senior art major, has been selling her earrings since her senior year of high school.

“My favorite part about the market is getting to create connections with students and see them return year after year,” Patton said. “It has been an incredible way to watch the student body grow and change throughout the past four years. Hearing that people make connections with each other over my earrings as they walk around on campus has to be one of the great-

est things I hear every market. I love that my art is able to create a mini community.”

Attendees were welcomed with live music performed by several performers throughout the market as well as free items from the GCSU office of sustainability.

“I love it when students have small businesses and they are selling to other students,” said Chloe Butts, a junior theatre major. “I think it is a good way for students to express themselves through their artwork and a good way to support fellow students.”

See MARKET | Page 8

Senate Bill 260 pushes for redevelopment of Milledgeville’s historic hospital site

Amelia McEwen Staff Writer

A new legislative proposal, Senate Bill 260, has been created by Georgia state legislatures to redevelop the property of the Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Ga..

The bill was passed through the Georgia Senate in early March and is currently under consideration in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The general goal of the bill would be to revitalize the property of the former hospital. There has been recent debate on the acceleration of this proposal because the hospital has been a sig-

nificant part of Milledgeville’s history. On the other hand, economic development is on the rise in the quaint town.

Balancing the respect for the city’s history and the strong need for revenue within the city has been a hot topic for debate. The hospital shut down in the 1980s, and since then, the debate on what to do with the once lively facility has been prevalent.

Central State Hospital, which opened in 1842, is a significant symbol representing the history of Milledgeville. It started as Georgia’s first mental institution, which grew to be the United

State’s largest mental hospital. Over 12,000 patients were housed within the 200 buildings on the property.

Baldwin County and Milledgeville once received notable economic benefits from the institution by providing employment and by supporting local businesses through visitors and the workforce that it had. Additionally, Central State Hospital was equipped with its own police force, fire department and utilities.

Many locals and college students are proud to live in a city with so much historical influence.

“Honestly, I feel like

tearing down the old buildings would be a mistake,” said Annie Rogers, a sophomore graphic design major. “They are more than just abandoned spaces—they’re part of Milledgeville’s story. Getting rid of them would feel like erasing a piece of who we are.”

Rogers feels a strong connection with the hospital as it is very well known around the community and even the entire country. She feels as though it is a direct representation of the identity of Milledgeville that must be preserved for cultural reasons.

See BILL | Page 4

March madness

Brennan Schmitz Sports Editor

With the conclusion of the Elite Eight in the men’s college basketball postseason tournament and the Sweet 16 in the women’s tournament, 2025 March Madness is off to a not-so-mad start.

In the men’s tournament, the Final Four is set to be a matchup of all four No. 1 seeds, Auburn University will face the University of Florida on the South/ West side of the tournament, and Duke University will face the University of Houston on the East/Midwest side.

Leading up to this point, there have been far fewer upsets and unexpected outcomes in the tournament compared to previous years, where fans can typically expect a handful of double-digit seeds to prevail over some college basketball blue bloods.

This year, the lower

seeds mostly handled business in the first round of the tournament, with the biggest upsets being 12-seed Mcneese State University over five-seed Clemson University, 11-seed Drake University over six-seed University of Missouri and 12-seed Colorado State University over five-seed University of Memphis. Since the first round, upsets have been few and far between, but 10-seed University of Arkansas did beat twoseed St. John’s University, who many predicted to go deep in the tournament, in the round of 32. The back-to-back defending champion University of Connecticut had an early round of 32 exit as well. Despite seeing lots of success over the last two years, the Huskies did not look like the same caliber of team as they have been, and they lost to Florida in a very tight game.

See MADNESS | Page 5

Midterms & finals

Midterms and finals are coming up at GCSU! While we anticipate finally getting to the sweet summertime, there is a lot of work to be done with midterm exams and the notorious final exam week.

I always say to my friends, “Oh, how I wish I had a guide to get me through midterms and finals.”

Then, I realized I could share a few of my favorite things I do to stay prepared and confident for this exam season.

The first step in preparing for midterms and finals is organization. It might seem simple, but a clutter-free space can significantly impact mental clarity and focus.

As I’ve discovered, the process starts with

Limiting stress and prioritizing time management Molly Goff Opinion Editor OPINION In recent memory, See FINALS | Page 10

cleaning the areas where one studies. My roommates and I engage in group cleaning sessions; we tackle our living room, ensuring it transforms into an “academic weapon” ready for strategic study marathons. A clean, organized environment reduces distractions, making it easier to concentrate on the material at hand.

“I always keep my spaces clean especially during finals so I have a clear mind as well. A clean room makes for a clean headspace,” said Lily Kenyon, a sophomore marketing major. Additionally, creating a designated study space enables a more effective learning experience. Whether it’s your own bedroom, a quiet corner at the library, or a local coffee shop, having a consistent study area signals to your brain that it’s time to focus.

In addition to Wallows, pop’s newest phenomenon will take the Centennial Center stage on April 25.

Matthew Malkowski | Digital Media Editor

Julia Jensen | Art Director

GCSU Career fair

Shadimon Smith News Editor

GCSU hosted its Career and Graduate School Fair on Wednesday, March 26, in the Centennial Center from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

GCSU students dressed in their business-professional wear and brought with them 10 copies of their resumes in hopes of making a lasting first impression on recruiters and graduate schools.

At the entrance to the event, students checked in to the event using a QR code and then could have free headshots taken by the GCSU career center. They were then given a sheet with the names of all the companies and schools in attendance and where they were located on the Centennial gym floor.

“We put on the career and graduate fair every semester,” said Brooke Groves, a career peer advisor for the GCSU Career Center.

“We do it for students to be able to find internships, full-time job posi-

tions, even just for networking opportunities.”

Students are encouraged to attend the fair after researching the companies and schools in attendance to be better prepared for conversations with recruiters and admission staff.

“I would definitely tell them to make sure you come with plenty of resumes already made,” Groves said.

“Visit the Career Center to get your resume reviewed and just make sure that you are being approachable to employers and talking to as many people as you can.”

Recruiters such as

We do it for students to be able to find internships, full-time job positions, even just for networking opportunities.

Auto-Owners Insurance Company, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Bankers Life, C.H. Robinson, Central Garden and Pet, Clayton County Public Schools, Georgia State

VOLUME 105 | NO. 3

Editorial Board

Delaney Derry.................

Paige Blakemore............

Julia Jensen......................

Shadimon Smith............

Rylee Holland.................

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

Benjamin Clark...............

Mary Ciucevich...............

Kennedy Welker..............

Molly Goff.........................

Isabella McComis..........

Matthew Malkowski.....

Rebecca Ocampo..........

Kassie Arps.......................

Scott Dillard.....................

Patrol, Gwinnett Police Department, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Jackson and Coker were present at the fair.

The Georgia Department of Human Services also had a table with a recruiter who answered any and all questions students had.

“We are the second largest state agency with a little less than 10,000 employees,” said Tiamakia Bray, a recruiter for DHS. “We have three divisions and about eight administrative offices. In our division of agent services, what we do is target our senior population. So if there are reports of abuse and neglect, our case managers will go out and do an investigation.”

Each table provided informational flyers, pamphlets and business cards for students to grab and use for reference on each company or school’s mission and focus.

The companies in attendance also gave away plenty of company-branded swag to student attendees. There

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Sports Editor

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Arts & Life Editor

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Digital Media Editor

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Faculty Adviser

were lip balms, notepads, sticky-notes, stickers, backpacks, cups, pens and sunglasses.

Some students, especially sophomores and juniors, showed up in between classes just to see what was offered for future job searches.

Schools from all across Georgia were in attendance such as Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Life University, LaGrange College, Mercer University- School of Law and School of Medicine and Piedmont University.

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Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Central State Hospital Recruiters were in attendance looking for social workers, psychologists, physician assistants and nurses to meet the needs of their patients. They were looking for candidates to fill these positions as soon as possible.

Students who attended the career fair spent their time speaking with recruiters and learning about each company’s open positions and where to apply, as well as making business connections through LinkedIn.

The Career and Graduate Fair helped students build their networking skills and find potential employers in fields they may not have explored.

“We are a hospital, more of a forensic hospital, and our individuals here are court-ordered to be in our facility,” said Charlotte Pearson, a Central State Hospital recruiter. “Again, these are individuals with mental issues, so there has to be more so that it’s not, you’re not afraid to be around this type of person.”

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Contributing writers are always welcome at The Colonnade. Contact thegcsucolonnade@gmail. com for more information.

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-Brooke Groves

Cracking the cost of eggs

Brianna Heard Staff Writer

Egg prices have soared in recent months, driven by the outbreaks of bird flu. According to CBS, as the virus spreads, millions of chickens are being killed to prevent further contamination. This has led to a sharp decline in egg supply causing prices to skyrocket and leaving consumers looking for answers.

For years, presidents have mentioned reducing the cost of eggs, but the issue remains unsolved. Some blame former President Joe Biden for the egg prices as they began to notice the issue while he was in office.

“Under Biden, the Agriculture Department ‘directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens, which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country, therefore a lack of egg

supply, which is leading to the shortage,’” said Corky Siemaszko, an NBC News reporter.

When President Donald Trump took office this past January, the issue fell into his lap. He initiated a biosafety strategy to fight the bird flu because he believes this is causing the rise in egg prices. This includes vaccines and medication that will be given to chickens when the virus is detected. Since going into effect in February, egg prices have dropped nearly $2 according to Gabrielle Etzel with Washington Examiner.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices reached an average of $5.90 per dozen by the end of February 2025. This marked a significant increase from the $3.20 per dozen reported in September 2024. Before this, prices remained

below $3 per dozen until the surge in October 2022, illustrating the impact of the bird flu outbreaks on the egg market.

Josh Jones, a sophomore mass communication major, believes the

nity is less than 1% of the national population,” Jones said. “I feel that if the administration were to focus on other tasking issues, like egg prices, our economy would be much better off.”

Consumers across the country are feeling the

Trump Administration could help solve the issue by focusing on economic and health issues rather than social issues.

“The Trump Administration has been targeting trans rights and athletes when the trans commu-

pinch of rising egg prices. Many have reduced their purchases or sought out cheaper alternatives, but for some, it’s become a matter of necessity.

“I used to buy an 18-count, and that would last me about two to

three weeks,” said Hillary Henderson, a sophomore graphic design major. “Now that the 18-count is $8.99, I have gone to the 12-count because I really can’t afford spending $9 on eggs when I have other important groceries to get.”

However, some have not felt the financial strain. Many consumers do not buy eggs frequently and are not affected by the high prices.

“The egg issue has not affected me personally,” Jones said. “I do not incorporate eggs into my diet much.”

A skincare brand, The Ordinary, began selling eggs at their store in New York City on March 22, 2025 as a marketing stunt.

On their social media accounts, they addressed how there are egg shortages all over the city, so they decided to sell them for $3.37 per dozen.

On a national level, wholesale egg prices

continue to decline, but the reduced costs are not hitting stores just yet. Retailers typically set prices based on their acquisition costs, meaning that they must sell through their existing inventory of higher-priced eggs before they can offer lower prices to consumers. Some stores have shared concerns about keeping inventory once prices drop. There may be a surge in demand, and stores might struggle to keep eggs on the shelf. Some places, such as Trader Joe’s and Costco, have limited egg purchases to a certain amount per customer.

However, the March 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates document shows that egg production is recovering and the supply is stabilizing. Cost remains unpredictable as production costs are high as the bird flu continues to spread.

United States Department of Agriculture cuts $1 billion in funding

Allie Smith Staff Writer

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced that they are cutting more than $1 billion in funding for programs that support local food purchases by schools and food banks. This decision was a part of a bigger factor by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which belongs to the Trump administration and Elon Musk to reduce federal spending.

“DOGE says they are slashing federal spending to reduce government waste,” according to CBS News. “The USDA programs were funded through the agency’s Commodity Credit Corporation, a Depression-era fund created to buy products directly from farmers.”

This funding being cut will have significant impacts on school meal programs, especially free lunches, including schools in Milledgeville.

The funding was used to connect local farmers with schools and food

banks, helping them buy fresh local food for students. With this cut, schools might not be able to provide this now and struggle to keep the same quality of food.

in August 2022. This grant allows the district to grow produce using hydroponics and aquaponics which is growing food without soil and all together a way

the way Baldwin county gets their food to their students. It will definitely restrict healthier food options and the quality of food because they will no longer have easy

this will have on public health and education.

The free or discounted lunch programs, which serve thousands of students in and out of Baldwin County, are ex-

They say that the cut will reduce what they see as a wasteful program, though some people argue that this decision can harm vulnerable populations such as children in school and low-income families.

Baldwin County gained the support of the USDA in the form of a $50 thousand Farm to School Turnkey Grant

of sustainable farming.

“When Susan Nelson started her post as Baldwin County Food Services Director nine years ago, the district had about a dozen gardens in total,” WGXA reported.

Now, there are about 100 gardens planted districtwide due to Nelson’s efforts.

With this new funding cut it will change

access to get their food straight from local farms.

This decision has created a debate nationally, with some people arguing that the cuts will diminish the promotion of healthy eating habits among students. The USDA’s funding cuts for food assistance programs will cause problems with local farmers and create a rise in the impacts

pected to be hit hard by these cuts. They will have fewer resources available from local suppliers, and concerns about food quality are high and prices might increase for both school systems and students. This could leave some students without access to meals during their school day.

“The USDA cutting funds for school lunch-

es will have negative effects on both children and parents,” said Finley Burns, a sophomore finance major. “The cuts will impact the quality of the food that schools are able to feed their students. Obesity is already a huge issue in the U.S., and the fund cuts will contribute negatively towards that issue.” The cuts come after Congress has had long debates about how to balance the federal budget. Their cutting this funding shows that they may think it is unnecessary or inefficient. This is hard-hitting news for people across the nation, especially schools in Baldwin County, due to the recent grant that helps them collaborate with local farms to bring fresh and healthy food options for the students of Baldwin.

Many students rely on free lunch programs and food assistance programs to get their needed meals throughout the school day. This funding cut will potentially make healthier school lunches not easily accessible.

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Ambryo Design, an engineering firm in Perry, Ga., has expressed interest in the past to buy some of the buildings to combine preservation with conservation.

Renovating the three buildings of interest is an effort to save at least a part of the hospital from being removed. The firm has proposed plans for a walking mall and community spaces, according to 13WMAZ.

The redevelopment of the Jones, Walker and Green buildings at Central State Hospital is

still in the planning and proposal stages. However, the final decision on these plans depends on the establishment of the Central State Redevelopment Authority, or CSRA, through Senate Bill 260. If the CSRA is created, it will have the authority to approve the proposal generated by Ambryo Design.

Economic development is still one of the main focuses of Senate Bill 260, and it is hard to say how impactful the Ambryo Design proposal can be in comparison to other potential institutions that can be constructed there.

This reiterates the fact that Central State Hospital no longer serves as a large economic output for the Milledgeville community. While it still holds historical significance, the property usage could be administered to various other beneficial additions such as a new school campus or a park.

At its peak, Central State functioned as a self-sufficient community that largely aided the community. Since most of its buildings are abandoned, there is a significant decline in its economic impact.

With this, redevelopment efforts are deemed

necessary in the eyes of many Georgia legislators, college students and locals. The CSRA proposal would work toward this change with its highly thought-out committee.

Four board members will be appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the state property officer, with each member serving a four-year term. They would have the final say on what happens, how it happens and when it happens.

Subcommittees would be created through the CSRA to accept loans from federal agencies in

American Red Cross blood drive

Mary Ciucevich

Arts and Life Editor

In collaboration with the American Red Cross, GCSU hosts many blood drives throughout each school year. In 2025, they hosted a blood drive on March 1 and March 2, and another one will be taking place on Tuesday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Maxwell Student Union, or the MAX.

The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton on May 21, 1881, with the goal of serving people in need. The organization received congressional charter in 1900 and was tasked with providing disaster relief in the United States and around the world, as well as providing services to the members of the American armed forces and their families.

The Red Cross organization’s services include: disaster relief, blood services, training and certification, ser-

vice to Armed forces and international services.

“Our network of generous donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world,” according to the American Red Cross.

At GCSU, the partnership between the American Red Cross and GCSU’s GIVE center has been active for over 15 years. The GIVE Center’s creation took place between 1996 and 1997, with the Red Cross being a long-standing partner.

“We’ve had a good partnership for so long that we’ve continued hosting those events, and traditionally, we meet or exceed their donation goals because they work on a regional basis,” said Ashley Copeland, director of community engagement and service at GCSU’s GIVE Center.

Copeland detailed that the benefits of the relationship between Red Cross and the university stem from the

student recognition of the organization in the services they provide, like their blood drives and disaster relief.

“A few of our organizations have the Red Cross as their designated philanthropy,” Copeland said. “It fills their

order to allocate them towards the restoration practices. Local community members even have the opportunity to serve on these subcommittees as a way to incorporate residential representation. With this responsibility, this authority will be able to make final decisions.

Affordable housing, scholarly institutions, various businesses or even community centers where locals can gather would be able to replace the abandoned buildings.

“This reasoning stems from the desire to increase the economy for local business, a prob-

Greek Week points. The blood drives offer students the opportunity to get volunteer hours, donate blood and most importantly, help save lives.

“I personally have volunteered many times at the blood drives here

blood banks, especially in times of need and big disasters like we’ve seen in the past couple years, especially in the south.”

April’s drive will be sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life as a part of their Greek Week. The blood drive provides a competition for a Greek letter organization to win a trophy that can go towards

at Georgia College,” said Reese Williams, a senior nursing student. “As a nursing student, I think it’s a great idea to get exposure to helping people in a minor medical setting.”

Williams, who has volunteered in past blood drives, expressed the importance of these blood drives and donating blood in general.

lem that needs to be solved for locals who live in Milledgeville,” said Tamara Bean, a junior philosophy and interdisciplinary studies major. Bean’s statement emphasizes the importance of the CSRA’s ability to oversee the potential changes that would positively impact the economy of Milledgeville. As the bill continues its journey through the legislative process, the Milledgeville community awaits the decision. While many support moving forward and recycling the grounds, others are hesitant to see the local facility changed.

“I think the best benefit of donating blood is the feeling of saving lives,” Williams said. “How awesome that something so small can have such a big impact.”

Students interested in donating at the blood drives can do so by making an appointment ahead of time by using the QR code placed on the fliers spread throughout campus, on the American Red Cross blood donor app or on the Red Cross website. For those who want to donate but have yet to make an appointment are welcome to drop-in during the available hours, with an expected wait.

Students or locals who donate at the April drive will receive a t-shirt, as well as a $15 Amazon gift card with a valid email.

Rachel Pope, a health educator for the Wellness and Recreation Center, encourages students to donate blood at the drives, emphasizing the need for blood. She expressed how the pro-

cess may make a donor feel uncomfortable, but that it takes about 30 minutes out of their day.

“I have friends that have had to have blood transfusions, so I would hope that someone would want to give to save their friend,” Pope said. Pope, who is an avid blood donor, expressed how donating is the easiest way to help others and to give back to the community. She recognizes that giving blood can be intimidating, especially for students who have never donated.

“I think it’s nice to go in there with a friend and not do it by yourself because I’ve seen so many people come in and they’re unsure of what’s gonna happen,” Pope said. “So read-up, don’t watch any videos or anything. They take your blood for a finger prick, take your blood pressure and make sure your iron is high enough before they start the blood donation process.”

Julia Jenson | Art Director

Crespo named PBC Player of the Week

Bryan Cohen Contributing Writer

GCSU men’s tennis player Rodrigo Pérez Crespo was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week for the week of March 10.

Crespo went 2-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles as the 50th-ranked Bobcats won against Young Harris College and North Greenville University.

Following the contests, Crespo improved to 6-2 in dual match singles and 6-1 in dual match doubles.

Since the contest at North Greenville, GCSU has gone 4-0 in competitions against No. 37 Augusta University, Delta State University, No. 46 Spring Hill College and Tuskegee University.

GCSU has improved to an 11-1 overall record and a 1-0 conference record since the win over Augusta and is currently on a six-game winning streak.

“I think, as a team, we’re doing pretty well, especially coming from

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Perhaps the biggest story coming from the past few rounds was the University of Alabama’s unreal shooting night against Brigham Young University.

The Crimson Tide could not seem to miss against the Cougars, shooting 25-52 from three-point range, setting the men’s tournament record for three-pointers made. The Tide won 113-88 before losing to Duke with a score of 85-65 in the Sweet 16.

last season with a lot of injuries; the luck wasn’t on our side,” Crespo said.

“We’re putting all the pieces together, trying to find a way to help each other in practice and during the matches. It’s time to focus on the conference now. It’s the most important part of the season, and I hope we can do well in that.”

Before the season began, there was a noticeable divide in roster structure, with a third of the team being new from the previous year. As a junior entering his third year on the tennis courts, a leadership role needed to be developed to help these new GCSU athletes.

“You’ve got to play that role of being a leader of the team, of helping everyone and trying to get the best version of everyone,” Crespo said.

Crespo started hot to open the spring season, winning four of his six singles contests throughout February, accumulating three bagels, or winning a set 6-0, and not needing a third set in three of the wins.

On the doubles side of the numbers, Crespo partnered with teammate junior Chase Martin to go undefeated in February.

Crespo and the Bobcats then faced off against the Young Harris College Mountain Lions and North Greenville University Trailblazers. These contests earned him Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week honors.

“I was not expecting it, especially in our conference,” Crespo said. “There are a lot of good teams and players, and I’m not the type of guy who is always looking at the stats and results. At the end of the day, if you put in the work, you’re going to see results, and I couldn’t have won it if the team didn’t win those two matches during that week.”

To open his day against Young Harris, Crespo partnered with Martin. However, the two could not get the job done and finished with a loss to end their perfect streak.

Since his award-winning perfor-

mances against Young Harris and North Greenville, Crespo has won six of his seven last matches, with the only loss coming from a close doubles match against Spring Hill.

For the remainder of the season, GCSU is set for four more competitions: an away series against Flagler College on April 4, two consecutive home stands against Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of North Georgia on April 8 and 12, respectively, and a final contest against Columbus State University on Wednesday, April 16. This final stretch of the season is crucial to the Bobcats. Currently, the men’s tennis team sits amid a four-way tie for first place with the 10-2 Bearcats, 7-3 Nighthawks and 8-7 Cougars. As always, every game in the Peach Belt will be challenging, so the Bobcats are looking to lock things down for the final month and push for the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

The men’s Final Four begins on Saturday, April 5.

The round of 64 in the women’s bracket saw even fewer upsets than the men’s.

Many of the lower seeds staged blowouts against the higher seeds, and the biggest upsets came from 10-seed University of Oregon, who defeated seven-seed Vanderbilt University, and 10-seed South Dakota

“Seeing Alabama go deep in the tournament was really cool to see,” said Dylan Lewis, a senior marketing major and Alabama fan. “They’re known for being a football school, so setting that kind of record in basketball is unbelievable.”

State University, who defeated seven-seed Oklahoma State University.

One of the hottest teams in the tournament right now is two-seed Texas Christian University.

The Horned Frogs, led by veteran guard Hailey Van Lith, defeated their first-round opponents by 22 points and their second-round opponents by 15 points. In the Sweet 16, they defeated a very talented University of Notre Dame team by 9 off of a 26-point game from Van Lith.

TCU will face the University of Texas at Austin next, who have won their games up to this point by a combined 69 points.

Similar to the men’s bracket, all of the No. 1 seeds have a chance to make it to the Final Four, with the defending champion University of South Carolina and the University of California, Los Angeles claiming the first two spots.

The University of Southern California,

despite having a phenomenal season behind star guard JuJu Watkins, will likely have the most trouble moving on due to Watkins’s season-ending ACL injury against Mississippi State University. However, the Trojans bested Kansas State University without their star player, so

March Madness Logo

they will not go into their Final Four matchup with a losing mentality.

The women’s Elite Eight concluded on Monday, March 31.

As teams fight for their spot in the tournaments, fans eagerly watch to see who will be crowned the 2025 champions.

Courtesy of GCSU Athletics

Streaming platforms

Lily Reynolds Staff Writer

Over the past decade, streaming platforms have become the dominant way to watch sports, and fans are rewriting the rulebook on how they consume their favorite games.

The global sports TV market was sitting at $62.4 billion in 2024. The NFL is the undisputed champion, raking in $12.4 billion. According to digital sports platform Sportico, traditional cable is on life support.

Sportico’s report shows that about 40% of American cable subscribers have already cut the cord not necessarily all due to either wanting to transition to streaming platforms or the pricing of cable/bundles. While this number does not exactly break down the percentage of people who left specifically, it presents price increases as a notable factor in the exodus from traditional cable. Yet somehow, sports ratings are climbing.

Streaming platforms are the new MVPs of sports content. Amazon Prime, Netflix and ESPN+ are not just alternatives anymore— they’re taking over. 23% of fans are now streaming games online, and social media sports viewing has skyrocketed by 34%, according to a study conducted by Marketing Brew. Disney even tried to launch a joint streaming service called Venu but quickly pivoted to an all-inclusive ESPN “Flagship” service instead in 2025.

The current uprising is being led by Gen Z, who are not your typical sports fans. Many in this generation are playing mobile games, scrolling through social media and watching the game all at the same time. They have mastered the art of digital multitasking while keeping an eye on the score. Gen Z is 21% more likely to game on mobile during a match and 20% more likely to be on social media simultaneously, accord-

ing to a study conducted by Marketing Brew.

“I watch all of the sports I like on YouTube TV,” said Tate Young, a sophomore mass communication major. “I use it because there are always multiple games on at the same time, and you can watch up to four games on the screen.”

Younger viewers, like college students, prefer YouTube TV for sports because it delivers a customizable, watch-whenyou-want experience that fits their digital habits, with extras like multiview, highlight summaries, and NFL Sunday Ticket access—all without being locked into traditional cable contracts.

“In the morning, I watch sports highlights on YouTube for each game I want to catch up on,” said Dennis Walton, a marketing professor.

Sports content isn’t just about live games anymore, as fans now gravitate towards podcasts, documentaries and social media highlights. A recent report by Mar-

keting Brew shows that 64% of sports fans are tuning into sports audio content, with each generation having its preferred flavor. Gen Z loves podcasts, while older fans stick to traditional radio.

“While I am in the car, I will listen to the radio like Sirius XM and ESPN stations,” Walton said. “Because of the radio and YouTube, I haven’t watched a game beginning to end in a long time.”

These audio listeners are marketing gold. A recent study from marketingbrew.com reports that they’re more likely to buy merchandise, more receptive to advertising, and deeply engaged with their favorite sports.

The NFL free agency period

Benjamin Clark Asst. Sports Editor

The 2025 NFL free agency period has been filled with exciting events and major moves for each team. As teams look to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season, high-profile signings, surprising trades and key contract extensions have been in the limelight and have reshaped the leagues’ landscape.

NFL free agency is the period when players who are not under contract with any team can sign with a new team. It allows teams to acquire talent outside of the draft or trades.

Some notable signings include Stefon Diggs joining the Patriots, Devin White heading to the Raiders and Jameis Winston signing with the Giants.

Meanwhile, star player Aaron Rodgers visited with the Steelers and sparked speculation about his next destination. With teams aggressively pursuing top talent, this off-season is proving to be one of the most exciting in recent years.

“I don’t think he’ll sign with the Steelers,” said Andrew Young, a junior accounting major. “I honestly think he’s just going to retire. He’s like 42, and football is an extremely

demanding sport, especially as you get older.”

Including Rodgers, several other notable NFL free agents remain unsigned. Wide Receiver Amari Cooper is be-

draft, the pool of talented quarterbacks remains rather barren, so teams will need to ignore their most important position and build their team based on the im-

The Patriots have struggled offensively since the retirement of star quarterback Tom Brady, but adding a star receiver like Diggs gives them a true No. 1 target.

The connection goes beyond just watching—it is about total immersion.

Brands are getting smarter about this connection. About a third of fans say sponsorships make them feel more positive about a brand.

Betting and gaming partnerships are becoming a big deal, especially in countries like Brazil and Australia, transforming how fans interact with sports content.

The landscape is shifting dramatically. Major League Baseball recently ended its decades-long partnership after the 2025 season with ESPN, signaling that everyone’s looking for the next big thing. The network cited financial responsibility as

neers, he is anticipated to compete for a starting role in Las Vegas.

The Raiders have quietly improved with the additions of White at linebacker and Geno

ing watched by several teams who lack consistency in their offensive game. Teams like the Chicago Bears or Baltimore Ravens could benefit substantially from the addition of Cooper on their O-line. Additionally, the Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints, both seeking to bolster their receiving game, might pursue free agent Keenan Allen or Cooper. Within free agency and the upcoming

pact of supporting roles. Despite the shortcomings in the free agency pool, many previously mentioned notable signings have been underway in the past few weeks.

The Patriots have secured veteran wide receiver Diggs on a three-year, $69 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed. Diggs is a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection and is expected to enhance New England’s receiving.

This could make them serious playoff contenders again, especially if their young quarterback takes a step forward. With Diggs, the Patriots’ offense becomes much more dangerous in the competitive AFC East, challenging the Bills, Dolphins and Jets. On the other side of the country, linebacker White has signed a oneyear deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Drafted fifth overall in 2019 by the Tampa Bay Bucca-

Smith at quarterback. White brings speed and leadership to the defense, while Smith provides stability to the offense. Should Smith demonstrate consistent QB play, the Raiders could challenge the Chiefs and Chargers in the AFC West.

the reason for its plan to gradually cut MLB coverage from 90 to only 30 regular-season games. Another popular topic in the sports world is the explosive growth of women’s sports. The WNBA draft went from a niche event to a major spectacle, pulling in 2.4 million viewers in 2024 — a mind-blowing 300% increase, as reported by Sportico. Sports media in 2025 is a choose-your-ownadventure experience. Brands and marketers have one job now: be everywhere. The future of sports media isn’t about choosing one way to watch, it’s about having every way to watch.

While many big names have already signed into teams, others remain unsigned, with the addition of these players contributing to a change in the balance of power among NFL teams.

The Bears are making strong moves to protect their quarterback, signing Joe Thuney to solidify the offensive line. If they also draft a franchise quarterback, they could become a serious force in the NFC North, especially with Green Bay and Minnesota in eras of rebuilding. The NFC East remains unpredictable, but teams like the Eagles and Cowboys could still make big moves. The Eagles have been linked to potentially sign cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., while the Cowboys may need to address their offensive line after losing Tyron Smith.

Teams like the Patriots, Raiders and Bears have made the biggest improvements in the signing season, while the Bills and Cowboys must make additional moves in order to stay competitive.

“The Patriots just got a total game-changer in Stefon Diggs,” said Jackson Harrison, a junior marketing major. “He’s going to bring the explosiveness they’ve been missing. And Devin White to the Raiders? That defense just got a whole lot scarier. Both of these guys are going to make an immediate impact.”

Julia Jensen | Art Director

March Madness Logo

Flannery O’Connor art exhibit at GCSU

Madison Hummel Staff Writer

The week-long celebration of Flannery O’Connor’s 100th Birthday brings never-before-seen artwork created by the author to GCSU.

The art show highlighted a special aspect of O’Connor’s life and connected to the greater goal of the “Flannery at 100” celebration honoring the Milledgeville legend.

The art exhibit was open to the public on March 26 in the Magnolia Ballroom from 9 to 5 p.m.

Attendants were able to view 70 pieces of artwork created by O’Connor, ranging from portraits, wood carvings and a doll.

The exhibit featured pieces made from all stages of O’Connor’s life.

One section displayed many carvings made into wooden canvases, for which O’Connor would later gain notoriety while working with the Georgia State College for Women newspaper, “The Colonnade,” and the school magazine, “The Corinthian.”

Another portion of the exhibit showed paintings created in the later years of O’Connor’s life.

After being diagnosed with lupus and moving back into her childhood home, O’Connor began to paint images of Andalusia Farms and scenes of nature, many of which were on display at the exhibit.

O’Connor’s art focused on similar themes or nature, birds, which O’Connor was a known admirer of, and

day-to-day life within Milledgeville.

The showcase embodied the Southern Gothic style and reflected themes of O’Connor’s literature into visual arts.

Cassie Munnell, curator of Andalusia, home of O’Connor, was involved in the planning process for the pop-up exhibit.

“This artwork was all in the care of Louise Florencourt, Flannery’s first cousin, and in the Mary Flannery O’Connor Charitable Trust,”

mous authors of the Southern Gothic genre and a cherished figure in Milledgeville history, however, until recently little was known about her artwork.

“She herself was a big believer that all authors should also do art because it helps you think about the world and visualize what you’re thinking,” Munnell said.

O’Connor felt that creativity was something intentional that could only

Munnell said. “In 2023, the paintings were brought over to Andalusia.”

The pieces were stored at Andalusia while agreements were made to showcase them.

The exhibit was officially announced earlier this year, just in time for O’Connor’s 100th birthday.

“We’ve been planning on it for a while, so it’s really good that we are able to share it with the public,” Munnell said.

O’Connor is one of the most fa-

SPRING FASHION TRENDS

Hope Martin Staff Writer

Spring has officially sprung, and with the weather heating up, the seasonal fashion is slowly transitioning.

Fashion is constantly changing, and predictions for each season are imminent. Fashion cycles often repeat in 20-year increments.

This is noticeable in the current Y2K trend, a term for the fashion and aesthetic of the 2000s. While 90s and 2010s fashion is still in, Y2K fashion has especially taken over social media.

Fashion can also be affected by a region’s economic or political state. For instance, some believe that when economic times get worse, skirts tend to become longer, something referred to as the “hemline index.”

As economic status gets worse, conservatism tends to become more popular, which can lead to more modest fashion becoming trendy.

“I feel like modesty is coming back,” said Ella Swartz, a senior psychology major.

Tradwives and modesty influencers have been rising in popularity on TikTok and Instagram in recent years.

“I think long flowy clothing is in, and maybe baggy clothing might come back,” Swartz said.

Students have expressed that there might be foreign influences that

become trendy, but only specific styles versus foreign fashion in general.

Evangelina Ochoa, a sophomore Spanish major, believed that specifically Scandinavian influences might come in style.

“I think we could see Parisian spring or Italian summer styles,” Swartz said. “Elegant styles, neutrals, linen and flowy clothes, I think will be in.”

Pantone, a company that developed a standardized color matching system, announced in Dec. of 2024, that the color of the year would be mocha mousse. Many predicted that bright colors would dominate 2025, but soft neutrals might be more popular than people thought.

With the 2024 pop culture phenomenon of Brat summer coming to an end, some felt that neon or bright colors were going to be trending, but Pantone’s color might be more accurate than originally thought.

While pastels and soft colors tend to always trend in spring clothing, there are some interesting trends this fashion season.

Many sites, such as NYTimes, Vogue and Glamour, have predicted simple styles with neutral or pastel colors to be trending. All three sites make a commission on products sold, which can lead to potential bias in the colors or styles. Behind green and brown in popularity

were traditional spring colors, such as lighter pinks, baby blues, whites and yellows.

GCSU students agreed that simple styles with neutrals or pastels would trend this Spring, but there were some variations in opinion.

“It’s not a trend; green, yellow and pink are just spring colors,” Swartz said.

Ochoa felt that it might be more about tones than colors, and that we could normally see fall-themed colors continuing into spring.

“Warm colors will definitely be the vibe for 2025,” Ochoa said.

Across both social media and fashion sites, beige and light brown were strongly trending, a trend that did not go unnoticed by GCSU students. The use of certain colors can be linked back to certain trends or aesthetics like modest fashion and the clean girl look.

Clean girl is a style that is focused on simple, neutral-colored clothing and dewy “no-makeup makeup” looks. It often includes slicked back ponytails or buns, light brown or white outfits with jeans and natural-looking makeup.

Many influencers and stars have possibly affected fashion trends, whether intentionally or not.

Selena Gomez has been doing the clean girl style for a while, while Billie Eilish has

be formed through dedication to her work; she believed in the habit of art.

The term was mentioned by O’Connor several times in her collection of essays and speeches, “Mystery and Manners.”

“I think it is a way of looking at the created world and of using the senses so as to make them find as much meaning as possible in things,” O’Connor said in the collection.

worn baggy alternative streetwear for years.

Swartz predicted that there would be baby pinks and lots of lace this spring.

“I never thought about it, but it could be related to Sabrina Carpenter,” Swartz said. “A lot of her fans have the clean girl aesthetic too.”

Carpenter has worn a lot of pastels or bright pinks, yellows and blues recently on her “Short n’ Sweet” tour.

Many people also noted an uptick in thrifting and predicted this would continue to become more popular.

“Thrifting is popular; clean girl is definitely still rising too,” said Justine Savizon, a health promotion postgraduate student.

The style boho, short for bohemian, is also predicted to trend. Similar to the clean girl, boho combines many characteristics that people thought would start trending or are already trending, such as neutral colors, flowy clothing and patterns.

“Boho never left; it’s only popular with a specific demographic, but it never really left,” Savizon said. “I could see maybe tie-dye or crazy patterns coming into style.”

Nikki Ofori, a senior public health major, agreed that boho was strongly in and that patterns might trend this spring season.

“I see people getting into patterns as well, like florals, gingham or cherry,” Ofori said.

“The paintings give us views into how she saw things, how the farm and Milledgeville looked in the past, and also potential hints of newer connections and understandings of her childhood with some of the wood carvings,” Munnell said.

Many people, including GCSU students, members of the Milledgeville community and fans of O’Connor’s work, came to the art show to view the works in person.

Anabel Kissel, a sophomore mass communication major, visited the gallery and enjoyed the art.

“I heard about it from the Georgia College press release,” Kissel said. “I keep up with it for the WGUR news segment I do, and I thought it would be a unique event to attend.”

Kissel is familiar with O’Connor’s literature but had not seen a lot of the author’s art before the event.

“It was really interesting,” Kissel said. “I liked all of the paintings and seeing O’Connor’s work. I didn’t know she was an artist and an author.”

J.D. Caulley, a junior English major, also appreciated seeing O’Connor’s art.

“All of the paintings were really cool to see,” Caulley said. “My favorites were the self-portrait and the wood carvings.”

The art exhibit and other events that occurred during the week are reminders of GCSU’s most famous alumni and renowned author O’Connor.

The pieces of artwork showcased at the exhibit give deeper insight into O’Connor’s creative process and how she viewed the world as inspiration for her writing.

Predicting trends becomes harder with fashion and social media’s prescribed micro trends, a term for a trend that is niche and short-lived, sometimes lasting only months or even weeks.

Some students brought up barrel jeans, neon suede shoes or micro shorts, but there were no shared answers between students on examples of micro trends.

“I really like the concept of microtrends and how it affects a generation as a whole,” Ochoa said.

As micro trends are so fleeting and happening only on certain platforms or spaces, there are many micro trends happening at once, and it becomes difficult to determine what even counts as a micro trend.

“There are so many microtrends it’s hard to pinpoint,” Swartz said.

“Microtrends can be fun, but I don’t like overconsumption. Be sustain-

able and thrift instead.” Savizon felt that overconsumption itself was almost a trend. While students had many opinions on whether microtrends were fun or concerning, what is clear is that microtrends will not be going away any time soon. Unlike the decades before the rise of the internet, fashion has become diverse with the influence of today’s media environment. While fashion trends used to be more uniform, the rise of the internet lets everyone self-separate into filter bubbles based on their interests. What one person perceives as trending may not be what the next person thinks is trending due to using different social media or different algorithms. This raises the question of how to accurately predict trends as our media environment continues to widen and diversify.

Julia Jenson | Art Director

Matthew Malkowsi | Digital Media Editor

GCSU Thunderton

OPINION

In recent memory,

Rylee Holland Asst. News Editor

Thunderthon is GC Miracle’s biggest event of the year where GCSU students learn a six minute dance over the course of eight hours in order to raise money for the local children’s hospital, Beverly Knight Olson. On Saturday, April 5, in the Centennial Center, any student can attend Thunderthon by registering for $15 (or $3 using the discount code “SBRK”) and then raise an additional $55 through donations from others or themselves.

I and others believe that the heart of Thunderthon’s cause is raising money for the children over at BKO, the nearest children’s hospital to GCSU.

“Seeing everyone who has been fundraising all year long in the same room fighting for a cause greater than themselves is truly the most special feeling,” said Sara Goodelman, Student Engagement Program coordinator and GC Miracle’s on-campus advisor.

The children and families at BKO who are healthy enough to attend Thunderthon do so to share their story, explaining how GC Miracle and Thunderthon have impacted them and

their chances to have a healthy childhood.

“It is such a sweet moment to be with the kids we fight so hard for to have a better future and the chance to be a kid again,” said Abigail Lee, a junior psychology major and executive director of GC Miracle.

Each hour a family shares the story of their child which is a sentimental moment that is shared with everyone. Some of the families stay throughout the entire event and spend time with everyone in attendance.

“Over the last three years, there have been many sweet moments shared with the kids, but my favorite is getting into a dance battle with Cassius Finch [one of the BKO kids],” Lee said. “Cassius is not afraid to show he’s got some groove, and his joy is contagious.”

The GC Miracle team has seen a huge impact on BKO from the donations received.

“With the fundraising, Miracle was able to donate enough money to have an activity room built at BKO,” Goodelman said. “The activity room is a space in the hospital that allows kids receiving treatment to escape the hospital walls. It’s filled with toys, arts and crafts, tech-

MARKET

Continued from page

Carly Walker, a junior psychology major and market vendor, has been making jewelry for five years, and she has been selling at the Farmers and Artisans market for three years. She loves to chat with GCSU

nology, games and anything else that makes a kid feel like a kid.”

Thunderthon is not only an opportunity to give to the local children but also a great way to make friends, explore an organization at GCSU and have a super fun day dancing.

GC Miracle’s Morale team is made up of 21 students who take time out of every week starting in January to learn the dance. They are split into groups of two and each group teaches one minute of the dance to the participants on the day of Thunderthon.

“Morale leaders help teach the dance that participants learn during Thunderthon,” said Emily Tipsword, a senior psychology major and director of the Morale team. “Think like a 6-minute long TikTok dance that is broken up into 6 sections taught over the span of 6 hours.”

The mashup dance is fun but without the right group of people to be on stage and teach it, things could quickly become chaotic. The Morale team takes pride in choosing their morale leaders to be exciting and outgoing people.

“I would describe morale as a group of people who have a fire, a burning passion for what we are doing,” said Cater

Hewitt, a junior exercise science major and a Morale team leader.

Besides learning the six-minute dance, there are fun games to play in between, pizza to eat for lunch, a snack and GC Miracle merch to buy. It is an absolute blast.

“You receive a t-shirt, a meal and I believe there are some prizes you can receive according to the amount of money raised,” Hewitt said. “If you have a passion and desire to be there, it’s definitely worth your money and time.”

The GC Miracle team is bringing much more excitement with this year’s Thunderthon, introducing activities that they’ve never done before.

“This year, we are going to have a huge inflatable obstacle course there that anyone can use,” Tipsword said. “We also will be doing Zumba like we have in the past. To find out what else we will have, you just have to be there!”

GC Miracle challenges participants the day of Thunderthon to stay standing for the duration of the eight

students that she normally would not talk to.

“I wanted to sell at this market because I love the environment and the fact that we don’t have to pay a booth fee to participate,” Walker said. “Also, it’s so close to home, and most of the other artisan markets I do are hours away.”

Savannah Walker, a

junior mass communication major, is the vice president of marketing for GCSU’s Shelter Buddies, which is a service organization that works with the Baldwin County Animal Shelter. They have been selling clothes at the Farmers and Artisans Market for many years, serving as one

of their annual March fundraising events.

“The money raised from the Farmers and Artisans Market will go towards the club fund in order for us to continue putting on member meetings, future fundraisers and keep things running in general.” Walker said. Walker explains how

hour event to honor the past, present and future children at BKO who aren’t able to stand.

I was a participant for the very first time and last year. Thunderthon that year was a 12 hour event where I stood the whole time, so in comparison to that, eight hours should be easy.

My favorite part of Thunderthon last year would be hard to narrow down to just one thing. I got to make new friends, play four square, eat a pina colada Kona Ice and sing karaoke on stage with my best friends. All of these things combined make for my favorite parts of Thunderthon, having fun all while giving money, time and effort towards a worthy cause.

“One thing that happens every year and is my favorite part: At the end of the event, Miracle does a total reveal,” Goodelman said. “The total reveal is very powerful because this is when all of the fundraising is done, and everyone gets to see all the money being donated to the kids at BKO.”

Each year, Thunder-

thon introduces a new theme which decides what kind of songs will be used to make the dance and which decorations GC Miracle will put up. This year’s theme is the Olympics and GC Miracle is “Going for the Gold,” setting a record-high goal for donations at $100,000.

Along with the Olympics theme, GC Miracle has a campaign for this year’s Thunderthon: “Cool to Care.”

“‘It’s cool to care’ is something I just started saying to get people to donate a few years back,” Lee said. “But now, it’s become my own motto for Miracle and has become this year’s slogan.”

With Abigail Lee being one of my roommates and closest friends, I remember the first time I heard her say “It’s cool to care” with a huge smile on her face. I think that genuinely depicts how exciting and cool it is to care and support the children at BKO. Everyone should come out for Thunderthon to support and celebrate the children at BKO who need our help.

Shelter Buddies’ main goal is to achieve maximum engagement with others at the market.

“We want to sell used clothes at this GCSU market because it is such an easy way to connect with students,” Walker said. “No matter how much we sell, we are still getting the Shelter

Buddies mission across to the community.”

This market is a great way for students to connect and have fun, support their classmates or friends’ small businesses and engage with the local Milledgeville community.

Rylee Holland | Asst. New Editor

Matthew Malkowsi | Digital Media Editor

The benefits of joining campus clubs at GCSU

Kate Walker Contributing Writer

Campus clubs and organizations play a vital role in every student’s college experience, offering opportunities to meet new people, pursue passions, develop industry and leadership skills and make a meaningful impact on the community.

At GCSU, there are over 150 clubs and organizations for students to explore, including pre-professional groups, community service organizations, academic clubs, ethnic and international clubs, arts and entertainment groups, faith-based organizations and sports clubs.

GCSU’s Office of Student Engagement inspires all students to get involved through the Student Engagement Challenge, which encourages each student to join at least one organization within their first month of classes.

“Join the ones that you are 95% sure you won’t enjoy because those are the ones that you end up sticking with for all four years,” said Kayley Owens, a sophomore chemistry major and member of the Chemistry Club, Braveheart and Delight Ministries. “Go to as many clubs as you can, meet as many people as you can, and find what really sticks with you.”

Each club and organization offers unique opportunities, such as community service and leadership positions. Owens, for example, is currently the secretary for Braveheart and the events and meetings coordinator for Delight Ministries.

“With Chemistry Club, I really enjoy the outreach and getting to work with students from K-12,” Owens said. “For Braveheart, I love the supportive community of women we’ve built, and with Delight, I enjoy

being part of a small-knit community that helps me challenge my faith and grow spiritually.”

Even academic or professional clubs provide chances to meet new friends while learning and gaining industry experience. Anna Kroll, a sophomore math major, has found that the GCSU Math Club allows her to connect with others who share her passion for math.

“We have a lot of fun talking about different games that use math, and then the Math Jeopardy team is a lot of fun to meet and practice with because we joke around while doing math,” Kroll said.

Joining a new group can feel intimidating, especially later in the semester, but it’s never too late to get involved. Kroll encourages students to put themselves out there and start making connections.

“You should absolute-

ly do it because you find the best people who are the most interesting to be around,” Kroll said.

In addition to fostering friendships and developing personal in-

all college experience.

For students interested in pre-professional clubs, there are options like Pre-Med, Pre-Veterinary and Pre-Pharmacy clubs.

Community service

terests, the Office of Student Engagement notes research that shows how students involved in clubs and organizations tend to perform better academically and graduate at higher rates. By staying connected, these students leave with a more enriching over-

Julia Jenson | Art Director

organizations include groups like GC Shelter Buddies and GC Miracle.

Ethnic organizations such as the Black Student Alliance and Latino Student Association can also provide a sense of community.

Academic clubs like the Psychology Club, Envi-

ronmental Science Club and History Club also allow students to deepen their academic interests.

For those passionate about the arts, the Literary Guild, Film Club and Shakespeare Circle offer creative outlets. Faith-based organizations such as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Awakening Collegiate Fellowship and Kudzu also provide spiritual growth opportunities.

For students who enjoy staying active, there is a wide range of intramural sports, including soccer, lacrosse and bass fishing, as well as intramural leagues offered through fraternities, sororities and other campus clubs and organizations.

Students interested in joining a new club can find a complete list of GCSU’s student organizations and more information on how to join them on GC Connect located on GCSU’s official website.

GCSU’s disability accommodations

Kennedy Welker

Asst. A&L Editor

Disability accommodation is an important aspect of GCSU campus services that strives to create a welcoming and equitable living experience for students with varying needs. There have been many questions raised across campus in regards to what accommodations look like, what programs are offered and how GCSU is constantly improving accommodations for the welfare of disabled students.

According to Jennifer Graham, associate dean of students for student integrity and success and David Anderson, director of the Student Disability and Resource Center, Accommodations at GCSU are personalized, determined on a case-by-case basis. The SDRC website lists many important accommodations for students to explore.

Students who need support in note-taking can receive notes from

a willing student taking the same class. In most cases, when this accommodation is needed, an email will be sent to students taking the same class, offering volunteer note-taking as an option for gaining community service hours.

The SDRC also gives students access to digital recording devices and assistance with digitally-formatted textbook materials. If necessary, there are also coaching sessions offered on skills such as time management and organization for students registered with the SDRC.

Students with food-related disabilities have access to meetings with the chef in the Maxwell Student Union dining hall in order to create foodbased accommodations.

One place that is open to all students is the Serenity Den, located on the first floor of the Student Activity Center or right below the Magnolia Ballroom. This room offers a sensory-friendly environment on cam-

pus with lounge space, dim lighting, herbal teas and sensory activities.

Service animals are also registered through the SDRC and are usually in the form of a specially-trained dog. However, according to Graham and Anderson, miniature horses are also an acceptable service animal under certain conditions under a separate American Disability Association provision. Entities covered by the ADA must modify policies to permit miniature horses as service animals where reasonable. The reasonability of miniature horses within facilities depends on four factors: whether or not the horse is house-broken, under the control of its owner, can be effectively accommodated by the facility and that the horse will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for operation.

According to Graham, in addition to these accommodations, the SDRC is in the pro-

cess of developing outreach services such as the “Speaker’s Bureau,” which will consist of students who wish to educate the campus community about the SDRC.

For students requiring physical assistance with transportation to and from classes, there are several Parking and Transportation sanctioned shuttles and buses that are wheelchair accessible. The Interactive GCSU Campus map found online also displays accessible features across the university, including parking and automatic doors.

While many students have noticed that wheelchair-assist buttons across campus frequently malfunction, specifically those at the main entrance of the Arts & Sciences building and the Maxwell Student Union dining hall, maintenance for these access doors is held as a top priority and the malfunction is responded to quickly.

According to Ben Mason, director of op-

erations & maintenance, most of the issue with inoperable wheel-chair assist buttons has to do with faulty wireless transmitters in the doors.

To address this, GCSU recently invested in an $85,000 program to replace this equipment with hardwired systems with much higher reliability. These new automatic door mechanisms are soon to be installed in the College of Arts & Sciences, Kilpatrick Hall and the Peabody Auditorium.

Any ADA-related maintenance requests the school receives are automatically elevated in priority, and the maintenance team itself is continually looking for ways to improve its success with these orders.

Mason welcomes any suggestions in helping his team best accommodate mobility-impaired individuals on campus.

“The more our maintenance staff knows about how to assist students, the better — and faster — our service

will be,” Mason said.

According to Frank Baugh, assistant vice president for facilities management, GCSU requested around $555,000 in facility improvements for consideration in the statewide ADA Facilities Improvement Program Capital Budget last summer.

“These included a new lift to the Herty Hall observatory — which will be incorporated into the building’s larger renovation — and a request for audible pedestrian systems at all intersections on main campus,” Baugh said. “Unfortunately, these requests were not approved, but we’re continuing to look for opportunities to improve accessibility.”

GCSU’s ability to accommodate disability to a certain extent often hinges on whether or not the state decides to fund certain projects. Though this is a hindrance, GCSU is dedicated to doing whatever it can to make the campus more accessible to all.

FINALS

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Include all necessary materials — textbooks, notebooks, stationery, and snacks — so you won’t be tempted to get up frequently. Ensuring that your study space is well-lit and comfortable will also set the tone for focused study sessions.

Next, developing a study schedule is essential. Drafting a timetable that outlines what subjects to focus on and when can alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed.

Start by identifying the subjects that require the most attention based on personal strengths and weaknesses. Break each subject into manageable sections and assign specific days to dive into those topics.

When creating your schedule, consider incorporating short breaks to recharge your mind. The Pomodoro Technique, which encourages working for 25 minutes and then taking a five-minute break, can be particularly effective in keeping

your energy levels up.

The importance of evaluating study habits cannot be overstated. Many students fall into the trap of memorizing facts instead of understanding concepts.

The best resources I have found at GCSU include the Learning Center for extra practice and understanding concepts in class, as well as the Writing Center for any essay help or guidance. Active learning strategies, such as teaching the material to someone else or discussing it in a study group, can enhance comprehension. Additionally, practice tests and quizzes can be invaluable tools for gauging readiness. Bundling these activities into your study sessions adds variety and helps reinforce knowledge.

Another significant aspect of preparing for exams is maintaining mental and physical well-being. The stress of impending assessments can easily seep into daily life, leading to anxiety and burnout.

“There is a very reliable pattern, which

is that people’s depression tends to get worse as they approach finals and midterms, and tends to drop a lot over the break,” said Dr. Charles Raison, a professor at the University of Wisconsin.

Integrating self-care practices into the studying routine is vital for sustaining motivation and health. Simple actions like getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, exercising and practicing mindfulness techniques — such as meditation or yoga — can make a remarkable difference.

Social connections can also serve as a support system during exam season. Engaging with peers who share similar challenges offers a sense of camaraderie. Study groups allow students to motivate each other, share resources, and clarify difficult concepts; leaning on friends and family for encouragement can ease the pressure and promote a positive mindset.

Study groups not only promote social activity but accountability to actually get

work done effectively.

“Accountability is a great advantage provided by study groups,” Midland University said. “Since college students still tend to be sensitive to peer pressure, having a set study schedule for final exams with other participants counting on everyone else’s participation works well to offset anyone putting off study time.”

Staying connected with professors and utilizing campus resources can further prepare students. Establish office hours as a prime opportunity to ask questions or clarify points of confusion with instructors.

Many professors appreciate students who take the initiative to seek additional support. Additionally, the university may offer workshops focusing on study skills or exam strategies, so taking advantage of these opportunities can provide students with useful insights.

As the exam week approaches, it’s essential to simulate the testing environment during study

sessions. Take the time to complete practice exams under timed conditions.

Familiarity with the structure and timing of the actual test can reduce anxiety and build confidence. Moreover, understanding the format of the exam — whether it be multiple-choice, essay-based, or a combination of both — can help you tailor your study methods accordingly.

As exam week dawns, manage your expectations. It’s vital to remain flexible and adjust your study strategies based on what works best for you. Everyone learns differently, and some students thrive under pressure, while others prefer a more relaxed pace.

Finding balance is essential. Trust your preparation process and be kind to yourself during this stressful time. Embrace the journey, and remember that exams are simply a means to measure knowledge, not the full measure of your worth or potential!

Finally, my biggest tip of advice is to get some sleep!

“While getting sleep isn’t exactly a study strategy, it may be just as important as anything else you can do to prepare for midterms,” said Dhara Singh, a senior associate for JP Chase. “Open overlay suggests that all-nighters harm a person’s short-term health. Because of this, you may want to ensure that sleep and rest are embedded throughout your midterm exam preparation.”

In conclusion, midterms and finals may bring about stress and anxiety, but implementing effective study habits and organizational strategies can significantly ease the burden. At GCSU, student success flourishes not just through hard work and determination but also through a supportive community that believes in collaboration and growth. While summer may be just around the corner, let’s conquer this exam season together, one organized step at a time.

Sabrina Carpenter opening for the spring concert?

What can we believe is true versus what is all nonsense?

Molly Goff Opinion Editor

April is all about the introduction of spring on the GCSU campus. From the good weather, beautiful scenery and the exciting news about the spring concert, there is so much to look forward to this month.

Did my headline catch your eye? Are you confused about the news of Sabrina Carpenter opening for the spring concert?

In addition to GCSU’s spring concert, do you know what event is also in April, specifically which event falls on today, April 1st?

The notorious day of the year where you get FOOLED! Happy April Fool’s Day!

To reiterate, Sabrina Carpenter is not opening for the spring concert. Did I fool you?

April Fools’ Day is a holiday full of tricks and laughs. Some people love the idea of comical deception, where we can essentially “fool” some-

one in a humorous way.

For others, people want the holiday to be forgotten altogether.

“I think that April Fool’s Day can be fun and lighthearted, but it can also easily be taken too far,” Said Molly Giusti, a sophomore education major. “I do celebrate the holiday but with my family, not usually my friends.”

Part of the holiday is all of the pranks involved. They can be as small as moving around daily household objects to sticky notes all over someone’s car.

“I think some April Fools’ Day pranks can be funny, as long as the person being pranked will also find it funny,” said Lily Kenyon, a sophomore marketing major.

“I like the ones where it mostly results in confusion for a second, but no one gets hurt, emotionally or physically.”

April Fool’s pranks often end in something surprising, as impactful as cancelling classes

or even no school. I remember as a kid in grade school having a party for the holiday with funny party favors, and even classes being cancelled in middle school.

As we get older, holidays seem to fade! This poses the question: should we cancel class in college for April Fool’s if some classes use that as an opportunity for students to be pranked into thinking it is a normal day in class anyway?

“I don’t think that classes should be cancelled on the holiday, I think that would be too much,” said Ava Joninas, a sophomore mass communications major . “Although I would love another day off class, I think that would be a bit much.”

I personally believe that we shouldn’t be acknowledging the day to encourage harmful pranks. Humor is subjective, and supporting days off in a place of learning would not be the move.

I think that jokes and pranks can be funny in

moderation, but not a whole day dedicated to the madness that we often forget is a real holiday unless reminded, or something is posted.

“I think April Fool’s Day pranks are funny,” said Giusti. “I like them up to a certain point. They can be funny but also have potential to be hurtful or damaging, making jokes about ruining someone’s lawns or putting the wrong gas in the car but doing pranks that could leave more than like 2 minutes of damage are not funny.”

As college students, balance is vital. Sometimes holidays such as April Fool’s can throw us off balance and even damage relationships.

“Pranks often involve less-than-innocent deception, and the joke is usually made at another person’s expense. This can wreck the foundation of trust and security relationships are based on,”

As college students striving for balance in our lives, we must take

a step back and evaluate how we choose to celebrate holidays like April Fools’ Day. While enjoying a good laugh is essential, the cost of such enjoyment when it involves distressing others is not worth the fleeting joy.

Our focus should remain on fostering healthy relationships built upon respect and understanding rather than on moments of temporary amusement at someone else’s expense.

As we embrace the joys of spring on the GCSU campus, including the excitement surrounding the Wallows concert, we should reflect on our approach to

There is no doubt that laughter enhances our college experience, but how we achieve that laughter must be scrutinized. Pranks can serve as a fun diversion when done thoughtfully, but we must prioritize kindness over carelessness. Instead of encouraging a culture of deception, let’s foster one of empathy, understanding, and genuine connection. After all, true humor arises not from trickery, but from shared laughter and experiences that bring us together rather than drive us apart.

April Fools’ Day.

Sabrina Carpenter