By Anna Ramsey, Staff writer The United States federal government has been shut down since 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1, as disagreements at the highest level have caused a standstill that is impacting millions.  VSU, like the rest of the country, is feeling the impact of the shutdown.   The core issue stems from the Senate’s inability to come to an ...

By Aidan Carruth, Staff Writer  French Week is set to take place at VSU from Nov. 10 to 12, giving students the opportunity to experience various aspects of French culture from around the world.    Founded in 1964, French Week is an annual celebration of French and Francophone culture in the United States. French Week aims to introduce students to different ...

By: Aiyana Hunter, Staff Writer For decades, football has been Valdosta’s lifeblood. There has been, for many, no greater time for the community to come together than to indulge in the competitive spirit sport brings.  There is one defining (high school) game that has etched itself into the hearts of many years after year—Winnersville, the culmination of a rivalry between Lowndes and Valdosta. It’s an event ...

 By: Spectator Staff  Since we started high school, most of our teachers have told us not to use AI, or other websites that would help us cheat on our assignments.   But when we got to college here at VSU, new guidelines tossed those rules out the window.  According to new Academic Affairs Guidelines that were posted towards the beginning of the fall semester, there was an “Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use” guideline buried within the pages.  This ...

Written by: Adam Peachey, Staff Writer              It’s been two months since I came to Japan, and the country has already impacted me. Not necessarily in my personal life (although in this way, too), but more of an academic impact, in seeing how different cultures take to the same problems we have in America.              One of the classes that ...

By: Marese Hudson, Assistant Sports Editor The Blazers notched a big conference upset against No. 21 University of West Alabama, 45-35 at Bazemore-Hyder to keep the playoff hopes alive and advance to 4-4.    VSU put on a clinic scoring with 45 points, the second most points the Blazers scored this season (season high 56 against Chowan Sept. 13).   ...

By: Austin Sellars, Staff Writer VALDOSTA, Ga. – The VSU Lady Blazers soccer team will host Delta State at 7 p.m. on Halloween night in hopes of continuing their late-season playoff push.  VSU enters the matchup riding a three-game win streak, starting Oct. 18 with a dominant 7-0 victory over Auburn Montgomery, followed by a 3-1 win against Eckerd College ...

By: Arts & Entertainment Editor, Ashley Jones  VSU hosted their annual Homecoming Pep Rally in the Plex on Oct. 21. This year’s pep rally featured a special performance from the Hip-Hop duo The Ying Yang Twins, with additional performances from VSU’s Marching Band, VSU Cheer, VSU’s Red Hots, and MC Trizzy alongside DJ Smeezo.  Before the start of the pep ...

By: Marese Hudson Spectator Staff Writer  VSU looks to make homecoming special by getting the football team’s first win at home against the North Greenville Trailblazers Oct. 25 after a sluggish start.   Coming off the bye week after losing to Division I team The Citadel (38-14), VSU looks to break their 3-game losing streak against North Greenville.    The Trailblazers look to ...

By Anthony Duckworth, Spectator Staff  The casino night that was held Monday night in the ballrooms of VSU’s Student Union was filled to the brim with students ready to feel the thrill that a casino has to offer.   The casino hosted several classic games from the small roulette tables that take luck into the role of a single marble to ...