In light of the coronavirus pandemic, one VSU organization has stepped up to the plate to aid students and the community of Valdosta. Operating as a student-run free store, the Drop-N-Shop supplies non-perishable foods and even donates clothes to those in need. Thermometers that were provided by the Health Center were also being handed out. Normally, the shop is located ...
Read More »Saying Goodbye: Kaitlyn Baich
May 9, 2020 is a day I didn’t think I’d make it to. My first few semesters of college were not the easiest for me, but there are a few reasons I made it. One of those reasons I survived is The Spectator. Let’s rewind now, I came into college as a non-journalism major. I knew I wanted to do ...
Read More »VSU professor and students develop possible COVID-19 treatment
Dr. Thomas Manning, VSU chemistry professor, has spent the last two months developing an antiviral application with some of his students that can potentially treat COVID-19. Before COVID-19 struck the U.S., Dr. Manning and his students focused on developing a patent application for cancer and tuberculosis. “We’ve been doing drug development for about 20 years. The number one focus has ...
Read More »VSU professor retiring after 47 years of teaching
In Dr. James Baxter’s 47 years of teaching, he was able to see the changes of the university, students, and faculty at Valdosta State University. Dr. Baxter, who is the chairman of the chemistry department in VSU’s College of Mathematics and Science, is the longest tenured professor currently teaching on campus, and will be hanging up his periodic table at ...
Read More »Saying Goodbye: Malia Thomas
It is about time! My time at VSU has finally come to an end, and in some weird way, the last four years have flown by and not came fast enough at the same time. When I think about my growth, I simply look back at my college journey in sheer amazement. The difference between Malia in May 2016 and ...
Read More »VSU IT eases process of Online Student Account Center
Checking balances have now become easier for students. The VSU Information Technology Department has now granted direct access to the Online Student Account Center. The OSAC is where students and any persons they authorize to log in can check balances created by tuition, fees and other financial payments between student and university. Before the change, students had to put in ...
Read More »May the Virus End This Month: Celebrations of May
Remember when I said social distancing would end in my last column? Yeah, about that… May is upon us, and either through sheer optimism or bitter denial, I was hoping COVID-19’s curve would be flattened by now. Georgia’s shelter-in-place will be officially over at midnight, but with the number of cases still rising, it’s not looking too good. Even though ...
Read More »The COVID-19 mental crisis: How students are coping
With all that has been going on in the last two months, it is hard to not be concerned. It is especially challenging when this virus seems to be the only thing that people talk about and you can’t blame them. The coronavirus pandemic has taken away our sense of freedom and safety. Although the goal of stay-at-home orders are ...
Read More »VSU students aren’t the only ones adjusting to online classes
The transition to full online classes has not been an easy one. Many teachers were not prepared for the unexpected change and therefore, had a hard time adapting to the new normal. Dr. Leslie Jones, professor of Biology, stated that the new way of teaching takes more time. “I spend all day on the computer,” Dr. Jones said. “First, it ...
Read More »College graduates may struggle to find jobs during this time
It’s been over a month since the University System of Georgia declared that Spring Commencement will be canceled for all 26 USG institutions. Since then, VSU has decided to host a virtual Spring Commencement on May 9 and a special spring graduate recognition event during Homecoming week in the fall semester. But the soon to be VSU alumnae may have ...
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