The Tate II addition, set to be completed three years after the original Tate Center, is finally opening in June 2009.
The original cost of the Tate II project was estimated at $58.2 million, but the final cost will be around $62 million, said Greg Albanese, facility manager of campus life.
The building is comprised of six levels. The first and second floors are dedicated to parking, while the third floor is the main level of Tate II.
The third level consists of lobby space with furniture, a lounge area, and a food court. Tate II will subcontract from franchises such as Barberito’s and Larry’s Subs. University of Georgia food services has created Hotei’s, an Asian-style grill that will also be on the main level.
Seven or eight meeting rooms will be placed on the fourth level, which will be similar to the rooms in the Miller Learning Center. The Taste of Home Café, a sit down restaurant, will also be on the fourth floor.
Grand Hall, the ballroom on the fifth floor has the capacity to hold 1400 people. The ballroom will serve as a multipurpose room that can be divided into seven sub-rooms, where different events will take place.
Tate II contains no classrooms and will still be under construction when the building opens in June.
Throughout the construction of the building, UGA has strived to make Tate II the “greenest” building on campus. The building will use roof water to irrigate the landscape in the area instead of using water from other sources. The lights used in the building are energy efficient as well.
The building will serve to diminish the large amounts of people using the MLC and Tate Center and act as a hub for student life.
“Student enrollment, based on that, we’ve got the smallest student center,” Albanese said.
Students have been very active in the creation process of the building. The Tate II Center Student Advisory Board serves to represent the student body and make sure ideas are in line with what students want.
Victoria Lee, a Tate II advisory board member, is excited about the completion of the building and feels that the area will be the center of campus life.
“There will be a mix of students and diversity, which will draw more students to the center of campus and allow for a greater exchange of ideas,” Lee said.
“Not only will the building serve for a greater good, but students will be very happy when they don’t have to walk through the SLC to get to the Tate Center,” said Alyssa Hetlage, a senior at UGA.
Edited by Marcus Crawford
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Team One - Features - Athletes prepare for future
PHOTO by Imann Gad
Vince Vance enjoys some down time in his dorm room after a long day.
Fountains full again, finally
By Hal Tift
Campus fountains are flowing again with the help of some ingenuity on the part of Physical Plant staff at the University of Georgia. They are no longer flowing with municipal, potable water but with water from the university’s own stash.
For more than a year the two largest fountains at the university were kept dry because of the severe drought in Athens. The larger of the two fountains is located on Herty Field, and the other is next to Old College.
Athens-Clarke County has had restrictions in place since rain fall was drastically below normal levels early in 2008. The campus fountains were among water fixtures that were forced to be turned off.
This spring the rain is falling again at more normal levels, but that’s not why the fountains are shimmering again.
The restrictions have been slackened but not removed, said Thomas Satterly, assistant vice president for physical plant. There are some water fixtures, specifically ones with fish or plants in them, that were never subject to the restrictions, Satterly said. But the two largest fountains do not meet those requirements.
To get the fountains running again, the Physical Plant staff got innovative.
They formulated methods of collecting condensate that could be used according to water restrictions. Among the methods are collecting condensation from air conditioning units, with cisterns that catch rain water from roofs, and wells owned by the university.
The fountains could have been running in this fashion throughout the drought, but the plans were extensive and time consuming.
“We had to go through the plumbing and design to determine if it was feasible, Satterly said. “That took about a year.”
Now the fountains are running, and there is no reason to believe that they will ever depend on the municipal water system again.
“It’s self-sustaining,” Satterly said. “There’s more than enough condensate.”
The fountains being full and running again changes the atmosphere for some in the university community. People often lounge on the lawn of Herty Field in the pleasant company of the fountain.
“It’s a lot nicer out here when the water’s running,” said senior Ukiah Busch from Ellijay, Ga.
Busch is a fifth year triple major in French, Italian, and Spanish. He spends a lot of his time in the nearby Romance languages building, so he says that Herty field is a common lounging spot for him. “The background noise is nice if nothing else.”
Ukiah Busch, fifth-year senior from Ellijay, Ga., lounges on Herty Field after the fountains quit running early Wednesday. (Photo by Hal Tift)
In a continuing story, the two fountains on the University of Georgia campus which have been running for nearly three weeks after a year of dormancy have stopped flowing yet again.
The smaller fountain near Old College is totally dry after running perfectly as recently as 10:30 a.m.
“It wasn’t running right, so we had to pump out the water so I could work on it,” said university grounds worker Joe Marshall. Marshall oversees all the fountains on campus.
The larger fountain at Herty Field was full of water but no longer spouting today. Marshall said that the wind was blowing too much water out of the fountain. The limited amount of recycled water wasn’t enough to sustain the fountain’s flow.
-Edited by Suha Zakiuddin
Campus fountains are flowing again with the help of some ingenuity on the part of Physical Plant staff at the University of Georgia. They are no longer flowing with municipal, potable water but with water from the university’s own stash.
For more than a year the two largest fountains at the university were kept dry because of the severe drought in Athens. The larger of the two fountains is located on Herty Field, and the other is next to Old College.
Athens-Clarke County has had restrictions in place since rain fall was drastically below normal levels early in 2008. The campus fountains were among water fixtures that were forced to be turned off.
This spring the rain is falling again at more normal levels, but that’s not why the fountains are shimmering again.
The restrictions have been slackened but not removed, said Thomas Satterly, assistant vice president for physical plant. There are some water fixtures, specifically ones with fish or plants in them, that were never subject to the restrictions, Satterly said. But the two largest fountains do not meet those requirements.
To get the fountains running again, the Physical Plant staff got innovative.
They formulated methods of collecting condensate that could be used according to water restrictions. Among the methods are collecting condensation from air conditioning units, with cisterns that catch rain water from roofs, and wells owned by the university.
The fountains could have been running in this fashion throughout the drought, but the plans were extensive and time consuming.
“We had to go through the plumbing and design to determine if it was feasible, Satterly said. “That took about a year.”
Now the fountains are running, and there is no reason to believe that they will ever depend on the municipal water system again.
“It’s self-sustaining,” Satterly said. “There’s more than enough condensate.”
The fountains being full and running again changes the atmosphere for some in the university community. People often lounge on the lawn of Herty Field in the pleasant company of the fountain.
“It’s a lot nicer out here when the water’s running,” said senior Ukiah Busch from Ellijay, Ga.
Busch is a fifth year triple major in French, Italian, and Spanish. He spends a lot of his time in the nearby Romance languages building, so he says that Herty field is a common lounging spot for him. “The background noise is nice if nothing else.”
Ukiah Busch, fifth-year senior from Ellijay, Ga., lounges on Herty Field after the fountains quit running early Wednesday. (Photo by Hal Tift)
In a continuing story, the two fountains on the University of Georgia campus which have been running for nearly three weeks after a year of dormancy have stopped flowing yet again.
The smaller fountain near Old College is totally dry after running perfectly as recently as 10:30 a.m.
“It wasn’t running right, so we had to pump out the water so I could work on it,” said university grounds worker Joe Marshall. Marshall oversees all the fountains on campus.
The larger fountain at Herty Field was full of water but no longer spouting today. Marshall said that the wind was blowing too much water out of the fountain. The limited amount of recycled water wasn’t enough to sustain the fountain’s flow.
-Edited by Suha Zakiuddin
Coffehouse feature story photo (Team 3)
Coffee cups are stacked high at Jittery Joe's coffee. By the end of the day, these will be gone. (Photo/Jordan Stepp)
Coffehouse feature story photos
Justin "Nighttrain" Coates makes a fresh cup of coffee for a caffeine deprived patron at Jittery Joe's. (Photo/Jordan Stepp)
Businesses get creative to attract summer customers
Amici restuarant in downtown Athens, Ga. is one of the many business looking for creative ways to attract customers.
(Photo by Courtney Smith)
By Alex Mckelvey
As students leave town for summer, small local businesses scramble to develop creative strategies to attract customers.
According to Rod Parks, associate registrar at the University, roughly 4,500 students are enrolled in Maymester classes. This figure is starkly lower than the final count for 2009’s spring enrollment, a whopping 32,968 students.
That is 28, 468 fewer people participating in Athens commerce. This drop in potential patronage does not go unnoticed by local businesses.
“The summertime is drastically slower,” said Derick Thompson, a line cook at the Barberitos near 5 points. “Barberitos appeals to hungry college students with little money.”
As students leave town for summer, small local businesses scramble to develop creative strategies to attract customers.
According to Rod Parks, associate registrar at the University, roughly 4,500 students are enrolled in Maymester classes. This figure is starkly lower than the final count for 2009’s spring enrollment, a whopping 32,968 students.
That is 28, 468 fewer people participating in Athens commerce. This drop in potential patronage does not go unnoticed by local businesses.
“The summertime is drastically slower,” said Derick Thompson, a line cook at the Barberitos near 5 points. “Barberitos appeals to hungry college students with little money.”
Consequently, when college students leave town, Barberitos sees less business.
Downtown restaurants, such as Amici Italian Café, have also noted how the summer affects business. According to Stephanie Mason, an Amici manager, last month’s average weekly revenue was markedly higher than it is has been in May so far.
The last week in April brought in $12,576, while this past week brought in only $8286.
Businesses seem to have no doubt that the drop in revenue is correlated to the student summer exodus.
So, what do Athens businesses do to survive this cyclic depression?
According to Mason, Amici is trying to develop new approaches for attracting customers.
Recently, Amici offered graduates 50 percent off of their meals if they brought in their diploma.
Mason also said Amici’s corporate office is considering launching an “industry percent-off day,” in which employees of other downtown stores can order Amici food at a discounted rate.
“You have to give people who are in town anyway incentive to eat at your store,” Mason said.
Bars are also taking part in guerilla marketing tactics to attract more business. American Tavern is hosting a bikini contest every Wednesday night to attract salivating men and profiteering broads to its establishment.
Vincent Villella, a Tavern employee mentioned that American Tavern is also sending promoters on campaigns to pool parties hosted by Athens housing developments.
“We also pass out fliers at malls in close-by towns like Winder and Jefferson,” Villella added.
On the whole, these are not new trends. Athens businesses have always had to find ways of persuading locals to fill the void left by students that have left town.
Keith Neace, the owner of the downtown Barberitos says the key to summer survival is learning from past data, and recognizing how to cut costs wherever possible.
Neace noted that he uses a different launderer for aprons and rags in the summer, and he cuts labor by scheduling fewer people. He also cuts back on print advertising.
“It’s always going to be slower in the summer,” Neace said. “You just have to recognize what costs are superficial and what costs are needed for survival.”
Downtown restaurants, such as Amici Italian Café, have also noted how the summer affects business. According to Stephanie Mason, an Amici manager, last month’s average weekly revenue was markedly higher than it is has been in May so far.
The last week in April brought in $12,576, while this past week brought in only $8286.
Businesses seem to have no doubt that the drop in revenue is correlated to the student summer exodus.
So, what do Athens businesses do to survive this cyclic depression?
According to Mason, Amici is trying to develop new approaches for attracting customers.
Recently, Amici offered graduates 50 percent off of their meals if they brought in their diploma.
Mason also said Amici’s corporate office is considering launching an “industry percent-off day,” in which employees of other downtown stores can order Amici food at a discounted rate.
“You have to give people who are in town anyway incentive to eat at your store,” Mason said.
Bars are also taking part in guerilla marketing tactics to attract more business. American Tavern is hosting a bikini contest every Wednesday night to attract salivating men and profiteering broads to its establishment.
Vincent Villella, a Tavern employee mentioned that American Tavern is also sending promoters on campaigns to pool parties hosted by Athens housing developments.
“We also pass out fliers at malls in close-by towns like Winder and Jefferson,” Villella added.
On the whole, these are not new trends. Athens businesses have always had to find ways of persuading locals to fill the void left by students that have left town.
Keith Neace, the owner of the downtown Barberitos says the key to summer survival is learning from past data, and recognizing how to cut costs wherever possible.
Neace noted that he uses a different launderer for aprons and rags in the summer, and he cuts labor by scheduling fewer people. He also cuts back on print advertising.
“It’s always going to be slower in the summer,” Neace said. “You just have to recognize what costs are superficial and what costs are needed for survival.”
Federal aid not enough to cover growing need
By Sara Spigener
Athens-Clarke County is slated to receive $38,325 in emergency food and shelter aid, but local agencies fear that this will not be enough to meet the area’s growing need.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is distributing funds made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Several agencies are vying for a piece of this stimulus money because they fear that donations will not be able to keep up with the steady increase in need in Clarke County.
Community Connection is a referral service in Clarke County that directs those seeking aid to the proper agency. Their call volume is up 20 percent this year over last year, and 50 percent of calls are for financial assistance with housing or food, said Julie Meehan, the organization’s executive director.
The Salvation Army shelter is so full at times that mats are rolled out onto the floor and used as beds, said employee Carol Pumadera. Project Safe’s emergency shelter has also been operating at capacity, said the organization’s associate director, Carol Ann Adams.
Most agencies cite the economy as the primary reason for the sharp increase in need over the last eight to 10 months. People are seeing their work hours get cut, and many are losing their jobs altogether.
One recent visitor to the Athens Emergency Food Bank was a longtime truck driver, but when business slowed down, he lost his truck and his job.
“People who have worked their whole lives are now needing assistance,” said Kim Ramos, director of the Athens Emergency Food Bank.
Meehan said that a large volume of Community Connection’s callers have never needed aid until recently.
“The economy has shaken up their lives,” she said.
Both Project Safe and Community Connection are losing some of their grant and government funding. The FEMA allocations will provide much needed money to supplement donations, but many agencies need the money, and it will probably be spread thin.
While donations are holding steady for now at most agencies, they fear that they will not be able to meet demand in the near future without an increase in aid. Meehan said that individual donors have stepped up lately, but it is hard to find the support that agencies are used to.
“If donations do not increase to meet the increase in need, we will not be able to meet that need,” Ramos said.
To volunteer or make a donation to any of the Athens-Clarke County emergency shelter and food agencies, please contact Community Connection at 211 or 706-353-1313.
-Edited by Bailey Keiger
Athens-Clarke County is slated to receive $38,325 in emergency food and shelter aid, but local agencies fear that this will not be enough to meet the area’s growing need.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is distributing funds made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Several agencies are vying for a piece of this stimulus money because they fear that donations will not be able to keep up with the steady increase in need in Clarke County.
Community Connection is a referral service in Clarke County that directs those seeking aid to the proper agency. Their call volume is up 20 percent this year over last year, and 50 percent of calls are for financial assistance with housing or food, said Julie Meehan, the organization’s executive director.
The Salvation Army shelter is so full at times that mats are rolled out onto the floor and used as beds, said employee Carol Pumadera. Project Safe’s emergency shelter has also been operating at capacity, said the organization’s associate director, Carol Ann Adams.
Most agencies cite the economy as the primary reason for the sharp increase in need over the last eight to 10 months. People are seeing their work hours get cut, and many are losing their jobs altogether.
One recent visitor to the Athens Emergency Food Bank was a longtime truck driver, but when business slowed down, he lost his truck and his job.
“People who have worked their whole lives are now needing assistance,” said Kim Ramos, director of the Athens Emergency Food Bank.
Meehan said that a large volume of Community Connection’s callers have never needed aid until recently.
“The economy has shaken up their lives,” she said.
Both Project Safe and Community Connection are losing some of their grant and government funding. The FEMA allocations will provide much needed money to supplement donations, but many agencies need the money, and it will probably be spread thin.
While donations are holding steady for now at most agencies, they fear that they will not be able to meet demand in the near future without an increase in aid. Meehan said that individual donors have stepped up lately, but it is hard to find the support that agencies are used to.
“If donations do not increase to meet the increase in need, we will not be able to meet that need,” Ramos said.
To volunteer or make a donation to any of the Athens-Clarke County emergency shelter and food agencies, please contact Community Connection at 211 or 706-353-1313.
-Edited by Bailey Keiger
Coffeehouse feature story (Team 3)
By Jordan Stepp
“It’s like a drug.”
Every day, Justin Coates sees hundreds of caffeine addicted students and professors. And it is his job to see that they get what they want.
Coates, a seventh year history major from Alpharetta, works at the Zell Miller Learning Center branch of Jittery Joe’s Coffee. He gets up early every morning to start making special blends and brews for patrons with a serious need for caffeine.
“We get a lot of regulars here,” said Coates. “Some people come in three or four times a day just to get their fix.”
As he finished his sentence, a regular customer happened to walk in. She orders her usual, the “half-calf skinny no whip mocha.” She pays for her drink and leaves. Coates can’t help but smile. His boss, manager Caleb Nipper, laughs as she walks away.
“She’ll be back again around noon,” he said.
“And at closing time,” said Coates.
Coates and Nipper know their customers well. Sometimes they don’t even have to ask about majors or Greek affiliations. The proof is in the coffee.
“You can tell who the sorority girls are because they always order these really low-fat sweet drinks,” said Coates. “It’s a bit of a status symbol. We call those drinks ‘Milledge Avenues’.”
If the order is very complicated, there is a good chance that the customer has been to Starbucks, explains Nipper. Different majors also are easy to spot by their drink choices. The harder the major, the more caffeine is needed in the drink. According to Nipper and Coates, the most common customers at Jittery Joe’s are business and science majors.
“We try to pay attention to what they want,” said Nipper. “We like interacting with the customers.”
Samantha Paulsen, a barista at Expresso Royale Coffee, likes the social aspect too.
“You get to know certain people and their likes and dislikes,” said Paulsen. “Sometimes we see a regular across the street and start making their order and will have it ready by the time they step in the door.”
Paulsen, a musician, has been serving coffee for over six years and has also been able to “type” people when they walk in the door. But she likes spending time with her customers and actually asking what they do.
“I just like to talk to them a bit,” said Paulsen. “It’s the summer now and there’s a lot more time to just relax. But I’ll be up at 5 a.m. again tomorrow!”
Edited by Marcus Crawford
“It’s like a drug.”
Every day, Justin Coates sees hundreds of caffeine addicted students and professors. And it is his job to see that they get what they want.
Coates, a seventh year history major from Alpharetta, works at the Zell Miller Learning Center branch of Jittery Joe’s Coffee. He gets up early every morning to start making special blends and brews for patrons with a serious need for caffeine.
“We get a lot of regulars here,” said Coates. “Some people come in three or four times a day just to get their fix.”
As he finished his sentence, a regular customer happened to walk in. She orders her usual, the “half-calf skinny no whip mocha.” She pays for her drink and leaves. Coates can’t help but smile. His boss, manager Caleb Nipper, laughs as she walks away.
“She’ll be back again around noon,” he said.
“And at closing time,” said Coates.
Coates and Nipper know their customers well. Sometimes they don’t even have to ask about majors or Greek affiliations. The proof is in the coffee.
“You can tell who the sorority girls are because they always order these really low-fat sweet drinks,” said Coates. “It’s a bit of a status symbol. We call those drinks ‘Milledge Avenues’.”
If the order is very complicated, there is a good chance that the customer has been to Starbucks, explains Nipper. Different majors also are easy to spot by their drink choices. The harder the major, the more caffeine is needed in the drink. According to Nipper and Coates, the most common customers at Jittery Joe’s are business and science majors.
“We try to pay attention to what they want,” said Nipper. “We like interacting with the customers.”
Samantha Paulsen, a barista at Expresso Royale Coffee, likes the social aspect too.
“You get to know certain people and their likes and dislikes,” said Paulsen. “Sometimes we see a regular across the street and start making their order and will have it ready by the time they step in the door.”
Paulsen, a musician, has been serving coffee for over six years and has also been able to “type” people when they walk in the door. But she likes spending time with her customers and actually asking what they do.
“I just like to talk to them a bit,” said Paulsen. “It’s the summer now and there’s a lot more time to just relax. But I’ll be up at 5 a.m. again tomorrow!”
Edited by Marcus Crawford
Team One - Features - Athletes prepare for future
PHOTO by Imann Gad
Angel Robinson looks over the answers to some GRE prep questions.
By Imann Gad
ATHENS, Ga—Thousands of students desert the University of Georgia campus when summer hits, but many student athletes stay and take time to invest in their futures.
Angel Robinson, a fourth year education major and Lady Bulldog from Marietta, Ga., has a productive summer ahead of her. Along with workouts and rehabilitation for a knee injury, she is studying for the GRE and taking summer classes.
“After my morning workouts, I study, take a break, and later in the evening I study again.”
Robinson is also interning with the Marietta City School system. She networks and looks for business sponsors to mentor young males.
Although Robinson is spending her summer doing work she said she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The summer is a time for me to get ahead in my academics and it prepares me for basketball season.”
Robinson may not enjoy the entire summer break, but she does get some time.
“Instead of getting a month off,” she says smiling. “I get a few days to relax.”
Vince Vance, a housing and consumer economics major and fourth year right tackle from San Jose, Calif., also has a busy summer schedule.
“I attend my morning workouts, class, then work camp, Vance said, “Next thing I know its 7 p.m.”
Vance said he would much rather spend his summer on a lake fishing with his friends back home, but he understands that sacrifices must be made for his future.”
“In the long-run I know I am doing what is best for me.”
Second year basketball player, Travis Leslie is from Decatur, Ga. Lester spent his summer before college getting a head start on his academics. He continues by spending the upcoming summer taking more classes.
“I took summer classes here before I actually got here in fall,” Leslie said. “I’m actually glad I did because it feels good to not have a lot on your plate during the season.”
Junior basketball guard from Trenton, Ga., Ashley Houts, is spending part of her summer working out in Athens and interning in the Athletic department.
Houts, a Recreation and Leisure Studies major, enjoys her summers in Athens because they helped her achieve a very important goal.
“Spending my summer in Athens prepares me physically for the season and gain spots on other teams.”
Houts was selected as a finalist for the U.S. National Team that will compete in this summer’s World University Games. If chosen to be one of the 12 players, she will participate in the games, hosted in Belgrade, Serbia.
Almost 500 students make-up 16 of the athletic teams. The majority of them spend their summers taking classes and preparing for the next academic year. Although they spend that time to train for their individual sports, many prefer working in areas that will help further their future careers.
Hard work does pay off.
Edited by Courtney M. Holbrook
Food Services alters its focus during summer
Oglethorpe Dining Commons is the only dining hall open during Maymester.
Photo by Suha Zakiuddin
During the summer, there are less students on the meal plan.
Photo by Suha Zakiuddin
By Suha Zakiuddin
Because there are fewer students in the dining halls during the summer sessions, Food Services at the University of Georgia shifts its operation gears.
The only dining hall open during Maymester is Oglethorpe Dining Commons, also known as O-House. The other dining halls open for operation in June and July, while O-House closes on June 4.
There are some noticeable differences in O-House compared to the fall and spring semesters, mainly more employees and fewer students.
Unsurprisingly, there are fewer students on the meal plan during the summer, as there are fewer students taking classes and living on campus.
So, why are there so many more employees in O-House?
“May is a whole different kind of thing,” says Cafeteria Manager II Darnell Tate, Sr. “Dining hall employees are on a 12-month contract. When the academic year ends, all the employees move to O-House to continue work.”
The only student employees working in the dining hall during Maymester are Student Supervisors; management cuts down the amount of students they hire because there is less of a need for employees. Student employment starts again in June and July.
The dining hall feeds roughly 3000 students during the fall and spring semesters, but in the summer, the number falls to about 150 to 200. The dining hall also feeds a different group of people.
According to Chantai Meadows, a third-year Magazines major and Student Supervisor in O-House, “the clients are different. There is a mixture of students and camps. Last week a middle school class came.”
During the academic year, Meadows’ responsibilities include making sure other student workers are on task, that they take their breaks in a timely manner and making schedules. Those responsibilities change to just helping out where needed because there are no other students employees to oversee.
Meadows is currently working on a new way to train new student employees. “Right now we are changing the way we train students. Making it more detailed,” says Meadows.
William Lee, another Student Supervisor and a Spanish and Theater major, also discussed responsibilities related to his job. “We have to maintain the floor and manage students,” he said.
Both Meadows and Lee prefer the academic year to the summer term because there are more students.
Lee will also be working on the Freshman Orientation team this summer, which sells the meal plan to incoming students.
One of Food Services main sources of income is selling the meal plans to students, since it does not receive subsidies from the university.
“If we don’t sell the meal plan, we don’t have jobs,” says Tate.
When asked if the summertime was less stressful, Tate shook his head. “The management team works on a different mode of operation, with different goals.”
The goal is to get students to join the meal plan.
“In the fall, there is an influx of new students who are getting used to the meal plan, to college,” says Tate. “[The dining hall] is not just a place to eat, it’s a place to socialize. A lot of students are
not successful because they don’t make a connection to the university. The dining hall is a place to do that.”
Edited by Bailey Keiger
Beef O'Brady's Triva Night (Team 3)
By Lindsay Dobras
ATHENS, Ga. – Are you tired of the old pre-gaming ritual before those downtown nights? Then it’s time to test your knowledge while enjoying great beer specials during trivia at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s restaurant.
Beef ‘O’Brady’s, located on the East side of Athens near Kroger, has an enjoyable atmosphere and is a great place to come with friends. On Monday and Wednesday nights, Beef’s, as many regulars call it, offers trivia, cheap beer and cash prizes for trivia winners.
“I have been to trivia five or six times now,” said Maggie Henderson, a marketing major from Savannah, Ga. “I always bring my guy friends who know a lot about sports. We haven’t won yet, but we always have fun coming here before heading out for the night.”
On Monday nights, the restaurant offers general trivia with several different categories. Wednesday’s trivia deals strictly with sports. There are 20 questions total, with four questions in each round.
“I usually come up with questions a couple hours before trivia night with the help of another Beef’s employee,” said Justin Futterman, 23, from Alpharetta, Ga., who reads the questions at trivia.
Futterman, who has been working at the restaurant since it opened in 2007, creates his own questions and reads them every trivia night. He enjoys working trivia nights because he gets paid extra money and enjoys cold beer while reading..
Winners of the trivia receive cash prizes and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s gift certificates. Beef’s employees say that these gift certificates are typically used to pay for the $5 Coors Light pitchers offered exclusively on trivia nights. At halftime, or after about 10 questions, Futterman comes up with one question that gives participants a chance to win an additional gift certificate.
The trivia regulars are usually the winners each week, said Beef’s employee, Mollye Marrone, a 20-year-old art major from Marietta, Ga. Marrone said local University of Georgia students are generally the ones who take over the restaurant on trivia night. She has been working at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s for a year and a half and works most trivia nights.
“I really hate working trivia nights,” she said. “No, I’m just kidding. It is actually fun because the atmosphere is much more relaxed. I also don’t have quite as much work to do because people are so wrapped up in the trivia.”
Trivia nights at Beef’s begin around 8:30 p.m. and usually last about two hours.
Edited by Marcus Crawford
ATHENS, Ga. – Are you tired of the old pre-gaming ritual before those downtown nights? Then it’s time to test your knowledge while enjoying great beer specials during trivia at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s restaurant.
Beef ‘O’Brady’s, located on the East side of Athens near Kroger, has an enjoyable atmosphere and is a great place to come with friends. On Monday and Wednesday nights, Beef’s, as many regulars call it, offers trivia, cheap beer and cash prizes for trivia winners.
“I have been to trivia five or six times now,” said Maggie Henderson, a marketing major from Savannah, Ga. “I always bring my guy friends who know a lot about sports. We haven’t won yet, but we always have fun coming here before heading out for the night.”
On Monday nights, the restaurant offers general trivia with several different categories. Wednesday’s trivia deals strictly with sports. There are 20 questions total, with four questions in each round.
“I usually come up with questions a couple hours before trivia night with the help of another Beef’s employee,” said Justin Futterman, 23, from Alpharetta, Ga., who reads the questions at trivia.
Futterman, who has been working at the restaurant since it opened in 2007, creates his own questions and reads them every trivia night. He enjoys working trivia nights because he gets paid extra money and enjoys cold beer while reading..
Winners of the trivia receive cash prizes and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s gift certificates. Beef’s employees say that these gift certificates are typically used to pay for the $5 Coors Light pitchers offered exclusively on trivia nights. At halftime, or after about 10 questions, Futterman comes up with one question that gives participants a chance to win an additional gift certificate.
The trivia regulars are usually the winners each week, said Beef’s employee, Mollye Marrone, a 20-year-old art major from Marietta, Ga. Marrone said local University of Georgia students are generally the ones who take over the restaurant on trivia night. She has been working at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s for a year and a half and works most trivia nights.
“I really hate working trivia nights,” she said. “No, I’m just kidding. It is actually fun because the atmosphere is much more relaxed. I also don’t have quite as much work to do because people are so wrapped up in the trivia.”
Trivia nights at Beef’s begin around 8:30 p.m. and usually last about two hours.
Edited by Marcus Crawford
Apartment complexes financially safe for summer
Although many apartments may be vacant, students still are responsible for rent at the River Mill Apartments in Athens, Ga. (photo by Alex Mckelvey)
By Courtney Smith
Deserted sidewalks, locked classrooms and bountiful parking. The students are away for the summer and the only evidence that the bustling campus community still lives are the faint carbon copies of rent checks paying for empty apartments.
Many students leave Athens for the solace of far-off beaches or time with relatives in the summer. But, regardless of whether the student lives there or not, according to the President of the Athens Apartment Association, most student leases are impossible to break and must be paid in full.
“Student housing is different than the regular apartment style [of management] because we operate on a school year schedule but, apart from that, you are required to pay your entire 12-month lease or else you will default,” the association president and community manager of University Apartments on Riverbend, Wanda Ellis, said.
According to Ellis, many of the residents living in the University Apartments on Riverbend will leave for the first two weeks of summer break and then return to Athens to work or go to school. Others will only live in their Athens apartments on the weekends.
“We don’t have a lot of trouble with students defaulting on their leases because I think they understand that they signed a contract that obligates them to pay, just like if they have a credit card or a car loan,” she said.
Even though she does not have a lot of trouble with students defaulting over the summer, she said that complexes must still insulate themselves from the financial threat and will sometimes work with the tenants to find a compromise.
“Some landlords will set up a payment plan that lets the tenant pay off the debt for a longer period of time or even offer a short-term lease that costs a little more each month but would be cheaper than paying out a lease on an apartment they don’t live in,” she said.
University student Jenna Ziesenhene was able to work out a deal with the River Mill Apartments’ leasing office that allowed her lease to be changed from a three-bedroom apartment rent rate to a lower two-bedroom rate while she and her two roommates were away for the summer.
“We really wanted to just break the lease because none of us are going to be here, but the office told us that if we didn’t pay the rest of the rent, it would hurt our credit scores and our parents’ [credit scores] because they signed some kind of guarantee,” Ziesenhene, an international affairs junior from Bonaire, said.
“So, we decided to just move into the two-bedroom on paper and pay a lower rent, even though none of us, or are things, will be here,” she said.
According to Rivermill Apartments leasing agent Melissa Hill, students can also work with the apartment complex and allow their apartment to be shown to people interested in subleasing.
While offering to show an apartment as a model increases the likelihood that someone will agree to take over the lease, if a sub-leaser is not found, the student will still be forced to pay the rent or else be taken to court for the remaining balance and all court fees.
“It is definitely a lot more expensive for a leaser if a defaulted lease goes to trial because the court fees really add up and they will almost never win and not have to pay,” Hill said. “There are almost no loop-holes that will let someone out of a lease unless they are in the military and get called to duty.”
“If you get called to Iraq, then you can break the lease with a 30-day notice but that is basically the only way it’s possible.”
Edited by Leila Mattimore
Deserted sidewalks, locked classrooms and bountiful parking. The students are away for the summer and the only evidence that the bustling campus community still lives are the faint carbon copies of rent checks paying for empty apartments.
Many students leave Athens for the solace of far-off beaches or time with relatives in the summer. But, regardless of whether the student lives there or not, according to the President of the Athens Apartment Association, most student leases are impossible to break and must be paid in full.
“Student housing is different than the regular apartment style [of management] because we operate on a school year schedule but, apart from that, you are required to pay your entire 12-month lease or else you will default,” the association president and community manager of University Apartments on Riverbend, Wanda Ellis, said.
According to Ellis, many of the residents living in the University Apartments on Riverbend will leave for the first two weeks of summer break and then return to Athens to work or go to school. Others will only live in their Athens apartments on the weekends.
“We don’t have a lot of trouble with students defaulting on their leases because I think they understand that they signed a contract that obligates them to pay, just like if they have a credit card or a car loan,” she said.
Even though she does not have a lot of trouble with students defaulting over the summer, she said that complexes must still insulate themselves from the financial threat and will sometimes work with the tenants to find a compromise.
“Some landlords will set up a payment plan that lets the tenant pay off the debt for a longer period of time or even offer a short-term lease that costs a little more each month but would be cheaper than paying out a lease on an apartment they don’t live in,” she said.
University student Jenna Ziesenhene was able to work out a deal with the River Mill Apartments’ leasing office that allowed her lease to be changed from a three-bedroom apartment rent rate to a lower two-bedroom rate while she and her two roommates were away for the summer.
“We really wanted to just break the lease because none of us are going to be here, but the office told us that if we didn’t pay the rest of the rent, it would hurt our credit scores and our parents’ [credit scores] because they signed some kind of guarantee,” Ziesenhene, an international affairs junior from Bonaire, said.
“So, we decided to just move into the two-bedroom on paper and pay a lower rent, even though none of us, or are things, will be here,” she said.
According to Rivermill Apartments leasing agent Melissa Hill, students can also work with the apartment complex and allow their apartment to be shown to people interested in subleasing.
While offering to show an apartment as a model increases the likelihood that someone will agree to take over the lease, if a sub-leaser is not found, the student will still be forced to pay the rent or else be taken to court for the remaining balance and all court fees.
“It is definitely a lot more expensive for a leaser if a defaulted lease goes to trial because the court fees really add up and they will almost never win and not have to pay,” Hill said. “There are almost no loop-holes that will let someone out of a lease unless they are in the military and get called to duty.”
“If you get called to Iraq, then you can break the lease with a 30-day notice but that is basically the only way it’s possible.”
Edited by Leila Mattimore
Team One - Features - Residents run from River Mill
Where is everyone going?
It’s hard to look around the River Mill Apartment complex and not ask that question.
The River Mill complex, located on Baldwin Street, is one of the apartment choices for students that want to live on campus.
In years past, high demand made these close-to-campus apartments difficult - if not impossible – to rent. But recently this trend has changed.
According to Deborah Harding, a sales associate in the River Mill office, the unit occupancy percentage dropped from 98 percent in the 2008 spring semester to a mere 76 percent in the 2009 semester.
“Our rates did not go up over that stretch,” Harding said. “We can’t really explain what caused the drop in residents.”
In an effort to attract more people, Randy Whiteson, the property owner of River Mill, decided to renovate the entire complex. New hardwood floors, new kitchen cabinets, and new bathroom tile were included. Whiteson says that these upgrades will attract a number of new residents for the upcoming leasing period.
“We had to increase the rates in order to finance the renovations,” Whiteson said. “But the changes are drastic and it really makes up for the slight rise in monthly rent.”
According to Whiteson, monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment increased $28. Rent for a two bedrooms increased $67. Rent for three bedrooms increased $83.
“We understand that students are apprehensive to spend more money,” Whiteson said. “But we still feel that it’s a small increase and that the existing residents will stay with us.”
One resident who apparently isn’t impressed with the renovations is Alex Clark-Youngblood, a fourth-year international affairs major from Roswell, who decided to move off campus in order to save money.
“I mean, the changes are nice but it still isn’t worth an extra $1,000 [a year] to live there,” Clark-Youngblood said. “I won’t be able to walk to class anymore, but I’m saving a ton of money [by moving off campus].”
So why are so many students ignoring the once-popular River Mill location?
New apartment complexes are popping up everywhere. Students have several options as to where they want to live. River Mill, which has been around since 1972, may be too antiquated for students who now have alternative options.
“That’s the main reason why we decided to renovate,” Whiteson said. “I bought this property four years ago and noticed that its perception was that it was a little old.”
Regardless of perception, students are inconveniencing themselves in order to save money and River Mill may no longer be able to profit from its location.
For Randy Whiteson’s sake, the newly renovated rooms combined with close campus proximity will have to lure people away from the cheaper alternatives that make off-campus living the more practical choice for students.
Edited by Courtney M. Holbrook
It’s hard to look around the River Mill Apartment complex and not ask that question.
The River Mill complex, located on Baldwin Street, is one of the apartment choices for students that want to live on campus.
In years past, high demand made these close-to-campus apartments difficult - if not impossible – to rent. But recently this trend has changed.
According to Deborah Harding, a sales associate in the River Mill office, the unit occupancy percentage dropped from 98 percent in the 2008 spring semester to a mere 76 percent in the 2009 semester.
“Our rates did not go up over that stretch,” Harding said. “We can’t really explain what caused the drop in residents.”
In an effort to attract more people, Randy Whiteson, the property owner of River Mill, decided to renovate the entire complex. New hardwood floors, new kitchen cabinets, and new bathroom tile were included. Whiteson says that these upgrades will attract a number of new residents for the upcoming leasing period.
“We had to increase the rates in order to finance the renovations,” Whiteson said. “But the changes are drastic and it really makes up for the slight rise in monthly rent.”
According to Whiteson, monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment increased $28. Rent for a two bedrooms increased $67. Rent for three bedrooms increased $83.
“We understand that students are apprehensive to spend more money,” Whiteson said. “But we still feel that it’s a small increase and that the existing residents will stay with us.”
One resident who apparently isn’t impressed with the renovations is Alex Clark-Youngblood, a fourth-year international affairs major from Roswell, who decided to move off campus in order to save money.
“I mean, the changes are nice but it still isn’t worth an extra $1,000 [a year] to live there,” Clark-Youngblood said. “I won’t be able to walk to class anymore, but I’m saving a ton of money [by moving off campus].”
So why are so many students ignoring the once-popular River Mill location?
New apartment complexes are popping up everywhere. Students have several options as to where they want to live. River Mill, which has been around since 1972, may be too antiquated for students who now have alternative options.
“That’s the main reason why we decided to renovate,” Whiteson said. “I bought this property four years ago and noticed that its perception was that it was a little old.”
Regardless of perception, students are inconveniencing themselves in order to save money and River Mill may no longer be able to profit from its location.
For Randy Whiteson’s sake, the newly renovated rooms combined with close campus proximity will have to lure people away from the cheaper alternatives that make off-campus living the more practical choice for students.
Edited by Courtney M. Holbrook
Grady College enrollment gets trim in summer
By Jordan Stover
Academic departments at the University of Georgia have had to make an extra effort to fill their Maymester classes this year, and some have even had to cut classes altogether.
Low enrollment numbers in summer classes have been an issue for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. In order to increase enrollment, the college allowed more students to take classes by waiving prerequisite and permission of the department, or “POD,” requirements.
According to Maria Cooper, a journalism advisor in Grady, the college has had no problem filling required “core” classes for their majors. However, electives, such as multimedia classes, have been harder to fill.
Cooper said that some classes filled up to begin with, but students turned down the class later in the semester after hearing back from internships and study abroad programs.
This was a problem for one UGA student in another college. Julie Yeomans, a senior in the Terry College of Business, had initially signed up for a Maymester class, but had to turn it down for an internship.
“It’s hard to make summer plans when companies don’t tell you about internships until late in the semester,” Yeomans said. “I would have loved to take a class to lighten my load for next year, but I couldn’t turn down a paid internship.”
According to Cooper, the sluggish economy has put a financial strain on the students and thus the college.
“It’s hard to fill summer classes late in the semester because students have a hard time deciding on short notice to live in Athens for the summer,” Cooper said. “Financially a lot of students can’t do it.”
She said that the dean of Grady wants to make sure every summer class that they are offering is full.
Cooper said that the telecommunications department in Grady had to cut a Maymester class this year because not enough students had enrolled in the course.
“It was a shame that we had to cut that class,” said Cooper. “One of the department’s best professors was scheduled to teach it, but we just didn’t have enough students enrolled to offer it.”
Grady was not the only college on UGA’s campus that had to cut summer classes this year. The Romance Language department cut classes in Italian and Portuguese for the summer semesters.
Despite the struggles that these departments have had filling their classes, UGA’s Associate Registrar Rodney Parks said that overall summer enrollment is not down significantly. Current Maymester enrollment is at 4,100 students, and according to Parks that number will fluctuate throughout the summer.
“Our summer enrollment tends to remain pretty stable,” Parks said. “I don’t have the total numbers for this summer yet, but I would think it would be about the same as last year.”
Edited by Leila Mattimore
Academic departments at the University of Georgia have had to make an extra effort to fill their Maymester classes this year, and some have even had to cut classes altogether.
Low enrollment numbers in summer classes have been an issue for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. In order to increase enrollment, the college allowed more students to take classes by waiving prerequisite and permission of the department, or “POD,” requirements.
According to Maria Cooper, a journalism advisor in Grady, the college has had no problem filling required “core” classes for their majors. However, electives, such as multimedia classes, have been harder to fill.
Cooper said that some classes filled up to begin with, but students turned down the class later in the semester after hearing back from internships and study abroad programs.
This was a problem for one UGA student in another college. Julie Yeomans, a senior in the Terry College of Business, had initially signed up for a Maymester class, but had to turn it down for an internship.
“It’s hard to make summer plans when companies don’t tell you about internships until late in the semester,” Yeomans said. “I would have loved to take a class to lighten my load for next year, but I couldn’t turn down a paid internship.”
According to Cooper, the sluggish economy has put a financial strain on the students and thus the college.
“It’s hard to fill summer classes late in the semester because students have a hard time deciding on short notice to live in Athens for the summer,” Cooper said. “Financially a lot of students can’t do it.”
She said that the dean of Grady wants to make sure every summer class that they are offering is full.
Cooper said that the telecommunications department in Grady had to cut a Maymester class this year because not enough students had enrolled in the course.
“It was a shame that we had to cut that class,” said Cooper. “One of the department’s best professors was scheduled to teach it, but we just didn’t have enough students enrolled to offer it.”
Grady was not the only college on UGA’s campus that had to cut summer classes this year. The Romance Language department cut classes in Italian and Portuguese for the summer semesters.
Despite the struggles that these departments have had filling their classes, UGA’s Associate Registrar Rodney Parks said that overall summer enrollment is not down significantly. Current Maymester enrollment is at 4,100 students, and according to Parks that number will fluctuate throughout the summer.
“Our summer enrollment tends to remain pretty stable,” Parks said. “I don’t have the total numbers for this summer yet, but I would think it would be about the same as last year.”
Edited by Leila Mattimore
Students spend summer on phone - with alumni
PHOTO by Miranda Stancil
Hand drawn pictures of the various schools and colleges of the University of Georgia are displayed at the front of the UGA Calling Center.
Story by Miranda Stancil
The students at the University of Georgia Calling Center are finding the “fun” in fundraising.
At the Calling Center, students get a chance to raise money for UGA and connect with alumni in an enjoyable atmosphere.
The UGA Calling Center is a branch of RuffaloCody LLC, a company that specializes in strategic fundraising services. They have worked with UGA for the past 15 years, providing student fundraisers with a way to improve their school and have fun doing it.
On any given day, students can be seen through the broad windows of the Calling Center talking on the phone or chatting with friends. They participate in team games where they are awarded points for each pledge.
All fundraisers and supervisors are UGA students, creating a sociable environment at the Calling Center.
According to Kiersten Miller, Program Manager, the student-only policy is contractual.
“The purpose of putting the requirement in the contract was to create a sense of camaraderie,” said Miller. “The decision emphasizes the importance of the connection between current students and alumni.”
This seems to work for the Calling Center. The student fundraisers have generated enough rapport with UGA alumni to raise about $1.5 million to $2 million a year.
Miller, who has worked with RuffaloCody LLC for two years, says that their work is important because it helps bridge the gap between the UGA budget and the available funds.
“State funding and tuition don’t cover all of the University’s needs, and that’s where we come in,” Miller said.
Dylan Wood, a fourth year from Richmond, Va., majoring in sports management, has been with RuffaloCody for almost two years. He sees the benefit of student fundraisers.
“It’s pretty cool working here,” said Wood. “Some people look at it as tedious, but it’s nice to raise money that goes to a good thing.”
But money isn’t all the student fundraisers look for when they contact alumni. According to Miller, one of the biggest goals of the UGA Calling Center is to build a bridge between alumni and the UGA.
Students follow a script when asking for pledges. They ask four times for a credit card donation. But half of the script focuses on updating alumni on UGA activities.
Wood worked as a student fundraiser before he was promoted to supervisor. He remembers his own experiences.
“It was actually kind of fun talking to alumni,” said Wood, with a laugh. “Well, at least the friendlier alumni.”
According to Miller, student fundraisers are encouraged to talk to alumni about their experiences to help them. Many alumni feel estranged from UGA around the fifth anniversary of their graduation. The student fundraisers are the UGA’s way to keep in touch with alumni and rekindle their connection with their alma mater.
Lauren Combs, a graduate from Athens, Ga., with a degree in finance, is a student fundraiser at the Calling Center. She enjoys learning about alumni and their experiences.
“This place is a point of contact for alumni,” said Combs. “It’s a way of letting them know we still care, and not just because they give us money.”
Combs is among the few students who have raised over $75,000 since July 2008.
“This job is fun and rewarding. I definitely think I’ve learned a lot about the value of philanthropy,” said Combs. “I’ve already given back to the University since graduating and I plan to give back again each year. Working here, I’ve noticed the benefits of what I do, and the University is a better place because of it.”
Edited by Courtney M. Holbrook
Oglethorpe Dining Commons
Dorothy Bolton, an employee at Oglethorpe Dining Commons poses for a picture while placing cake slices on the dessert bar.
Photo by Suha Zakiuddin
-Edited by Bailey Keiger
Federal aid not enough to help growing need
by Sara Spigener
Athens-Clarke County is slated to receive $38,325 in emergency food and shelter aid, but local agencies fear that this will not be enough to meet the area’s growing need.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is distributing funds made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Several agencies are vying for a piece of this stimulus money because they worry that donations will not be able to keep up with the steady increase in need in Clarke County.
Many agencies cite the economy as the primary reason for the sharp increase in need over the last eight to 10 months. People are seeing their work hours get cut, and many are losing their jobs altogether. While donations are holding steady for now, the agencies fear that they will not be able to meet demand in the near future without an increase in aid.
“People who have worked their whole lives are now needing assistance,” said Kim Ramos, director of the Athens Emergency Food Bank.
-Edited by Bailey Keiger
Athens-Clarke County is slated to receive $38,325 in emergency food and shelter aid, but local agencies fear that this will not be enough to meet the area’s growing need.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is distributing funds made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Several agencies are vying for a piece of this stimulus money because they worry that donations will not be able to keep up with the steady increase in need in Clarke County.
Many agencies cite the economy as the primary reason for the sharp increase in need over the last eight to 10 months. People are seeing their work hours get cut, and many are losing their jobs altogether. While donations are holding steady for now, the agencies fear that they will not be able to meet demand in the near future without an increase in aid.
“People who have worked their whole lives are now needing assistance,” said Kim Ramos, director of the Athens Emergency Food Bank.
-Edited by Bailey Keiger
Apartment complexes financially safe for summer
by Courtney Smith
Many students leave Athens for the solace of far-off beaches or time with relatives during the summer. However most of these students' leases are impossible to break and must be paid in full, said the President of the Athens Apartment Association, regardless of whether the student lives there or not.
“Student housing is different than regular apartment style because we operate on a school year schedule but, apart from that, you are required to pay your entire 12-month lease or else you will default and the debt will be turned over to a collection agency,” AAA president and community manager of University Apartment on Riverbend, Wanda Ellis, said.
The students are away for the summer and the only evidence that the bustling campus community ever existed is the faint carbon copies of rent checks paying for empty apartments.
edited by Leila Mattimore
Many students leave Athens for the solace of far-off beaches or time with relatives during the summer. However most of these students' leases are impossible to break and must be paid in full, said the President of the Athens Apartment Association, regardless of whether the student lives there or not.
“Student housing is different than regular apartment style because we operate on a school year schedule but, apart from that, you are required to pay your entire 12-month lease or else you will default and the debt will be turned over to a collection agency,” AAA president and community manager of University Apartment on Riverbend, Wanda Ellis, said.
The students are away for the summer and the only evidence that the bustling campus community ever existed is the faint carbon copies of rent checks paying for empty apartments.
edited by Leila Mattimore
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