On Tap Spring/Fall 2019

ONTAP

Spring/Fall 2019

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CONTENTS

MEET THE STAFF

CATCHING ZZZZ’S IN THE DORMS Deserae Eason JOKER VS. JOKER: A CHARACTER COMPARISON Zach Edmondson

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THE BUZZ ABOUT COFFEE Arelexus Brown

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SEEING THE LIGHT: WHY IT ISN’T ALWAYS A GOOD THING Patrick Barry

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SNAPCHAT IS DEAD Livi Côté THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIR Deserae Eason WINTER WOES Arelexus Brown STUDY ABROAD: A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE Logan Gullage

BEHIND THE LENS: Q&A SESSION WITH ON TAP PHOTOGRAPHER LOGAN GULLAGE Arelexus Brown

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MARKETING TAKES OVER SOCIAL MEDIA Shantelle Shipp

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CUTTING DOWN ON PLASTICS Logan Gullage

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HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO: DISCOVERING VSU’S COMIC BOOK CLUB Nicole Rewis

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BOGGS MUSIC HALL ROCKS SOUTH GEORGIA Zach Edmondson

COLORING THE WORLD ONE HEAD AT A TIME Livi Côté HANG UP THE LINE: SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN ADDICTION Destany Flowers

CAPTURING CANDIDS: VSU ALUMNUS BECOMES PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Logan Gullage Cover Photos by Logan Gullage 2 | ONTAP

EDITOR’S LETTER

I am so excited to present to you the “On Tap” spring and fall 2019 edition!

Unlike previous editions, this one is best described as a mixed bag. There’s a little bit of everything, from hair dye to comic books to plastic conservation.

Here at “On Tap,” our motto is for the students, by the students. We really wanted this issue to reflect the diversity of interest among our staff, as well as the student body of VSU. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time being a part of the staff and am grateful to Dr. Fike for the opportunity to serve as editor-in-chief for fall 2019. Being apart of this publication has allowed me to not only grow as a writer but to also build bonds with my fellow journalists and to gain an overall sense of belonging here at VSU. It is my hope that every reader will find something they connect with in this issue.

— Arelexus Brown 3 | ONTAP

MEET THE STAFF Arelexus Brown EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, FALL

Arelexus Brown is a senior English major with a focus in journalism. Apart from writing, her interests include reading, thrift shopping, listening to music, doing yoga and Pilates, and watching classic films from the ‘50s and ‘60s, preferably starring Audrey Hepburn.

Jacorey Moon

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SPRING Jacorey Moon is a spring 2019 graduate with a B.B.A. in marketing. He plans to attend graduate school for journalism. His dream is to work for a prestigious fashion publication like “Vogue,” “Elle,” “V Magazine” or “GQ.” In his free time, he likes to binge watch shows like “Will & G r ace” an d read f a sh i o n magazines.

Livi Côté

STAFF WRITER Livi Côté is a spring 2019 graduate with a B.A. in psychology and minors in French and creative writing.

She was president of the Creative Writing Club, editor of “Odradek” and “Omnino,” and a writing and French tutor at the Academic Support Center. When she’s not editing or studying, you can find her crocheting, listening to music or bastardizing the art of cuisine.

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Deserae Eason STAFF WRITER

Deserae Eason is an English major with a minor in women’s and gender studies. This is her first time writing articles for “On Tap” magazine. She loves to spend her spare time hanging out with friends either in the Student Union or on the front lawn.

Logan Gullage STAFF WRITER

Logan Gullage is a sophomore English major with a focus in journalism. In her free time, she enjoys taking photos and traveling. After college, she intends on becoming a flight attendant or working with a travel magazine.

Destany Flowers STAFF WRITER

Destany Flowers is an English major with a focus in creative writing. She is from Jesup, Georgia, and has been living in Valdosta since August 2018. Right now, she is a sophomore at VSU. When she’s not doing schoolwork, she enjoys reading and writing on the side.

Zach Edmondson STAFF WRITER

Zach Edmondson is an English major with a focus in magazine journalism. He loves music and meeting musicians to talk about their life and experiences, in and out of music. After graduation, he plans to join the staff of a music magazine, such as “Rock Sound,” “Complex,” “Rolling Stone,” etc.

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Patrick Barry STAFF WRITER

Patrick Barry is a history major who will transfer to the University of Georgia in spring 2020 to pursue a degree in journalism. He loves music, literature and the outdoors. After he graduates, he plans to write for magazines and become a travel writer or foreign correspondent.

Nicole Rewis

STAFF WRITER

Nicole Rewis is a sophomore English major. She lives in Statenville, Georgia, just a few miles outside of Valdosta, and plans on becoming a middle school English teacher after graduation. Some of her favorite things are cats, capybaras and books.

Shantelle Shipp STAFF WRITER

Shantelle Shipp is a senior English major with a concentration in creative writing. She greatly aspires to write and direct for film and television and own a beauty/ cosmetic line after graduating.

Leah Morton

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Leah Morton is a senior English major with a concentration in journalism and editing. After graduation, she hopes to work in editing before enrolling in graduate school. Her hobbies include shopping at thrift stores, collecting vinyl records and traveling.

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Photo courtesy of Matheus Vinicius

Catching Zzzz’s in the Dorms

By Deserae Eason

A

lthough getting enough sleep and being rested is very important, college students tend to get less sleep than they should. While the recommended amount of sleep is about eight hours, most college students only get about six hours or less.

Sophomore psychology major Damon Lancaster Jr. juggles classes and a part-time job while struggling to find the time to rest and rejuvenate so that he has the energy to stay on top of all his tasks.

He admits that he struggles with keeping a healthy sleep cycle. “When I’m getting off of work, it’s usually already close to midnight,” Lancaster said. “When I finally get home, I try to study some, and I don’t fall asleep until about two or three o’clock in the morning.”

College students often try to stay up late to study and do homework, but all-nighters can be counterproductive. According to the UGA University Health Center, “Recent research on college students and sleep indicates that insufficient sleep impacts our health, our moods, our GPA and our safety.”

Many college students not only have the responsibilities of going to class, studying and maintaining good grades but also the duties of a job. Overwhelmed, they find themselves feeling very tired throughout the week. Lancaster attests to this.

“It’s hard to go into class and then to

work after working so late, then staying up studying and not getting enough sleep the night before,” Lancaster said. “I tend to get very sleepy in the middle of the day, which is not at all a good thing for me since that is when I am in class.”

Freshman health science major Greg Dixon has been able to maintain a healthier sleep cycle, so he feels very rested throughout the day. On average, he usually gets the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep.

Many college students find that they must change their sleeping habits when transitioning from high school to college.

For Dixon, college has benefited his sleep habits. “When I was in high school, I had to wake up earlier than I do now,” Dixon said.

Dixon said that if he does not get enough sleep one night, he usually has to find time to take a nap during the day to stay focused.

Forcing yourself to work when you’re exhausted is often less productive than just taking care of yourself by indulging in a nap.

Sleep is vital in the college community. Students should stay well-rested so that they can do their best in all their endeavors.

Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule helps you stay focused and alert. This can benefit students in many ways, such as feeling energized, maintaining a better study schedule and performing better academically.

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Photo courtesy of Flickr

Joker vs. Joker:

A Character Comparison

By Zach Edmondson 8 | ONTAP

J

oaquin Phoenix is the most recent actor to have been tasked with the job of portraying the most famous DC villain of all time. His take on the Joker takes a sharp turn away from how the character is usually portrayed and straggles from the entire DC Universe.

First and foremost, “Joker” is a standalone film that is completely unrelated to the DC Universe. It is simply a character analysis of a man who goes insane and becomes known as “Joker” while carrying out horrific acts of violence.

Arthur Fleck is the real name of the white-face-paint-and-green-hair-donning man that is the main focus of the film.

The Joker was first given a name in Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Batman, his first moniker being Jack Napier. This makes “Joker” the second time that the character has been given a real name in a major motion picture, a key detail about the movie that sets it apart from the Joker of the DC Universe.

Rather than being a psychotic and murderous criminal mastermind with no true motivation for his crimes, in Phoenix’s take on the role, the soon-to-be vigilante is a poor, middle-aged man named Arthur Fleck, with a pleasant demeanor and a condition that causes him to laugh wildly in inappropriate situations.

As the movie progresses, we watch as Arthur tries and fails to maintain his sanity while navigating through a city that he feels has turned its back on him.

He dreams of doing stand-up comedy for a living but doesn’t find success and works as a clown during the day. He loses his therapist and medication for PTSD, among other mental illnesses, after city-wide budget cuts, and learns that he is adopted and has a schizophrenic biological mother.

Without his meds, his mental illnesses

cause him to perceive threat and anxiety everywhere he turns. All of these things, coupled with the fact that most people he interacts with on a daily basis are completely indifferent to his very existence, drives him over the edge of insanity.

This plot revealing The Joker’s origin is much more in-depth than The Joker’s character has ever been experienced in any movie, TV series, video game, or comic book prior to 2019’s Joker film.

“If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice,” said the Joker, in the comic book, “Batman: The Killing Joke” (1988). This is the way the Joker’s background was intended to be when he was created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane in 1940.

However, since Joker is a stand-alone film, director Todd Phillips took the liberty of giving his Joker a cut-and-dry background story, which also acts as a reflection of our modern society and the way people with mental illnesses are oftentimes disregarded and left with barely any means to get through life happily and healthy.

The Joker of the DC Universe is the Clown Prince of Crime. He is an evil lunatic bent on killing any and everyone he can, especially those close to Batman. He does all of this for unknown reasons; he simply enjoys the violence and terror of it.

Arthur Fleck, on the other hand, is a good-hearted man with a lot of problems.

He needed help, but never received any. In a world where he felt alone and forgotten, he decided to take matters into his own hands and seek vengeance.

“What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash?” Fleck asks.

“You get what you [f***ing] deserve!”

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The BUZZ

about Coffee

By Arelexus Brown

C

offee is a beverage that is nearly as ubiquitous as water.

It is the fuel that runs our country. College students, CEOs and soccer moms alike are no stranger to the robust beverage. It’s hard to find a town without a Starbucks, and the motto “But First—Coffee” is plastered everywhere, from canvas totes to T-shirts to throw pillows.

With 22.5 billion cups of coffee consumed worldwide daily, the beverage has become one of the simplest yet arguably most integral aspects of our society.

For many, coffee is much more than a drink—it’s a lifestyle. It’s become a way of starting off the morning and a pick-me-up in the middle of the afternoon when you need that little extra push. Drinking coffee has become as thoughtless as breathing.

It’s no secret that we are obsessed.

Alyssa Jackson, a junior English major, cites coffee as a staple in her everyday life.

“I drink at least 2-3 cups a day,“ Jackson said. “I feel that coffee is a wake-up call to start a good day off.”

Coffee is not only a beverage of gusto and efficiency; it is one of many threads in American culture. Largely, it is a gateway

to socialization.

While the flavors and styles of coffee have changed and evolved overtime, its cultural and social significance has remained relatively the same.

Coffeehouses were once a place for intellectuals to gather for stimulating conversation and equally stimulating coffee. The custom is still very much in practice today.

Many find it hard to skip the opportunity to catch up with an old friend or a colleague over a cup of Joe. Ladaezjah Warrens, a senior Spanish major, sees coffee as an easy way to connect with companions and strangers alike.

“Coffee is a connection and a fellowship,” Warrens said. “It’s an invitation to stick around and chat; it’s a gift to bring to a friend before a study session; it’s a date without pressure. It’s more than a drink; it’s a tether.”

While there is something so warm and inviting about a cup of coffee, the styles of consuming coffee have changed over the years. For most, a plain cup of black coffee just doesn’t cut it any more.

In a research conducted by Starbucks, it was discovered that most students favor iced drinks, Frappuccinos and lattes over more traditional roast.

As customers under 24 make up 87% of Starbucks’ target consumers, college campuses in America would not feel complete without young scholars strolling about with their iced beverages. Pink drinks, Mocha Frappuccinos and, just in time for finals, the dragonfly drink are mainstays here at VSU. Whether you enjoy a rich, hot roast or sugary chilled drinks, college students share a commonality when it comes to coffee. It’s a universal antidote to pushing through daunting studies, as well as navigating the confusing and stressful beginning of adulthood.

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“With 22.5 billion cups of coffee consumed

worldwide daily, the beverage has become one of the simplest yet arguably most integral aspects of our society.”

— Arelexus Brown

Photo courtesy of Mike Kenneally 11 | ONTAP

Snapchat is

these studies, but it came in second for our poll. Also, YouTube is ranked high nationally among young people but fell low on our poll. So, what’s different about VSU? It’s possible that Twitter’s high score was a fluke. But it’s also possible that there’s something about this snappy little platform

By Livi Côté that appeals to VSU’s mindset.

Twitter’s character limit encourages hat was the controversial statement that clear, concise messages and quick, witty sparked my curiosity in VSU students’ comedy that might appeal to college stufavorite apps. Snapchat and Tumblr are my dents, who sometimes feel like they’re most used apps, so when I heard someone drowning in the wordiness of academic artisay this in class, I was skeptical. When I cles and the muddiness of some professors’ meet someone new, they no longer ask for instructions. There’s also something about my phone number—what is this, 1999?

Twitter’s climate that helps people keep up They ask for my Snapchat. with pop culture and news—maybe VSU So, Onstudents Ta p s t a f f like to keep asked 94 a finger on VSU stuthe pulse. dents what It’s also thei r t w o interesting most used that YouTube, apps are. ranked high Instagram on both nawon with 44 tional studvotes, Twities, barely ter came in slid into relesecond with vance at 8% 40 votes and on our poll.

Photo courtesy of Utopia, you are standing in it!

Snapchat I know lots came in third of people who use and love YouTube, but with 34 votes. Next came iMessage—texmaybe it wasn’t in VSU students’ mostting hasn’t died—then YouTube and Faceused apps because of its tendency to suck book. users in for hours with its scarily powerAccording to comScore Mobile Metrix, ful recommendation algorithms. I log in the most used apps for people ages 18-24 in to watch Jenna Marbles or Cody Ko while the U.S. are YouTube, then Facebook, then I eat dinner, and an hour later, I’m on my Snapchat. Facebook Messenger is fourth, 13th vine compilation. What’s a girl to do? and Instagram is fifth. According to Pew Log off?

Research Center, American teenagers use Despite these discrepancies, one thing’s Snapchat the most often, followed by Youfor sure.

Tube, then Instagram.

We all miss Vine.

Twitter isn’t ranked high on either of

T

DEAD

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The

Beauty

of

Natural Hair

By Deserae Eason

A

frican American women have long been pressured to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. Some women refuse to acquiesce.

Natural hair is the hair texture that you have without any chemicals. According to a commonly used scale, hair types can be 1 (straight), 2 (wavy), 3 (curly), and 4 (coily).

Within each type, you can further describe your hair with a, b, or c; “a” describes a wider curl, “b” describes a medium curl and “c” describes a tighter curl. For example, someone with average coily hair would be a 4b hair type.

Pictures and resources are available online to help you determine your hair type and individualize your hair care routine to bring out the beauty of your natural hair.

Elaina Walker is an English adviser who has been natural since 2010. Her natural hair journey was inspired by her mother’s decision to wear her hair natural. Her natural hair texture is 4b and 4c. While she has come to love her natural hair, she did not always feel that way.

Walker said she once felt uncomfortable wearing her natural hair. Many times, women who wear their natural hair are ridiculed by others.

Walker recalls being told that she “should not go out in public with her hair like that.”

Walker said that she wore her afro out only a few times a month, but other than that, she wore long wigs or short wigs—just as long as it was straight hair. However, over time, she has grown to love her hair just the way it is.

Walker had encouraging words for others

on their natural journey or considering being natural: “Just love your hair!”

Danita Campbell-Thomas, an academic adviser in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, has been on her natural hair journey since 1997. Thomas has a 4c hair texture. Her journey began after she noticed that her hair did not have a great experience with relaxers or perms.

To Thomas, being natural means “accepting what [your] beauty is and not conforming to someone else’s standards because everyone has their own beauty.”

Thomas had some advice for people who wear their natural hair: “View being natural as an investment in self-love,” she said.

In a society that does everything it can to sabotage the self-esteem of African American girls, loving yourself is revolutionary.

A sophomore dance major, Kayla Bradley started her natural hair process around July 2012. She has been natural for almost six years now, and her hair texture ranges from 4a to 4c.

In many cases, people transition from perms to being natural, while some have always worn their natural hair. Bradley was one of many who made the transition.

“Frustration inspired me to become natural,” Bradley said. She attributed the frustration to the hassle of keeping her hair permed.

“Being natural, to me, means embracing the way God made me,” Bradley said.

The beauty of natural hair is that it is unique to every person.

“Love what you have,” Bradley said. “Do not compare your hair to other people’s hair because what you have is amazing!”

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Elaina Walker

Kayla Bradley

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Danita Campbell-Thomas

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash

“As the seasons change, so does our emotional

chemistry. The frigid pallet of winter is a killjoy, draining the energy and serotonin out of our bodies.”

— Arelexus Brown 16 | ONTAP

WinterWOES

ineoalb

I

By Arelexus Brown

n the wintertime, chestnuts roast on fires and Jack Frost nips at noses. It’s time for comfort foods, celebrations and winter fashion. Winter is a season of joy for some, but for others, winter is the season of doom and gloom.

As the seasons change, so does our emotional chemistry. The frigid pallet of winter is a killjoy, draining the energy and serotonin out of our bodies. While others react well to the cold weather, some may find themselves in a not-so-cool funk.

If you find yourself feeling down and out as the days grow darker, colder and shorter, chances are you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a type of depression that occurs when the seasons change. It most commonly begins as fall and winter commence and persists until the spring.

Symptoms of SAD include depression, low energy levels, trouble sleeping or oversleeping, and changes in appetite.

Bears skip the winter with a long, warm nap, and while humans are mammals, too, we don’t share the luxury of our furry friends. So how can we cope with SAD? Dr. Tricia Hale, director of VSU’s Counseling Center, has several solutions for students who may be struggling with SAD. “It is important to understand where your body can best perform,” Dr. Hale said.

Students who attend school in colder environments are more likely to be affected

by SAD than others. When picking a place to move or attend school, consider finding the environment that is right for your body.

While escaping the cold is not always pos-

blaoeni

sible for some, there are many ways to make do with your environment.

Dr. Hale also encourages students to take advantage of resources available on campus that might make the winter more bearable. If the cold weather makes you feel gloomy, there are many ways to enjoy yourself inside.

“Campus Rec has a lot of activities that are inside,” Dr. Hale said. VSU’s Rec Center offers a variety of activities that students can enjoy in the comfort of the indoors, such as rock climbing, aerobic classes and an indoor swimming pool. Calming exercises, such as yoga and meditation, are also available for those who prefer low-impact exercises.

She also encourages students to get involved in campus organizations and use the Counseling Center to their advantage if they need a safe space to express their emotions.

Dr. Hale and fellow medical professionals also cite light therapy as an effective way to combat SAD. Light therapy involves sitting near a light box within the first hour of waking up. The light mimics natural sunlight and has been proven effective in altering mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is nothing to fear or feel ashamed of—it’s just your body’s way of reacting to the environment around you. Finding ways to manage feelings of gloom can help the winter feel like less of a drag and help you feel your best during the coldest months of the year.

Bundle up; it’s only temporary. Spring is just around the corner!

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S t u d yA Life-Changing A b r o aExperience d:

By Logan Gullage

T

he world as we know it is massive.

There are so many places, filled with other little places, just waiting to be admired and found. Whether it be in your own backyard, or miles away, traveling is essential for life.

Thanks to VSU, discovering the rest of the world can be made a bit easier.

Lacey Reddick, a sophomore psychology major, recently discovered just how beautiful travel can be through VSU’s study abroad program. With her visit to Waterford, Ireland, she found many breathtaking places.

This study abroad experience gave Reddick the opportunity to live more like an adult. When it came to living situations,

Lacey Reddick shows off the views in Ireland.

she simply stayed in an apartment complex with three other roommates. She says that this gave her more of a genuine feel of being away from home, which was both intimidating and exciting all around.

Of course, with a new place comes new cultural differences.

“I noticed a less stigmatized view of bar and pub culture, and drinking in general, ” Reddick said. “We were allowed to order alcohol without it being frowned upon, and we were treated like adults.”

She also explains how, not necessarily the culture, but the environment itself was different.

“There seemed to be noticeably less trash in the streets and alleyways, which was nice to see,” Reddick said.

When it came to the locals, Reddick explains how they were “genuinely hospitable and kind” compared to those of American culture. Whenever dogs and their owners would stroll by, they never had a problem stopping and allowing the excited young girls to love on their animals. The servers she came across were also eager to give them directions and genuine insight as to what to do and what not to do in the cities they visited, which was more than refreshing.

While Reddick’s experience abroad was generally positive, things were not all that she expected sometimes.

“I wish we had more time in Dublin,” Reddick said on her worst experience.

“With such a massive city and only a few hours to explore, I felt quite restricted.”

She felt very pleased with every other aspect of her trip, calling it “life-changing”

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Livi Côté snacks on a macaroon in France.

“breathtaking.” The many rolling mountains and beautiful greenery will forever be an experience she will never forget.

There are endless benefits to studying abroad for Reddick. From learning to what being away from home feels like to creating memories with people she will never forget, everything was a massive bonus.

She highly recommends this trip to anyone wanting to study abroad.

“You never truly understand life outside of America until you actually leave it,” Reddick says.

While psychology major Livi Côté also went to Ireland and adored it, she had a different kind of experience when it came down to her trip to France. Côté says that in France “the culture was very judgmental and intellectual.”

Côté also stayed with a French older woman as her host, and while she was physically cute, she was very “conservative and judgmental.” She found it very difficult to relate to her host due to the different lan-

guage and her views in general.

With every new place comes the familiar ache of missing home. Both Côté and Reddick commented on the fact that they began missing the familiarity of where they are from.

Côté gives a small reminder that if you decide to go to another country, it is more than okay to take it easy every now and then.

“On one hand, you are in another country and you should take advantage of it as much as you can, but on the other hand, there will be days you just need a nap.”

There are pros and cons to every new place you visit.

Côté describes that, while she appreciates French culture, if you plan on going to France, just remember that “the French don’t take much pity on people who struggle with their language or are confused.”

However, she does highly recommend the Ireland trip through the honors program wholeheartedly.

Lacey Reddick poses in Ireland.

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Photo courtesy of Piqsels

Seeing the Light: Why It Isn’t Always a Good Thing

By Patrick Barry

T

he year is 1900. It’s a cool, clear, moonless night and the entire galaxy spreads across the sky like marbles, shining from distances so infinitely large that it’s overwhelming, humbling. The sky is so infinite that you’re sure it can last forever.

But it doesn’t. Your sky was the last of a dying breed. Now, if you go out on a cool, clear, moonless night in Valdosta, you are lucky to see Venus, the outline of Orion and a Boeing 737 streaking a huge line across it all.

So, what happened? There weren’t supposed to be any downsides to this new “electricity” thing. The streets are now

A Fresnel lens can be found outside West Hall.

washed in perpetual daylight, and everyone and everything is happier and safer because of it, right?

The reality is that, while not as immediately apparent as air or water pollution, light pollution is an issue. A subtler issue to those who have grown up under a sky obscured by streetlights but one that fundamentally alters our notion of our place in the universe.

Dr. Kenneth Rumstay, professor of astronomy and guardian of the largest telescope in South Georgia, has only seen the Milky Way once on campus, during a blackout on New Year’s Eve 1994.

What’s not as subtle as reconciling with our place in the universe is the effect improper lighting has on safety. It is a longheld belief that more light equals more safety. This is true up to a point, but it has been proven that over-lighting of areas can actually decrease safety. Improperly directed and harsh lights cause sharp, dark shadows where criminals can hide. An Illinois Criminal Justice report saw a 40% increase in crime in an area of Chicago six months after brighter, higher-watt bulbs had been installed in its alleyways.

In another study on the role of streetlights in preventing automobile collisions in Wales, researchers found that “[t]here was no evidence that any street lighting adaptation strategy was associated with a change in collisions at night.”

There is good news, though.

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Photo courtesy of PxHere

“Light pollution has been

linked with psychological issues such as depression, and it’s no wonder that the people of today are depressed in record numbers, when they are denied the same ever-present wonder of the night sky that gave inspiration to so many great thinkers, poets and artists.”

— Patrick Barry

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Dr. Rumstay helped develop VSU’s current, night-sky friendly lighting policy and says that the university “has been very good about using shielded light fixtures,” meaning lights that direct all or most of their light toward the ground. Although they have a higher upfront cost, lenses like the Fresnel lens direct light downward and are ultimately more efficient.

Although VSU may make attempts to limit harsh lighting, the majority of the surrounding area, from the east coast to the west coast, does not. Interstates and long strings of coastal resorts send thousands of migratory birds and hatchling sea turtles, who rely on moonlight for navigation, to their confusing deaths every year.

Luckily, there is a small consortium of National and State Parks that understand the sanctity of the unbroken night sky and have fought to preserve it. Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okeefenokee is one of those parks and the only place in Georgia to be recognized by the International Dark Sky Association, an organization that catalogs and fights to protect dark skies.

Eighteen miles from Fargo, Georgia, a

hamlet with a population of 321, Stephen Foster offers visitors a chance to open their minds to the infinite possibilities of the universe as it glitters above the largest blackwater swamp in North America.

Sadly, skies like the Okeefenokee’s are quickly becoming a dying breed, and with nothing to ponder in the sky, people are quickly turning their limited sight to the limitless slabs of lighted interstate and gray, square office buildings. Light pollution has been linked with psychological issues such as depression, and it’s no wonder that the people of today are depressed in record numbers, when they are denied the same ever-present wonder of the night sky that gave inspiration to so many great thinkers, poets and artists.

Van Gogh famously said that the sight of the stars made him dream, and Dr. Rumstay is right along with him, despite the accelerating technological progress threatening to destroy our skies.

“I think most people nowadays don’t know what they’re missing,” says the bespectacled professor, silently hoping for the next blackout.

The Milky Way opens up above Stephen C. Foster State Park.

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Photo courtesy of Gaj Aiyer

ACDEGH

By Arelexus Brown

“O

n Tap” editor-in-chief Arelexus Brown got a chance to sit down with staff writer and photographer Logan Gullage, who captured the front and back covers of this edition. Among her other work, which often features friends, Gullage’s milk bath photo session is striking.

Accompanying pictures from the session, this Q&A tells Gullage’s journey and the story behind the art.

When did you first pursue an interest in photography, and what sparked your interest? I first started being interested in photography when my best friend bought a camera in middle school. My first camera was a little disposable camera because I

HGEDCA

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

BEHIND THE LENS: Q&A Session with “On Tap” Photographer Logan Gullage

couldn’t afford a big one yet. I always took pictures of my mom, trees and the sky. I wasn’t that creative in the beginning.

What is your biggest inspiration for photos? My biggest inspiration for most of my photos are people in natural settings. I adore the idea of nature and people mixing in a way that’s artistic, mostly simple and powerful.

The milk bath shoot is pretty groovy.

Is there a story behind it? My friend and I wanted to go for a mother nature–type vibe.

We were thinking of portraying her as if she were in a dream; that’s where the milk came in. When we saw the Magnolias outside of my friend’s house, we couldn’t help but add

Skylar Wildes poses in an almond milk bath.

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Wildes channels John Everett Millais’ “Ophelia.”

those hints of bright pink and green from the leaves. Everything we used in the shoot was environmentally friendly, right down to the use of almond milk instead of dairy.

What camera and/or other devices do you use for shoots? I typically use my simple Canon Rebel T5i camera with a 50 mm lens, which is almost always used for portraits, but I use it for every shoot because I love how vibrant the colors turn out.

What advice would you give to a novice photographer? I would advise every photographer to not get discouraged by the other photographers they are surrounded by. At first, I was extremely intimidated by my best friend’s photography because our styles were so different and we were so close. I sometimes forgot that every photographer has their own unique style, and ours were very different. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t both beautiful pieces of art.

How has your interest in photography shaped or enhanced your life? Photography has genuinely molded how I view every single location and, honestly, every single bit of nature I am surrounded by.

I’m constantly thinking “that would make a beautiful shot” or “imagine the pictures” when walking around campus, Valdosta or anywhere.

Is there a certain photographer that you look up to and/or are inspired by?

I really love my best friend’s photography [@januaryclouds on Instagram]. Although that may seem biased, her style is evident in her work, and I aspire to have my own style as well. I also love Brandon Woelfel and his use of lights and reflections.

What is your personal philosophy of photography? Photography is my small channel when I’m very frustrated or feeling very inspired. I feel as if a picture can truly tell a thousand words ... and I also can’t paint or draw. It’s changed how I view other art and other photographers as well and appreciate them more.

Do you have any photography related plans for after college? I do plan to work for a magazine after college and possibly figure out the whole photo journalism thing. Working for “National Geographic” would be the dream.

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Marketing Takes Over Social Media

By Shantelle Shipp

H

ow often do you pick up your local newspaper for the latest sale at your favorite retailer? Or, simply for entertainment purposes? Surely, the answer is little to none. The newspaper, in this era, seems more like a novelty item or your dog’s designated pee-pad. Over the past decade, the innovative and techy additions to our ever-evolving society calls for a more updated approach to advertising and marketing goods.

Social media advertising, also known as social media targeting, generates advertisements on various social media platforms.

Popular networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and other digital advertising platforms (e.g. Google) have amassed billions in advertising alone.

Celebrities and social media influencers like Kylie Jenner, Cardi B, Logan Paul, Jackie Aina, PewDiePie and so many more, use their large platforms to promote and market various brands.

Those on social media usually have their own niche, whether it is makeup/beauty, technology, photography or video games.

Brands will offer to pay these influencers if their product will likely sell to their audience. For instance, Jackie Aina, a Nigerian-American beauty guru with over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, strongly advocates for the visibility of all people of color within the beauty industry.

Cosmetic lines like Maybelline, Anastasia Beverly Hills and TooFaced Cosmetics have either created collaborative makeup lines with Aina, made her an ambassador for their brand or paid her to advertise new and upcoming products.

Brands tend to reach out to these types of influencers due to their connectivity and engagement to their audience. Personalities that fit with the brand’s own views, values and interests are more likely to have a brand deal with the brand regardless of their following count. Companies have become quite savvy in choosing who gets to advertise their products to keep the integrity and even save money.

Brands are engaging more with authentic creators and influencers as these advertisements seem more honest. Ever scrolled through Instagram and noticed one of your favorites posted an ad and you didn’t mind?

You see this person as reliable and worthy of the collaboration as opposed to other influencers that may only do it for the money.

Social media marketing has changed the overall face of advertising, along with the addition of help from influencers and creators on the medium. Whenever you’re scrolling online, take note of the number of influencers and brand collaborations taking place on your favorite app. Some collaborations can be as simple as displaying a T-shirt from the company.

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At Boggs Music Hall, founders and owners Rugh and Karen Boggs play every show on Saturdays, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

When Boggs Music Hall first opened in 2003, it was a garage. The Boggs added a stage to the left back corner, transforming it into the hall it is today.

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Boggs Music Hall Rocks South Georgia

boggsmusichallrockssouthgeo By Zach Edmondson boggsmusichallrockssouthgeo

“S

he needed a home, and I needed a piano player.”

This is how Rugh Boggs, 91, explained his and his wife’s first meeting to me as his “piano player” sat, smiling, in the seat next to me. The three of us sat and talked in the front row inside their very own Hahira-based music venue after the show.

Rugh’s humbly simple words encapsulate his and wife Karen Boggs’ music-centered relationship that has remained intact for nearly 40 years as they have traveled to almost every state together playing music.

It is safe to say that Karen found her home in Rugh, just as Rugh found his home, and piano player, in Karen.

Together, they own Boggs Music Hall.

Both the founders and owners of the place, they also perform at every show, which sometimes features other local singers and

children’s choirs, on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Rugh and Karen, known as The Versatiles, play just about anything within the genres of classic country, including gospel hymns, Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash and everything in between.

Boggs Music Hall, which opened in 2003, started out as a car garage. When Karen had the idea to set up a local place to showcase their musical talent because they couldn’t travel the country to play anymore, they had a stage built in the back left corner and made it into a music hall right in Rugh and Karen’s backyard. No, that wasn’t a figure of speech—it is literally right behind their house in Hahira beside the train tracks. Even though it was Karen’s idea, she couldn’t take the credit. She admitted that “God just brought things our way.”

Rugh Boggs is founder and co-owner of the hall.

Karen Boggs is Rugh’s wife and music partner.

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The Boggs, also called The Versatiles, play anything within the classic country genre, including gospel hymns, Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash and everything in between.

Rugh is from “Bloody” Breathitt, Kentucky, and Karen hails from Elyria, Ohio.

They met right here in the city of Valdosta at South Georgia Medical Center. Rugh’s wife was in the ICU and passed away shortly after he met Karen, who was there visiting a friend.

The circumstances that brought them together may have been sad and gloomy, but as Karen told me, they “knew God brought [them] together.”

Rugh, who started singing as a child in church, performed in a singing competition at the Kentucky State Fair and nearly won but was disqualified because he didn’t sing a ballad. He was only 7; he didn’t know what a ballad was. Regardless, Rugh’s passion for music never abandoned him. In fact, it guided him through life as a loyal General Motors employee who played shows on the weekend.

This passion continued to grow as he met Karen, helped “turn her into a coun-

try music girl,” traveled the country with a guitar in hand and, finally, settled down in Hahira.

Rugh started his first band while he was serving in Korea. Thankfully, he never had to see a bullet while serving, but it seems as if the stress of such a thing would be enough to steal someone’s inspiration. Nevertheless, the band of soldiers was formed, and Rugh continued exercising his passion while so far away from home. Upon returning home, he bought his own guitar for the first time and started another band around the Dayton, Ohio, area.

This guitar was given away to one of his first bandmates as a parting gift when the man had to leave the band and depart for college. In a series of aggressive and unfortunate events, the man ended up using the guitar as a weapon on his own adolescent son, breaking its neck. Ultimately, the guitar was restored back to working condition, and Rugh actually got it back at about 75

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“It is safe to say

that Karen found her home in Rugh, just as Rugh found his home, and piano player, in Karen.”

— Zach Edmondson

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years old.

Before they found a home in Hahira, George Jones offered Rugh the chance to open for him, but surprisingly, Rugh had to go with his better judgement and turn it down. Jones was a very popular country singer from the 1950s up until his death in 2013. At the time of the offer, Rugh had a good and stable job at General Motors that allowed him to pay the child support he owed and play shows on the weekends, so he didn’t want to jeopardize all that he already had going for himself.

As much as the man loves country music, to turn down such an offer speaks volumes about his character and how his priorities transcend his personal love for music to the things that truly matter in his life.

Rugh didn’t have to open for George Jones to rub shoulders with heavyweights of the music industry. He and Karen recorded 10 CDs, two of which were gifted to me simply for coming to their music hall and talking about their life and music with them. The last three CDs that Karen and Rugh recorded were mixed by Michael Wagener, who has notably worked with the

popular heavy metal band Metallica.

In his own words, Rugh declares, “Hahira is one of the nicest places I’ve ever been.” A town as quiet and calm as the attitude with which Rugh will tell you his story, if you ask. It is kind of poetic how that worked out, if you ask me.

I asked Rugh and Karen what the most rewarding part about all of this was. Karen said that Rugh “would rather sing than eat.”

Music is simply his passion. For Karen, it is a matter of helping people through music.

“I know the Lord’s brought the people we can touch. … I don’t know how I’m being used, but I know the Lord is using the music to encourage, comfort and give them a good time out,” Karen said.

Rugh and Karen are a national, yet local, treasure. I don’t take it for granted that I have been able to meet and listen to Rugh and Karen’s stories and songs, especially since I only had to drive a few minutes from my house for this to happen. If you get a chance and like old country music, you should make the drive. Karen promises, “We’ll do it as long as the Lord gives us breath.”

The Boggs have recorded 10 CDs, which are on display inside the hall.

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CUTTING DOWN ON PLASTICS

By Logan Gullage

I

magine a world where the oceans are full of more trash than there are fish. A sea of plastic wrappers, tin cans and bottle caps.

Now, imagine a forest without any greenery. Picture the barren hills covered in trash instead of towering trees and the many missing animals.

One of the biggest concerns with the environment is how much plastic is floating around in the oceans and in the world.

The statistics were all present and have been for years. However, I decided to attempt to change my own statistics when it came down to my plastic use. For one week, I tried to take a daily journal-like note of how much plastic I used, while also trying to cut down on the amount I usually have.

Day One: Today, I really noticed how much plastic was in almost every product needed every day. There are obvious ones like grocery bags and plastic straws, but there are more difficult ones to avoid, such as toothpaste containers and shampoo bottles. I attempted to cook using foods that I purchased without plastic bags. Unfortunately, this left me with very little options.

I somehow managed and only threw away one plastic bag.

Day Two: For me, coffee is a basic start to every day. I drink at least two cups a day.

However, when I noticed how many plastic K-Cups I used in a normal week, I decided to switch over to a reusable container that looked like a K-Cup. This container was a solid one dollar at Target, and while it is also made of plastic, the fact that I could

use it over and over again gave me peace of mind.

Day Three: I went grocery shopping today, using my own bags instead of plastic ones. While many of the products I needed to buy were wrapped in plastic, I tried to buy larger bulk items so they lasted a little longer. It gave me peace of mind to be able to bring my own reusable grocery bags instead of using many small plastic ones.

Day Four: I went the entire day without using any plastic. I ate food that had no plastic wrappers around it, while not purchasing any product that had plastic in it.

While it was extremely difficult, it was not impossible to do whatsoever. I also purchased more metal straws to help cut down on some plastic use. Even though it is a small change, hopefully every little change will have a bigger impact on the environment somehow.

Gullage collected this much recycled material over a week.

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“Imagine a world where the oceans are full of more trash than there are fish. A sea of plastic wrappers, tin cans and bottle caps.”

— Logan Gullage

Photo courtesy of Pixabay 34 | ONTAP 34 | ONTAP

Day Five: I started to separate all of my plastics from the rest of the things I throw away. Normally, around this time of the week, my recycling bin would be almost full. This week my recycling bin was less than halfway filled up. The coffee grounds instead of K-Cups don’t quite taste the same, and it is difficult to use fresh produce instead of processed foods that are contained in plastic. However, it is more rewarding knowing I am helping the planet, even if it is in smaller ways.

Day Six: My old habits of using more plastic have simply faded away. I drink my coffee in reusable cups every day instead of buying plastic cups from Ellianos with their coffee. Using this method has also saved me more money that I would have been spending on other coffee rather than on things I need more that will hurt the

earth less.

Day Seven: I somehow managed to keep my recycling bin under halfway full this week. It was difficult to find products that either did not use plastic or were bulky enough to sustain for more than one meal.

Minimizing my plastic use hurt my wallet in some places yet helped it in others. I do intend to continue to keep my little habits in the long run.

My week with less plastic was not as difficult as it seemed initially. Once I became accustomed to the routine of looking for alternatives for the plastic, it simply becomes muscle memory. Cutting down the use of plastic gave me more peace of mind about how the Earth is currently doing, and simply recycling the plastic I did use felt even better.

Trash litters One Mile Branch between VSU’s Oak Street parking deck and Education Center.

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Coloring the

World one

Head at a

Time

Four students discuss the inspiration behind their unusual hair color.

By Livi CĂ´tĂŠ

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Kat Eichler poses for a selfie after a seven-hour hair appointment.

W

hen junior psychology major Kat Eichler was in middle school, her reluctant mom let her put streaks in her hair, promising that if she made the list of honors when she graduated high school, she would pay half the salon bill for Eichler to dye her hair any color she wanted.

“I think she made that deal assuming that I wouldn’t want to dye my hair anymore by the time I graduated high school, but I did, so she held up her end of the bargain,” she said.

Eichler views the increasing popularity of hair dyeing as a positive thing, not a transgression on individuality.

“It’s a trend,” she said. “People are hopping on the train. … There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s fun!”

Some of the older generation object to Eichler’s colors. She said that a woman in Walmart once yelled at her, “Put some damn clothes on and fix your hair!” but with more colorful, misogynistic language.

On campus, however, Eichler said that people’s comments are mostly positive.

Her advice for people who want to dye their hair is to be careful, especially when bleaching. Do not try to bleach your hair yourself—at least not the first time, or until you learn from someone experienced.

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Allison Shirley chose her current purple in part because purple has many symbolic associations.

A

s a ten-year-old “military brat” living in Italy, freshman biology major Allison Shirley started her hair dye journey with purple streaks.

“I did it because, I don’t know, it’s kind of a way to cope with my dad leaving,” Shirley said. “So maybe I could get more friends because I only had like two friends at the time.”

This was just the beginning. While she was in high school, Shirley’s family took a trip to Florida to visit family, avoiding a presumably problematic grandmother. The grandmother found out they were in town anyway, so her mom promised Shirley and her brother something in return if they would go visit her. Shirley asked for bright red hair, in the style of one of her favorite Youtubers at the time, Momo O’Brien.

Overall, Shirley thinks the popularity of hair dyeing is about creative freedom. Stu-

dents at her high school had to wear uniforms, and the freedom to dye their hair gave them an alternative way to express themselves.

“We had very vibrant colors at our school,” she said.

As a biology major, Shirley dreads the rules that might exist in her future workplace.

“It stunts that creative freedom,” she said.

Dyed hair is so common, she said, that banning dyed hair often eliminates people who are perfectly qualified for the job.

Shirley recommends that people who want to dye their hair have a Photoshop-proficient friend change their hair color to see how it looks.

“I would say do a lot of research before you go straight into dyeing your hair,” she said.

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Erin Jones sports a brilliant sapphire blue.

E

rin Jones, a freshman biology major, started her hair dye journey with dip-dyeing.

“I went to a salon, and I got it dip-dyed, and it washed out in like a week,” she said.

“And I was upset, and I was like, you know what? Balls to the wall. So I dyed my whole hair purple.”

Jones thinks dyed hair is popular because “it’s the next form of self-expression,” she said. She notes that self-expression through hair is nothing new. People have expressed themselves through their hairstyles for millennia—for example, the ancient art of hair braiding.

Jones thinks workplaces should regulate rather than outright ban dyed hair.

“I think it should be allowed because your hair is part of who you are,” she said.

She also said that she doesn’t understand the argument that colored hair is “distracting.”

“You look at it once, and then you just get used to it,” she said.

On campus, most comments Jones gets are positive. However, kids’ reactions are the best: “When I had purple hair, little kids would look at me like I was a fairy or something,” Jones said.

For people interested in dyeing their hair, Jones warns that a full head of color takes a lot of upkeep, but if you’re willing to do the work, it’s worth it.

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Kayley Tudor makes bubblegum pink hair pop.

S

enior mass media major Kayley Tudor said that pink hair dye lasts longer on the hair than her usual blue.

“It faded really nice,” she said.

On well-bleached hair, pink has the advantage of starting out bright, turning pastel and ending up blonde or rose gold.

Tudor thinks that part of the reason hair dyeing has become so popular is society’s newfound openness, even in the workplace.

“I know it’s taken forever for people to get on board with piercings and tattoos and stuff as well,” she said, “but we’re becoming more open because that’s the norm now.”

As far as workplaces that still do ban dyed hair, Tudor said, “I feel like it’s a little bit silly. I guess I can see where they’re coming from if they’re an old-fashioned business … but I do think it is silly that dyed hair causes distractions. I feel like at-

titude causes much more distraction than hair color would.”

People’s reactions to Tudor’s hair vary.

People on campus give compliments and kids stare, but older people’s reactions can be “interesting.”

“You get some that will glare at you and it’s like, ‘I’m so sorry’,” she said. “‘Your hair’s unnatural, too. It’s white.’”

This made me laugh, but it’s true that in today’s day and age, having dyed hair when you’re young is almost as normal as having white hair when you’re old—which is a waste because white hair is enviably prebleached.

Tudor’s advice for newbie dyers is: “Look into the brand before you do anything else, because even if the person or yourself is good at it, the brand might not last.”

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

By Destany Flowers

A

Hang Up the Line:

s a very connected society, especially to the younger generations, social media is the core of all communication. Daily posts, news, pictures, videos, memes, etc. keeps everyone linked to the internet updated on the lives of others. In a technology-reliant society, social media has become both a necessity and obsession.

One of the most universally owned items among our population is a cellphone. Once a rarity, cellphones have become the preferred device of communication.

In fact, most students would consider their phone a necessity. Some would even say that they have to have it in their hands at all times. As a generation of advanced technology, we have developed an obsession with apps like Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms that interact with different people around the globe.

Alexis DuPont, a sophomore psychology major, is an active user of Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram, like many other students.

Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram have established themselves as the “trinity” of

Social Media as an Addiction

social media apps as they are widely popular with students around campus. These social media platforms have become the definition of communication for everyone who has access to these apps. The popularity of social media has slowly made the use of a phone number outdated.

“When a guy walks up to me, they never ask for my number,” DuPont said. “They usually ask for my Snapchat.”

Social media apps like Snapchat have become the “phone number” of our generation. Just like Snapchat, Instagram is one of the biggest forms of communication, from ads to celebrity drama. Paul Vestal, a sophomore business major, believes students spend far too much time on their cellphones and engaging in social media and has his own estimates on the amount of time spent.

“If you average up the number of hours someone spends on their phone for a week, one person will be on their phone for at least 35 hours,” Vestal said. “That is more than 24 hours out of your week that you were looking down at your phone.”

However, posting daily on these social platforms and tagging your location can be 41 | ONTAP

Psychologists estimate that as many as 5-10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction today.

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

—Addiction Center

A Snapchat user watches the Blazers defeat Ohio Dominican behind the screen.

dangerous. Not everyone on social media is nice and friendly as they seem. Stalkers get the chance to find exactly where you are at all times of the day. Snapchat has a location setting that makes your location available for everyone to see.

For users at a young age who wouldn’t pay much mind to sharing their location and tagging the places that they have been when posting on Twitter or Instagram, this could lead to kidnappings or something much worse. Yes, social media keeps us in contact with friends or distant family but going to events and tagging your location could lead to someone you didn’t want to find you, finding you.

This leads to the “perfect life” ideal that many people create on social media.

Johnathan Mims, a junior history major, shared his experience of being a social media influencer and the effect the opinion of strangers can have on his self-esteem.

“I have around [10,000] or 12,000 followers on Instagram, and I often advertise brands for some side money, but since I am

an influencer, I feel strangled by everyone’s ideals of me,” Mims said.

Often, influencers in makeup, fitness or fashion go to events for the likes or retweets.

It becomes an addiction, and some may feel like it is an expectation from their followers to do something or go somewhere.

As an influencer, Mims strongly believes that social media can have a negative effect on people’s personal happiness and the way they live their lives.

“Nowadays, everything is so focused on the screen of the phone that you create ideals for the people around you based on their social media profile,” Mims said. “This often leads to people wanting to be like me.

Not to say that it is wrong or doesn’t make me happy that someone wants to be like me, it’s just I don’t want them to think that they have to look or act like the things I post to be happy.”

The importance of followers, streaks on Snapchat, likes on Instagram or retweets on Twitter has embodied our ideals as a society to be happy. Mainly, students have people they look up to and want to be like because they feel like that would make them happy or better their success in life. However, striving to be someone else won’t make you happy.

To achieve true happiness, you have to make your own goals and achieve these goals. But don’t stop there. Keep making goals and working towards them. To achieve something by yourself will make you have a rush of success, not because your idol did it so you did too, but because you made this goal to meet for yourself.

Put your phone down. Get out and go where you want to go to because it would make you happy. Do what you want to do because it’s what you want. Stop worrying about likes or retweets. Love yourself and look up from the phone for a change.

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Holding Out for a Hero: Discovering VSU’s Comic Book Club

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By Nicole Rewis aaaaaaaaaa

44 | ONTAP

E

very great superhero begins with an origin story, and I got to witness VSU’s Comic Book Club go through its own.

Everyone had just rushed from their classes to attend, and the excitement on their faces said it all. President Roshni Patel, a junior English major, took her place at the front of the room and began the first-ever meeting of the Comic Book Club.

At every monthly meeting, there should be a special topic of discussion encapsulating an important event from that month.

September is Hispanic Heritage month, so the club discussion focused on Hispanic heroes and protagonists. Some of the main characters mentioned were Gomez Addams from The Addams Family, Miles Morales as Spider-Man, Miss America and Blue Beetle.

Vice President Ryan Johnson, a junior engineering major, expressed a love for the variety of stories comic books have to offer and the sense of community that comes with the fascination.

“I love comic books and the potential they have to showcase a variety of stories that can be deep [and] intellectual and resonate with a variety of readers, or can be dumb fun,” Johnson said. “Having a community to share that passion with is nice.”

It was also made clear that this club will not just be focused on superheroes. Interest in graphic novels, or any other kinds of comic books, are welcome as well!

“Some of my favorite comics and graphic novels are Ms. Marvel, Love is Love and The Prince and the Dressmaker,” Patel said.

The club does not plan to stick to just meetings either. For trivia lovers, there are some comic book trivia nights planned. If there are any superhero movies coming out, the club may plan to go together to watch and discuss thoughts afterward. In October, the club planned to go see “Joker” as

a group.

“We definitely want to try other events, like game nights and screenings,” Patel said.

The president and vice president, as well as the members, share their excitement to get this club up and running. They want involvement from the students here at VSU, and most importantly, they want a new space to have fun with other comic book enthusiasts.

For Halloween, the club planned a costume party and watched some old superhero movies or shows. Every so often, there will be a Friday screening of a comic-related movie or show. The club hosted the series premiere of The CW’s “Batwoman” during their October meeting.

In order to get this information out, the club plans to use fliers and BlazerLink, as well as Instagram and Twitter @comicsvsu.

Any questions or comments can be emailed to Roshni Patel at ropatel@valdosta.edu.

Club members look forward to some exciting events throughout the semester!

So, who should join the club? Whether you’re a seasoned lover of comics like Johnson or just testing the waters, you should give it a shot. Patel expresses that she “want[s] the club to be a fun and open space, where people don’t feel like they need a long history with comics to feel included.”

The best part? It’s free!

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CAPTURING CANDIDS: VSU Alumnus Becomes Professional Photographer

By Logan Gullage

G

raham Nguyen is a Valdosta State alumnus who graduated with a mass media degree in 2016. He is now a professional photographer.

VSU hired Nguyen to handle visual aspects concerning the university and other businesses. He has produced pieces that have been in movie theaters, pitched ideas to news producers and even helped broadcast live sporting events. He coordinates the many things that attract students to VSU, as well as keeping the current students and alumni updated on things concerning the university.

Photography has always been Nguyen’s passion. “I was around 11 years old when it first caught my eye,” Nguyen said. “I got one of those disposable cameras, and I was hooked since.”

All his life, he entered art competitions which led him to win a little bit of money.

With that money, he bought his first digital camera and began his reputation in high school as “the guy who takes the pictures.”

His high school work included taking senior pictures and photographing other special events.

Every artist has a particular style of work, but Nguyen is dynamic. “I love to

have an array of colors, ideas, and tastes,” Nguyen said. “It gives an audience a sense of diversity.”

He prefers to tailor his work to the individuality of the people he works with.

“Being able to have a multitude of different styles is very important,” Nguyen said.

However, he does prefer a more candid style of photograph because it conveys more of a “real life” feel.

Photography is an ever-changing field that presents challenges even for professionals like Nguyen.

“In five to 10 years, we will not be taking pictures and videos the same way we are today,” he said.

Although Nguyen said it is possible for him to explore other career options, for the moment, photography and cinematography are his passion.

“I identify with visual arts,” he said.

“That is the key to being successful in this field: Make people look at you and see you as the photographer. Make it your reputation.”

While he is grateful for his job, Nguyen is torn when it comes to work versus play “Sometimes I don’t want to shoot at the end of the day because that’s what I’ve

46 | ONTAP

Graham Nguyen transitioned from VSU student to VSU on-campus photographer.

been doing all day,” he said.

Balancing work and hobbies is hard for Nguyen because, as he said, “I so strongly identify with this one thing.”

Nguyen offered some advice for amateur photographers. “If you can be more critical of your own work than other people’s, you're really going to create awesome stuff as an artist,” he said.

He added that social media is essential for an artist to grow in this day in age.

“Just keep posting and posting,” Nguyen said. “It will help more people to see what you have to offer.”

No matter what your passion is, Nguyen is a great example of the power of building a reputation and identity associated with your craft.

“Whatever you're trying to do, try to make yourself identify with that thing as

much as possible,” Nguyen said.

Within every professional photographer, there was once a rookie with only a camera and friends to take pictures of. No studios, no thousand-dollar equipment—simply an amateur student doing what they enjoy.

Hayden Whitwell is a freshman political science major with a fascination with photography. Although he only started taking pictures around two years ago, he said he believes a single picture “can speak a thousand words” and tell its own story.

Every photographer has a unique style, and Whitwell prefers the “aesthetics of human beauty in a natural environment,” such as portraits in woods, on beaches and by streams.

The beauty of campus and the diversity of the students at VSU inspires Whitwell to capture more portraits.

“I tend to bounce off ideas and creative visions with the students I take pictures of,” he said. “It has made me many new friends.”

Hayden Whitwell also enjoys amateur photography. His philosophy is that every picture has its own story to tell.

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