VSU is the only college in the state of Georgia that offers a MLIS degree, which has become threatened by Georgia Senate Bill 390.   Georgia Senate Bill 390 was created for public libraries in the state of Georgia to disaffiliate from the American Library Association. If passed, it will go into effect on July 1, 2025.   The ALA is the ...

Written by Christopher Mercer Sports Editor  Many changes have shaped and changed college basketball in the Gulf South Conference, but what hasn’t changed is who has been leading the charge for the VSU Blazers: Head Coach Mike Helfer. Helfer has just completed his 20th season as the head coach of the Blazers, which included his most successful turnaround in school ...

Written by Christopher Mercer Sports Editor  Former VSU quarterback Sammy Edwards has been invited to the New York Giants’ Mini camp. After going undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft, Edwards announced on his social media that the Giants would ask him. He will hope to compete for a spot on the roster come September. For the first time in since ...

Story and photo by Jenna Arnold, Editor-in-Chief. The recycling committee announced a return for the recycling program during the March Faculty Senate meeting.   As reported in a recent Spectator story, VSU has not been recycling for several years despite the continued distribution of recycling bins across campus.   For more information click here: ‘Blue’ bins or decorated trash cans – ...

Story and photo by Jenna Arnold, Editor-in-Chief. A Valdosta man was arrested after Valdosta Police connected him to a series of room break-ins in Lowndes Hall.   Twenty-year-old Ricardo Neloms of Valdosta was arrested on April 16 after he was accused of multiple unlawful residential break-ins.   According to the Valdosta State University Police Department report, the first account was recorded on ...

Written by James Brown, Entertainment Editor. The city of Valdosta held its third annual Bluesberry Festival on April 11 and 12, bringing fun filled nights of food and music participants from across the south of Georgia.   Although the musical performances were great, the main attraction for many pedestrians and vendors was the food.   I took to the festival grounds to ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. After 56 years of existence, Langdale Hall is set to be demolished within the next year.  VSU officials confirmed that the dorm hall was to be torn down in the summer or fall of 2025 and are waiting for state approval to move forward with the project. The building has not been in active ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor.  After nearly four months of searching, VSU has chosen Christopher Hughes as the next chief of police for the university.  He will join the university staff on May 1, 2025 and remain as a permanent chief.  Hughes is joining the staff after the resignation of former Chief Alan Rowe in October of 2024, who ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor.  VSUPD’s reports for the weekend of 3/28-3/30 had three incidents that stood out among the report, which also contained five other incidents, two traffic stops and 155 building and property checks.  FRAUD  STUDENT UNION: A 19-year-old man was arrested in the Student Union for theft at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 30.   Officers ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. After over a year of investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged two men with the murder of a VSU college student who was killed in October of 2023. Long, 21, was bartending at The Pier on Oct. 29, 2023, when the shooting occured outside of the bar. She was shot while closing ...

Written by James Brown, Entertainment Editor. The VSU Spectator took home several awards in writing, reporting and photography excellence, including the coveted “Watchdog” award, at the 2025 Georgia College Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest in February in Athens, Georgia.  GCPA is an organization that prides itself on benefitting newspapers and journalists across various colleges in Georgia. The organization helps colleges ...