By Carey O’Neil
OVERALL ASSISTANTSHIPS
The University of Georgia Graduate School keeps track of assistantships awarded to all University students.
Total funded graduate students: 3,318
All graduate students funded: 46%
Full-time graduate students funded: 74%
EXTERNALLY FUNDED ASSISTANTSHIPS*
The Graduate School doesn’t fund all assistantships – Most are funded through money left over in individual colleges’ budgets, and some are funded externally through outside grants and scholarships.
Total externally funded graduate students: 1,455
Students funded on external money: 44%
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
There’s more to an assistantship than experience working alongside University professors.
- Waiver for all but $25 of tuition and student fees
- Health insurance coverage for 40 percent of premiums
- Monthly stipend of around $1,000
WHAT’S IT COST?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and for students on assistantships, there’s no such thing as free tuition and health coverage, either.
- Up to 20 hours of work per week as professors’ assistants
- Difficult application process
*Graduate school estimates
Thursday, October 22, 2009
10 Tips for Going Green This Week
Ashley Strickland
Fall is a busy time for all of us, but there are still easy ways to go green at home and in the workplace. Take a minute to look at these green suggestions you may not have considered before.
1. Fall may be occurring throughout the country, but weeds can still be a problem. “To kill the grass and weeds that come up in our sidewalk cracks we use the boiling water from prepping for our dinner,” Jason Raddenbach of North American Manufacturers, said. “Boiling corn or noodles requires quite a bit of water and we just dump it down the sink anyway. Now we dump it on the sidewalk weeds and they are dead in 2 days.”
2. Want to make your razor last longer? “Corrosion causes most razor heads to go bad, not dullness,” Raddenbach said. “My wife and I use manual razors with disposable heads. After each shave we use a spray bottle to clean the heads out thoroughly and blot it dry with a towel, and we don’t leave the razor in the shower.”
3. Think before trashing your old electronics. “Call2Recycle provides a free and convenient way to recycle old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products such as laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, cordless power tools, mp3 players, PDAs and more,” Briana Papa of Call2Recycle, said.
“There are more than 30,000 retail, community and business collection sites enrolled in the program throughout the U.S. and Canada. Consumers can simply drop their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in branded Call2Recycle collection boxes at participating retailers such as Best Buy, Target, RadioShack, The Home Depot and Lowe’s. Call2Recycle is operated by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service agency dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries. For more information on the program and to find a comprehensive list of collection sites, please visit http://www.call2recycle.org/.”
4. Rather than spending your Sunday mornings clipping coupons, only to leave them at home when you go to the store, why not keep them close in a convenient way? Try TheSavingsPost.com, “a local coupon site that allows consumers to text message local coupons to their cell phones.”
“Consumers always have their cell phones with them so they always have their coupons with them,” Dan Sexton, president of TheSavingsPost.com, said. “Consumers are not only saving on paper, ink, etc….but they are also saving money while they shop locally.”
5. Want to wish your friends and family “happy birthday” and stay green? There’s an option for that now with BirthdayDialer.com. This “new website allows the user to select from a menu of fun musical birthday greetings and send one directly to their friends’ phones for free,” Heidi Glauser of http://www.birthdaydialer.com/, said. Fun, free and green. That’s hard to beat.
6. Are you drowning in foil, plastic wrap and paper towels? Make your household a little greener and “look for glass containers that are sturdy, sealable and reusable and use cloth napkins,” Shelby Zadow, marketing director for BioAg.com, said.
7. Start thinking “functional chic” when you shop for your home rather than “fashionable chic,” Zadow said. “I think the biggest change has been in my mind set. Areas I would typically want to redecorate (remove out dated tile etc), I’ve decided instead to find ways to decorate around instead of creating more waste.”
8. We plan our hectic schedules around our work, so why not our errands as well? Group your trips for less stress, both on you and the environment! “Whether it’s by car or public transit, planning your trips to the store or to run errands can be most efficiently accomplished with the least environmental impact if you make sure you’re not backtracking or running one errand a day,” A.J. Dax, a green lifestyle expert, said. “Best of all, of course, is planning you errands so you can do them by walking or bicycle whenever possible.”
9. Similarly, Dax recommends planning your cooking. “Because I have an electric stove, I time my cooking with how long the burner will remain hot so I’m not letting the heat from the burner go to waste. I also recommend Staub and Le Creuset cooking pots (or similar enameled cast iron). Once these pots get warm, they retain their heat and cook similarly to a slow cooker. So you don’t have to have the burner turned up on a higher setting until the cooking is done. That said, people should also remember to use lids properly when cooking. So many people forget that if they’re boiling water or other items, they will heat faster and use less energy if you put a lid on the pot to hold the heat in. Those old fashioned tips really do work a lot. Grandma knew her stuff!”
10. Clothing and shoes, however, can be another deal entirely. You can still be fashionable and green. Dax created and continues to follow his own shopping rules. “If I see a great new pair of shoes and those shoes aren’t replacing a pair that has worn out, I buy them. But when I go home, I have to pick a pair of shoes that will be donated to charity. The same goes for clothing.” This is a great way to recycle your clothes and shoes for a greater purpose while still buying what you want.
Thanks to all of these great ideas from green-minded contributors.
Edited by Sarah Grace Smith
Fall is a busy time for all of us, but there are still easy ways to go green at home and in the workplace. Take a minute to look at these green suggestions you may not have considered before.
1. Fall may be occurring throughout the country, but weeds can still be a problem. “To kill the grass and weeds that come up in our sidewalk cracks we use the boiling water from prepping for our dinner,” Jason Raddenbach of North American Manufacturers, said. “Boiling corn or noodles requires quite a bit of water and we just dump it down the sink anyway. Now we dump it on the sidewalk weeds and they are dead in 2 days.”
2. Want to make your razor last longer? “Corrosion causes most razor heads to go bad, not dullness,” Raddenbach said. “My wife and I use manual razors with disposable heads. After each shave we use a spray bottle to clean the heads out thoroughly and blot it dry with a towel, and we don’t leave the razor in the shower.”
3. Think before trashing your old electronics. “Call2Recycle provides a free and convenient way to recycle old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products such as laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, cordless power tools, mp3 players, PDAs and more,” Briana Papa of Call2Recycle, said.
“There are more than 30,000 retail, community and business collection sites enrolled in the program throughout the U.S. and Canada. Consumers can simply drop their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in branded Call2Recycle collection boxes at participating retailers such as Best Buy, Target, RadioShack, The Home Depot and Lowe’s. Call2Recycle is operated by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service agency dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries. For more information on the program and to find a comprehensive list of collection sites, please visit http://www.call2recycle.org/.”
4. Rather than spending your Sunday mornings clipping coupons, only to leave them at home when you go to the store, why not keep them close in a convenient way? Try TheSavingsPost.com, “a local coupon site that allows consumers to text message local coupons to their cell phones.”
“Consumers always have their cell phones with them so they always have their coupons with them,” Dan Sexton, president of TheSavingsPost.com, said. “Consumers are not only saving on paper, ink, etc….but they are also saving money while they shop locally.”
5. Want to wish your friends and family “happy birthday” and stay green? There’s an option for that now with BirthdayDialer.com. This “new website allows the user to select from a menu of fun musical birthday greetings and send one directly to their friends’ phones for free,” Heidi Glauser of http://www.birthdaydialer.com/, said. Fun, free and green. That’s hard to beat.
6. Are you drowning in foil, plastic wrap and paper towels? Make your household a little greener and “look for glass containers that are sturdy, sealable and reusable and use cloth napkins,” Shelby Zadow, marketing director for BioAg.com, said.
7. Start thinking “functional chic” when you shop for your home rather than “fashionable chic,” Zadow said. “I think the biggest change has been in my mind set. Areas I would typically want to redecorate (remove out dated tile etc), I’ve decided instead to find ways to decorate around instead of creating more waste.”
8. We plan our hectic schedules around our work, so why not our errands as well? Group your trips for less stress, both on you and the environment! “Whether it’s by car or public transit, planning your trips to the store or to run errands can be most efficiently accomplished with the least environmental impact if you make sure you’re not backtracking or running one errand a day,” A.J. Dax, a green lifestyle expert, said. “Best of all, of course, is planning you errands so you can do them by walking or bicycle whenever possible.”
9. Similarly, Dax recommends planning your cooking. “Because I have an electric stove, I time my cooking with how long the burner will remain hot so I’m not letting the heat from the burner go to waste. I also recommend Staub and Le Creuset cooking pots (or similar enameled cast iron). Once these pots get warm, they retain their heat and cook similarly to a slow cooker. So you don’t have to have the burner turned up on a higher setting until the cooking is done. That said, people should also remember to use lids properly when cooking. So many people forget that if they’re boiling water or other items, they will heat faster and use less energy if you put a lid on the pot to hold the heat in. Those old fashioned tips really do work a lot. Grandma knew her stuff!”
10. Clothing and shoes, however, can be another deal entirely. You can still be fashionable and green. Dax created and continues to follow his own shopping rules. “If I see a great new pair of shoes and those shoes aren’t replacing a pair that has worn out, I buy them. But when I go home, I have to pick a pair of shoes that will be donated to charity. The same goes for clothing.” This is a great way to recycle your clothes and shoes for a greater purpose while still buying what you want.
Thanks to all of these great ideas from green-minded contributors.
Edited by Sarah Grace Smith
Campus centers promote sound mind, body
By Beth Pollak
When seeking mental health support on campus, follow these easy steps:
1) Determine the issue
2) Find the right resource
When seeking mental health support on campus, follow these easy steps:
1) Determine the issue
2) Find the right resource
FOUR COLUMNS OF INFORMATION – ONE UNDER EACH RESOURCE
- for all ages (students and non-students)
- wide range of services
- training center for psychology graduate students
- open every class day during the semester
- consultation, referrals, and treatment
- specializes in college students and young adults
- LGBTQ education, awareness, and support
- “Let’s Talk About It” discussion series weekly
- “safe space” to provide inclusion for all
- alcohol abuse counseling and prevention
- alcohol education
- referrals
- for all ages (students and non-students)
- wide range of services
- training center for psychology graduate students
- open every class day during the semester
- consultation, referrals, and treatment
- specializes in college students and young adults
- LGBTQ education, awareness, and support
- “Let’s Talk About It” discussion series weekly
- “safe space” to provide inclusion for all
- alcohol abuse counseling and prevention
- alcohol education
- referrals
3) Call and make an appointment --> Psychology Clinic – (706) 542-1173 John Fontaine Jr Center – (706) 542-8690 CAPS – (706) 542-2273 LGBT Resource Center – (706) 542-4077
4) Get some relief!
Edited by Stone Irvin
Athens Businesses Q&A
By Autumn Eckenbrecht
Classic City Cents sat down individually with four local business leaders to talk economics.
Chris Barr
Manager, Two Story Coffeehouse
Open since Oct. 2008
Heather Cadle
Store manager, Tena’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Open since Aug. 2009
Joseph Causey
Owner, Farm Electric Inc.
Retiring and closing after 52 years
Jason Corrigan
Manager, Starbucks
Open for 10 years
Q: Have you seen any changes in Athens businesses or your own business due to the economy?
Barr: I’ve heard of places struggling. I’ve heard about restaurants and businesses closing, but I’ve always heard about that. There’s a couple locations in Athens that simply don’t work, just from a standpoint of where they are. … I don’t know if it’s really a reflection of the economy or the business owners or a reflection of the vision or mission—so it’s hard to really pinpoint what the issue would be.
Cadle: [When you hear about the economy] it’s all doom and gloom, but we don’t worry ourselves with that. We just make sure the people walking in and out the door are happy. Yeah, maybe our average sale is a little different, but there are still going to be weddings and anniversaries [for buying jewelry].
Causey: It’s been dramatic. We’re wholesale, so we’ve been directly affected by the housing market. Business has been way off by about 35 to 40 percent in our numbers. All of 2008 has been a slow decline. ... I spoke to one builder, and he said he hasn’t started a new house since September a year ago.
Corrigan: We haven’t been at the growth we need to be. I’ve tried to get Bulldog Bucks, but that’s been unsuccessful for us as a corporation—they want to take 15% of my sale, and Starbucks won’t go for that.
Q: Is Athens a good place for businesses to get their start?
Barr: I think it is a good place to open businesses because there’s such a diverse market, but it depends on the market you’re trying to reach. This is a neat town to open creative-type businesses.
Cadle: I think the economy in Athens is a lot healthier than in other places. ... I think anytime you’re in a metropolitan area, chances of success are higher. Number one, you have competition, which keeps you on your game, and number two, the demographic is so vast here. I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t be able to make a good go.
Causey: Athens is a real mixed bag. Property tax is very high—that’s why people live in Watkinsville—and there’s an inventory tax, which means that every year as of Dec. 31 stuff unsold on the shelves is taxed. There are a lot of ordinances. I’m not sure if Athens is business-friendly. ... One thing that keeps people away is that the property tax is very high—two years ago it doubled on Baxter. It’s better to have plenty of capital to begin with because there are a lot of hidden expenses.
Q: In what ways have you seen local businesses cooperate with each other in order to be successful?
Corrigan: I’m a communication person. Just because I work for a corporation doesn’t mean I won’t support other places. With [the manager of] Five Guys, we set up meetings with other managers. That’s what makes it strong.
Barr: Being in Five Points is really unique. There’s a big Five Points community, and in fact, there’s a whole Five Points business association. A lot of managers and owners just get together and they chat about what they can do to help one another. From a local business standpoint, local businesses realize that the way they’re going to succeed is to help other local businesses succeed as well. ... They realize they’re up against something bigger than them anyway—they’re up against corporate, so it’s a lot better to band together and figure out how to be creative.
Edited by Carey O'Neil
Classic City Cents sat down individually with four local business leaders to talk economics.
Chris Barr
Manager, Two Story Coffeehouse
Open since Oct. 2008
Heather Cadle
Store manager, Tena’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Open since Aug. 2009
Joseph Causey
Owner, Farm Electric Inc.
Retiring and closing after 52 years
Jason Corrigan
Manager, Starbucks
Open for 10 years
Q: Have you seen any changes in Athens businesses or your own business due to the economy?
Barr: I’ve heard of places struggling. I’ve heard about restaurants and businesses closing, but I’ve always heard about that. There’s a couple locations in Athens that simply don’t work, just from a standpoint of where they are. … I don’t know if it’s really a reflection of the economy or the business owners or a reflection of the vision or mission—so it’s hard to really pinpoint what the issue would be.
Cadle: [When you hear about the economy] it’s all doom and gloom, but we don’t worry ourselves with that. We just make sure the people walking in and out the door are happy. Yeah, maybe our average sale is a little different, but there are still going to be weddings and anniversaries [for buying jewelry].
Causey: It’s been dramatic. We’re wholesale, so we’ve been directly affected by the housing market. Business has been way off by about 35 to 40 percent in our numbers. All of 2008 has been a slow decline. ... I spoke to one builder, and he said he hasn’t started a new house since September a year ago.
Corrigan: We haven’t been at the growth we need to be. I’ve tried to get Bulldog Bucks, but that’s been unsuccessful for us as a corporation—they want to take 15% of my sale, and Starbucks won’t go for that.
Q: Is Athens a good place for businesses to get their start?
Barr: I think it is a good place to open businesses because there’s such a diverse market, but it depends on the market you’re trying to reach. This is a neat town to open creative-type businesses.
Cadle: I think the economy in Athens is a lot healthier than in other places. ... I think anytime you’re in a metropolitan area, chances of success are higher. Number one, you have competition, which keeps you on your game, and number two, the demographic is so vast here. I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t be able to make a good go.
Causey: Athens is a real mixed bag. Property tax is very high—that’s why people live in Watkinsville—and there’s an inventory tax, which means that every year as of Dec. 31 stuff unsold on the shelves is taxed. There are a lot of ordinances. I’m not sure if Athens is business-friendly. ... One thing that keeps people away is that the property tax is very high—two years ago it doubled on Baxter. It’s better to have plenty of capital to begin with because there are a lot of hidden expenses.
Q: In what ways have you seen local businesses cooperate with each other in order to be successful?
Corrigan: I’m a communication person. Just because I work for a corporation doesn’t mean I won’t support other places. With [the manager of] Five Guys, we set up meetings with other managers. That’s what makes it strong.
Barr: Being in Five Points is really unique. There’s a big Five Points community, and in fact, there’s a whole Five Points business association. A lot of managers and owners just get together and they chat about what they can do to help one another. From a local business standpoint, local businesses realize that the way they’re going to succeed is to help other local businesses succeed as well. ... They realize they’re up against something bigger than them anyway—they’re up against corporate, so it’s a lot better to band together and figure out how to be creative.
Edited by Carey O'Neil
Out for blood: Red Cross seeks donors
A Red Cross truck cozies up to a statue outside a blood drive at the science library on Oct. 21. These trucks transport all of the necessary equipment for mobile units to set up donation sites.
Trudi Dalton, a nurse, coordinated the actions of mobile unit at the science library. "I've always leaned more towards community work," she said. 
David Vaughan, 23, reads Scar Tissue as he waits for his number to be called. He has been giving blood for five years and siad that the process doesn't bother him at all.
When asked why she was giving blood Anna Legostaev, left, cheerfully responded "To save three lives." She also said that she donates because her little brother,was saved by donated blood when he suffered kidney failure.
Red Cross donation equipment sits next to a marble pillar that commemorates George Hugh Boyd, former dean of the Graduate School.By Stone Irvin
From the volunteers and nurses who staff Red Cross blood drives to the individual donors, each creates an integral link in the chain that keeps blood pumping to those in need.
The donation sites that dot the campus are arms of the East Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross that act to partition the University of Georgia’s campus into smaller portions. Mobile units, composed of a changing cast of volunteers and nurses, set up these small blood drives around campus to ensure that as many people as possible have a chance to donate.
Trudi Dalton, the nurse who oversaw a blood drive in the science library on Oct. 21, said the drive was probably going to exceed the day’s goal of 50 units of blood.
While drives on the university campus have generally been smaller affairs, the recent completion of the Tate Center expansion has given the Red Cross larger venues to house all-campus drives. These drives, which are capable of yielding over 4,000 units of blood, are usually held two or three times each year.
Janet Jarrett, the donor recruitment accounts manager for the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter, said that blood gathered at drives across campus is used up within three days. This high rate of turnover for units means that blood is always in demand, occasionally resulting in lean periods.
“October has been a hard month for us,” said Dalton. “We need donors.”
Edited By Beth Pollack
From the volunteers and nurses who staff Red Cross blood drives to the individual donors, each creates an integral link in the chain that keeps blood pumping to those in need.
The donation sites that dot the campus are arms of the East Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross that act to partition the University of Georgia’s campus into smaller portions. Mobile units, composed of a changing cast of volunteers and nurses, set up these small blood drives around campus to ensure that as many people as possible have a chance to donate.
Trudi Dalton, the nurse who oversaw a blood drive in the science library on Oct. 21, said the drive was probably going to exceed the day’s goal of 50 units of blood.
While drives on the university campus have generally been smaller affairs, the recent completion of the Tate Center expansion has given the Red Cross larger venues to house all-campus drives. These drives, which are capable of yielding over 4,000 units of blood, are usually held two or three times each year.
Janet Jarrett, the donor recruitment accounts manager for the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter, said that blood gathered at drives across campus is used up within three days. This high rate of turnover for units means that blood is always in demand, occasionally resulting in lean periods.
“October has been a hard month for us,” said Dalton. “We need donors.”
Edited By Beth Pollack
B(rew) Y. O. B. : An affordable guide to brewing your own beer at home
By CHELSEA COOK
Beer prices got you down? Can't stomach another watery silver bullet? Investing in a home-brewing beer kit could not only reduce your monthly alcohol spending, but create a new hobby (and attract some broke, thirsty friends).
What you will need:
These items can be purchased at a brewing store, like Broad Street's Blockader Homebrew Supply.
- 5.5-gallon bucket for fermenting
- 5.5-gallon bottling bucket
- Bottling spigot
- Polyester "Tea Bag"
- Twin handle bottle capper
- Triple scale hydrometer
- Fermentation lock
- Siphon equipment
- Hops
- Yeast
- Grains
- Malt extract
- Sanitizer
- Unused bottle caps
Investing in a beer kit can be expensive, but the price of the ingredients makes the process worthwhile.
Depending on your taste preferences, you can find hops, malt, yeast and grains for as cheap as $25. The amount of hops, malt and yeast that you use will depend on the type of beer you are making. Several recipes and ideas can be found at homebrew supply stores or online for free.
A 5.5-gallon fermenter can make as many as 50 beers.
Do the math: 50 beers/$25.00= 50 cents per beer!
These items most likely can be found in your home:
- 2.5-gallon pot
- Thermometer (any kind will do)
- 50 12-oz. beer bottles (non-twist-off tops)
(Recycle! Empty beer bottles can be used over and over again, but peel off labels and boil first to sanitize them.)
Before we start, a little terminology:
Hops: member of the cannabis family that gives beer its bitterness
Malt: acts as sugar for the alcohol
Yeast: reacts with sugar provided by the malt and grains which, after fermentation, yields alcohol
STEP ONE
Disinfect all your tools with either a sanitizing solution included in a "beer kit" or a mixture of bleach and water. Rinse tools with hot water.
STEP TWO
Take the kit's giant "tea bag" and fill it with mashed grains. This is called mashing.Sink the bag into 2.5 gallons of 150ºF water for 30 minutes. Remove the bag.
STEP THREE
Once the "tea" mixture starts boiling, remove the pot from the stove and stir in malt extract until it is evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape the bottom.
STEP FOUR
Once the mixture begins boiling a second time, add the hops for bitterness.Let it boil for one hour. If desired, add more hops, or a different kind to build flavor. After 45 minutes, strain the hops from the liquid. Do this with a hand-held scooping strainer. It's the liquid we want to keep, not the hops.
STEP FIVE
Put the pot in an ice bath in the kitchen sink. When the mixture cools down to 70ºF, add the yeast. Yeast is a living organism and can only thrive in an environment this cool.
STEP SIX
Once the "wort" (un-fermented beer) reaches 60ºF, siphon it into the fermentation bucket. Make the container airtight by using a fermentation lock. This device prevents bacteria from getting in but allows gas to escape. Allow it to ferment in the bucket for 7 to 13 days.
STEP SEVEN
Once fermentation is complete, measure the quantity of alcohol with a hydrometer. Extract the liquid by siphoning it into another cube for bottling.
STEP EIGHT
Using the bottling spigot, put the brew into bottles and use the bottle capper to seal 'em up. Wait for two weeks before serving.
- Edited by William Moore
Beer prices got you down? Can't stomach another watery silver bullet? Investing in a home-brewing beer kit could not only reduce your monthly alcohol spending, but create a new hobby (and attract some broke, thirsty friends).
What you will need:
These items can be purchased at a brewing store, like Broad Street's Blockader Homebrew Supply.
- 5.5-gallon bucket for fermenting
- 5.5-gallon bottling bucket
- Bottling spigot
- Polyester "Tea Bag"
- Twin handle bottle capper
- Triple scale hydrometer
- Fermentation lock
- Siphon equipment
- Hops
- Yeast
- Grains
- Malt extract
- Sanitizer
- Unused bottle caps
Investing in a beer kit can be expensive, but the price of the ingredients makes the process worthwhile.
Depending on your taste preferences, you can find hops, malt, yeast and grains for as cheap as $25. The amount of hops, malt and yeast that you use will depend on the type of beer you are making. Several recipes and ideas can be found at homebrew supply stores or online for free.
A 5.5-gallon fermenter can make as many as 50 beers.
Do the math: 50 beers/$25.00= 50 cents per beer!
These items most likely can be found in your home:
- 2.5-gallon pot
- Thermometer (any kind will do)
- 50 12-oz. beer bottles (non-twist-off tops)
(Recycle! Empty beer bottles can be used over and over again, but peel off labels and boil first to sanitize them.)
Before we start, a little terminology:
Hops: member of the cannabis family that gives beer its bitterness
Malt: acts as sugar for the alcohol
Yeast: reacts with sugar provided by the malt and grains which, after fermentation, yields alcohol
STEP ONE
Disinfect all your tools with either a sanitizing solution included in a "beer kit" or a mixture of bleach and water. Rinse tools with hot water.
STEP TWO
Take the kit's giant "tea bag" and fill it with mashed grains. This is called mashing.Sink the bag into 2.5 gallons of 150ºF water for 30 minutes. Remove the bag.
STEP THREE
Once the "tea" mixture starts boiling, remove the pot from the stove and stir in malt extract until it is evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape the bottom.
STEP FOUR
Once the mixture begins boiling a second time, add the hops for bitterness.Let it boil for one hour. If desired, add more hops, or a different kind to build flavor. After 45 minutes, strain the hops from the liquid. Do this with a hand-held scooping strainer. It's the liquid we want to keep, not the hops.
STEP FIVE
Put the pot in an ice bath in the kitchen sink. When the mixture cools down to 70ºF, add the yeast. Yeast is a living organism and can only thrive in an environment this cool.
STEP SIX
Once the "wort" (un-fermented beer) reaches 60ºF, siphon it into the fermentation bucket. Make the container airtight by using a fermentation lock. This device prevents bacteria from getting in but allows gas to escape. Allow it to ferment in the bucket for 7 to 13 days.
STEP SEVEN
Once fermentation is complete, measure the quantity of alcohol with a hydrometer. Extract the liquid by siphoning it into another cube for bottling.
STEP EIGHT
Using the bottling spigot, put the brew into bottles and use the bottle capper to seal 'em up. Wait for two weeks before serving.
- Edited by William Moore
A guide to gaming with your family
By: William Moore
Who should play?
- Many families looking to spend time together have turned to video games as a way to connect.
- With the current economic conditions, video games are an affordable option for spending time together.
What should you play?
- Many game companies are producing family-friendly “party” games that are fun for up to four people.
- Games such as “Mario Party” present a traditional multiplayer board game in video game format.
- Music games such as “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” let you take on the persona of a rock star as you perform classic hits using instrument peripherals.
Wii want to play!
- The popular Nintendo Wii uses a remote and sensor bar to detect movements, getting gamers off the couch as they perform actions such as playing tennis or bowling.
- Boxing, golf and archery are among some of the many sports and activities that can be replicated in your living room using the Wii.
Why should the family play?
- Many parents struggle to find ways to connect with their kids. By joining the kids in a friendly and fun video game, many parents have found new ways to connect.
- A single game costs around the same or even less than the amount it would take for a family of four to go to dinner and a movie. Compared to the one night of entertainment, a video game can provide weeks of family fun.
Edited by: Chelsea Cook
Who should play?
- Many families looking to spend time together have turned to video games as a way to connect.
- With the current economic conditions, video games are an affordable option for spending time together.
What should you play?
- Many game companies are producing family-friendly “party” games that are fun for up to four people.
- Games such as “Mario Party” present a traditional multiplayer board game in video game format.
- Music games such as “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” let you take on the persona of a rock star as you perform classic hits using instrument peripherals.
Wii want to play!
- The popular Nintendo Wii uses a remote and sensor bar to detect movements, getting gamers off the couch as they perform actions such as playing tennis or bowling.
- Boxing, golf and archery are among some of the many sports and activities that can be replicated in your living room using the Wii.
Why should the family play?
- Many parents struggle to find ways to connect with their kids. By joining the kids in a friendly and fun video game, many parents have found new ways to connect.
- A single game costs around the same or even less than the amount it would take for a family of four to go to dinner and a movie. Compared to the one night of entertainment, a video game can provide weeks of family fun.
Edited by: Chelsea Cook
Sidewalk vendors offer an alternative to usual downtown shopping
By Sarah Grace Smith
Corner of Broad and Jackson:
Downtown shoppers looking for University of Georgia-themed art can visit Michael Davenport on the corner of Broad and Jackson Streets. The artist lost his arms in an electrical accident at age 13, but he hasn’t let this set him back, as he draws using his mouth and markers. He specializes in anything UGA, from football helmets to Uga, but he also takes commissions. Davenport can be found at his spot outside the Broad Street Bar & Grill most weekends, and especially on game days. His work varies in price, but on a game day they go for $60 to $70.
Corner of Broad Street and College Avenue:
Football fans in need of a little sparkle for their game day ensemble can stop by Marlene Soles’ jewelry stand. Red and black jewelry, ranging from necklaces to bracelets, cover her three tables. For those a little more practical minded, she also sells sunglasses, one pair for $10 or two pairs for $15. On Friday afternoons, Soles sets up shop on the corner of Broad Street and College Avenue, outside Starbucks.
Corner of College Avenue and Clayton Street:
For an alternative to the usual red and black wares offered by downtown vendors, shoppers can check out Shake on the Move, a jewelry booth on the corner of College Avenue and Clayton Street. Although the owner, Shake, brings out some UGA-themed items around game day, his tables are usually spread with whimsical rings, necklaces and bracelets depicting stars, mushrooms, birds and fairies. The shop is usually on the road during the week, but you can find Shake and his earthy jewelry outside Heery’s on the weekends.
Edited by Ashley Strickland
Corner of Broad and Jackson:
Downtown shoppers looking for University of Georgia-themed art can visit Michael Davenport on the corner of Broad and Jackson Streets. The artist lost his arms in an electrical accident at age 13, but he hasn’t let this set him back, as he draws using his mouth and markers. He specializes in anything UGA, from football helmets to Uga, but he also takes commissions. Davenport can be found at his spot outside the Broad Street Bar & Grill most weekends, and especially on game days. His work varies in price, but on a game day they go for $60 to $70.
Corner of Broad Street and College Avenue:
Football fans in need of a little sparkle for their game day ensemble can stop by Marlene Soles’ jewelry stand. Red and black jewelry, ranging from necklaces to bracelets, cover her three tables. For those a little more practical minded, she also sells sunglasses, one pair for $10 or two pairs for $15. On Friday afternoons, Soles sets up shop on the corner of Broad Street and College Avenue, outside Starbucks.
Corner of College Avenue and Clayton Street:
For an alternative to the usual red and black wares offered by downtown vendors, shoppers can check out Shake on the Move, a jewelry booth on the corner of College Avenue and Clayton Street. Although the owner, Shake, brings out some UGA-themed items around game day, his tables are usually spread with whimsical rings, necklaces and bracelets depicting stars, mushrooms, birds and fairies. The shop is usually on the road during the week, but you can find Shake and his earthy jewelry outside Heery’s on the weekends.
Edited by Ashley Strickland
Alex McRee likes manly beards, thinks his rommate is hot
By Lauren Bellamy
When I open the door to Alex McRee’s apartment, I am greeted by his roommate, David Fallis, playing Miley Cyrus’ Party In The USA on the acoustic guitar. McRee, who is a pitcher for the Diamond Dogs, is clad in Georgia attire — standard for University of Georgia athletes. He pauses the baseball game they’re watching on TV, clears his throat and announces that he’s reading for his “big debut.”
You’re a giant! How tall are you? Yeah, I get that a lot. I’m 6’7 and I love it.
Why do you love it? It helps with my looks because the women dig it. And it helps with sports.
What sports do you play? I’m a pitcher on the baseball team here [at UGA]. I also ride motocross in my free time.
Who would you rather face on the mound: Babe Ruth or Alex Rodriguez? Hm…probably Babe Ruth because he probably wasn’t as good as A-Rod.
You think you could strike him out? Ha, if you gave me 100 bats, maybe.
Who would you rather get in a fight with: Ron Artest or Pete Rose? Pete Rose because Ron Artest is a big man.
Speaking of big men, who is your favorite big man: Fat Joe or Rick Ross? Definitely Rick Ross because he’s got a manly beard. And Fat Joe’s just sloppy. Rick Ross looks like Kimbo Slice.
Who would you rather play a game of one-on-one basketball with: Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? Who would I rather pay against or who would be more fun?
Who would you rather play against? Probably Lebron because he’d talk more trash.
Do you have a man crush? Oh yeah, it’s David Fallis.
Who’s that? My roommate [roommate laughs in background]. He’s hot.
Would you rather bathe in Scarlett Johansson or Angelina Jolie’s sweat? I would have to say Scarlett Johansson because Angelina Jolie might have some diseases.
When I open the door to Alex McRee’s apartment, I am greeted by his roommate, David Fallis, playing Miley Cyrus’ Party In The USA on the acoustic guitar. McRee, who is a pitcher for the Diamond Dogs, is clad in Georgia attire — standard for University of Georgia athletes. He pauses the baseball game they’re watching on TV, clears his throat and announces that he’s reading for his “big debut.”
You’re a giant! How tall are you? Yeah, I get that a lot. I’m 6’7 and I love it.
Why do you love it? It helps with my looks because the women dig it. And it helps with sports.
What sports do you play? I’m a pitcher on the baseball team here [at UGA]. I also ride motocross in my free time.
Who would you rather face on the mound: Babe Ruth or Alex Rodriguez? Hm…probably Babe Ruth because he probably wasn’t as good as A-Rod.
You think you could strike him out? Ha, if you gave me 100 bats, maybe.
Who would you rather get in a fight with: Ron Artest or Pete Rose? Pete Rose because Ron Artest is a big man.
Speaking of big men, who is your favorite big man: Fat Joe or Rick Ross? Definitely Rick Ross because he’s got a manly beard. And Fat Joe’s just sloppy. Rick Ross looks like Kimbo Slice.
Who would you rather play a game of one-on-one basketball with: Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? Who would I rather pay against or who would be more fun?
Who would you rather play against? Probably Lebron because he’d talk more trash.
Do you have a man crush? Oh yeah, it’s David Fallis.
Who’s that? My roommate [roommate laughs in background]. He’s hot.
Would you rather bathe in Scarlett Johansson or Angelina Jolie’s sweat? I would have to say Scarlett Johansson because Angelina Jolie might have some diseases.
— Edited by John-Michael Sullivan
Poker Player Q&A
By: Austin Pratt
A University of Georgia student has found a way to make a sizable amount money from the comfort of his own couch—online poker.
Benjamin Barrows, a fourth-year telecommunications major at UGA, has been playing poker online for a few years and has increased his bankroll dramatically since late last year.
Q: How did you discover the game of poker and when did you start playing?
A: I got into poker around the time it started to get really popular on TV. Chris Moneymaker had won the World Series of Poker Main Event as a no name guy. He won his seat in the tournament by playing online. I was interested so I signed up to play on Pokerstars. I started playing with real money online during my senior year of high school.
Q: Did you have high expectations about winning money when you first started out or were you playing more for fun?
A: I guess I’d always hoped I could win a good amount of money, but at that time a “good amount” to me was like $50. For the most part I played because I really enjoyed the game. I was playing games that cost about $1 to play in which is extremely cheap. If someone would have told me in a couple years I’ll have close to $150,000 in winnings from poker I would have thought it was a joke.
Q: When did you first realize you were getting good enough at poker to consistently earn money from it?
A: About a year after I first started playing for real money I won a tournament for about $150. At that time I couldn’t believe it. Two months after winning that tournament I had gotten up to about $3,000. That’s when I first told my parents I was making good money playing poker. From then on I got really serious about becoming a better player and improving my skills at the game.
Q: What was the most money you won from a single tournament?
A: At one of the World Championship of Online Poker tournaments for Pokerstars I got 7th place for $64,000.
Q: What did you do to work on becoming a better playing and building on your skills?
A: Playing a lot of tournaments helps. Just playing a lot and experiencing different situations and seeing how people play is really beneficial. I also read a lot on poker forums and blogs online and just talked to other poker players about strategy and playing style. Bouncing ideas off of other players was good because it showed me different perspectives on how to approach the game.
Q: In your opinion, what separates a good player from a bad one?
A: The thing that separates a good player from a bad one is the decisions you make. Great players will almost always make the correct decision based on the situation, and they have reasons for why they made that decision. This ability helps take the luck out of the game and turns it into more of a skill.
Q: Has your earnings this past year changed your plans for the future concerning college and possibly playing professionally full time as your job?
A: I would love to make a living off of poker. If I don’t win a ton of money, then I might get a normal job and just play poker on the side. But, if I’m able to keep up my current win rat, I think it is very possible to make a career out of it. Regardless, I still want to graduate with my telecommunications degree.
Edited by: Sloane Wimberly
A University of Georgia student has found a way to make a sizable amount money from the comfort of his own couch—online poker.
Benjamin Barrows, a fourth-year telecommunications major at UGA, has been playing poker online for a few years and has increased his bankroll dramatically since late last year.
Q: How did you discover the game of poker and when did you start playing?
A: I got into poker around the time it started to get really popular on TV. Chris Moneymaker had won the World Series of Poker Main Event as a no name guy. He won his seat in the tournament by playing online. I was interested so I signed up to play on Pokerstars. I started playing with real money online during my senior year of high school.
Q: Did you have high expectations about winning money when you first started out or were you playing more for fun?
A: I guess I’d always hoped I could win a good amount of money, but at that time a “good amount” to me was like $50. For the most part I played because I really enjoyed the game. I was playing games that cost about $1 to play in which is extremely cheap. If someone would have told me in a couple years I’ll have close to $150,000 in winnings from poker I would have thought it was a joke.
Q: When did you first realize you were getting good enough at poker to consistently earn money from it?
A: About a year after I first started playing for real money I won a tournament for about $150. At that time I couldn’t believe it. Two months after winning that tournament I had gotten up to about $3,000. That’s when I first told my parents I was making good money playing poker. From then on I got really serious about becoming a better player and improving my skills at the game.
Q: What was the most money you won from a single tournament?
A: At one of the World Championship of Online Poker tournaments for Pokerstars I got 7th place for $64,000.
Q: What did you do to work on becoming a better playing and building on your skills?
A: Playing a lot of tournaments helps. Just playing a lot and experiencing different situations and seeing how people play is really beneficial. I also read a lot on poker forums and blogs online and just talked to other poker players about strategy and playing style. Bouncing ideas off of other players was good because it showed me different perspectives on how to approach the game.
Q: In your opinion, what separates a good player from a bad one?
A: The thing that separates a good player from a bad one is the decisions you make. Great players will almost always make the correct decision based on the situation, and they have reasons for why they made that decision. This ability helps take the luck out of the game and turns it into more of a skill.
Q: Has your earnings this past year changed your plans for the future concerning college and possibly playing professionally full time as your job?
A: I would love to make a living off of poker. If I don’t win a ton of money, then I might get a normal job and just play poker on the side. But, if I’m able to keep up my current win rat, I think it is very possible to make a career out of it. Regardless, I still want to graduate with my telecommunications degree.
Edited by: Sloane Wimberly
Athens-Clarke County Education Rates Below State Levels
By Elissa Ewald
See how Athens-Clarke County compares to overall state education statistics.
**Graduation/dropout rate data and test score data were obtained from the Governor's Office of Student Achievement 2004-2005 Annual Report Card
See how Athens-Clarke County compares to overall state education statistics.
**Graduation/dropout rate data and test score data were obtained from the Governor's Office of Student Achievement 2004-2005 Annual Report Card
Study abroad Q&A
BY: SLOANE WIMBERLY
Jonna Levine, a junior double majoring in biology and Spanish from Alpharetta.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
JL: Do it. Best experience of your life. I went to Spain for six weeks.
Where did you study and was it a UGA program or external?
JL: It (the program) was through Augusta State University, and it was in Salamanca, but we traveled everywhere within Spain as a group on the weekends.
Best memory?
Pampalona, running of the bulls.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
Do it, and do as much as you can while you are over there. Make the most of everything and enjoy it.
Margaret Sullivan, a junior from Albany studying consumer journalism.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
MS: I think that it's an amazing experience for a student that allows them to broaden their view of the world by being submerged in new cultures.
Have you studied abroad, or are you planning to?
MS: I studied abroad in the summer of 2008 in Verona, Italy. I went through UGA and studied for six weeks.
Best memory?
MS: We went to a Killers concert in the 2000 year old Arena di Verona.
We went to see a Killers’ concert with almost everyone on our trip- in the 2000 year old Arena di Verona- it felt like we were in back in ancient times. Either that, or jumping out of a plane above the Swiss Alps--toss up.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
MS: Go see as much as you can, have fun and get to know the people. Take time to get lost (safely) because that's the best way to see things and experience the culture.
Arjun Patel is a junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., studying accounting.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
AP: Oh man I had a bad experience in oxford this summer, but I went in high school to Spain and had a great time. So I think they are a good experience, if you go to the right one
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
AP: Barcelona is the place to go.
Why is that?
AP: The people are friendly, and there is a lot of history and Spanish culture in Barcelona. They have a nice beach, you’re on the Mediterranean, it’s warm, and I like Spain a lot.
Tom Ergen a pre-med junior from Knoxville, Tenn., is studying biological sciences.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
TE: It’s a ton of fun, I went to Verona, Italy last summer
and had a great time.
Best memory and was it a UGA program?
TE: It was with UGA I think, called Globis, but my best memory I couldn't tell you. There was so much stuff we did, but I guess skydiving in Switzerland or running with the bulls, or maybe Dave Matthews in Paris. Seriously, there are a thousand things I could say.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
TE: Go to Europe if you can, I just think there is so much to see and everyplace is just a train ride away.
Katelyn Webb is a freshman from Forsyth County planning on double majoring in marketing and advertising.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
KW: It’s an awesome opportunity that I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of-- especially since Hope pays for it. Italy here I come!
What do you hope to gain from studying abroad?
KW: Besides just the fun aspect, I guess like a sense of international experience in the field that I’m studying.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
MG: I'm planning on doing it as soon as I can. I think it's a really good idea to study in different places and meet different people.
Where would you like to go?
MG: At first I was thinking about doing the Oxford program, but now I'm leaning more towards studying in France--I just decided to minor in French.
What do you hope to gain from studying abroad?
MG: A better grasp of the language and a few stories I can tell.
Amy Saye a senior from Cary, N.C., is majoring in secondary education.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
AS: Probably really fun.
Do you plan on studying abroad?
AS: No.
If the opportunity arose would you?
AS: I probably wouldn’t, because I would get too homesick, lame I know.
Trent Duke is a junior from Atlanta studying history.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
TD: I think it is a great opportunity.
Have you studied abroad, or do you plan on it?
TD: I have not, but I plan to in the spring of 2011.
Where to?
TD: The Congo region.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
TD: Insight on genocide and learn the tactics of guerillas-- so hopefully I. can one day defeat them in an epic battle.
Edited by: AUSTIN PRATT
Jonna Levine, a junior double majoring in biology and Spanish from Alpharetta.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
JL: Do it. Best experience of your life. I went to Spain for six weeks.
Where did you study and was it a UGA program or external?
JL: It (the program) was through Augusta State University, and it was in Salamanca, but we traveled everywhere within Spain as a group on the weekends.
Best memory?
Pampalona, running of the bulls.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
Do it, and do as much as you can while you are over there. Make the most of everything and enjoy it.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
MS: I think that it's an amazing experience for a student that allows them to broaden their view of the world by being submerged in new cultures.
Have you studied abroad, or are you planning to?
MS: I studied abroad in the summer of 2008 in Verona, Italy. I went through UGA and studied for six weeks.
Best memory?
MS: We went to a Killers concert in the 2000 year old Arena di Verona.
We went to see a Killers’ concert with almost everyone on our trip- in the 2000 year old Arena di Verona- it felt like we were in back in ancient times. Either that, or jumping out of a plane above the Swiss Alps--toss up.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
MS: Go see as much as you can, have fun and get to know the people. Take time to get lost (safely) because that's the best way to see things and experience the culture.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
AP: Oh man I had a bad experience in oxford this summer, but I went in high school to Spain and had a great time. So I think they are a good experience, if you go to the right one
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
AP: Barcelona is the place to go.
Why is that?
AP: The people are friendly, and there is a lot of history and Spanish culture in Barcelona. They have a nice beach, you’re on the Mediterranean, it’s warm, and I like Spain a lot.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
TE: It’s a ton of fun, I went to Verona, Italy last summer
and had a great time.
Best memory and was it a UGA program?
TE: It was with UGA I think, called Globis, but my best memory I couldn't tell you. There was so much stuff we did, but I guess skydiving in Switzerland or running with the bulls, or maybe Dave Matthews in Paris. Seriously, there are a thousand things I could say.
Any advice for people considering studying abroad?
TE: Go to Europe if you can, I just think there is so much to see and everyplace is just a train ride away.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
KW: It’s an awesome opportunity that I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of-- especially since Hope pays for it. Italy here I come!
What do you hope to gain from studying abroad?
KW: Besides just the fun aspect, I guess like a sense of international experience in the field that I’m studying.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
MG: I'm planning on doing it as soon as I can. I think it's a really good idea to study in different places and meet different people.
Where would you like to go?
MG: At first I was thinking about doing the Oxford program, but now I'm leaning more towards studying in France--I just decided to minor in French.
What do you hope to gain from studying abroad?
MG: A better grasp of the language and a few stories I can tell.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
AS: Probably really fun.
Do you plan on studying abroad?
AS: No.
If the opportunity arose would you?
AS: I probably wouldn’t, because I would get too homesick, lame I know.
What are your thoughts on studying abroad?
TD: I think it is a great opportunity.
Have you studied abroad, or do you plan on it?
TD: I have not, but I plan to in the spring of 2011.
Where to?
TD: The Congo region.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
TD: Insight on genocide and learn the tactics of guerillas-- so hopefully I. can one day defeat them in an epic battle.
Edited by: AUSTIN PRATT
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Small blood drives make big impact
A Red Cross truck marks the site of the Myers blood drive Sept. 28.
Olivia Gorbatkin, a freshman marine biology major, stocks up on snacks after giving blood.
By Stone Irvin
It doesn’t just take a heart to keep blood pumping where it needs to go; it takes it takes a lot of planning, too.
The many blood drives that dot the campus, marked by Red Cross trucks, are all a part of a meticulously planned system that efficiently gets blood to the people who need it.
Steve Wheeler, the nurse in charge of the Myers Hall blood drive that took place Sept. 28, explained that the Red Cross has focused less on large all-campus blood drives that take place three times a year.
“We’ve broken the campus down into units,” said Wheeler, who described the small-scale system as “hand to mouth.” He said that fewer drives allow the Red Cross to focus on getting a smaller amount of units that can be quickly gathered and delivered to those in need. Wheeler said that the Myers drive was on track to reach its goal of 75 units with a focus on collecting type B positive blood, which is often in short supply because B blood can be used by patients with either B or AB types.
Janet Jarrett, the donor recruitment account manager for the East Georgia Red Cross, said the Red Cross has been growing small-scale drives because they required more space than was available.
“Until this year UGA lacked a facility big enough to house a larger drive,” Jarrett said. She said that, with the Tate student center no longer under construction and the Coliseum made available to the Red Cross, there are now better spaces to house all-campus drives.
Additionally, Jarrett said that smaller drives are better at getting upper classman, who generally stay close to the areas where they have classes, to donate.
Wheeler likes the challenge provided by setting up drives across the campus. “We have to adapt every day,” said Wheeler, who had not seen the where he would be setting up until the day of the drive.
Olivia Gorbatkin, a freshman marine biology major from Decatur, Ga., calmly read a book as she gave blood in the crowded Myers programming room. This space, normally used for large Myers community events, was ideal for housing the line students waiting to give blood.
“When I came to UGA I was shocked at how many blood drives there are,” Gorbatkin said. A regular donor, she has given blood several times since she was 16 and, laughing, added that being able to give blood for the first time was like a birthday present.
“Being in slight discomfort for a minute is worth helping someone,” she said with a book laying across her chest and tube running from her vein. She also managed to complete a class assignment while waiting to donate.
Meanwhile, next to the Red Cross trucks that mark Myers as location for a blood drive sat Richard Brown, a blood unit transporter from Buffalo, N.Y.
“I worked for a company called Prestige Delivery Systems,” said Brown of his former employer, which used to handle blood transportation in New York. “I looked into the Red Cross to see if I could use my expertise in transportation.”
Brown’s work encompasses more than simply driving from place to place.
“I pack up all the blood, I process all the paperwork and make sure it’s all stored correctly,” he said. Brown is the last check to make sure blood units and its accompanying information is grouped properly before the blood leaves the donation site.
But while transportation and packaging is his main function at blood drives, he was happy to see the great response to campus blood drives. “The more donations we receive,” he said, “it helps save another life.”
Another blood drive will be held in the Tate Center Grand Hall from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 12. Other drives will be posted on the University of Georgia master calendar. Donors should eat, drink and sleep well before giving blood.
-- Edited by Jon-Michael Sullivan
HIV/AIDS an “Epidemic” Among African Americans
An AIDS Athens volunteer explains the HIV testing process to a student at an event hosted
by the UGA Black Affairs Council on October 1, 2009
Justine Sher, an AIDS Athens case manager, sorts through HIV rapid testing paperwork at an event
hosted by the UGA Black Affairs Council on October 1, 2009.
By Jon-Michael Sullivan
African Americans become infected with and die from HIV/AIDS more than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. In the South, 58 percent of new AIDS cases reported in 2006 were African American, according to the Southern AIDS Coalition.
Ciarra Coleman, 21, from Milledgeville, Ga., decided, on a whim, to take an HIV test after her doctor recommended it. She made the appointment for a prescription for birth control.
“The doctor asked if I wanted to get tested while I was there, and I said, ‘yea sure,’” Coleman said.
Coleman’s test results were positive.
Since her test in June 2008, Coleman has become involved with AIDS Athens, an AIDS support organization (ASO) that serves 10 counties in Northeast Georgia, including Clarke County. Coleman works to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and influence others to get tested.
Coleman said overcoming preconceived notions about persons with HIV can be difficult.
“People just assume you were doing something bad,” Coleman said, “when you were really just having sex like anyone else.”
In 2004, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death for African-American women ages 25-44, and 66 percent of women in the U.S. diagnosed with AIDS were African American.
At the forefront of the problem is a lack of communication between sexual partners.
“There are a lot of men who don’t disclose their status,” said Justine Sher, case manager for AIDS Athens. “It may be a power issue or a situation where they don’t want to negotiate condom use.”
For African-American women living with HIV/AIDS, the most common method of transmission was high-risk heterosexual contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because there is a higher concentration of the virus in semen compared to vaginal fluid women are putting themselves at a greater risk by not using contraceptives.
“Behavioral changes, like condom use, are necessary,” Coleman said. “And those are the hardest to change in any culture.”
In 2008, 75 percent of AID Atlanta’s client population was African American. Additionally, 69 percent of clients were males who report sex with another male as the mode of HIV transmission.
“The same shame that’s associated with HIV in our community is the same shame that’s associated with being gay,” said Patrick Kelly, community relations manager of National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Inc.
Colloquially known as “the down low,” some African-American men have sex with women while secretly having sex with men. These men do not identify as gay or bisexual, most often to avoid social stigma. Unprotected anal sex increases the chance of spreading HIV/AIDS to unsuspecting women.
“Whatever you want to call it, being in the closet has been around for years,” said Kelly. “It’s nothing new. Taking ownership of the disease in our community is something that needs to be done.”
For those who are sexually active, Coleman said it is important that you are tested for HIV/AIDS. AIDS Athens reported over 500 tests administered last year.
Tests that are most commonly used to detect HIV infection require a blood or saliva sample. Typically the results are not available for a few days; however, some tests, such as rapid HIV testing, can give results as quickly as 20 minutes.
Anonymous rapid HIV testing and counseling is offered by appointment at the University Health Center for $35. HIV testing is also available at AIDS Athens, which is located at 112 Park Ave., and other ASOs throughout Georgia.
Edited by Stone Irvin
Dogs of Athens’ Animal Control look for homes and help
By Alison Loughman
Corky, a female Corgi mix, playing in an exercise pin at the Athens' Animal Control shelter. Corky was recently adpoted.
For those looking to help Athens’ animals in need, Athens-Clarke County Animal Control and associated rescue groups are looking for donations, adoptions and volunteers to help homeless dogs, especially during a economic slump when many people do not want the expense of a pet.
Kathy Casper, the administrative secretary at Animal Control’s shelter on Beaverdam Road, said she has seen more families forced to give up their pets due to economic woes.
“I’ve had stories of people that are moving in with their family members who already have animals, so they can’t bring their animals in on top of that,” Casper said. “They don’t have any choice but to bring them here.”
While the shelter holds dogs that Animal Control picks up off of the street for five days to allow for potential owner retrieval, no such rule applies for owner surrenders. Animal Control tries to give them as much time as possible to get adopted, but it depends solely on room available at the shelter. The shelter can hold 30 to 40 dogs at one time, dogs that the shelter cannot accommodate are euthanized.
Adoption rates tend to slow with the economy as well, according to Bly Bain, president of Athens Canine Rescue. This rescue group’s license allows them to hold only 25 dogs at a time, and the group can pick up new dogs from the animal shelter only as dogs are turned over. Usually, they average five to 10 adoptions each month but counted zero in September.
“More adoptions would be great,” said Bain, “but people just don’t have the money to take on a pet right now. “
The perceived increase in owner surrenders can be positive for those looking to adopt a dog: many of these dogs are pure breeds, the same as those you can buy at a pet store or from a professional breeder.
“People pick a certain breed of dog and they like that look or that specific personality,” said Bain, “and now you can really get that for a fraction of the cost by going through a group or a pound.”
Another benefit to adopting an owner-surrender from the animal shelter or a rescue group is that many of these dogs are housetrained and used to living with a family. Rescue groups are particularly useful for gauging how an animal will adjust to a new home since it lives with a foster family as it waits for adoption.
“We learn its personality,” said Bain. “We learn if it’s good with kids and cats and how it does on car rides, how much exercise it needs, what treats it likes. We try to train it as well as possible. So you’re getting a dog that should blend in really well the day that you get it.”
Charisa Gowen was promised a dog last month when she turned 15. She and her mother looked online at Animal Control’s volunteer-run Web site, Athenspets.net, which offers pictures and information on available dogs as well as links to local rescue groups. After picking a dog, they came in to find it had already been adopted.
“Then we saw her playing in the pen,” Gown said, gesturing to different dog at her feet, a Husky-shepherd mix that she was adopting. “And she was just really cute.”
Bain encourages people that are unable to adopt to become foster owners through a rescue group, caring for a dog until it gets a permanent home. Athens Canine Rescue reimburses all expenses, including vet bills and food. The group also accepts monetary and supply donations.
Athens-Clarke County Animal Control also encourages donations as well as volunteers to come walk, play fetch and give time and affection to the sheltered dogs.
“We’ve had a steady stream of volunteers coming in and that always helps because of word of mouth,” said Patrick Rives, the superintendent of Animal Control. “People come in and see nice clean shelter and happy dogs and that helps.”
Christy Champagne, Animal Control supervisor, believes that the rewards of adopting outweigh the costs.
“You’re definitely saving a life when you adopt from here and I think that’s a big incentive for people,” said Champagne. “We certainly let people know that we do have to put dogs to sleep, and when you adopt from here you’re helping [prevent] that.”
Corky, a female Corgi mix, playing in an exercise pin at the Athens' Animal Control shelter. Corky was recently adpoted.
For those looking to help Athens’ animals in need, Athens-Clarke County Animal Control and associated rescue groups are looking for donations, adoptions and volunteers to help homeless dogs, especially during a economic slump when many people do not want the expense of a pet.
Kathy Casper, the administrative secretary at Animal Control’s shelter on Beaverdam Road, said she has seen more families forced to give up their pets due to economic woes.
“I’ve had stories of people that are moving in with their family members who already have animals, so they can’t bring their animals in on top of that,” Casper said. “They don’t have any choice but to bring them here.”
While the shelter holds dogs that Animal Control picks up off of the street for five days to allow for potential owner retrieval, no such rule applies for owner surrenders. Animal Control tries to give them as much time as possible to get adopted, but it depends solely on room available at the shelter. The shelter can hold 30 to 40 dogs at one time, dogs that the shelter cannot accommodate are euthanized.
Adoption rates tend to slow with the economy as well, according to Bly Bain, president of Athens Canine Rescue. This rescue group’s license allows them to hold only 25 dogs at a time, and the group can pick up new dogs from the animal shelter only as dogs are turned over. Usually, they average five to 10 adoptions each month but counted zero in September.
“More adoptions would be great,” said Bain, “but people just don’t have the money to take on a pet right now. “
The perceived increase in owner surrenders can be positive for those looking to adopt a dog: many of these dogs are pure breeds, the same as those you can buy at a pet store or from a professional breeder.
“People pick a certain breed of dog and they like that look or that specific personality,” said Bain, “and now you can really get that for a fraction of the cost by going through a group or a pound.”
Another benefit to adopting an owner-surrender from the animal shelter or a rescue group is that many of these dogs are housetrained and used to living with a family. Rescue groups are particularly useful for gauging how an animal will adjust to a new home since it lives with a foster family as it waits for adoption.
“We learn its personality,” said Bain. “We learn if it’s good with kids and cats and how it does on car rides, how much exercise it needs, what treats it likes. We try to train it as well as possible. So you’re getting a dog that should blend in really well the day that you get it.”
Charisa Gowen was promised a dog last month when she turned 15. She and her mother looked online at Animal Control’s volunteer-run Web site, Athenspets.net, which offers pictures and information on available dogs as well as links to local rescue groups. After picking a dog, they came in to find it had already been adopted.
“Then we saw her playing in the pen,” Gown said, gesturing to different dog at her feet, a Husky-shepherd mix that she was adopting. “And she was just really cute.”
Bain encourages people that are unable to adopt to become foster owners through a rescue group, caring for a dog until it gets a permanent home. Athens Canine Rescue reimburses all expenses, including vet bills and food. The group also accepts monetary and supply donations.
Athens-Clarke County Animal Control also encourages donations as well as volunteers to come walk, play fetch and give time and affection to the sheltered dogs.
“We’ve had a steady stream of volunteers coming in and that always helps because of word of mouth,” said Patrick Rives, the superintendent of Animal Control. “People come in and see nice clean shelter and happy dogs and that helps.”
Christy Champagne, Animal Control supervisor, believes that the rewards of adopting outweigh the costs.
“You’re definitely saving a life when you adopt from here and I think that’s a big incentive for people,” said Champagne. “We certainly let people know that we do have to put dogs to sleep, and when you adopt from here you’re helping [prevent] that.”
Edited by Antionette Rollins
Video game industry sees growth despite failing economy
Several friends enjoy playing "Rock Band" together at a party.
By William Moore
Despite a dwindling economy, at least one industry has found itself recession-resistant: video games.
Over the past 10 years, the video game industry has been one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment media. According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers “Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2007-2011” report, the video game industry will continue to see a 9.1 percent increase per year through 2011.
Game retailer GameStop, which specializes in new and used video games, has announced sales of $3.5 billion for the year to Jan. 31, 2009, reported Gamasutra, an online video game news site. A theory suggests that the industry has seen such growth in spite of the failing economy due to the shifting of many households to video games as the choice for family entertainment. An employee who would not give his full name at the Target shopping center GameStop in Athens, GA declined to comment on the story due to company policy.
Assisted in part by the used-game market offered by companies such as GameStop, many households are turning to video games for their family entertainment. Rather than spend as much as $80 to $100 to take a family of four out to dinner and a movie for one night of fun, a single $60 video game can provide a month or more of entertainment.
Andy Richardson, a father of two who was shopping at GameStop with his son commented that the economy has not affected the amount of video games his family purchased in the past year.
“We have probably played more in the last year,” he said. “The economy has not caused us to buy fewer games, and we still purchase and play on a fairly regular basis.”
Other people take advantage of the trade-ins and used games offered by companies such as GameStop. Army Capt. Randall Jackson, another GameStop customer who was purchasing a second copy of a game his daughter accidentally damaged alongside two other first-person shooter games said he almost always buys used games and will trade in his old games towards newer ones.
“If a particular title catches my interest, I might buy it new when it is released,” Jackson said, “Otherwise I always buy my games used.” Jackson said that the number of games he buys has not reduced due to the economy.
The video game industry has also found success in recent years thanks to the new trend of family-friendly party games. These games — such as “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” — in which players wield plastic instruments to simulate the real thing, and the Nintendo Wii, which lets players control their characters through a gesture-mimicking remote — are bringing families together and getting many parents interested in video games for the first time.
“My mom and stepdad recently got a Wii for my sister back home,” said Tyler Baugh, a 22-year-old marketing major from Cartersville. “They like playing together, but my stepdad told me he really enjoys bowling in the game “Wii Sports.” He comes home from work and plays it by himself before everyone else gets home. He plays it so much he beat me really badly at it the last time I went home.”
--Edited by Chelsea Cook
Student finds success with online poker
Benjamin Barrows at a poker tournament in the Bahamas. He won a trip there by winning a tournament online. 
Local game of Texas Hold'em Poker, currently the most popular form of poker to playBy Austin Pratt
A University of Georgia student has found a way to make a sizable amount money from the comfort of his own couch—online poker.
Benjamin Barrows, a fourth-year telecommunications major at UGA, has been playing poker online for a few years and has increased his bankroll dramatically since late last year.
According to the 2008 Annual Survey of Journalism Graduates from Grady College, the median yearly salary for a student with a bachelor’s degree in journalism is $30,000. Barrows won nearly $150,000 this past year playing poker online.
Barrows explained that it took him about two years to get good enough at poker to start having profitable results on a consistent basis. He said the best way to get better at the game is through experience and talking to other, better players.
“The thing that separates a good player from a bad one is the decisions you make,” Barrows said.
“Great players will almost always make the correct decision based on the situation, and they have reasons for why they made that decision. This ability helps take the luck out of the game and turns it into more of a skill."
His most profitable cash finish came during one of the PokerStars online world championship tournaments, where he finished seventh placed and earned $64,000.
Benjamin Barrows, a fourth-year telecommunications major at UGA, has been playing poker online for a few years and has increased his bankroll dramatically since late last year.
According to the 2008 Annual Survey of Journalism Graduates from Grady College, the median yearly salary for a student with a bachelor’s degree in journalism is $30,000. Barrows won nearly $150,000 this past year playing poker online.
Barrows explained that it took him about two years to get good enough at poker to start having profitable results on a consistent basis. He said the best way to get better at the game is through experience and talking to other, better players.
“The thing that separates a good player from a bad one is the decisions you make,” Barrows said.
“Great players will almost always make the correct decision based on the situation, and they have reasons for why they made that decision. This ability helps take the luck out of the game and turns it into more of a skill."
His most profitable cash finish came during one of the PokerStars online world championship tournaments, where he finished seventh placed and earned $64,000.
“When I got out of the tournament (at first) I was actually kind of sad because first place was about $400,000,” Barrows said. “To be only six places away from that amount of money just made me a little disappointed. But, after that wore off, I realized how fortunate I was to make it as far as I did."
Sagar Patel, a fourth-year finance major at UGA, knows a lot of people around campus that play poker online, but none with the kind of success that Barrows has had.
“I realize that some people could earn enough playing poker to do it as their main source of income, but I don’t think many people actually do,” Patel said. “From what I’ve seen on TV and stuff, it seems like you need to be really good or just lucky."
Garrett Murck, a fourth-year telecommunications and film major at UGA, started playing poker online within the past year. He said that while he feels he is getting better, he still would not consider himself a profitable player.
“I play mostly small games that cost $5 or less to play in,” Murck said. “For the most part I break even, but it has taken me almost a year of learning to get to that point. I think I have a ways to go still before I would be good enough to actually earn a profit from it."
Despite the success of internet poker, the online gambling industry has been criticized by many and technically banned by Congress. However, the ban is extremely vague and does not specify what is legal and what is not. Congress passed the ban in 2006, but few poker players take it seriously.
Dylan Hortin, a junior at Arizona State University, is also a poker player and friend of Barrows. Hortin has won close to $100,000 through online poker since he started playing three years ago and has had no issue getting his money despite the online gambling ban.
“The main reason why the ban is so hard to enforce is because the biggest online poker sites are all based overseas,” Hortin explained. “Online gambling is legal most places outside the US, so I think that’s why it has been so hard for them control it."
Fortunately, Barrows has been able to receive and cash his checks from PokerStars, the largest online card room in the world, without issue from the online gambling ban. Because implementation of the ban is almost nonexistent, many poker players simply choose to ignore it.
“Most of the players I have spoken to could care less about the ban because nothing is done to enforce it,” said Barrows. “I’m not concerned too much about it either."
Despite the ban for online poker, Barrows earnings are considered legal. He pays taxes on the money he makes quarterly and is listed on his tax report as a professional gambler.
Even though Barrows has found great success in poker, he still plans on graduating from UGA with a degree in telecommunications."
“I would love to make a living off of poker,” Barrows said. “If I don’t win a ton of money, then I might get a normal job and just play poker on the side. But, if I’m able to keep up my current win rate, I think it is very possible to make a career out of it."
-- Edited Sloane Wimberly
Students still interested in studying abroad
Students promote and discuss the Global Lead progam at the study abroad fair.
Over 3,000 students browsed the programs at the study abroad fair this year. By: Sloane Wimberly
Despite the economic downturn and decrease in number of students studying abroad, UGA students still show an interest in pursuing educational opportunities overseas.
The 25th annual University of Georgia Study, Work & Travel Abroad Fair had a great turnout on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1.
“There were over 3000 students and there was very good feedback from program directors,” said Kasee Laster, the director of study abroad at the University of Georgia.
In the grand hall of the Tate Student Center there was a mixture of university-hosted, affiliate, and exchange programs, mingled with all sorts of external abroad programs. Last year 2,735 students attended the study abroad fair. This is one of the big events the Office of International Education hosts to promote studying abroad.
Although UGA’s numbers for students who studied abroad during 2008-2009 are down, they still mirror national trends.
“UGA is 5th in the country [for number of students who study abroad] and has the highest number of students studying abroad in the SEC,” Laster said. New York University is the number one school sending students abroad.
Laster said she does not have the final number of students who studied abroad in 2008-2009, but preliminary figures show that around 1985-1990 students studied in other countries. This figure shows about a 5 percent decrease from the previous year. These figures only reflect students receiving transferable credit while abroad.
Since 1998-1999, when there were 902 students who studied abroad, the number of students participating in a study abroad program has increased every year until now. Laster said she was not too worried because this is a national trend and not solely for UGA.
"This is the first time the numbers [of UGA students studying abroad] have gone down--ever," Laster said. "Not even after 9/11 [did the numbers decrease]."
The Forum on Education Abroad, a global membership association with 373 institutions and organizations that together represent 90 percent of the students that study abroad, conducted a survey of their members between Aug., 24 and Sept., 4, 2009. According to the survey, 110 of 165 respondents reported that the global economic crisis has negatively impacted their programs abroad.
Lucy Weathers, a junior from Charleston, S.C., studying finance, went to China through an UGA program last May. “My teacher said the trip was like a third of the size it usually is, because of the economy,” Weathers said. “I would definitely recommend the program; I can already see how it is helping me in my finance classes.”
UGA students can choose from 100 faculty-led group programs including a winter break trip to Antarctica, however, this opportunity is only offered every other year. There are 24 non-traditional programs where UGA faculty arranges internships or independent research. Students may also opt to go on one of the 50 exchange programs UGA is partnered with. Students may also choose to study through an external program.
The cost depends on the program duration, type, and whether the student is an in state or an out of state resident. Costs for a semester can range from $14,015 to $9,726 excluding HOPE.
Laster said she believes as the economy turns around, the rapid growth that study abroad programs have experienced will return. For now, the numbers are stable.
Brett Byrnes is a study abroad advisor at the University of Mississippi and represented the school’s programs at the UGA fair. To generate interest in their programs, a representative will attempt to travel to all the SEC schools to feature their programs. He has also traveled to Spain and other countries to promote the University of Mississippi.
Exchange programs with foreign institutions are popular at the University of Mississippi, which is focusing on internationalizing its campus. In order to do this, their abroad office has worked to establish exchange relations abroad-- so their students can go study overseas for the same cost as their regular tuition at the University of Mississippi.
“We collectively try and develop new relationships,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes said their abroad office has been concerned about the economy affecting their students’ ability to study abroad, but they have seen an increase in participants in some of their programs.
“When a student’s tuition is $5,000 at the university, and $5,500 to study in Spain--why not?” Byrnes said. He also said the study abroad office offers a certain number of need- based scholarships up to $1,000 for airfare.
Mary Claire Attaway, a UGA junior majoring in romance language from Dallas, Texas, has always envisioned studying abroad during her college career. Determined to be in Valencia, Spain, for her spring semester, she has not let the economy alter her plans.
“I have been so determined to study abroad, that I set back some money over the past three years in order to do so,” Attaway said. “My parents helped as much as they could considering how much they encouraged me to study abroad in the first place.”
"It's disheartening, but one of my friends who was dead set on going to France couldn't, due to the economy. It's terrible that she can't study what she loves, because of our country's economic situation.” Attaway said.
Attaway is unsure where she would like to be after college. She would like to work with a company concerning international business, and she said hopefully her time in Valencia will help her achieve just that.
The 25th annual University of Georgia Study, Work & Travel Abroad Fair had a great turnout on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1.
“There were over 3000 students and there was very good feedback from program directors,” said Kasee Laster, the director of study abroad at the University of Georgia.
In the grand hall of the Tate Student Center there was a mixture of university-hosted, affiliate, and exchange programs, mingled with all sorts of external abroad programs. Last year 2,735 students attended the study abroad fair. This is one of the big events the Office of International Education hosts to promote studying abroad.
Although UGA’s numbers for students who studied abroad during 2008-2009 are down, they still mirror national trends.
“UGA is 5th in the country [for number of students who study abroad] and has the highest number of students studying abroad in the SEC,” Laster said. New York University is the number one school sending students abroad.
Laster said she does not have the final number of students who studied abroad in 2008-2009, but preliminary figures show that around 1985-1990 students studied in other countries. This figure shows about a 5 percent decrease from the previous year. These figures only reflect students receiving transferable credit while abroad.
Since 1998-1999, when there were 902 students who studied abroad, the number of students participating in a study abroad program has increased every year until now. Laster said she was not too worried because this is a national trend and not solely for UGA.
"This is the first time the numbers [of UGA students studying abroad] have gone down--ever," Laster said. "Not even after 9/11 [did the numbers decrease]."
The Forum on Education Abroad, a global membership association with 373 institutions and organizations that together represent 90 percent of the students that study abroad, conducted a survey of their members between Aug., 24 and Sept., 4, 2009. According to the survey, 110 of 165 respondents reported that the global economic crisis has negatively impacted their programs abroad.
Lucy Weathers, a junior from Charleston, S.C., studying finance, went to China through an UGA program last May. “My teacher said the trip was like a third of the size it usually is, because of the economy,” Weathers said. “I would definitely recommend the program; I can already see how it is helping me in my finance classes.”
UGA students can choose from 100 faculty-led group programs including a winter break trip to Antarctica, however, this opportunity is only offered every other year. There are 24 non-traditional programs where UGA faculty arranges internships or independent research. Students may also opt to go on one of the 50 exchange programs UGA is partnered with. Students may also choose to study through an external program.
The cost depends on the program duration, type, and whether the student is an in state or an out of state resident. Costs for a semester can range from $14,015 to $9,726 excluding HOPE.
Laster said she believes as the economy turns around, the rapid growth that study abroad programs have experienced will return. For now, the numbers are stable.
Brett Byrnes is a study abroad advisor at the University of Mississippi and represented the school’s programs at the UGA fair. To generate interest in their programs, a representative will attempt to travel to all the SEC schools to feature their programs. He has also traveled to Spain and other countries to promote the University of Mississippi.
Exchange programs with foreign institutions are popular at the University of Mississippi, which is focusing on internationalizing its campus. In order to do this, their abroad office has worked to establish exchange relations abroad-- so their students can go study overseas for the same cost as their regular tuition at the University of Mississippi.
“We collectively try and develop new relationships,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes said their abroad office has been concerned about the economy affecting their students’ ability to study abroad, but they have seen an increase in participants in some of their programs.
“When a student’s tuition is $5,000 at the university, and $5,500 to study in Spain--why not?” Byrnes said. He also said the study abroad office offers a certain number of need- based scholarships up to $1,000 for airfare.
Mary Claire Attaway, a UGA junior majoring in romance language from Dallas, Texas, has always envisioned studying abroad during her college career. Determined to be in Valencia, Spain, for her spring semester, she has not let the economy alter her plans.
“I have been so determined to study abroad, that I set back some money over the past three years in order to do so,” Attaway said. “My parents helped as much as they could considering how much they encouraged me to study abroad in the first place.”
"It's disheartening, but one of my friends who was dead set on going to France couldn't, due to the economy. It's terrible that she can't study what she loves, because of our country's economic situation.” Attaway said.
Attaway is unsure where she would like to be after college. She would like to work with a company concerning international business, and she said hopefully her time in Valencia will help her achieve just that.
Edited by Austin Pratt
Work-life issues could be solution to professorial gender disparity
University graduate student and biology teaching assitant Amiee Riley (top right) cools off with her daughter Mackenzie, 2, (bottom left) and niece Sidney, 7, (middle) on October 6, 2009. Riley had to take an unpaid year off from her research and teaching to care for Mackenzie after she was born . Riley said she chose to find other day care for Mackenzie because she McPhaul was too expensive.
By CHELSEA COOK
Wisdom, justice and moderation.
The three pillars serve as a mantra for anyone and everyone involved in the University’s educational mission, but when it comes to women’s needs at UGA, the motto can be a misnomer.
Wisdom? More than 200 years after the University employed its first female faculty member, women are still underrepresented among professorial faculty — at 32 percent.
Wisdom, justice and moderation.
The three pillars serve as a mantra for anyone and everyone involved in the University’s educational mission, but when it comes to women’s needs at UGA, the motto can be a misnomer.
Wisdom? More than 200 years after the University employed its first female faculty member, women are still underrepresented among professorial faculty — at 32 percent.
Justice? Female faculty are denied any University-constructed policies on spousal employment assistance, maternity leave or child care, which leaves them with little choice but to find an institution that does.
Moderation? The University provides the bare minimum, federally-mandated options for any work-life needs women often look for.
University faculty — both women and men — have fought for equity of its female employees. But under a budget crunch its woes have been quieted, and taken off the back burner.
They aren’t even on the stove.
“If you don’t want to make the moral argument, there is an excellent practical argument: In order to attract the best talent, you make the investment in these relatively low cost resources that will attract the best talent,” said Susan Mattern-Parkes, an ancient and medieval history professor at the University. “And if that talent happens to be female, then we are at a competitive disadvantage if we are losing talented women to other institutions just for something like that.”
According to the Georgia Fact Book, as of fall 2008, 39 percent (160) of the faculty on tenure-track were female, tenured faculty were 28 percent (356) female and of the faculty with full professor status, 21 percent (167) were female.
“We’ve known for some time that women, for whatever reason, have not been promoted as much as men at UGA,” Mattern-Parkes said.
Mattern-Parkes was the first female to be promoted to full professor status in her department — only one year ago. “As you move up in the ranks, the percentage of women gets smaller.”
Arnett Mace, the University’s senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, said despite the numbers, it is important to consider the increase of female faculty in the last decade.
“I came here in 1991 as a dean, if you looked on stage at graduation in 1991, there was one female dean and vice president for research at that time … the rest were Caucasian males,” he said. “I say all that to point out, I think there has been a significant change in terms of the number of female and minority members that occupy upper-level administrative positions at the University, particularly in the last 10 years.”
This academic school year, of 16 schools and colleges, five deans are female.
According to the Fact Book: Of the executive, administrative and managerial staff positions, 32 percent (113) were held by women. Women hold 91 percent (1,285) of the clerical positions on campus.
“Whatever the reason for this is, we don’t know because we never asked the question. We didn’t check to see why [we have fewer female faculty],” Mattern-Parkes said. “And you can find out those things, other universities have done studies for why people leave, or don’t come in the first place. It should be possible to tell.”
Mattern-Parkes and other faculty have ideas why the University isn’t attracting, hiring and retaining as many women as it should.
But there is one thought she refuted without hesitation.
“There’s an argument that says 30 years ago, there weren’t as many [female] Ph.D.s, and so they haven’t had time to move up in the ranks,” she said. “I think that was a good argument 20 years ago, but I don’t think it works today.”
Mace disagrees.
“[Current female professors] were in an era where there was a smaller population of females who were pursuing advanced types of degrees,” he said.
But there is less of a disparity between male and female faculty members at the University’s peer and aspirational schools, which have moved ahead of UGA in providing what women seek from an institution of higher learning.
“I think what kills us at the very beginning is that there is limited help on campus for accommodating trailing spouses,” said Vicky Wilkins, associate professor and Director of SPIA. “Our department did some research and we have quite a bit of data on this.
We would have strong female applicants in our job pool, we would make them an offer and they would refuse it.”
At Michigan State University, considered a peer institution by the University’s Board of Regents, there is a “Dual Career Center.”
According to MSU’s Web site, “Assistance may be provided during recruitment or at any time during employment, including when retention is an issue. Assistance includes exploration of employment interests, discussion of job search strategies and information and/or referral for employment at Michigan State as well as other Michigan universities, colleges and regional employers.”
UGA has an office dedicated to this function — the Office of Spousal and Partner Employment Assistance. But it is only used as a recruiting tool when the administration wants to fill challenging or difficult-to-fill positions. This means no faculty member, potential faculty member or their spouse can approach the office for assistance.
OSPEA is only used when the administration assigns them to a spouse.
“We’re not working with every single position, and we don’t guarantee employment,” said Lindsey Van Note, an executive and faculty search group consultant for OSPEA. “We typically work with nine to 10 people in an entire year.”
Under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, UGA is required to offer faculty and staff 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave. But the University has no maternity leave policy of its own, leaving female faculty who plan to have children to create their own way of orchestrating maternity leave.
“The problem with faculty is you can’t just go back into the classroom the day after you have a baby, so you have to negotiate something for the semester that the baby is born, and usually it’s not really an option to teach part of a semester and have somebody else take over,” she said. “So, what we do is everybody negotiates their own thing.”
What usually is done, Mattern-Parkes said, is people use accumulated sick leave for maternity leave.
“It’s all done individually, it can be very, very unfair,” she said.
“People end up with totally different situations, and some people have worked very hard and some people get nothing at all, and it causes a lot of resentment. Chairs have to negotiate every single time somebody has a baby. It’s a huge waste of time, money and manpower.”
The fight for a subsidized child care facility on campus is nearing its 8th anniversary, and despite the demonstration of need for one by faculty, staff and students, plans for a facility have not been made.
“As a society, we’ve pretty much agreed that child care is a good thing for 30 years now. And I shouldn’t have to make an argument over six or seven years that child care is a good thing,” Mattern-Parkes said.
Both she and Wilkins agreed having quality, accessible child care was one of, if not the most important, benefit to a woman applying for jobs.
“It may be more important than salary,” Mattern-Parkes said. “When my kids needed child care, [it] was by far the most important thing for me, more than salary, more than a library.”
While the University has the McPhaul Center, a child development lab, campus child care crusaders say McPhaul doesn’t compare to what other universities offer employees as child care options.
McPhaul is a small center — able to enroll about 150 children — and its tuition ranges from $160 to $195 per week.
Mace said once a child care facility was established, an immediate debt would fall on the University.
“With child care, to pay off a debt load from base zero, the tuition would need to be at a level above or equivalent to the highest [costing] child care,” Mace said. “The theoretical role would be to have a sliding scale, now whether or not we’ll be able to do that, I don’t know.”
“Obviously, we have some budget issues right now, but honestly, we’ve been waiting on a good budget year for 10 years,” Mattern-Parkes said. “It’s time to suck it up and say, ‘we’ve got to do what we need to do’ without waiting for a good budget year .... And you know, we’re happy to pay to renovate a fraternity, but we don’t want to pay for early education for our under-advantaged children for our low wage employees. And I just don’t see how that is.”
-- Edited by William Moore
University student organizations combat poverty
By Antionette Rollins 
Members of the ONE Campaign UGA volunteer at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
Members of the ONE Campaign UGA volunteer at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia 
Blake Barnett of the ONE Campaign at the Food Bank
“I initially joined in high school because it was the biggest organization,” Melanie Phelps, co-president of UGA Habitat for Humanity, said of her organization. “The turning point for me was when I went to a house dedication. It was very emotional and it was a huge thing for the family. It made it more real for me.”
Since 1994, UGA Habitat for Humanity has held events and raised funds, working toward the organization’s goal to combat homelessness and help provide housing for those in need.
“We have a saying, ‘working to house the world’,” said Phelps.
Phelps wanted to clear up a common misconception that her organization houses people for free. Rather, homeowners who receive help from Habitat for Humanity pay affordable mortgage terms without high interest rates.
The UGA chapter of Habitat for Humanity focuses on fund-raising in hopes of building one house per year. Since founded at UGA, the chapter has built 10 homes and is currently working to fund the 11th. Last year, the chapter raised $13,000 in their annual “Gift Wrap Across Georgia”, in which members went to local bookstores and gift-wrapped books for donations.
Another international organization represented on campus is the ONE Campaign UGA, an organization looking to end poverty. David Liddell, executive director of ONE at UGA, said the chapter’s three-prong mission includes awareness of poverty issues, advocacy and an emphasis on community service.
“As an Athens-based organization, we realize that Athens has specific needs,” Liddell said.
To address these needs, ONE has partnered with local organizations such as the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to directly service the community. On a monthly basis, ONE staffs food bank direct-distribution projects by putting together food packages and helping with paperwork.
The organization also worked with AIDS Athens last year to raise funds, renovate the center’s programming room and collect clothes for the AIDS Athens clothing closet. Liddell believes that AIDS, poverty and hunger are interrelated issues that ONE can fight by supporting AIDS Athens.
“We basically ask where they need help and we try to help the best we can,” Liddell said.
Although student organizations like Habitat for Humanity and ONE put time and funds into their service projects, some students believe that large-scale Athens-area poverty cannot feel the benefits of student involvement.
“It is rampant, it’s everywhere,” said David Lightsey, a senior from Valdosta. “There aren’t enough students helping because at the end of the day, the rich kids go home and forget.”
Junior Meshell Maxam from Atlanta disagrees.
“I think they make an impact,” she said. “Trying to combat poverty says a lot about the quality of student organizations here on campus.”
Phelps and Liddell believe that the impact of student organizations depends upon the attitude of the student body.
“You can be involved as you want to be,” Liddell said in regards to student interest. “Our three-prong policy is flexible, so if you’re interested in community service, you can do that.”
On Oct. 15, 2009, the ONE Campaign UGA will recognize the “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” by raising money through a film screening.
On Oct. 24, 2009, UGA Habitat for Humanity will host “Slam the Door on Poverty” at Myers Quad, where students can build doors and window frames for local homes.
Students interested in joining the fight against poverty can attend the UGA Habitat for Humanity and ONE Campaign UGA general body meetings and visit the websites www.uga.edu/habitat and www.uga.edu/one for more information.
Many student organizations at the University of Georgia have committed to eliminating local poverty in Athens Clarke-County, one of the neediest counties in Georgia, and some students gain personal experience along with serving the community.
“I initially joined in high school because it was the biggest organization,” Melanie Phelps, co-president of UGA Habitat for Humanity, said of her organization. “The turning point for me was when I went to a house dedication. It was very emotional and it was a huge thing for the family. It made it more real for me.”
Since 1994, UGA Habitat for Humanity has held events and raised funds, working toward the organization’s goal to combat homelessness and help provide housing for those in need.
“We have a saying, ‘working to house the world’,” said Phelps.
Phelps wanted to clear up a common misconception that her organization houses people for free. Rather, homeowners who receive help from Habitat for Humanity pay affordable mortgage terms without high interest rates.
The UGA chapter of Habitat for Humanity focuses on fund-raising in hopes of building one house per year. Since founded at UGA, the chapter has built 10 homes and is currently working to fund the 11th. Last year, the chapter raised $13,000 in their annual “Gift Wrap Across Georgia”, in which members went to local bookstores and gift-wrapped books for donations.
Another international organization represented on campus is the ONE Campaign UGA, an organization looking to end poverty. David Liddell, executive director of ONE at UGA, said the chapter’s three-prong mission includes awareness of poverty issues, advocacy and an emphasis on community service.
“As an Athens-based organization, we realize that Athens has specific needs,” Liddell said.
To address these needs, ONE has partnered with local organizations such as the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to directly service the community. On a monthly basis, ONE staffs food bank direct-distribution projects by putting together food packages and helping with paperwork.
The organization also worked with AIDS Athens last year to raise funds, renovate the center’s programming room and collect clothes for the AIDS Athens clothing closet. Liddell believes that AIDS, poverty and hunger are interrelated issues that ONE can fight by supporting AIDS Athens.
“We basically ask where they need help and we try to help the best we can,” Liddell said.
Although student organizations like Habitat for Humanity and ONE put time and funds into their service projects, some students believe that large-scale Athens-area poverty cannot feel the benefits of student involvement.
“It is rampant, it’s everywhere,” said David Lightsey, a senior from Valdosta. “There aren’t enough students helping because at the end of the day, the rich kids go home and forget.”
Junior Meshell Maxam from Atlanta disagrees.
“I think they make an impact,” she said. “Trying to combat poverty says a lot about the quality of student organizations here on campus.”
Phelps and Liddell believe that the impact of student organizations depends upon the attitude of the student body.
“You can be involved as you want to be,” Liddell said in regards to student interest. “Our three-prong policy is flexible, so if you’re interested in community service, you can do that.”
On Oct. 15, 2009, the ONE Campaign UGA will recognize the “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” by raising money through a film screening.
On Oct. 24, 2009, UGA Habitat for Humanity will host “Slam the Door on Poverty” at Myers Quad, where students can build doors and window frames for local homes.
Students interested in joining the fight against poverty can attend the UGA Habitat for Humanity and ONE Campaign UGA general body meetings and visit the websites www.uga.edu/habitat and www.uga.edu/one for more information.
Edited by Alison Loughman
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