Issue 10 | Volume 103

GC WASHES AWAY CHALK DEMONSTRATION ON CAMPUS

As GC students begin to wander across Front Campus on the morning of March 4, they encounter a telling display surrounding the Bobcat Head: Over 150 miniature Palestinian flags surround the emblem. Chalk messages surrounding the emblem read “Free Gaza,” “Free Palestine” and “Free the Hostages.” Beyond, GC students find more: “30,000 Dead, 300 Taken” and “Stop Jewish Hate.” Conversation sparks, political dialogue increases across campus and Milledgeville is abuzz with this mysterious overnight display.

NFL rule changes

Christian Castillo Staff Writer

The NFL has made some major changes to the league rules this off-season, and players have been sharing their views.

Two of the major changes made are the editing of the kickoff procedure and the banning of “hip-drop” tackles.

The NFL has chosen to change its standard football kickoff to a new kickoff style adopted from the XFL’s rules. The new kickoff is rooted in eliminating highspeed collisions that are common in traditional football kickoffs. This motion by the league was inspired to lower injuries, specifically head injuries and concussions, which have frequently occurred on kickoffs.

The ball will still be placed at the 35-yard line. However, the kicking team will no longer line up behind their

kicker. Instead, the kicking team will be lined up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. This change will end in the opposing players meeting each other, as well as the ball carrier, much sooner and at much lower speeds.

The league cited the high touchback rate as a reasonable reason for the change. On most NFL kickoffs, there is no return due to high-level kickers being able to casually boot the ball into the end zone.

The “hip-drop” tackle ban has much more effect on the game and has received more backlash from players.

The phrase “hip drop” refers to when a defensive player grabs the ball carrier and drops their hips to unweight themselves, making dragging or bringing the opposing player to the ground easier.

Students, imagine this: You just graduated with your bachelor’s degree from GC. You have spent the last four years staying up until 2 a.m. finishing assignments and making midnight runs to Cook Out with your roommates.

Now, what do you do? No more 8 a.m. classes, no more Midnight Breakfast at the MAX, no more study sessions at Blackbird and no more stress about the paper that was due last Tuesday.

Where do we go after college? Do we go back to our own hometown? Do we travel to a different state? Maybe we live in a new big city?

For four years, your biggest concern was what you and your friends were going to do on a Friday night and how much coffee is too much coffee for 8 p.m. Now, you are wondering where you are going to get a real job and how you are going to pay bills and student loans, all while trying to live life to the fullest.

The first thing that you have to figure out is where you see yourself living for the next couple of years as you are navigating your way through life beyond college. Are you more enticed by staying in a small town or living the city life?

“A small town, because it’s just more of what I am used to, and I have never really been a city girl,” said Kaitlyn Taylor, a freshman management major. “My dad is in the Army, so I moved around a lot, which has made me want to settle into a smaller town and put down roots.”

Should we stick to our roots and stay with the small-town lifestyle? I love the idea of remaining in a little town, like the one I grew up in or like Milledgeville, where we are now. However, I think that once I graduate college, I will go a different route rather than staying where I am. I think it is important to get uncomfortable. I am not saying living in a small town after college is a bad option by any means; I think it would be great, but I personally would like to look into city life first.

Here are a few reasons why a city would be better for post-grad plans: less job competition, a better work-life balance, more affordable rent and meeting new people.

This is the reaction three anonymous GC students were anticipating when they spent the night of Sunday, March 3 creating this exact display. However, it is a vision that they never saw enacted because GC removed the entire demonstration before students got to see it. Students never saw the flags or the chalk, making what could have been a day of discourse an ordinary March Monday.

These three anonymous students wished to participate in the “March 2nd Global Day of Action for Palestine,” informally called “Stand With Palestine Day.” However, they also aimed to bring the conversation of the state of Palestine onto campus.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Kylie Rowe Asst. A&L Editor

The first North American total solar eclipse since 2017 took place on April 8. Although Milledgeville was not in the path of totality GC students took part in looking at the solar eclipse through glasses handed out by the Physics Club, witnessing the last visible eclipse until 2045.

According to NASA, a total solar eclipse is essentially when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and completely blocks the face of the sun. There is a narrow path of totality that will result in darkness as the moon completely covers the sun. The longest time that totality will occur will be in Mexico for four minutes and 32 seconds, according to Time.

The 2024 path of totality starts in Mexico, goes across the United States and then into Montreal, Canada. In the U.S., the path of totality will travel from the Texas-Mexico border northeast, crossing cities such as Cleveland, Ohio, Buffalo, New York and Burlington, Vermont.

Outside of the path of totality, the eclipse is still a significant astronomical event. People all over North America able to view the eclipse stopped what they were doing, put on solar viewing glasses and spent a few minutes staring into the sky.

During an eclipse, many groups of people are known to look for the deeper meaning in the event. Astrologically, an eclipse represents times of unexpected change, new opportunities and reset.

Courtesy of anonymous GC students See CHALK | Page 4

“GCSU Workers Need Fair Wages NOW!”

rate compared to workers who have worked for GC for 10-plus years.

This petition was put together in partnership with United Campus Workers of Georgia, which is a union for all employees who are employed by the University System of Georgia.

“Georgia College salaries are competitive, not only within the area and our immediate marketplace,” said Lee Fruitticher, vice president for finance and administration at GC. “We are also competitive within the University System of Georgia, certainly compared to institutions of a similar size.”

The petition states that the target audience is GC President Cathy Cox. Then, it goes on to list the reasons why GC workers need to be paid more. The petition states that many staff workers make less than $15 per hour and that some of the student workers make $7.25 per hour.

“We want a commitment to raise wages, both for faculty, staff and student workers,” said Axel Hawkins, president of SGA at GC.

It also claims that many of the GC employees make a salary that is at the poverty level. New employees are being hired at a higher pay

When signing the petition, you are demanding that GC commits to raising the minimum pay for student workers to $15 per hour and the minimum pay for all full-time staff to $20 per hour, increasing to $25 per hour by 2025. It will also provide standardized, annual stipends for graduate workers of at least $25,000 per year after fees. Also, raise the pay for part-time faculty to a per-course rate of $5000 and address pay compression by raising the wages of long-time workers.

“I think a $15 base pay for student workers, while it sounds amazing, is way too much,” said Hannah Mitchell, a junior Career Center student advisor. “And it is almost impossible to make happen, considering you would have to raise every single full-time staff member’s salary the same amount before you could do it for student workers.

I think $8.25 is a perfect base pay, so if it is raised, anything, it should go from $7.25 to $8.25.”

The petition is open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, community supporters, alumni and healthcare workers at GC.

With students having an hourly cap of 19 hours a week, one student believes the amount currently paid to student workers is not meant to

cover living expenses.

“If you work at an on-campus job, you are really not doing much,” Mitchell said. “You are basically just assisting full-time staff with whatever they may need. And you can’t really work more than four hours a day if you want to stay under the allotted hours. Student-worker jobs are not meant to give you a livable salary. I got my job at the school so I could have extra money to spend how I want. If a student needs a job with a livable wage, I think they should get either an off-campus parttime job that has a good wage and can work you for more hours or a job in the service industry.”

The staff at GC were unaware of the petition. When they were allowed to read it, they gladly signed it. They spoke of how this is a much-needed step to getting them paid enough and to not live paycheck to paycheck.

Neidasha Yarbrough, a custodian in Facilities Management at GC, makes $14 and some change per hour. She explains that it is still not enough to cover all of her bills combined with taking care of her children.

“I need way more,” Yarbrough said. “The cost of living is too high; groceries is too high; children are too expensive. I feel like the pay is not fair. We need more money. Mrs. Cathy Cox, I love you, baby, but we

need some more money. You can’t even afford no place to live if you don’t have a second job. You can’t afford to do any extra things ‘cause your check ain’t much, so I feel like employees here definitely need more money.”

According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the living wage for one adult with one child in Baldwin County is $31.63 per hour. The poverty wage is $9.83 per hour. When you add another child, it increases to $38.97 per hour, and the poverty wage is $12.41 per hour.

GC commissioned a salary study in 2018 through the company Segal, formerly known as Sibson. The recommendations from this comprehensive study were implemented, which started on Jan. 1, 2021. The net result was an

increase of $390,844 in salary compensation and an additional $104,405 in benefits compensation. This led to a total increase of $566,775 annually for GC employees.

After these internal increases at GC, the governor and state legislature approved a $5,000 COLA, or cost-of-living adjustment, for state employees in 2022. All full-time GC employees at the time received the COLA, even if they were not state employees.

Units such as Athletics, Continuing Education and Parking & Transportation funded COLA increases for all employees, even without being given state funding.

As a result of these decisions and stewardship of our budget resources, approximately 99% of the 852 full-time employees at GC who are bene-

fit-eligible make $30,000 or more annually.

Some GC employees make $15 per hour and only get by due to their spouse’s income.

“I make about $15 and some change,” Nettie Swint, a custodian in Facilities Management at GC said. “If I didn’t have a husband, I wouldn’t be able to make it. Some people not as fortunate as me to have a husband, and it’s still sometimes a struggle. They want us to do all this extra work, but we need more money ‘cause times are hard. By the time you pay one big bill out your check, your whole check is gone. One bill, your check is gone.”

The petition is sitting at 100 signatures, which is halfway to the 200 they set out to get in hopes of getting GC workers a livable wage.

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Blood Drive at GC

Rebecca Ocampo Staff Writer

Each year, around this time, GC partners with Fraternity and Sorority Life to host its annual blood drive. This past week, the event was held on Tuesday, April 2, and Wednesday, April 3, in Donahoo Lounge. Anyone in the Baldwin County area was able to donate their blood to the American Red Cross or volunteer to help pass out fliers promoting the event around campus. According to the Red Cross, one blood donation has the capacity to save up to three lives, making these annual blood drives important to campus.

Fiona Sullivan is a nursing major at GC. She chose to donate her blood because she thinks it is one of the easiest ways you can help others in need.

“This cause, in particular, is really important to me because in my future career, I’ll probably see firsthand the effects of not having enough blood in emergency sit-

uations,” Sullivan said. According to the Red Cross, approximately every two seconds, someone in the United States is in need of blood. This makes blood drives very important, as it is a constant need in the U.S.

planning ahead of time.

Ashley Copeland is the director of community engagement and service at GC.

“On their end, they primarily work on staffing for the event, and as for us, we provide

The blood donated in the drives helps go toward helping people battling blood diseases and cancer, burn victims and more. Planning and executing a blood drive is not easy and often requires much preparation and

assistance with room reservation, reserving parking and just getting word out to the community,” Copeland said.

Brian Fern works for the Red Cross and has overseen a lot of these blood drives that have

been held at GC. According to Fern, the first blood drive held at GC was on Jan. 18, 1990, and has since then been held periodically at the school. The Give Center began coordinating with the Red Cross in 1997,

donated to the Red Cross, coming out to approximately 50,000 lives saved.

Asher Lybarger is a junior rhetoric major at GC as well as lead volunteer and event coordinator for the Give Center.

“I chose to donate

but it was not until 2002, when Paul Sedor became assistant Give Center director, that he began to head the mission. According to Fern, since the first blood drive was held on campus in the ‘90s, 15,456 units have been

MAJOR SPOTLIGHT: CHEMISTRY RAVEN GLOVER

Emma Eslinger Asst. News Editor

Chemistry is one of GC’s well-known science majors. Students take classes like organic chemistry, physics, calculus, biochemistry and many others. There are also two concentrations that students can add: biochemistry and forensic chemistry. There is also a pre-pharmacy track that students can take.

Raven Glover is a senior chemistry major. She plans to be a pharmacist after graduation.

“I want to be a pharmacist,” Glover said. “They said that chemistry was the most applicable major to that, in terms of rigor and coursework.”

One prerequisite that all students have to take is a GC1Y and a GC2Y. The GC1Y is taken first and then the GC2Y. These courses are available to students who are in their freshman and sophomore years. These courses can vary in their descriptions, some being documentary studies, exploring friendship, global

challenges and the history of rock and roll. These courses are only a few of a long list of GC1Y and GC2Y courses offered at GC. Glover took the GC2Y HIV and AIDS.

“It was a pleasure taking Dr. Butler’s GC2Y: HIV/AIDS,” Glover said. “Before college, I just wanted to be a pharmacist with no real direction, but that class really got me interested in investigating chronic illnesses in rural communities because that is where their predominant burden is. His class definitely catalyzed my interest in tackling rural health disparities.”

Throughout college, it is important to get involved in organizations and clubs as well as things that are outside of the GC campus. It can help you network and learn more about your interests and your chosen major. Glover makes it a priority to be involved in organizations at GC.

“I am the PR for GC Chem Club, and the social and community outreach chair of the

Public Health Student Organization,” Glover said. “I founded the Pre-Pharmacy Association, and I am also involved in GC Student Ambassadors. I am also an intern at the Rural Studies Institute. I am currently investigating the social determinants that impact maternal mortality on HIV- and AIDS-positive mothers in the Black Belt, specifically the Georgia Black Belt.”

Chemistry is a hard major. It takes a lot of time and effort. Glover does not want to hide the fact that it is challenging.

“I love the people,” Glover said. “Chemistry is chemistry, and chemistry is hard. You have to be surrounded by a good group of people and supportive faculty, or else it’s not worth it. Thankfully, it is worth it. Chemistry is also very broad. If you can, try to narrow your interests into something that you really want to do. Even if you can’t, you are still in a widely applicable degree. You will, most like-

Make time for the things that you want to enjoy.

-Raven Glover

ly, not be lost going into the career field after this.”

The chemistry major opens a lot of doors to students in many different career fields. Students can go on to be doctors, chemists, dentists, professors or, in Glover’s case, a pharmacist. This is only to name a few.

With her time at GC closing, Glover has been a part of many different leadership roles in clubs and organizations. She also has completed numerous achievements throughout her college experience. She makes sure that she is proud of what she is doing with her time at GC.

“I am a presidential scholar,” Glover said. “I am in the Leadership Certificate Program, which I am very happy to be a part of. I am also very proud of my pharmacy program, as I just had a meeting with a UGA rep-

They also ask that people only donate every 56 days, making their maximum donation limit being six times a year.

“The Red Cross picks the dates for the blood drives based on their schedule and then makes sure that it’s enough days away from a recent blood drive in that area so if someone wanted to donate at both of them, they could,” Copeland said.

blood for those who aren’t able to in hopes that when I need it, others will do the same for me,” Lybarger said.

The Red Cross requires their donors to be at least 16 years old and a minimum of 110 pounds.

The Red Cross has also made good health a donor-eligibility rule, as it protects both the donor and the patient who is to receive the transfusion of blood. They also have an app, the Blood Donor American Red Cross app, that allows its donors to track where their blood goes. This gives them the opportunity to track their donations’ journey as it travels toward a hospital, where it will help a person in need.

The GC blood drive brings together members of the community for a good cause and is an event that will continue to help those in need, one donation at a time.

resentative to speak. I am very excited about that.

I also love the Honors College discussions and seminars; I love going to those. I am also an intramural champ, which is the highlight of my life.”

Glover wants people to know that you should have fun in college and learn a lot. Learn about yourself, the people around you and from your experiences. She makes it a priority to pursue her passions.

“Your major doesn’t have to be your life,”

Glover said. “If you have other passions, feel free to pursue those. Don’t be

in a career field that you hate just because it was your first-chosen major. Do whatever you want! I do a ton of different things; time management is huge. Make time for the things that you want to enjoy; you need to make time for those.”

GC has helped catapult Glover into her goal of becoming a pharmacist. She has gained lifelong experiences and connections as well as has been involved in leadership roles. She makes time for the things she loves doing and is grateful for her time at GC.

Courtesy of Raven Glover

CHALK

Continued from page 1

“Our campus is not very politically active, and we want to change that by having conversations and bringing awareness to causes that are often overlooked from inside our bubble,” one of the three demonstrators said.

However, when the university removed the display, these students were no longer able to invoke this dialogue and bring “Stand With Palestine Day” to GC’s campus.

“The chalk, Facilities [GC Facilities Management Services] washed off because of where it was,” said Amanda Respess, director of public affairs at GC. “Not because of what it was, but because of where it was.”

A content-based restriction would be a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech, but the university states that the issue with this particular demonstration was unrelated to the content and purely removed due to the location.

Student organizations frequently chalk sidewalks across campus, often to support Greek Life, campaign for Student Government, advertise club meetings or promote religious groups.If other organizations chalk the same area and their messages are left alone by the university, washing away this specific demonstration would be unconstitutional.

Around 5 p.m. on Monday, April 8, a campus religious group chalked around the Bobcat Head advertising for a Tuesday night worship on front campus. As of Tuesday afternoon, the chalk was still visible.

Although there was a bit of rain overnight, the chalk was still visible and readable on Tuesday, with the religious group confirming that they had not redone anything after the initial Monday night chalking.

GC does have a chalk policy outlined in the online Policy Manual. It states that the chalking of university sidewalks does not require any prior approval from the university, with the

only other chalk-specific rule being “no chalking on vertical surfaces or brick.” However, there are other general rules that must be followed for campus advertising and expression.

“Profanity, offensive language/ images are not permitted, messaging should fit an audience of 17 years and older, questionable messaging may be reviewed for educational value and connection to university mission,” the Policy Manual states. “Official university logos and marks cannot be altered or manipulated.”

“It does not say you can’t write on the Bobcat Head in there explicitly, but nobody ever does,” Respess said.

The Campus Life Student Organization Handbook further specifies where and when demonstrations can take place. The Flagpole Plaza on the east side of Front Campus is listed as GC’s “Designated Public Forum Area.” Some notable public figures have used this area in the past, including Sister Cindy Smock during her controversial visit in January 2024.

“Free speech is celebrated on a public campus and speakers who wish to speak at the Designated Public Forum Area may do so as long as they aren’t disrupting university business, abusing the rights of individuals, or preventing pedestrians from getting to their destinations,” the handbook states.

In May 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act, which banned Georgia public colleges and universities from creating designated free speech zones. This means that colleges in Georgia can no longer restrict protests and other demonstrations to a specific location on campus. As long as they remain content-neutral, time, place and manner restrictions are still accepted under this legislation, as they keep demonstrations from disrupting regular campus activity.

Even though the students who chalked around the Bobcat Head were not actively standing and protesting or representing a student organiza-

tion, there are some rules they would be expected to adhere to. But there is still no mention of restrictions surrounding the Bobcat Head emblem.

“People never chalk around the Bobcat Head, and they definitely don’t chalk on it,” Respess said. “In my conversations with Dr. Nadler [interim vice president for Student Life], he said that needs to be explicitly added to the policy, like to say, “The Bobcat Head,” but, just like we wouldn’t allow chalk to remain on one of the Bobcat statues, like the one in front of May-

GC’s Nurse Midwifery master’s program is now fully accredited

Labor and delivery is a common field for nurses to go into after graduation, which is why GC has expanded its already popular nursing program recently in its master’s programs. Three years ago, the School of Nursing at GC implemented its Nurse Midwifery master’s program, and it received pre-accreditation this year; it is now a fully accredited program.

There are many misconceptions about what a midwife is, with many believing that it is just about home-birthing babies, but in reality, there is so much more. Mid-

wives will help with both prenatal and postpartum care as well as aiding in family planning and sexual-health screenings.

GC’s Nurse Midwifery master’s program is now the only one in the state of Georgia accepting applications and the only public Georgia university offering this program at all. It is still a competitive process, with only 10 spots available for the graduating classes. The program is almost completely online, with on-campus visits only being required twice throughout the program. The content is available to be taught online, as many of those who are a part of the program work at hospitals around the

state. To apply, a prospective student must have at least one year’s worth of labor-and-delivery training in the field.

The addition of an accreditation allows for the program to now be recognized nationwide. The recognition of the degree helps those who complete the training to be more likely to find jobs within the field.

Many nurse-midwives prefer this route compared to typical labor and delivery nursing because they get to be more hands-on and connect with their patient more.

“Although birth is a big focus of our job, we also do annual physicals and contraception and prenatal care,” said Monica

Ketchie, the head of GC’s Nurse Midwifery program. “I actually deliver the baby. I don’t work with a physician unless I specifically call them and need them for the case. I don’t do surgeries or anything like that.”

Among the nursing community here at GC, the word has spread that the midwife program is now accredited, leading to lots of excitement. The already popular and competitive nursing program now has another benefit to it with this new program being added.

“I do actually know about the midwife program and am interested in it,” said Ema Cole, a freshman nursing major. For some, the thought

fair or anything, it’s an art installation.” The university states that the removal had nothing to do with the message itself, despite allowing the chalk promoting the worship night to remain. Still, there is also not currently any explicit policy from GC reserving the right to remove chalk from the Bobcat Head. Ambiguity continues to surround the removal, as there is no policy the university can point to that supports that the removal of this demonstration from the Bobcat Head was due to location, not content.

of returning to school after being in the field for a year can seem daunting. Nursing degrees are known for allowing the graduate to be field-ready after just one four-year program. With this master’s degree, there would be one year in the field, minimum, as well as one more year of school added to the training.

“One of the things that drew me to nursing was that you could get a really good career in only four years,” said Haylee Kirkley, a third-semes-

ter nursing major. “As for now, grad school isn’t in the cards for me, but never say never.”

Nurse midwifery has a rigorous training program that will open a door to new possibilities in the nursing field — allowing for a more hands-on, one-on-one career, for example. At GC, the nursing program has already been highly awarded, but this new addition makes it even more impressive and draws more students into the program.

Isabelle Gonzales Staff Writer

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Courtesy of anonymous GC students

Chalk reading “300 taken,” surrounded by Palestinian flags

Kate Verity | Editor in Chief Worship night promotion from April 9

House Bill 1104 targets transgender youth

Jack McKinney Contributing Writer

House Bill 1104 was recently passed by the Georgia State Senate in a 33-21 decision, leaving the state’s House of Representatives as one of the final barriers before it can become law.

The bill has three focuses. First, it bans sex education from being taught in public schools below the sixth grade; second, it requires public schools to notify parents about library books checked out by students; and third, the primary focus of the bill, it restricts transgender and non-cisgendered youth from locker rooms and sports matching their identity if it does not align with their biological gender.

Non-cisgender youth, youth whose identity does not match their biological sex, have been at the forefront of several attacks and instances of harassment within the past few years. Critics of this bill claim that dangerous incidents will rise by restricting school participation of transgender and other non-cisgender youth.

“Denying transgender students a fair chance to play sports with their classmates, or forcing them into restrooms and locker rooms that don’t match their gender, puts them at increased risk of mental health challenge, harassment and bullying,” said Jeff Graham, the executive director of LGBTQ+ advocacy group Georgia Equality. “Our lawmakers need to stop this dangerous measure.”

However, this bill only recently included anti-trans rhetoric. Before March 19, when Republican state senators added language targeting transgender youth, the bill was originally proposed to offer mental health resources to student athletes.

“My bill was to prevent suicide,” said Omarl Crawford, the representative who proposed the original piece of legislation. “I don’t think that this bill does this now.”

Some GC students hold similar beliefs: that the original contaminants of the bill are diametrically opposed to the new revisions. Kat Mornhinweg, a sopho-

more computer science major, claims and expands this philosophy to incorporate a larger political dynamic.

“This bill is actually going to cause more suicides than it was originally intended to prevent,” Mornhinweg said. “This is happening throughout the country in every normally red [conservative-prominent] state, especially in the Midwest and South.”

Many states, such as Florida and Oklahoma, participate in these types of legislation, some arguing on a unique front: that parents have an innate say in the gender identity of their kids and surrounding youth.

“No matter what the male claims his gender identity is, it would be based on the birth cer-

tificate, and [they] would not be allowed to play in those girls’ sports,” said Clint Dixon, a Republican state senator in Georgia. “[This bill] protects children and empowers parents.”

The “empowers parents” sentiment is also reflected across the two other passages of the bill: banning sex education for public school students before sixth grade and requiring public schools to notify parents about library books checked out by students. This begs the question, why might debates about parental authority surround schools?

Kevin Spann, a political science lecturer at GC, considers there to be a long-standing tradition of conflict between parental values and the

government. Spann also claims that schools happen to be a potent area for this conflict to take place, hence explaining why public education is continuous in trailblazing political initiatives.

“For better or worse, public schools have always been at the forefront of social change,” Spann said. “From the Scopes Monkey Trial, to integration to debates regarding the extent of First Amendment rights for minors, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. In a diverse pluralist democracy, public schools simply represent a friction point where parental values and government policy naturally intersect and sometimes come into conflict.”

Nonetheless, one thing is definite regard-

Milledgeville opens new “Tale Trail”

Featuring “Grayson’s Playdate” by Steve Zachary Jr.

Cali Snodgrass Contributing Writer

The “Tale Trail” at Collins P. Lee Community Center was officially opened to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also revealed the new memorial bench of beloved community member Deacon Joseph Ward Sr.

On April 2, the event lasted for roughly an hour, with many people in attendance, ranging from families living in the area, people and organizations who helped create the Tale Trail as well as Ward Sr.’s family and the author of the book used in the Tale Trail.

ing this conflict: Greater parental authority in public schooling can have unpredictable effects on the health, privacy and safety of students. Some GC students consider these effects to be amplified for gender-transitioning youth, especially for those of unsupportive parents.

“If your parents are supportive of that [LGBTQ+ identifying persons], then parental notifications for LGBTQ+-centered books shouldn’t be a problem, but there are a lot of people out there who are trans or non-binary who don’t have that kind of support from their parents,” Mornhinweg said. “If their parents are notified about that, that is dangerous — incredibly dangerous.”

Considering these dangers, the general changes to House Bill 1104 raise many deeply ethical and political questions. While the bill remains on the State House floor for upcoming voting, the future for non-cisgendered youth is certainly significant, yet unpredictable.

This whole event was a massive community project that accumulated in a fun, interactive way for the kids in the area to both get exercise and increase literacy. Many people were excited about the change and looking forward to the future changes that are to come, especially due to the many struggles the children of the community had faced.

“We have always tried to provide reasonable educational bridges out here,” said Tommy French, who is in charge of facilitating and managing the meetings for the Harrisburg neigh-

borhood community. “That’s why we’re getting a new library system. Years ago, our education rate was really low in this area — which it has improved a lot but went down somewhat during COVID, so that’s been a big issue for us, but we plan to improve literacy here today.”

When looking for a children’s book to display for the Tale Trail, they wanted a local author who grew up in the area and knew what it was like being a kid in this kind of area. They managed to find Steve Zachary Jr., who wrote several books starring his young son Grayson. Seeing someone from their community allows for the kids to better connect with the story and be more willing to learn.

“I am amazed at the amount of attention “Grayson’s Playdate” has accumulated here in Georgia and Milledgeville,” Zachary Jr. said. “I really feel as if this book is not just going to impact the kids here in Harrisburg but the kids that visit, the ones that the parents actually come out here with the kids and give them the energy and love and support to not just read but understand what they read.”

And while the Tale Trail has already drawn in a large crowd to explore the park and community center, it is not the only plan in place to better help the kids of Harrisburg and any who happen to come through the area.

“This is a center where folks from all over this neighborhood come to gather, so I see it as an opportunity for lots of

parents and their children to talk, to look through the book, and we’re going to change it quarterly so it’ll continue to grow and evolve over time,” said Lindee Morgan, the executive director of the Deal Center.

With the story changing quarterly, it ensures that the Tale Trail will always bring forth excitement for the kids to further their literacy and get out to walk along the trail with their families, but even then, there are more plans in place to not only keep the Tale Trail relevant but the whole park as well.

“The Tale Trail can’t be fully completed because this whole area is going to be relandscaped,” French said. “The trail is going to be much longer. There’s going to be a regional library here; all the parking lots and playground are going to be changed. So, it’s going to be a totally different area.”

One more surprise added to the area alongside the Tale Trail was a memorial bench dedi-

cated to Deacon Joseph Ward Sr. He was a beloved member of the community, with many people praising him as the kind of man you could always talk to, and he would always have something funny to say.

“He was a wonderful person,” said Evelyn Wright, a close family friend. “He always had a joke to tell that made everybody laugh. He did try to help all he could.”

He also helped the park, where he set up a wonderful community garden where anyone could go grow crops or flowers of their choosing. In fact, the words engraved on his bench just above his name read “We’re not just building a garden; we’re building a community.”

Overall, the park at Collins P. Lee Community Center is continuing its reputation of developing new and innovative ways to encourage the children of Harrisburg to learn and interact with the world around them in meaningful ways.

Courtesy of Cali Snodgrass

Transgender Pride flags in front of track

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S MARCH MADNESS REACHES THE FINAL FOUR

Christian Castillo Staff Writer

The Elite Eight of the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments were packed with exciting games. North Carolina State University highlighted the men’s side with an upset victory over the Duke University Blue Devils to reach the Final Four. A rematch of last year’s national championship, the University of Iowa vs. Louisiana State University, highlighted the women’s side.

Being an 11-seed, NC State was the highest-seeded team still alive in the Elite Eight.

The Wolfpack went on an amazing run to reach the Final Four, which started in the ACC conference tournament.

After a regular season record of 17-14, they sat in 10th place in the conference. They proceeded

RULES

Continued from page 1

The league cited a high injury rate on plays where “hip-drop” tackles occurred as well as a vote on the rule by owners throughout the league to be reasons for the ban.

to win five games in five days to become the ACC champions, beating both fellow schools in their state, Duke and the University of North Carolina. NC State charged to a 76-74 victory over Duke for their second victory over the Blue Devils in the month of March. Behind another

out the tournament.

Standing at 6’9” and weighing 275 pounds, guarding him has been no fun for opposing teams. Throughout the tournament, Burns has gained multiple NIL deals and fame with his performances.

The University of Connecticut continued

ued that trend to roll into the Final Four with ease.

“I don’t see anybody realistically beating UConn,” said Sean Davis, a senior exercise science major. “They’re so stacked, and their run so far has just been insane.”

The women’s Elite Eight was lit up with a star-studded rematch of

Iowa would ultimately come out on top and advance after a 94-87 victory. The first half was very evenly matched, ending with a score of 45-45. Both teams came out firing and kicked off the game with high-scoring first quarters.

The difference in the game came from Iowa’s

inspiring, 29-point performance by DJ Burns, the Wolfpack were able to outscore Duke.

Burns has become quite the figure through-

The NFL Players Association, or NFLPA, released a statement regarding the ban, saying that they could not support a rule change that would be confusing to players, coaches, officials and fans.

their dominance with a 25-point win over the University of Illinois. The Huskies have looked unstoppable for most of the tournament and contin-

The rule change has been spoken out against via social media platforms by defensive players who feel that part of the game is starting to be taken away from them.

New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun

last year’s national championship. Iowa, led by Caitlin Clark, was set to take on defending champion LSU, led by the “Bayou Barbie,” Angel Reese.

Bentley displayed his protest for the ban with a post on X. “Y’all must not have had to tackle these dudes before,” Bentley said.

Bentley is not the only player who takes issue with this rule change, as

Flau’jae Johnson led LSU in scoring with 23 points, while Reese tallied 17. A major moment in the game came in the fourth quarter when Reese fouled out of the game.

Clark took over the game for the Hawkeyes, scoring 41 points and having 12 assists to facilitate her teammates in scoring.

“Caitlin Clark is amazing,” said Kara Dial, a senior nursing major. “She has done so much for the game of women’s basketball and will continue to do so at the next level. Angel Reese has also changed the game in a lot of ways. Thanks to players like this and South Carolina’s team, the sport has definitely advanced and is in a little bit of a shining era right now.”

24-point third quarter, in which LSU only scored 13 points. In the fourth quarter, LSU turned it up a little bit in an effort to mount a comeback. However, Iowa kept the pace to pull off the win.

even retired players are sharing their thoughts.

“Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them,” said J.J. Watt, a former NFL defensive lineman and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

In recent years, many rule changes and new penalties have changed what defensive players are allowed to do, with player safety being a main concern.

“I feel for players on defense because the most frequent changes to the game are somewhat handicapping them by

limiting what they can do to stop a ball carrier,” said John Nagy, a senior mass communication major.

“These guys have made it to the highest level by playing the game the way they were taught as kids.

Taking techniques away from largely just one side of the ball comes off as unfair, but I do understand player-safety concerns. I think the league just wants to see more points scored.”

These new rules will be implemented into the game at the start of the

season.

Shohei Ohtani caught in betting scandal

Ty Karraker Staff Writer

The Major League Baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani has become a headline in the sports world, as his longtime friend and interpreter has been accused of stealing $4.5 million from his bank account.

The commissioner’s office broke its silence on the topic and revealed what the MLB was planning to do.

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei [Mizuhara] from the news media,” said an anonymous source within the commissioner’s office.

This is the biggest gambling scandal in the MLB since Pete Rose agreed to a lifetime ban

Ohtani initially stated that he had agreed to pay the debt that Ippei Mizuhara owed to a bookie, but since his initial statement, Ohtani has gone on the record saying he had no idea about the money being taken from his account.

in 1989 after his scandal involving betting on games in the MLB.

Despite a lawsuit and investigation being underway, fans all over the league have many questions regarding Ohtani’s involvement in the scandal, with some speculating that Mizuhara took the fall for the star player to avoid tarnishing his reputation as one of the main faces of the league.

Despite the current investigation regarding Ohtani, he has been present on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster

throughout the start of the season. Some fans believe he has been receiving unfair treatment due to his fame, as most players dealing with a scandal of this magnitude would face a suspension until the investigation concludes.

Mizuhara, the now-former translator for the superstar, confessed to betting but claimed it was within the rules of the sport because he never bet on any MLB games.

“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara said. “That is 100%. I knew that rule. We have a meeting about that in spring training.”

This statement, while confirming that Mizuhara did bet on sports, should weaken a suspension if Ohtani was involved, given that the bets were on international soccer instead of baseball. So, fans can have a sigh of relief knowing if

the rumors are true, it will not be another Rose situation resulting in a lifelong ban from the sport and causing ineligibility from the Hall of Fame.

However, many fans of baseball are outraged that he is currently able to play because most MLB players, no matter their status of stardom, would be held from playing until their name had been completely cleared and the federal investigation had concluded. In this new scandal, the MLB has allowed the two-way star to continue playing.

Clare Thoman, a freshman psychology and Spanish major, is one of many who believe that the star is getting special treatment.

“I think it’s unfair that Shohei is getting this treatment,” Thoman said. “All players should be treated equally, not special treatment based on their success and popularity.”

MEBANE EARNS PBC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

In a great week of baseball, GC junior infielder Matthew Mebane was chosen to be the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week as well as Zaxby’s Player of the Week. The PBC Player of the Week award recognizes his outstanding skill, teamwork and dedication with the team. The Zaxby’s Player of the Week award goes to an athlete who has shown to remarkably be the best player for that week.

The Bobcats played three contests last week, all of which were conference contests with Flagler College. Throughout that

series, he went 6-13 to drive in six RBIs and score three times on two home runs and a double.

Mebane started the three-game series strong by going 2-4 with a run scored in the opening game. In the second matchup, he managed a 1-4 performance, driving in a run.

Mebane showcased his power in the final game, going 3-5 with two home runs and a double, resulting in five RBIs and two runs scored, sealing the series sweep in style.

“My play against Flagler was pretty good but not perfect, but I think I was putting myself into places to suc-

ceed,” Mebane said. “I was seeing the pitches well and taking pitches that were balls that they wanted me to chase and was hitting the balls that I should have been hitting.”

At the end of the week, Mebane tops the conference charts with 14 home runs, ranks fourth in slugging percentage at .768, sits fifth in OPS with 1.201 and holds the sixth position in RBIs.

“Matthew has been one of our hottest hitters this season,” said Lex Kenny, a sophomore right-handed pitcher. “He’s been competing for the most home runs in the D2 conference and has stayed consis-

Many fear that if baseball continues to treat situations differently based on stardom and talent, the overall integrity of baseball will be compromised. Proving Ohtani’s connection to Mizuhara’s debts may present challenges, yet it’s important for baseball to honor former players who faced career-ending allegations in the past.

As fans of the sport watch this situation unfold, they will have to wait and see how Ohtani’s involvement is revealed. There is always a chance that he may be the bettor, but fans cannot overlook the unfair treatment that the superstar has received during this scandal.

The truth behind the matter should be revealed soon, but for now, the whole situation is currently up for debate as to whether it is true or if people are blowing this way out of proportion.

tent during our games.”

Mebane’s success on the diamond does not come easily. He has had to work hard to put himself in a position to perform well.

“I think the hard work and dedication to my craft as a hitter is what brings success,” Mebane said. “The hard work that is put in when no one is

watching is what makes it easier to hit when game time rolls around.”

His effect on the team goes beyond a gametime performance.

“He brings a lot of positive vibes to our offense,” said Braeden Smith, a freshman outfielder. “Matthew is a great person to have on your team and is al-

ways uplifting others.”

The acknowledgment not only honors Mebane’s outstanding individual achievements but also shines a spotlight on the team’s collective talent and skill. Fans can anticipate witnessing both the team’s ongoing success and Mebane’s impressive performances.

Ohtani with former interpreter Mizuhara

Samantha Birmingham Staff Writer

Courtesy of GC Athletics

Mebane winds up to throw

KING & QUEEN OF DIAMONDS ADPI’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING PAGEANT

Addison White Contributing Writer

Alpha Delta Pi held their annual philanthropy pageant, planned by Julia Tipper, the vice president of philanthropy for ADPI on April 2, 2024. This pageant is a fun way for ADPI to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House in Macon, Georgia.

The event was hosted by the president of ADPI, Meadow Etheridge, and another ADPI member, Madelyn Poss. They cracked jokes and introduced the wonderful contestants of the night.

“It took months of planning,” Tipper, a sophomore exercise science major, said. “We started off by designing the T-shirts and just thinking about the event and all that we wanted to have a part of, and then we started reaching out to the different sororities and fraternities to get contestants. For the event, I was in charge of everything. I wrote the script, reached out to people to sign up for the event and then worked backstage alongside my roommates.”

There were 14 contestants: seven girls and seven boys. There were also three judges, who judged their answers and talents to make a final decision on who should win queen and

king of diamonds. The first thing they did was introduce themselves and explain how they represented the queen and king of diamonds.

Next, they showed off their unique talents. The list of talents included singing, deadlifting, twirling, keyboard, the Dougie, violin, electric guitar, the triangle, acoustic guitar and even a man egging his brother from inside a trash can and referring to it as “pure magic.”

“I started playing guitar last July and have worked every day since then,” said Reese Hadden, a sophomore management major. “It was awesome to show off that talent.”

Lastly, they were asked to pull random questions and answer them as best they could onstage. They were asked silly questions like “If you were a food, what would you be?” or “If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?”

Then, as the audience waited in suspense for the judges to determine the queen and king of diamonds, the banner and pop-tab winners were announced first. Every sorority and fraternity decorated a banner, and the judges chose which one was best. They also all donated pop tabs to

GUTS (spilled)

The Ronald McDonald House, and a winner was chosen based on who donated the most.

The banner winners were Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Zeta. The pop-tab winners were also Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Zeta.

Next, the audience got to enjoy a video on the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia and its impact on ADPI.

According to Ronald McDonald House Charities, a Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home so they can stay close to their hospitalized child at little to no cost. They believe that “home” is more than four walls and a roof over your head. That is why every Ronald McDonald House is a haven for families with children in the hospital. It provides all the comforts of home, plus the compassion of staff, volunteers and other families, all just steps away from the hospital.

“For me, it’s really important because our philanthropy is really special to me,” Tipper said. “And being able to raise money and help such a great charity is really special.”

Lastly was the big reveal of this year’s king and queen of diamonds. This year’s king of diamonds was Hadden who represented Alpha Tau Omega

GC “obsessed” with Rodrigo’s deluxe release

At Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS Tour in Chicago, Illinois, on March 19, 2024, the singer announced in the middle of her hit song “get him back!,” that “GUTS (spilled),” the deluxe version of her latest album, would be released the following Friday. The deluxe version would include five songs: one that was previously released only on vinyl and the rest brand new.

“‘GUTS (spilled)’ put into words what healing from a toxic situation looks like,” said Bailey Parker, a junior English major. “It also puts into words what being in a relationship with someone

you don’t love as much as they love you looks like, what having a crush on your boyfriend looks like and what jealousy looks like in such a beautiful and emotionally vulnerable way that most girls either can relate to or put themselves into.”

Many of Rodrigo’s fans were quick to show support for the album.

The songs associated with the deluxe release got 59,820,552 streams in the first week. The deluxe version of Rodrigo’s sophomore album won Billboard’s Top New Music of the Week only a day after release, winning 43% of the vote.

“They were some of her most well-written songs to date and were

(ATO), and the queen of diamonds was GracieLane Bray, who represented Alpha Gamma. “It feels good to have won,” Hadden said. “It was really fun. I enjoyed it and had a good time. I am thankful for the opportunity. It means a lot to have won king. I am happy to have won with the ATO logo on. It is awesome.”

The queen was just as grateful.

“It feels so amazing to have won,” Bray, a junior early education major, said. “I put so much dedication and effort into my routine and preparation for this pageant. I am so happy and proud of myself and all of the other candidates. To me, it is an opportunity to represent myself well on campus and bring more awareness to ADPI’s philanthropy. Blood, sweat and tears went into this pageant. I’ve been practicing for a month, and it’s been a great distraction from school. It’s even taught me dedication and effort.” ADPI raised over $5,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia.

absolutely emotionally brilliant,” Parker said. “She is one of the greatest songwriters of our time, and these songs, specifically ‘stranger,’ my favorite, are testaments to that.”

The most streamed song on the album was “obsessed,” which Ro-

drigo revealed she and collaborator Daniel Nigro wrote three years ago. The song received 23,030,275 streams on Spotify alone and included a music video release on YouTube with over 7 million views.

The second most famous song was “so american,” which received 13,760,966 streams and the artist stated on her

Instagram account she was “especiallyyy excited about.” Many fans were quick to realize the song was about Rodrigo’s relationship with English actor Louis Partridge. The two were confirmed to be dating in October 2023, when Partridge was spotted at many of Rodrigo’s tour stops. The two are a fan-favorite pairing, with many fans showing support for the young star-studded couple.

Even with “obsessed” and “so american” winning in terms of streaming numbers, fans showed much love for all of the artist’s new songs, which showed a variety of emotions through a relationship. “I tend to enjoy her slower songs, so I was a big fan of ‘scared of my guitar,’” said Kara May, a junior nursing major. “Her fast-paced

stuff is fantastic too, but I love how she expresses her emotions during her slower pieces. ‘scared of my guitar’ is just so emotional and gut-wrenching that you can’t help but love it.”

At just 21, Rodrigo jumped to No. 2 in the charts, sold over 73,000 copies of the deluxe edition, and had the second biggest release week on Spotify in 2024, just behind Ariana Grande. All of this was achieved by releasing only five songs. The three-time Grammy Award winner still has much to look forward to in her career. Only into month two of her seven-month tour, when the artist has received over $4 million in revenue, Livies, a name for Rodrigo fans, can look forward to what promises to be a very successful career for Rodrigo.

Courtesy of Addison White Reese Hadden & GracieLane Bray | 2024 King & Queen of Diamonds

Ellie Smith Staff Writer

Courtesy of Kylie Rowe | Asst. A&L Editor

Courtesy of Molly Geraci

Courtesy of Addison White

ECLIPSE

Continued from page 1

Some Christian biblical philosophers take the eclipse as a time to feel awe and thank God, referencing Psalm 19:1 that “ ...the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Several Muslims observe a similar belief, taking the eclipse as time to reconnect and remember God’s creation.

At GC, students went outside to ob-

serve the eclipse for only the second time in most of their lifetimes.

“I love it; unfortunately, it is not going to be in totality, so I cannot see the corona or Baily’s beads, but I am glad we can see it now,” said Peyton Cusick, a senior computer science major.

The corona is the halo effect created during a total eclipse. It describes when the Moon is completely aligned in front of the sun and

all that is visible is a whitish light around the face of the Moon.

Baily’s beads are simi-

the Moon’s shadow, but they get their name because the effect mirrors little beads of light.

lar, in that they appear poking out from around

Though Milledgeville was far from the effects

of totality, students could still feel the difference in the temperature when the eclipse was taking place.

“It got cold for a little bit at the peak time of 3:05:43,” Cusick said.

The Physics Club was handing out glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse so that students who wanted to take part in the viewing would be able to do so safely. An eclipse is a great astronomical wonder, but according to NASA, the eclipse does

not change the danger that can be caused by viewing any part of the Sun without protection.

“The Sun looks like the Moon right now,” said Sydney Logan, a junior management information systems major.

Even though the shape that the Sun makes behind the Moon appears the same as a crescent Moon in the night sky, it is not safe to view with the naked eye.

Camila Cabello - “I LUV IT (feat Playboi Carti)”

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

OPINION

In recent memory,

I still cannot believe former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello’s “I LUV IT,” which features Opium ring leader Playboi Carti, exists. The track, which samples Atlanta legend Gucci Mane’s 2009 song “Lemonade,” feels like

something created by artificial intelligence.

Before “I LUV IT,” I would not have been able to tell you a single Camila Cabello song besides “Havana,” which is a good track in its own right but also features my favorite rapper of all time, Young Thug — unless you count Fifth Harmony’s “Work From Home.”

If I am being honest, I did not even know she

was still making music.

Carti is one of my favorite working artists, not just rappers. But this is the man who calls himself “King Vamp” and wears all black — at all times. As an artist, his vibe is completely different from Cabello’s, which is why I am still confused as to how this song came to be. And his verse, which is OK, I guess, feels completely out of place against Cabello’s pitchedup refrain of “I love it.”

That refrain, “I love it; I love it; I love it; I love it,” is capital-‘A’ annoying and what I imagine people who do not listen to hyperpop think the genre is: peppy bubblegum-pop vocals over a fast, glitchy instrumental — and nothing more. And as someone

who is a huge fan of SOPHIE, Charli XCX, 100 gecs and all of the other boundary-breaking artists who have worked to push pop in new, exciting directions, it is frustrating to see Cabello rip off the “aesthetics” of their music without adding anything of her own.

The music video for the song is even more of a jarring experience than listening to the track itself. Every shot — Cabello dancing blindfolded, Cabello drinking a cup full of gasoline — is a vapid attempt at being provocative.

The second half, in which Carti appears, takes place in a gas station, seemingly the same one the video for Carti’s recent single “2024” — the song which served as

the full-fledged launch of his new deep-voice, Future-inspired sound

— was filmed at. As Carti delivers his verse, Cabello is seen sitting on a freezer, making awkward gestures, in the background. In three and a half minutes, it is clear the two have zero chemistry, making their collaboration all the more puzzling.

At the end of all this, I am left wondering what the point was. Who thought this was a good idea? It comes off as nothing more than an attempt to be “#quirky,” trying far too hard to garner attention and far too little to produce anything of substance. And I know Carti’s music is not high art, but his beat selection and delivery

BALDWIN COUNTY’S NEW AQUATIC CENTER

Phase one of Baldwin County’s new aquatic center is officially underway. After a contract of almost $5 million was recently approved, construction has begun at the Walter B. Williams Junior Park, the site of the old prison property along GA-22 West.

The new aquatic center will contain many amenities, including a large pool, water slides, a lazy river, splash pads and concessions. After seven years, the county has selected Dyer Construction to begin the process.

Phase one is scheduled to be complete by Memorial Day Weekend 2025.

“I think a water park will be an excellent addition to Milledgeville

because we currently have nothing like it here or anywhere near here,” said Cami Willis, a sophomore marketing major. “I went to a few water parks growing up, and I have many fond memories from them.”

The goal of this project is to boost the local economy and provide more summer jobs, not to mention summer fun for Milledgeville locals and college students. The central location will also provide easy access for the Baldwin County community but also for surrounding counties.

The water park is a big investment. However, Baldwin County officials have hopes that it will become a large revenue generator through the many features it will

offer, such as a large parking lot for local and out-of-town visitors. The park design includes ample lighting, which provides after-hour rental opportunities, like private birthday parties and other group events.

The hours have not been finalized, but they currently stand at opening at 11 a.m. and closing around 5 p.m. Aside from the fun, free swimming lessons will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., along with the lazy river for senior citizens at the same time. After-hours events will be held after 6 p.m.

“5 million is a lot of money,” said Mackenzie Day, a sophomore nursing major. “I believe that there are other ways to use 5 million to bet-

is always interesting; it sounds different from other hip-hop, as corny and cliché as that is.

But who knows? Maybe “I LUV IT” will get in front of as many faces as it needs to, get as many clicks as it needs to, to make it a hit and make it worth it for Cabello and her team to build an entire album around this “sound.”

And, above all else, I am left wondering why Carti is spending his time on things like this instead of promoting — and releasing — “MUSIC,” his upcoming album. Seemingly everyone thought it was coming out in January; it is April. Will it come out this year? Will it ever come out? I do not know anymore.

ter the city rather than putting in a water park.

I don’t believe that a water park would entice more students to come to Georgia College because some current students are not enticed by the idea.” College students do not get much downtime, and there are not many places to spend off days in Baldwin County. Similarly, not every student has access to a pool. Whether students prefer to spend free time tanning, read-

ing, swimming or being outside in general, this new park just might become a new hangout spot. Having an aquatic center a couple minutes from campus could possibly attract future students to the campus.

“A water park is a fun idea and can provide something fun for a summer afternoon, but I just don’t see how that could benefit the county more than money for schools,” said Grace Wallace, a sophomore nursing

major. “I think that the money should have been put towards the Baldwin County School System.” This water park could become an economic engine for Baldwin County. It will provide more jobs and tax dollars, which in turn will benefit the county as a whole. Investments like these are always tricky, but with phase one in the works, students, locals and visitors can look forward to the many pool days to come.

Courtesy of Kylie Rowe | Asst. A&L Editor

Alexis Maddox Staff Writer

Courtesy of Kylie Rowe | Asst. A&L Editor

Camila Cabello

NOTES FROM PAIGE’S PLAYBILL: “THE FEAST” DIRECTED BY MARY MORGAN COLLIER

Paige Blakemore A&L Editor

OPINION

In recent memory,

The Black Box Theatre at GC has housed some of the theatre department’s most eclectic and engaging shows for their college demographic despite the limited seating and space. There is a certain electricity housed in the four walls that performers seem to effortlessly tap into.

“The Feast,” by Cory Finley and directed by Mary Morgan Collier, a senior theatre and English major, is another testament to this. From April 3-6, audiences were fed the psychological deterioration of a struggling artist.

“I was really excited to bring this to Georgia College because it is so different from anything I have ever read,” Collier said. “We have a lot of great theatre happening around here, but I can’t think of a show in recent memory that involved an audience quite like this.”

Upon entering the theatre, before the show starts, the audience is met with a pre-show performance of Spencer Roberts, a senior theatre major, entranced while working on a painting. This painting becomes essential to the story’s plot.

Roberts plays Matt, the protagonist artist on the brink of insanity. Prior to meeting the characters, Matt has be-

gun to hear screaming in his sewer pipes, specifically from his toilet. His girlfriend Anna, played by Dawson Babischkin, a senior theatre major, writes the matter off as a plumbing issue.

When a plumber unexpectedly shows up at Matt’s door offering assistance, Matt’s stark decline is made evident. The plumber, played by Chaps Schremmer, a senior theatre major, takes on multiple ominous roles throughout the play as The Man. Collier describes the character as a human manifestation or extension of Matt’s own insecurities.

Schremmer is an impossible-to-ignore force while on stage. He commands attention in each character he takes on during the play.

As a self-proclaimed mega fan of Roberts’ performances, his portrayal of Matt is a triumph and one to be applauded. During a scene in which Matt is confessing to his therapist about traveling down the pipes to visit the screaming souls, Roberts is so disturbingly convincing and urgently truthful that you forget you are watching someone slowly becoming unstable and not a work of fantasy.

“Spencer is truly an incredible actor who knows how to authentically submerge himself in a role,” Collier said.

“Sometimes, he does so very literally. As a theatrical artist and writer, he can heavily relate to Matt’s life. I also love to

tell everyone about how he had an eerie painting hanging over his toilet years before he had ever

heard of ‘The Feast.’” Matt begins to paint the Creatures he has encountered but fears that he has disturbed them. His obsessive and compulsive behavior towards his painting affects everyone around

him, including his girlfriend. Amid the chaos, Anna admits to having an affair with a co-worker that only sends Matt spiraling further.

As with everything I have seen her in, a tribute to her brilliance and versatility as an actor, Babischkin was a perfect casting choice. Babischkin’s portrayal of Anna is strong-willed and determined enough to love Matt but also strong enough to leave him for her own sake.

During the climax of the show, Matt’s painting appears to be not only controlling him but also the world around him.

With eerie lighting design by Patrick Schoen, a junior theatre major, the audience sees glimpses of the Creatures from the pipes and the painting that have now materialized in Matt’s apartment.

Between the unknown and sitting in flashing lights, it is a similar feeling to entering a haunted house attraction. No one knows what is coming next or where the Creatures might be. For an audience member, it is frightening and exhilarating.

I, personally, have never experienced a theatrical experience quite like it.

While Matt seems to have regained control of his mental state by the end of the show, it is evident he has not when the Creatures make their way out of the shadows to hold Matt’s hand. Matt is now one with the Creatures.

Collier has somewhat of a track record for effectively presenting dismal stories, specifically ones focused on making art. She credits works such as “Donnie Darko” and “Inland Empire” for inspiration in her direction for this project.

“‘The Feast’ is rather dark and upsetting, but I think it has a lot of comedy and joy in it,” Collier said. “I think the end is particularly real and uplifting despite its visual strangeness. We spend so much time with a haunted man who denies every person who wants to help him. He doesn’t escape his demons, but he learns to live with them as best as he can.”

From the storyline to the performances to the lighting to the intentional directing, “The Feast” is sure to capture the twisted imaginations and darker curiosity of its viewers.

“The audience themselves are at a feast; they voyeuristically watch the characters, who are limited to a frame like the subjects of Matt’s painting,” Collier said. “After all, Matt’s painting is placed at the border of the fourth wall. Not everyone is a painter, but everyone has a toilet and pipes that occasionally creak.”

Courtesy of Mary Morgan Collier Dawson Babischkin, Spencer Roberts and Creatures

Courtesy of GC Theatre Department

Courtesy of Mary Morgan Collier

Spencer Roberts and Dawson Babischkin

POST-GRAD

Continued from page 1

“A certain density of educated workers also makes a place attractive for businesses, which create jobs that attract more talented people, and so forth,” said Jeff Guo at The Washington Post. “So it’s not hard to see why cities fret over talent, which tends to go hand-in-hand with

growth and prosperity.”

It is just a fact that educated workers tend to have greater opportunities in cities. Employers are often looking to hire people who have at least a four-year degree. With the abundance of hiring employers in a city, there is less job competition too. If the point of going to college is to have a better opportunity to get a job, why not

go where there are the most job opportunities?

When I say it is more enticing to live in a city post-college, I am not talking about a big city, like New York City, unless that just has exactly what you are looking for.

I mean a smaller city; a little country city, like Charlotte, North Carolina. You get the city experience while still getting that small(ish)

town charm we so love. Plenty of people want to say that they would love to live in a small town, but there is only so much that a small town can offer young people who have big dreams.

However, there is no need to plant roots just yet. We are young! We are exploring the world and ourselves as adults! We are still searching for our passions! Unless you are married or have a job already lined up, I personally do not see why living in the city would not be anything but a great experience.

From pop icon to country superstar: Beyoncé releases country album

Iconic superstar Beyoncé hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her new song “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” just a week after it was released. Shortly after, she announced that she would be dropping an entire country album, “COWBOY CARTER,” which became available March 29.

The new singles she recently released became very popular in a very short amount of time proving, yet again, she is one of the greats of the music industry. I can see why “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” was so talked about too. When I first heard this song, I loved it right off the bat. I thought it was a very fun and upbeat song to just get up and dance to and have a good time. Beyoncé never fails to produce entertaining and catchy songs, and that can even be seen through her large collection of Grammy’s.

Beyoncé is a huge public figure and well known for being a great vocalist and for her amazing artistry. However, the first news of a country album had some people in shock. Her switch from pop icon to country superstar has people perplexed. Some fans were initially concerned with her releasing a whole country album because she is not a country artist, and she has been receiving a lot of negative feedback.

It goes to show that

Beyoncé has received a lot of positive feedback on her new album despite the hate towards it at first.

“It’s a warmup for what follows, which is some of Beyoncé’s best vocal work on record, produced flawlessly and at the forefront of each track,” said Brittany Spanos, a writer for Rolling Stone.

The reason I think she is receiving hate for creating a country album is that it is purely because she is not a country singer. She is mainly known for writing in the R&B

raised in Houston. At her core, she is a southern soul. So, why can she not produce country music?

Country legend Dolly Parton recently took to Instagram to support Beyoncé. Parton herself is also featured on “COWBOY CARTER,” and Beyoncé covered/ remixed Parton’s hit song “Jolene,” spicing up the lyrics and giving the classic her own soulful flair.

“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited she’s done a country album,” Parton said on Instagram.

gory. She is just looking into a new sound and people are mad about it?

“Not even 24 hours after its release, Spotify revealed that the Grammy-winning artist’s country album became its most-streamed album in a single day in 2024 so far,” said Carly Thomas with The Hollywood Reporter. “The music giant also noted that it was the first time a country album had held that title this year.”

I did not hear anyone complain about Post Malone perform-

mad that he made an appearance at the CMAs, singing Joe Diffie’s “John Deere Green” and “Pickup Man” with Morgan Wallen and HARDY.

“Reactions to his CMA Awards performance have been overwhelmingly positive on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter,” said Eva Terry, a writer for Deseret News. “One user wrote, ‘Dear Post Malone, Go make that country album. Call up Sturgill to produce it. Get Dwight Yoakam’s band. What-

genre, and that genre is what she has won all of her Grammy’s in. She is not known for country music and people were not loving the switch.

However, why would any singer need to appear exclusively a country artist to enjoy and produce country music?

Beyoncé herself is from Texas. She was born and

An icon of country music herself said that she is a fan of Beyoncé and that she is happy she is making a country album. If Parton, as a country music artist herself, welcomes Beyoncé, then so should country listeners. Beyoncé is simply embracing a new style of music in what I would call a rock-country cate-

ing at the Country Music Awards, or CMAs. If anything, he got a lot of positive feedback and support. After his performance, many fans wanted him to embrace the sound and come out with a country album. Malone is more known for being in the hip-hop or rap genres, and yet very few people were

ever you gotta do, make it happen. Sincerely, Everybody. #CMAawards.’”

If anything, I think country music lovers should be happy that musicians can shuffle between genres. In my opinion, as a country music lover myself, I think it is awesome that other artists want to embrace country music, as

long as it is done tastefully. I think country music should be something shared and that it can be a genre that everyone can love and be a part of. Like most things, it should not be held into a specific category of people. Music is something that is meant to be shared among various types of people, and it should not matter where you come from to enjoy music. In other words, you do not need to be from the country in order to enjoy country music, so why do you have to be a country-music star in order to create good country music?

“Although music can certainly be played and listened to alone, in the shower or on your iPod, it is also a powerful social magnet,” said Jill Suite, a writer for Greater Good magazine. “After all, a music concert is one of the few times when we will gather together with thousands of other people to engage in a shared activity.” There is so much truth in that quote. People can enjoy music on their own, but music is something that can bring people together who are from various backgrounds or different walks of life. So, why are people upset that Beyoncé wants to reach a wider variety of people? All love to Beyoncé for wanting to embrace her roots and share her music with the world no matter what category it is placed in because music is supposed to bring people together, not tear them apart.

Delaney Derry Opinion Editor

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Photo by Blair Caldwell Beyoncé