Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. VSU Theatre and Dance have continued to dazzle audiences with their spring dance concerts, and their latest show, “Evolve,” has taken the creativity of the department to new heights– in some moments, literally. The project includes a statewide premiere of a collaborative piece that has been years in the making, as well as VSU’s ...

By James Brown, Winter Dube and Ansley DeCenzo, Spectator Staff Writers  The entire VSU community is being heavily impacted by federal and state directives related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts at universities nationwide.  VSU President Richard Carvajal spoke at a recent Faculty Senate meeting regarding how the federal decisions have impacted the university, including many changes to the ...

Story By: Bailey Wilson, Ansley DeCenzo, Arizona Renfroe, Lloy Hudson, Winter Dube, Armoné Gates, James Brown, Jasmine Hightower, SeanTae-A Price  In a small blue house next to the Student Health Center, a student walks through the yellow front door of the ELI Annex. She stops just long enough to sign her name on the sheet on the table in front ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. After two months, there is a definitive timeline on what happened after VSU’s networks were hacked into. In late June of 2024, a zip file containing malware was downloaded onto a computer on campus, which went undetected and inactivated until December. It entered the system through a “business-needed template” and remained invisible until VSU’s ...

Written by Lloydrica Hudson, Staff Reporter. A hidden gem off Saint Augustine Road is a perfect way to describe Outback Steakhouse of Valdosta, Georgia.   A delightful greeting from the hostess Trish met with a smile and introduction to my table. She suggested the Blooming Onion, a must when dining in at any Outback.   The Blooming Onion is greasy, small, and ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. Tanique Thomas, a VSU student and member of SGA, passed away on Feb. 17. The President’s Office released a statement at 5:00 on Feb. 17, providing details on the loss. “Tanique was a freshman from Coral Springs, Florida,” the statement said. “She was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in chemistry, ...

Written by Bailey Wilson, Managing Editor. On Monday around 10:00 a.m., several VSUPD cars, an ambulance and two fire trucks arrived at Hopper Hall for an alleged cardiac arrest.  GBI has arrived on campus to help, though no details are available at this time. According to Fire Lieutenant Shelley Miller, the incident was a cardiac arrest, but no other information ...

This editorial reflects the general opinion of The Spectator staff.  Faulty air conditioning. No hot water. No access to information on bus routes. Limited parking spots. Sound familiar? VSU has struggled for years with facilities on campus not working, or if they work, at a lower quality than advertised. Ask any senior who has spent their college career here– most ...

Written By Christopher Mercer, Sports Editor. Now that Valentine’s Day is here, there are many different places to go to celebrate the day of love. Although many national chains will be well-frequented, this list will include local Valdosta restaurants that can greatly impress your Valentine this year. With that in mind, here are the five of the best local restaurants ...

Written by Tianna Bennett, Staff Reporter. Say “Ni Hao” to the newest store in Valdosta Mall called Miniso.  Originally founded in China, this store is making its way across America and has finally arrived at the Valdosta Mall.  On a recent weekday, a group of young girls between the ages of 16 to 20 looked inside. One exclaimed, “This is ...