On Tap Issue 12, Fall 2015

ONTAP

ISSUE 12

FALL 2015

A flagship freedom Student activism. Why it's important and how protected is it? (8)

Doomed To Repeat?: The APUSH Battle in Georgia Thoughts on the politics of state standards for AP U.S. history (52)

CONTENTS 4

Staff Page

5

Editor's Letter Joshua E. Abbott

7

Calendar of Events Geneva Crooks

8-13

A Flagship Freedom Zac Kiser

14-15

Colorado: “Up in Smoke”

32-33

Perry Davis

34-37

Beyond the Pump

38-39

To Freeze or Not to Freeze: The Benifits of Cold Showers

41

What is Vaping?

42-43.

3DS: Why it's Best?

26-27

Social Gaming

Edward Sanders

Gifted

Terrance Johnson

44-45

Weekend Trips: VSU Edition Geneva Crooks

46-47

The VSU Experience: Where will you Go? Joshua E. Abbott

Veronica You

23-25

Underdog: Everyone’s Success Awaits Within Terrance Johnson

Zac Kiser

21

Sam Smith: The New King of Soul Jamel Shorter

Marquez Slaughter

18-19

A Record Renaissance Edward Sanders

Ayanna Craig

16-17

Pizza Wars: Finding the Best Slice in Valdosta

48-49

Stepping into College: Getting Out of the Party Scene Ayanna Craig

Patrice Williams

29

Green Smoothies Veronica You

Cover Photographer

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50-51

Jonathon Earp

52-55

The Real on Ramen Tamelonie Thomas

Bryce France

A Review of Pinocchio Commedia

Doomed to Repeat: The APUSH Battle in Georgia Hunter Whited

56-58

The Transition to South Georgia’s VSU Marquez Slaughter

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Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF

Joshua E. Abbott MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel R. Miller

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Perry Davis

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Victoria Papadelis

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carrington Ware CONTRIBUTERS

Zac Kiser Edward Sanders Marquez Slaughter Ayanna Craig Jamel Shorter Jonathon Earp Hunter Whited Tamelonie Thomas Patrice Williams Terrance Johnson Perry Davis Veronica You Geneva Crook Hunter Whiteds SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Perry Davis

ASSISTANT MEDIA MANAGER

Tamelonie Thomas ACCOUNTING

Marquez Slaughter

Welcome back our loyal readers and new readers alike. This edition is jam-packed with tons of new ideas and articles to delight. We’ve come up with a great issue featuring many different topics that we think you’d like.

This new issue has been quite a journey. We had many students working tirelessly on their articles all semester. Everyone worked as a team this semester to help put together a magazine that was a culmination of design, photography, and writing.

The articles inside this issue range from dirty secrets on Ramen, Gas Prices, to great locations to escape to near Valdosta. Included in this issue is an events schedule to help you make the most of your semester.

We’ve also included reviews on local restaurants, so that you can grab the best slice of pizza in town! We also have articles to keep you on track while you are here, and how to make the most of your experience. Think of this issue as a welcome guide to Valdosta State University. Inside we also have articles that focus on current issues, music reviews, video game systems, and even healthy living!

Don’t take my word for it; flip on through to the first article. As always, Keep us On Tap!

FACULTY ADVISOR

Sincerely, Joshua E. Abbott, Editor-in-Chief On Tap Magazine

Dr. Deborah Hall

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On managing a magazine

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bryce France Patrick Elliott Genevieve Kennett

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Editor's Letter

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Calendar of Events Fall 2015 Athletics

Valdosta State University is renowned for its athletics programs. The games are a huge hit with students. Plus, the cost of games are included in your tuition! So why not go?

September 2015 Football

5th, 8:00 PM at Albany State 12th, 6:00 PM Winston-Salem St. at VSU 26th, 5:00 PM Cumberland at VSU October 2015 FOOTBALL

3rd, 2:00 PM North Alabama at VSU 10th, 2:00 PM at West Georgia 17th, 3:00 PM Mississippi College at VSU 22nd, 7:30 PM at Shorter 31st, 2:00 PM West Alabama at VSU November 2015 FOOTBALL

7th, 5:00 PM, at Delta State 14th, 3:00 PM, Florida Tech at VSU

Academics

November 2015

2nd, 7:00 AM Spring Early Registration for Seniors 3rd, 7:00 AM Spring Early Registration for Juniors 4th, 7:00 AM Spring Early Registration for Sophomores 5th, 7:00 AM Spring Early Registration for Freshmen 6th-20th, Spring Early Registration 25th-27th, Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes Meet) December 2015

7th, Last Day for Fall 8th-11th, Final Exams 11th, Dorms Close at Noon (Except Centennial) 12th, Official Graduation Date for Fall 22nd-31st, University Closed

Arts

2015 Exhibition Schedule jERRY sMITH

August 2015

VSU ART FACULTY EXHIBITION

1st-21st, Fall Registration 12th, Freshman Dorm Move-In 14th, Returning Students Dorm Move-In 17th, First Day of Classes

Sept 21 - Oct 9, 2015 Opening Reception: Monday, Sept. 21, 6-7:30pm

September 2015

History in Making Ceramics Exhibition Oct 19 - Nov 7, 2015 Opening Reception: Monday, Oct. 19, 6 - 7:30pm

October 2015

1st-7th, Students View in Progress Grades 8th, Fall 2015 Midterm & Last Day to Withdraw from Classes 12th-13th, Fall Break (No Classes)

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Joshua E. Abbott

It’s super easy to lose track of important dates while keeping focused in school.

So here are some super important academic dates you don’t want to miss!

7th, Labor Day Holiday. University Closed.

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Photographer

Aug 24 - Sept 11, 2105 Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 11, 12-1:30pm

The FIRM Influence:

FALL SENIOR EXHIBITION

Nov 15 - Dec 7, 2015 Opening Reception: Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 -3pm

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Photographer Bryce France

A Flagship Freedom

By Zac Kiser

As the spring semester at Valdosta State came to a close, students adjusted their sails and embarked on the final stretch of the academic school year. Stress and workloads were at all-time highs; the campus atmosphere transitions into a perpetual state of restlessness. The seventeenth day of April marked a significant event that symbolized the progress achieved within a community, and here are the circumstances under which the event unfolded. On this day, an unnamed group decided to make a political statement on campus to detest white supremacy. After laying an American flag upon the ground, participants took turns walking over this revered symbol of patriotism. One woman was enraged, due in part to her prior military service. She was compelled to forcefully take possession of the flag.

This was an act commonly referred to as stealing, thus an assembly of campus

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police officers observing the protest quickly stepped in to diffuse the disagreement. The perpetrator refused to hand the flag over, choosing “the hard way” instead. She resisted arrest, wrestling with three officers until finally being apprehended. An article from the Valdosta Daily Times informed that the woman “was given a criminal trespass warning which effectively bans her from any university activity, including graduation and football games” (Floyd 1).

The details of this conflict sparked a heated controversy resulting in national news coverage, a parade, and an ongoing manhunt. Despite all of this, what is most memorable about that fateful Friday is that Valdosta State’s resident law enforcement team sought to protect the student group’s right to protest, ensuring that an otherwise peaceful demonstration was treated with the same respect as any other campus

gathering. The Board of Regents issued a statement soon after, stating, “We respect the rights of people to peacefully assemble and voice their opinions,” (Floyd 2). When I learned of what took place at Valdosta State University that day, I found myself searching for answers.

I wasn’t looking for an answer as to why my college allowed the protest to take place, nor was I seeking to oppose their treatment of a military veteran. Instead, I wanted to understand the culmination of frustration and hopelessness that pushed these individuals to walk across the flag of their own country. I wondered about other protests that had taken place at Valdosta State, as well as the options students have for voicing their opinions.

I was curious as to how the student body influences change, specifically on issues that are consistently a source of dissatisfaction. Most of all, I was determined to find out if effective communication within a university could prevent such drastic protests in the future.

To better understand the relationship between students and administration, one must become familiarized with the dynamic of power. In political science, power is defined as aggregate influence in a social setting. No single entity can be all-powerful, meaning that any individual in the environment has at least a small amount of influence. The setting varies, but for now we’ll stick with the university model. The school administration has been granted the power to create, implement, alter, and enforce policies.

This is a privilege entrusted to the leaders by the students. The student body, on the other hand, is obligated to maintain a balance of power within the school.

Duties involved in this task include voicing opinions, seeking the improvement of the school, and supporting leadership decisions in the best interest of the campus. The unspoken agreement between these two parties is known as a social contract, stating that the governing body will be upheld as long as it is satisfactory. Social

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contracts are designed to place pressure on the government, forcing them to address the demands of the population.

While investigating these concepts in an educational context, I felt that there had to be a system to allow for collaboration between students and administrators. In my mind, the ideal system would create direct communication between the enforcers of change and those affected by the change. It wasn’t long before I was reminded that such a system does, in fact, exist.

Photographer Patrick Elliott

The Student Government Association, abbreviated SGA, is an organization that facilitates co-operation between the students and faculty of an educational setting. Not only do members of this group influence their school’s legislation, but they serve as representatives for the student body as a whole. Joining SGA is as easy as paying a membership fee that any aspiring activist can afford, but there are other options for students who want to further their impact. Positions on the

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organization’s executive board require running in the annual elections held each spring, while those on the judicial branch are appointed by the local president.

According to Valdosta State’s branch of the organization, the objective is “to work with the Faculty, Staff, and Administration of the university in the pursuit of our mutual interest” (Barker 1). The missions of the Student Government Association are vital to the success of the educational community, establishing transparency and promoting student activism. An article published in Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue argues for the importance of this activism, claiming that it provides “opportunities for young people to express their views constructively and to contribute meaningfully in the structure of school life” (Bron 5).

Although SGA and similar entities provide valuable outlets for politically active students, I soon realized that these organizations alone do not guarantee student involvement. In order to discover

what makes student activism successful, I had to dig deeper.

When I arranged my meeting with Dr. Hudson P. Rogers, I hadn’t the slightest idea what to expect. I knew what questions I wanted to ask, of course, but I felt slightly unqualified to interview someone of his stature. During the 20142015 academic calendar, Dr. Rogers was appointed to the position of Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Valdosta State University. His credentials include “a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Memphis,” (Boyd 8), making him “the unambiguously clear choice of our campus community, and the unanimous first choice of our search committee,” according to VSU President William McKinney (Boyd 3). On the day of the interview I ventured into the depths of Nevins Hall, scouring uncharted territory until I stumbled upon the office of Academic Affairs. I was greeted by a

receptionist who then informed the Vice President of my presence. Dr. Rogers greeted me with a warm handshake as I entered his office, offering me a glass of water. The man’s hospitality was refreshing; it reminded me that, despite the reputable titles earned throughout his career, he and I were both human. The relaxed atmosphere felt more like a friendly conversation than a professional interview. To better understand campus politics, I asked Dr. Rogers how he establishes communication and relationships with the student body.

“Our students are why I am here!” he replied enthusiastically. “I began teaching 41 years ago and the students I engage with today are as important to me as the first class I ever taught. I will always make myself available to meet with students, including our executive board of the Student Government Association.”

As I inquired about the other ways that students work with administration, I was

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Photographer Patrick Elliott

pleasantly surprised by an opportunity I hadn’t heard about before.

“We are always looking for student participants to serve on university committees. The student voice must be present,” Rogers explained. “This also provides leadership experience to students and increases their knowledge and understanding about how a university operates.”

Dr. Rogers had a way with words. As he stressed the importance of student involvement, he painted a vivid picture of his ideal learning environment. When asked how he planned to use his administrative experience to improve VSU, he shifted the focus back to the students.

“In the final analysis, we need to work as a team to take advantage of the opportunities that are before us,” he concluded.

Reflecting on our meeting, it becomes clear to me that Dr. Rogers desires a relationship with the students. It was evident in his words, the widening of his eyes as he spoke, and his win-win

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attitude. At some point during our discussion, I made a vital realization: the goal of any school’s leadership is the success of the students, but achieving this goal requires the combined efforts of both parties. As I bid Hudson Rogers farewell, I did so with the newfound knowledge that successful activism comes from working with leadership, rather than against it. However, upon further investigation, I found that student activism isn’t always so simple.

Not all of Valdosta State’s administration has been as friendly as Dr. Rogers. In 2007, the school was a different place. Its campus operated under the administration of Dr. Ronald Zaccari, a Pennsylvanian man who was appointed the school’s president five years earlier.

His presidency was defined by a reshaping of the campus, resulting in the construction of four residence halls and the planning of other additions such as the Student Union and pedestrian mall.

Near the end of his service, Zaccari sought to erect two parking decks as his final contributions to the school. These plans would have gone swimmingly if not for the objections of a single person.

Hayden Barnes is a person I have never

met; I wouldn’t recognize him if he passed me on the street. Although Barnes is a stranger to me, he has earned a place in Valdosta State history. Citing his environmental concerns, the former student actively protested the construction of the parking decks. He posted flyers across campus and sent emails to students, faculty, and administration, expressing his discontent. Many students found Hayden’s determination and activism to be very admirable. Unfortunately, Zaccari’s response to this activism was less than admirable, to say the least. The Facebook photo that prompted the reaction referred to the parking deck as “Zacarri Memorial Parking Garage,” a satirical reference to the president’s claim that the structures would represent his legacy. Zacarri quickly expelled the Barnes, labelling him “a clear and present danger.” It wasn’t long before Hayden contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, an organization that assisted him in filing a lawsuit against the administration. According to the Huffington Post, “VSU argued that because memorials only happen when you are dead, the collage constituted a threat upon Zaccari's life,” (Lukianoff 3).

The argument didn’t hold up in court. In 2012, “a jury thought Zaccari's behavior so clearly unconstitutional that it found him personally liable to the tune of $50,000,” (Liankoff 4). After failing to uphold his end of a social contract, Dr. Ronald Zaccari learned a few memorable lessons that year. First of all, the influence of a single individual should never be underestimated. Secondly, administrators are not immune from the consequences of their actions. The final takeaway is one that Valdosta State won’t soon forget: student activism is not so easily dismissed.

Far too often, college students are characterized by hectic lifestyles,

crammed schedules, and sleepless nights.

Upon finishing my first year at Valdosta State, I understand why the image is so prevalent. In an environment boasting as many distractions as a college campus, time truly is the most valuable resource.

Research published in Social Movement Studies draws a similar conclusion. “The need for many students to seek employment while taking a full course load leaves little time for extra-curricular activities and means organizations they consider for involvement must be worthwhile,” (Winston 12). What does it take, then, for a busy student to spend their time and energy seeking change on an issue? The answer is surprisingly obvious, yet easily overlooked. An individual’s political activism, or lack thereof, is fueled by their perception of an issue. To illustrate, imagine that a stayat-home mother drives her child to school every morning. A couple blocks over, there is a single mother who works full time, meaning that her child must take the bus to school. Due to budget cuts, the school’s administration decides that they will no longer send a bus to this neighborhood. Clearly, the mother who is unable to drive her child to school is far more likely to become involved in the matter.

What does this mean for students? Put simply, the problem that affects the most students will garner the most attention.

In spite of this, as Hayden Barnes once proved, even one person is enough to make a difference. My quest to uncover the characteristics of effective student involvement has shown that the dynamic of power is quite peculiar. To this day, the human race struggles to understand it. I may never truly comprehend the inner workings of a college campus, yet I am confident that any strong-willed student or group of students with the desire to make a difference can successfully do so at Valdosta State University, where student activism is a flagship freedom.

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Colorado: Up in Smoke?

Photographer Patrick Elliott

Colorado is a state that has legalized marijuana both medically and recreationally.

While many believed this would hurt the state or turn it into “hippie nation,” it has proven both these claims wrong.

By Ayanna Craig

Marijuana’s permanent place in society has been one of the biggest controversies for years. Many people are either strongly for the legalization of marijuana, while others are strongly against it. Arguments supporting marijuana’s legalization compare it to alcohol, which can be bought in stores, despite the chaos and negative effects resulting from its consumption. When under the influence of alcohol, many people do things out of character, wind up behind bars, or even turn into alcoholics. However there are still hundreds of liquor stores in just about every state. Other supporters for legalization argue that marijuana is used to assist with major illnesses such as cancer and glaucoma. With these facts, why is it that natural herb from the earth itself viewed so negatively? Those against the legalization of marijuana may argue that it is a “gateway drug.”

After trying marijuana, it is possible that

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one can be tempted to experiment with other drugs. Other reasons for keeping it illegal relate to the form in which it is ingested. Smoking, no matter what is being inhaled, is never good for the body or lungs. No matter the argument, marijuana is still the hottest topic of debate.

Colorado is a state that has legalized marijuana both medically and recreationally. While many believed this would hurt the state or turn it into “hippie nation,” it has proven both these claims wrong. According to the Uniform Crime Reporting data, there has been a 10.1 percent decrease in overall crime from this time last year, and a 5.2 percent drop in violent crime. This not only provides more room in jail cells, but also improves safety. Another positive effect from legalization is tax revenue. The state has generated over 10 million in

taxes from retail sales in the first 4 months of legalization. Half of this was used for positive things such as infrastructure, public schools, and youth educational campaigns about substance use. This can be seen as a major achievement because this now leaves more room for improving the state and its economy. Legalization of marijuana has also boosted the employment rate in Colorado. The marijuana industry has generated thousands of new jobs and is estimated that 1,000 to 2,000 people gained jobs just in the first couple of months alone. As stated by John Hickenlooper, the governor of Colorado, “While the rest of the country’s economy is slowly picking back up, we’re thriving here in Colorado.” For example, the demand for commercial real estate has increased drastically, with houses appreciating up to 8.7 percent in the past year. The last biggest effect on Colorado since the legalization of marijuana is the money saved instead of wasted. By removing all criminal penalties for certain pot-related offenses, thousands of individuals avoid criminal records. The

state is estimated to potentially save 12 to 40 million dollars over a year by simply stopping arrests for possession of marijuana.

With all of these positive factors Colorado is experiencing, one would think that every state would follow this lead. However, there are still states struggling to pass a law that legalizes marijuana. I’m sure one could come up with ways that legalization can be negative, but the positive effects largely outweigh any costs that may come along with it. Marijuana may be a “gateway” drug, but that ultimately depends on the person. “Smoking” may not be the best method of using marijuana, but there are healthy ways to feel the effects of marijuana that don’t involve smoking. I believe that States such as Georgia should take a look at Colorado’s advancements, and determine whether it is really such a bad idea to legalize pot both medically and recreationally. But for now, Colorado, along with other states that have legalized marijuana, will remain “up in smoke.”

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The Solution

Photographer Patrick Elliott

Beyond the Pump "Oil prices are falling because of changes in world supply and world demand," Stephan Moore, FoxNews.com writer, said.

For the top oil producers, Russia is the world’s leader while Saudi Arabia and the U.S. follow.

By Marquez Slaughter

The Problem During the year of 2014, gas prices were at its highest cost of nearly $3.70 per gallon around the end of both April and May. The high pricing of gasoline was a result of high crude oil prices.

Oil is around seventy percent of the price of gas. The other thirty percent is from taxes. Gas prices began to slowly decrease after June. The pump prices rose in April because of the price for domestic oil in West Texas and also because new pipelines from Cushing, Oklahoma’s storage hub lowered inventories to the lowest level since November of 2009, according to USEconomy.about.com (a large online publisher of expertcreated content).

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“Oil prices are falling because of changes in world supply and world demand,” Stephan Moore, FoxNews.com writer, said. For the top oil producers, Russia is the world’s leader while Saudi Arabia and the U.S. follow. Lower gas prices can also negatively affect some countries, such as Russia, because oil and natural gas make up seventy percent of Russia’s exports.

The U.S. can become the leading supplier of dominant world energy if the American drillers continue to create technology to crack through shale rock.

The new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and increased use of techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing (which is a wellstimulation technique in which rock is fractured by a hydraulically pressurized liquid made of water, sand, and chemicals) could help the U.S. The Gulf of Mexico is a rich area for energy needs and has not been hit by any hurricanes recently, which also affects how low gasoline prices become.

The Effect OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) produces forty percent of the world’s oil. OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries. These nations are: Ecuador, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

On the other side of the producing end, the top consumers of petroleum are the

U.S., China, and Japan. Europe has become an economic wreck and the U.S. has taken the lead as the number one producer of natural gas. The U.S. is at the top of both producing and consuming oil.

The Bad News The negative view of the low pricing of gasoline effects the U.S. by using less oil because people are buying more fuelefficient cars. Fracturing industries can also be harmed because in order for the workers to make their money, they have to sell the company’s oil at expensive prices. This is effective in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. Be aware that gas prices do increase during spring because oil future traders know the demand for it will rise during the summer.

The Good News Although the low gas prices may have some defects, it could pump more than $100 billion into the American economy.

Drivers in the U.S. are expected to save about $452 on gas in 2015. If gas stays at $2.80 per gallon, then the average annual savings for a family would be $700 according to Vox’s YouTube video, “Why gas prices are so low right now”. Gas prices are expected to rise again soon, but the prices cannot be currently determined on whether or not they will be as high as they were in April; therefore, drivers will have to enjoy this moment, as President Barack Obama said, and see what crude oil traders have to offer in the spring.

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For the most part, nobody enjoys being uncomfortable. People are reluctant to leave their comfort zone, either mentally or physically. Even when a person can gain from the discomfort, there is a natural disposition that drives the body away from unpleasant feelings. Undoubtedly, you or someone close to you has an irrational fear of needles. They know that vaccinations prevent sickness, yet the person will cringe at the sight of a medical syringe. This is because that understanding alone is not enough to help the person overcome fear and anxiety. This is an example of the counter-intuitive thought process wired into the human brain. Now, let’s take this example and apply it to an everyday experience: a shower.

Photographer Patrick Elliott

To Freeze or Not to Freeze: The Benefits of Cold Showers

By Zac Kiser

I fix my gaze upon the metallic beast overhead. It glares at me with silent intensity, yet my feet remain firmly planted in place. I am in my most vulnerable state; I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. With each passing second, the brain begs the body to escape this situation and withdraw into a more

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comfortable state of being. This inner battle rages on as I struggle to muster up enough courage to face my eminent doom. I tightly grip the hilt of my weapon, to the point that my knuckles turn as pale as bone itself. I take one final breath, slowly filling my lungs to maximum capacity. I draw my sword.

The vast majority of the population has become accustomed to taking hot showers due to their relaxing and therapeutic nature. This trend casts a large shadow over the cold shower.

Despite their unpopularity, cold showers are argued to have many health benefits over their steamy counterparts. Firstly, we have all had those morning where we get out of a warm, cozy bed and step into a hot shower, where we are lulled into a vegetative state by the warm downpour. In contrast, during a cold shower, the body hyperventilates to increase oxygen intake, leading to increased alertness. The side effect is perfect for people such as myself who struggle to get through the morning. Since the beginning of my cold shower diet, I have found myself much more awake in the morning regardless of how much sleep I got the night before. Additionally, skin constricts when subjected to low temperatures, meaning the pores become sealed. The tightening of the skin and pores is beneficial in that it prevents the entry of acne-causing agents, also acting as a counter-measure against the formation of wrinkles. In cold conditions, the human body sends blood to surround the organs and keep them warm, meaning that cold showers can also improve the body’s circulation.

As if these benefits aren’t enough to convince you, there may be yet another significant side effect. Many advocates of cold showers choose the lifestyle not for the physical benefits, but for the psychological effects. Theoretically, if an individual can become accustomed to placing his or her self into uncomfortable situations, the practice can be maintained outside of the shower. It has been said that willpower is like a muscle.

Exercised enough, the attribute becomes stronger and more useful. It is not far-fetched to believe that a cold shower routine can push you out of your comfort zone in areas far more significant than personal hygiene. As you become familiar with feelings of discomfort and strengthen your willpower, you may be more inclined to approach that cute girl or guy in your 2 o’clock class, contact that student organization you’ve been meaning to join, or, in my case, start writing for the school magazine.

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What is Vaping?

By Veronica You

Within recent years, there have been decreased percentages of people smoking traditional cigarettes, although there has been an increase of e-cigarette usage.

E-cigarettes are often referred to as “vapes” now, and there are many more options than the original e-cigarettes such as Blue Cigarettes. “Vaping” has become very popular within the recent years, especially among college-aged people. There are many different types of vapes such as mechanical mods, box mods, the basic pen style vape, and the many other available options. The only difference between a vape and an e-cigarette is the name. Vape and Vaping is a common slang term for smoking an e-cigarette or a vape.

Unlike a traditional cigarette, a vape has a battery and attachments to it; you put a liquid, more commonly referred to as “juice,” into a tank or drip it on to your atomizer, and the juice acts like the tobacco of a traditional cigarette. Juice can contain nicotine levels to suit your desires, or none at all if you were never a smoker but want to get into vaping.

There have been controversies that vaping may be worse for your health than a traditional cigarette in the long run. Vaping has not become regulated by the FDA yet and there is minimal research on if they are actually better for you than a traditional cigarette.

Traditional cigarettes can contain over sixty different cancer-causing agents such as carbon monoxide, which can stop you from breathing regularly and getting enough oxygen throughout your body.

This is why many traditional smokers end up getting diagnosed with emphysema or lung cancer. The juice used for vaping, on the other hand,

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contains only propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring and nicotine. This is one of the main reasons why vaping is believed to be better for one’s health in the long run compared to traditional smoking, although there is not much research to prove or disprove these facts.

Vaping has helped many people stop smoking traditional cigarettes over recent years and is a good alternative to things such as the nicotine patch or nicotine gum. Using e-cigarettes to quit traditional smoking is probably the most effective way to do so. Since other methods such as the patch and gum do not allow the smoker to see smoke come out of their mouth or inhale nicotine which are habits that smokers struggle with in the process of quitting. Vaping is also a great alternative method for quitting smoking because it allows you to choose how much nicotine is within it. People who smoke a pack or more a day can choose a higher-level juice for how much they smoke. Although the long-term effects of vaping have not been proven to be healthy there is evidence in the fact that there are no carcinogens and fewer chemicals in it that are toxic to humans. It’s not as addicting as traditional cigarettes even though it contains the addictive ingredient, nicotine. Carbon monoxide, tar, and all of the other chemicals in cigarettes help make them more addicting when combined with nicotine. Juice for e-cigarettes only contain nicotine and none of the tar or carbon monoxide that a traditional cigarette has in it. The health benefits vs. the risks are not fully understood but it is definitely a healthier alternative to traditional cigarette smoking.

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Photographer Patrick Elliott

3DS: Why it's Best

By Edward Sanders

As Tyler and I race towards the finish line in an especially heated Mario Kart race, a crowd gathers behind our 3DS screens in the Student Union. Playing as Luigi (my favorite Nintendo character), I’m only seconds behind Tyler’s Donkey Kong. Only a miracle is going to pull me into first place. Good thing I get one. Immediately, I pop my mushroom and barely edge by Tyler, winning by a fraction of a second. As the crowd disperses, I bask in the glory of victory. But the feeling is fleeting because I have to take a Spanish test in ten minutes. I make plans for a rematch later, close my 3DS shut, and scurry off to West Hall.

If you are anything like me, then going to school and working a job leaves little time left for video games. That’s where the Nintendo 3DS comes in. Most people just resort to their phones to entertain themselves on the go, whether they are on the way to class, catching up with friends, or waiting for their shifts to start at work. These people are missing out on what is the best mobile entertainment experience out there right now. Nintendo hit the sweet spot with the 3DS. Consider how much people rely on their smartphones for entertainment; mainly games, web browsing and video streaming. Not only can the 3DS do all of this, but it delivers it all in a higher quality package at a cheaper price.

After that brutal test, I crawl through rush hour traffic and finally arrive home with a couple of hours to kill before work.

I quickly devour some leftovers and relax in my recliner, 3DS in one hand and a book in the other. I bang out a few Super Smash Brothers rounds online (for free, unlike Xbox or PlayStation) and study a few chapters for English class. It’s not procrastination because I am actually getting homework done between games,but time flies when you are having fun, and before I know it I have to start my shift.

As I walk into the break room, one of my coworkers is complaining about how lame it is that she has to either wait for more lives to play Trivia Crack or spend money and receive instant gratitude. I tell her that if she had a 3DS, she would only have to pay once and she could play anytime, anywhere. She scoffs and rolls her eyes. Why would anyone want to carry around an iPhone and a 3DS when the iPhone can do everything that the 3DS does? Well, here’s the thing: your smartphone cannot do the things that your 3DS can. In terms of entertainment, the 3DS offers more value than any Android or Apple device can.

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Photographer Patrick Elliott

Photographer Patrick Elliott

Not only can the 3DS provide endless hours of entertainment by doing most things that a smartphone can do, like stream Netflix or YouTube and surf the web, but the 3DS games are simply better than anything that can be found on Android or Apple devices. Sure, you can play Candy Crush or Clash of Clans on your Galaxy or your iPhone, but these apps can’t hold up to some of the most popular and long-standing franchises in gaming history such as Mario, Pokémon, and Legend of Zelda, just to name a few.

In the 3DS library, at the time of this writing, there are 5 games in the Mario (and Luigi) franchise, 3 Legend of Zelda games, at least 4 featuring the majority of Nintendo characters, and, many more games that are worth hours of high quality play time. Not to mention all the backwards compatible games in the DS library or the Nintendo eShop titles available online. Quite a few of these games are remakes for the most nostalgic of memories.

One of my most nostalgic memories is unwrapping a Nintendo 64 on Christmas Day. To do this day, I get excited just thinking about how much fun I had playing Paper Mario and Donkey Kong 64. Jon [last name here] (Major, class year) is the same way about Legend of Zelda.

“I can still remember the first time I played Ocarina of Time,” hesays, “If I get a 3DS, I could relive all of those good times.” If you get down to it, that’s what the 3DS, and Nintendo in general, is all about; creating these awesome and fun experiences and being able to capture that feeling anytime, anywhere you desire. I’ve been trying to convince him to pull the trigger on a purchase, but he is still on the fence.

Tony [Last name here] (Major, class year) bought a 2DS several months ago. “I wanted to play Super Smash Brothers and Pokemon X, but I don’t care for the 3D feature and I didn’t want to pay the extra money just to have it.”he explains.

Nintendo is aware that some people either cannot afford a 3DS or consider the 3D to be simply a gimmick, which seems to be just another way for big companies to make a few extra bucks. 3D movies, televisions, video games, I could take it or leave it either way. Most of the time the 3D switch on my 3DS is switched off, although it does come in handy for some games like Super Mario 3D Land or Ocarina of Time, which actually utilize the 3D feature to enhance the gameplay.

By the time this article is published, the New Nintendo 3DS will be released, which features two additional shoulder buttons, an extra controller stick, and improved 3D. This new version will join the rest of the 3DS family which includes the 2DS, the tablet style sans the 3D, the

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original 3DS and its big brother the 3DS XL. Any of these systems will run you from 70 to around 200 dollars. On Black Friday, I bought my Mario and Luigi: Dream Team Limited Edition 3DS XL for 150 dollars. It came bundled with a new forty dollar game, so I think I found a greatdeal. The best place to test your luck would be either EBay or Amazon, where any day of the week a great bargain can be found, especially if you are willing to consider used items, which can be just as good as new ones depending on the previous owner. If you are still unsure about purchasing a 3DS, which if you are still reading this then you probably aren’t, find someone who owns one and ask them if they regret their decision.

Odds are they will be too busy playing their 3DS to pay attention.

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Photographer Victoria Papadelis

Social Gaming When the weekend hits, the Valdosta State Campus grounds go empty of people and cars. When not doing homework, social gaming seems the best option for entertainment...

By Patrice Williams

When the weekend hits, the Valdosta State Campus grounds go empty of people and cars. When not doing schoolwork, social gaming seems the best option because technology is such a big part of our generation’s lives—it would be unimaginable without it. Think about it, could you not use your cellphone for a whole day? Not being a coined term, “social gaming” incorporates two terms specific to the gaming world: Co-op mode and Multiplayer. Co-op stands for Co-Operative Gameplay, meaning two or more players working together towards a gaming goal. Multiplayer, meaning multiple players, can either be a game that has the function to host two or more players, or a game that has an online server which allows players online to interact with each other in either versus or Co-op. Social Gaming can then be interpreted as a combination of three things: 1) The game you are playing has an online multiplayer function. 2) Playing Co-op with a friend or other online

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participants, or 3) Playing a game in versus mode with online players.

As a gamer who partakes in group game play, the usual focus are games that have multiplayer Co-op and versus mode such as Mortal Kombat or Super Smash Brothers. However, there was a time when I didn’t know what a console was nor had a handheld game system like the Nintendo DS today. Instead, I was consistently exposed to some kind of digital gaming. While I did play games like hopscotch outside like most regular kids, I also played games like Tetris on the school’s computer. Whoever said that games weren’t educational was wrong, as most of my primary learning was influenced by educational games like Jump Start, and learning websites such as Fun to Type.com. That is to say, from the young ages of elementary, our generation has been trained for ample timed game interaction, on a single player server.

So, when exactly did game companies gear towards the Co-op and Multiplayer functions? The history of Co-op and Multiplayer functions goes back a couple of decades, starting in the 1970s.

With early gaming consoles, Co-op was not introduced to game systems because of the limitations of mechanics and graphics. However, most of the first Co-op games belonged to arcades and the take home console’s Co-op function was so limited that it was like single player. Although Pong was the first arcade game ever with Co-op ability, it wasn’t until the second generation of video game consoles (1976-1983) that a system had ports for two players and was take-home. Double Dragons and Contra are also early successful Co-op arcade games which are what we now consider “fighting” or “shooter” platform games. In 1985, arcade games such as Gauntlet introduced players to 4-player Co-op. Gaming companies such as Electronic Arts (EA) and Nintendo made innovative Co-op game titles such as Madden NFL (1991) and Final Fantasy VI. Nowadays, with the current seventh and eight generation of consoles, Co-op and Multiplayer functions are intricately linked with the internet; few games exist now

without the online multiplayer or versus function, while only a few have the actual Co-op function featured within a game’s storyline.

Long time gamer Austin Flanders, English major, says, “My first game system was my older sister’s Nintendo Entertainment system.” Starting with someone else’s system is common. When I first played on a game console, it was my cousin’s PlayStation One. Leon Bateman, Computer Science major, explained, “My first system was Nintendo 64. I spent hours on it and didn’t want to share.”

Everyone remembers the awesomeness of Nintendo 64 and Donky Kong. From gathering the opinions of these experienced gamers it’s safe to say that Social Gaming has become more popular and socially accepted since our generation’s childhood. And with the advancements of technology and Co-Operative gameplay, it’s important to note that the way our generation socializes with each other is different from the former generations’. We are the digital age, therefore our way of interacting is more effective on a pixelated platform rather that the physical domain of real-time. The only thing left to ask is will you be a social gamer?

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Smoothies Seems to be everywhere lately: this mysterious, green colored juice. Juicing has quickly become one of the most hyped up dietary trends in the nation, but is it really worth all the talk?

By Veronica You

Photographer Victoria Papadelis

Juicing is when you take fruits and vegetables and put them through a machine that extracts only the juice out of the substance. Unlike blending, juicing leaves out the pulp and skin of the fruit.

It is becoming popular lately due to the fact that you can juice leafy greens such as kale or spinach with fruits, such as apples and pineapples, making the final product taste more like fruits than vegetables. Many people have started juicing for its health benefits such as increased vitamin intake, clearer skin, getting the recommended servings of

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benefits of juicing with a blender. You will just have a thick smoothie like drink instead of a thin watery juice. Valdosta has it’s own juice bar called the Main Squeeze. The restaurant is vegan friendly, and serves up many juices that offer different health benefits. Walking into the store I wasn’t sure what to think about my drink choice; it was called the Rainbow Detox. I was unsure how I felt about beets, kale, cucumber, celery, apple, pineapple and lemons being juiced and put into a cup. My juice though was a beautiful bright pink color and tasted like fruity with a hint of lemon. It was a delightful drink and I felt good about drinking it, unlike I do with my usual Dr. Pepper in hand. Juicing adds a variety to the average diet. The average collegestudentkid here at VSU lives off of Chic-Fil-A, Moe’s, and food from the dining halls. It’s convenient, quick, and tastes fantastic. But adding in one or two glasses of juice (or a green smoothie) to your diet adds variety. It adds all kinds of vitamins and nutrients to your day, and it literally only takes a few minutes to whip up fresh juice, so it doesn’t take time out of a college kid’s busy lifestyle.

My favorite way to get some extra vegetables into my day is to make my favorite smoothie, and throw in a heaping handful of spinach on top of it. Blend.

Enjoy. Below is a list of some juices and smoothies that you can make to add some variety to your diet and increase

your overall health without having to eat a salad every day or think about Brussels sprouts.

Strawberry Spinach Banana Smoothie 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved, 1medium banana, sliced, 1 cup 1% milk. (substitute soy or almond for vegan diets) One handful of baby spinach. One tablespoon clover honey. (or to taste) 1.Freeze your strawberries and bananas for a couple hours before throwing into a blender. This eliminates the need to water down your smoothie with ice.

2.Throw strawberries and banana in a blender with milk and honey. 3.Blend until smooth. Add spinach on top.

4.Blend. Check the consistency until it is how you desire. If it is too thick add more milk to thin it out, if it is too thin add ice or more frozen fruits to thicken. Serves two.

Mixed Berry Smoothie 1 cup spinach and kale blend, ½ cup frozen raspberries, ½ cup frozen blueberries, ¼ cup frozen strawberries, Half of a banana, sliced and frozen, 1 cup of 1% milk or milk alternative.

Throw everything into a blender. Blend until smooth, add ice or milk until desired consistency is reached. If needed add honey or sugar to sweeten to personal taste.

fruits and vegetables per day. It has been featured in documentaries such as “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” and juice bars are quickly becoming very popular in the United States. The only problem is that juicing can be expensive; getting started can cost upwards of $200 dollars or more just to get a decent juicing machine.

Although if you do not want to invest in an expensive juicer, you may use a blender and just blend your leafy greens instead of juice them. Top quality blenders generally do not exceed fifty dollars and you can still get all the

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Photographer Genevieve Kennett

The Real on Ramen

By Tamelonie Thomas

College students know the value of a dollar better than most people. They also know that cheap, but good meals are few and far between. The collegiate has no shame in openly searching for a meal that they can purchase with a free meal ticket. When alumni look back on the best years of their lives, these memories – and their stomachs are usually filled with the notorious food item, Ramen noodles. Ramen noodles- a popular Asian food staple has become the most affordable and popular food option for college students to satiate their hunger.

While health usually falls on the backburner of many college students’ stove tops, it is best to evaluate the contents of such a strong food staple.

Cheap food, as we know, is not always the best source of nutrients or vitamins.

For many college students across the United States, one of the many staple cheap eats is Ramen noodles. Many rave about the inexpensive meal. Established musicians rave about how Ramen saved them from starvation before their big break. Busy professionals tell others how the life saving and time saving meal got them through finishing a big portfolio.

It is easily visible the ubiquity and popularity of Ramen noodles. Ramen noodles almost seem like a godsend to many individuals; it is the quintessential gift that keeps on giving.

During a televised news segment, doctors at a Boston area hospital, provided

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visuals of the digestive process of Ramen noodles. At first, the screen showed a digestive track with the stringy noodles resting inside of the intestines. As time went on, the noodles became dark and clump together to form a mass in the human’s stomach. This is when the reality of Ramen noodles begins to set in.

TGHC, is a preservative used in many food items, such as Ramen noodles, to preserve the freshness of foods and improve the longevity of the food’s shelf life. This chemical is the cause of the morph of the Ramen noodles. Many health professionals have not only been studying the effects of TBHQ, Tertiarybutyl hydroquinone, in Ramen noodles, but in other food items as well. These specialists are investigating the long term effects of THC on the human body, and they have determined that Ramen is not really a miracle food, but a devilish dish in disguise.

As the video evidence indicates, the consumption of Ramen noodles could have adverse effects on someone’s health.

Ramen noodles may be one of the cheapest meals in the market of combating hunger, but the chemical elements could have the consumers’ bodies combating itself as it strains itself to digest it. A valuable lesson to take away is that price does not always equate value. So the next time you feel like paying only a buck for five packages of Ramen noodles ask yourself: Is it really worth it?

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Photographer Victoria Papadelis

pizza creations that I often found myself ordering a simple cheese and pepperoni pizza. Despite my problems with The Mill, I would still have to say that it is one of my favorite buffets in Valdosta because of the taste of the pizzas I did like, as well as it being located in a convenient spot for a quick lunch.

Mellow Mushroom

Photographer Patrick Elliott

Pizza Wars:

Finding the Best Slice in Valdosta Whether it’s spending the night doing homework or a quick dinner before going out, the average college student is probably more than familiar with pizza. With prices ranging from $5 (the price of a Little Caesar’s Hot and Ready large) to $26.49 (the price of a Mellow Mushroom Bayou Blue 16” Large) as well as toppings that include anything from extra cheese to pineapple, it’s not hard to understand why pizza has managed to retain a hold over our wallets. It was around 2014 that Valdosta seemingly had an increase in new pizza restaurants that suddenly gave us more options than just Dominos.

By Perry Davis

The Mill The Mill is a pizza buffet place that is known for its pop culture theme. With movie posters and old band signs, The Mill offers one of the better family friendly environments in Valdosta.

However, the theme does not stop with the décor as the pizzas are also tagged with names such as “Monster’s Inc. Meat Lovers” or “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

As with most buffets I’ve experienced, I was not expecting the best food, but something that was good enough for me to keep me coming back to the line. It was

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there that The Mill definitely won me over as I found it to be much better than Cici’s Pizza Buffet. My problem with Cici’s was that the food always tasted microwaved or was cold. The Mill’s pizzas, on the other hand, have the flavor to match the names they are given.

Outside of flavor though, I found The Mill’s crust to sometimes be dry.

Additionally, some of the pizzas had too much sauce for my liking and felt more like I was eating only barbecue sauce with the crust thrown in just to compliment it. It was because of these

Mellow Mushroom can be seen on Baytree and is easily recognizable with its Hulk statue standing out in the front, but Mellow Mushroom is no stranger to Valdosta. Having grown up in Valdosta, I remember a time where there was once a Mellow Mushroom in Remerton that closed down sometime in the 2000’s.

Upon Mellow Mushroom’s return, it brought with it a comic book theme, as well as an open and friendly atmosphere as you see chefs tossing pizzas right when you walk in. The Mellow Mushroom distinguishes itself with its lively atmosphere as the waiters seem more willing to converse with you, which – along with the décor of the building – creates a fun experience for both children and college students that could not be found at other restaurants.

While my problems with The Mill were that the pizzas could get too saucy at times, Mellow Mushroom finds a way to balance all aspects of the pizza. Not once did I feel that there was too much dough, too much cheese, or too much or too little of anything. Both times I was able to eat at there I was never let down by the taste.

While the pizzas are nothing short of delicious, it was the prices that stuck out to me with $14.99 for a large 16’ pizza and an additional 2.49 per protein (peperoni, sausage, etc.). For whatever reason, slices of pizza are no longer sold past 2:00PM leaving you to have to split a pizza with friends. If you do end up choosing Mellow Mushroom, be prepared to not only eat some of the best pizza in Valdosta but also the most expensive.

Gondolier Gondolier is a great place to get both pizza and other Italian food. I had never heard much about the place before going in, so I did not know what to expect. The atmosphere was casual and seemed to ditch the idea of an atmosphere that caters to children in favor of a more Italian setting. The theme isn’t too fancy, but definitely does not seem like a place to simply get a pizza. Because of this, I found it to be not an easy place to go for a quick lunch if you have friends that can be somewhat loud. After ordering the pizza, however, I feel safe in my decision to call this the best pizza in Valdosta.

While the atmosphere did not seem as laid back as previous restaurants, it was the food that made me decide that this would be the restaurant I frequent often whenever I get a craving for pizza.

The pizza at Gondolier seems crafted with every piece taken in account. While I talked about how Mellow Mushroom created a near perfect blend of toppings, Gondolier takes it further and offers not just a great combination of toppings but a better quality pizza. The cheese was gooey enough that I got hungry putting it on my plate, while the toppings tasted fresh. Even the crust on the Gondolier pizza was very distinctive in that every square-inch, cheesy or not, had flavor to it. Additionally, the prices were not too bad either with $11.99 being the price for a large 16” cheese pizza and an extra $1.49 per topping.

While people in the Valdosta area may feel overwhelmed by the new pizza restaurants that opened all at once, each pizza place offers something unique from other restaurants. It is because each of these pizza restaurants offers something different that there may be room in Valdosta to support all three. Whether you want to eat until you are full, want a nice atmosphere, or simply just want a really good pizza, Valdosta now caters to any of your pizza wishes.

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A Record Renaissance

By Edward Sanders

Photographer Victoria Papadelis

There I was, jumping from couch to couch and laughing like a maniac to Woody Guthrie making car sounds in “The Car Song”. My mom had finally convinced my dad to take his dusty old turntable and speakers out of storage and to set them up in the living room.

There were stacks of records strewn about the living room, and we must have listened to damn near all of them. My dad taught me everything I needed to know about handling and listening to records.

First slide out the sleeve, and then hold the record by the edges. Set the record on the turntable and carefully place the needle in the groove. Now sit back and enjoy. I got everything right except the sit back part.

My hyperactivity has gone away for the most part but thankfully my love for vinyl records has not. Listening to vinyl records is an experience that is infectious

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among people in the room; I couldn’t tell you how many parties I have been to where there was a record playing, and every person there was having a great time. Parties and records go hand in hand; that’s why the jukebox at Ashley Street Station is so popular. It’s a quarter a play, so when there is a room full of drunk people dancing to some tunes, you don’t want to be that guy who runs out of change. Now that I have grown older, my collection has grown as well. I don’t jump on couches anymore but I still laugh like a maniac from time to time and I love to listen to records every chance I can afford. Of course, in a world that is increasingly mobile that means that most of our music consumption is on the go. Odds are you are listening to Pandora or Spotify as you are reading this.

Technology has over time changed the way people listen to music. Technology’s transition from analog to digital is the

main difference between a record listening experience and an mp3 or any other sort of digital format listening experience. Granted, many of these newer records are simply copies of digitally remastered tapes. So how could a technically obsolete format remain not only relevant, but outperform newer, supposedly “better” formats in today’s market?

of smartphones and cheaper, newer technology. This is the main reason that listening to music on a smartphone is more popular than listening to it on a record or CD player. It’s simply cheaper and more common. For some people, just being able to stream a song on a device is enough to satisfy their musical appetites. But for others, vinyl records are more than just the music it contains.

According to Nielsen’s 2014 United States Music Report, despite overall shrinking sales for physical albums, vinyl record sales have increased 52% in the past year, now comprising 6% of all physical album sales. Out of 257 million albums sold in 2014, vinyl records were around 9 million of those sales. Despite this number being seemingly small, the success is measured in the growth rate. Now compare this number to the 164 billion on demand music streaming service subscriptions, up to 54% in 2014. Physical album sales overtook digital album sales by about 43 million units. There are some hardcore music lovers out there that will tell you that the only way to listen to music is through a vinyl record, but there is no denying that the music streaming service industry holds the keys to the castle.

When you listen to a record, that is a piece of music that you own, and you can do whatever you want with it. You could use it as a Frisbee or a plate for a fancy dinner party. Or you could just stack them on shelves to show off how hard you have worked on your collection.

Some people even recycle old records into cool, creative art. There is a big difference between owning a physical copy of Gorrillaz’ Demon Days versus owning a digital copy on your computer.

An album as popular as that will only increase in value over time. Good luck selling your digital album. That record is growing to accrue not just monetary value, but sentimental value as you spin it throughout the years, sharing it with friends and eventually passing it down to the next generation of music lovers, just like many parents have done for this generation. That’s what makes a record so special; owning one automatically connects you with a community of likeminded, music loving individuals. This is a unique bond that is not shared among iPhone owners or Spotify subscribers.

However, listening to a record is not as simple as pressing play on your iPhone.

Much of this success can be claimed for the seemingly intimidating price tag that comes with listening to vinyl records compared to streaming music via an app on your device. Music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify can be used for “free” with ads or as a premium service where the user pays a fee each month to listen unlimited times with no ads.

Spotify allows the user to download the song to the user’s device and listen without an Internet connection (granted the user pays one dollar a month for the premium service). In the past several years, entertainment subscription services such as Netflix, Google Music, and many more have taken over the entertainment market. This huge market share can be attributed to the ubiquity

Before a person can listen to vinyl record, that person must buy a turntable first.

These can range in price from 50 dollars to hundreds for professional equipment.

And then the turntable must be hooked up to speakers or headphones, which for people obsessed with audio, is an entirely other market in itself. But before you go off and spend your paycheck on new equipment, look around for vintage gear.

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It is this search for reasonably priced, rare and excellent music that inspires so many people to continue to buy records.

Photographer Victoria Papadelis

When it comes to audio equipment, especially turntables, older is often better.

Back in the day (past 40-50 years), companies built their equipment to last with high-quality materials that aren’t found in the products that cost-cutting, profit-maximizing factories churn out nowadays. That’s not to say that everything new out there is rubbish.

Fortunately, some companies like Crosley make affordable turntables that include built-in speakers. Be careful with these, though. These speakers have been known to rattle records a little too hard, potentially scratching them. It is best to provide your own headphones or speakers. A turntable should be considered a long term investment, and one of the companies offering the best bang for your buck is Audio-Technica, whose turntables start around a hundred dollars. Finally a person must buy the record itself, because you can’t just use Spotify or YouTube to look up a record to play. These can be found everywhere, in places like Goodwill, pawn shops, flea markets, and of course online and in record and music stores. FYE in the mall has recently begun carrying an impressive selection, but I would recommend trying the record store first because half the fun of listening to records is crate-digging.

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Everyone remembers their first trip to the record store. It’s a lot like going to Disney World for the first time. The music fills the air with magic, and in the crates lingers a sense of wonder that beckons you to spend hours sifting through them like a gold miner. That’s what crate-digging is all about. Sawyer Burkhalter is a 21 year old Philosophy major who told me about his first trip to a record store. “I can still remember it clearly even though it was around ten years ago,” he begins to reflect. “It was this hole in the wall in Florida, but man was it awesome.” Sawyer’s dad had taken him after Sawyer had discovered his collection. “I ended up going home with a Neil Diamond recording because it reminded me of riding to school with my mom, but I must have spent hours searching for the right one.” There is just something about records that makes the search as valuable as the record itself.

Many stores carry used records that can start at just a dollar. It is important to make sure that the record is good enough quality, though. Although the newest, highest quality records normally start around 20 dollars, good quality music can be found for much less. Some of my favorite finds include The Beatles’ Let It Be for around 5 dollars and a rare, highquality Jimi Hendrix record for 15 dollars.

Stewart Dalton, a 22 year old Political Science major, is one of those people who continually finds inspiration in records.

He started saxophone lessons in middle school and since then, he has found that listening to records has made him a more creative musician. “I must have listened to My Favorite Things by John Coltrane a million times,” he laughs, trying not to spill his coffee. “I like to play along with the rhythm and try to hit the notes exactly how they sound on the record.

Whenever I buy a record, I spin it until my ears can’t take anymore. Then I go out and buy a new one. It’s all very exciting.

I always look forward to going to stores and digging through stuff that people have forgotten about or thrown away, and finding something that is going to inspire me to play for hours. We are very lucky to have an independent record store right here in town.”

That store is Red Door Records, and it is only a short walk from campus. It is located in the strip behind Slapdaddy’s,

so there’s no reason to not gorge yourself on burgers and spend some time – and maybe even some cash – at your friendly neighborhood record store. You can even find CDs, books, and t-shirts there, and according to the store’s owner, Jessica Donaldson, business is better than ever.

She encourages everyone to come visit her store on Record Store Day, which is April 18th. Business must be booming everywhere because independent record stores are popping up all over the country. 200 are opening this year alone, according to Record Store Day founder Neil Hurtz. Record stores, the people that own them, the people that shop there, and the records themselves are what make owning one of these so much more than listening to music. It’s about hunting for that one special record that you couldn’t find anywhere online, and that moment of glory when you finally find it in the back of a crate hidden behind tons of other crates. It makes the sound that much sweeter when you listen to it for the first time with your friends. And when you’re sharing good music with the people you care about, it makes not only that experience better, but that record more valuable.

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Sam Smith’s music is inspired by artists such as Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige. The lead single from his album Stay With Me has been an anthem this past year for countless people on social media who have gone through breakups and relationship issues in general. Sam Smith has said that his music will always reflect what is going on in his life, which shows in Stay With Me as he was going through a breakup when he recorded this album.

In Sam Smith’s song, “I’m Not The Only One,” he sings about being in a relationship but having knowledge about his spouse cheating on him with someone else. Sam Smith sings, “But when you call me baby, I know I’m not the only one…”

He always puts his heart and soul into any piece he is performing; it doesn’t matter if it’s his song or a cover. The premise of Sam Smith’s music is based around hearing the pain in his voice. He wants his listeners and fans to understand that he went through something that was serious in his life. On the topic of love, his song “Like I Can” talks about how strong his love for this person is and how no one will ever love him or her like he can.

Photographer Joshua E. Abbott

Sam Smith:

The New King of Soul In this past year of music there has been one artist that has dominated the charts.

This artist is from the United Kingdom and has been deemed the “Male Adele.” His name is Sam Smith. Sam Smith is a relatively new artist, in mainstream, but somehow he has captured the attention from people of all ages, races and genders.

His first album, In The Lonely Hour, has sold more than 3.4 million copies worldwide and counting. Sam Smith is known for his feature on the single, “Latch” by Disclosure, but his own album contains songs which all feature eclectic lyrics and sublime musical accompaniments.

Emotion is a major point behind Sam Smith’s music, his song “Leave Your Lover” is overflowing with empathy. He makes you feel the pain behind loving someone or caring for someone deeply even though they’re in a relationship with someone else when he sings, “Pack up and leave everything. Don’t you see what I can bring…Just leave your lover, leave him for me.” Sam is giving the impression with this song that he left all his memories and heartbreak with the recording of this song and doesn’t want to remember it again.

Emotion is a major point behind Sam Smith’s music, his song “Leave Your

Lover” is overflowing with empathy; he makes you feel the pain behind you loving someone or caring for someone deeply but they’re in a relationship with someone else already when he sings “Pack up and leave everything. Don’t you see what I can bring…Just leave your lover, leave him for me.” Sam is giving the impression with this song that he left all his memories and heartbreak with the recording of this song and doesn’t want to remember it again.

Sam Smith’s latest album continues to sell copies because of two reasons: the quality of the music he creates and the personality he has. He has an odd sense of style and the same goes for his personality, both of which people admire.

His song “Restart” has a unique undertone and a techno beat, that makes it an interesting song to listen to as well as enjoyable, because you still receive the sense of passion in his voice. His music may stand the test of time due to the fact that you never know what you are going to get with him. Fans love hearing different styles of music from their favorite artists, and because no one song sounds the same, they are in for a treat and definitely a surprise.

The album overall was very refreshing and new to listen to, because traditionally you do not hear about male artists creating albums and writing songs that primarily focus on heartbreak and failing relationships. Sam Smith’s adaptations to the world of soul and pop music are bound to place him on the music industry’s “to watch list.” He makes music for the public because he knows that there are people in the world that have the same emotions as him and wants to let people know they are not alone. Sam Smith is definitely a force to be reckoned with and will be around for many years to come.

By Jamel Shorter

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Hip hop has been in a state of flux since it was born in the South Bronx about 40 years ago. It has experienced various era’s and has endured everything from politics to war between it’s very self. Hip hop can cover just about any subject; however people often find themselves trying to define it in their own special way. Some people will connect to their favorite hip hop based on where it comes from, while others will connect to the music based on what the artist chooses to talk about. Despite the changes, hip hop has grown and reached out to more than ever before. It has grown into an illustrious business because of moguls like Diddy, Jay-z, and Dr. Dre to name a few. Some artists choose to expose their emotions and stories through their music while others enjoy talking about the party life that comes with the lifestyle that a rapper typically lives. Being one of the newer genres to come out, hip hop has been the sort of underdog in music, but it has stood the test and found its success from within.

Everyone loves an underdog and because hip hop is an underdog itself, it appreciates an artist who is an underdog even more. Because there are now so many different types of influences on today’s hip hop, we as listeners are always looking for the newest sound from the newest artist, especially if that artist comes from a familiar place. Esaw has come out of a familiar place that we all can connect to in Valdosta, but this is not where his story began. His story starts about 30 minutes from the birthplace of hip hop in a place called Mount Vernon in New York.

Underdog: Everyone’s Success Awaits Within Hip hop has been in a state of flux since it was born in the South Bronx about 40 years ago. It has experienced various era’s and has endured everything from politics to war between it’s very self.

Upon first meeting Esaw, I didn’t know that he rapped. He came off as a quiet low-key type of person, who kept to himself whenever possible. He wouldn’t talk much when we played basketball and he wouldn’t do too much talking when we hung out on the weekend. When I finally heard him rap on record, I was surprised that it was actually good. It wasn’t great, but I knew he had potential. The turnaround from amateur to artist came when we moved into the same apartment in August of 2013. I witnessed firsthand the work that was put in every night through the instrumentals that could be heard from across the apartment on any given night. I remember the first song that he recorded in that era. It was ‘Camera love’. The song zipped through the campus like a wildfire and forced students to ask “who is that?”

Esaw is a name that his great aunt gave him. The name derives from the Bible, but Esau from the Bible became Esaw the artist when he decided to drop the ‘u’ and add the ‘w’ to form the acronym “Everyone’s Success Awaits Within”. Esaw is destined for the same success that he speaks of in his music.

By Terrance Johnson

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Photographer Jabari Mobley

organizations around campus and is part of several organizations herself. She has been cast as Dorothy in an alternate version of The Wizard of Oz, named The Wiz and this is where most of her free time goes nowadays. The Wiz showcased Carla’s talent to sing and dance as well as act, and was a very entertaining show to say the least. “Audiences can believe in the Dorothy of Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance’s ‘The Wiz,’” Dean Poling of the Valdosta Daily Times wrote.

Carla is also a part of MAG VSU, which is an organization that showcases the talent of many students around campus. She works on virtually each one of the committees that are under MAG VSU. Carla has also worked for the hall council in Lowndes during her freshman year, but the most important thing to Carla has been getting her music career underway.

Carla’s debut single dropped in May of 2014 and has since earned 5,980 plays on Soundcloud. The single features the struggles of having to compete for a man while men also are competing to be with her. Carla’s voice flows effortlessly throughout the track but, produces a unique sound unlike any other singers of this era. She almost had her big break, but when it came down to driving back another 4 hours to Atlanta or staying in school, she chose school. Now that she knows exactly what she wants to do, and realizes that she doesn’t necessarily need school to succeed, she has still been able to attain good grades.

Photographer VSU Photography

Writing is at the forefront of things that Carla loves to do.

Music, theatre, poetry, and everything else come second to writing because this is when she feels the most free. It is the foundation to most of what she enjoys doing. Without writing, you can say that many of her extracurricular activities would be lost.

Gifted

By Terrance Johnson

At every campus nationwide, there is at least one person who stands out among their peers. This person may get the highest grades, or they could possess talent that stands out among the rest. They may even just be involved in many organizations throughout their respected campus. Very few possess all of these qualities, but VSU’s very own Carla Paige has kicked down the door and stuck her foot in each one of these tremendous feats.

With all of the things that Carla has accomplished, it could be said that there isn’t much that she can’t do. Her journey begins in Austell, Georgia, about 25 minutes from Atlanta. She is a musical theatre major, which suits her because she has participated in musical theatre ever since she was a kid.

Nothing that she does now is out of the ordinary for her, though she does realize that all of these activities can become strenuous. Although she has maintained a high GPA, Carla says that she isn’t as thrilled about attending VSU because she knows that she could be somewhere else.

Carla Paige has maintained a GPA of over 3.5 which has earned her the opportunity to become secretary of Alpha Lambda Delta, which is a freshmen honor’s society for freshmen with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. She has also performed for various

With all of this said, Carla has maintained a level of humbleness that stands out among the rest and she is someone that we can all root for. Inspiring wouldn’t be enough of a word to describe Carla Paige, but I guess it will have to do.

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St. Augustine, FL In St. Augustine, FL you’ll find quaint little bed and breakfasts, such as the Old City House Inn and Restaurant, beautiful cobbled streets and relaxing ocean breezes. What sets St. Augustine apart from other cities in Florida is its historic value. People travel far and wide to view what is the oldest European Settlement in America, luckily it’s just hours away from the city of Valdosta. This is the perfect place for a peaceful and romantic trip with your significant other or for a rejuvenating weekend by yourself or with friends.

Things to Do: -St. Augustine Wild Reserve -St. Augustine Beach -St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum -High Tide Art Gallery

Photographer Patrick Elliott

Weekend Trips: VSU Edition

Sometimes as college students we can tend to stress ourselves out while dealing with all our classes, extracurricular activities and social lives. Although Valdosta State University and the city of Valdosta has a lot to offer; a break from it all is often very much needed. Here are five places you and your friends can go that are nearby, perfect for a weekend trip and offer fun, relaxation and something different from the familiar town built around Valdosta State University we all are so used to.

By Geneva Crooks

fine dining, hotels with exquisite views of the entire city and is the home to the famous Coca Cola Factory. During a trip to Atlanta you are guaranteed anything you may be looking for in a weekend trip.

Whether it be the unique tattoo parlors and thrift shops in Little Five Points or the trendy club scene in Mid Town; there are countless places to see.

Things to Do: -Atlanta Botanical Garden -Piedmont Park -Georgia Aquarium -High Museum of Art

Savannah, GA

Atlanta, GA

Savannah is a small town on the coast of Georgia with white wooden terraces built around historical homes and picturistic island state parks. In this city you’ll enjoy quiet days full of museum visits, soaring light houses and rides down famous River St in an old street car.

Just a little over three hours away from Valdosta, Atlanta is a huge metropolitan city offering everything you can think of from museums to giant luxury shopping malls. This city has heaps of places for

Things to Do: -Savannah Historic District -Pin Point Heritage Museum -Forsyth Park -Historical Savannah Theatre

Jacksonville, FL In Jacksonville, FL you’ll find sprawling beaches, countless shopping malls and a breathtaking city skyline. Interested in new clothing stores you won’t find in Valdosta? Or maybe you are looking to study on a sandy beach under the bright sun? Well then it’s time to take that trip to “Jax” Florida. Jacksonville is known for being the biggest most populous city in the state of Florida and offers quirky

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places such as a Silent Film Museum and skyscraping hotels on the shores of the St. Johns River.

Things to Do: -The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens -Little Talbot Island State Park -Atlantic Beach -Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

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Photographer Joshua E. Abbott

just one, and you’ll keep coming back.

Maybe you are trying to spend your break on a budget. There are some great local attractions in Valdosta that are free and full of activities! About a mile from campus is McKey Park, featuring tennis courts, volleyball, a playground, a small running track, and great picnicking areas.

The park is always open and is free to the public. It’s a great place to get off campus, and spend the afternoon. It’s always a favorite place for me when the weather is nice. I can spend a whole afternoon playing tennis, or just relaxing.

Photographer Patrick Elliott

The VSU Experience: Where will you go?

By Joshua E. Abbott

As I looked down at the floor, I couldn’t help but notice the stack of clothes remaining. “Take everything you’ll need over the break,” my resident advisor (RA) had said the weekend before. What will I need? Will I actually go somewhere this spring? I grabbed all my things, and quickly loaded them into my car. The back seat was full, and the car felt as if it were collapsing under the weight. As I departed from the campus, I took one last look. Valdosta State was empty, and I, like so many other students, was heading home.

Everyone looks forward to Spring break or getting time out of class. A lot of times we aren’t sure how to spend that time. If you aren’t tagging along with friends or you are in charge of plans, then these suggestions will make your break great.

After all, Valdosta is a short distance away from many major attractions in the area.

One crowd favorite for spring break is Panama City Beach, Florida. It’s about a

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3.5-hour trip, but it’s worth it. You’ll find sparkling white sand, gorgeous emerald green water, and tons of fellow students blocking your view. I suggest you do some research on P.C., as it’s often called, before going. It can be an expensive destination, with some hotels charging upwards of $200/night during spring break. My suggestion is to go just about 30 minutes west to Destin, Florida.

Destin is much smaller and more affordable than PC. There can be large crowds at times, but none comparable to those in PC. The water is even prettier, and hotels cost $50-$100 less a night. It’s a great beach retreat for Spring Breakers, and I’m sure you will enjoy it.

Another popular spot is Remerton. It’s a tiny town within the city of Valdosta. It’s only about a mile from campus, boasting several bars and restaurants. Some students go to these bars every weekend.

While some bars require the patrons to be at least 18 years old, while others demand that you be 21 years of age. Most students will visit the bars at least once before graduation. As far as restaurants go, there are some great ones. Masato’s is a Japanese restaurant that serves delicious sushi and hibachi. There is also a student favorite that always delivers— Jimmy John’s. Jimmy John’s is a sub-shop that has affordable prices and quick service that is a real crowd pleaser. You can’t have college without pizza, and The Mill is a pizza buffet that everyone loves.

They feature quite the eclectic atmosphere, not to mention cheap prices.

These are but a few common things I’ve seen and noticed at VSU. What about those uncommon ones? Have you ever considered going abroad? It’s an experience like no other. Many students are able to take a trip during summer or even stay a whole semester abroad. The cultural experience is something that can’t be found locally. Once you’ve been abroad, your whole perspective of the world changes. As far as pricing goes, usually a study abroad trip costs about $3,000+ plus the VSU tuition. Many students fundraise all year to get the chance to go. Maybe you’ll learn another language, or maybe you’ll find a lover.

Who knows?

Regardless of where you go, or what you do, it is easy to get off campus. Even if you only take a day trip, or if you stay in town, you’ll have something to do. Don’t forget to get the most out of your experience here. My advice is to try anything campus has to offer. Go to some events, take an outdoor excursion, or go visit friends!

When you walk off that stage, what will you remember? Will it be your friends, the places you’ve been, or the experience of it all? When you finally look back, hopefully you’ll say “What an amazing experience I had at VSU.” Where will your life go from here? The answer is simple— Wherever your next experience takes you! The experience begins now!

Some attractions people often forget is Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, located in Orlando, FL. Both destinations are only another three-hour trip away.

While the parks are less than affordable, the short distance makes up for the price.

A student can take a day trip to them and spend around $250. Many will have the time of their life. Visit all the parks or

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Stepping into College: Getting Out of the Party Scene

Photographer Patrick Elliott

We’ve all either lived or heard of the wild stories of what happens when students go off to college. You’re finally free of rules, curfews, and parents breathing down your neck. Now you have the power to make your own decisions. Because of this, many students adjust to these new changes by letting loose and “turnin up!”

By Ayanna Craig

Studies show that 4 out of 5 college students drink alcohol and attend parties as a way to socialize and meet new people. The party scene makes it easier and more fun to meet peers. Since you met at a party, you now have a new hobby to enjoy together…PARTYING! This can be both positive and negative. Although you are meeting new people and relieving stress, it can also become a huge distraction. Many first year students become so caught up with freedom and trying to be a part of the mix, that they begin to forget why they are in college and what is important. Attending the biggest parties and events start to come

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first, and homework is worried about later. “You can do the assignment later,” “we won’t stay long,” “when is it due?” and “hurry and finish it before we go,” are the golden words your new “party peers” will say to suck you in.

It’s not a crime to party and have fun in college, but when your performance in school is jeopardized, you know you’ve gone too far. Signs of academic neglect include: a major hang-over or still being drunk on the day of a test, missing class from being partied-out, missing a deadline in order to get in free at a party, and developing a “no care” attitude. If you

find that you are suffering from any of these symptoms or worse, here are ways to get yourself back on track. First, you must look around and realize where you are. Although they say that college is supposed to be the most fun years of your life, you still must understand that you have a job to do. Second, college isn’t cheap, so you don’t want to waste your time and money failing or not performing as well as you could in a class because you were too sick and hung-over. Third, stop worrying about maintaining a social life. This isn’t high school, so what you do here will determine your success in your actual adult life. Lastly, before making a decision that may jeopardize your success, you should always ask yourself what achievements have I made in college that will make me stand out, will

this help me make money in the future, and most importantly where will I be when I leave this place?

I’m not saying that you can’t ever go out and have some fun, but there should always be a balance, and at the end of the day, school should be first. By remembering these four important factors, you will be able to decide when it’s a good idea to go out and when it is not. I had experienced problems with feeling that I always had to appear at the biggest parties until I realized that sometimes it’s okay to sit one out. As long as you have the right mindset and remember why you’re in school, you will gain that drive and will be able to cut down and step away from the party scene.

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Photographer VSU Photography

A Review of Pinocchio

In a way, several plays were being performed at once, each one a close approximation of the last that varied only as much as the imaginations of the viewers

By Jonathon Earp

I had sat down in chair E18, five rows from the stage. It was the perfect seat, giving me enough distance to have the full panoramic view of the stage yet not so far as to be staring across a vista of bobbing heads to see the stage. I had not much minded the wait; it had given my mind time to wonder what awaited me behind the doors and inside the theatre.

Would the stage be bare and unrevealing, or would there be that sliver of a hint given so as to tantalize the audience? The stage only laid bare a simple yet colorful patchwork background.

The play begins with a theatre troupe prancing onto the stage and a rather large man with the wardrobe of a simpleton carrying a wagon onto the stage. Each member other than the man in the burlap sack dons a mask. Though they are all painted in the same maudlin,

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earthy tones, each one is sculpted to reflect the personality of the part its wearer is to play. The actress, MacKinzi von Holten’s, face, for instance, is obscured by mask that’s upper lip flows upwards seamlessly from the actress’s real mouth into a perpetually bemused smirk. She announces the beginning of the play, assigning herself a role as the cricket and all the other performers their parts. In this play of Pinocchio, there is to be a wood carver, a fox, a cat, a wicked puppet master, and a spirit. The main role of Pinocchio remains unclaimed.

Hopeful, the wagon carrier asks if he may claim the part. A wicked glimmer in her eye, the cricket says she has a better role for him. He is bequeathed the most sought after parts of the fool and the donkey.

The play ensues to be a parody of the tale

of Pinocchio. Along with being a man in desperate longing for a son, the wood carver Geppetto is a bit out of his mind, reciting all his actions as he performs them. “Carving, carving, carving.”

“Swimming, swimming, swimming.” He creates his son out of wood, and he wakes to discover that a spirit has blessed his creation with life. Little does he know that a condition has been placed upon the vivacity of his son. If poor Pinocchio is a bad boy, he will become a donkey.

Geppetto sends his son off to school, but a wicked cat and fox intercept him on his way. They tell him that he’s already smart and need not go to school, especially when such things as the theatre exists for him to enjoy. At the theatre, the cat and fox conspire to sell him to the puppet master- whose overdramatically wicked laugh was one of the most memorable aspects of the play. The malevolent puppet master seals him away in a cage, but her fool servant frees him and takes him to an island he believes is filled with everything that constitutes the joviality of childhood. Being a fool, however, he mistakenly takes the both of them to Yeknod (donkey spelled backwards) island. The prophecy of the kind spirit seems to have come true, and Geppetto, hearing of the tragic turn of events that have befallen his beloved son, sets out to save him. On the way to the island, a vicious storm strikes and throws him into the tumultuous sea. He is saved from drowning by a fate even worse than that: being eaten alive by a dog fish. Yes, a dog fish. Pinocchio, denouncing his recalcitrant ways, saves his “poor old papa” from the menace beneath the sea.

For his selfless act, he is made into a real boy, and he lives in peace and contentment with his wood carver father.

Pinocchio Commedia was a delightful farce of the age-old classic. The fourth wall seemed nearly nonexistent, the actors and actresses interacting with the children in the audience like it was an episode of Dora the Explorer sans all the irritation. It was evident that the budget was meager (there were hardly any props, and the giant dogfish costume that ate

Pinocchio’s father was falling apart at the seams), but it wasn’t through unfortunate financial circumstances that this was the case. Rather, they were creating gaps within the play and the scenery through which the audience might slip and, thus, become a part of the play themselves. If the entire stage had been covered with props and scenery, the audience’s role would have been to merely sit back and watch the performers act out the play.

Instead, through their minimalism, the audience was allowed to imagine parts of the play themselves. In a way, several plays were being performed at once, each one a close approximation of the last that varied only as much as the imaginations of the viewers allowed. Every person was able to see something different on the stage, and that was the beauty of the simplicity. I can only imagine what the little girl snuggled in her mother’s arms beside me saw on stage or what the horde of munchkins on the front row was imagining.

The appeal of this play, however, can also be its biggest flaw. If an audience member didn’t contribute to the play, then there was really little for him or her to gain from it. Children- with their heightened imaginations- and their parents, who seemed almost infected by that creativity, seemed to be enjoying the play the most.

There were, of course, a few college students who looked rather miserable, but I assume they were being forced to watch the play for some arts perspective class. The lady seated beside me had even asked me if I was here of my own free will before the play had begun. A small group of adults that sat a few seats down from me remained taciturn for the entirety of the performance. I imagine they felt that they had been ripped off. To them, the play seemed a joke, and, indeed, it was.

The question, then, is whether or not it was a good joke. I certainly had my fair share of laughs, but I can see why someone would rather attend a play performed more by the actors than the audience. So was it a good play? I say yes and would recommend it to anyone with an imagination, but, really, who nose?

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Doomed To Repeat?: The APUSH Battle in Georgia

By Hunter Whited

Photographer Joshua E. Abbott

I became a history buff at a young age. I grew up in LaFayette, Georgia, a smalltown in the northwest corner of the state, close to the Civil War battlefield of Chickamauga. When I was a young boy, my grandfather would take me and my younger sister “loafering” on sunny days, which would often ultimately end with us exploring the battlefield and its museum. While wandering the battlefield, we often ventured away from the paved tourist paths, trudging through the tall grass while I held my little sister’s hand, and our grandfather led the way, pointing out the sights and, through his vivid narration, resurrecting the long-gone soldiers to return to their battle-lines for an encore presentation of their most glorious hour. I could smell the smoke from the muskets; I could hear the rebel yell reverberating through the trees above the rolling thunder of cannons blasting; I could feel the elation in victory of a young rebel soldier as the Yankees turned tail back to Chattanooga, and an

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almost bursting adulation for our heroic General Bragg.

Sometimes our loafering would carry us somewhere other than the Chickamauga battlefield, but, whether we were sitting atop Lookout Mountain behind a row of memorial cannons, looking down on the Yankee-run Chattanooga, or if we were wandering an old graveyard in Alabama, visiting the final resting place of two of our old relatives, who ran away from home to join the Confederate Army in Alabama, my grandpa always brought the scenes and the stories to life. His orations were executed with all of the color and precision of the strokes of a master painter’s brush. But most captivating of all to me, always lurking somewhere in his narrations, was the reminder “This isn’t the story they’re often going to tell you about”.

Looking back now, I understand that most of my grandpa’s narrations were

heavily-based within the arguments of the historically despised “Lost Cause” narrative of the defeated Confederacy in the Civil War, but that does not take away from the effect that his stories had on me. Though most people have surely heard the cliché “history is told by the winners,” I do not know how many people really consider the meaning of it.

My grandpa opened my eyes to just how subjective history really is, and the realization encouraged me to always scrutinize what stories I am ever presented with. For every “winner’s” tale, there is a “loser’s” side of the story; additionally, each individual winner may have their own unique filter for the events, and this is reciprocated on the loser’s side as well. The only way to determine with any credibility what really happened in history is to take all of the sides, put them together, and then observe the picture as a whole to see what actually lines up. Very rarely is there ever a straightforward right-andwrong scenario.

Nevertheless, this fact has not kept certain groups from insisting on a unanimously “correct” telling of American history.

Traditionally, American history has been taught through tales of military conquest and social revolution by great heroes that exemplify the principles of American exceptionalism. The greatest challenge to this method of teaching came with the publishing of political scientist Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States in 1980 which, in the words of James Anthony Whitson, “tells stories of hard-won progress in the hard-fought struggles of working people, women, racial and other minorities, and the diverse constituents that make up the people whose history he is striving to tell” (Whitson 95). In essence, the book provided the much-needed “loser’s” side of American history. Though successful, Zinn’s take on history has been met with sharp criticism by traditionalists and conservatives, who decry the book for

“present[ing] a very dark and dire picture of America” (Whitson 94).

In recent years, arguments similar to those made by Zinn’s critics have been presented on a much larger scale in the form of protest against state and national education standards for AP U.S. history (APUSH). The assault against the College Board-proposed current AP standards began in Texas and finally gained traction when Ken Mercer, a member of the Texas State Board of Education, penned a resolution that criticized the College Board’s framework for APUSH, writing that it "reflects a view of American history that is critical of American exceptionalism, the free enterprise system and emphasizes negative aspects of our nation's history while minimizing positive aspects” (Ganim). Phrases from Mercer’s resolution were subsequently lifted by the Republican National Committee and issued in a talking points memo, with an addition stating that Congress should withhold funding from the College Board unless they rewrite the APUSH standards “in a transparent manner to accurately reflect U.S. history without political bias” (Ganim). Since the RNC’s memo, other states including Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and, most recently, our own state of Georgia have introduced their own resolutions to change the framework of APUSH in language mirroring that used by the RNC in their memo (Ganim). It should be obvious that these proceedings are not without their own political biases.

The battle over the APUSH framework in Georgia has been led by Republican Senator William Ligon. Sen. Ligon has been one of the most prominent sponsors of Senate Resolution 80, which pushes for a revision of the APUSH framework “to create a balanced framework compatible with the traditional topic outline” (GA Senate, SR-80, p. 2, Ln. 32-33), citing that the current framework “reflects a seemingly biased view of

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American history that overemphasizes negative aspects of our nation's history” (GA Senate, SR-80, p. 1, Ln. 9-10). More directly, Ligon himself stated on his website that the College Board’s new framework represents a “shift toward a leftward ideology… made obvious by a growing focus on group identities, such as ‘the formation of gender, class, racial and ethnic loyalties,’ at the expense of such unifying concepts as American Exceptionalism” (Simonton).

Ligon has also said the new standard is “critical of the late President Reagan, is anti-free enterprise, and portrays corporations as greedy and self-serving” (“Georgia State Senator”). Another sponsor of the bill, Republican Senator Francis Millar, has decried the test for featuring too much emphasis on “social justice issues” instead of “the foundations of American history…things like Manifest Destiny, the role of Capitalism, et cetera” (Simonton). Millar also expressed discomfort with the fact that the APUSH test booklet displayed images of “negative-type things” such as “people living in poverty” as opposed to such other exceptional feats as “the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge” (Simonton). As of March 11, 2015, SR-80 has passed in the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. If the resolution passes, then the state of Georgia will push for a reduction to federal funding of the College Board and will look for alternatives to the College Board’s Advanced Placement program entirely, solely to the detriment of the 14,000 Georgia students who take the AP test yearly (“Georgia Senate Approves Resolution”).

It would be absurd to actually believe that these motions against the APUSH standards are anything other than politically-motivated. Salon’s Elias Isquith summarized the struggle best, describing it as a “proxy war for the right to decide what it means to be an American” (Isquith). The real heart of the

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issue for opponents of the current framework is not that there may be a liberal bias, but the fact that there is not enough of a conservative bias; their issue is not that they perceive less emphasis on the Founding Fathers, but that there is an increased emphasis on “non-white, non-male perspectives” (Isquith). As Sen. Millar said himself: “The bias I see in how they view national concepts is not how I view national concepts” (Simonton).

For extra perspective on the issue, I sat down to talk with Trion High School history teacher, Jason Paseur. Paseur is a notable conservative and had fiery words regarding the current APUSH standards.

He said he fully supported SR-80, claiming that the current standard “skips over the meat and potatoes” of American history, mentioning his own belief that there is not enough emphasis being put on “good American heroes.” He expressed exasperation at the fact that the new standards put such emphasis on figures such as Cesar Chavez, saying “not that Cesar Chavez isn’t an important figure, but he’s certainly no George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or other true American hero. Hell, he was a tried-andtrue Communist! He has his place, but should he really be such a focus?”

My interview with Paseur seemed less like an actual interview than a lecture, as I sat in one of the desks in his classroom, taking notes, and occasionally exchanging banter as he made his way around the room, waving his arms with the rhythm of his words, and emphasizing the negativity of the new APUSH standards. Much of what he had to say seemed to reflect the general opinion of the legislators behind SR-80, though he did make a particularly striking comment that seemed to perfectly represent the crux of the opponents’ mind-set: “George Washington, Thomas Jefferson— Founders of our country, and two of the truest American heroes; but what do the new standards have to say about them?

That they were slave-owners! It’s just

plain ridiculous.”

This comment was so jarring to me because, for the first time, I felt like I really understood the opposition’s mentality. Paseur was not expressing outrage because he did not believe that the Founding Fathers were slave-owners; that is certainly no secret to anyone with even the most rudimentary knowledge of American history. His outrage comes from the fact that the APUSH standards actually teach this fact. Suddenly, it became disturbingly clear exactly what proponents of SR-80, and any other similar measures across the country, were campaigning for. They would rather institute an entirely false history standard to support their own political views in the name of their brand of patriotism than to allow a more open, honest view of history that runs the risk of portraying “negativity”.

They want the capitalism that won the Cold War, but not the capitalism that exploited laborers and corrupted politics; they want a Civil Rights movement where Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, but not a Civil Rights movement that was stifled with dogs, hoses, and the burning of churches; they want to make demi-gods of the brave American soldiers who protect this country and all freedom of everywhere, but they do no not want to talk about My Lai. In this light, it certainly seems that the claim of the opposition being “[n]ot for what's in [the standard], but for what is left out” (Ganim) is the exact opposite of the truth.

The greatest travesty of this ideological assault is that the only people who can be damaged are students. “Good AP courses,” says the scholar Maxine N. Lurie, “… are designed to teach the nature and craft of history” (Lurie 523). Yet, how are students ever to expect to truly learn “the nature and craft of history” if the standards being taught to them are being brutally revised and dismembered for

the sake of fitting to a political ideologue of an America that never actually existed The current framework that is being so ardently opposed by conservative activists was not devised by a liberal propaganda machine. The new framework was put together at the request of educators who sought a standard that put more “emphasis on critical thinking and less on rote memorization” and, since the changes, the current framework has been supported by 85% of APUSH teachers nationwide (Simonton). The framework is designed to present students with a wider range of ideas and perspectives on our nation’s history so they can formulate their own ideas about where they have come from and what it means to be American. The standards are not designed to churn out liberals; they are designed to turn out thinkers. It is not a matter of politics; it is education.

In the years since strolling those battlefields with my grandfather, I have come to appreciate the complex nature of American history. I was always taken with the idea of “winners” and “losers”, though, now, I have come to recognize that, in the larger scheme, the two are one in the same. We are all Americans, and, as such, we share the burden of all of our nation’s ups and downs, wins and losses. From the pits of our greatest travesties, rises leaps of progress and perseverance. It is the duality of our history’s nature that has made our American identity so rich; to attempt to scrub away the grime in an attempt to validate faulty proclamations of “exceptionalism” is to rob our nation’s achievements of legitimacy. The only results that can come from Sen. Ligon’s SR-80 is the neutering of a generation of history students’ understanding of what it means to be an American, in which scenario, I suppose there certainly could be quite a number of “losers” after all, though I guarantee there will be no “winners” to harp their triumphant tale.

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wORKS CITED Available apon request by author

Photographer Joshua E. Abbott

The Transition: South Georgia’s VSU

Did the palm trees, the glistening green grass, being somewhat near beaches, the blazing red roof tops, or getting an education make you feel as if VSU was best for you? Valdosta State University is a small university in South Georgia that attracts the eyes of many students that graduate high school or students that transferred from other colleges and universities. VSU has an attractive campus with a Floridalike scenery and Spanish architecture. You begin to realize that the school has many students that come from areas three hours away, such as Atlanta, and farther than there when you start to meet the diversity of the people on campus. If you take a step off campus, then you can see that the city of Valdosta is not much like the school’s campus, which is in the heart of Valdosta. Valdosta is definitely a wonderful town that also has a city within the city of Valdosta, called Remerton, Georgia. The question is, depending on where you are from, why VSU?

By Marquez Slaughter According to the data provided by the Office of Institutional Research on VSU’s website, in the Fall Semester of 2014, VSU enrolled 11,563 students. Freshmen overpopulated most of the classes and that was due to students from the year before whom had transferred away from VSU. The number of freshmen has repeatedly declined since Fall of 2010. It declines each year, such as 5,008 freshmen enrolled in Fall of 2010, 2,379 students in Fall of 2011, 3,798 students in Fall of 2012,

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3,332 students in Fall of 2013, and 3,079 in Fall of 2014. This decline is a result of some students attending VSU to get his or her GPA up to a certain average to where he or she could transfer to the specific school that the person wanted to attend in the first place. It is, to most students, easier to be accepted into VSU than other larger schools.

To be accepted into VSU, the student would only need to score a 900 or above

on the SAT (Math and Critical Reading only) or score at least a 19 on the ACT. Does it seem easy? Samekh Ward, a sophomore at VSU, would say so. Ward said VSU was not her first choice, but once she got a good experience at the school she began to fall in love with it.

Although students, such as Ward, attend VSU as a backup school, they do have their reason for attending. The scenery of VSU is probably the bait. Ward admits that the campus caught her attention.

Ward is from Douglasville, Georgia, which is very much different from Valdosta due to the hills, the larger shopping mall, and Douglasville is slightly larger overall.

Students come from all over the nation to attend VSU. A majority of the students come from Lowndes County, which is the county that VSU is in. The other major Georgia counties that VSU attracts its students from are Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb, and Dekalb. Lauren Sims, a junior, is from Dekalb County and she came here for the size of the campus, because of her test scores, and for the price that it costs to attend.

The estimated cost for the average freshman would be around $3,979 (instate). According to Collegecalc.org, a

college ranking website, VSU is ranked sixteenth by fee value from lowest to highest in Georgia.

The school provides a small campus, which most students prefer when searching for a college to go to. On the campus, there are restaurants that may catch a student’s eye while at visitation, or the nice sized recreation center that has plenty of activities to offer to students, faculty, and staff. “The campus is really what sold me,” junior Jasmin Bass said. “When I first visited, people were playing on the lawn, doing homework, and the band was practicing.”

She said it looked like how a college life was supposed to be. She felt as if she was home. Other students also praise the campus’ beauty, and also the programs that VSU has to offer.

Jeanellia Garcia, a sophomore, would also agree with the beauty that the VSU campus provides, but what also caught her attention was the nursing program.

Garcia is not alone when it comes to being reeled in by the majors provided by the schools and how successful the school is with graduating students. For enrolled freshmen of the Fall 2014 semester, the top four majors declared were biology (178 students), nursing (165

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students), psychology (84 students), and engineering studies (83 students). Out of all of enrolled Fall 2014 Freshmen, 59.4 percent were enrolled to the College of Arts & Sciences.

The admission office does everything they can to get students to come to VSU, from providing everything a potential students needs on the website to actually coming to certain high schools to spread the positive word about VSU. Ryan Hogan, the Associate Director for the Office of Admission at VSU, said that VSU sends out seven admission counselors to different traditional high schools. The admission counselors are trained to know about the different colleges of VSU, as well as being able to support students with applying. Hogan said that he and his team are working a program called CRM (Customer Relationship Management) to also support the students by electronic communication along with the admission guide on their website. They also provide information and links on the website for the city of Valdosta.

Photographer Genevieve Kennett

The city’s mission is “To be known by our customers and others for high quality municipal services,” but according to 247wallst.com, Valdosta is ranked the sixth poorest city in America. You would not recognize it until you actually looked

it up online or heard it from someone.

Hogan expects students to see beyond that, and enjoy, what he calls “the best of both worlds.” This means VSU is a small school, but offers about as much as a larger school. The school has won Division II championships in baseball, softball, men’s tennis (twice), and football (three times). The city of Valdosta was also named ESPN’s “Title Town USA” in 2008, because of the championships from VSU’s football team in 2004 and 2007 and the popular high school rivalry of Valdosta High School and Lowndes High School. VSU also offers a Greek Life for students. Hogan said that everything that the school offers is to help students graduate and get the job that the student is aiming for to be successful.

Once you gain friends, join organizations, and go to school for what you came for (whatever you major may be), you would actually enjoy your college experience at the school you attend. Once you have finished your classes and earned your degree, moving away or staying in the college’s town is up to you. Valdosta State University is a college experience like every other college experience, except for the different rules, campus size, and surrounding setting. Everyone has his or her own opinion about different things, and the only way to have your own is to experience what you are not sure about.

Back Cover Photographer Bryce France

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To contribute an article email us at: ontap@valdosta.edu Visit us on the web at: www.ontapvsu.com Follow us: VSUOnTap Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Issue 12 Fall 2015 Valdosta State University