september 26 issue

8
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 | VOLUME 26 NO. 4 | Visit online at www.collegiannews.com | THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987 Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/collegiannews Follow us on Twitter! @GPCollegian Alpharetta Clarkston Decatur Dunwoody Newton Open positions discussed at SGA meeting page 6 Good samaritan helps GPC police catch trespasser page 3 Voting drive to get youth population registered page 6 Budget cuts and spending money on student uniforms page 6 Finger prints now ID where donated blood comes from page 6 Board of Regents audit University System of Georgia releases special review of GPC’s budget deficit that brings more questions than answers page 3 Student weighs in on controversial ‘Innocence of Muslims’ video page 4 Freshman always at home on the field page 5 Tennessee Transfer What you don’t know about your Higher One card page 3 What’s your favorite app? We asked, you answered page 7

Upload: gpc-collegian

Post on 31-Mar-2016

239 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

The Collegian of Georgia Perimeter College

TRANSCRIPT

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 | VOLUME 26 NO. 4 | Visit online at www.collegiannews.com | THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987

Like us on Facebook!www.facebook.com/collegiannews

Follow us on Twitter!@GPCollegian

Alpharetta Clarkston Decatur Dunwoody NewtonOpen positions

discussed at SGA meetingpage 6

Good samaritan helps GPC police catch trespasser

page 3

Voting drive to get youth population

registeredpage 6

Budget cuts and spending money on

student uniformspage 6

Finger prints now ID where donated blood comes from

page 6

Board of Regents audit

University System of Georgia releases special review of GPC’s budget deficit that brings more questions than answers

page 3

Student weighs in on controversial ‘Innocence of Muslims’ video

page 4

Freshman always at home on the field

page 5

Tennessee Transfer

What you don’t know about your Higher One card

page 3

What’s your favorite app?

We asked, you

answered

page 7

2 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

AccountingAdministrative ManagementBiologyChemistryCommunication & Media StudiesComputer Network Tech (Cert)Computer ScienceCriminal JusticeDental HygieneEnglishGeneral BusinessHealth Care ManagementHealth and Fitness ManagementHistoryInformation TechnologyIntegrative StudiesLegal StudiesLiberal StudiesManagement

MarketingMathematicsMiddle Level EducationMusicNursingParalegal Studies (Cert and AAS)PhilosophyPolitical SciencePre-dentistry trackPre-engineering trackPre-law trackPre-pharmacy trackPre-medicine trackPre-veterinary trackPsychology & Human ServicesSociologySupply Chain ManagementTechnology ManagementTheatre

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS:

Clayton State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree, the baccalaureate degree and the master’s degree.Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Clayton State University.

Check out your baccalaureate degree options at CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY.

Explore your opportunities now!Make the transfer to your bachelor’s degree program smoother

Add a new dimension to your current studies, focused on your desired outcomes

Ensure that your coursework fits in with your prospective program

Aspire for a career – not just a job!

Have questions?Contact us at [email protected].

Check out www.clayton.edu for information about making Clayton State part of your transfer goals.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM 3

A faculty member returned from summer vacation August 6 to find her CD player missing from her office.

After some coaxing, the faculty member revealed it was not the first time things had gone missing. Before her summer vacation, she noticed cans of Coke and Mexican candy had been taken as well. It turns out this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Further investigation revealed this apparent cat-burglar was also striking other offices, leaving no signs of forced entry and making off with drinks and sandwiches with frightening frequency.

Keep your friends close, but keep your foods closer.

Who needs the password? I have the key.On June 29, GPC Public Safety learned that a school-owned

Macbook Pro, worth $1350, had been stolen from a storage closet in what should have been a locked room.

On July 20, it was discovered that a $2,000 P.A. system belonging to SGA was missing from a locked storage room. A GPC staff member said she observed at least three sets of SGA keys left unattended in the SGA offices prior to the theft.

Another school computer, this time a Dell Latitude laptop, was discovered missing August 11 from a locked file drawer. There were no signs of forced entry, and the device is still missing.

By Alan Simpson

Illustration by Darian Mathews

Junk food bandit at large

The Board of Regents (BOR) answered the how and why GPC’s budget deficit occurred in an official audit report released Sept. 20, by the University System of Georgia (USG).

“There were a number of individuals that had failed to exercise oversight in a proper manner,” said John Millsaps, associate vice chancellor of media and publications, in an interview on Sept. 21.

Millsaps explained that according to BOR policy the “ultimate responsibility for the management and governance of the institution” lies with the president.

The special review, conducted by the Office of Internal Audit and Compliance (OIAC), summarized that “GPC’s fiscal challenges were preventable,” had the shortfall been detected “in any given year leading up to FY12.”

According to the report, there was no fraud and the conclusion was that senior financial GPC administrators didn’t perform their duties.

Each one of GPC’s former fiscal leadership team, which included former President Anthony Tricoli, former Excutive Vice-President of Financial and Administrative Affairs and Chief Business Officer (CBO) Ron Carruth, former Budget Director Mark Gerspacher and former Assistant Vice-President (AVP) for Financial and Administrative Affairs Sheletha Champion, all claim “to have been unaware of GPC’s fiscal condition.”

The audit also states that the AVP knew of over-expenditures in the budget in June 2011 “when a

consultant informed her of the possibility,” and “even after she was made aware of this possibility, the problem was not remedied.”

Additionally, “budget reporting was inaccurate, budgets were not correctly loaded into the financial system, numerous individuals could override the flawed budgets that were loaded in the system, and budget development essentially ignored actual financial experience.”

What about oversights from the Board of Regents or the university system?

“We do have oversight, they do conduct audits,” said Millsaps. “We try to provide institutions a lot of flexibility and latitude, for example, the way the allocations and our budgets work. The Board of Regents do a budget allocation to the institutions as a lump sum allocation that has very few specific strings attached to it. It is the presidents’ responsibility to manage the budget that is provided to them.”

Essentially, the how and why audit answers of GPC’s budget deficit amount to – everyone dropped the ball, but no one saw it drop.

In regards to the question, where did the money go?

The audit states, “it is difficult to determine exactly where the budget was overspent,” but several pages later cites a $16.8 million increase in personal services from 2009 to 2012, which correlates to an inaccuracy in the calculation of ”fringe benefits.”

How did the other outside audits and state auditors miss this?

“That’s a question for the state audit department,” said Millsaps.

The morning of August 22, Sintayehu Melaru, a non-GPC student, was arrested for criminal trespass on the Clarkston campus.

Melaru was spotted suspiciously pulling on vehicle door handles by a GPC student through parking lot number six located near buildings G and B.

The student called Public Safety and immediately informed them.

Melaru was then escorted to

the Public Safety office after being identified by dispatched officers as a suspect who had been issued a criminal trespass warning in March 2011. The warning stated that he was not to return to any GPC campus or property.

With this recent incident, Public Safety officers are organizing different patrol procedures to help keep a high level of police surveillance. Clarkston campus is an open campus and it is normally used as a shortcut by residents and students of the community. This makes it easier for many non-GPC

individuals to intermingle with the student body.

Lt. Terry Payne, of the GPC police, encourages students to immediately report any suspicious activity to Public Safety and program GPC Public Safety phone numbers in your cell phone.

“Be aware of surroundings and remain vigilant at all times. Keep items in vehicles out of plain view. Monitor your computer, cell phone, and personal property at all times,” said Lt. Payne.

By LaNaarai Wilder

Collegian Contributor

Student catches criminal in the act

1. All records of tracking, monitoring, or calculating the amount of time spent by Information Technology Service (ITS) administrators or staff to respond to the Collegian Open Records Act requests of

a. May 10, 2012b. May 25, 2012c. June 8, 2012.

2. If any of the material requested by the Collegian in its Open Records Act requests of May 10, 2012, May 25, 2012, or June 8, 2012 was previously requested by another person or entity, then please provide all records of tracking, monitoring, or calculating the amount of time spent by ITS administrators or staff to respond to the corresponding Open Records Act requests of those persons or entities.

3. All records of tracking, monitoring, or calculating the amount of time spent ITS administrators or staff associated with responding to the Open Records Act request of Matthew Maguire submitted on May 15, 2012 (copy enclosed).

By David Schick

Collegian Staff

‘Fiscal challenges were preventable’GPC’s former financial leadership team held responsible for budget deficit

Sept. 24, 2012Open Records Request

Higher One accused of targeting colleges

Industry leading banks and financial firms were accused of targeting colleges and taking advantage of students in a phone conference hosted by Rich Williams, higher education advocate for U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).

“Big banks are at it again,” observed Ann Johnson, director of Campus Progress, a national activist group for students.

Each school year, Higher One, Wells Fargo and other banks distribute substantial payouts, revenue sharing deals, and large reductions in administrative costs to GPC and almost 900 campuses nationwide.

According to PIRG Education Fund reports, almost 900 of 7,300 campuses participating in the federal financial aid program now have banking partnerships.

A recent report, The Campus Debit Card Trap, released by PIRG, documents that campus debit cards can be linked with high fees, such as up to $38 overdraft or non-sufficient fund fees per item, high ATM fees ranging from $2 to $5 if using a different bank ATM and other service fees which can nickel and dime away precious dollars.

“Banks are deceitful. You would think that your school would choose a bank that helps students avoid overdraft fees and other service fees. I don’t trust that Higher One and Wells Fargo has students’ best interest at heart,” said GPC student Charlee Correia.

Higher One, which is located on all GPC campuses, is the biggest firm in the business. Securities and Exchange Commission filings state that Higher One makes 80% of its revenues by siphoning fees from student disbursement cards, totaling $142.5 million of it’s 176.3 million total revenues in 2011.

These fees include ATM, inactivity fees, overdraft fees, interchange fees imposed on merchants who accept cards and other transactions fees.

“Students think they are getting fair and unbiased advice when they see the college logo,” said Williams. “But many times, schools are getting financial perks for their endorsement while students are stuck with high bank fees.”

Rohit Chopra, student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, joined the call to offer tips for students looking to make financial choices freely, without the deceit. He encourages students to shop around and not be limited by banks operating ATMs on or near campus.

Students can rest assured that some financial institutions don’t charge for using any ATMs and some will automatically reimburse you for fees charged for using an out of network ATM. Many institutions also provide a mobile phone app to remotely deposit paper checks.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would like students to visit their website and inform them of their good and bad experiences with banking.

For more information visit:consumerfinance.gov/studentsuspirg.orgcampusprogress.org

By Ashley Oglesby

Collegian Staff

In an attempt to figure out why the cost of the Collegian’s July 18 Open Records Act request was

quoted at $1882, the Collegian has submitted the above request to the University System of Georgia.

The three previous requests were provided to the Collegian at no charge.

By David Schick

Collegian Staff

Hidden fees attached to your GPC debit card revealed

4 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

How come so many people choose to use social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter to deal with personal problems when so many times the end result is negative?

Is it the fact that when people post text or images online that they are not face to face with other people? Or is it because they develop a different character by living vicariously through the Internet identity?

For example, if a person makes a nasty comment about his or her boss, they could be thinking that if that boss is neither “friend” nor “follower” on the website it’s hardly likely for the boss to see it. Or say a video of a fight was intentionally recorded and posted online by someone who does not think he or she will suffer any legal consequences .The reasoning for both cases has been shown over and over to be bad reasoning since the material posted can easily get back to anyone.

So why do people continue to attack others through comments, post inappropriate pictures and give

constant, detailed updates of their lives that make some people want to scream “TMI?” In my opinion, websites like Facebook and Twitter are becoming personal electronic journals. The average person does not keep a paper journal anymore but still wants to be able to recount the good and bad things that have happened. Social media websites have become an outlet for many people who may not even have real friends available to socialize with offline.

Another viewpoint of why people reveal so much of their personal lives on the Internet that there is no thought process that kicks in at all before they post material, meaning the ability to say whatever you want to the whole world at any given time is right at an individual’s fingertips. In a way these kinds of websites make it extremely easy for a people to stick their foot in their mouth. However, it is never the responsibility of a social media website what a person chooses to post on the internet, so beware! These kinds of websites are definitely around to help you air your dirty laundry but depending on the content you will be the one to suffer the consequences.

Our Voice

Veggie Omelette

Pancakes & Syrup

Egg & Cheese Biscut

Hashbrowns

$3.99

$3.99

$0.99

$0.99

$5.99

$5.99

$4.59

$4.99

$4.99

$4.99

$3.99

$3.99

$2.99

$2.99

$4.79

$3.99

$4.49

$3.99

$2.99

Cheese Quesadilla w/ Salsa

Veggie Quesadilla w/ Salsa

Veggie Burger

Veggie Philly

6” Veggie Max Sub

6” Veggie Max Wrap

6” Veggie Delight Sub

Garden Salad

Veggie Lasagna

Mac n Cheese

Veggie Pizza

Fruit Salad

Cheese Pizza

Cheese and Grapes

Veggie Sticks

Breakfast Menu

Off The Grill

Entree and Lunch

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].

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDavid Schick

EXECUTIVE EDITORBreanna Wimby

ASSOCIATE EDITORSErin CotterAlan Simpson

ALPHARETTA CAMPUSManaging editor: Veronica GrutaNews editor: Photo editor:

CLARKSTON CAMPUS Managing editor: Ashley OglesbyNews editor:Photo editor: James Penny DECATUR CAMPUSManaging editor: Kierra Johnson News editor: Kaila Thompson Photo editor:

DUNWOODY CAMPUSManaging editor: Tammy WoolcockNews editor: Leslie MelePhoto editor:

NEWTON CAMPUSManaging editor: Victoria HealeyPhoto editor: Jahret Rainey

COLLEGEWIDESports Editor: Rachel MillinStaff Illustrator: Darian Mathews

There was recently a high school-quality video clip released about the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

If you’ve seen it, you’d likely think it’s pointless, or at least just plain weird. The range of responses seems to be all over the board. The aftermath of this video, “The Innocence of Muslims,” has ranged from offense and discontent to deadly violence.

The deaths of four Americans in Libya are said to have been in response to the video – a plot conceived in rage and indignation.

To attempt to get a better understanding of these events may prove to be futile; however, I have to ask myself, what’s the purpose of a video like this?

The video portrays the prophet as a drinking, child molesting, backwards and uncouth boor, to put it nicely.

It’s a stretch to think its aim was to inform – no one could ever take a video like this seriously. I can’t help but think it was only to provoke.

Let me be clear, there was no justification, by any means, for the killing of innocent victims by an angry mob. Even during his own time, Muhammad was accused of being a liar, apostate, hypocrite, etc.

His command, however, was not violence or even retaliation. He and his followers, living under desperate oppression for decades, did nothing but tolerate injustice and slander. But at what point does one cross the line?

For those who had a part in this project, the line is no longer even within sight.

In presenting this topic to others, I’ve come across

terms like “freedom of speech,” and “censorship.” In my view, voiced opinions, however unfavorable, are not the same as hate crimes. Defamation and slander are civil crimes, and this video was malicious at best.

So if the purpose was to provoke, then why? Just to taunt and anger Muslims? To make the intemperate fury of a few the label for all? To feed the jaded, ravenous press its delectable fodder (If you don’t believe me, then why don’t you know about the ongoing torture and genocide of Muslims in Burma)?

The answers to such questions are beyond me. They may even be beyond the video’s producer. I suspect even he couldn’t have foreseen its effects.

Regardless, perhaps we should all take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture in the conflicts of Islam to put things in their true perspective.

Despite anti-Islamic efforts, it’s worth noting that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. What’s more, after the September 11 attacks, there was a sharp increase in Islamic conversions throughout the world, sparked by curiosity from people who merely wanted to learn more about the religion than they got from schooling or the news.

The testimony of more than a billion people (and counting) don’t compare to spiteful trifles like this video.

Still, the confusion and ignorance is so profound and contagious it’s infecting even the Muslim population like a virus. Vaccinate yourself, lest your reason should be crippled too.

It would behoove you to take in secondhand information with a grain of salt and keep your eyes and ears wide open. Our best hope for progress is always the path of enlightenment, not the path of falling in line like livestock.

By Daylan El Naamani

Collegian Contributor

Muslim student takes stance on hot topic issue

Unjustified violence

By Johanna Zimmerman

Collegian Contributor

Airing out your digital laundry

Like us on Facebook!www.facebook.com/collegiannews

Follow us on Twitter!@GPCollegian

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM 5

Sports

In many ways, Caroline “Cari” Haaland is your average 18-year-old in her first semester at GPC. What makes Cari not so average is how she came to live in Georgia away from her family in Tennessee.

The third of four children, Cari was home-schooled until third grade, and both of her parents were greatly involved in her life. Her dad coached soccer for American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) each season and started teaching Cari and her siblings how to play together in their backyard.

Cari soon started playing for one of her dad’s teams at AYSO.

Cari was offered a scholarship to GPC in 2011. She was eager to attend but had to decide if she was ready to leave her family in

Tennessee. Her older brother was struggling

with depression, drug abuse and homelessness. Sadly, her family learned in April 2012 that he had committed suicide in November 2011.

Cari was bereaved over her brother’s death but decided it was time to leave her family and pursue a degree at GPC.

Cari now plays soccer for the Jaguars. Her first game was against Gordon College in Barnesville, Ga. “Being able to play for a college is exciting,” Cari said. The team has a lot of freshmen who Cari said are still learning to work together.

Even though Cari is away from her immediate family, she has an aunt and uncle who live not too far from the Clarkston campus. Cari is looking forward to continuing this new phase of her life.

By Rachel Millin

Collegian Staff

An early goal from Kacey McInerney propelled the women’s soccer team to a sixth straight victory Sept. 18 in front of a sparse crowd at Clarkston’s Hallford Stadium.

The lone goal came early in the game, as the Jaguars moved a counterattack quickly through the midfield, finding a wide-open McInerney behind the defense, who squeaked the shot just past the keeper and inside the post . Middle Georgia’s coach pleaded with the officials for an offside call to no avail.

The undefeated Jaguars had to withstand a frantic second-half comeback effort from the Warriors. Middle Georgia forward Ke’Shaun Holley led the charge most of the way. Strong defensive play from Alex Truitt and Iris Gonzalez and late saves from goalkeeper Rose Okechukwu preserved the shutout. Okechukwu has given up only one goal while filling in for injured keeper Taylor Strickland.

GPC’s fast-paced offense caused plenty of scares for the visiting Warriors, but the Jaguars were frequently unable to collect the ball in a position to score. The field turf in the stadium may have had an impact, as through-balls often skipped and rolled beyond the reach of their intended targets.

The Jaguars continued to press forward on offense in the second half, which made the midfield susceptible to counterattack. Middle Georgia was able to push forward freely as the GPC midfield chased in vain.

“We need to work on fitness,” Coach Bruno Kalonji said after

the game.Gonzalez, the Jaguars’ left back,

seemed to be involved in every play, generating pressure in the attack by carrying the ball up the wing and playing physical defense. Gonzalez was cautioned in the second half for a reckless aerial challenge on a header.

Defensive midfielder Cari Haaland stayed active in the middle of the field, turning defensive stops into counterattacks with thoughtful distribution.

Sable Thompson and Courtney Dobeck kept very high pressure on the wings most of the game. At times GPC appeared to have four strikers.

Despite its 6-0 record, GPC continues to be overlooked in the national poll. Since starting the season ranked 17th, the Jaguars have done nothing but win, outscoring opponents 22-1. In consecutive weeks, GPC knocked off two ranked opponents on the road, beating Darton (ranked 16th at the time) Sept. 7 and South Georgia (who was 12th) Sept. 14. Still the women have been left out of the NJCAA top 20 all September.

Women’s soccerupcoming schedule

9/28 4 p.m. @ Abraham Baldwin10/2 3 p.m. Andrew College10/5 4 p.m. @ Middle Georgia10/10 3 p.m. Georgia Military College

The GPC men’s soccer team dropped all the way out of the NJCAA top 20 from a season-high sixth after falling 4-1 on the road to Spartanburg Methodist in South Carolina.

The Jaguars answered with two region wins, improving to 4-1 in GCAA play and 5-2 overall. The men will have a chance to climb back into the rankings when they travel to Albany for a rematch with top-ranked Darton, who beat the

Jaguars in extra time in their first meeting this season.

Men’s soccerupcoming schedule

9/30 12 p.m. Jefferson College10/6 2 p.m. @ (1) Darton College10/9 4 p.m. Middle Georgia College

By Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

Women triupmh in Clarkston debutJaguars shut out Middle Georgia and remain undefeated

Freshman separated from family to play soccer for Jaguars

Men fall from rankingsBy Alan Simpson

Collegian Staff

Rematch with top-ranked Darton looms

Like us on Facebook!www.facebook.com/collegiannews

Follow us on Twitter!@GPCollegian

Left defebder Iris Gonzales wnning the ball. Alan Simpson/Collegian Staff

Caroline Haaland

6 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Campus News

Attire was the topic up for debate amongst Student Government Association members, who were representing all campuses at a college wide executive meeting via a conference call September 14.

Juan Rodriguez, Dunwoody’s SGA president, recommended that all campuses should wear the same colors; burgundy for SGA and gold for Jaguar Activity Group in order to appear as a single unit instead of five separate entities at events.

“Purchasing the t-shirts in bulk would secure a discount on each item and would eliminate the cost of four set-up fees,” said Rodriguez. “It would make us more visible to students on campus by creating an identity.”

Erin Thompson, a concerned member of Decatur’s SGA, asked whether JAG and the SGA were going to be identified with the same logo.

“The plan is to make an order of 150 shirts, 75 with the SGA logo and another 75 with the JAG logo to be distributed evenly among the five campuses,” said Rodriguez.

One major problem is, GPC’s SGA has appeared mismatched when attending events

such as the Student Advisory Council. Each SGA cabinet that has attended the SAC has worn colors spanning from pink to navy blue, which does not bear the vaguest semblance to the GPC school colors.

Dunwoody’s SGA has implemented and enforced the rule that all its staff should wear their uniform on Fridays in an effort to be more open to the student body.

Budget re-allocation, making SGA elections a two week process to include candidate debates, advertising the stipend, and providing SGA parking spaces are all topics that will be debated at the college-wide executive meeting being held on September 28, 2012.

By Tammy Woolcock

Collegian Staff

Newton Decatur

Dunwoody

Alpharetta

The Alpharetta Student Government Association held its first meeting Sept. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in room 1140.

There were only a few people in attendance as only five students are currently part of the organization.

According to Shrena Jenkins, Alpharetta SGA president, there are still 15 open positions. There are six other volunteers who are testing the waters before they commit.

One of the topics tackled at the meeting was the voter registration drive, which is scheduled for Oct. 1-3. The original Sept. 12 drive was postponed due to lack of volunteers.

Alpharetta’s SGA is obviously lacking people, but Jenkins is positive that the government will still be complete.

Jenkins encourages students to be active by applying for a position or volunteering. The SGA keeps a list of people who may be interested in receiving activity outlines.

The Collegian asked Jenkins, “Do you think the students in the Alpharetta Campus have what it takes to be a part of the Student Government Association?” She replied with confidence, “They do. They just have to be aware.”

Students interested in Alpharetta SGA can contact India Myers, director for student life and interim dean of student services, in room 1410, at 678-240-6021 or [email protected]

By Veronica Gruta

Collegian Staff

According to www.Georgia.gov, the average turnout of voters from any group is about 50 percent. When you remove the age groups from 35 and older, that number drops to about 36 percent.

This means that 64 percent of Georgia’s youth have not shared their opinions on who they want to represent them in Congress as well as the White House.

Every issue that affects Georgia Perimeter and all college students will be up for debate in the coming year, and possibly years after. There are some who support the increase of Pell grants as well as the elimination. For every issue that voters care about, there is a Congressman as well as a presidential candidate who has included it in his platform.

To make it easier for students to vote, Decatur SGA is offering voter registration to each and every student on campus.

No identification is needed, and felony charges do not disqualify anyone from voting. Also, SGA keeps the forms sealed, so no one has access to any information provided.

For those who do not know, the office of Student Life is where SGA can be contacted, so that a representative to provide anyone with a registration form.

With the the deadline being October 10, there is plenty of time for everyone to be registered by election time.

By Kierra Johnson

Collegian Staff

Life South Community Blood Center rolled out a new system at the Newton blood drive Sept. 20.

“The BioKey system is fast tracking the way our donors give blood,” said Robert, a phlebotomist with Life South.

This system works by taking a digital scan of a donor’s index finger on the right and left hands. Then the technicians scan the donor’s state identification. After

donors are finger printed and scanned, they are officially in the Life South system.

“Now when donors give blood, they can’t use the excuse, ‘I don’t have my ID’ All we need is your finger,” said Robert

Giving blood is a life saving experience, and all the blood donated during the drive went to local hospitals within the community.

By Victoria Healy

Collegian Staff

Dressing for success

Alpharetta SGA meeting. Veronica Gruta/Collegian Staff

Novel system tracks blood donors Voter registration

SGA trying to fill 15 open positions

Student Life attire discussed at SGA meeting

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM 7

Campus News

Launch Your Creative Career Today

SCAD offers the largest

array of degree options

of any nonprofit arts

university in the U.S.

New students may begin

in September, January,

March or June. Financial aid

is still available.

To request more information

or apply, visit scad.edu/stilltime

ATLANTA · HONG KONG · LACOSTE · SAVANNAH · eLEARNING Ada

m F

loec

k, B

.F.A

., an

imat

ion,

20

12, M

etuc

hen,

New

Jer

sey

“My favorite is WhatsApp, it lets me text and receive picture messages without having it on my plan.”

- Martin Lungu

“Pandora. I stream music on it and I use it everyday.”

- Jared English

“DreamBoard. It reformats my phone into any Operating system. I can switch between android and iphone anytime.”

- Luke Wright

“I have an astronomy app that when you face the camera to the sky at night, it locates the planets and show the position of the actual planets.”

- Angella Williams

“Busuu app. It teaches different languages on the go.”

- Alan Johnson

“CNN App. keep up with breaking news alerts and live video. I like that I can keep up with the news, and how they display their videos.”

- Ula Abachi

“Seven Little Words - Word Game App. You are given seven clues that are used to find the mystery words by combining the letter groups.”

- Whitney Stembridge

“Angry Birds – It’s the best game ever.”

- John Ha

“The New York Times app because I like being updated in the news.”

- Brandon Weatherly

“NewPad, It’s a word processor and turns my iPad into a laptop.”

- Adam King

Soapbox

Reporting and photography by Camille Denine, Veronica Gruta, Perry Standridge, and Jahret Rainey

What is your favorite smart phone app and what does it do?

8 COLLEGIANNEWS.COM SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Sudoku

Like us on Facebook!www.facebook.com/collegiannews

Follow us on Twitter!@GPCollegian

Free Sudoku Puzzles by

SU DOKU129

Customize your own sudokubooklets on

www.sudoku129.com

5

63

8

8

9

81

79

3

9

6

4

1

6

8

9

7

7

86

21

6

4

9

15

6

copyright © 2012 by WWW.SUDOKU129.COMPuzzle number : 895187916

Level : Difficult

Date : ________________________

Start time : ________________________

Time to solve : ________________________

p. 8

Free Sudoku Puzzles by

SU DOKU129

Customize your own sudokubooklets on

www.sudoku129.com

29

3

86

7

9

5

2

8

3

6

2

7

5

5

8

4

5

3

4

76

2

51

copyright © 2012 by WWW.SUDOKU129.COMPuzzle number : 265492857

Level : Easy

Date : ________________________

Start time : ________________________

Time to solve : ________________________

p. 1