By the Spectator Staff At VSU athletics plays a major role in campus life. From game days to championships, student athletes represent our university. But beyond the field, their experiences show opportunities for growth in how support systems are structured.  One area that continues to evolve across colleges, across the US are Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). While NIL has created new opportunities nationwide, student-athletes at VSU often navigate this space largely ...

All of us at The Spectator would like to with our staff a very happy Faculty Week! We appreciate all that you do to ensure that all of us Blazers get a great education. Keep doing what you do best.

By Ashley Jones, Arts & Entertainment Editor  Zaxby’s restaurant plans anniversary celebration of grand opening in Valdosta. On March 27, the Zaxby’s store located on North Ashley Street will celebrate the first anniversary of its grand opening.  The Valdosta restaurant will open the celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at 9:45 a.m.  Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Zaxby’s will offer the first 100 guests Deck of Dealz (a year full of free food), free Birthday Cake milkshakes for everyone, swag, coupons, and other fun activities.  In addition, anyone from ...

By: Rut Labrada, Staff Writer On March 25, the Student Life Office hosted their annual Winning Wednesday event on Converse Square amidst increased efforts to promote upcoming athletic events, as well as sororities, fraternities, and other on-campus organizations.  This event was hosted as part of an ongoing endeavor to grow engagement with student organizations on campus, which has significantly declined in the past years.  The event ran from noon-2 p.m., and it ...

By: Rut Labrada  Lowndes Residents Urge the County for Transparency Regarding a Proposed AI Data Center. Lowndes County residents call for transparency from the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, as concerns regarding a proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data center on Coleman Road, near the Foxborough subdivision, continue to spread throughout the county.  The project is being spearheaded by lawyer and businessman Pope Langdale the III, who is working with AI infrastructure provider DC BLOX, ...

Welcome back from spring break, Blazers! We at The Spectator hope you’ve had an amazing week. To keep your spirits high, we’re here to remind you that there’s only six weeks left in the school year! That means it’s time to kick it into high gear. Finish those classes strong, go out with a bang, prep for graduation (reminder: the ...

By Ailyn Quiroz Staff Writer This Sunday and Saturday, Drexel Park will be filled with a variety of vendors, events, and activities for everyone to enjoy.   “We’re very excited to continually expand the Azalea Festival to include our community partners and to give out out-of-town patrons even more of a reason to make Valdosta and Lowndes County their destination for the entire weekend,” said H. ...

By: Austin Sellars, Staff Writer  VALDOSTA, Ga – VSU baseball hosts a three-game conference series this weekend against Delta State at Billy Grant Field in Valdosta, Ga.  The first two games are a doubleheader with two seven-inning games on Friday, March 13, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The final nine-inning game will take place on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m.  ...

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By Rut Labrada  Staff Writer On an early Friday morning in March, 19 bleary-eyed staff writers and editors of the VSU Spectator were dressed in their business-casual finest—cardigans, skirts, khakis, and button-ups—as they walked down the bright streets of Athens, Georgia.  The group was preparing to attend the Georgia College Press Association’s Better Newspaper contest, a yearly event where student newspapers from across ...