VolumeVolume 42, 42, Issue Issue 1212

February 21,February 21, 2011 2011maconstatement.commaconstatement.com

SOCCER | Page 4 BASEBALL | Page 5 CLUB RUSH | Page 8CROSSROADS | Page 6 CHEER STUNT | Page 4

STATEMENTn acon MM SSnnSSSSnThe

Blue Storm Baseball Club swept away the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during their opening weekend series at Luther Williams Field.

The series began Feb. 12 on Blue Storm Baseball’s opening day.

To mark the importance of the game, David Bell,

Ph.D., president of Macon State, threw out the ceremonial fi rst pitch.

The fi rst game of the season was game one of a double header Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

In the fi rst game of the season, veteran left handed No. 2, Brandon Bryam, took to the mound for Blue Storm against the Yellow Jackets.

It was a shaky start

for Blue Storm. During the fi rst inning, Bryam allowed two runs and two walks while Blue Storm was set down and struck out in order by the Yellow Jackets’ pitching staff .

Momentum found Blue Storm when they were down by two in the third inning.

Pitcher Bryam reached base by an E6, followed by a single by No. 9 Travis

Grimes. Second basemen and coach, J.P. Mitchell, followed up with a single that drove in Blue Storm’s fi rst two runs of the season and then he stole second base. The last fl are of the third inning was catcher Tyler Sailors’ single that drove Mitchell in from second.

By Summer LeverettManager Editor

In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate these remarkable individuals that made signifi cant contributions to science, politics, the legal fi eld, medicine and the arts.

James Weldon Johnson

An author who most notably composed the Black National Anthem in 1900, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

Henry McNeal TurnerA Georgia politician

who helped organize the Georgia Republican Party and in 1868 was one of the fourteen black state representatives elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.

Benjamin BannekerAn ingenious

Mathematician and inventor who was best known for his annual contribution of the “Farmer’s Almanac.”

Zora Neale HurstonA novelist who

expressed issues facing woman, in particularly African American women, in her work. Her most famous novel was “Their Eyes were Watching God” (1937).

Sea lions, tigers and snakes, oh my! 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival

Blue Storm Baseball Club sweeps the Yellow Jackets 3-0

The 29th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival (aka The 2011 Pinkest Party on Earth) will be held March 18-27.

According to a Cherry Blossom Festival Press Release, Macon is known as the Cherry Blossom

Capital of the World.Last year, Macon State

had the opportunity of hosting Tunes and Balloons. This year, Tunes and Balloons will again be held at Macon State on Saturday, March 19. According to the Cherry Blossom Festival website, the gates will open at 4 p.m., parking is free, and

admission is $5; children under age 6 get in free.

“The location worked so well last year that festival organizers couldn’t be more excited to take it back to the campus of Macon State,” Marketing Director for the Cherry Blossom Festival Stacy Campbell said in an email interview. “The feedback

on parking, location, and the entire event was all favorable!”

“I’m actually considering [attending the Cherry Blossom Festival] since I’m so close this year,” Joshua Akins, a freshman business major

By Allison L. BoutwellJOUR 3131

By Kaleb ClarkSports Editor

CHERRY BLOSSOMcontinued on page 8

BLUE STORMcontinued on page 5

AFRICAN AMERICANScontinued on page 3

Photo by Lily Billingsley #2 Brandon Bryan, pitched game one Blue Storm’s opening series.

BLUE STORM PEP RALLY Come support your

Macon State sports clubs at a Pep Rally in the Macon State Gym, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24. Afterward head over to Steak ‘n Shake for the Cheer Club Spirit Night fund raiser. For more information, contact Director of Recreation & Wellness james.hagler@maconstate.edu.

e-mail us at statement@maconstate.edu

staff478-757-3605 FAX 478-757-2626 OFFICE: SLC-120 www.maconstatement.com

LETTERS POLICY: The editor of the Macon Statement will try to print all letters received. Letters should be, at maximum, 250 to 300 words long. The writer must include: full name, professional title if a Macon State employee or Georgia resident, or year and major if a student. An address and phone number are required with all letters sent, but this personal information will not be published. The student newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for style, possible libel, or length. The newspaper

will not, under any circumstance, withhold names. Please address all correspondence to Letter to the Editor at editor@maconstatement.com. Where current events are concerned, priority will be given to those letters written by students, faculty, and staff of Macon State College.

DISCLAIMER: The Macon Statement is the recognized student newspaper of Macon State College and is published biweekly (Mondays)

during fall and spring semesters. Opinions and ideas expressed in the student newspaper are those of the individual artists, authors, or student editors, and are not those of Macon State College, its Board of Regents, the student body, or the advertisers. The Macon Statement is paid for, in part, through student activity fees. For a review of all Macon Statement policies, see The Macon Statement Handbook at http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/statementmedia.aspx

February 21, 2011 February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com2222

Editor-in-Chief: Norma Jean PerkinsManaging Editor: Summer LeverettCopy Editor: Marian G. BrewerCopy Editor: Alexis Meeks

Layout Editor: Lily Billingsley Photo Editor: Kimberly WaddeltonSports Editor: Kaleb ClarkWebmaster: Harry Underwood

Staff Writer: Carrie GinestStaff Photographer: Kayla BartonStaff Photographer: Veloria Swanston

Have you seen something on campus you like, dis-like, agree with, disagree with or just want to ex-press your opinion on? Send a Letter to the Editor. We are always seeking to publish letters from stu-dents, faculty, or staff. This

is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. Please read our guidelines regard-ing length of your letter and other format require-ments. Letters should be sent to: Letter to the Editor at editor@maconstatement.com

&EDITORIALSEDITORIALS OPINIONSOPINIONS

I want to thank the newspaper for its recent coverage of the Faculty Senate. As Chair of the Executive Committee, I am also happy to report that the Senate was approved by Academic Council, Feb. 4, 2011, by a vote of 153-6. As it stands, two students will be Senators next fall, the

Vice President of SGA and the President of SGA. I do want to make one small clarifi cation from the previous article. Although I tried to contact both the current VP of SGA and the President of SGA before the vote, I was able to speak to only one of them. I look forward to discussing the

Senate with the Student Government Association this spring, and on behalf of the faculty, I am very pleased that two students will have votes in the Senate.

Sincerely, Kevin Cantwell,

Professor of English.

Letter to the Editor Compliment or complaint?Let us hear from you

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com

Rebecca Crumpler, M.D.

The fi rst African American woman to earn a medical degree (New England Female Medical College) and to practice medicine.

Macon AllenThe fi rst African

American attorney to practice law in the United States (1844) and to become a Justice of the Peace.

Ida B. WellsA writer who was

politically motivated and spoke out against racial violence and inequality. Her famous pamphlet was inspired by a Georgian lynching

and titled “Lynch Law in Georgia.”

Hattie McDanielThe First African

American to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in “Gone with the Wind” as Mammy in 1939.

Shirley ChisholmThe fi rst African

American woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968 and in 1972 became the fi rst African American candidate for U.S. President.

Charles Drew, M.D.A medical doctor who

drastically improved the technique to preserve blood for transfusions. He invented the technique for separating plasma from the blood.

33

Photos by Veloria SwanstonJimmy Mills and the GQ Jazz Quintet presented “The History of Jazz,” a performance and lecture, Feb. 16, in the rehearsal hall of the Arts Complex at Macon State College as part of Black History Month.

ON CAMPUSON CAMPUS

AFRICAN AMERICANScontinued from front

2011 Black Student Unifi cation presents the

UNIFICATION LUNCHEON 2011, on Friday, Feb.

25 at 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m., in the Arts Complex

Rehearsal Hall. Keynote speaker is scheduled

to be Dr. R.L. White, president of the Atlanta

Chapter, NAACP. Cost for the full lunch is $10

for faculty, staff and guests and $5 for students.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. For more information,

contact BSU adviser Naomi Robertson

at naomi.robertson@maconstate.edu.

Frank Garvin Yerby was born in Augusta, GA in 1916 and became the fi rst African-American to be on the New York Times Best-Seller list.

Yerby faced more than the usual diffi culties a black person would face in the days before desegregation became law. During an interview with “People” magazine, Yerby said “when I was young, a bunch of us black kids would get in a fi ght with white kids and then I’d have to fi ght with a black kid who got on me for being so light.”

In 1946, Yerby’s novel, “The Foxes of Harrow” was so successful that 20th Century Fox for the screen rights purchased it. Rex Harrison and Maureen O’Hara were chosen as the lead actors and

Yerby became the fi rst African-American to have a “movie adapted by a major Hollywood studio,” according to IMDb.com.

Although Yerby taught English at Florida A. & M. for one term and then taught at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA for another year, he needed more time for his writing. He relocated to Detroit and worked for Ford Motor Company.

“Health Card” was a short story published in Harper’s Magazine in 1944 and won the O. Henry Memorial Award for best short story. This short story dealt with a young African-American soldier and his wife and the diffi culties faced by them. Yerby used his own experiences as a child of a white mother and a black father to open up the world-view on problems African-Americans faced in trying to rise above the negative stereotypes of people of color.

Yerby was selected into Georgia Writers Hall of Fame. According to their website (www.libs.uga.edu/gawriters/yerby.html), “[T]hough his early short fi ction was received well critically, Yerby was dismayed by its lack of commercial success. He’d hoped to reach out to

the public through his fi ction and expose the follies of segregation and racial stereotyping, but the public, he felt, wasn’t interested in what he was trying to say.”

Yerby’s novels were frequently on the New York Times Best Seller list. In addition to “The Foxes of Harrow” there was “The Vixens” (1947), “A Woman Called Fancy” (1951), “The Saracen Blade” (1952) that was also purchased by a Hollywood studio for screen rights, “The Devil’s Laughter” (1953) to name only a few. His novels “The Golden Hawk” and “The Saracen Blade” were two other novels that were developed by Hollywood into fi lms.

According to The New Georgia Encyclopedia, “[T] he 1971 publication of his masterpiece, “Dahomean”, which focuses on the life of an enslaved African chief’s son who is transported to America, serves as the culmination of Yerby’s eff orts toward incorporating racial themes into his works.

In 1955 Yerby moved to Madrid, Spain in a self-imposed exile but remained a beloved native son of the South. Yerby died of congestive heart failure on Nov. 19, 1991.

Georgia author is fi rst African-American on New York Times best-seller list

By Norma Jean PerkinsEditor-in-Chief

Frank Garvin Yerby,

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com44 SPORTSSPORTS

On the cold wet day of Feb. 5, Blue Storm Soccer Club tested the waters during their fi rst game which was against Georgia College and State University.

The game began with each team playing hard. Players crashed through puddles as possession of the ball slid back and forth. Yet no matter how much each of the teams fought for control of the game, the ball seemed to always fi nd its way back to Blue Storm’s goal.

Goalkeepers for the Blue Storm were forced to stay on their toes. Dean Yeomans started the game and played goalie throughout the fi rst half.

He blocked, dove and prevented GCSU from scoring many goals, but at the end of the fi rst half the score was Blue Storm 0, GCSU 3.

Jimmy Colquitt, professor of respiratory therapy and assistant coach of the soccer team said referring to Yeomans, “He is like a monster coming out of the goal.”

The highlight of the second half was the score by Martin Velinov. The beginning of the game was played under cool

cloud cover, but as soon as the sun broke free, Velinov scored his goal by a direct free kick to the upper right 90 of the goal. This was the fi rst score made by Blue Storm Soccer since they formed their team. Unfortunately

Blue Storm couldn’t prevent GCSU from dominating the second half. GCSU scored six additional goals while Blue Storm only scored their one. This led to an ending score of Blue Storm 1, GCSU 9.

One of the problems

that Blue Storm soccer had was organization. When the players were able to move the ball down fi eld, there wasn’t any support down fi eld to assist in scoring a goal. This resulted in many

turnovers where GCSU was able to steal the ball and keep the ball away from their goal.

Faculty adviser, Christopher C. Tsavatewa, instructor of health services administration, stated after the game, “I think we did good. We had a lot of heart, a lot of passion; these guys, as you can tell by the fi eld condition, really put their all in the game today.”

Tsavatewa went on to say, “The score as it was lopsided still represents progress for Macon State. We’re just glad we were able to get this team together.”

The soccer team at Macon State was started

The door has been opened for the start of women’s sports at Macon State with the establishment of a new emerging sport called stunt.

“I got tired of moping around with people saying we didn’t have any sports,” said Ashley Holliday, founder of MSC’s stunt team and president of the Cheer Club.

What exactly is stunt? Stunt has taken all of the

athletic skills derived from cheerleading and organized them into a head to head competitive format that can be easily followed by fans and judges.

In football, you have receivers, linemen and quarterbacks; while in stunt, you have position players such as bases, fl yers and back spots.

Picture an indoor facility or an arena with nine mats laid out. This is the stage where stunt is fought. Each competition can hold up to four games.

Like in football, a game of stunt has four quarters, two halves and at the beginning there is a coin toss to determine which team will take fi rst possession.

Knowing your team’s strengths and weaknesses plays a large role in strategizing to score more points than your opponent in a given quarter.

Before each heat, the timed skill routines within a quarter, the team with possession will call a skill level ranging from one (easiest) to fi ve (hardest). After the skill level has been established for the heat, both teams must

perform routines that are classifi ed as the same diffi culty as the skill level called.

The skill level is equal to the amount of points

that a perfect execution of the routine can earn. For example, if a skill level of two is called, then the maximum amount of points that can be earned by each team in that heat is two.

When calling the skill level, the coaches have to consider how talented their team is in that particular type of routine compared to their opposing team.

A game of stunt consists of four diff erent quarters: partner stunts (three heats), team tumbling/jumps (three heats), pyramids/basket tosses (three heats) and team performance (one heat). The team performance requires each team to use a combination of the skills used in the previous three quarters in a unique routine to their own chosen music.

During the fi rst and third quarters, each team competes side by side at the same time, but during the second and fourth quarters, the competing teams will take turns on the mat. The team with the most total points at the end of the fourth quarter is the winner of the game.

Because of the

organization of stunt, fans can follow the score of each game as it progresses, coaches can strategize ways to win each game and college women can have the opportunity to play a sport using their possible background in cheerleading.

MSC is growing and beginning to off er opportunities for women to play sports. MSC’s Gold Squad Stunt team is the beginning.

Stunt: the beginning of women’s sports at MSC

Blue Storm Soccer Club tests the waters in their fi rst game

By Kaleb ClarkSports Editor

Photo by Kaleb ClarkThe “Liberty” stunt is where the fl yers foot is beside her knee.

Photo by Kaleb ClarkStunt Team practices the “Full Down”

Photo by Kaleb ClarkThe “Cradle” is one of the many stunts used by the Stunt team.

By Kaleb ClarkSports Editor

SOCCERcontinued on page 7

Photo by Kayla BartonMatt Poley (16) chases and C. Purvis (9) comes running to support as GCSU’s player falls into a puddle on the fi eld.

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com 55SPORTSSPORTS

Yellow Jackets’ No. 23, Brian Leach, singled home a run in the fourth inning to tie the game three to three. After the fourth inning, both teams pitching staff s shut down their opponents until the seventh inning.

With a tied score of three to three, No. 6 Kurt Thornburg singled to start the bottom of the seventh. No. 1 Dillon Mitchell laid down a sacrifi ce bunt, advancing Thornburg to second. Bryam dribbled to the pitcher’s mound for the second out. Then with two outs in the last inning of the game, Grimes stepped up and singled to knock in the winning run in the form of Thornburg.

The ending score was Blue Storm 4, Yellow Jackets 3.

Bryam pitched seven strong innings with fi ve hits, recorded eight strikeouts, and he allowed only three earned runs.

Coach Mitchell declared Grimes player of the game for his clutch hit that won the game for Blue Storm.

Game 2 of the double header was Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 14 rookie pitcher, Shane Smith; started game two of Blue Storm’s double-header against Georgia Tech.

Game two had another slow start for Blue Storm. Starting pitcher Smith allowed three earned runs in the fi rst inning and Blue Storm’s top of the lineup was set down 1-2-3 by the Yellow Jackets.

During the top of the second inning, the Yellow Jackets were not fooled by Smith as they scored an additional four runs. This forced Coach Mitchell to call on his fi rst basemen, Clae Mathis, to pitch in relief after Smith’s 1 1/3 innings.

Mathis pitched Blue Storm out of the second inning, ending the inning by striking out Yellow Jacket Mark Creighton.

Blue Storm exploded the scoreboard with the scoring of six runs in the bottom of the second, making the score 7-6.

Grimes gained an RBI while the remainder of the runs were scored on errors. The Yellow Jackets’ infi eld fell apart defensively, committing an error from each of the basemen- fi rst, second and third.

After the second inning, Blue Storm could not be stopped. They scored a single run in the third inning and three runs in both the fourth and fi fth innings.

The score at the start of the sixth inning was Blue Storm 13, Yellow Jackets 8. The inning started with a

wild pitch that put sub No. 18 Kody Patrick on base. Dillon Mitchell struck out No. 1. Smith reached an E6 and Grimes cleared the bases with a two RBI double.

Catcher Sailors reached on a fi elder’s choice and reached third thanks to a single by No. 7 Devon Crouse. Mathis hit a sacrifi ce fl y to left fi eld to score Sailors, who scored the winning run.

The game ended early in the sixth inning, due to the run rule, with a score of Blue Storm 18, Yellow Jackets 8. (College baseball run rule- if a team is ahead by 10 runs with less than three innings to play, the game is over.)

Smith started the game allowing seven earned runs, but his reliever, Mathis, allowed only one earned run and recorded eight strikeouts in 4 2/3

innings. Coach Mitchell

declared Mathis player of the game for his outstanding long relief pitching performance and he praised Grimes for having four RBIs in the game.

Game 3 was held Feb. 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Veteran knuckle ball pitcher, No. 33 Daniel Daniels, performed his fi rst start of the season during game three against Georgia Tech.

The entire game was in the hands of the Blue Storm’s pitching staff .

Daniels threw fi ve shutout innings,

keeping the Yellow Jackets off balance with

his unpredictable knuckleball.

Dillon Mitchell came in to relieve Daniels in the sixth inning and he shut down his competition allowing no runs in his two innings pitched.

Off ensively Blue Storm took care of business, scoring a total of 10 runs.

To lead off the second inning, No. 9 Travis Grimes was walked on base. He made them pay by

stealing second base and then returned around and stole

third. Tyler Sailors then was able to single him in for an RBI.

At the start of the bottom of the seventh, the score was Blue Storm 8, Yellow Jackets 0. After being walked onto fi rst base, Grimes stole second base. Sub Blake Burris came into the game and was walked to fi rst. Coach J.P. Mitchell put both runners in motion for a

successful double steal. Catcher Sailors

grounded out to third, moving Burris over to third. Then Devon Crouse hit a grounder and reached fi rst base successfully due to the Yellow Jackets’ fi rst baseman’s foot leaving the bag by inches. This resulted in Burris coming in to score the winning run.

The scheduled nine inning game ended in the seventh due to the college run rule.

Coach Mitchell declared Daniel Daniels player of the game, earned by his fi ve shutout innings to start the game.

Coach Mitchell also said that Grimes broke the school’s record, set by Mitchell last season, of most steals in a game. The previous high was three and Grimes stole fi ve bases in Sunday’s game against the Yellow Jackets.

The next series will be a double header against Darton College. Darton College is a varsity team with a current record of 6-3.

Blue Storm Baseball Club’s next series will be on Feb. 19.

BLUE STORMcontinued from front

Photo submitted by Maryann BatesPresident Bell throws out the ceremonial fi rst pitch.

Photo by Lily BillingsleyNo. 21 fi rst baseman Clae Mathis, pitched in relief in game two striking out eight.

Photo by Lily BillingsleyNo.13 J.P. Mitchell hits a single to score two runs.

Photo by Lily BillingsleyNo. 6 Kurt Thornburg, slides in for a score

Photo by Lily BillingsleyNo. 9 Travis Grimes (Player of the Week), races to fi rst base.

Photo by Lily BillingsleyNo. 22 catcher Tyler Sailors gives the ceremonial ball back to President Bell.

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com66 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The South has a rich literary history, and Crossroads Writers Conference and Literary Festival is helping to keep that tradition alive in Macon.

The about us page on the Crossroads website describes the group as: “a group of literature-loving, community-minded weirdos who thought it’d be cool if Macon had its own writers’ conference” In Oct. 2008, the fi rst Crossroads Writers Conference and Literary

Festival was held, and Oct. 1-2, the third one will take place.

But what has many of the Macon State professors and students excited about Crossroads?

“As a teacher of writing, the idea of showing students that authors are not just these elite group of people in a faraway

place, but really just them with some focus is the most important thing for me. I founded the Macon Writers Group with this same idea - that anyone with the dedication and focus can hone their skills and become a writer. It is important when you have a dream to be able to get access to those people who have made that dream a reality and to learn from them. That’s why I joined the Crossroads Writers Conference board and became the Special Events Committee Chair,” said Shane Trayers, Ph. D.

“MSC benefi ts directly from the authors coming to campus to speak to the students, which is really an incredible honor, but also students who are interested in pursuing a career in writing, whether technical writer or fi ction or creative non-fi ction (one of the biggest sellers at the moment), this is

invaluable,” said Trayers.Students agree that

Crossroads is important to Macon State and the community. “[Crossroads] gives writers and future writers the opportunity to connect and to share something they are passionate about,” said Rebecca Kidd, a senior English major.

“I don’t think students and the community realize how great Crossroads is, it’s an amazing experience to be able to meet authors and actually have a conversation and hear great advice,” said Kim Sorensen, senior English major.

According to the Crossroads website, part of the mission of Crossroads “is to expand beyond the Conference to have more literary events. Fun stuff too, not just readings (though we like those too, of course). We’re also working to be more involved with the community, on the verge of putting into action plans to foster the love of writing with Macon’s youth.”

Last November, it began with Literaoke!, which was based on a reading given by author Steve Almond.

On Jan 22, 2011, Richard Jay Hutto, author of “Peculiar Tribe of People”,

kicked off the monthly writers workshops hosted by Crossroads. Hutto spoke about fi nding time to write “in a tweeting world.” Some of his advice included waking up an

hour earlier just to write and not to let anyone impose on the hour you are setting aside for yourself.

February events included the Bizarre

Bazaar and writer’s workshop: “So you wanna be a screenwriter?”

“The Bizarre Bazaar was created to raise awareness as much as to raise funds for Crossroads, and of course, to have fun with the community,” said Trayers. “We certainly had a lot of fun and we raised over $1,000.”

Sorensen said her favorite part of the Bazaar, other than all of it, was “having Sidney Lanier there and singing “Happy Birthday” to him.”

Leia Bray, senior English major, said, “I loved all the costumes. Seeing the professors dressed up as diff erent literary fi gures was pretty cool.” Crossroads off ers something for everyone, “bringing the community together while promoting literature and encouraging good writing,” said Bray.

On Mar. 19, Emilie Bush will give the scoop on self-publishing; on April 16, Nebula Award-winner, Jack McDevitt will speak about writing science fi ction; and Oct. 1-2 will be the Crossroads Writers Conference and Literary Festival.

For more information about Crossroads and the many events they host go to: www.crossroadswriters.org.

Cursive writing has been dropped from the mandatory curricula of public schools in Georgia and this has left questions: Has cursive become a defunct script and are the block letters and typescript of computers worthy substitutes?

On July 8, 2010 Georgia adopted the Common Core State Standard. According to the CCSS website, in kindergarten students are introduced to “digital tools to produce and publish writing,” but there was no mention of introducing cursive through the entirety of the grade schools standards.

Opponents to teaching cursive have a justifi ed argument. As observed from a 2006 sampling of handwritten SAT essays, it is estimated that only 15 percent of adults use cursive after high school.

However, students and staff at Macon State tended to value cursive writing for both professional use and developmental sustenance.

Lauren Miller, a 19-year-old sophomore at Macon State majoring in childhood development, was required to write all of her papers in cursive while in private school; which she attended through the fi rst half of high school.

“When I transferred to public school my junior year it wasn’t required, so I stopped using it.” Miller said about cursive writing.

Though Miller said she rarely used cursive, she supports returning it to the curriculum of Georgia’s public schools for its usefulness in professional life.

The developmental implications of losing cursive writing in favor of computer text are an issue that Dr. Elise S. Langan, associate professor of education at Macon State, addressed.

Langan, who supports the teaching of cursive in public schools, stressed that the use of computers

and digital devices is aff ecting our attention spans.

“Multi-tasking isn’t productive. The physical act of writing by hand forces us to be refl ective.” Langan said. “It forces the student to slow down and focus.”

Unfortunately a large segment of students currently enrolled in Georgia’s public schools have already lost the skill and knowledge of cursive writing.

“My students don’t use cursive, and many of them can’t read it when I use it on the board,” stated Rachael Martin, an English teacher at Southwest Magnet High School and Law Academy.

Martin, who teaches grades nine and 10, recalled only one of her students that consistently turned in their assignments written in cursive.

Where does this leave the future of cursive writing and reading?

Cursive translators may be in demand for translating historical documents. Cursive could become a college level course for those students wishing to pursue a degree in history.

Later this year Georgia’s Department of Education will discuss whether or not to re-introduce cursive into the state’s required curriculum.

Crossroads diversity among the Macon community

Cursive discontinued: text your X here, here… and here

By Carrie GinestStaff Writer

By Shanna DixonJOUR 3131

Rebecca Kidd

Heather O’Neil

Alexis Meeks (L), Tiff any Jackson (C), Christina King (R)

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com 77SPORTSSPORTS

by head coach Tsavatewa who said that he was inspired by the work that J.P Mitchell did with starting the baseball program at Macon State.

With dedicated players like Jessica Barker, who plays on the men’s soccer

team because there isn’t an established woman’s soccer team, and Bulgarian born Martin Velinov, a man who has played for over 25 diff erent soccer teams, Blue Storm soccer is determined to succeed.

SOCCERcontinued from page 4

Photo submitted by Chris TsavatewaCoach Tsavatewa takes a break with his soccer players at Sonic on Peake Road, the club’s sponsor.

Photo by Kayla BartonMacon State’s soccer team: Torrey Clowers, Chris Tsavatewa (head coach), Tanner Sauls, Stuart Martin Spears, William Edwards, Vicente Maya, Jessica Barker, Kyle Jones, Dean Yeomans, Spencer Taylor, Carlos Lizotte, Michael Purvis, Ganael Bukamba, James Murphy, Jonathan Daniels, Casey Purvis, Matt Poley, Martin Velinov.

The CHEER CLUB hosts a Steak ‘n Shake Spirit Night fundraiser, 6 to 10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Steak ‘n Shake on Mercer

University Drive, behind the Macon Mall. For more information, please contact Cheer Club adviser shane.trayers@maconstate.edu.

Macon State’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries is sponsoring a new Bible study in collaboration with Ingleside Baptist Church; the Bible study meets on Tuesdays outside the PSC cafe at 7:30 p.m.

MSC junior, Philip Bartuska a business management major, a member of both BCM and Ingleside Baptist Church, leads the Bible study, called 2twenty2. Bartuska said that the name of the Bible Study is 2twenty2, based on 2 Timothy 2:22 in the Bible.

Chris Fuller, the Macon-area Baptist campus minister for the Georgia Baptist Convention, said the new Bible study got started when Ingleside Baptist told him that a student could not attend the Bible study that Fuller leads. Ingleside told him the student would be willing to lead another one. That student was

Bartuska. “Although I guide our

discussion, everyone is encouraged to give input and share what they think,” Bartuska wrote in an email interview. “We start out by introducing ourselves and talking about the weeks that we are having. . .We encourage one another and lift each other up in prayer. Then, we study a passage in the Bible and ask each other how can we apply this to our daily lives?

“The purpose of the Bible study is just to give college students a chance to come learn about Christ,” Bradford Jones, an attendee of the Bible study said. Jones also said students growing in their faith with other college students and fellowship is part of the purpose as well.

“I think that that relationship component is so important, too,” Susan Durr, associate professor of psychology, and faculty

advisor for the BCM said. “And they get prayer support.”

Fuller said that all are welcome: MSC students, faculty, staff , as well as non-MSC students. According to Jones, students from Wesleyan and Mercer come to the Macon State Bible study.

“If someone wants to know Jesus or know more about Jesus, then we welcome them. So, participants do not even have to be Christian to attend!” Fuller said.

The Place to Be: 2twenty2 Bible Study. When: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Where: PSC Building outside the cafe.

The Georgia Poetry Circuit gives Macon State students access to the valuable, but often overlooked, academic art form of contemporary poetry that few people explore beyond the college context.

“Having these wonderful poets come to our campus helps highlight the great work that is being written right now and makes clear that poetry is not dead; it is alive and kicking” said. Kelly Whiddon, Ph.D. associate professor of

English/Creative Writing at Macon State and a representative for Macon State in the Georgia Poetry Circuit.

The Georgia Poetry Circuit consists of eight colleges with other likeminded professors who bring poets to each campus as an investment that enriches students’ college experience.

“The institutions pool their resources, so they can bring poets that they might not have been able to bring on their own” said Whiddon. Using those resources brought Cleopatra Mathis to Macon State on Jan. 25 in

the Professional Sciences Center.

Mathis’ poetry reading included selective readings, books sales and signing, comments and questions. Mathis spoke of the experiences that contributed to the poems she read. Her poetry incorporated modern experiences with Grecian mythology. Greek mythology is one of the diverse topics incorporated by past and future featured poets.

At Mathis’ reading Christopher Willis, a junior in communication and information technology at Macon State, found

the question and answer portion valuable on an unexpected level.

“The main thing that stuck with me since Mathis’ reading is the urgency to fi nd one thing in college that you love and devote yourself to it. She studied music in college, had an impressive resume but chose to develop her skills in poetry” said Willis.

Recently other poets have covered topics spanning a soldier’s experiences in the Iraqi wars, a child’s perspective of their coming of age in the Appalachian Mountains and a citizen’s

response to society and politics. Beyond an interest in poetry or topics, attending poetry readings can spark additional interests.

“The best way [to optimize these experiences] is to show up to the readings, really absorb the work, and ask questions. Most of the poets teach creative writing, and they have all been in the shoes of the students” said Whiddon.

Rick Campbell is the next poet scheduled to read at Macon State. His reading will take place on March 30 in PSC room 112 at 2 p.m.

Christians and non-Christians welcome at BCM’s 2twenty2 Bible study

Steak ‘n Shake spirit night

Unexpected benefi ts of attending poetry readings on campus

Philip Bartuska

By Allison L. BoutwellJOUR 3131

By Allison L. BoutwellJOUR 3131

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011 maconstatement.com maconstatement.com88

from Forsyth said. “I’ve always heard about it.”

Of the 500 events the festival off ers, 80 percent of them will be free according to the press release. Favorite attractions are Central City Park, the Diamond Ball, Tunes and Balloons, the Bed Race, the Parade, Third Street Park Festivities, the Fashion Show, Party with a Purpose, the International Food Fair, Tour of Homes, the Street Party and the Grand Finale, according

to the 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival website.

Each night will feature a concert in Central City Park from 6-9 p.m.

According to Campbell, Central City Park, the nightly concerts, and the street party are the events that have had the highest turnout rates

for college students in the past, and are the events that will most likely attract college students again

this year.“I have

been to the Cherry Blossom Festival probably every year I’ve been here, which has been 20 years,” Pat Bork, the library director at Macon State said.

Bork said that she goes to Central City Park annually, which is her favorite event

to attend. Bork also said that her sister will be visiting during the time of the festival.

“I’m sure I’ll do more than I usually do, since she’ll be here visiting,” Bork stated.

The Marriott Macon City Center is the offi cial hotel of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Tickets for Cherry Blossom Festival Events will go on sale starting on Valentine’s Day.

For more information about the Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.cherryblossom.com or call (478) 751-7429.

CHERRY BLOSSOMcontinued from front

ON CAMPUS & COMMUNITYON CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

Photo by Kayla BartonJunior and senior Information Technology majors invite students to join the Association of I.T. Students. If you “liked” A.I.T.S. on Facebook, they gave you a shirt. Left to right: Calvin Echols, Alex Wang and Albert Maine.

Photo by Kayla BartonThe crowds continue around the corner by the coff ee shop.

Photo by Kayla BartonRespiratory Therapy majors, Shannon Hill and Tiff any Williams, promote their major at the Club Rush.

Photo by Kayla BartonThe Counseling Center ladies explain services off ered to Macon State’s students.

Photo by Kayla BartonClub Rush Jan. 26, 2011

Photo by Kayla BartonLeft to right: Jacob Cannon, Biology major and treasurer of RSA; Tierra James, Nursing major and President of RSA; and Herman Driskell, Biology major and member of RSA.

Photo by Kayla BartonThe crowd gathered tight around the entrance from the Jones Building.

Photo by Kayla BartonThe Natural Sciences Network has sought the attention of a few students.