Our Favorite Thanksgiving Memories | Life In the Fast Lane DIY Wedding Tips | Plus SO MUCH MORE

November 2012 | 2

I hope everyone is having a great end up the

semester, I know I can’t wait till it’s officially

over. I think we are all in the mood for a serious

vacation! As your final exams start to pass and

you start to pass out, remember we’ve got a lot planned

for Talon next semester. While you are on winter

vacation, we will be hard at work developing the next

huge issue! That and having a couple Christmas brews,

but that is to be expected.

You may not know a lot about us at Talon, but I’m

going to make it our goal to change that. Everyone on

campus deserves to know the hardworking & talented

members of my staff and the work they put in every

issue. We hope you enjoy our small little issue this time

around and get excited about the next couple we have

left for the year! We are excited and we know you are!

As Thanksgiving passed we all got to experience

the start of the holiday season by celebrating with our

families. It’s these traditions we look forward to as each

year passes, and I hope you and your families all have

special memories of your own to cherish. Take a look at

some snapshots from our Thanksgiving, as well as the

other stories our hardworking staff has put together for

you. Happy holidays from all of us here at Talon, we’ll

see you next semester.

Editorial BoardEditor in Chief

Meghan de St. Aubin

Creative DirectorSteven Welch

Managing EditorAshley Frew

Director of PhotographyTravis Clark

Copy EditorEllen Eldridge

Deputy Art DirectorRachel Burel

Staff Members

Staff WritersBlake BottomleyHadassah Chase

Traci HendrixShyeta Oliver White

Letter fromthe Editor

- Meghan de St. Aubin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Taking On the TrackKSU’s Tyler Speer shares the details of his life in the fast lane, and why he loves the sport he’s devoted his life to.

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DIY Wedding Getting Married? Check out some alternative ways you can stay debt free by planning your wedding yourself. Don’t let finances topple your big day. Sites like Pinterest have made planning your wedding easier and more cost effective than ever.

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Go See a Show (11)Our writer delves into the joys of theatre, and why you need to check out the joy it has to offer. Whether it’s here on campus, or in a theatre on Broadway, we ask you to take a chance and experience something you may have never seen before.

Talon Turkey DayOur staff tells some of their favorite moments from Thanksgivings past, taking time to remember what the holiday is all about. Join them as they travel down memory lane, and check out some snapshots from this year’s festivities.

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Photo ContributorsTraci Hendrix

CNNSXC.hu

Design AssistantAndrea Dowis

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Election 2012 (13)Romney or Obama? The whole country watched as America chose its next leader, in an election many thought would be one of the closest races in recent times. See some of the students of KSU’s reactions, and hopes for what’s to come in the next four years.

Choose a Minor? (14) Our very own Ellen Eldridge continues her monthly column with advice on making the most of a minor. We live in a competetive world, learn why it’s important to add a little something to your degree.

DisclaimerAll comments and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of Talon Magazine staff, its advisers or KSU and do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff, student body, KSU Student Media or the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

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Taking On the Track

Most people aren’t whizzing around a dirt race track on a mini motorcycle at five years old. Tyler Speer has been flying around left turns for 16 years and has no plans of stopping. Starting motor racing at the keen age of five, Speer learned quickly that not everyone was cut out for it. His friends dropped the sport after multiple broken bones, worrisome mother’s requests and insufficient funds for bikes, motors and doctor bills.

“I raced motocross even after all of my friends quit. When I was 12, my parents bought a go kart, so I raced it at the track across the street from our family boat shop,” Speer said. Racing has always been in his blood. Tim Speer, Tyler’s father, was an avid drag boat racer for many years of his life. Tyler said he attended his first race, one of his father’s boat races, unknowingly experiencing the loud events while in his mother’s womb.

Speer raced go-karts and fell in love with the speed and atmosphere of racing. Since his father owned and race boats, Tyler was exposed to and became interested in all aspects of racing and motors. “After three years of racing go-karts and winning a championship, I switched to Allison Legacy cars, which is like a smaller version of a NASCAR Cup car,” Speer said. And the rest has been history. Wins, trophies, top five placements; sponsors flock to the TAS Racing team because of the unique qualities the team brings to the track.

Story and photos by Traci Hendrix

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In racing, a great deal of undocumented, but highly apparent, politics occur. Some racers, who are well endowed by their parents or sponsors, go into races without sufficient training and end up

crashing, which potentially costs other racers their careers. It takes an immense amount of support and effort from an entire team to ultimately win and be successful.

“Gene Roberts, my Crew Chief, serves as one of the most helpful people on the team. He is a referee between my dad and me, and he takes a load off the stresses of setting up for a race,” Speer said about Roberts. Though his parents remain the most supportive people in Speer’s life, his mentor Gary Brigham bought him his first Legacy car, and also gave him a piece of advice he has lived by ever since muttering the words through the car’s radio: “Why didn’t you do that sooner?”

Brigham, who started as Tyler’s father’s boating rival, inadvertently influenced the way Speer races because he challenged him to always think about what to do differently before the rest of the drivers figure it out. Racing is host to multiple strategies and strains, and constantly thinking sharply with immediate reaction is a vital key that Brigham revealed to Speer.

“If people knew how much technology, strategy, preparation and genuine hard work that go into racing they wouldn’t think it was a red neck sport,” said Speer on the common misconception that racing is simply going fast, turning left and essentially not getting anywhere at all. The physical demands of racing are high-risk as well; he wears a fireproof layer, the racing suit, a not-so-light helmet and gloves while holding his head up inside a 140-degree car. He lost up to 15

pounds in water weight during one three-hour race. Speer builds, repairs, prepares, secures partners and manages his racing all on his own.

Marketing also holds an immense role in racing. The logos you see on cars are not simply companies shelling out money to a fast set of wheels; they are advertising much the same way they advertise in a magazine. NASCAR fans are the prime example of how fan loyalty can result in product loyalty. Dan Macke, a 39-year-old attorney from Albuquerque, N.M., told the Sports Business Journal, “I’m realistic enough to recognize that the sponsors pay the bills. The sponsors put the cars on the track. The sponsors are responsible in large part for my enjoyment of the sport.” This realization is what makes it harder for drivers and teams to keep competing.

“If fans don’t come, races won’t happen,” Speer stated. What’s happening lately, Speer revealed, is that places such as Charlotte Motor Speedway sell out the camp grounds in the surrounding area for partiers who simply do not want to deal with the stands themselves. Yet, without fans to fill stands, tracks will not pay for races, races will not pay drivers and

sponsors won’t support a car that doesn’t race. From Speer’s experience, “Knowing someone will always make it more enjoyable, and people want to be involved.”

Think of it this way: if a reality show about beauty pageants had no viewers, the show wouldn’t run and it would not get the funding from ads; the contestants wouldn’t get viewers or money. They pay a significant amount of money to go into these competitions and usually don’t get more than 30 percent of the money back in prizes. In racing, Speer said you can decide to pay more to enter a higher paying prize race or deal with the measly 15 percent you get back and the satisfaction of moving forward.

“Racing can take you to the lowest point you’ve ever been in your life, but then it can boost you up to the highest you’ve ever bee. You just have to keep going,” said Speer on what keeps him driven to continue with racing. Being active in outside activities also keep Speer focused on his future.

Speer continues to be a well-rounded KSU student while taking salsa dance lessons with his mother, since she is at the track as much as he is, drinking orange juice before a

race for his past mentor Brigham, working with his father at their boat shop and preparing for races. Studying sales promotions and marketing enable him with a confidence and knowledge of how to approach a partner. “I want to give back and show my appreciation to the partners I have. I want to help them grow just as much as they want to help me, and that’s why we call them partners instead of sponsors,” Speer said. His pure drive to succeed, eagerness to learn, talent and respect for his supporters are what make Speer stand out from the rest of the drivers.

”Southern Marine and Mallory Marine was the first sit-down meeting with a title partner, in which terms were discussed. Marketing class was really helpful in making that whole process, and the experience taught me to be at ease with big business people. They are just normal people,” said Speer on securing a solid partner for his team. Being a

generally easy-going, conversational and polite guy can, in fact, get you far in this world.

Speer is a meticulously motivated individual who doesn’t let a detail go unobserved. His favorite racing number, 60, has a background story involving a 60-foot gap that he jumped; he will talk to anyone within relative distance walking in the same general direction because, “life’s too short not to meet new people” and he notices when people show up to a race. Speer is dedicated to bringing people and students to the races because it “benefits everyone involved.” He and his team are constantly creating ways to improve attendance, KSU spirit and involvement with racing. He wants to move forward in his racing career, and with his constant diligence “people won’t have a choice but to notice us, if they just give me a shot.”

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Savvy WeddingHadassah Chase Ah, the picture-perfect fairytale wedding. The day

young girls plan for and the day women spend their entire life’s savings on. Yet, why should we? Whoever said spending upward to the average cost of $26,000 is a romantic beginning to marital bliss seems to be sorely mistaken. This number almost appears shockingly unrealistic. Nonetheless, simply turning on the television proves this cost quite realistic. Parades of bridal shows represent women who willingly choose to put themselves into debt over one day. They reason over and over again that the wedding day is the most important day of a woman’s life, and, therefore, every desire should be satisfied.

Becoming in debt over a woman’s special day has almost become the norm. Still, in the midst of this extravagance and relaxed ease with throwing money around for trivial expenses, there is a new idea approaching: a concept that wholly revolutionizes the way women now get married. It is called a DIY wedding.

When I say do-it-yourself, I am not talking about your kid sister’s or nephew’s themed birthday party, where the mother reuses the same materials each year because she happens to be slightly gifted when it comes to using those worn out streamers in more than one way. Going against mainstream wedding hype will be very different from shopping in the cheap party section of your local Wal-Mart. What I am relating is the idea of building a wedding from scratch that is exceptional but still completely inexpensive.

wedding cake? Instead, be unconventional and lay out a smorgasbord of yummy cookies and old-fashioned ice cream. Most of the September newlyweds used unusual items to add originality. Miranda Reece took the approach of upcycling rustic bike wheels to hang lights from. Kristen Pennington had her father construct a tree trunk cupcake stand instead of buying one for $50. She also found vintage suitcases to lay out at the welcoming table. When guests arrived, they would write a letter to the couple and lay the letter inside the trunk.One can also use items lying in the house, such as family heirlooms or quilts,to create the quintessential DIY wedding.

All of the women interviewed agreed that they would recommend Pinterest for inspiration to the newly engaged, however, they admitted it did have downsides.

Sarah Huff, a senior at Kennesaw State University, said, “I think that using Pinterest made it easier for me to collect my thoughts and gather ideas (for free) and be able to visualize how everything would look together. At the same time, when I would search for wedding ideas there were so many results it did feel overwhelming.”

Kristen Pennington also agreed and admitted that because of the surplus of ideas found on the site there were many projects she, sadly, could not do or complete in time.

Planning a wedding is a big deal, but think on this for a while: You are preparing for a lifetime together, not simply one day that will go by in a flash. So why should you spend thousands of dollars and start life out as a married couple with financial obligations? Use your time and money wisely with a site like Pinterest, especially if you are not very artsy. Each of these newlyweds could look back proudly and admit that they saved a good deal of money as a result of their craftiness.

Using DIY crafts in your wedding adds a charm that your guests will appreciate. Pennington commented that details should say something about who you are, and that by attending your wedding, “People should know who you are as a couple.”

Fun ways you can reveal pieces of personality include stacking your favorite classic literatureas an intelligent centerpiece and holding a reception in the lush backyard of your relative’s quirky house because you both love the outdoors. Money, believe it or not, will not make your special day better or worse. Resourcefulness, innovation and individuality will be the deciding factors on if your wedding is ultimately a success.

Even more innovative than this idea of do-it-yourself is the site that platforms its spread for world domination… or perhaps just inspired wedding planning. The website goes by the name of Pinterest, and is essentially an online pin board that allows users to assemble and share creative ideas or artistic pictures with friends. On this one site a girl planning a wedding can do all of three things: find inspiration, utilize crafts and save money. It is as simple as re-pinning an interesting technique onto your board to save for a later date. It is not unusual though for women to start a wedding board without obtaining a ring first. Two of the three brides had, in fact, planned the entity of their wedding before becoming engaged. They stated that having organized boards before the awaited proposal made the process of wedding planning go much smoother.

Numerous, easy-to-do ideas exist that can save couples several thousand dollars, including creating bouquets of aesthetic paper flower art in partial replacement of real flowers and buying inexpensive mason jars to hang from the ceiling or from trees to kindle the romantic night.

Don’t be afraid to think outside of what is normal for a wedding. Why is it absolutely necessary to have an old-fashioned five-tiered

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W H A TA B O U T

THEBIGSTAGE?

We have all studied Shakespeare prior to college. We know what a play is, but what is the big deal? Why would you pay money to go see a play? Well, why do you pay to go see a movie? The answer is: for

entertainment and the fact that you might learn something. A famous musical debuted October 16-21 in the Stillwell

Theater on KSU campus. The name of the musical was Cabaret. Cabaret is based on the book by Joe Masteroff, the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. John Kander wrote the music, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. The Stillwell production was directed by Associate Professor Dean Adams, and the music was directed by Professor Russell Young, with choreography by Jen MacQueen, one of the dance instructors at KSU. The performance starred KSU students Sarah Peavy, Caleb Morton, Nathan McCurry, Dominic Wright, Hannah Wilkinson and many more, who ranged in class from freshman to senior.

The past couple of weeks I have been the lady randomly approaching individuals around the campus asking whether or not they saw Cabaret. I purposely went to all corners of the campus to question our student body about its attendance. I felt doing this was important to grasp a wide variety of majors and individuals. I asked more than 300 students, of whom 150 actually took the time to respond. A generous handful of students assumed I was referring to my long lost friend or dog. Half of them had no idea what Cabaret was. Approximately 25 percent of the students attended one of the performances. Of the 38 students who did attend, two thirds stated they had to for a class. The remaining 13 students attended because they loved to see a great musical at the discounted price of $12 per ticket.

The results are tremendously heart breaking. I am not a person who enjoys statistics, so I will not apply these results to the entire student body, but we have to evaluate what is going on.

Who is to blame? I would like to point out the lack of publicity for this

particular event. I do not know about the rest of the student body, but my student email is filled with events going on around campus daily. I do not care to attend a majority of the events for which I receive email, but I still retrieve and read the emails. There were no emails sent to the student population about this musical. Why not? What do we have to gain besides

ticket sales and spam? The less publicity there is, the less people are reached.

Movies become bigger as theater is pushed to the side. We pay hundreds of dollars to be able to see our favorite musicians live, but we prefer a movie over attending the theater? Anyone who has been to a live concert knows the energy that one receives from being in the audience as the musicians perform; the energy is like no other event imaginable. There is no better experience than through live experience. Live shows can be captured by video, but even then you will never grasp what really took place upon the stage.

Put your iPhones and iPads away and experience things as they are happening. Leave the big screen and head to the big stage. Watch the lives of characters become alive through your own eyes. Do not settle for the revision of a scene over and over until the actors gets it perfect. Watch actors, singers and dancers have one chance to make the dramatic truth as real as it gets, and succeed. Feel a connection to the characters onstage. Identify with the characters as they go through life discoveries, reversals, problems and triumphs or failures. Identify your own discoveries within yourself as you watch characters identify theirs.

By no means do I mean to discontinue watching movies or television. Do not stop something you enjoy just to include an additional hobby. Explore your options; be educated on different aspects of entertainment. Do not miss out on the opportunity to experience new things, regardless of what those things are. Do not be afraid of trying something new. If you do not enjoy it, at least you know can say you did it, and can have an opinion. Exercise your right to experience life for yourself; do not allow the opinions of others to dictate your actions.

Supporting your fellow students and clubs around the student body is also very important. We are all students and need to support one another while we can. We need to get involved and be informed of what is taking place on our campus. This particular performance of Cabaret is one out of many. Support the arts. If you are a strong believer that the arts are essential to life, then your college is a place to begin. The students in these productions will graduate with degrees in the fine arts and performing studies, and they are going to need jobs. Keep the arts alive by supporting your artistic colleagues.

Go see a show TODAY!

go see a show today!

By: Shyeta Oliver White

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Election Day 2012 was chilly, overcast and dreary, but that didn’t discourage Georgia voters f rom waiting in line to cast

their ballots. For many students, participating in the 2012 election was not only a first experience but also a chance to sway the direction of a deadlocked tug-of-war between two major candidates. Others chose to vote for a third-party candidate, while some abstained from voting altogether. Regardless of voters’ decisions on November 6, this competitive election is sure to go down in history. A few KSU students were kind enough to take the time to share their thoughts on the candidates, the election and what motivated them to get out and cast their votes:

- “I’m excited to get the chance to wait in line and cast my vote. A lot of important issues have come up in the 2012 campaign, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.” – Jacob Newman

- Actually, I forgot to register, but if I did, I would have voted for Obama.” – Steffany Austin

- “With the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I’m disappointed that we’ve only got one day to vote. Plenty of people are gathering necessities, and they have other things to take care of before they vote.” – Brent Beach

- “I’m not really into politics, but I feel like Obama is the most genuine candidate.” – Vishwa Dave

- “The election has brought out a lot of ugliness in people. But, I think deep down we want what’s best for our country, families and children. This election should be something that brings us together, not apart.” – Bianca Thorne

- “I didn’t really feel like either of the main candidates reflected my opinions, so I voted for Gary Johnson.” – Stone Powell

- “It doesn’t really make a difference because one vote can’t sway the Electoral College.” – Mark Riggs

- “I didn’t vote because I didn’t agree with either candidate. They both had their good and bad points, but I felt that the bad outweighed the good.” – Antwaan Harrison

- “Everybody seems to be in the middle of a battle right now, more than in previous elections and especially on Facebook and the Internet. It seems like it gets down to racial issues.” – Robert Brown

- “I was excited to vote because I was only 17 in the last election. African Americans had to fight for the right to vote, so it’s great to exercise that right.” – Ayanna Seals

- “I hope that, no matter who wins, Americans can come together to make life better for everyone.” – Brian Giuburg

- “I’m hoping that Gary Johnson gets his five percent.” – Michael Zeman

- “I think voting’s really important because many countries don’t allow their citizens to vote. People that don’t vote are missing out by not using that opportunity.” – Luis Martinez

- “I felt that I was really confused, and the debates made me feel even more confused. I felt that I was choosing between the best of the worst.” – Sarah Jones

- “A two-party system is bound to fail due to their never-ending conflicts instead of resolution.” – Nick Soltis

- “I’m worried about the direction this country is taking. I don’t feel like Barack Obama has fulfilled the promises he made four years ago.” – Tanner Lewis

KSU Reacts: 2012 Presidential ElectionBy Blake Bottomley

The first step in making your dream career come true is to actually have a dream. Without a fairly clear idea of what you want to do with your life all you can do is collect experiences. And while life experience

certainly can further a person in many ways, academically oriented life experience will help a student transition from the University to the workplace. One of the easiest ways to accomplish the goal of turning your college degree into your dream career is through addition of a minor.

According to the Northwest Education Loan Association, nearly two-thirds of all college freshmen start off with no major, and 55 percent to 60 percent of college students change their major at least once during their college career. Clearly, many students simply start college immediately following graduation from high school and put little thought into what they will want to do once they enter the workplace. But, with the rising costs of higher education and the mounting debt students choose to take on in pursuit of not only an undergraduate degree but also an advanced degree, researching and understanding what dream career most appeals to you becomes paramount.

The Institute of Education Sciences shows that “of the 1,650,000 bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2009–10, the greatest numbers of degrees were conferred in the fields of business (358,000); social sciences and history (173,000); health professions and related programs (130,000); and education (101,000),” but that isn’t terribly specific in consideration of all the options for a student with, say, a bachelor’s in psychology. With a bachelor’s in psychology, which is a social science degree, a student can enter the criminal justice field and work as a probation officer or complete a master’s and go into business counseling. That same student could decide to pursue a doctorate and teach at the university level or work in research; the options are quite varied. What will make a difference and, hopefully, stem the cost of changing majors before finishing the bachelor’s is an understanding of what kind of work the student wants to do. Should a psychology major wish to go into research a minor in statistics might prove most beneficial as a minor in business would help the student decide if opening a private counseling business would fulfill the dream.

Talon Editor-In-Chief Meghan de St. Aubin wants to work in the communications field and with her work on Talon, coverage of the Democratic National Convention and internships including work with Covington news she rounds out a perfect resume for pursuing journalism work targeted toward politics.

“While preparing for my speech tomorrow, it suddenly hit me how lucky I am to know exactly what I want to do with my life. Preparing my notes is easy because journalism is my passion. I could go on forever. I’m truly lucky to know my career path at a young age,” said de St. Aubin.

So, whether you’re majoring in communication, business or psychology (or anything else for that matter), do some research into what your dream job is. Browse jobs on Monster.com or LinkedIn and see what requirements and preferences employers have for the jobs you’d like to do. Then, add a minor like political science, marketing or criminal justice to boost your resume and your education. You may find that you don’t want to work with recovering drug addicts or juveniles on probation after studying criminal justice as a minor. Understanding your goals is the best way to prepare yourself for the workplace.

By: Ellen Eldridge

Making the Most of a Minor

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Home for the HolidaysTalon’s favorite Thanksgiving memories

Ahh Thanksgiving, the day we all get to stuff ourselves with good food, and spend time with those we love. It’s a time to look back and remember everything we’re thankful for, to appreciate everything we have in this great country of ours. As the semester winds down we’ll all be heading home to spend the first of several holidays with our families, but before we go, we here at Talon wanted to share some of our favorite memories with you our readers, in hopes that your Thanksgiving will be as awesome as ours have been. We hope you have a wonderful meal wherever you go, and always remember to give thanks. May your holiday be everything you hope it to be, from all of us here at your favorite magazine.

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This year we followed my dad’s recipe for stuffing and though we didn’t actually stuff the turkey with it, the delicious dish solidified a family tradition. Watching my daughter eat while my son kicks his joy from my belly (he’s my bun in the oven) just shines true meaning of family joy. We may have overeaten as is American custom, but we stayed grateful and serene in the moment.

-Ellen Eldridge

Thanksgiving’s always been one of my favorite holidays, and this year’s was just what I expected. My family cooked enough food for a week, shot arrows at targets in the backyard, spent time talking and catching up, ate until we hated ourselves, and did a whole lot of ... nothing. Like always, we kept it classy. We dished up on a table covered in a Spongebob tablecloth, had stuffing flung across the table at least twice, and enjoyed one of my grandmother’s mid-meal Freudian slips. Plus, I finally earned my coveted seat at the Grown-up Table. Thanksgiving was fantastic, and I cannot express how grateful I am to have spent it with the people I love.

-Blake BottomleyEvery year my mom calls to see if we have any requests for Thanksgiving dinner and every year I ask for the same thing, cranberry sauce from the can and her stuffing made from scratch. This year I was biting at the bit to get home for Thanksgiving and have mom’s famous dinner. See, not only was my mom sick 2 says before, but last year, she ditched us for the beach and gumbo. To make everyone more anxious, my mom is notorious for being late with dinner. We finally sat down to eat at 7:00, meaning we devoured everything by 7:30. Once our turkey comas kicked it, we planted ourselves on the couch for the wonderful Patriots game. My mom is from Connecticut so you can bet the.cheering promptly began with each touchdown the Patriots gained. After a final glass of wine, it was time for bed... with only the thought of turkey sandwiches and Christmas card pictures to look forward to. Yes, I’m 22 years old and we’re still forced into dorky poses for a Christmas card each year. I can’t say I hate it.

-Ashley Frew

Last year I decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner at my house, and have all of my family come over, as opposed to doing it at my mother or grandmother’s house, because I lived in a more central area for everyone to travel to. I’d never actually cooked a turkey before, so I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into. Luckily thanks to Google and some phone calls to various friends an family for advice, I was able to pull it off without burning anything down. This year, I’m thankful we’re having our family’s dinner at my uncle’s house instead. There’s something about not having to cook or clean up that makes the holidays even more enjoyable.

-StevenWelch