By: Rut Labrada, Staff writer On April 14 and 15, the VSU Debate Team competed in the Regents Cup Tournament in Columbus, Georgia, winning first place in individual debate.  VSU received three awards in the competition. The school tied for second place in the overall competition; Cassandra Ayers, a sophomore communications major, won first place as Individual Debate Champion; and Ava Peeples won second place for Individual Novice Debater.   Competitors from all over Georgia participated in the Regents Cup, which included 16 schools, such as Columbus State University, University of Georgia, ...

By Madeline Higdon, Staff writer VALDOSTA, Ga. – Wild Adventures theme park brought back its “VSU Day” on April 25, 2026 after a two-year hiatus. On these days, students can use their One Cards to get free admission and 30% off of all park dining. The park saw about 900 students. As a Florida resident, I’m spoiled by the endless ...

By: Nathalie Monero, Staff writer On April 17, the J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship hosted their annual Business Plan Competition Final Pitch at Pound Hall Auditorium, where student finalists presented their final pitch to the judges.   Students were to be registered for this competition back in February, when they submitted their executive summaries and registered to participate. Semi finalists ...

By: Aylin Quiroz, Staff writer  On Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Palms Dining Hall, students had the chance to experience what animals experience in animal testing facilities.   PETA2 is the youth division of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) with the goal of teaching young people about animal rights and ...

Hey Blazers, With the immense amount of heat, fire and smoke safety issues going around, this is your reminder to stay safe as we finish out the school year. -Stay inside as much as possible -Avoid cooking outside or using flames in open air spaces -Dress cooler to avoid the risk of a heatstroke -Keep an eye on weather/ news ...

By: Madeline Higdon, Staff writer FARGO, Ga.– A vicious wildfire has been ripping through Echols and Clinch counties since Sunday, April 18.    The fire’s core is located at Pineland Road in Fargo, and it has spread close to 17,000 acres – which is roughly 26 miles of fire. The initial cause of the fire is currently unknown.    A Level 3 evacuation order is currently in effect for those who are living ...

By: Rut Labrada, Staff writer Dr. Zhiguang Xu, VSU computer science professor who redesigned the department’s senior capstone course to allow students to work with local organizations, died on March 31, at his home in Orlando, Florida.   Dr. Xu, who worked at VSU since 2002, was one of three professors spearheading the development of an artificial intelligence track for the computer science major that was set to start in the fall 2026 semester.  According to Computer Science ...

By: Austin Sellars, Staff Writer VALDOSTA, Ga. – Titletown, USA, is renowned for its numerous national championships in Division II sports at VSU and its intense high school football rivalries. However, many overlook that it has become a powerhouse in collegiate dance.   The VSU Red Hots swept both the jazz and hip-hop divisions at the National Dance Alliance College National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, securing their 10th and 11th national titles in program history.   ...

Hey Blazer nation!! We are almost about to wrap up the spring 2026 semester, but before we do, here are some tips on how you can “Blaze” through the rest of these last few weeks of school. First, make sure that you are prioritizing your time wisely when it comes to completing your assignments on time. Let’s try to complete ...

By: Rut Labrada, staff writer  Get ready to “Dance the Night Away,” Blazers. On Friday, April 17, VSU’s K-pop Club will be hosting their yearly busking event from 3-4 p.m., where the club members will perform a lineup of nine different K-pop dances at Converse Square.  The event, which was initially planned to occur from 2-3:30 p.m., was moved back one hour ...