The Valdosta Police Department (VPD) has announced a new youth program. Stand Against Youth Violence Education (S.A.Y.V.E) is aimed to inform 13-16-year-olds of the reality of common problems. According to the VPD press release, it will combat issues such as, “Bullying, gang activity, substance abuse, firearms safety, and the importance of mentorship.” The program will be a week long from ...

VSU’s Student Government Association (SGA) held a combined event with the campus police department and offered free coffee to students to build a stronger unity between students and the police. The event took place at Converse Square on March 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event was open to all passing students and had a consistent flow of ...

Georgia Sen. Larry Walker proposed a substitute to Senate Bill 390 to protect VSU’s Master of Library Science program.   Walker first presented Senate Bill 390 to completely disaffiliate from the American Library Association (ALA) to the Georgia Senate Committee on Feb. 7. He showed concerns of what this could mean for VSU, which is the only university in Georgia ...

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 ...

Lauren Curry made history by being the first female chief of staff for the Governor’s office in Georgia.  Brian Kemp announced on Jan. 12 that Curry will assume the role permanently beginning on Jan. 15.    Curry has served in numerous roles before this position, allowing her to gain experience and prepare for this job.  According to Gov.Georgia, Curry has worked ...

The Valdosta Mall is gaining a new store by Feb. 29.  Construction is seen taking place where Bed, Bath and Beyond once was. There is much discussion over what the store could be, as it is hidden from the public.  James Dolen, the Valdosta Mall’s general manager, says adding stores will allow for growth.  “We have a new 20,000-square-foot store ...

Law enforcement is actively investigating last month’s fatal shooting of a VSU student outside of a bar in Remerton. Brianna Long, a bartender at The Pier, was shot at about 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 29 after the establishment had closed and employees finished closing duties. Long died later at the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Jamy Steinberg, the Georgia ...

SGA held a candlelight vigil on the VSU front lawn on Nov. 1 to remember a VSU student’s death where family, friends and community came together. Brianna Long was a senior and dental hygiene major. With only one semester left until graduation, VSU will be presenting her family with her bachelor’s degree in May. Long died unexpectedly early Sunday morning ...

VSU President Richard Carvajal spoke at the VSU faculty senate meeting on Oct. 19 to discuss the university’s current issues, improvements it has seen, and goals it wishes to accomplish. A main concern has been the enrollment rates that the university has experienced. COVID-19 played a significant role in the decrease of college students state-wide, and VSU was no exception. ...

On Sept. 27, a professor wrote a racial slur on a whiteboard in front of his class, leading to an investigation. Dr. Fred Earls, a communication professor at VSU, wrote the n-word on a whiteboard during his lecture, which has caused controversy. The lecture was on how language changes depending on who uses it, using the n-word as the lead ...