Category: Up Close & Personal

R.J. Yancey
Staff Writer
rjyancey@valdosta.edu
The H1N1 swine flu influenza virus continues to spread worldwide with at least two cases occurring at VSU this June. Although both students made a healthy recovery, Dr. Edwin Hiatt, Director of the VSU Health Center, has sent out an open letter/e-mail to students, faculty and staff on preventative measures that can be [...]

Ariel Felton
Staff Writer
arfelton@valdosta.edu
There will be a new hand holding the baton directing the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra (VSO) this year during its 20th anniversary season, and that is the hand of Dr. Howard Hsu.
Dr. Howard Hsu, (last name is pronounced shoe), is originally from Pittsburg and became interested in music when he learned to play the [...]

Amanda Blank
Staff Writer
alblank@valdosta.edu
VSU held its third annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life on the front lawn on Friday. The event raised over $11,000.
This year’s event featured 42 relay teams with over 500 participants. Many of the teams held fund-raising booths, with “compose a cure” as the theme, which included different activities such as karaoke. [...]

Dana Littmann
Features Editor
dmlittmann@valdosta.edu
On Dec. 13, at 3 p.m., Nicholas Braun walks into VSU’s P.E. Complex for the last time.  He’s not watching a basketball game, though; Braun is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice today. As he sits in his metal folding chair, surrounded by students, family, and friends, he can’t help but [...]

Tahirah Pope
Staff Writer
tmpope@valdosta.edu
On April 25, VSU’s Center for Outdoor Recreational Experiences, or CORE, went on a wild whitewater rapid trip.
Students and CORE leaders took a ride to Ocoee River in Tennessee. This river was the site of whitewater events for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. There is a 500 meter course dedicated to whitewater [...]

Amy Johstono
Staff Writer
acjohstono@valdosta.edu
Every second Saturday of the month, deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing members of the American Sign Language Club at VSU meet at the food court of the Valdosta Mall for a silent dinner.
VSU’s ASL Club helps further sign skills abilities for students and faculty, as well as support deaf and hard of hearing students [...]

Kristal Jones
Assistant Features Editor
krijones@valdosta.edu
The Tuesday event started off with high hopes and expectations for the Blanton Commons pool party with MTV celebrity appearances.
According to Blanton Commons Apartments General Manager, Kirstin Orphan, there was a scheduling conflict which caused a last minute change in the celebrities that were appearing.  Instead of the originally scheduled “Duel 2” [...]

Joe Robison prepares hotdogs for hungry Valdostans. Francesa Zagami/ SPECTATOR

Francesca Zagami
Assistant Photo Editor
frzagami@valdosta.edu

New York hotdogs are on sale in Valdosta! Joe Robison has been standing at the corner of Brookwood and Patterson for almost three weeks now, selling hot dogs to students, faculty, and citizens from his specially-made hotdog cart.
But Joe Robison has not always [...]

Josh Colwell
Staff Writer
Jocolwell@valdosta.edu
Breaking an old cycle usually requires beginning a new one.
That is exactly what the Wesley Cycle of Hope plans to do this summer.
Beginning on May 19, five members of a local cycling team will make their way to San Francisco to begin a two month journey across the United States to raise awareness [...]

Dana Littmann
Features Editor
dmlittmann@valdost
“The Vagina Monologues” are coming.
“The Vagina Monologues” will be performed April 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and April 19 at 2 p.m. in the Bailey Science Center Auditorium.
“The Vagina Monologues” is an award-winning play written by Eve Ensler. The play is based on interviews Ensler did with over 200 women about their [...]

Candice McGriff
Staff Writer
clmcgriff@valdosta.edu
VSU student and Outdoor Programs employee Barron Gilbert, was named VSU Student Employee of the Year.  Gilbert will represent VSU in the state competition for this year, and he, as well as the runners-up, will be honored at a luncheon on April 15.
To be eligible for this award, the student must be employed [...]