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Bikers descend on CSU campus Clarissa Andrews / Staff Writer
On Sunday, June 20, CSU students might have thought they were crazy if they saw the over 2,000 bicyclists setting up camp on CSU's grounds. In actuality, these people were competing in the Bike Ride Across Georgia, or BRAG, and had just finished the first leg of their trip. This year's ride was 434 miles long, stretching from LaGrange to Savannah, making stops along the way in many different cities across the state. To many, this trek sounds painful; why would anyone willingly agree to ride a bike from one side of Georgia to another? Those who join BRAG every year will tell skeptics that the ride is truly enjoyable. BRAG is a six-day ride filled with fun. When the riders stopped in Columbus for the first night, shuttles carried them to Hollywood Connection and to a Redstixx game. The Platters performed at an ice cream social in Thomaston on Monday night, and a bike stunt show was held in Perry the next night. On Wednesday, the BRAG talent show took place in Dublin and featured the BRAG kazoo marching band. Thursday, in Metter, the 'BRAGster dragster' racers were held. Friday night's stop in Statesboro included a performance by the band Downright Brothers. At the final stop, in Savannah, a barbecue lunch complete with a birthday cake was served to celebrate BRAG's 20th anniversary. BRAG began in 1980 under the name of the Great GASBE (Georgia's Annual State Bicycling Event) with only 120 riders, 60 of which completed the journey. The event was started by Savannah resident Dot Moss, but had no sponsorship. By 1989, the name had been changed to BRAG, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution became the first major corporate sponsor, and Jerry Colley became the race director. Inconveniently enough, it was not until 1992 that portable bathrooms and showers at rest stops were added. Now, the event is a huge success, with participant's ages ranging from toddlers to 70-somethings. The cost is low compared to many cross-state rides throughout the country-only $115 for adults. For more information on BRAG and its history, you can read 'The BRAG Book,' written by Atlanta resident Jackie Cummins. USG to offer "anytime-anywhere" learning Dr. Richard Skinner To Head New Unit, Expand On-line Programs for Non-Traditional Students and Employers ATLANTA' (May 12) ' Technology savvy working professionals and non-traditional students seeking on-line learning to prepare for today's hot jobs soon will have 'anytime, anywhere' access to programs offered by the University System of Georgia, with the launch of a new enterprise called Georgia GLOBE. Georgia GLOBE (Global Learning On-line for Business and Education) is a new entrepreneurial unit launched today by the Board of Regents to help meet the state's higher education and workforce demands via electronic delivery systems. Dr. Richard Skinner, president of Clayton College & State University, has been named by University System of Georgia Chancellor Stephen R. Portch to serve as president and chief executive officer of Georgia GLOBE, effective June 1, 1999. Skinner will report directly to Portch, and his unit will be housed in Atlanta. "The University System has been building to this 'eureka moment' for quite some time," stated Portch. " We have been in the entrepreneurial phase for the past five years, building our technology infrastructure along with faculty excitement and support for the use of technology on and off of our campuses. Now it's time for us to form the strategic partnerships necessary to compete successfully in this new academic arena, and there's no better person to lead that effort than our own Rick Skinner." Georgia GLOBE will use technologies like the Internet and the Web to provide Georgians " especially non-traditional adult students " with expanded access to learning, particularly in employment fields strategic to the state's economic development. It is expected to become a highly visible packaging and marketing arm for the System's on-line presence. The new enterprise also will complement a reorganized information technology infrastructure in the University System's central office ' a refocusing designed to help implement newly developed 'action items' emanating from the Board of Regents' in-depth analysis of technology's impact on higher education. Action items flowing from 16 technology principles approved last month were presented today for first reading, with final approval slated for the June meeting. As the digital/electronic delivery system for the University System of Georgia's education programs, GLOBE will support the System's Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) the highly successful economic development program. GLOBE and ICAPP will complement each other to meet the state's workforce and strategic economic development needs, with GLOBE serving as a marketing conduit for credit courses and degrees, as well as professional development courses and workforce training. The self-standing unit will contract for services within the University System and externally in the higher education and information technology marketplace. The expectation is that it will 'import and export world-class learning resources' nationally and internationally. By September 1999, GLOBE 'in partnership with ICAPP and state leaders' will target key bachelor degrees for development. Initial offerings will encompass high-demand programs identified by ICAPP needs assessments, such as bachelor's degrees in information technology/ engineering, teacher education, business and general/integrative studies. By April 2000, GLOBE will partner with the University System's two-year and four-year institutions to bring the 'core' of required freshmen and sophomore courses on-line, with junior and senior courses for selected bachelor's degrees following by April 2001. Potential students and employers interested in gaining more information on GLOBE's offerings can now access the program's website online at: http://www.GeorgiaGLOBE.org. E-mail also may be directed to Dr. Skinner at: RichardSkinner@GeorgiaGLOBE.org. A primary goal of the operation will be to expand the number of Georgians earning bachelor's degrees. Only 4.5 percent of Georgia's population is attending college compared to 5.3 percent nationally. This is partly the result of low high-school graduation rates, but also low overall participation by working adults. University System officials hope to significantly impact the state's educational attainment levels by removing the barriers of time and location that prohibit many working adults from continuing their education and/or professional development. In a related board activity, regents were briefed on the organizational restructuring of the former Office of Instructional and Informational Technology (OIIT) in the University's System's Academic Affairs division. OIIT will be restructured into two operating enterprises. One unit will be focused on academic innovation, research and development, and developing a leadership role in the technology revolution. This unit will work with the institutions and their faculties to develop the products (courses and degrees) for GLOBE. The other will provide day-to-day information technology services, including, among other duties, oversight of major administrative computing, technical support, computer trouble-shooting and maintenance of databases. The regents academic-year emphasis on information technology will culminate at the June board meeting, with final action on the technology action items. CSU gains new neighbor Clarissa Andrews / Staff Writer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the past three weeks, there has been an unusually large amount of traffic at the intersection of Gentian Boulevard and University Avenue. It would be difficult to miss the cause for the traffic - a brand new Burger King, the 12th to open in the Columbus and Phenix City area. Why is this Burger King any different from the others? For starters, the dining area holds about 200 people. Also, there is a community room available for meetings - a great addition to any college campus. Of course, no Burger King would be complete without a playground. But how many CSU students have visited a fast-food restaurant in Columbus with talking trash cans? Described as 'architecturally unique' by Schuster Enterprises, INC., a Columbus-based family-owned franchise of Burger King Corporation, this new restaurant has a 'train station' theme. This is in keeping with long-range Columbus Consolidated government plans to build a trolley system to service CSU and Flat Rock Park. Burger King's location, overlooking the Manchester Expressway, will create a 'dynamic new neighbor for Columbus State University and Peachtree Mall.' Columbus' newest Burger King is designed to create a 'neighborhood-friendly' atmosphere. The large parking lot allows those dining inside to be separated from the drive-through traffic; anyone who has been to the new Chic-fil-a will see that this design is quite nice. Conscious efforts were made in regard to exterior lighting to ensure that Burger King will provide a 'safe, welcoming environment at night.' The Schuster family is 'proud of the investment it has made in the greater Columbus area since its beginning in 1967.' This new Burger King will have between 50 and 75 employees, with a payroll of over $500,000 annually. First Lady forms Senate exploratory committee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On July sixth, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of an exploratory committee in the hope of garnering the open senate seat in New York. Throughout the past week Clinton has been travelling around New York on a listening tour, gaining contact with the people of the state and listening to their concerns. Part of the tour consists of listening sessions with residents and media in which a thirty minute round table discussion allows Clinton to hear concerns about issues such as health care and education reform. Clinton is unopposed in her pursuit of the democratic bid for the seat. She is looking to take the place of Senator Patrick Moynihan who is completing his term, and whose support she has won. At the present time there are two people seeking the Republican nomination, New York City Mayor, Rudolph Guiliani, and Republican Rick Lazio. Clinton's most adamant opposition comes from those people that believe she should not run for the seat because she has never been a state resident. However, there is no law preventing her from running. If Clinton runs she will be the first ever first lady to run for an office. CSU students go for the crown Four CSU students competed in the Miss Georgia Pageant held in Columbus June 23-27. The students, Emilie Edwards, Miss Macon; Brea Vaughan, Miss Presidential Pathways; Shana Teel, Miss Columbus State University; and Jane-Asher Barnes, Miss Greater Thomaston, were among forty-seven contestants who competed for the crown. Teel and Vaughan were among the top ten semi-finalists and Teel was a finalist, joining Andrea Bailey, Miss Southeast Georgia ; Osjha Anderson, Miss University of Georgia; Yolanda Davis, Miss Albany; and Sara Yankus, Miss Northwest Georgia. Teel was announced as fourth runner-up and received a prize of $1,100 along with $800 for being named a finalist. Emilie Edwards also received a Frances Frazier Memorial Talent Award, given with a monetary sum of $400, awarded to non-finalists talent winners. The 1999 Miss Georgia was Osjha Anderson, whose platform was based on people committing random acts of kindness towards others. Anderson will compete in the 1999 Miss America Pageant to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 18. The show will be televised on ABC. Greek organizations: important info on orientation Stephanie Adams / Greek Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orientation for the fall semester is already underway. Our wonderful Greek adviser, Kim Padgett, has been working diligently to give every greek organization the opportunity to be represented at each orientation. If your organization has missed any of the orientations this past month, don't worry. There will be three more orientations before fall semester starts, and each organization is encouraged to participate. This year things will run a little differently. Gone are the days of concurrent sessions. Now each organization is asked to have a display table set up in the morning and to participate in an activity called Play Fair later on in the day. Play Fair is a large ice breaker involving all of the students going through orientation and any member of any student organization on campus. This is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with the incoming fall students, and it is so much fun! If your organization is looking for new members, come to orientation and meet the students. Remaining Orientation Schedule July 23 7:30am - 8:00am Organizations Set up Display Tables 8:00am to 9:00am Student Registration 10:00am to 11:30am Play Fair August 18 & 19 The schedule will be the same as July 23. IMPORTANT: All of the dates are not set in stone. The times for Play Fair are subject to change. Please keep in contact with Kim Padgett to ensure that your organization has an opportunity to participate. Public Safety means YOUR safety Sgt Jim Boling / CSU Public Safety -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, here we are, nearly finished with the Summer semester, and getting out the one issue of the SABER you will get to enjoy before Fall. To many of you, I owe a 'welcome,' and to the others, 'welcome back.' The 1999-2000 school year promises to be full of challenges and opportunities for all of us, and I'm sure it will be memorable. I want to spend some time with this column discussing something near and dear to everyone's heart: parking on campus. There are some changes coming in this area, and it is important that everyone get familiar with the system as quickly as possible. What will be happening very soon is a reduction in the number of signs being used to designate parking areas, and a greater reliance on a color-coded striping system in each parking lot. The distinctions will be: white stripes indicate student parking; blue stripes reserve handicapped spaces; and green stripes delineate faculty/staff slots. Visitor spaces will continue to be marked by signs, and are reserved for bonafide visitors to the campus. Some parking lots will be exclusively student lots; others will be set aside for faculty and staff. The small lot between Tucker Hall and Richards Hall will continue to be exclusively for our handicapped drivers. You will also discover that some lots, such as Lot #1, behind the Davidson Student Center, have sections devoted to each class of driver, so it will be important to watch the color-coding in those areas. The bottom line is that parking is getting scarcer than before (mostly due to the continuing growth of the university) and each of us has to decide now that we're going into a 'voluntary compliance mode' to make the system work. The alternative is not a pleasant one, as the fines levied for parking violations will be double what they have been, effective August 10. That means being found in the wrong parking area could cost $20, rather than the $10 it set you back last year. Be part of the solution, and not part of the problem, and you can avoid those nasty little 'windshield gift certificates' this semester. Crossing the line Amy Walters / Editor in Chief -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On June 17 the United States House of Representatives passed an amendment to the juvenile crime bill giving states the authority to place copies of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The bill was introduced by Republican Robert Aderholt and was passed by the House with a vote of 248-180. This amendment is a result of the recent school massacre that occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado. According to Georgia Republican Bob Barr, 'if the Ten Commandments had been posted at Columbine High School the massacre never would have happened.' Do the members of the House not remember that small concept that Americans like to call the separation of church and state' Teachers must teach evolution from a strictly scientific point of view, never allowing their opinions about the origin of man to affect their students' studies. Prayer of any kind has not been allowed in schools in over forty years. And yet, our congressional members now feel that they can impose religion on students. What about the students who do not practice Christianity, those students that are Hindu, Buddhist, or Jewish? Even those people that are agnostics or atheists have a belief in the fact that they don't believe. What are these people going to think when they walk into a school and have Christian values thrown in their face. Much of what society preaches today is the acceptance of other cultures, religions, and beliefs. However, this act is a blatant disregard of all that parents try to teach their children. It is not within the rights of the state or the national government to administer religion to children- it is a choice made by the family and the individual. I do not believe that a plaque of the Ten Commandments would have stopped the shooting that occurred in Colorado, nor will it stop any other event like it from happening across the United States or in any other part of the world. People will not be stopped by a piece of paper; they are stopped by their own will. The House should realize that, for as much as they may try, they can not stop a human spirit. Local talent on the rise Brian Hale / Entertainment Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Columbus has always been a strong catapult for talented musicians, and I think we just found a new one. Get used to this name - Seth Burnette. Seth comes from a strong musical family and has loved music since early childhood. His father and blues/rock musician, Gary Burnette, taught him how to play electric bass when he was in high school. Today, Seth is 22 years old, and has been experimenting with electronic music for nearly two years now. So where does he get it from? Seth looks to his father as a strong influence, personally and in his music. Seth also credits Brian Transeau with being an influence to his music. 'He brings some heart and a sense of the complexity of classical pieces to dance music,' Burnette said of Transeau. Seth also looks to Paul Van Dyke for musical knowledge, because he 'is able to orchestrate songs that cry out with emotion and feeling without the need for any vocalizing lyrics to direct the listener.' So all this being said, Seth Burnette appears to have great potential. Then I listened to his album, and now I know he has great potential. The working title for the album is 'Space, Time, and Volume,' and all of this is under the guise of 'Casimir Effect.' I recently spoke with Seth and asked him what he thought his album sounded like. SB: 'I try to bring the beauty of trance and the dance floor friendliness of breakbeat together, so that one track might be nice to groove to while reading or driving, and the next might force you to either put down your book and dance or drive faster.' BH: Where did the name 'Space, Time & Volume' come from? SB: 'I was just thinking one day about how to mix two different instruments together that appear in the same EQ bandwidth, such as a kick drum and a deep bass line, without interference or cancellation of either one. I was thinking that they either had to be in different spatial locations relative to the speakers (i.e., one panned left, the other center), timed differently (as in kick, bass line, kick), or given distinctly different volume levels to stand out from each other. Space, Time, and Volume seemed to fit with the physics reference that 'Casimir Effect' was taken from.' Ok, so Seth knows what he is talking about, and believe me, listening to it is easier than trying to follow where it came from. Every musician has the dream of 'making it big.' Seth Burnette has what it takes to do just that. So, when he does, what would he want to do then? So I asked Seth a question that I was curious about. BH: If you were ever given the opportunity to play with a famous musician, who would that person be? SB: 'Tori Amos - because even though I'd feel musically inferior, she seems to be such a naturally talented musician and all-around artist. I mean, that woman can really get an emotion across.' BH: What is your favorite track on 'Space, Time, and Volume' and why? SB: 'My favorite track on my album right now is 'Curvature' because I feel I came close to achieving at least something approximating beauty, and it's got a good groove.' Can we see Seth play live anywhere yet? Well, no, not yet. But, on Wednesdays and Fridays you can go down to the Chickasaw and request for the DJ to play Casimir Effect (or just 'Seth,' he'll know who you mean). For those who like to know a little about an artist before getting into them, here is just enough to get you started on Seth Burnette and 'Casimir Effect.' Everybody has one, so I asked Seth about his most embarrassing moment. He told me a story: 'In second grade I was attending a new school, and for Halloween I dressed as Dracula for the day (my old school let us dress up on Halloween). To my horror I found, right as my mom was dropping me off, that none of the other kids had dressed up for the occasion. Needless to say, I didn't even get out of the car. I made her take me straight home to change. I don't think anyone actually saw me, but I was embarrassed nonetheless.' Oops. And to close this small look at Seth Burnette and Casimir Effect, here is some stuff we should all know - his favorite food is sushi, he's lived in Columbus since he was 5, he is an only child, he is married to Stephanie Burnette, he works at Wherehouse Music in Peachtree Mall right now, he really wants to make it in the music business, and he would like to be involved in getting a true dance music scene started here in Columbus ('you know, something with more than 10 people involved.') For those interested, a Seth has a flyer available at Riff's with information about his music and his website. Seth can be contacted at <casimirburnette@mindspring.com>. Turning back time Brian Hale / Entertainment Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, hello again everybody. I hope your summer is going well. For those of you reading this, I guess your summer could be better - you're in school. But never mind that, let me tell you what I've been up to this summer. Concerts. That's all I have really done. Rock and roll concerts, too. And I do not mean rock and roll in general - I mean, bands that started rock and roll. This summer has been a flashback as far as music goes - in the same week, I saw Cher, Cyndi Lauper, L.A. Guns, Ratt, Great White, and get this - Poison! Who knew the gods of rock were still going strong? So anyway, I actually went to the Cher/Lauper shindig because my favorite person (and girlfriend), Jenny, wanted to go. Of course, I didn't tell her that is the only reason I wanted to go. I kind of wanted to see Cyndi Lauper - I've had a crush on her ever since I saw the movie 'Goonies.' So, Cyndi was great - green hair and all. Lauper ran through a slower, more up to date sounding list of a few of her more popular hits - 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun,' 'She-Bop,' and 'True Colors,' just to name a few. After she was done, I was pretty much ready to go, but the three ladies I was with came to see Cher - so I was stuck. Thirty minutes and a rain storm later, Cher hit the stage and breezed through a list of songs dating back as early as 1975. The show, which was more of a dramatic performance, with costumed dancers, theatric scenery and all, pretty much went in chronological order throughout. The Jesse James song, 'If I Could Turn Back Time,' and her newest hit 'Believe,' were among a few songs she played. My personal favorite was her own version of 'Walking In Memphis', which is less popular than the Mark Cohn version. My point is - I'm glad I stayed. I am truly convinced that I saw a legend on stage that night. Now, on to the really good show. I made this trek without the lovely Jenny. Much to her disadvantage, she was born in 1980, and therefore does not truly appreciate good 80's rock and roll. She'll learn - hopefully. And speaking of good 80's rock and roll - a tour called 'Summer Jam' is just that - rock and roll. Four bands and five hours of music. L.A. Guns hit the stage first, and they were pretty good. Pretty loud too. They got people on their feet and dancing at 7:00 p.m. For a concert in the daylight it wasn't bad. 8:00 p.m. rolled around and brought Great White along for the ride. They were impressive. 'Rock Me,' and 'Once Bitten Twice Shy' were crowd pleasers and proved once again that rock and roll is still cool. Nine o'clock came pretty quickly, and Ratt came along with it. It took 30 seconds for myself, and the people with me (Jack and Sarah) to realize that not even a decade has made Ratt any better than they were. So we retreated to the outer grounds of Lakewood and waited. And waited. And waited. Ratt played forever. Finally they finished. We then felt safe enough to go back into the arena - all the bad music was gone. It was nearly 10:15 p.m. and time for the band of all bands to play. It was time for Poison! All of a sudden, there they were. Bret Michaels, C.C. Deville, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett - the original line-up, back together and better than ever. You name it and they played it - 'Look What The Cat Dragged In,' 'Unskinny Bop,' 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn,' 'Talk Dirty To Me,' the Loggins and Messina song 'Your Momma Don't Dance,' and the Kiss anthem 'Rock and Roll All Night.' After nearly two hours of great music, shiny clothes, big hats, and, did I mention great music, the show was over. Just like that, as quick as it came, my flashback to the 80's was over. But hey, there is good news! Poison is working on a new album - yes, rock and roll is alive and well - and the Scorpions and Motley Crue are playing Lakewood in August! Summer movie review Brian Hale / Entertainment Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Pie This is yet another coming-of-age comedy about a group of friends at the end of their senior year. I thought this was going to be like all the other 'end of the senior year' movies, where the friends end up making a cheesy pact to stay 'friends forever.' Well, 'American Pie' surprised me, and went one up on the cheesy pact. In fact, there is a pact in this film, but it is a pact between the guys to lose their virginity by prom night. In their flailing attempts to fulfill this mission, they learn a few surprising, hilarious and often humbling discoveries about themselves, each other, love and the ever mysterious opposite sex. The movie is not all cheese; most of the movie is disgustingly funny and at it's finest, crude. Go see it. Arlington Road Ok, here's the scoop on this movie: Michael Faraday is a recently widowed college history professor and he lives with his ten-year-old son Grant in Washington, DC. Michael's wife, Leah, was an FBI agent and was killed in the line of duty. Her memory continues to haunt both father and son. Michael and Grant become friends with the Langs, the new family in the neighborhood. Oliver and Cheryl Lang go out of their way to bring Michael into their lives. Soon, Grant and the Hunt's son Brady become very close friends. Everything seems to be back to normal for the Faraday family, until, piece by piece, the plot falls into place. The Lang family is not the family you want living next door to you. This plot, like my fellow writer Wes Carroll stated, is very similar to that of the movie 'Blown Away.' Well, for the record, the two movies are completely different. 'Arlington Road' brings with it a plot twist that cannot be imagined, suspense that has not been matched, and acting that is worthy of an Oscar. 'Arlington Road' stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and Hope Davis. Stigmata Ok, this movie is not out yet, I think it hits theaters in late August, but here is what I do know about it. A young woman becomes the victim of brutal assaults by an unseen attacker, and the spiritual implications of the incidents drive a Vatican official to send a priest to investigate. After witnessing her attacks for himself, the priest becomes more concerned with saving her life than debunking her claims. To simply put it, the woman is being attacked by demons and her wounds are similar to those experienced by Jesus during the crucifixion. This movie looks to be, well, creepy. A Hamm phenomenon Jack Robershaw / Guest Sports Writer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why is Mia Hamm so popular? Is it because she is attractive? Yes. Is this only the only reason? No. In my opinion, Mia Hamm is popular because she exhibits qualities that we all wish our mothers, daughters, sisters and wives had, but unfortunately most lack. For starters, she is extremely confident. Anybody who starts out doing shampoo commercials and ends up telling Michael Jordan that she can do anything better than he can automatically earns my respect. She also knows what she wants. Any guy will tell you this is a major plus. She wanted to become the world's best women's soccer player in the world - she has. She wanted an Olympic Gold medal - she got it. She wanted to become the most recognizable soccer player since Pele' - she will be (if she isn't already). Finally, her priorities are in line. She could have made a large sum of money in Europe, yet she chose to go to college and stay in the United States. Mia Hamm is popular because she is the girl next door. She went out and achieved her dreams. Mia can be summed up in one simple quote. When asked what her greatest accomplishment would or could be, she simply stated, 'To have inspired a little girl to achieve everything she ever dreamed about. That would be the greatest thing in the world.' May every girl grow up to believe like Mia Hamm. A fan's look at the NBA Jack Robershaw / Guest Sports Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Basketball League has once again proved that it supports a personality contest rather than an athletic game. Karl Malone winning MVP over Tim Duncan was a terrible decision. This goes to show that whining and complaining overshadows politeness and selflessness. The league needs to focus more on the quiet 'I play for the love of the game' guys, and less on the whiners and coach chokers. When we overlook the Tim Duncan's, Ray Allen's, and Tom Gugliotta's, sooner or later they will lose the love and we will be stuck with the Iverson's, Sprewell's, and Barkley's. Players should take an example from David Robinson. He has long been the star of his team, but knew the way to a ring. Let Tim Duncan be the man. He did so never complaining and always giving a maximum effort. Maybe others will learn from this (hint-hint: Ewing, O'Neal, and Penny).  |