The Boro News

Club Mud at Georgia Southern

2010-05-06T12:35:18Z

Georgia Southern University's Betty Foy Sander's Department of Art held it's bi-annual Club Mud Exhibition and Sale April 29 through May 1 at the Ceramic and Sculpture Building.

On display were student-made ceramics, jewelry, porcelain, stoneware, and handmade books which were also for sale. Prices ranged from 5 dollars to 250 dollars. Over forty students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs submitted work to the exhibition.

"The work this year is of really high design," said Melissa Lovingood, assistant professor of jewelry and metalsmithing, "most of the submissions were done by juniors and seniors so the art is very smart and professional."

Much of the work present is the end result of various assignments the students were given in their classes during the semester. For example, the abundance of cups, dinner plates, and bowls is tied to the fact that each student in the Ceramics 1 class was tasked with creating a dinner set.

The more artistic submissions at Club Mud come from the more advanced Ceramics 3 class.

Part of the idea behind Club Mud is that it gives students who hope to go into business for themselves someday experience developing and marketing their own work. For instance, the students price their own work with the advice of professors.

It's always great making a sale," said Carter Eastis, a senior General Studies major, after a patron bought one of the rings he had made for the event. "It's nice to see something you have made come back to you worn from use after it has found a home."

Club Mud organizers estimated weekend sales at between 5 and 6 thousand dollars, which is considered a quality spring exhibition. 20 percent of the proceeds go to Club Mud. The rest goes towards various local causes and charities like Food Bank and the Humane Society.

This is Club Mud's 27th year.

Eric Smith

GSU Museun Gets Renovated

2010-05-06T12:27:15Z

The Georgia Southern Museum located on Sweetheart Circle is undergoing renovations and has been closed since April 19 until the renovations are complete.The Museum exists to adhere to and support life-long learning and engaged citizenship in southeast Georgia.

Persons do not have to be GSU students or staff members to attend the Museum., although special education programs are offered to GSU students. It also offers grade school tours as well as outreach programs to grade schools around the community. The Mosasaur is one of the most complete specimens in the world and the most popular at the museum.

The next annual fund raising dinner, Feed the Mosasaur, will be held March 5, 2011. Proceeds benefit the programs and exhibits of the Georgia Southern Museum..

TheMuseum is now offering an Exhibit Loan Program in cooperation with the Georgia Southern University Honors Program, Center for Irish Studies, Museum, and the Bogside Artists.

During renovation, the museum is receiving all new heating and air units that will help control the humidity and better air in the museum, according Brett Thorpe, director of the museum.

Samantha Helton

Lauren Selvidge

Local Radio: Eligible to Diminish

2010-05-06T11:59:49Z

The radio, as listeners know it today, could vanish. Some people to not realize how much local radio provides the community. If you are one of the 235 million people who listen to the radio each week, things may quickly change if you do not act soon.

There are currently two bills pending in Congress that would levy a performance tax on local radio. If imposed, the performance tax would financially hurt stations, limit music variety, stifle new artists and harm the listening public who rely on free local radio.

Radio and the recording industry have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship: free play for free promotion for over 80 years. That relationship has worked that long, sustaining business on both sides. Many members of Congress want to keep this relationship and have sponsored legislation and efforts against the tax.

Others voices still need to be heard. Act now to defeat a proposed tax that could kill local radio as we know it. For more information or to take action now, log onto www.noperformancetax.org.

Samantha Helton

The Semester Ends with a "Closer"

2010-05-06T06:37:39Z

Six Georgia Southern students came together Wednesday night to put on the last theatre production of the spring semester. The play “Closer” was performed at Georgia Southern’s Puppet Theatre at College Plaza. It was the first of a three-night commitment.

Georgia Southern alumnus Michael Tarver directed this production, which will be his last for Georgia Southern, for now. Tarver plans to move to Atlanta this fall for new experiences. He chose this play as his last because of the story and the opportunity to see the actors through complex roles.

"All four roles are exceptional roles," said Tarver. "The interesting thing about this play is that it turns a mirror on the audience. You’ve got these four similar but ultimately different people and the way they interact with one another – these are going to be familiar relationships. You’re going to see your brother, your sister, your mother, your father – you’re going to see the relationships in your life on stage."

"Closer" was written by Patrick Marber. It premiered in London in 1997. The play follows four strangers as their lives interweave over the span of a couple of years. They engage in what Tarver calls "a love rectangle."

This production boasts a diverse cast of students, all tackling four equal parts. Theatre major Matthew Morris, 19, plays Dan, the character who essentially gets everyone involved with one another. His deception at the beginning of the play spawns the mixed, troubled relationships that the play centers around.

"He's a pretty interesting guy," said Morris of his character. "He doesn't really want to make up his mind. [Watch a full interview with Matthew Morris.]

Chris Rushing, 23, plays Larry, a doctor who competes with Dan for the love of both women. Rushing already graduated with a Theatre degree and is graduating again this spring with an English degree. While Rushing finds his character to be "cruel," he has high praise for the play and its playwright.

"The whole play is extremely well-written," said Rushing. "The characters are so well developed and so interesting that it's like an actor's dream to be able to play because there is so much there and so much to do."

Rushing's real-life girlfriend Hilary Diebold plays Alice, the stripper who falls for Morris' character. Diebold, 21, is a Middle School Education major and a theatre minor. Alice is the only character that lies consistently throughout the play. Sophomore Tanya Ramnauth , 20, plays Anna, who marries Larry and is forced to sleep with him to get a divorce. Ramnauth, an International Studies and Spanish major and a Theatre minor, said she couldn't relate to her character initially.

"The character is a lot more mature than the characters I've played previously," she said. "I really like Anna. At first, I thought she was a little more deceptive and manipulative than she turned out to be." [Watch a full interview with Tanya Ramnauth.]

Tarver called the story an "emotional roller coaster." He also said this production is "special" to him, revealing how it almost didn't come to fruition.

"We literally had to will this production into life," said Tarver. "We literally had nothing."[Watch a full interview with Michael Tarver.]

Out of nothing, Tarver, his stage manager Kelly Callow, and the four actors created a memorable production of a risque and socially-observant play. Audience member Stephanie Telaro was impressed most by the acting.

"Every actor stood out in his or her own way," said Telaro. "They all gave exceptional emotional range. The intensity between Hilary and Matt was phenomenal in their fighting scene."

"Closer" plays at 7:30 P.M. both Thursday and Friday night at the Puppet Theatre on Fair Road. Admission is free but space is limited so reservations are recommended.

Check out the exclusive interviews with the cast by clicking the links above. You can see Chris Rushing's full interview below.

Branden Douglas

Eric Smith

Graphic Design Portfolio Reveal

2010-05-06T06:04:45Z

The Georgia Southern University Graphic Design department held it's annual portfolio review in the Contemporary and University Galleries on the first floor of the Center for Art and Theater from April 26 thru April 30, with the reception on Friday, April 30 at 5p.m.

The portfolio reveal is intended to give graduating senoirs a chance to show off their talents and is the culmination of four years worth of work in the Graphic Design program.

Twenty students had their work on display this year. Each student was given the oppurtunity to select a theme. Some students chose to fill in the sentence "I am a ___ graphic designer", or, if he or she chose, to come up with their own theme independently.

Below is a slideshow showcasing their work. Click on the photos for more information about each designer.

Eric Smith

The Line Dancing Ladies of Statesboro

2010-05-06T05:56:17Z

Branden Douglas

Dr. Max Stachura Gives Telemedicine Lecture at Georgia Southern

2010-05-06T02:34:26Z

Dr. Max Stachura lectured at Georgia Southern on Friday, April 23(Eric Smith).

Friday April 23- Dr. Max E. Stachura, M.D., delivered a guest lecture about Telemedicine and Teleheath in the IT Building at Georgia Southern as part of the Fourth Friday Rural Lecture Series.

Stachura, director of Telemedicine at the Medical College of Georgia, described Telehealth as "the use of modern technology for the education, diagnosis, and treatment of physical and mental health issues." Stachura says telehealth involves the activities of clinicians, non-clinicians, and patients.

"People have been asking for Telemedicine for 100 years," said Stachura. "And we've been using it for just as long. The telephone is the oldest piece of telemedical equipment." According to Stachura "Telehealth is just another tool, no different than a stethoscope or tongue depresser, for a physician to throw in that classic black bag from the days of house calls."

Stachura believes enhanced use of Telemedicine is key to improving healthcare in undeveloped and under-serviced rural ares. He said that no country in the world has enough money to cover the health care cost of all who are in need of assistance. As such, said Stachura, the only alternative is to network using the already existant technology.

However, certain barriers exist and must be overcome before the use of Telemedicine can realize its full potential.

The most important barrier, according to Stachura, is that the nessesary infrastructure to accomodate Telemedicine has not been built. Additionally he believes that the current system in the United States focuses on reimbursing physicians at the expense of improving the infrastructure in preparation for Telehealth services.

Stachura says bureaucratic barriers also stand in the way of providing efficient fully integrated health services.

Holding up his license to practice medicine in the state of Georgia Stachura asked the audience "Is the chemistry of the cell different in Tennessee than it is in Georgia, or the structure of the heart different in California and Arizona? The answer is no."

Stachura believes this obstacle is purely political and financial, and driven by states wanting to get the money from doctors who apply for a license and also screen for specific types of doctors. Stachura says the Florida, for instance, does not want elderly doctors moving to their state to practice medicine.

Stachura's experience in helping organizations improve rural medicine and implement telehealth strategies has taken him from Statesboro, Georgia to Sarov, Russia.

In Sarov, Stachura was one of only 14 foriegners allowed into the closed nuclear city. He helped citizens unable to leave the restricted access city set up methods of contacting physicians on the outside. In April of 2002 he helped to establish the Sarov Center for Telemedicine.

At Georgia Southern, Stachura was called in to advise the couseling department in developing a way to continue providing mental health services to students after budget cuts forced to university to let go of it's psychiatrist. Stachura helped set up a system in which students could receive counseling by speaking with providers via webcam.

Currently the Department of Defense is funding research into a Telemedicine project which hopes to develop a way to treat soldiers in the field using doctors who can communicate directly with military medics via a live remote camera feed.

The ultimate goal of Telemedicine, according the Stachura, is for "an individual of any medical discapline to provide required serivices to those in need, at the point of need, at the time of need."

Stachura said his experinces in Telehealth had been the most rewarding of his career.

"The past 15 years have been the funnest of my career as a physician," said Stachura.

Eric Smith

USG Chancellor Visits Georgia Southern University

2010-05-05T22:59:52Z

Wynton Yates

Eagle Entertainment Host's Wing Eating Contest

2010-05-05T22:55:14Z

Wynton Yates

GSU Upperclassman Talk About On-Campus v. Off-Campus Housing

2010-05-05T22:26:19Z

Georgia Southern upperclassman are urged to live in off-campus housing to accommodate the rising number of freshmen who are admitted to the university.

Some Upperclassman choose to live on campus and allowed to through campus housing.

Many students find living on campus to be convenient. They can walk to class or catch the shuttle bus to keep from paying gas expenses.

Emily Graham
"I live on campus because it's cheaper and I don't have to worry about a monthly bill," said Emily Graham, a sophomore Education major.

Making friends is also easier when you live in a dorm.

There are always students hanging out in the lounge. The staff of each dormitory are required to hold community events. This, also, helps students to meet new people.

"I've met some of my best friends while living in Eagle Village" said Akeyla Peele, junior Early Educaions major.

The dormitories also have 24 hour security, making on campus housing a primary choice for parents dropping off their children.

There are some downsides to living on campus. There is less privacy, sometimes you can get a roommate that you do not get along with, and there is not a lot of living space.

"I moved off campus because I kept getting really weird roommates. Now I can choose who I want to live with", said Toro Mbaba, a junior Finance major.

Toro Mbaba

However, there are some downsides to living off campus. The cost of living is higher, there are more security concerns, students who live off campus have to buy a parking pass that can be very expensive.

Upperclassmen have less opportunities to live on campus as more freshmen come to Georgia Southern, but those who do have the option to chose should weigh the pros and cons of each form of housing.

Jaime McNair

Cinco de Mayo in the Boro

2010-05-05T20:02:49Z

El Sombrero Celebrates Cinco de Mayo!

El Sombrero, a local favorite of Georgia Southern students is celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Contrary to popular belief Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence day, and is not even celebrated in some parts of Mexico. The holiday enjoys some limited recognition throughout parts of Mexico, but is mainly celebrated in Pueba and throughout the United States in cities with significant Mexican populations.

According to MEXonline.com , Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) celebrates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

This holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture and all the things people love about it- food, music and margaritas.
I visited El Som on Cinco de Mayo to experience the festivities for myself. Elizabeth Chandlee, a student at Georgia Southern said she loved the atmosphere. “Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays,” she said.

Margarito Franco, a manager at the restaurant said this was one of their busiest days. “It’s a party!” He said.

Lauren Selvidge

Students question future as college graduates

2010-05-05T18:49:11Z

Statesboro—With Georgia Southern University’s 2010 Spring Commencement Ceremony this Saturday, some students are still debating to either continue their education, or join the professional work force despite unpromising statistics .

According to an article written for Forbes.com, a college graduate will earn $1 million more in a lifetime than a person with only a high school degree. As of April 16, 2010, the unemployment rate for the state of Georgia:10.6 percent, and with graduating seniors on the horizon, it could lead them to consider options.

Tia Ra’Aid, a GSU senior graduating with a degree in teaching this Saturday said Georgia’s downturn in employment troubled her, “It makes me worry because I’m in search of a career, and would hate to leave college after earning a degree and can’t find a job.”

What seems to be popular with students during these economic times is to enroll in graduate programs offered in their respective field of study. “I’ve always considered it,” said Ra’Aid, “I may have to go sooner than I planned. I planned to teach for at least a year and then go to grad school , but If I don’t find a teaching position, I will be going right away.”

Like Ra'Aid, thousands of students cannot afford the cost of college attendance on their own and often apply for government financial aid.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, sixty-six percent of all undergraduates in the U.S. received some sort of financial-aid (grants, loans, work-study job), for the 2007-2008 school year. Loans are calculated with interest, and depending on the year in which a student enrolls, the time they graduate, and whether or not they continue post undergrad, the end all bill can be mighty hefty.

“Yep, grad-school is definetly a Plan B that’s likely gonna happen,” says Ra’Aid, “I know I'll end up have to pay a hell of a lot in the end as far as the loans go, but I've gotta do something.”
Darin Woodard II

Irish Theater Performance at GSU

2010-05-05T09:55:23Z

Actors (top row left to right) Matthew Morris, Rachel Anne Bolay, Brock Vickers, and Austin Bolay, and (bottom) Eric Carter pose for a photo after their performance of The Weir(Eric Smith).

Greg Darrt's Georgia Southern University Irish Theater class performed an excerpt from the Irish play The Weir Friday April 30th at Georgia Southern University inside the Russell Union Ballroom.

The Weir, a 1997 award winning play by the Irish playwright Conner McPherson, is about four people together in an Irish pub telling stories from their past which contain supernatural elements. In other words, "Ghost Stories".

"It's a spin on what children do when they are young," said director and narrator Adrian Camacho. "But instead of spooking each other the characters wind up spooking themselves."

Performed at Georgia Southern was the three monologues considered by the students involved in the production to be the most prominent of the play.

First Jack, portrayed Brock Vickers, tells a story concerning the history of the apartment which Valarie, played by Rachel Anne Bolay, has just moved into.

The second tale of the evening was delivered by Jim, played by Austin Bolay. Jim tells a story about the time he encountered what may have been the ghost of a man he was burying in a graveyard.The final recounting of the play comes from Valarie. Valeria tells the group about the tragic death of her daughter and the uncanny phone call she believes her daughter made to her "from the other side."

"I was thoroughly spooked," said audience member Stephen Derengowski.

Other characters in the play included Brendan, the pubs owner, (played by Matthew Morris) and Finbar (played by Eric Carter).

Of the original 2 hours about 30 minutes of the play was performed. All of the cast was currently enrolled in Gary Darrt's Irish Theater class.

The show began at 7:30 and admission was free.

Eric Smith

Student Government President Barely WIns the Election

2010-05-05T09:14:09Z

The new President of Georgia Southern’s Student Government Association (SGA) for the upcoming year was recently announced.

Alton Standifer, receiving 774 votes, won by a slim margin over Charles Feagain, who received 672 votes.

With only 10% of the student body that voted, Standifer realizes that he is in a position that requires reaching out to get more students involved.

His major dealings are adjusting to the budget cuts, getting a SGA member on the Statesboro City Council Board, and population growth.

Samantha Helton

TOMS Shoes Began with a College Student that Accomplished a Goal to Help Others

2010-05-05T09:00:06Z

Samantha Helton