Digital Storytelling

UGA: Higher Crime Rate than Other Georgia Universities

December 6, 2017December 11, 2017 Gabriella CammarataAthens, Campus, Crime Rate, Georgia Universities, safety, UGA Students, University of Georgia0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA- The University of Georgia’s violent crime rate is more than double than that of Georgia Institute of Technology. According to 2014 FBI crime statistics, the rate of violent crime at UGA is roughly 21.7 per 10,000 students, whereas at Georgia Institute of Technology, it is roughly 9.3 per 10,000 students. At Kennesaw State University, the rate of violent crime is approximately 4.9 per 10,000 students. Adrian Salazar, a worker at the East Campus Deck at UGA, states that this might be because of the lack of cameras inside parking…

UGA Professors Analyze Trends and Causes Behind Opioid Epidemic

December 6, 2017March 20, 2018 Karson BankheadAddiction, Healthcare Policy, Medial Treatment, Opioid Epidemic, Opioids, Pharmaceuticals, Substance Abuse, UGA Research, UGA School of Pharmacy0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA — University of Georgia (UGA) professors Randall Tackett,Jayani Jayawardhana, and Matthew Perri are researching causes and trends behind the opioid epidemic in northeast Georgia. Although the three professors are conducting separate studies, they all are investigating the causes behind the rising use of opioids on UGA’s campus and northeast Georgia. Professor Randall Tackett, a pharmacy professor at UGA, studies abused drugs. He deals with students on UGA’s campus who struggle with addiction to opioids and runs programs in school systems to help with addiction. He uses his studies to…

Abuse Community Health Social Issue

Seventeen Cases of Dating Violence Reported at UGA in 2016

December 5, 2017December 8, 2017 Ayesha JamilAthens, College Dating, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Modern Dating, project safe, RSVP0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – According to the University of Georgia’s annual Safe and Secure report there were seventeen reported cases of abusive relationships from university members in 2016. Ashley Dykes, a former text-line manager at Project Safe, a nonprofit organization aimed at working to end unhealthy relationships, said dating violence is a phrase used to explain the physical or emotional abusive that can arise out of the untraditional styles of modern dating. “Teenagers and younger kids use different words now with ‘hooking up,’ ‘talking to,’ [and] ‘going out with,’ so…

Health

Georgia Menstrual Product Non-Profits Aid Trans and Non-Binary Visibility

December 4, 2017December 8, 2017 Andrea WunderlichAthens, homeless, menstruation, non-binary visibility, non-profit, trans visibility0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – Two Georgia non-profits that collect menstrual products for local homeless populations have implemented inclusivity memorandums for beneficiaries of their menstrual product drives. The Peach Coven, an Atlanta based non-profit, and (fem)me, a non-profit formed in 2015 by four University of Georgia students, organize drives and donate the products to homeless shelters and service centers in Atlanta and Athens respectively. Sarah Belle Miles, founder of The Peach Coven, said that inclusivity has been a big focus for the organization since it was founded in 2016. “That has…

News Organizations

Athens Freemasons Claim to Focus Mostly on Fundraising

December 3, 2017December 5, 2017 Jennifer McEntireAthens, Blue Lodge, Founding Fathers, Freemasons, Knights Templar, Masons, Shriners0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA — Officers of the Athens Freemasons, an ancient brotherhood mostly known for their secrets and rituals, claim they are mainly focused on fundraising for their children’s home. Michael Law, the “Worshipful Master” of the Athens Freemason lodge, explained the group primarily focuses on fundraisers for the Masonic Home of Georgia. According to Law, they do this by hosting 5Ks and other events to raise money. “At the end of the day, all the mystery, the ceremony and ritual, are all kind of a minor part of what we do because the bigger part is that we are a standard non-profit organization,” Law said. According to…

Community Education Government News Organizations Uncategorized

Poverty and Immigration Policy May Hurt Hispanic Education in Athens

December 3, 2017December 6, 2017 Sydney NorthDACA, deportation, Education, Hispanic, Immigrants, jobs, Latina, Latino, poverty, students, Trump, tutoring, young, youth0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA— According to national studies and local experts in Athens, outside factors in 2017 may contribute to the continued education gap that has afflicted Hispanic-American students, especially those born into immigrant families. The Pew Research Center reports that the national percentage of Latinx children born to immigrant parents now accounts for less than half of the U.S. born Latinx population. Although the number of U.S. born Latinx children born to immigrant parents is decreasing, another report shows that only 77 percent of Hispanic students graduate from high-school. According to Susan…

Elementary School Boy Finds Leadership Through Athens Mentor Program

November 1, 2017December 5, 2017 Shaquira SpeaksAthens, athens ga, Athens-Clarke County, children, Education, mentor program, UGA Students0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA. – Quienteze, a first grader at Barrow Elementary School, polished his manners and respect after a year of involvement in the Clarke County Mentor Program (CCMP). Before Quienteze entered the program, he struggled with following directions according to Caryn Demarest, his physical education teacher. Greg Waddell, Quienteze’s mentor, said his mentee has really grown into a vibrant young boy. For the protection of the child, the program has chosen to omit the last name of Quienteze. “I know that he looks forward to his mentor being there. We have…

Entertainment Sports

New and Old Faces Ignite UGA Football’s Hot Start

October 1, 2017December 8, 2017 Johanthan SmithDavin Bellamy, Football, Georgia Football, Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm, Kirby Smart, Lorenzo Carter, Notre Dame, SEC0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – Freshmen impact players and upperclassmen leadership have been key contributors to the Georgia Bulldogs 3-0 start in this 2017 college football season. The Bulldogs have started the season 3-0 despite the setback of losing returning quarterback Jacob Eason in the first quarter of the team’s season opener. On September 2, 2017, in Athens, Georgia, the bulldog offense had 2nd down and 15 yard to go, backed up on their own 11 yard line. Jacob Eason rolled out to his right and scrambled towards the sideline to avoid a…

Health News

Army Veteran Helps Soldiers with Post-traumatic Stress

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017 Brittany Stocusarmy, equine therapy, mental health, military, non-profit, post traumatic stress0 comment

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA- Army veteran, Sam Rhodes, wanted to end his own life years ago due to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, but instead in 2008 he opened a ranch that allowed veterans peace. Rhodes and his wife, Kathy, started a nonprofit facility called Warrior Outreach in 2008. The facility includes 16 horses for equine therapy, Nashville’s singer-song writers for music therapy, and different sorts of events from children’s birthday parties to prayer groups. The goal of this place is to offer soldiers’ help with a mental illness that made…

Education

UGA Students Expand Their Worldviews

September 26, 2017 Hallie SmithDiscover Abroad, Experiential Learning, UGA Study Abroad0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – Over 2,000 students profit each year by participating in the University of Georgia’s study abroad programs provided for them to study, research or intern in almost 60 countries. Students have the opportunity to expand their worldviews through experiential learning prior to graduation by participating in programs offered by UGA’s Office of International Education. Over 75% of students choose to participate in short-term programs, and most decide to travel to European countries. The graph above shows the number of UGA students participating in studying around the world. (Data from…