Issue 9 | Volume 103

Leading Change:

Women’s Leadership Conference encourages GC women to “flourish forward”

Rebecca Ocampo Staff Writer

Georgia College hosted its sixth annual Women’s Leadership Conference this past Friday, March 29. The theme of this year’s conference was to flourish forward, and it aimed to encourage and teach women about holistic wellness.

The conference first began in 2018 as a women’s luncheon, and over the years, it has expanded and evolved into a full-day conference.

When it first started, it was a half-day student leadership event where women learned how to navigate being a woman in the workplace.

The first conference had only one keynote speaker and one breakout session, but the leadership conference has expanded and evolved to having three breakout sessions and seven keynote speakers this year.

Over time, the conference expanded to not only students but faculty and staff as well.

“Opening the conference up to all offices allows for some of that intergenerational networking, so students can network with professionals in their field,” said Ashley Copeland,

RESEARCH DAY

the director of the Office of Community Engagement and Service.

The purpose of the conference is to empower and provide women with the necessary skill set to lead and live a life of leadership and wellness. At the conference, there are breakout sessions that cover an array of topics, keynote speakers, a networking session and wellness moments.

Melissa Gerrior is the program coordinator for the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Programs.

“It’s really a lot of fun to get to hear so many different thoughts, opinions, styles and models of leadership and to see and learn the myriad of different ways that women can lead,” Gerrior said.

At the conference, there are a multitude of different wellness activities and speakers who come to share their approach to leadership and wellness. One of the keynote speakers this year was Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson. Her talk centered around the feeling of being burned out and how to shift your mindset so that you can prevent and overcome it.

See WOMEN | Page 3

GC’s annual Research Day celebrates students’ accomplishments across all majors and disciplines. SPORTS

GC BASEBALL STARS HONORED BY PEACH BELT CONFERENCE

Samantha Birmingham Staff Writer

Two GC baseball players were recognized by the Peach Belt Conference for honors the week of March 11.

Mason Poole ended the week as a big help in the Bobcats’ sweep of the University of South Carolina Beaufort, and John Raines pitched the second game against USC Beaufort, helping the Bobcats come

back from many early runs that were given up.

Poole finished the weekend hitting a .643 by going 9-14 and recorded a .714 slugging percentage. He also did not strike out or make any errors during that weekend.

Raines came into the game in the bottom of the third with the Sand Sharks having already scored 10 runs and was able to finish out the game, going 6.1 innings.

He only gave up three hits, no runs, three walks but struck out a career high of 12. He currently has 40 strikeouts for the year, which is fourth in the PBC. Both Raines and Poole helped the Bobcats come back and win the game 16-10.

Raines and Poole have significantly helped their team win their most recent games and are continuing to do so. Their team has put

in a lot of work into the season this year.

“Getting these recognitions is really awesome,” Raines said. “I think it helps me remember the hard work that my teammates and I have put in, both on and off the field.”

This is Raines’s second recognition from the PBC, as he was awarded the PBC Freshman of the Week honor last season.

See AWARDS | Page 4

April: Autism Awareness Month

Isabelle Gonzales Staff Writer

Throughout April, the world will celebrate Autism Awareness Month. April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. This celebration helps to break the negative stigma around the disorder.

This awareness day started in 2007, making this year’s celebration the 17th annual Autism Awareness Day. This day is meant to draw support to the programs that aid those living with autism.

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a neurological disorder that affects those who have it by giving them a wide range of difficulties. These difficulties can range from not understanding social cues to having mobility and speech issues. Since this disorder is a spectrum, the symptoms will be different for everyone that has it.

Some people with autism are extremely high-functioning, which leads a lot of people to never be diag-

nosed, resulting in them feeling misunderstood and not getting the support they need. According to Autism Speaks, a foundation that supports those with ASD and spreads the disorder’s awareness, others with the ailment have a stigma pushed on them, limiting them socially before their peers even get to know them.

See AUTISM | Page 8

SPRING CONCERT CONCERNS

GC needs to bring in more variety.

Delaney Derry Opinion Editor

Just one more song! It cannot be over yet! Keep the lights down low and the music up loud!

These are all thoughts that go through any concert-goer’s mind when a concert has come to its inevitable end.

I cannot think of a better place to be on a Friday night than jamming to my favorite songs at a

concert with my friends. The music is so loud you can physically feel the rhythm, strobe lights move with an array of colors to the beat and vibes are so great that you cannot help but dance and sing along.

Every year in the spring, GC puts on a Homecoming concert just for its students in the Centennial Center on campus. This spring concert is something that students look forward to, and we

all yearn to learn the headliner each time spring comes around.

However, lately, the spring concert has not been such a popular event because of the recent headliners. I myself have been disappointed with who has come to perform at the spring concert since I began going to GC in the fall of 2022. The performers are just not people I am familiar with.

See CONCERT | Page 9

OPINION & MISC. | PG. 9

MARCH MADNESS BOOKS VS. MOVIES

The Final Four is set. Here is an indepth look at the NCAA Tournament so far.

what

Film adaptations of popular books can be very good or very bad. Regardless, should you watch the film or read the book first?

PROFESSOR LAURAN WHITWORTH VISITS GC

“Environmental Eros: Picturing Feminist, Queer and Trans Ecologies”

Emily Kirkwood Staff Writer

Lauran Whitworth, a professor and interdisciplinary scholar at Agnes Scott College, presented an insightful keynote lecture at GC regarding her current book project, “Environmental Eros: Picturing Feminist, Queer and Trans Ecologies.”

Whitworth combines her training in women’s, gender and sexuality Studies with her background in art history and film and media studies.

Whitworth has extensive research knowledge and interest in feminist and queer theory, film and visual culture, sexuality studies, specifically LGBTQ+ media studies, and ecocriticism. Her book focuses on environmental ethics and activism of 1970s ecological feminism, the Radical Faerie movement, and

multiple contemporary environmental groups.

“Be open to research that takes you to places you really didn’t imagine going or projects,” Whitworth said. “I didn’t know very much about this until I got into it. I mean, I always cared about the environment, but I never imagined myself doing this work. And I would say another thing to take from this is that these groups are giving us models for ways to live more sustainably amongst each other. They’re giving us some good models on how to be good to other humans and non-human others.”

During her lecture at GC on March 28, Whitworth explained the background of her research regarding her new book project and the literature pieces she pulled information and inspi-

ration from when writing and researching. She shared with the group how she first found her research passion and began her work on environmental humanity projects when she was an undergrad student at the University of Georgia.

A large part of Whitworth’s work focuses on contemporary environmental groups and their past and current influence.

“I think we can learn a lot by looking at their beliefs and things they didn’t take into account, like some of them didn’t have a very intersexual lens,” Whitworth said. “They didn’t, and they should have said, ‘Why are most of us white in this particular group?’ and we have that knowledge and can do it even better. But they also have some things

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to offer us as far as how they viewed nature, the connections they made between sexuality and gender and spirituality.”

Whitworth had many enthusiastic audience members who left her lecture feeling as though they now have extra knowledge when it comes to environmental injustice and the alternate perspectives.

“When females or women are associated with nature, that’s been one of my favorite top-

ics,” said Olivia McDuffie, a master’s English literature student. I love when that pops up in poems and stuff, so I was interested in that.”

The lecture was able to cover a wide variety of topics that have impacted Whitworth’s research and drew in the attention of others.

“I personally already have, like, a pretty strong focus on the environment in my work, so it’s really interesting to see alternative perspectives,”

said Anna Durden, a master’s English literature student. “And to continue to expand this, like, environmental-injustice idea of approaching media, and specifically literature for me, attending a keynote speaker gives me something extra I can have in my pocket.”

Whitworth’s lecture was very insightful, and she will hopefully be back to GC in the future to share more exciting knowledge.

Professor Lauran Whitworth

Research Day 2024

Jack McKinney Contributing Writer

Hosted campus-wide, Research Day is an annual event that showcases a variety of student research. Subjects from economics to geography and linguistics represent prominent academic diversity across GC.

Besides merely representing these subjects, GC celebrates them in creative ways. At Research Day, students are encouraged to lead and participate across many mediums, including student panels, oral presentations, art galleries, short films and more.

“Research Day is an annual campus-wide event that celebrates undergraduate and graduate students’ scholarship and creative endeavors,” said Christina Smith, the Research Day 2024 faculty director. “This is an important event for the university because

WOMEN

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She shared her story of the time she got burned out whilst serving as the vice president of Student Affairs and how she coped with that. She incorporated wellness into her talk by asking the audience what some of their tells, mentally and physically, were that indicated to them that they were on the road to burnout.

Jackson left the audience with the message that it is important to learn to prioritize the important things in life rather than let yourself carry unnecessary baggage that is weighing you down.

“The whole day is just really inspirational, from the conversations you have with the women sitting next to you to the nuggets you claim from the sessions and speakers,” said Nadirah Mayweather, the director of Alumni Relations at GC. “It’s just one of those days that just fills my cup up.”

The wellness moments scattered through-

our campus takes great pride in recognizing the successes of our students and faculty, and Research Day allows us to collectively celebrate those successes.”

Kathryn Cooper, a sophomore political science and philosophy major, was one of these research presenters. Her oral presentation, titled “Restrictive Educational Policy and Minority Enrollment in Higher Education,” explores the social effect of educative anti-CRT, or Critical Race Theory, policy across several states; the focus is on minority citizens deciding whether to enroll in anti-CRT public universities.

“This is genuinely very important to me; I think it should be important to anyone who’s in the educational system,” Cooper said. “It is affecting what I want to do and professors that I admire.”

Cooper’s presenta-

out the conference are meant to be a way for the participants to relax and learn a new wellness habit that they can use in their dayto-day lives. The wellness moment following Jackson’s talk was led by Jennifer Graham, the associate dean of students for Student Inclusion and Belonging.

She walked the women in the room through two breathing techniques that helped slow down the heart and relieve stress.

“We really try to have a wide array of topics that are talked about, from financial literacy and wellness to feeling like you can be bold and ask for the things that you want,” Graham said.

This is the sixth year that the conference has been held and wraps up the month of March, which is Women’s History Month. As the years progress, the planning committee of the conference hopes to continue shaping women’s lives through wellness and leadership.

tion also demonstrates a key focus of Research Day: that research limited to STEM subjects is a fallacious construct and that, instead, a more effective methodology to conduct research incorporates all subjects, including humanities.

states, she developed a formula to remove outside variables, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and even to craft a graphical projection of the data, making the data easily interpretable.

“This is unique among any other research proj-

Realistically, quantitative data within humanities-based research can even go beyond STEM research in some cases.

This was the case for sections of Cooper’s presentation. Besides organizing chronological data on minority attendance at public universities across the selected

ects that I’ve done because this is a quantitative research project using a simple analysis software called SPSS [Statistical Package for the Social Sciences],” Cooper said. “Getting quantitative results is a much more significant way to understand this problem than just say-

ing, ‘I don’t like this because it is problematic.’”

Alongside incorporating quantitative measurements into humanities, Cooper also describes the possible emotional connection between researchers and their corresponding research. To her, research can resonate with students internally and provide a means of creative expression.

“Because I am a philosophy major, I worked with critical race theory before, and I consider it to be pretty critical to what I want to do in the future,” Cooper said. “Research is meant to be something that you’re passionate about.”

However, Cooper is not alone; many other presentations across Research Day exercise this introspective philosophy. During the series of rhetoric presentations across campus, many contained topics that were deeply

touching to the presenter.

“Abolitionist Rhetoric and the Campaign Song in 1860,” a research presentation by Victoriyah Friend, explores the use of abolitionist campaign songs in the mid- to late 1800s. Through Friend’s description, these campaign songs were translated as a medium of unfiltered passion against the system of slavery as well as a form of love for Black communities living through the historical tragedies.

Nonetheless, both Friend and Cooper’s presentations exemplify the best expectations of Research Day: students all across the university, undergraduate and graduate students, presenting creative and intriguing research. This past Research Day was abundant in these aspects, and many are excited to witness the progression of future research events.

EFFORTS TO BAN TIKTOK IN U.S. CONTINUE

Olivia DeRosa Staff Writer

The United States House of Representatives recently passed a bill giving company ByteDance, the owners of the video app TikTok, two choices: They can either find a buyer for the app within six months, or the app will become illegal to download in the U.S. The Senate now holds the fate of the app in their hands, as voting will be held next month.

As long as the app is owned by what the bill names as “foreign adversaries,” calling back to the app’s parent company, ByteDance, being a Chinese-owned and operated tech company, Americans will not be able to search for the app on any browsers. Also, Google and Apple will have to remove it from their respective app stores.

This will not heavily impact the 170 million Americans who already have the app download-

ed on their devices, but it will make it impossible to update the app. This will cause the app to become slow and buggy.

TikTok will not disappear overnight in the event this bill is passed. Instead, the app will have a slow, gradual demise.

“I don’t understand why this is all of a sudden a big issue for people,” said Sara Henderson, a sophomore nursing major. “I feel like TikTok, if anything, is just a fun thing. They have already taken away a bunch of the sounds, and I am a big Swiftie, and they took all her music off the app too.”

TikTok has stated that they support over 5 million small businesses in the U.S. In their latest ad, ByteDance has spent around $2.1 million in a campaign showing how TikTok helps grassroots business owners.

TikTok App on Phone

“I have actually seen one of the ads on TikTok, and I was so confused because I didn’t realize it was actually banned,” said Ansley Talafous, a senior education major.

TikTok has some time to get their arguments ready for the Senate trial, as they were caught off guard during the House of Representatives votes.

These grassroots ads have been popping up all over the app, starring TikTok creators whose businesses have grown from the app. Each one stars a different content creator sharing their unique story about how TikTok has helped them personally.

TikTok’s defense revolves around their argument that this ban would be unconstitutional and goes against the First Amendment’s freedom of speech protections. They are planning to meet with lawmakers throughout this month and next, ahead of the Senate vote.

“I love TikTok, and I am on that app all the time,” said Sara Thomas, a freshman nursing major. “I would be really mad if it was banned.”

The Senate has not set a date as to when that vote will take place.

Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor

“You need to stay consistent with practice and learn to not be complacent,” Raines said. “I try to continue to improve my game every day and know that I can always get better.”

Poole has a similar work ethic toward his team and his game strategy.

“I try not to think too much about my personal results,” Poole said. “I stick to my preparation and focus on our team winning.”

Both these players made it very clear that working together as a team and putting in your all will get you very far and make you very successful.

Raines and Poole showed remarkable success in their game against

USC Beaufort. Being recognized by the PBC for honors of the week made these players feel extremely successful in their passion for baseball.

“I think that it means a lot for us to win two out of the three PBC recognitions,” Raines said. “I think that it means that as a team, we played very well. It also shows that our team is strong overall, with us playing well on both sides of the ball.”

Teamwork is a huge part of having a good team and having even better outcomes. Head coach Nolan Belcher explained that he is extremely proud of these two athletes.

“Raines adds versatility out of the bullpen,” Belcher said. “He can close games or extend multiple innings if needed. He can produce swing-

and-miss stuff at times, which is a big positive.”

This is the second season that Raines has pitched for Belcher, and while he keeps continuing to improve this season, Belcher is just now seeing the full abilities of his new players, like Poole.

“Mason provides some physicality in the middle of the infield,” Belcher said. “He has potential to really drive the ball and hit for power near the bottom of the lineup. Mason also brings a great arm and the ability to turn double plays extremely well.”

In Belcher’s point of view, being recognized by the PBC makes him feel great as a coach.

“I am always happy for our players and our university when our team gets recognized for excellence, on and off the field,” Belcher said.

“Hopefully, we can have guys continue to play well this year and receive a few more PBC Player/ Pitcher of the Week.”

MLB HOLDS FIRST SPRING BREAKOUT

Ty Karraker Staff Writer

Over the past few years, Major League Baseball has added new rules and showcases to add a new thrill for the players and fans. The newest showcase took place this offseason, as the MLB had their first Spring Breakout.

Spring Breakout is a four-day event that showcases 16 games filled with top prospects from every team. These games get to show what the top prospects can do against each other as a

sort-of look into the future of the league for fans.

“Spring Breakout was created so we could provide ourselves with a chance to showcase the future stars of the league,” said Rob Manfred, the MLB’s commissioner.

This year, Spring Breakout started on March 14 and went on until March 17. These games were highlighted by debuts of potential future league stars, such as Paul Skenes, Jackson Holliday, Luisangel Acuña and many more. Skenes led the MLB

off by being one of the big-name prospects to play in these games, as he started the game as the pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes’s performance really turned some heads around the league — not just with fans, but he may have put the MLB on notice as to what is to come. In his Spring Breakout debut, Skenes displayed high velocity, topping 100 mph and had several strikeouts.

Holliday, the current top prospect in the MLB and player for the Bal-

timore Orioles, was in awe of the velocity that Skenes was dealing to him in their matchup.

“I think he was probably throwing like 110,” Holliday said. “That’s what it looked like. He brought out a cutter as well, I got to see all of them this time. Good pitchers get good hitters out sometimes.”

The respect shown between the top prospects — and the fact that they are oozing with potential and talent — makes for amazing matchups in these styles of games, as fans and players alike can see the next age of stars duke it out before they get to the big leagues.

These games are beneficial for players and teams to understand what they have in a player, but this addition has not been noticed or viewed by many fans.

Raines and Poole have shown great excellence in leading their team and driving for excellence. Working together as a team has got them to where they are now and will only lead them to greater success.

Claire Smith, a senior management major, explained her perspective on Spring Breakout, saying that there is a positive impact that the games can offer the fans and players alike.

“I think it’s trying to make minor league more exciting, and it’s actually working because people are interested,” Smith said. “It helps grow the players and helps them prove themselves that they can face harder opponents.”

If these games are indeed geared toward helping players maximize their potential, like many fans believe, it could greatly benefit baseball. By providing prospects with opportunities to showcase their skills against MLB-level talent, it may alleviate the stress and nervousness often associated

with entering the MLB.

Another potential benefit of these games is the enhancement of spring training. Rather than watching players who may never make it to the league, fans are more likely to be engaged by the presence of established stars and promising rising stars. This new showcase concept could foster early enthusiasm among fans for their respective teams even before the regular season commences.

As the season progresses and these young prospects are called up to the majors, their development as both athletes and competitors will be on display. These players’ success could underscore the effectiveness of initiatives like the Spring Breakout in preparing them for the league’s demands.

Courtesy of GC Athletics

Courtesy of GC Athletics

The first games of March Madness did not disappoint

Christian Castillo Staff Writer

Through the first two rounds of the tournament, all No. 1 and No. 2 seeds reached the Sweet 16. Despite the heavy favorites surviving, brackets were busted, and legends were made.

Round one was highlighted by upsets over three-seeded University of Kentucky, four-seeded Auburn University and five-seeded University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Oakland University served up the first shocker of March with an 80-76 victory over Kentucky. Graduate student Jack Gohlke led the Golden Grizzlies, going 10-20 from beyond the arch. Gohlke tallied 30 points in the win and became the fifth-ever player to make 10 or more three-pointers in a tournament game.

“Gohlke was making ridiculous shots,” said Colby Lau, a senior marketing major. “He was pulling threes like it was a high school team sports class.”

Down seven points

at halftime, the Yale University Bulldogs put together an incredibly strong second half to nab a 78-76 victory over the Southeastern Conference champion

their first-round upset. The Dukes put together a great display of teamwork, with four players tallying 10 or more points in the game.

The second round

as A&M University in overtime and Creighton University outlasted the University of Oregon in double overtime. Standing at 6’9” and weighing 275 pounds,

low. Gohlke tallied six threes, while Burns scored 24 points in the 79-74 Wolfpack win.

“Burns is a force to be reckoned with,” said Ryan Collins, a junior mass

Auburn Tigers. Junior guard John Poulakidas played a huge role in the upset, scoring 28 points for the Bulldogs.

James Madison University played a strong first half and outlasted Wisconsin to pull off

largely consisted of blowouts and tight overtime finishes.

NC State downed the first round’s Cinderella, Oakland, in overtime, Houston University avoided an upset at the hands of Tex-

North Carolina State University’s D.J. Burns is perhaps the most fun player to watch in the tournament. The game was a battle of Gohlke’s superior perimeter shooting and Burns’s dominant play down

NFL free agency opens up Where have some of the best players in the league landed?

Christian Castillo Staff Writer

The recent NFL free agency period saw the movement of notable players, resulting in the fact that many teams will be fielding exciting new players next season.

Perhaps the most scrutinized team of the free agency period was the Chicago Bears, as they hold the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Projected to take 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams with that pick, many were questioning what would happen to their 2023 starter, Justin Fields.

credible three-point shot at the buzzer to take the Houston Cougars to overtime. Houston was propelled to a 100-95 victory over the Aggies behind a 30-point performance from sophomore guard Emmanuel Sharp.

In possibly the game of the tournament so far, three-seeded Creighton survived a scare from the 11-seeded Oregon Ducks 86-73 after a dominant 15-2 run in double overtime. Redshirt senior Jermaine Couisnard had an incredible tournament, scoring 40 points in the Ducks’ first-round 87-73 win over the University of South Carolina and 32 in the loss to Creighton.

“Up until double overtime, I thought Oregon was going to pull it off,” said Kara Dial, a junior nursing major.

communication major.

“He proved it in the ACC conference tournament, and largely because of him, NC State is an extremely good 11-seed.”

Texas A&M made an inspiring second-half comeback with an in-

Creighton was lifted to victory by a grueling team effort. Senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner, junior guard Trey Alexander, senior guard Baylor Scheierman and senior guard Steven Ashworth were all on the court for over 40 minutes, combining for 78 points.

The Bears acquired former Georgia Bulldogs and Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift and multiple-time Pro Bowl veteran wide receiver Kenan Allen in a shock trade for a fourthround pick from the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Eagles filled the hole made by Swift’s departure with Saquon Barkley, former star running back for their division rival, the New York Giants.

The Eagles’ high-powered offense gained arguably one of the league’s best in the backfield.

Barkley signed a threeyear deal with Philadel-

The Bears ultimately made many valuable additions while trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the free agency period, it looks like Williams could be drafted to Chicago in a much more favorable situation than before.

phia worth $37 million.

“Saquon is going to get so much hate from his old fans,” said Jackson Kiser, a junior marketing major. “I understand his move, though. Running back is a really tough position, so an opportunity to play in a winning team and have lower injury risk is very rewarding. He got paid too.”

Another star running back made a great move in terms of his career trajectory. After carrying a heavy workload for the Tennessee Titans since 2016, Derrick Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

Nicknamed “King Henry” for his monstrous size and imposing running style, Henry will now be in the best situa-

tion of his career, sharing the backfield with the reigning league MVP and former Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson.

With this acquisition, the Ravens are primed to make a Super Bowl run next season. Although their defense took a hit through the loss of dominant linebacker Patrick Queen, who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, they now have a Heisman Trophy-winning duo and two of the most feared runners in the NFL at the helm of their offense.

“I still believe Nick Chubb will come back from his injury and be the best running back

in the league next year, but the Ravens getting Henry is scary, especially because they are in the Browns’ division,” said Ryan Collins, a sophomore mass communication major and Cleveland Browns fan.

The NFC North will look very different across the board next year due to the Steelers’ acquisition of Fields and the departure of their Week One starter last year, Kenny Pickett. The Steelers have an interesting situation on their hands, as they also acquired former Super Bowl-winning QB Russell Wilson from the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers have named Wilson as their current starter after he signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal. Wilson was subject to a lot of harsh criticism after his stint of underwhelming play over the past two seasons with Denver.

“I’m excited for our quarterback situation,” said Matt Spreha, a 2023 GC graduate and Steelers fan. “Starting either Fields or Wilson, I think our offense will be improved next year. I would love to see Wilson get back to the way he used to play or Fields get the chance to shine with a change of scenery.”

Former Tennessee Titans and current Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry

Former Chicago Bears and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields

March Madness graphic

OLIVIA RODRIGO’S CONCERT CONTRACEPTIVES “Funding abortion? It’s a good idea, right?”

Ellie Smith Staff Writer

Olivia Rodrigo has been in the headlines of many news outlets, as fans have been posting photos of emergency contraceptives being distributed at Rodrigo’s concerts with a card stating, “Funding abortion? It’s a good idea, right?”

After only being distributed at a few stops, Rodrigo’s team discontinued the passing out of free contraceptives, stating they were concerned about the messaging with children being present at the concerts.

“I think Olivia is doing great work,” said Chloe Hooper, a senior psychology major. “It is so important to educate young girls about their healthcare rights, and by being outspoken and

active, she is giving them an opportunity to learn. More celebrities should use their platform to actually do things instead of just talking.”

The local abortion rights groups responsible for passing out the packages are still allowed to be present at future tour dates, as planned, but will only be allowed to hand out information and materials such as T-shirts, hats, and stickers.

“While we are disappointed to learn that other abortion funds will not get the same opportunity to do the same, we are encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response,” said Robin Frisella, the Missouri Abortion Fund’s community engagement director.

The singer and her team have not spoken out about the situation

MILEY CYRUS:

since the decision to stop handing out the actual contraceptives was made earlier this month. It has been made clear that information will still be available, and proceeds from the concerts will be donated to help with abortion access. This has continued to be a prominent topic in many news outlets and on social media, with fans being very split on the issue.

“There is something really positive about a 16- or 15-year-old hav-

ing a Plan B and a few condoms in her dresser to use as she needs it,” said Destini Spaeth of the Prairie Abortion Fund in Minnesota.

“Sex and sexual health tools — whether that be abortion, Plan B, condoms — are villainized because you’re [seen as being] promiscuous. If the kids aren’t getting the education that they need in school, at least they can rely on reproductive health organizations in their communities

The Disney Legend’s path to success

Kylie Rowe

Asst. A&L Editor

Miley Cyrus has been announced as one of the 13 recipients of Disney Legend status in 2024.

This Hall of Fame award is presented by The Walt Disney Company annually to individuals who have made an impact on the legacy of Disney. Cyrus will be the youngest entertainer to win the award at 31 years old.

“To be named a Disney Legend is the highest honor our company can bestow on anyone, reserved for those whose talent and achievement have earned them an enduring place in our history,” said Bob Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, in an online statement.

Cyrus’s acting career started at age eight, and her involvement with Disney started at age 13 when she landed the lead role of Hannah

Montana. According to The Walt Disney Company’s statement, the show had the largest audience of any Disney Channel Original, drawing around 4.4 million viewers per episode.

While the show was airing, Cyrus released five soundtracks, one live album, two remix albums, five compilation albums, five karaoke albums, 11 singles and four promotional singles as Hannah Montana. Cyrus even had a Best of Both Worlds Tour, starting in 2007, which showcased the show’s soundtrack and her debut studio album.

In 2009, Cyrus’s Disney movie, “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” grossed $155 million in worldwide box office revenue. In 2008, Cyrus voiced a lead role in the animated film “Bolt,” and she sang on both soundtracks.

Cyrus worked at Dis-

ney for five years in both leading and supporting roles. In addition to the shows and movies that she starred in, the actress was also a guest star or crossover episode star in “High School Musical 2,” “Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “Suite Life on Deck,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “That’s So Raven.”

Cyrus dedicated her early career to providing so much content for Disney Channel that when she finally left, she was able to successfully continue her career, a feat not achievable by all child stars. Cyrus starred in movies like “The Last Song” and released albums “Bangerz,” “Plastic Hearts,” and, most recently, “Endless Summer Vacation.”

At the 66th Annual Grammy’s, Cyrus won her first and second Grammy Awards for Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of

to get that information and resources to them.”

Many people took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their frustration with Rodrigo saying this is not the artist they want young girls looking up to or attending her concerts, which one user referred to as “one big abortion fundraiser.”

“A lot of people disagree with the whole idea of abortion, and I think that it can be taken out of hand, and it could get her into some trouble and could kind of affect her fan base, in a way,” said Sarah Ramsey, a junior nursing major. “She could be doing it better just by, like, posting stuff or really, like, being active about it on social media, about movements and how to fundraise and stuff like that.”

Even though many negative responses have been received, fans have also been applauding the star, calling the young star the new campaigner of abortion rights and reproductive health freedoms.

“I believe I think, overall, her spreading awareness for contraceptive use and sexual health is a good thing for our society, with her having a lot of younger girls look up to her, but I believe she’s going about it the wrong way,” Ramsey said.

The star, while not formally talking about the issues that are raised in Missouri, has continued to be active on social media and express her want to educate her fans and help abortion accessibility wherever she can.

the Year for her smash hit “Flowers.” This was a huge moment in Cyrus’s career, and she did not take it lightly. In her Grammy performance that took place after her first win of the night, Cyrus celebrated by replacing the lyric “Started to cry, then remembered I can buy myself flowers” with “Started to cry, then remembered I just won my first Grammy.”

Winning that Grammy had been a long time coming for Cyrus after making well-known music for over 20 years,

and this August, at the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, she will be honored as the Disney Legend she is.

“Miley’s ability to entertain an entire generation through children’s television and transfer that into a legitimate entertainment career is a feat in itself, so I would say she definitely earned it,” said Allie Kate Campbell, a junior mass communication major.

Following Cyrus’s nomination, fans of that era of Disney Channel are hoping that other

childhood stars are next. Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their love for Cyrus as well as love for stars like Hillary Duff and Raven Simone.

“So no Raven Symone…. no Hilary Duff?” said @iamtycole. “I mean love Miley but like, two things can be true.”

Cyrus’s nomination is getting a new generation excited about the prospects of seeing stars they grew up alongside being recognized for their impacts on Disney.

Kylie Rowe | Asst. A&L Editor

Miley Cyrus

BRITTANY BROSKI & HER COLLEGE AUDIENCE

OPINION

Paige Blakemore A&L Editor

Brittany Tomlinson, better known by her online alias Brittany Broski, has amassed over 7 million followers on her TikTok account and over 2 million YouTube subscribers since her first viral video in 2019. With just one kombucha taste reaction, Broski has since become a well-known internet personality and comedian.

The 26-year-old’s content ranges from experimenting with character AI chat boxes, choosing a male celebrity to obsess over and passionately addressing societal issues and ideas.

College audiences in particular connect with Broski. Whether it is her unhinged stream of consciousness or her ability to educate viewers in a lighthearted tone, many college students find comfort and resonation within Broski’s content, including me.

I had several close

friends recommend Broski’s work to me over the past year, but it was only recently that I began regularly watching her videos.

“She makes me feel that my ‘childish’ interests are still relevant because I’m allowed to like anything I want,” said Ally Williams, a sophomore public health major. “She has big sister energy, and I feel like she has taken on that role for so many other people because she has the ability to talk about serious topics while also having the ability to be the funniest person ever.”

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Broski earned her bachelor’s in communications with a minor in Spanish — which she discusses with the audience of her popular video podcast, “The Broski Report with Brittany Broski.”

The first episode of the podcast I listened to was “Why I Left the Christian Church” where she analyzes Ethel Cain’s brilliant album

“Preacher’s Daughter.” During Broski’s analysis, I realized I had not encountered hardly any mainstream influencers who were offering thought-provoking conversations in a way that was wildly comparable to women my age.

In the same episode, Broski is vulnerable about her struggles with her family and the pushback she receives for having differing opinions from them. This is a message highly applicable to young adults finding their place in society today and breaking generational behaviors, especially college students who have a newfound plethora of knowledge at their fingertips.

Oftentimes, Broski will visit college campuses and hold live panels for her followers to attend. On March 28, Broski visited the University of Georgia where students were given the chance to interact with their favorite media sensation, and I personally know several GC friends

Students on retirement

Addison White

Contributing Writer

Retirement is something everyone has to deal with eventually. Recently, the subject of retirement age has been brought back up due to videos that have gone viral of Generation Z discussing the retirement age.

Currently, the standard retirement age is 66. Some believe the age is too low, while others believe it is too high.

“No, I do not think the retirement age should be lowered because, at 62, most people will not have enough money to even begin to support themselves,” said Joseph Sloane, a freshman business major. “I think it is perfectly fine where it is right now. I also don’t think it should be raised.

I think retirement should just depend on what the

person can afford to do. I think government action should be taken in regards to Social Security.”

The conversation surrounding retirement has also made people worry about Social Security running out.

“I don’t think that the current Social Security could handle having more people being supported by it,” Sloane said. “I believe the nation is in a predicament. I think Social Security doesn’t matter and will not be a factor for me in my lifetime because it is expected to run out by 2041.”

According to CNBC, there will soon be a shortage in Social Security. Social Security’s board of trustees has projected that at least a 23% benefit cut may occur when the trust fund used to pay retirement and survivors benefits runs out in 2033.

who wanted to drop everything and attend.

“A lot of internet personality types didn’t go to college or dropped out, but she’s actually open about her college experience,” said Annabel Hirst, a sophomore world languages and culture major. “A lot of the things she talks about are highly educational, like the Renaissance, and it’s very refreshing. Most influencers today don’t take the time to talk about worldly cultures or historical opinions, and I think she got that from her college education.”

One of Broski’s most

“I think, with the topic of Social Security, it can definitely have its pros and cons,” said Grayson Riggot, a sophomore ed-

you have been working.”

Some people believe it would benefit everyone to lower the retirement age.

“The retirement age

ucation major. “However, it does give somewhat of a protection and foundation for retired people, no matter how long

is an interesting topic to think about,” Riggot said.

“From my research, the earliest age is 62, which is not too terrible, but

relatable discourses, for me and I am sure many others, is her ability to criticize the American South and its history while also embracing your own identity and individualism. To hear a young woman verbalize her love/hate relationship with the place she grew up to an audience of millions was highly impactful. Broski’s fluency with words and inclusiveness to all are few and far between among most social media influencers today.

“There is such a weighted responsibility with having that many people listening to you, and I think that there is

I think they could lower the age to maybe potentially 55-60. I think it’s more of a person’s opinion to decide if they want to retire early or at an older age, but having that low retirement age range is a nice little safety net, just in case!”

According to Indeed

Flex, reducing the retirement age could shield manual laborers and those with low incomes from being disproportionately impacted, especially if they have physically demanding professions that will get harder as they get older. It lowers the need for social services and healthcare.

But lowering the age can cause certain issues.

The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, states that these suggested increases are mostly justified by the nation’s older popula-

a sort of moral obligation to talk about things that matter, but it can’t be in a way that’s disingenuous or in a way that spreads misinformation,” Broski said in an interview with USA Today. Broski is one of the funniest and most well-rounded influencers of today. She is witty and intelligent, and she continues to find humor in moments others cannot. In today’s rapidly expanding and dynamic world, it is no wonder college students are gravitating to someone who can not only make them laugh but also validate their opinions.

tion’s improved health and longer life expectancy. Raising the retirement age would increase Social Security’s solvency because it would effectively lower benefits.

“Congress may eventually raise the full retirement age to 69, predicts Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, even though Democrats have promised not to make that change,” said Lorie Konish at CNBC.

“‘When you look at countries around the world that have had underfunded pension systems, they raise the retirement age,’ Biggs said.”

People are so scared about their retirement that they have started relying on the 10% retirement rule, which is where they set aside 10% of each paycheck on their own.

Paige Blakemore | A&L

Julia Jensen | Art Director

“WE DON’T TRUST YOU”

Future and Metro Boomin OPINION

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

I am a huge fan of Future’s music. Psychedelic rap — and psychedelic trap, more specifically — is one of my favorite genres, and I have always enjoyed the synergy between his raspy, smoky voice and the wavy, spacy beats of the myriad of producers he has worked with over the years: DJ Esco, Southside and Zaytoven, among others. And he is a cornerstone of Atlanta — and Southeast — hip-hop, which I take pride in.

AUTISM

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Many believe those with autism are always incapable and underdeveloped than others, while in reality, a lot of people with autism are extremely smart. Geniuses like Albert Einstein, Elon Musk and Sir Isaac Newton had different forms of autism yet are still considered some of the smartest individuals in society today.

“Autism is mainly characterized by its unique social interactions, non-standard ways

Yet, even I will admit, the 2020s have not been the best to Future so far. “High Off Life,” his 2020 album, was solid, but “Pluto x Baby Pluto,” his joint record with Philadelphia rapper Lil Uzi Vert, and “I NEVER LIKED YOU,” his most recent solo project, were OK at best.

It is sad to see because Future’s prime, in my opinion, is one of the best runs in modern hip-hop. “DS2,” or “Dirty Sprite 2,” is regarded as a signature trap album, and rightly so, but “Monster,” his 2014 mixtape, has always been my favorite of his projects.

of learning, keen interests in specific subjects, inclination to routines, challenges in typical communications and particular ways of processing sensory information,” said the United Nations on its website.

It is often in culture that autism is misrepresented, leading many to think that ASD is highly debilitating. Autism can be debilitating, but it does not always have to be. Due to the lack of awareness and understanding, this stigma continues to grow, and people use this disor-

Regardless, it is truly unreal how good the vast majority of the music he put out in the early to mid-2010s is. There are dozens and dozens of songs that, years and years later, still hold up.

Now, two years after “I NEVER LIKED YOU,” he is back, with Metro Boomin, whose dark, ominous sound may very well have solidified him as the best working trap producer — and whose 2022 album, “HEROES & VILLAINS,” is one of the most well-produced hip-hop records in recent memory.

The hype behind “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” was real. The biggest sin-

der in joking contexts.

On social media, the joke of calling people “acoustic” rather than autistic is common. This joke is harmful to the community because it downplays the reality of the disorder, making it harder for those with this disorder to be taken seriously.

“As a special education major, I have noticed that a lot of people do not treat students with autism as equals within the classroom,” said Aubrey Gerber, a sophomore special education major. “They can

gle on the project, “Cinderella,” leaked months ago, and Future, Metro Boomin and Travis Scott played the song at shows across the country leading up to the album’s release. The rapper-producer duo announced the record would be a two-part release: The first installment would have features; the second would not. The tracklist — for the first half of the project — includes 17 songs. This album is a big, big, big deal in the world of hip-hop.

And yet, it is just OK. It is not bad; it is solid. But if I am being honest, I wanted a little bit more out of these two, espe-

often be looked down upon by their peers.”

Many people living with autism are discriminated against, not giving them a fair shot at a job, school and many other opportunities.

“As individuals, we can aim to educate ourselves about autism,” said Cora Blackford, a sophomore special education major. “It’s important to recognize that students with autism are just as capable of learning and understanding.”

At GC, there is a disabilities center, the Student Disability Resource

cially Future. Boomin’s production is good, as always, but it feels like Future is kind of out of it on a lot of his beats, which is frustrating.

This is not to say that the album is full of duds; there are a few bangers here and there.

“Cinderella,” although I think it, oddly enough, sounded better when it leaked, is still solid, and its laid-back vibe makes it a perfect late-night song. Future floats over its instrumental, and although Scott’s verse is not my favorite, I have a feeling that it will grow on me.

I am a fan of all six of those tracks, and two or three of those will probably stay in my rotation for the rest of the year. But when your project has 17 songs, 11 skips is not great.

Like the old cliché says, I am not mad; I am just disappointed. When you put a trap legend and one of the best producers — if not the best producer — in the genre together, you expect more than an average, downthe-middle album. But who knows? Maybe part two, feature-free and all, will be better.

Other highlights on the record include “Type Sh*t,” which features Scott and Playboi Carti; “Like That,” which contains a great beat switch and verse from Kendrick Lamar; “Fried (She a Vibe)”; “WTFYM”; and “Everyday Hustle,” which features Rick Ross.

Center, that focuses on aiding those who need a little bit of extra help. These accommodations include access to the Testing Center, a special quiet study room in the library and extra help managing classes.

“At The Center for Testing at Georgia College, we hold our mission of supporting students with accommodations or disabilities in the highest regard,” said Evita Shinholster, the Testing Center coordinator. “Our priority is to ensure that every student has access to the essential resources

needed during their testing appointments, paving the way for their success in academic pursuits.”

People with autism, regardless of how far on the spectrum they are, deserve the utmost love and respect, just as any other human does. Just because a person has autism, it does not mean they are incapable or unimportant. At GC, equality and inclusion is a priority, meaning the spread of positivity throughout campus and beyond.

The battle of books vs. movies

Delaney Derry Opinion Editor

Imagine running through a forest with your heart beating a million miles per minute as excitement and anticipation surge through your body. Or perhaps you are walking down a dark and damp corridor at night, being careful not to make the slightest sound, as someone or something could hear you.

The thrill of reading a descriptive setting that just gets your mind racing while you are bundled warm and cozy, nestled in your favorite reading spot, is a feeling most book enthusiasts crave the most.

Although, what about when your favorite books come to life? We have seen it over and over again, where classic literature is turned into a real-life film adaptation, like with “Little

CONCERT

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“I haven’t gone to one because the singers there are not relevant to my life,” said Rachel Myers, a sophomore mass communication major. “I feel like our campus would do better if they hired someone more relevant to what people listen to.”

I wholeheartedly agree. I think we should have a lot more variety coming our way with performers and differentiating genres. This past spring concert was headlined by Quavo. I am still not really sure who he is, and after his performance, I did not hear much buzz about him or about how the concert went. It was seemingly underwhelming.

I think the spring concert would benefit from getting people who are

Women” or with a series, like “Harry Potter.” We love these movies. They are excellent, and I personally enjoy watching them again and again. However, is it better to read the book and then watch the movie, or is it preferred to watch the movie and then read the original novel?

I personally think that the book is almost always better than the movie, so it should be read first rather than beginning with a film adaptation.

“I would prefer to read the book first because the book gives you more imagination and creativity with the characters,” said Jack Ulrich, a sophomore business major at GC. “Like with “The Hunger Games,” if I had watched the movie first, every time I read about Katniss, I would just think of Jennifer Lawrence, but with read-

ing first, I have my own idea of the character.”

I am a huge movie fan. Do not get me wrong. I am not saying a movie

both. I think the movies did such a great job of portraying the books. However, as with any film adaptation, they are not

adaptation is always bad or a poor depiction; I am saying that if there is a choice between reading the book first or watching the movie adaptation first, book first is always the better option. I love “The Hunger Games.” I read the books and then watched the films and absolutely loved them

I went last year and thought it was OK. It was nothing special. I can’t even remember it really, and I did not care to go this year.

-Emma Chambers

of varying genres. There have been a lot of rap or pop artists for the past couple of concerts, like Quavo and Yung Gravy. Why not a little bit of something new? I personally would like to see some country singers or even just some more widely known artists.

Last year, Bailey Zimmerman came to do a show at Buffington’s in downtown Milledgeville. He was right there, across from the GC campus, performing. He would be great for a spring concert at GC! Musicians like him, whom people

know well and enjoy, are who we need for our upcoming concerts.

“I went last year and thought it was OK,” said Emma Chambers, a sophomore liberal studies major. “It was nothing special. I can’t even remember it really, and I did not care to go this year.”

Students are losing interest in the concert when it ought to be such a fun event for everyone to experience and enjoy. Music brings people together. It is something that is meant to be shared among various types of people, and it does not

Nick Carraway, while the movie focuses heavily on Gatsby himself. I love the movie as well as the book, but the movie portrays a major difference in character perspective, and that changes so much about the story.

“I will always choose the book first,” said Gina Towner, a French lecturer at GC and book-lover. “Books always have more detail because movies have a time limit, so I am always left feeling robbed after watching a film when I read the book first.”

entirely accurate to the initial books. There are things that are left out or things that maybe someone who read the book first may have imagined differently than the way the film conveyed it.

As an example, in the classic novel “The Great Gatsby,” the book is told from the perspective of

This is entirely true. Films only have so much time to tell the story, and sometimes, they leave things out that contribute something important to the plot. We get so much more insight into the story from the book. A film will usually only last around two hours, while a book can have

hundreds of pages of description and go into immense detail. In books, there is also much more character development that can add dimension, such as major detailing to emotions and thoughts that an actor or actress can only convey so much.

According to Stephen Iervolino with CBS News, in a survey of 2,000 American book readers, it was revealed that 67% preferred the book version to the movie adaptation.

Books deliver so much more than what movies can. Compared to the movie adaptation, the novel is always the better choice. It allows us to develop our own setting, think creatively about what is happening and learn morals or lessons that a movie cannot convey as well as the written word.

matter who you are or where you come from to enjoy it with others. People can enjoy music on their own, but music is something that can bring people who are from various backgrounds or different walks of life together. A person may have a different major than you or come from a different state or even country, but maybe you both like the same artist or the same style of music. Immediately, you become friends because

this common interest has brought such seemingly different people together to realize that we are not all so different after all.

In the spring of 2022, Flo Rida headlined GC’s Homecoming concert. Now, there is a headliner. He is so well-known, even if people do not know of Flo Rida as an artist, they most likely still know his songs. However, he still lands in the category of pop. There is the popularity, but where is the variety?

There are so many different genres and artists out there to choose from. I think that just choosing someone who is more popular is not enough. The demographic of the students should be looked at as well. I do think headliners should be artists who are popular, but I think they should not be from continuously repeated genres or artists whose songs may not be widely known by GC’s student population.

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Flo Rida