Rachel Wayne Copy Editor vrwayne@valdosta.edu   “I’m going to be a zombie!” I excitedly told my friends last January. “Huh?” was their usual response. Once I’d gotten the email, I sped to Facebook and trumpeted it for the world (at least as represented by my online friends) to hear. Funny how many people added, “Congratulations” after the “huh,” as though becoming ...

Spectator Tasters By Michael Wilson and Ashley George This week we were in the mood for some good ol’ southern barbeque, so we headed on down to the Smokin’ Pig. This is a little farther off campus than we usually go. It’s over on 4228 North Valdosta Road right by the Cass Burch Dealership and Foxborough.  The atmosphere was very ...

Ed Hooper Sports Writer ephooper@valdosta.edu   The Valdosta State Blazers (1-2, 1-1) are back on the Reames practice fields this week as they prepare for their upcoming game against the West Alabama Tigers at 7 p.m. Saturday  at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  The Blazers are coming off a unexpected 24-14 loss to Ouachita Baptist, a game in which the Tigers racked up 502 ...

Lacey Bearden Staff Writer lbearden@valdosta.edu   They love the Lord and the ladies. Some would say they’re just a bunch of good ole, home-grown southern gentlemen; they are the brothers of Kappa Alpha Order.  Priding themselves after the morals and characteristics set by Robert E. Lee, KA came to VSU in 1971. Today KA is the second largest fraternity on campus. ...

Kenny Bush Staff Writer krbush@valdosta.edu  The Oasis Department encourages students to use DegreeWorks, a new web tool that will help both students and advisors monitor their transcripts and progress towards degree completion.  DegreeWorks is a new advising system that the university bought from SunTrust, the same company that created Banner. The implementation of DegreeWorks was recommended by the University System ...

Candice McGriff Staff Writer clmcgriff@valdosta.edu The VSU Health Center has received 1,066 patients within the first 15 days of this semester. There are concerns from the students and faculty about the compensation of enrollment growth since and referrals to off-campus doctors. According to Dr. Edwin Hiatt, director of student health center, the new facility, which opened in January of this ...

Ariel Felton Staff Writer arfelton@valdosta.edu The Wesley Foundation, a United Methodist Student Ministry on campus, has a busy year ahead of them, including weekly Bible studies, mission trips, and even a retreat to Panama City. Valdosta State University’s Wesley Foundation began in 1960, when a judge and his family decided to donate their house to the church organization. That same ...

The VSU Student Health Center has been as much a part of the problem as part of the solution. Students have complained about how they have been trying to schedule appointments throughout this semester only to be wait-listed. And their complaints are justified. After all, students paid $127 to receive a basic level of medical care on campus this semester. ...

Ed Hooper Sports Writer ephooper@valdosta.edu The Valdosta State Blazers are back to work this week after their commanding 32-7 win over Southern Arkansas on Saturday night.  The win on Saturday night was one of the most impressive defensive games in school history; the Blazers held Southern Arkansas to only 39 yards of total offense. However, the Blazers face a much ...

Candice McGriff Staff Writer clmcgriff@valdosta.edu Due to enrollment increase, VSU added seven new shuttle buses to the university’s transportation service this past summer. From rainy days to summer days, several students wait at bus stops for the shuttle to arrive. Although some students decide to walk to class instead of riding the shuttle, others make use of the transportation service ...