SGA is now in charge of $30,000 that was given to them through the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC) to allocate funding to student organizations. This year SGA wanted to make sure each organization received the same amount of money and that the VSU student bodies needs are heard. [Commentary] With these new changes in place, I’m hopeful for ...

The white nationalist rally that turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12 has infuriated the public for weeks. The Robert E. Lee statue controversy ultimately reintroduced attention to U.S. monuments across the country. Who do they represent? What is their message? Our nation is again confronting the legacy of its most divisive war. A majority of the statues were ...

Dick Gregory, an American comedian who took history, oppression, war and rights and implemented them in his career on stage passed away Aug. 19 at age 84. Gregory was convincing with everything he took part in, whether it be privately or publicly. Throughout Gregory’s life he was active in all the current events and issues that surrounded him. Doing this ...

VSU actively tries to provide students with an environmentally friendly campus. Meredith Lancaster, associate director of environmental & occupational safety, said, “The Health Sciences and Business building on North campus is certified by Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.” Meaning the construction process of the building, met and continues to meet specific environmental performance standards of the United States Green ...

On Aug. 14, VSU Parking and Transportation implemented a new program called Blazer Safe Ride and also moved the overnight parking area for students in Oak Street Surface Lot to sections D and E. Blazer Safe Ride is a new service at VSU, powered by SGA and monitored by university police, that has replaced the night shuttle system and runs ...

Back in May, Gov. Nathan Deal approved House Bill 280 allowing concealed weapons on college campuses. Known as the “campus carry” bill, anyone with a firearm permit can carry concealed guns on public campuses except in on-campus preschools, faculty and administrative offices, disciplinary hearings, dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses and classrooms that have a high school student in attendance. Deal ...

Over the summer VSU underwent a major renovation in Palms Dining Hall for the first time in 11 years. “It was time for change,” Lynn Darsey, assistant director of Auxiliary Services, said. The university invested $1.5 million in order to bring students a new dining experience. When it comes to the changes in the dining services, I have some likes ...

This semester VSU made the decision to have a one-day move-in on Aug. 10 for all students, new and returning, to attend.   Move-in for all dorms began at 9 a.m. and was divided by floors. Students on different floors were assigned alternate move-in times to prevent congestion.  Students were advised to only show up at their designated time in order to check-in and begin moving their things.   ...

On Saturday, Aug. 12, a “Unite the Right” rally was scheduled to take place in Charlottesville, Virginia, against the removal of a General Robert E. Lee statue. On Friday, white nationalists and other alt-right members gathered at the University of Virginia carrying torches and yelling slogans, such as “white lives matter.”  This spurred on a violent encounter between alt-right members ...

Three, two, one: The countdown began last week to mark how many more issues of the Spectator has left in print. Because, ladies and gentlemen next semester this friendly campus newspaper won’t exist as a physical, printed object. Starting in the fall, The Spectator will be 100 percent digital. For decades, new issues of the VSU newspaper regularly appeared around ...