october 10, 2012 issue

OCTOBER 10, 2012 | VOLUME 26 NO. 5 | Visit online at www.collegiannews.com | THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987

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Follow us on Twitter!@GPCollegian

Alpharetta Clarkston Decatur Dunwoody NewtonStudent survivor of

lupus starts support group

page 6

Women caught on tape stealing

newspaperspage 6

GPC community grows charitable

donationspage 6

Tips to keeping you safe while on

campuspage 6

Get pumped about working out at the

fitness centerpage 7

Walk Slow

Opinion:Student voices dissatisfaction

Future graduate upset due to cross country

transfer and will have to return in the spring

page 2

Administration cancels fall

commencement

Reasons cited include budget concerns and

lack of seating

page 2

SparkedStudent government seeks

to clear up nicotine boundaries

What you should know about the smoking policy

page 7

Board of Regents claims ‘no responsive documents’

to Open Records Act request

alled into

uestion

The Collegian holds proof of responsive documents

page 2

??

2 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM OCTOBER 10, 2012

The Collegian is the student newspaper of Georgia Perimeter College, and is a designated public forum for students, faculty and staff to share their opinions. Comments and views expressed herein are those of the individual writers, and not those of the college or the Collegian as a whole. We strongly encourage students to submit articles and artwork for publication. Editors reserve the right to edit for grammar, space, a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s and length. Not all submissions will be published. To speak with a staff member, please call 678-891-3382 or e-mail us [email protected].

Single copies are free. More than three copies per person are $.50 each.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDavid Schick

EXECUTIVE EDITORBreanna Wimby

ASSOCIATE EDITORSErin CotterAlan Simpson

ALPHARETTA CAMPUSManaging editor: Veronica Gruta

CLARKSTON CAMPUS Managing editor: Ashley OglesbyPhoto editor: James Pennie DECATUR CAMPUSManaging editor: Kierra Johnson News editor: Kaila Thompson

DUNWOODY CAMPUSManaging editor: Tammy WoolcockNews editor: Leslie Mele

NEWTON CAMPUSManaging editor: Victoria HealyPhoto editor: Jahret Rainey

COLLEGEWIDESports Editor: Rachel MillinStaff Illustrator: Darian Mathews

Ask me how I feel about no fall commencement ceremony?

For lack of better words this is bullshit.

Someone please explain why this was announced 11 weeks before fall commencement and not sooner. This change is not accommodating for anyone but GPC because of their budget shortfalls.

This is a huge inconvenience to a third of us graduates.

This is my last semester at GPC and I will be transferring to California State University Dominguez Hills, 2,180 miles away from Atlanta.

This means that I would have to come back to Atlanta to attend my commencement less than six months after my move. There’s a chance that I may not be able to make it back at all and I will be the first family member out of my generation to obtain a higher education diploma.

If I think about the cost for just me to come back for my commencement:

Plane ticket - $350, rental car - $150, average gas - $75, hotel - $280, and food adds up to a serious hole in my pocket.

It might actually be cheaper to stay in my apartment for the next couple of months than to move and come back.

I’m frustrated that my life is being put on hold and feel helpless that my screams for a better outcome are going unheard.

Dear readers,

Where are the students in student activity fees?Last spring, the committees got together and made their

recommendations based on the estimated total of $2.17 million in SAF funds. Then came the budget deficit.

The administration realized that $475,000 had to be cut from the SAF budget, so the new total, $1.75 million, had to be reallocated to the SAF organizations.

If you look at the college wide allocations at the bottom of page 3, you can see that some organizations actually benefited from this reallocation while others suffered.

Celebration of Excellence received a $4,000 boost, Homecoming (already a ridiculously wasteful expense at $28,590) received a $1,000 boost, and Fine Arts lost $11,000 from its budget.

I’m curious, if you have to “cut” money from the budget then why do some organizations get several thousand dollar increases?

Because this reallocation was done without a single student involved.

Why?Board of Regents (BOR) and GPC policy states that students

are supposed to be involved in submitting “recommendations” to the president, who ultimately has “veto authority” over the SAF budget.

The administration claims that because the deficit happened during the summer, when no students were around, they had no other option than to do it themselves.

Why not assemble the committees after school starts? Why not create special committees given the special circumstances? Why not send a survey in a general email to students?

Why would the administration take it upon themselves to violate BOR policy and just decide where SAF funds should go?

I understand that the president has veto power of SAF funds, but I cannot understand why they would just break their own rules.

Why give students the illusion of control? Why not just tell us the truth?

The administration is going to do what it wants to do, regardless of student input.

The Student Government Association, along with the rest of the GPC student population, should be rallying together like a J.G. Wentworth commercial screaming, “It’s our money and we want it now!”

... Or at least get a voice in deciding where it goes.

Sincerely,

David Schick Editor in Chief

Letter from the editor

Opinion

About midway into the semester future graduates were told that there will be no fall commencement.

The Commencement Committee, which comprises Doug Ruch, the college’s registrar, a few faculty members and co-chair Coletta Carter, assistant vice president for student development & special programs, recommended the cancellation of the Fall graduation.

Their recommendation was finalized on Thursday, April 5.On Friday, Sept. 21, students received an email from the Office of

the President, inviting fall graduates to walk at the spring ceremony on May 13.

“When I first read the email I was disappointed,” said Brittney Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick is one of the many graduates no longer planning to attend the commencement ceremony. Fitzpatrick’s decision was due to the delayed notification.

“That’s my fault. I’ll take responsibility for that,” said Rob Watts, GPC interim president.

He confirmed that he received notification from Dr. Vincent June, vice president for student affairs, in mid to late summer and admitted that he was distracted by other things going on at the college.

According to Watts’ email, having just a spring commencement is projected to save the college approximately $14,000.

“I think that’s mostly the equipment that has to be rented. The sound system, the light system, everything that has to be rented from outside vendors,” Watts explained.

GPC is planning to have the spring commencement at the Atlanta Civic Center, which will eliminate those costs because the supplies and equipment have already been made available.

After the spring 2013 ceremony, the commencement committee will assess if the Atlanta Civic Center met the needs of the graduation program and determine if another venue will be more suitable.

“Everyone will get his or her diploma right after the fall term, they are officially graduated from the institution,” Watts remarked. “You don’t have to go through a ceremony to graduate.”

By Ashley Oglesby

Collegian Staff

Why is the Collegian being charged double the hourly rate for information technology services?

“You are comparing different requests, with different levels of work required to fulfill them. In your case, there were two IT staff members involved in the search and retrieval work, while in [the GPC faculty member]’s request, there was 1 IT staff member,” wrote John Millsaps, BOR open records officer.

BOR’s Open Records Act costsThe Collegian’s

July 18, 2012 ORA request:GPC faculty member’s

Aug. 15, 2012 ORA request:Information Technology

Services:2 system administrators

at 8 hours each (16 hours total)=

$1,073.44 =

$67.09/per hour

Information Technology Services:

1 system administrator at 3 hours

= $100.65

= $33.55/per hour

The Collegian has public records that the Board of Regents (BOR) claimed do not exist.

On August 15, a GPC faculty member, who wished to remain anonymous, submitted an Open Records Act request to the BOR for email correspondence between Rob Jenkins, GPC associate professor of English, and former BOR Chancellor Eroll Davis, Chancellor Hank Huckaby, John Fuchko, BOR chief audit officer, and Rob Watts, GPC interim president.

BOR Office of Media and Publications informed the faculty member that the approximate time to produce the documents would amount to three hours and cost an estimated $100.65.

On Sept. 21, the faculty member was told that there were “no documents” in response to the request, but

was still charged for search and retrieval.“I did not think I would be asked to pay for a

search that produced no documents,” wrote the faculty member in an email to the BOR.

However, the Collegian obtained documents identical to those requested by the faculty member in May.

One of Jenkins’ emails to Huckaby consists of a three page rant about the leadership of Dr. Anthony Tricoli, former GPC president, prior to the news of the budget deficit. Another email from Jenkins to Huckaby, which was used in a previous Collegian article, illustrates his approval of Tricoli’s removal.

The Collegian asked John Millsaps, BOR associate vice chancellor and open records officer, why there were “no responsive documents,” via email.

“Because the query did not generate any emails meeting the search criteria,” wrote Millsaps.

By David Schick

Collegian Staff

By Charlee Correia

Collegian Contributor

Contradiction

“ “

That’s my fault. I’ll take responsibility for that.

Commencement canceled Ou t r a g e d

OCTOBER 10, 2012 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM 3

Three GPC students thwarted a strong arm robbery attempt in Decatur’s B-building on Aug. 22, chasing off a potential thief who assaulted GPC student Melissa Monsanto.

Johnny Williams, Terrance Williams and Khamarris Washington were sitting in class when they heard a scream in the hallway. Through the open classroom door, they saw Monsanto struggling with her assailant.

“All three of us just jumped out of our seats,” said Johnny Williams.

The suspect fled the scene and was not apprehended despite a search by GPC public safety and DeKalb police.

The entire incident was captured by a campus security camera.

Nicolas Marinelli, director of public safety, showed the video to the Student

Government Association at the college wide meeting in Decatur on Sept. 28.

“I want you to see it, feel it,” said Marinelli before presenting the video. “I just want to heighten everyone’s awareness in this room.”

When the three heroes appeared in the video, the room erupted in applause.

Marinelli and Rob Watts, GPC interim president, presented the three with certificates of appreciation after showing the video.

“I’m so glad I got to say ‘thank you’ in front of the Student Government Association,” said Marinelli.

The students said they never had any doubt about their course of action.

“It was just on instinct,” said Terrance Williams.

Johnny Williams, who slipped during the chase, said he was disappointed he did not catch the perpetrator.

“I hate a thief,” said Johnny Williams.

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

(From left to right) Johnny Williams, Khamarris Washington, Chief Nicolas Marinelli, and Terrance Williams. Alan Simpson/Collegian Staff

“I wish I had a great answer for you,” replied Rob Watts, GPC interim president, to his first question from the college wide Student Government Association meeting held in Decatur’s F-building Sept. 28.

After being introduced by Vincent June, vice president of student affairs, Watts began his address to the SGA by jokingly commanding the room to sit down upon receiving a standing ovation.

The questions posed to Watts after he concluded his address, however, lacked the good humor shared moments before.

The flood began when Watts was asked why fall

commencement had been canceled, in the words of one student, “without fair warning.”

Watts explained that even with multiple on-campus ceremonies in the past, “We have not been able to accommodate all the people who want to come to graduation.”

He said the recommendation made to him for solving this problem was to hold a single commencement in May at the Atlanta Civic Center, which has ample room to seat all students’ guests.

He also mentioned that “saving money this year” was a priority, and though he expressed confidence that the plan for one commencement a year marked progress, he added, “It is a problem in the short run; I absolutely agree with you.”

Shrena Jenkins, Alpharetta SGA president, voiced concerns regarding the reduced hours and personnel in the tutoring center, “When can we see a change?”

Watts could not provide a timetable for any change.A Dunwoody SGA senator asked where the budget

for promoting the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and Engagement Drives GPC Education (EDGE) initiative came from, remarking that the costs of the campaign were curious given the school’s financial crisis.

Watts cited the recent visit from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), saying, “The accrediting body is very impressed with the QEP. Very impressed.” He added that SACS polled approximately 50 students at random from various campuses, and that all students questioned were able to provide informed answers about the QEP.

When asked if new policies were in place to prevent another fiscal disaster, Watts assured everyone, “This will not happen again.”

Students foil strong arm robbery

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

Student Government asks administration the hard questions

Your money is being spent without your input.You spend $45 in student activity fees which amounted to $2.17

million last spring, which was allocated by a SAF Budget Committee.After GPC’s financial crisis was revealed, $475,000 had to be cut from

the SAF budget and the Deans of Student Services Deborah Homer, Frank Nash, Mary Hickman-Brown, and Keith Cobbs got together and reallocated the budget without student input.

In order to get more insight on why the recommendation body was not gathered again, the Collegian contacted the deans involved in the reallocation of the SAF budget.

In the email on behalf of the Deans of Student Services, BOR Policy 7.3.2.1 was brought up, part of which states that “all mandatory fees shall be budgeted using proper administrative procedure which shall include the advice and counsel of an advisory committee composed of at least fifty percent (50%) students.”

The email went on to say that “the President has final authority and, through his designee, exercised the authority to bring the SAF FY2013 budget into balance after a serious deficit was discovered as part of the college’s larger budget crisis.”

“We did the best that we could do under the circumstances,” said Vincent June, vice president of student affairs to a college wide SGA meeting on Sept. 28 at Decatur campus. “Nothing we do here at the institution is done in secrecy.”

The current SGA presidents were asked for their thoughts on not being gathered to make the recommendations. Oliver Peterson, Decatur president, Mela Persaud, Newton president, and Orin Abdul Wassy, Clarkston president, believe that the deans had the best interests of both the school and the students in mind when making the decision to reallocate the budget.

However, Persaud said the deans, “could have included the students’ recommendations with their decisions ... I know that the Deans had the schools’ best interest in mind when making their decisions, even though it seemed unfair at first. Hopefully this part of GPC’s history never repeats itself.”

In contrast, Abdul Wassy believes that “it would have been near to impossible to call the budget committee back to session, let alone the student body having minimal knowledge as to what was fiscally happening with the school, in-order to make informed decisions.”

By Breanna Wimby

Collegian Staff

Voice of the students overlooked regarding allocation of student activity fees

Three good samaritans honored for valiant efforts in pubic safety

Administration decides how to spend your money


Features

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and one GPC student has stepped up to battle bullying in the school system and online.

“Unpause Your Life” is the new slogan of The Push Back Project, started by GPC student Polina Milter in January 2012 to combat bullying.

“It is an anti-bullying non-profit where we educate people about bullying and we also offer support groups with monthly meetings,” said Milter.

She started the Pushback Project after dealing with bullying herself and hopes to make a difference in other students lives.

“I was bullied in school and in 2009 I tried to commit suicide because I was so isolated and depressed all the time. I just decided I couldn’t handle it anymore,” said Milter. “Once I got help, I realized that no one should have to go through that alone.”

Miller hosts meetings at different locations around Atlanta, one being Gyro Gyro, one of the organization’s sponsors.

“It’s for all ages, because anyone can come to our meetings, but most of the people who come to our meetings are in high school or older. However, we do have a couple people coming from elementary school,” said Milter.

“We have parties, or we attend Alive After 5 in Roswell, which is just a bunch of vendors coming together, where everyone walks around and hangs out, we also did a big water balloon fight at a local tattoo shop… basically anywhere where there is an event and people will let us in we will go” said Milter.

Milter has found that a lot of people have been really supportive of her cause, especially on social media.

“Facebook is a big thing for places like this now, because everything goes on Facebook. When we first started it was hard to get 20 Facebook likes, but now it’s 200 and most of the people are people I don’t even know, like people from different states,” said Milter.

Most of the organization’s information is posted on Facebook so that it is available to anyone.

Milter has also been talking to the Dunwoody Police department about doing some informational talks, but at this point she has not had any informational speakers at her meetings.

Milter reported that she is still in the set-up phase and still working on getting everything put together. She wants to get the word out that there are laws against bullying and hopes to inform students of their rights.

“I hope it’s big, and helps a lot of people. In terms of how big and effective I would like the organization to be, I want it to be somewhere along the lines of the No-Hate campaign, where everyone knows it and everyone knows where to go if they need it,” said Milter.

Milter wants people to understand that the Push Back Project stands up to any kind of bullying, whether it is verbal, physical, or cyber.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Push Back Project, visit their Facebook Page “The Push Back Project” or to donate go to http://www.gofundme.com/ThePushBackProject.

By Erin Cotter

Collegian Staff

The Collegian got a sneak preview of the new movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower, written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, which was released in theaters Friday, Sept. 28.

It is a fun, inspiring and lively coming of age “dramedy” (drama/comedy) starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller.

The movie follows a high school freshman, Charlie, played by Lerman, who navigates his way through the path of being a high school outcast. He discovers solace with his friendships of two seniors, Sam, played by Watson, and her step-brother Patrick, played by Miller.

Sam and Patrick take Charlie under their wing and include him in their merry band of misfits, with whom he finds strength and support.

Lerman’s acting skills are showcased with his portrayal of a young teen suffering from a past of psychological distress. Along the way Charlie learns that this

eccentricities are nothing to hide.Watson’s performance is

fantastic throughout the movie. Through her character, she captivates the struggles of many high school seniors, including the romanticism of high school relationships and the anxiety about college admissions.

The movie also showcases other stars like Mae Whitman, who plays Mary Elizabeth, currently stars in the NBC series “Parenthood” and Nina Dobrev, from the CW’s “Vampire Diaries,” who plays Charlie’s older sister.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is not all “feel good.” It displays the “behind-closed-doors” conflicts teenagers face from sexuality, to mental health, to domestic abuse. Many college students will be able to relate to the character’s high school struggles and may even still be facing similar problems while in college.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is rated PG-13 and includes some minor drug use and sexual situations. It is a must see for all and is a great way to start the fall season.

By Erin Cotter

Collegian Staff

Perky reviewThe Perks of Being a Wallflower not your average teen movie

Victims push bullies backStudent creates a nonprofit group to combat bullying and to provide support

Polina Milter, founder of the Pushback Project/Photo courtesy of Milter

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Mac n Cheese

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Breakfast Menu

Off The Grill

Entree and Lunch


Features

The Collegian sat down with Stephen Chbosky, author, director and screenwriter of the new movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Chbosky’s most notable work includes the musical-turned-movie known as Rent and his television series Jericho.

Chbosky’s latest project is film adaptation of his 1999 novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Chbosky’s book has been published in 14 countries and in 12 different languages.

Q: When did you start working on the screenplay and realize that the book would become a movie?

A: I started working on the screenplay probably a few years ago. I always wanted it to be a movie so there wasn’t a moment that I thought it wouldn’t be a great movie, it was more like always my dream to make it a film as well.

Q: What was the process of turning your novel into a screenplay?

A: Well you know how it works, it’s tricky, because the novel is 250 pages long, and if you wrote a 250 page screenplay they would want to commit you, because it would be a monstrously long movie. So the process is trying to find the essence of every character and every story line and boiling it down to just the smallest, smallest bite.

Q: When you are writing teen-friendly movies, do you have a soft spot for the teenage years?

A: Yes, it’s such a dramatic time and a beautiful time, but it’s also so complicated ... In those years, comes all this art and entertainment thrown at you ... some of it is really good and some of it cares, but some of it just wants your dollars.

Q: Do you have a creative window?A: I do. When I write I like mornings ... As long as I

can get something written before 1:00 p.m., before lunch time, I’m really happy, and if I don’t I always feel like I goofed that day.

Q: When you work on a project like this do you work on other things as well or is this the center of your attention?

A: It is the absolute center. We got the green-light in February 2011 and it has been my full time job, basically ever since. It takes over your life practically. If it weren’t for the fact that I adore my wife and I love our baby, I would be all consumed.

Q: Are there any direct reflections of you in the movie?A: Yeah, some. You know, I don’t like to go into detail

about what actually happened in my life and what didn’t happen in my life and I will tell you why: I see this movie as a great baton that I’m passing.

Q: What was the hardest part about directing the film?A: It wasn’t directing, it was the writing ... the book is

all through Charlie’s lens and so I had to take the same characters, the same catharsis, the same emotions and the same intimacy and find a way to look at it the other way. That was really tricky.

By Erin Cotter

Collegian Staff

Director Stephen Chbosky, Actress Emma Watson, and Actor Logan Leman on the set. Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Interview with author, screenwriter and director Stephen Chbosky




Campus NewsDunwoodyAlpharetta

Clarkston

Last summer, students and faculty pitched in to grow organic foods on Decatur Campus and gave away five hundred pounds of food to The United Methodist Children’s Home.

“I don’t think we will match the five hundred pounds we gave last year, but we will be donating quite a lot,” said Dr. Tyrie Smith, an English professor at Decatur campus and one of the managers of the community garden since the spring semester. “Right now we’re planting fall crops, primarily leafy greens and some root veggies ... We use only organic fertilizers and do not use any chemical pesticides or herbicides. And we grow primarily heirloom varieties.”

Just like many other cities in modern times, Decatur has grown into a place where virtually all food is bought from farms in other areas or sometimes from other states across the country.

Smith is passionate about reversing that effect, striving “to alleviate that disconnect between modernity and nature.” The community garden is a perfect place for that gap to shrink for Decatur students.

Crime is not viewed as a top tier issue at the Dunwoody campus.

Dunwoody campus is located in a quiet middle class suburban area, unlike some of GPC’s other campus locations that are handicapped to criminal acts.

“Dunwoody is probably the safest GPC campus. It is located in a quiet community, so it does not have a problem with criminal activity as with some of the other campuses, “ said officer Shannon Hall, GPC Police.

“Public Safety needs to work more on pursuing every case especially in cases of theft,” said Abdul Fashola, a business major at Dunwoody, and a victim of theft.

“I believe Public Safety is too comfortable because they are seen having conversations, and texting while they are obviously on duty. Dunwoody may be considered a safe campus, but it can also be considered the

most dangerous because of how relaxed the campus appears to be,” said Jauquinn McCullough, vice president of Dunwoody’s Student Government Association.

The fact is, public safety cannot be everywhere and see everything.

The key to your safety, and the safety of your fellow students, is in reporting anything that may be deemed as suspicious and following up with cases that you’ve reported.

1. Get acquainted with the location of the public safety room and call boxes on your campus.

2. Pay attention to JAG alerts.3. Do not leave anything of value in

your car.4. Always be aware of your

surroundings.

Footage of papers being taken from GPC security camera in Clarkston’s N-Building

Nearly 600 copies of the Sept. 26 issue of the Collegian were stolen from Clarkston campus the evening of Sept. 26.

Cameras in Clarkston’s student center recorded the theft of almost 400 newspapers from the rack by the Campus Cafe, perpetrated by four unknown females.

Another 200 newspapers were taken from the rack in C-building.

In the video provided by GPC Public Safety, a group of four females can be seen approaching the Collegian newspaper rack. One takes the lead, seizing the approximately 200 papers from the top shelf of the rack as the other three observe. Then a second female follows suit, lifting all but a few copies from the second shelf.

“We haven’t found any leads,” said

Lieutenant Terry Payne, who oversees public safety on Clarkston campus.

Payne said he believes one of the females appears to be an adult and possibly a GPC student, but added, “It looks like the other three are juveniles.”

Public safety issued an advisory to faculty and staff to be on the lookout for the group.

David Schick, editor in chief of the Collegian, calculated the damages at roughly $77 based on print costs.

With the motive unknown, public safety is writing a general information report rather than a theft report.

The Collegian and GPC public safety are currently investigating the matter. The security video can be viewed at http://www.collegiannews.com/2012/10/inky-fingers-600-copies-of-student-newspaper-taken.

Please report any tips or leads to the Collegian at (678) 891 - 3382 or Public Safety at (678) 891-3657.

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

As a part of the “Walk Yourself to Wellness” program, Decatur Health and Wellness began a fall walking program on Sept. 23 with a new goal in mind this semester.

When walkers finish this program, they will have walked to Miami.

Of course they won’t literally reach the city, but the goal for all walkers is 662 miles; the distance from Decatur to Miami.

There are two outdoor courses for the traditional walkers, one half mile and the other one and a half miles.

For the ones who want to stay indoors, there is an indoor course that is about a about a third of a mile and miles can be

completed on the treadmill, elliptical or bike machines.

Each walker documents their miles and gives them to Health and Wellness every Friday after he or she registers.

The more miles that are completed, the more walkers qualify for incentives, which will be given out on November 12th.

Even without the material benefits, all walkers will benefit from the exercise.

Walking isn’t just for calorie burning, it increases cardiovascular activity, which creates better blood flow to the heart and also increases flexibility, reduces stress, and keeps joints healthy.

Those who have not registered still have the opportunity to participate in a great program with great benefits.

For more information about the program, contact Arlette Ross at [email protected].

Inky fingers: nearly 600 newspapers taken

By Kierra Johnson

Collegian Staff

By Tammy Woolcock

Collegian Staff

It’s quiet, too quiet

By Kierra Johnson

Collegian Staff

Green thumbs grow hope

When Katie Jacobs was diagnosed with lupus in 2010, she thought she was given a death sentence.

Jacobs had few resources, no support from her family and little knowledge about the disease.

“When I was diagnosed, the first call I made was to the Lupus Foundation of America,” said Jacobs. She recalled going to her first meeting days after she was diagnosed. “I met people just like me who helped me through the rough times and taught me how to speak to my doctors and the right questions to ask,” notes Jacobs.

When Jacobs’ partner decided to move from their home in Texas to Roswell, Ga., she lost her support group. She attempted to find one in Georgia and in the beginning was unsuccessful. They were too far away

from her new home.She couldn’t imagine not having the

support she had in Texas.Jacobs decided to start her own support

group in Roswell, Ga. She contacted the Lupus Foundation of America once more and became a trained operator.

“If I can reach out and be that person for just one individual then I have made a difference. That is why I started this group.”

The support group Katie started in Roswell had its first meeting on Sept. 15.

The group meets the third Saturday of every month from 1-3 p.m. at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Rd, Roswell, Ga. 30075.

If you would like to participate or have any questions, you can email Katie at [email protected] or call (214) 597-9049.

More information about lupus can be found at lupusga.org.

Battling lupusBy Georgina Villani


Decatur

Dr. Tyre Smith. Kierra Johnson/Collegian Staff

Walk to MiamiDecatur

Public Safety tips




Campus NewsNewton

One of the best resources that GPC Newton campus offers is the student fitness center, located on the main floor in building 2N.

In a society that is constantly focusing on body image, healthy habits and weight loss, the student fitness center is an aid for Newton campus students.

The center is available to every student and faculty member with school I.D.

The fitness center has some of the newest fitness equipment available, including a wide range of cardio machines and free weights. Though the center is small, students should not hesitate to get in and get fit.

“Don’t worry about who is here and who is watching you, your health is what matters, not who is watching you exercise,” said Zamir Wisrael, a GPC student who can be found manning the desk in the fitness center Monday through Thursday. “The consequences of not coming are far greater than those who do not take advantage of the center.”

The center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Newton is a small campus, so there is less traffic in the fitness center,” said Wisrael. “There is usually no wait for machines and there is no time limit for use.”

Student Government Association is fed up with students ignoring the smoking policy on Clarkston campus.

“I feel like there is very little sense of accountability,” said Nate Aab, wellness chair for Clarkston SGA. “If they are standing right next to the door, as soon as I open that door, smoke’s coming inside.”

Aab said he intends to regroup the smoking committee so the current smoking policy may either be revised or abolished. He said the committee would consider revisions such as creating designated smoking areas like the one Dunwoody has, abolishing the policy or creating a smoke-free campus.

The SGA brought up smoking with Rob Watts, GPC interim president, at the college wide meeting Sept. 28 at Decatur campus.

“I see it as an either/or thing,” said Watts. “Do you

want smoking or not?” Watts added that the feedback he has received in the past indicated that GPC students as a whole did not want smoking prohibited on campus.

Aab said making GPC a smoke-free campus would be “very difficult to do.”

Clarkston’s smoking policy declares that any smoking student must be 20 feet from the building, but a common place for students on Clarkston campus to smoke is right in front of the library doors.

Georgia law states that smokers must maintain a “reasonable distance” from any building where smoking is prohibited to ensure “that those indoors and those entering or leaving the smoke-free area are not involuntarily exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.”

There are few signs on campus stating the current policy.

“The biggest need right now would probably be a way to enforce any plan we were to try and implement,” said Aab. “The lack of signage is something we also have to look at.”

By Lanaari Wilder


Photo illustration by Breanna Wimby/Collegian Staff

Do you care where students smoke? Do you know of GPC’s smoking policy?

GPC Smoking Survey

No55%

Yes45%

No42% Yes

58%

Survey based on 107 students

Where there’s smoke...By Victoria Healy

Collegian Staff

The GPC Student Health Center is holding a Flu Clinic this month for faculty and students only. The clinic will operate on Oct. 11, 18, and 25, from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The Student Health Center is located in Building H, room 1210, on the Clarkston campus and vaccinations are free to campus students, $10 for online students and faculty.

It is important to get a new flu vaccination every year, because the virus is always changing. “You have to understand, with any virus, they’re really smart,” said Tawanda Smith, registered nurse at the Student Health Center. “They know how to adapt, overcome and grow stronger so they won’t die. That’s the main goal of any species -- to survive. So with a virus, it’s smart enough to adapt, change its DNA and survive.”

A flu vaccination is comprised of a dead flu virus which helps your body build antibodies against the new strand. When you come up against the new virus, your body already knows how to fight it.

“I’ve had the flu shot before, but I missed it last year and I got sick,” said Ashley Wise, nursing student on GPC’s Clarkston campus. “It’s important to make sure you’re healthy throughout the winter months, so I think it’s important you get it.”

By Anthony Cerullo


Savanna Littleton receiving her vaccination at the Student Health Center.Ashley Montia/Collegian Contributor

Clarkston

Clarkston

Shed your shame

Free flu shots






For more information, visit

www.gsu.edu/panthertransfer

Look AheadThere’s still time to

apply for GSU Spring 2013

Tuesday, October 16 – Newton

Thursday, October 18 – Decatur

Tuesday, October 23 – Dunwoody

Tuesday, October 23 – Alpharetta (from 4 – 7 p.m.)

Wednesday, October 31 – Clarkston

GSU AT GPC

To help you learn more about applying to GSU, our counselors will be on your campus the following days in October from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

transfer student applications for

Spring 2013 through Nov. 1, 2012.

GSU’s Office of Admissions is accepting

Sports

10/10 - 3:00 p.m. Georgia Military College

10/12 - 4:00 p.m. Abraham Baldwin A.C.

10/14 - 11:00 a.m. (19) Cape Fear C.C.

10/16 - 3:00 p.m. South Georgia College

10/23 - GCAA play-in game (if necessary)

10/13 - 2:00 p.m. @ South Georgia College

10/16 - 6:00 p.m. @ Georgia Military College

10/20 - 4:00 p.m. @ Oglethorpe University

10/23 - GCAA play-in game (if necessary)

The GPC women’s soccer team vaulted into the NJCAA poll Oct. 3, moving into the top 20 for the first time since the preseason poll.

The seventh-ranked Jaguars (10-0) have only conceded goals in three games this season, outscoring their opponents 44-4.

The women finish their regular season with four home games, highlighted by a visit from 19th-ranked Cape Fear Community College, also unbeaten.

Men’s soccer update

Women’s soccer update

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

Men hit rough patch

Foward Ronald Calle settles the ball under pressure. James Pennie/Collegian Staff

A four-game losing streak dropped the men’s soccer team below .500 for the first time this season.

The Jaguars (5-6, 4-3) still have a winning record within the GCAA, as three of the losses were to teams from different regions, including two to Spartanburg Methodist. The men have played a tough non-conference schedule.

An extra time loss to South Georgia at home on Sept. 22 began what has turned out to be the Jaguars’ worst stretch this season.

The Jaguars have failed to score a goal in the last three games.

GPC remains third in GCAA standings, behind South Georgia and ahead of Middle Georgia. The Jaguars face both teams in the coming week, as Middle Georgia visits Dunwoody before the Jaguars travel to Douglas to face a South Georgia team now ranked 11th nationally.

DominatingUnbeaten jags enter national poll at seventh

october 10, 2012 issue

Documents

tammy woolcocknews editor

ashley oglesbyphoto

victoria healyphoto

kierra johnson news

fall commencement ceremony

p p r o p r

gpc community

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