The recession has crippled the economy, but Mayor John Fretti sees this as the “Year the Bleeding Stops,” in this year’s State of the City address.  In this year’s 35 minute address, Fretti will focus on the recovery of the Valdosta economy, how it impacts our state and city citizens  and the triumphs of Valdosta‘s road to recovery in 2010. ...

 For the first time ever, VSU undergraduates can stay home…and still earn their entire degree without ever having to enter the classroom.  Beginning fall 2011, VSU will offer complete online degrees in criminal justice, office administration and technology, and legal assistant studies, with many other programs to follow.  “This newly adopted program is designed to convenience such students that may ...

The Faculty Senate discussed the continuous problem of students not completing Student Opinion of Instructions, also known as SOIs, during Thursday’s meeting.  Teacher evaluations ( SOIs) have been a point of concern since the response rate decreased as the transition was made from paper form to electronic in fall 2010.  All faculty members are instructed to administer student evaluations for ...

 Students who want to enjoy a free stack of pancakes during mid-term week can head to The International House of Pancakes for National Free Pancake Day on March 1.  Every year customers swarm to IHOP between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to savor a free short stack of pancakes.  In exchange for this free treat, customers are asked to make ...

 Ashley Cinemas, one of Valdosta’s two movie theater complexes, is known for its cheaper ticket prices, but there might be quite a bit you didn’t know about this theater’s past.  Now VSU wants part of Ashley Cinemas’ history. While long-term plans have yet to be made, the university wants to purchase the theater, keeping it in business and using the ...

Senior night was a huge success for the VSU men’s basketball team, as the Blazers took down rival West Georgia in front of an electric crowd, 83-76.  Going in to Saturday night, VSU (19-7, 6-4 GSC) held the upper hand on West Georgia (14-10, 5-5 GSC) in overall records, but the two shared identical Conference records.  “[Saturday’s game] was very ...

Phonics 101 teaches that it takes three letters to spell the word “win.”  Last night it took three runs surrendered, a few mistakes and one controversial call for the Blazers (3-8) to spell the word “loss.”  The VSU baseball team gave up a nail-biter, 3-1, to No. 3 Georgia College and State (9-2), Wednesday night.  Right fielder, Antonio Clark, scored ...

 According to the housing changes for next school term, the upperclassman-dominated Georgia Hall at VSU will be reserved for underclassman, and with that change, Hopper will now only house upperclassmen.  In all honesty, this is ironic to me.  When you think about the situation, it seems as though Hopper and Georgia are switching places as far as living requirements are ...

I attend VSU like the next person, and, like the next person, I utilize the buses. Transportation has become an issue. The constant inconsistency of the route is too much. I have classes at 3:30 and at 3 p.m., 3:15 p.m. or even 3:20 p.m. a bus can be at the stop to help  me from Centennial to class. There ...

“I am worried about paying for college later with the HOPE and Pell grants being cut because right now those are the two things that are mainly paying for me to go to school. Along with an academic competitiveness grant and a small loan. I’m trying to avoid loans at all cost, and with the HOPE and Pell grant cuts ...