Summer lab student a 'bright spot'

By Lindsay Dobras

Student worker Lauren Badger inputs data after assisting in various nutrition-related experiments. (Photo/Lindsay Dobras)

ATHENS, Ga. – Instead of choosing teeny bikinis and sunless tanners, Lauren Badger chooses to spend her summer in a white lab coat.

Badger, a dietetics major from Hilton Head Island, S.C., works afternoons as a student assistant in the University of Georgia science nutrition labs. Badger helps Dr. Dorothy Hausman, Associate Research Scientist from Watkinsville, Ga., with experimental analysis and data reading.

Hausman’s research involves getting data from human blood samples in order to measure the nutritional content. For her most recent analysis, Badger assisted Hausman in testing samples of blood to determine how many of the serums contained calcium and how much of it was present. Their results get sent to another lab, which then uses the data to complete nutrition-related studies.

Hausman explains the tasks she assigns her student workers depend on their interests, competency, and availability. She said Badger is her best student worker and really enjoys having her in the lab.

“Lauren is a very dependable and conscientious,” Hausman said. She jokes that Badger is easily amused and explains that she serves as a “bright spot” in the lab.

Lauren Badger (left) assists graduate student Alyson Haslam and Associate Research Scientist, Dr. Dorothy Hausman in testing human blood samples for calcium at the Boyd Graduate Research Center on Tuesday May 20, 2009. (Photo/Lindsay Dobras)

As a dietetics major, Badger hopes to become a registered dietitian. According to Badger, dietitians work as nutrition ‘personal trainers.’ They perform nutrient assessments and work with individuals to help create a health plan that works for them. In order to help those at risk for health problems, they will look at assessments and determine if nutrient supplements are needed.

Badger plans to attend grad school next fall and hopes to eventually work for the FDA. She explains that her work with the school has prepared her well for the future and has opened up new career possibilities.

“I never knew I wanted to work in a lab,” she said, “but working for Dr. Hausman has really opened my eyes to the possibility of it. Dieticians have a lot of different choices for a career path, and now I have the experience if I ever want to continue with this in the future.”

If Badger attends UGA for grad school, she has the option to continue work with Hausman in an assistantship program. One of her co-workers, who currently participates in the program, tells Badger the research has played a role in shaping her future goals.

“It is nice to experience what real research is like,” said Alyson Haslam, a graduate student in nutrition science from Watkinsville, Ga. “The assistantship has given me a lot of hands on experience that may help me in the future.”

After working in the science lab for more than a year, Badger has grown to love the experience and hopes to continue working in the lab until she graduates next spring. Badger said she has been inspired by Hausman and Haslam and considers them to be both her mentors and close friends.


EDITED BY: Jordan Stepp

Downtown boutiques beat economy and slow summer

PHOTO by Bailey Keiger

Laura Beaghan, co-manager of The Clubhouse, stacks T-shirts at the store Wednesday morning.

Written by Bailey Keiger

Downtown Athens clothing boutiques are seeing some effects of a slowing economy and fewer people in Athens during the summer months, but business isn’t as bad as one might expect.

“We’re lucky to be downtown, and we’re lucky to be a store where college kids want to shop,” said Linda Rasch, a salesperson at Heery’s Clothes Closet, a high-fashion boutique on College Avenue. “But of course the recession has affected us,” Rasch said.

Cillie’s Clothing, a consignment store that also sells new fashions, is also seeing evidence of the poor economy. “We are getting more people who try on something but don’t buy it and girls who come in and say ‘Dad’s gonna kill me’ when they buy something, and I used to never see that,” said Katharine Waldrip, the store’s manager.

Despite the economy and students traveling away from Athens for the summer, Waldrip says her store is doing fine sales-wise.

“I’ve had a great few weeks,” Waldrip said, “Summer has had no affect on sales. People realize that it’s 80 degrees, and they want to go out and get a cute top to wear.”

While business may not be at a complete standstill, area stores are keeping their options open and using different tactics to draw in patrons and motivate customers to shop.

“We’ve started to send out cards in the Sunday paper to our loyal customers for $50 off if you spend $100 or more,” said Rasch. “We’ve always had a big summer sale, but we started the card thing as a way to stimulate the economy and our business.”

Social networking has also become a popular source for marketing businesses.

“We’ve started to use Facebook to market our sales more,” said Laura Beaghan, co-manager of The Clubhouse, a store that specializes in Georgia Bulldog merchandise.
“We have offered more sales because of the economy. People go to these large stores and see deep discounts, and they’re starting to expect sales.”

While many students choose to leave Athens once the spring semester is over, freshman orientation and other visitors often fill the hole left by departing students.

“Summer is usually a good season for us. There are high school conferences staying in Athens, and freshman orientation helps a lot.” Beaghan said.

In the end, most businesses know that sticking to the basics will help pull them through most tough times.

“We’ve been here 6 years,” Waldrip said. “We’re just trying to keep our prices affordable and our merchandise fresh. I think we’re gonna be OK.”

Edited by Sara Spigener

PHOTO by Bailey Keiger

The sale rack at Red Dress Boutique offers deep discounts for customers.

Groups holds vigil for death row inmate

By Marcus Crawford
Beth Kelley Zorbanos, Deb Weiler and Nancy McNair stand at the arch with their signs.
(Photo/Marcus Crawford)

ATHENS, Ga. – While recent graduates grinned and posed in front of the historic arch, a dedicated few gathered to support a man with little to smile about.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, members of Amnesty International and the Athens, Ga., chapter of Women in Black, an anti-war group, braved the unseasonably cold weather in order hold a vigil for Troy Davis. Davis, a Georgia death row inmate, was convicted on Aug. 28, 1991 for murdering Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.

The vigil, which lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., coincided with a similar demonstration at the state capitol in Atlanta.

Charles Gardner, a local carpenter and a University alumnus, was among the Athenians who participated in the Global Day of Action for Troy Davis.

“I don’t know if this does any good, standing here with this sign,” Gardner said “But it maybe does more good than sitting at Starbucks, drinking coffee”.

Since Davis’ conviction, new evidence has surfaced that may prove his innocence. According to Amnesty International, seven of the nine eyewitnesses who testified in the Davis case have recanted their testimony and signed affidavits to that effect.

Due to a lack of physical evidence tying him to the crime, the grounds for Davis’ conviction lie almost entirely on eyewitness testimony.

The eyewitness recanted testimony, which came to light after Davis had been convicted, has not been presented before an appeals court. Under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, it has become more difficult to introduce new evidence post-conviction. Thus the Georgia Supreme Court has refused to grant Davis a new trial.

The magnitude and circumstances of the case have garnered worldwide attention. From Baltimore to Brussels, thousands of people around the world participated in demonstrations decrying Davis’ death sentence.

For Laura Tate Kagel, an Amnesty International member and a State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Georgia, publicity is integral to saving Davis from his fourth execution date in two years.

“I think it’s going to be a huge embarrassment for Georgia if he’s executed with the world watching,” said Kagel.

Beth Kelley Zorbanos, a self proclaimed peacemaker and member of both Amnesty International and Women in Black, argued that the Davis case was symptomatic of larger societal issues. Like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, she believes that the death penalty is counter-productive to a healthy global community.

“It doesn’t fix anything, it doesn’t heal anything,” Zorbanos said. “It just snuffs out another life.”

The 30-day stay of execution issued to Davis by the 11th Circuit Court expired last week. His attorneys and supporters are currently attempting to file a final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Amnesty International is also organizing a petition campaign in Savannah, Ga. in order to voice public outcry to the incoming district attorney.


EDITED BY: Jordan Stepp

Correction: Misspelled Charles Gardner's name on second reference.

More pets need homes in rough economy

By Marcie Opraseuth

Gwen, a short-haired Tortie, was given to the AAHS because her owner could no longer take care of her. (Photo/Marcie Opraseuth)

ATHENS, Ga.—Today’s economy has affected businesses nationwide, including animal shelters, which have seen an increase in pet owners giving up their animals because they can no longer afford them.

Fewer people are adopting these pets, which is putting an enormous strain on animal shelters everywhere. Athens Area Humane Society has implemented adoption and fostering programs to alleviate the overflow of animals.

“It’s sad to see even more helpless animals lose their home because of the economy.” said Paul Schofield, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, “It’s important to get as many pets adopted as possible.”

The AAHS shelter is off Beaverdam Road, where only cats and small animals can be adopted. Larger animals, such as dogs can be rescued at the adoption center in Athens.

AAHS’s fostering program allows volunteers to take care of small pets such as cats, hamsters or rabbits in their own home.

According to Becca Willard, a foster parent for AAHS, applicants must meet a few requirements: attend orientation, have permission from your landlord, undergo an inspection of the home and own a fire extinguisher.

Fostering a cat or small animal can last from a couple weeks to a few months, depending on the reason. Cats that need socializing with humans stay longer in the foster home. In other cases, the cat may only stay a few days, while going through a transition period to a new home.

During the time volunteers foster these animals, they must keep a log of the animal’s health. This includes any eating or behavioral problems. The AAHS will come to the foster home and administer any shots the animal might need.

The Fostering program saves animals’ lives. It gives the animals time to become suitable for adoption. To volunteer as a foster parent visit the AAHS website www. athenshumanesociety.org.

AAHS has an adoption center located at Pet Supplies Plus on Alps Road, where potential pet owners can go to adopt cats or dogs.

The adoption center has been at Pet Supplies Plus for a little less than a year, according to Jess Prosser, general manager of Pet Supplies Plus. A lot of people come to the adoption centers, which brings in business for the store.

Adoption hours for Pet Supplies Plus are on Monday through Friday, 1p.m. to 7p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 12p.m. to 6 p.m.

Edited By: Jordan Stepp

Good taste isn't hard to find

Photo by: Leila Mattimore
Lauren Gregg's "Nerdimals" are displayed in the Prince Avenue
restaurant The Grit. The Grit features new art installations every
every three weeks.

By Leila Mattimore

There’s no need to put on fancy pants to see great art these days. Museums, galleries and exhibits with expensive admission no longer rule the show.

Athens has long been reputed as a college town with a unique blend of “high culture.” The music venues, restaurants, art galleries, all combine to form a city that values a pleasing aesthetic quality and good taste.

And good taste in Athens is never hard to find. Especially since in many of the restaurants around town you can also find local artists’ work on display.

Jay Totti, general manager of The Grit restaurant, explains how the artists and the restaurants have a mutually beneficial relationship. “We like to support local artists by giving them a space to share their work with the public, but it also benefits the restaurant’s atmosphere,” Totti said.

Every three weeks The Grit features an installation of art by a local artist, but there are certain pieces in the restaurant that never change. According to Totti, the atmosphere remains constant, but it is supplemented with a taste of something new.

“You have a menu of food with specials which change, and you also have a menu of art or appearance,” Totti said. Customers can try a daily special when they come in, or can order their usual off the menu. The same theory can be applied to the ever-varying art.

Currently, The Grit is featuring art by Lauren Gregg. Twelve of Gregg’s “nerdimals,” 15.5 x 19.5 framed illustrations, can be found in the restaurant adding a playful element to the “atmosphere menu”. Enjoying while you eat is free, but the art is also available for purchase. The “nerdimals” go for about $150 each, and Gregg also sells prints online.

Big City Bread Café is another Athens restaurant that proudly displays local artists. “Sweet Thoughts,” by Kate Schönke, is the current installation. The series is made of handmade paper, ribbon, and collage.

“I really like the cupcakes and sweets in this collage,” Haley Peterson, a sophomore accounting major at the University of Georgia, said of the “Sweet Thoughts” series. “They’re great for the bakery. I think they’re actually making me hungrier.”

Some customers have mixed feelings though, and think the art doesn’t always add to a diner’s experience. “That ominous face, or ghost, over there is scary,” Vinny Barba, a junior at UGA, said, of an untitled, permanent work in Big City Bread cafe.

“I like the little ghost,” Peterson responded.





Edited by: Courtney Smith

Job opportunities slim down in Athens

Written by Suha Zakiuddin

People looking for job opportunities in Athens-Clarke County can find help from local employment agencies, but might experience setbacks due to the current economic climate.

The Athens-Clarke County Human Resources Department is currently only filling positions that are mission-critical, said Jackie Rains, the employment administrator.

Mission-critical positions consist of those that, if not filled, pose a severe impact on the community and affect the level of safety expected by the community and the government, said Rains. These jobs are related to the police workforce.

To get this type of job, applicants must be recommended by the human resources director and then approved by the Athens-Clarke County Unified Manager.

When asked about the current employment levels in Athens, Rains sounded positive. She said that the county has not experienced a significant amount of layoffs and that human resources has not seen the increase in unemployment that was expected with the slow economy.

“People are holding on to their jobs. Turnover has flowed way down,” said Rains. “It’s a good thing.”

However, local agencies that offer temporary employment opportunities have experienced a different employment trend due to the economy.

These agencies provide temporary short-term and long-term employment opportunities to people looking for jobs and can help candidates in two ways. One method is by matching companies looking for applicants to candidates who fill the position requirements. The other is by matching people who contact the agency with jobs that fit their needs. Some of the temporary positions can become permanent.

One temporary employment agency, Manpower Temporary Services, also helps students who are looking for jobs. For example, a marketing company in Athens is currently offering positions to students who can work over the summer for 40 hours a week.

In regards to the economy, Manpower found that during the last quarter, the quality of people looking for employment went up considerably, said Jane Oliver, the branch manager. This is due to companies cutting back on the number of employees or closing because of the slow economy, therefore, laying off qualified individuals.

On a positive note, in this quarter, companies are finding that business is picking up, so the demand for employees is increasing, said Oliver.

Branch manager Patsy Boyd at Top Notch Personnel, Inc., another staffing agency located in Athens, was not so positive about the current employment situation.

She said that employment opportunities for candidates are the “worst it’s ever been.” In a trend that began last year, there has been a decrease in the number of companies calling in for temporary employees. The trend has worsened this year.

But Boyd and Oliver are hopeful.

According to Oliver, “We love what we do here. It is so gratifying to help someone find a job that they are happy with. If they walk out of here with a smile on their face it is extremely gratifying.”

For more information about the human resources department, visit www.athenshr.com. For help finding a job, the phone number for Manpower Temporary Services is 706-208-0700 and for Top Notch Personnel, Inc., 706-369-9151.

Edited by Sara Spigener

Address change raise concerns for frats

The new Tau Epsilon
Phi fraternity house
received its roof
recently but work
still needs to be
done in order to
finish the house
before the August
1st deadline.

(Photos/Ben Bussard)

Sigma Nu’s new
fraternity house
(foreground) still
has some roofing
and landscaping
concerns while the
Pi Kappa Alpha house
(background left) is
nearing its completion.

By Ben Bussard

ATHENS, Ga—Distress overcomes those who live in four fraternity houses forced to relocate off campus.

Tau Epsilon Phi, Sigma Nu, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Phi Delta Theta are the fraternities that will be changing addresses—joining the Alpha Epsilon Pi and Kappa Sigma houses on River Road.

According to the Greek Advisor to Housing Management, Andrew Rasmussen, the move was encouraged by the University in an effort to utilize the property that the fraternity houses currently occupy in a more beneficial manner for the University.

“The University realized how valuable that property is,” Rasmussen said, “So they decided to tear down those houses to make room for classrooms and academic buildings.”

The property in discussion, located on the corner of Baxter Street and Lumpkin Street, is directly across the street from the Miller Learning Center and will serve as an ideal spot for other academic buildings that would contribute for more to the student body than a few fraternity houses.

One of the fraternity houses that isn’t moving is the Sigma Chi house which is located next door to the Phi Delta Theta house.

Members of the fraternities being forced to move have raised some discrepancies over the Sigma Chi house remaining on campus.

“The Sigma Chi house has a 100-year property contract that gives them a kind of immunity,” Rasmussen said, “It was signed less than 10 years ago, so they’re going to be there for awhile.”

Even with that explanation, members of the fraternities whose houses are moving feel somewhat taken advantage of.

Lenny Bluestein, a senior advertising major from Alpharetta and member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, is definitely frustrated that his fraternity is losing its prime location next to Sanford Stadium.

“It sucks, man. I mean we are less than five minutes away from Sanford and the rest of campus,” Bluestein said, “Now we have to find a way to get to class and tailgating will be completely different.”

Bluestein isn’t the only one frustrated by the change of residence.
Fellow Tau Epsilon Phi brother and junior business major from Macon, Josh Sandberg, expressed similar disgust with the forced move.

“I’m going to have to pay to park on campus somewhere now,” Sandberg said, “And it was nice to be so close to the MLC because I need to spend as much time there as possible and now I’ll be less likely to make it there.”

Construction is set to be completed before the beginning of the fall semester and the fraternity houses on the corner of Baxter and Lumpkin have already been vacated.

All dissention aside, the University’s decision to place academic buildings on the fraternity houses’ property is the right one to make.

“As the Greek advisor, I need to make sure that the best interests of the fraternities are preserved,” Rasmussen said, “But using the property for school purposes is definitely the better use for the area.”

EDITED: Imann Gad

Local tattoo artist mixes cute with carnage

Photo by: Alex McKelvey
Local tattoo artist Guzik stands outside Pain & Wonder
where both he and Groves work.

By: Alex McKelvey
Mike Groves abandoned working at electronic retail stores to pursue a career creating distorted, bizarre and sometimes disturbing artwork meant to twist people’s perceptions of reality. He has since become a well-respected tattoo artist at Pain & Wonder, located at 285 W. Washington St.
As far as his colleagues are concerned, Groves brings a new-fangled style to Pain & Wonder’s catalog.
“He is Jim Henson on acid, drawing robots,” Groves’ coworker, Guzik, the self-proclaimed chaplain of Pain & Wonder, said.
Groves combines his fascination with comic book art and his academic background in graphic design to create a distinctive artistic style that is apparent in his work.
The ink artisan has been drawing all of his life. At an early age, he was frequently given art supplies by his grandfather, Glen Wagers, an Emmy-award-winning set designer.
Now, Groves is a freelance artist with a repertoire of strange work, showcased on skin and T-shirts alike. He has been working at Pain & Wonder for seven years, but his income is reinforced through his online gallery, poopbird.com, where much of his work is for sale.
“It is nontraditional,” Groves said, when asked about his style. “It has a comic book, animated kind-of feel.”
His work is certainly nontraditional. He often draws content from video games or childhood television programs with a scratchy, abrasive approach that is reminiscent of artwork by Ralph Steadman, the artist who illustrated some of Hunter S. Thompson’s work.
One of Groves’ pieces features Sesame Street character Bert, wielding an axe and standing over a pile of carnage. It’s almost as if Groves is introducing the childhood icon to a universe created by the new generation of violent video games.
It is images like this that distinguish Groves from other local tattoo artists and draw in the customers.
Christopher Poss, an Athens local was lured by the creative energy in Groves’ artwork and commissioned him to design his custom robot tattoo.
“It is something new,” Poss said, flashing his tattoo and admiring it. “The robot wants to be menacing but it’s too cartoony to do it.”
This concept of dualism seems to encapsulate an element that makes much of Groves’ work so captivating. According to Groves, he tries to warp the content of his art in two notable ways. He takes dark content and makes it bright and cheery, or he takes symbols of childhood innocence and warps them with deranged, Steadman-like imagery.
Groves is content making a living out of his passion for strange aesthetics and he does not miss his job at Circuit City.
He feels blessed to work in Athens, where he is able to do a lot of custom work that allows him a great deal of artistic liberty.
“It’s an artistic job that has a strong fan base for the kind of stuff I do,” Groves said.

Edited by: Courtney Smith

Public service takes next step

A poster
promotes the
upcoming
roundtable
discussion on
healthcare and
social problems
in Athens.




(Photos/Courtney Holbrook)

Jan Levinson,
assistant outreach
archivist at the
Richard B. Russell
Library for Political
Research and Studies,
prepares for the next
meeting.


By Courtney Holbrook

ATHENS, Ga—The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of Georgia will present “What Can We Do?,” a follow-up to its “Unnatural Causes” series on June 7 from 3 to 5 pm at the Athens Regional Library.

“Unnatural Causes” is a 7-part film and lectures series. It discusses connections between health and external forces – poverty, race, status and location.

“It focuses on the social determinants of health and health inequality in the U.S.,” said Jan Levinson, assistant outreach archivist at the Russell Library. “Throughout the series, it becomes obvious that how you live impacts how healthy you are in America.”

The series quickly became more popular than expected.

Every Sunday, Athens’ residents filed into the library and watched part of the documentary. Guest speakers followed each film, including such notables as Dr. Camara Jones, Research Director on Social Determinants of Health and Equity at the Centers for Disease Control.

“When it was over, people wanted to know how they could help,” Levinson said. “We scheduled this other lecture for Athenians who want to volunteer in their community for social change.”

According to Levinson, this upcoming meeting will teach practical solutions to would-be social movers. They will discuss how to use public policy to fund resources into the Athens community.

“It is amazing how this compelling issue has galvanized so many into wanting to take action,” Levinson said.

But this program was not so successful in its beginning.

“Unnatural Causes” was filmed in 2007. In March 2008, Partners for a Prosperous Athens – or One Athens – co-sponsored the film premiere with Teen Matters. Only 15 people came.

One Athens promoted a later showing as a benefit for impoverished Athenians.

It drew a grand total of 5 people.

“It was unbelievably depressing,” said Patricia Thomas, the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism at Grady College. “We actually lost money on a fundraiser.”

The film was relegated to classrooms and archives – until another group showed interest.

“As a political archive, we are very interested in the cross-sections of life and public policy,” said Jill Severn, Director of the Russell Forum for Civil Rights in Georgia and the Head of Access and Outreach at the Russell Library. “There is nothing more galvanizing to the public and political spheres than healthcare.”

Jan Levinson and Jill Severn started working on the program once again. Their sponsors included the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism, One Athens, the College of Education, the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health at UGA.

The results were surprising. In seven weeks, over 400 people attended regularly.

“It was successful beyond our wildest dreams,” Thomas said. “It more than made up for the previous disappointments.”

Severn speculates that the new Obama administration is a cause for the programs’ popularity.

“The Obama administration has changed the way people think of healthcare,” Severn said. “People no longer assume that it is solely your responsibility. There are broader structural problems influencing it.”

The “What Can We Do?” meeting was a logical next step. Interested audience members wanted to do something about the problems they saw in the films.

It will be a roundtable discussion where participants can voice their ideas for promoting social change. There will be no scheduled points of conversation. Any argument for action is possible.

“People will learn to think in a deliberative way about solving difficult social problems,” Levinson said.
The Athens community is ready for the challenge.

EDITED: Imann Gad

Two students create art with a bark

Photo by: Jordan Stover
Student artist Mandy Newton sketches the outline of a new piece of art.
She and her roommate plan to sell their dog-themed art at local craft fairs

By: Jordan Stover

This summer, two University of Georgia students will combine their love of UGA, football and dogs with their love of painting, cooking and designing in an effort to earn some spending money.

Mandy Newton, a senior from Sylvania, Ga., and Jessica Vaughan, a junior from Cartersville, Ga., are working on items to put in their “dog-themed” booths that they plan on setting up at arts and crafts festivals all over Georgia.

The two have primarily been working on paintings of classic UGA symbols such as the arch and the athletic association’s “G.”

Newton wanted to sell UGA paintings because it is a subject that is very close to her heart since both of her parents attended UGA.

“I wanted to paint the ‘G’ because it was more football-related than the arch,” Newton, a math education major, said.

According to Vaughan, she and Newton also wanted to make UGA paintings because they thought that they would sell better.

“We wanted to make [the art] relevant,” Vaughan, a biology major, said. “Not many people will buy random pictures of flowers, but Georgia fans will always buy UGA stuff.”

Cindy Watkins, an animal science major from Rome, Ga., agreed with the idea that UGA paintings would sell better than anything else.

“I don’t normally buy stuff like that, but I would buy UGA paintings,” Watkins said. “I always stop at booths in the mall that have UGA stuff to see what I can find.”

In addition to UGA paintings, Newton and Vaughan also plan to sell dog treats, dog visors and paintings of their dog Zoe, a teacup Chihuahua.

“We wanted to stick with a theme and the dog items seemed to fit since UGA’s mascot is the bulldogs,” Newton said. “We also plan on putting ‘G’s’ and arches on the dog visors to keep with the theme.”

Zoe the dog will accompany her owners to the arts festivals and act as their mascot. Newton said that she and Vaughan are planning to dress her up in a Georgia cheerleading uniform to help work the booth.

Vaughan and Newton have not decided for sure which festivals they will be participating in this summer, but they will definitely be at the Rose Lawn Arts Festival in Cartersville, Ga. in the fall.

Vaughan and Newton got the idea to sell their arts and crafts at festivals while visiting the Rose Lawn Arts Festival last year. According to Newton, they saw what other people were doing and decided to give it a try.

While Vaughan attended a high school known for its excellent fine arts program and has been painting for most of her life, Newton is fairly new to painting but said that she is really enjoying it.

“I haven’t painted very much before, but it’s fun and it’s a great way to earn some extra money during the summer,” Newton said.

Edited by: Courtney Smith

Summer affects local bars more than economy

PHOTO by Hal Tift

Stephen Wagner, 25, assistant manager of Copper Creek Brewing Co. waits on customers Tuesday night.

Written by Hal Tift

Athens bars don’t fear a recession as much as they fear the summer months. Local bars are preparing, as usual, for the annual down season, but the economic downturn is not having much effect.

Some bars saw a drop in customers late last year following October’s economic slide and leading up to the December shopping season, but it didn’t last.

“Late November is when we felt it most,” said Stephen Wagner, assistant manager of Copper Creek Brewing Co., a bar on East Washington Street in downtown Athens. “The last four or five months have been really good.”

Since the summer began, though, Copper Creek has experienced what Wagner called an expected lull in business.

“Happy hour has been particularly slow,” Wagner said referring to the afternoon and evening. “The nights haven’t been that bad actually.” He has worked at the bar since April 2008.

Copper Creek isn’t facing anything it can’t handle, though. Wagner said that there were no employees released despite the lag in business, but there was a significant cut back in the number of shifts available to the bar’s employees.

Sarah Stone, 21, is a bartender at Flanagan’s Bar and Pub on East Clayton Street (also known as the Half Moon Pub). Stone said they, too, had retained all of their staff for the summer. Unlike Copper Creek, though, Flanagan’s didn’t cut many shifts.

“We might get one less shift a week,” Stone said. There are inevitably fewer students during the summer, she said, but there is enough business to keep bartenders working and to keep revenue flowing for the bars.

“It’s basically a direct result of how many students are enrolled at UGA,” said Nicole Henderson, a fifth-year Biology major from Covington, Ga., and a bartender at The Roadhouse on North Lumpkin Street.

Business can vary from one summer to the next if there are more students taking summer classes. “Two summers ago was really good,” Henderson said, “but last year was a lot slower.”

Henderson also said that it was not uncommon to see the bar mostly empty before 11:00 p.m. Afternoon business is slow all year for many bars in Athens, like Flanagan’s and Roadhouse, that draw much bigger crowds at night.

While the economy hasn’t greatly affected bars’ revenue, some bartenders have seen its effects. Henderson said that tip percentages have gone down as a result of the economy. People are just as willing to come out to the bars, she said, but they’re less willing to tip.

Edited by Sara Spigener

Construction restores Fine Arts Theater to former glory

The renovation

being done to

the Fine Arts

Theater will

reveal the

original tiling,

which was

covered during

a 1976 renovation.

(Photo/Miranda Stancil)

By Miranda Stancil

ATHENS, GA—The Fine Arts Theater at the University of Georgia is getting a makeover.

The Office of University Architects and the Department of Theater and Film Studies are breathing new life into the historic space with a $3.25 million renovation.

According to David Saltz, associate professor and head of the Department of Theater and Film Studies, the renovation includes restoring the theater’s original architecture, and also modernizing a lot of its existing features.

“This project is a big priority for the University,” said Saltz, who has worked as the department head for five years now. “The Fine Arts Building is one of the most historical buildings on campus, and the renovation will help preserve that past for the University.”

The focus of the first phase of the renovation is on increasing acoustical quality and visibility. In addition, the box office and coat check will be restored and modern, multi-stall bathrooms will be installed downstairs.

Saltz hopes the renovation will attract more theatergoers and with 611 new seats being installed, in addition to the refurbished original ones, it’s possible that audience sizes will increase.

“Many seasoned patrons were unhappy with the performances in the old theater, and I’m hoping this renovation will make their experiences a pleasure in the future,” said Saltz.

Before the renovation, the Fine Arts Theater was not ideal for performances. According to Saltz, the walls and ceiling were bad for acoustics, which forced actors to strain their voices to be heard. Also, the slope of the theater was low enough that it was difficult for audience members sitting in the first 10 rows to see anything below the actors’ knees.

“Actors would be performing their heart out, and doing everything they could to project well,” said Saltz, “but the sound was going everywhere but at the audience.”

During the renovation, the dry wall will be stripped off to reveal the original tiling underneath. According to Saltz, the tiling is much better for acoustics and will be painted to reveal the beauty of the original work as well.

Many of the problems that the Fine Arts Theater addresses arose from its previous renovation in 1976.

When the theater was built in 1939, the walls were hand-tiled and balconies were constructed on both sides of the stage. Columns were erected and the original theater featured a breathtaking domed ceiling.

But in the 1970s, modern theater design called for the covering of distracting ornamentation. To keep with the times, the theater was renovated and the original architecture was covered with dry wall.

The balconies were removed and the one-of-a-kind Fine Arts Theater was boxed in and blacked out with spray paint.

According to Saltz, it was the dry wall, the catwalks, and the heavy scaffolding hanging from the ceiling that made the acoustics of the theater inadequate.

“To be frank, the theater was an embarrassment when we hosted touring shows,” said Saltz. “It wasn’t the actors’ faults, the theater was just a terrible place to perform.”

According to Scott Messer, Project Manager and historic preservationist in the Architects’ office at the University, a study was done in 2003 to assess the quality of the acoustics in the Fine Arts Theater. It was the study that prompted the University to pump money and resources into renovating the theater.

“This renovation is going to restore the theater as a historical part of the University,” said Messer. “It puts a fine space back online and it will allow the theater department to centralize its performances, because before, they were performing shows all over Athens to avoid using the theater.”

Mirla Criste, assistant professor in the Fine Arts Department, is excited about the renovations.

“We're all very much looking forward to being able to work in a space that has been specifically configured for the production of theatrical works,” said Criste, “something that wasn't quite true of the space before the renovation.”

Phase one of the renovation is scheduled for completion on Aug. 31, but Messer said the deadline might be extended. Future phases include restoring the large domed ceiling and skylight.

“Essentially, the renovation is going to bring the Fine Arts building back to life,” said Saltz, “and that is going to affect the University as a whole. It has a history that needs to be preserved, and that’s what this project is all about.”

EDITED: Imann Gad

Renovation restores Fine Arts Theatre to original glory

Constructions
workers put effort
into restoring
the original
architecture
of the Fine Arts
Theater. When
the theater was
built in 1939, it
featured columns
and a domed ceiling
complete with skylight.

(Photo/Miranda Stancil)

Group Seeks Retrial for Troy Davis (Brief)

by Marcus Crawford

Timothy Leech holds a sign and his son David at a vigil for Troy Davis on Tuesday, May 19, 2009. (Photo/Marcus Crawford)

On Tuesday, dozens of University of Georgia alumni flocked to the historic arches during a vigil for Troy Davis, a Georgia death row inmate. Unfortunately for Davis, the bulk of these UGA graduates were simply there to be photographed in their caps and gowns.

Members of Amnesty International and the Athens chapter of Women in Black, an anti-war group, braved the unseasonably cold weather in order to show support for Davis. The vigil, which lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., coincided with a similar demonstration at the state capitol in Atlanta.

Troy Davis was convicted of murdering Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail in Aug. 1991.Since his conviction, new evidence has surfaced that may prove Davis'innocence. According to Amnesty International, seven of the nine eyewitnesses who testified in the Davis case have recanted their testimony and signed affidavits to that effect.


Editor: Jordan Stepp
Sources: Charles Gardner, Carpenter, Athens, Ga.,
Amnesty International

Public service in Athens takes next step (Brief)

By Courtney M. Holbrook

ATHENS, Ga--The Russell Political Science Library presents “Public Service: The Next Step,” a follow-up to its “Unnatural Causes” series on June 7.

“Unnatural Causes” is a 7-part video and lecture series demonstrating connections between poverty and healthcare. Various speakers participated in audience and panel discussions.

“It really takes a look at the social determinants of health,” said Jill Severn, Director of the Russell Forum for Civil Rights in Georgia. “It forces Athenians to really be engaged in what's going on around them.”

The follow-up meeting is the next step. It will discuss how Athens' residents can use lessons from the series to help their communities.

“Public Service: the Next Step” will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Athens Regional Library on Baxter.

EDITED BY: Imann Gad

Economy has little effect on local bars

PHOTO by Hal Tift

Stephen Wagner, 25, assistant manager of Copper Creek Brewing Co.

Written by Hal Tift

Bars in downtown Athens are facing challenges this summer, but they aren’t having any more trouble than they expect each year. The struggling economy is having little effect on them.

While the summer always presents challenges for Athens bars, the economy is not taking anything extra away from their business like it is for many other industries.

The economy may have had an impact on some bars after the sharp decline in stocks in October 2008, but for the most part they recovered quickly.

“Late November is when we felt it most,” said Stephen Wagner, assistant manager of Copper Creek Brewing Co., a bar on Washington Street in downtown Athens. “The last four or five months have been really good.” Wagner has worked at the bar since April 2008.

Edited by Sara Spigener

Good taste isn’t hard to find

Photo by Leila Mattimore
Local artist Lauren Gregg's framed works displayed at Prince Avenue restaurant The Grit.


By Leila Mattimore

A gallery isn’t the only place to find art in Athens anymore.

Athens has long been reputed as a college town with more “high culture” than “college.” The music venues, restaurants, art galleries, all combine to form a city that values pleasing aesthetic quality and good taste.

And good taste in Athens is never hard to find. In many of the restaurants around town, works by local artists are on display.