After the 28 arrests made on March 28 at U Club on Frey Road, many Kennesaw State University students are wondering if their decision to live off-campus has made them a target for the City of Kennesaw Police Department.

Students believe police view off-campus housing as hot spots to make underage drinking arrests and think they are being monitored closely. With more student housing properties being built, students are concerned police will be even more present.

Kennesaw police received a call on Thursday, March 28, about two females fighting outside an apartment in U Club – something Allie Shaak, a 19-year-old student at KSU, says never happened. Shaak, who did not witness a fight occur at the party, had not been drinking. Police officials knocked on the door and asked for the resident who lived there. When the female resident came to the door, she asked the police officers to talk outside, but they insisted on entering, said Shaak.

Party Under Control

The party of about 40 people was under control during the first 30 minutes after the police arrived, according to Shaak. She thought it had the potential to get out of hand, but when the police arrived it was controlled.

“I thought they handled it fine. I’ve never been in a situation where the cops showed up to a party, so I have nothing to compare it to. However, they were joking around a lot,” said Shaak.

The police officers then asked those who had not been drinking to step outside. The students who were left inside the apartment were then brought outside individually and handcuffed and escorted to the vans, according to witnesses.

Tyler Niemonen, 21, is a U Club resident and a KSU student. He did not attend the party on March 28, but he found himself in a similar situation in October 2012. This party also had multiple arrests made and Niemonen felt the cops did not handle the situation respectfully. He thought they still deserved respect even though they were being arrested.

“Threatening us doesn’t make us want to cooperate,” said Niemonen.

Along with the actions of authorities, some students believe Kennesaw police target off-campus properties and view them as hot spots to arrest students for underage drinking. Shaak attributes this to KSU’s “dry” campus label.  Many students choose to move off campus for entertainment purposes. On-campus housing creates a difficult environment to host parties due to the close quarters and resident assistants, so students find more freedom at the properties near campus.

Students are more nervous to drink on campus than off and seek parties in apartments close to campus, says Shaak. Since KSU is predominantly a commuter school, the majority of students find they have no other option than to live off campus. Although KSU offers on-campus housing, like University Place and Kennesaw Place, which are meant for upperclassman, Shaak still believes more parties and arrests occur off campus, because students are too afraid to attend parties on a dry campus.

Witnesses Blame U Club for Police Arrival

Witnesses at the scene of the arrests on March 28 were blaming U Club for the police arriving on the property. According to Chris Snyder, 21, a KSU student and community assistant at U Club, U Club does not protect students against underage drinking. However, residents who are of age are allowed to drink if they choose. U Club on Frey is still student housing, but different in that alcohol is not prohibited unlike on-campus housing.

“U Club does not support or sponsor underage drinking at all, but at the same time it was unfortunate to see over two dozen residents and their friends get arrested,” said Snyder.

When asked if there was something he could have done as a CA to prevent the situation, he said there was not. The power was completely out of their hands. He recalls the police arriving at U Club before 10 p.m., which was even before the security guard had arrived. U Club’s security guard’s shift begins at 11 p.m., which is also when residents are asked to be respectful of quiet hours. Residents are urged to call the security guard before going straight to the police about a noise complaint or an issue with a neighbor.

Snyder believes it would not have made a difference if the security guard had been there because the call made to the police was unrelated to the arrests.

It is not in a CA’s job description to monitor the property or to make rounds like an on-campus housing resident assistant would typically do, says Snyder. Community assistants will not warn students if a party is too loud to avoid other residents from calling the cops.

Off-Campus Housing Not a Safety Net from Underage Drinking Laws

Some students believe that living off campus will make them more susceptible to underage drinking arrests. Students coming from University Village or other on-campus properties expect U Club to be a safety net from the law, but Snyder assures them it is not.

“Ultimately, there was nothing that could have been done by the staff or management to prevent the arrests,” said Snyder.

Stepping away from his CA position and looking at the situation as a student, Snyder believes the police did handle the circumstances correctly, because the students were at fault for drinking underage, but he thought the severity of the punishment was too high. He thinks a citation would have been a better alternative than taking 28 students to jail for the night.

“It seems unjust that they had to spend the night in jail,” said Snyder.

Niemonen agrees with Snyder.

“I don’t think that there should be a zero-tolerance policy, because they could easily just give them a minor-in-possession citation, and tell them to go to their apartment. Whether or not they go to jail they come out with the same charges,” said Niemonen.

KSU students are envious of larger schools, like The University of Georgia, where police seem more tolerant of college students partying, according to Niemonen.

“Yes I know that underage drinking is illegal, but this is a college town or becoming one,” Niemonen said.

KSU Status as College Town Not Likely to Change Police Attitude

With KSU growing quickly, Niemonen thinks Kennesaw police need to be more understanding of a future with football and what that will mean for a student’s college experience. Niemonen thinks Kennesaw police are too eager to arrest students and should be a little more understanding of Kennesaw becoming a college town.

“If we are being safe and not doing anybody harm, I don’t understand why they always show up,” said Niemonen.

Many U Club residents are seeking to move to other off-campus properties in hopes of having a better experience, but Snyder has advice for properties like Collegiate and West 22, and for the students who choose to move off-campus.

“I advise other properties to not try and protect underage students from the law. Ultimately drinking underage is against the law, and trying to promote partying and underage drinking can display an unprofessional image,” said Snyder.

For the students, Snyder and Niemonen urge them to be smart.

“Residents who are living at these other properties should also be aware that they are not exempt from the law,” Snyder said. “The police departments know that underage students live at these properties and are going to monitor them no matter what. There is no real way to protect underage residents from the police.”

If residents who are underage continue to drink, they will always be putting themselves at risk to be arrested, explains Snyder. Although drinking can be perceived as a normal part of college life, it is against the law and is not a right of passage. Snyder does not think the City of Kennesaw Police Department will ever agree with the idea that underage drinking is acceptable, even if Kennesaw becomes a college town.

As arrests continue to be made on off-campus properties, students may need to be more conscientious of the presence of police within the City of Kennesaw. Students should also realize off-campus properties do not protect them from the law if underage, according to Snyder.

The Ground…Up Presents The Vent

New Owl Radio show the Ground…Up was presented with the Best Music Show Award at the Kennesaw State University Student Media Awards last Saturday.  The show was nominated in the category along with Space Station and Jazz with Mr. C and was presented by Owl Radio general manager Bryttney Murphy.

Kyle Smith poses with the golden record presented to him and his co-hosts for Best Music Show at Owl Radio at the KSU Student Media Awards. Photo by Krishona Ford.

The late-night underground hip-hop show made its debut on Owl Radio’s Ustream channel in October 2012 with hosts Kyle Smith and Krishona Ford.  Over time, the hosts have had numerous special guests, including drop-in guests Ike Duru and Brittany Aguilla, underground hip-hop artist Chief Wren, “Stand Alone” freestyle contest winner Penny Dreadful, as well as guests turned co-hosts ShaVisia Parham and Eugene Crump.

“It’s an honor for me to be a part of this,” said Parham. “Some people have the misconception that the production is less authentic next to an FM radio station, but a lot of work goes into a two-hour show.  It’s exciting to see the recognition come from that hard work.”

The show’s emphasis on mixtape reviews, current events, and varying relationship topics has made it one of the most popular shows broadcast at Owl Radio during the spring ’13 semester. With content updates to Facebook and Twitter, the hosts encourage interaction and incorporate the viewers’ thoughts into the topics discussed on the show.

“The feedback we get from the viewers is the most important,” said Smith.  “We always try to get their views on topics before the show airs because it makes them feel included.  Then, when they listen, it’s like they’re a part of a conversation instead of just hearing us talk.”

The show is broadcast every Wednesday from 10 p.m. to midnight.  The show’s last airing of the semester will be on May 1 and resume again at the start of the fall ’13 semester.

“To come in as a brand new show and immediately stand out like that says a lot,” said Crump. “The Ground…Up is like the perfect name for it, not only because of the underground music, but because that’s exactly where this show came from and where it’s gone.”

The hosts of Owl Radio’s the Ground…Up held The Vent, a multi-genre open-mic event, at Arena Tavern in Kennesaw on Thursday evening.  The event was a more inclusive
follow-up to their hip-hop comprised “Stand Alone” open-mic event held in February.

The Red Bull-sponsored event was emceed by Owl Radio’s the Big Show host Jeff Benedict and hosted by the Ground…Up co-host ShaVisia Parham.  The soundtrack for the night was provided by DJ Trouble.

The festivities took place on the venue’s outdoor patio and boasted sounds from talented artists including Owl Radio’s ‘90s Show host Emily Jacobson, local band Highbeams and local hip-hop artist Butta.  Each artist had a 15-minute set to share his or her talents with an audience of approximately 70 people.

“I can’t even pick a favorite because every single one of the artists was good,” said Kyle Smith, coordinator of The Vent and host of the Ground…Up.  “You have events where some performances are just way better than others, but they were all really good.”

The audience selected Arlo, a local hip-hop duo, as the winner of the contest.  The group was presented with free cases of Red Bull’s new Red, Blue, and Silver Edition energy drinks as well as Red Bull T-shirts, BULLetin magazine issues, and a $30 cash prize generated from all of the contestant entries.

The annual Georgia Renaissance Festival located in Fairburn, Ga., is finally underway this month with over 1,000 volunteers taking part in the recreation of 16th century European customs.  Festivities include traditional costumes and nearly 10 stages of music and comedic shows, as well as a real-time equestrian jousting routine.

The Georgia state sponsored event will be hosted each Saturday and Sunday through the months of April and May, and finally concluding on the first weekend of June.  Doors open each weekend at 10:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.  The festival will also be open during Memorial Day and will observe the same weekend hours.  The park provides free parking and free admission for any children under the age of 5 years.

Popular 16th-century food is also served daily at the park.  Food items generally include salted meats, rice, spices and oatmeal.  Stephanie Riascos attended the event this past weekend and spoke of the interesting food selection.

Alana & Melina Riascos posing with a Georgia Renaissance Festival character. Photo by Christina Heaton

“I loved the food.  I had never seen anything like it before, but it was really good” Riascos said.  “It was served on a big silver platter and looked just like something out of a movie.” Traditional 16th-century beverages were also served at the event.  Attendees can expect to see drinks such as grape juice (wine imitation), milk and cider.

In addition to the food and shows, art galleries and gift shops line the streets of the park.  Children can also partake in face painting, bounce houses, and wagon tours.  One of the most popular activities at the park is a large corn maze.  The maze sits just inside northern section of the park and allows children to make their way through the puzzle and earn a prize upon completion.  Rock climbing, archery and dart throwing highlight some of the other events.

The actors are not the only ones dressed for the occasion.  Guests are encouraged to dress in their finest Renaissance costumes and are asked to actively engage with the other participants and actors.  Samantha Holsclaw’s children celebrated their birthday at the festival this weekend.

“My husband and I both dressed up and we had a great time.  I couldn’t have asked for more.  Everyone was very nice, and most importantly, I had two happy babies when I went home,” Hosclaw laughed.

Melissa Mateo, who also attended the festival this weekend, was impressed by the actors at the event.

“I couldn’t believe how good these actors were,” Mateo said.  “They had perfect accents and you could tell that they really enjoyed taking part in the show.”

She also visited the Jousting Arena and spoke of how genuine and realistic the jousting show appeared.

“The jousters were amazing.  It was definitely my son’s favorite part of the experience.  He loved watching the knights ride up and down the track on their horses.  It was just unbelievable,” Mateo said.

Mateo already plans to come back with the rest of her family during Memorial Day weekend.

“We have family coming down from up north and I know the kids will absolutely love it.  We’re coming back; that’s for sure,” Mateo said.

The festival is held almost entirely outdoors and is a handicap friendly park.  Special arrangements can be made if wheelchairs or other motorized vehicles are necessary upon attending.

Kennesaw State University Organizations Shed Light on Interpersonal Violence

The Kennesaw State University Student Taskforce on Interpersonal Violence and the Women’s Resource Center co-hosted the annual Take Back The Night event on April 17, from 7-9 p.m. on the university campus green to raise awareness about sexual violence.

The crowded campus green was populated by KSU faculty, staff and students eager to learn about the definition of sexual violence, its psychological effects and ways to reduce the risk of interpersonal violence.

Take Back The Night is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the growing issue of sexual assault and violence. For over 35 years, the event’s main focus has been to eliminate sexual violence in all forms, for all genders.

According to the event’s official website, “at least one out of every three women has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime by a partner, relative, friend, stranger, employer, and/or colleague.” The TBTN’s official motto is “Shatter the silence. Stop the violence.”

A University Involved

The event held at KSU was co-hosted by the Student Taskforce on Interpersonal Violence and the Women’s Resource Center, two organizations at KSU dedicated to the psychological well-being of students.

Director of the Women’s Resource Center, Emily Ramirez, works to provide the support and resources needed by students who have fallen victim to interpersonal violence, and thinks this event is a perfect way to get the word out about sexual violence.

“One event will not change rape culture, but it starts the conversation,” Ramirez said in an email. “People are moved by this event, because someone else was brave and stood up and told them their story.”

The event at KSU featured several guest speakers including a member of the Kennesaw State Police Department, a local high school sophomore activist, and several survivors of sexual violence.

At the conclusion of the final speaker, the event hosted an “open-mic survivor speak out” session, during which sexual violence survivors within the audience were encouraged to tell their stories of survival to the crowded campus green.

Junior psychology and criminal justice major Tara Latimer was shocked to see that several of her peers were survivors of sexual violence, and was moved by many of their stories.

“I really loved that they opened up the mic for survivors to speak out,” Latimer said. “That part really allowed reality to sink in; that this happens every day to people I know. It’s not some far-away problem.

A Time to Reflect

The event ended with a candlelight procession to the university’s housing residence, University Village. During this procession, attendees were able to reflect on the information learned and stories heard throughout the duration of the event.

When the procession reached its destination, light refreshments were provided while the faculty, staff and students in attendance were encouraged to talk among their peers about the issues of sexual violence.

Junior exercise health and science major Leslie Wade thinks that the event was very emotional and eye opening.

“Most people, including myself, aren’t aware of how many women are sexually abused and violated throughout their lifetime,” Wade said. “After attending this event, I feel more aware of the dangers and reality of sexual violence everywhere.”

The Kennesaw State University Women’s Resource Center works to promote healthy relationships within the campus community and to improve KSU’s response to and prevention of interpersonal violence.

Director of the Women’s Resource Center, Emily Ramirez, represents the WRC at on-campus events and helps to coordinate the Student Taskforce on Interpersonal Violence.

Meanwhile, STIV looks into the issues of harassment, stalking, domestic abuse and sexual violence as well as providing psychological and counseling services to students on campus at KSU.

The two organizations co-hosted the annual Take Back The Night event to inform the KSU campus community about the growing issue of sexual violence. They hold this event every year in April to commemorate Sexual Violence Awareness month.

Several KSU faculty, staff and students were in attendance, giving the WRC and STIV hope that their word and the word of sexual violence survivors will be shared throughout the campus community.

Jamie Stewart: Atlanta’s Very Own Makeup Celebrity

You don’t have to be a professional makeup artist to appreciate this season’s hottest trends. This year’s styles are more daring than the last, but they are simple and budget friendly, making them desirable to women all over the country. Whether you are a fan of the bright, neon makeup accents or of the ’90s-styled grunge look, this season has something that will help you blend in or, if you are daring enough, stand out. Women all over the United States are indulging in this spring’s hottest trends.

This season is all about big, bold and brave looks. Everywhere you go, you see this season’s influences on someone, whether it is the widely used cat-eye look or the naked, make-up less appearance, it’s all trending. I interviewed two makeup artists in the Atlanta area to get their take on their favorite 2013 trends.

Roneika Albert, Prestige Consultant at Ulta Beauty, talks about her favorite trend this season.

Photo by Amanda Shilt

“I’m a huge fan of the ’60s look,” Albert said. “The bright lips, smokey eyes and the overly voluminous hair styles are right up my alley! My go-to look for this is bold brows and retro-looking eye liner. Customers coming into ULTA are always drawn to my classic look, asking for tutorials and for the products I use.”

MAC Makeup Artist Jamie Stewart talks about her two favorite trends right now.

“I’m a huge fan of bright lips and big, beautiful eyes,” said Steward. “This season, pink is in! I have been wearing pink lipstick for years, but the neon pink and bright Fuchsia colors I can pull off now make me excited to get up and go to work now.” Helping women find the right color for the look is so much fun. This is why I went into this business; I can help a woman feel beautiful. Any woman can pull off this trend, it’s just a matter of what color matches her skin tone.”

Stewart also talks about her love for this season’s eye makeup trends.

“Big, Bold lashes and bright and daring eye shadows are in right now. The longer and fuller your lashes are and the brighter and crazier your eye makeup is, the better,” Stewart said. “MAC makes some great lashes, but you can get them anywhere. There are great products in every line for every price point. This Spring’s fashion trends are tres chic and there is absolutely no excuse for not being a part of at least one of these trends. We should all be a little fashion forward!”

MAC Cosmetics is known for their plethora of bright, vibrant makeup and their extraordinarily talented makeup artists. Jamie Stewart has been working at MAC Cosmetics since she was 21. Four years later, she is still with the company and could not be happier.

Photo by Amanda Shilt

“Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new at my job,” Stewart said. “Whether it’s a new makeup trick or just a daily dose of useful knowledge from a customer, I am always learning and bettering myself. You don’t find many jobs like that.”

Growing up, Stewart always knew she wanted to work in the fashion industry. She wasn’t drawn to the glitz and glamour of the fashion side; she wanted to work behind the scenes.

“I worked my first major photo shoot just a few months after I started at MAC. I was nervous as all get-out because it was my first time working with a well-known photographer. Sure, I’ve done little projects here and there, but I’ve never done anything on such a huge scale before.”

Since her first shoot, Stewart has worked on more than 100 other shoots. Not all quite as important, but all of it was doing what she loves. Stewart plans on staying with the company and hopes one day to excel within. She hopes to be the regional director eventually and works every day to reach her goals.

Younger Donors Most Common Donors

With recent events such as the bombing at the Boston Marathon and the plant explosion in West Texas, it has become more evident what our hospitals go through during times of crisis. Georgia is part of the Southeast region on the American Red Cross blood bank map, and this region remains at an “Import” status. This means that we do not collect enough blood from donations within our region to support our hospitals’ patient needs. We must rely on other regions and have blood imported in.

“We have to rely on other regions to support our hospitals needs, so that is why we are always encouraging people to donate blood as often as possible when they are eligible,” said Kristen Stancil, communications program manager of the Southern Blood Services Region for the American Red Cross. “That way we would be able to supply the blood ourselves rather than importing it from other regions and we can fulfill our own hospitals’ needs.”

The Cobb Donation Center allows donors to make appointments during business hours to increase flexibility of donating blood. Photo by Taylor Dressler

The Cobb Donation Center allows donors to make appointments during business hours to increase the flexibility of donating blood.

If a crisis were to occur, hospitals within the region would not have enough blood to sustain the problem and we would have to turn to other regions for support. The demand for blood donations has increased, as awareness arises about this shortage.

People are encouraged to donate as often as possible. It only takes one pint of blood, which is the average amount taken during a donation, to save three lives.  Volunteers are eligible to donate every 56 days and the average blood donation process takes about an hour.

Type O Donors in Urgent Demand

Type O-negative blood is often referred to as the universal blood, because it is the blood type that can be transfused into a patient with any blood type. The Red Cross urges people with type O-negative blood to donate as often as possible.

Having a strong supply of type O-negative blood in blood banks allows for transfusion into any patient in a time of crisis. It is most commonly used when the patient needs a transfusion before his or her blood type can be determined; it is also used for newborn babies. Because of its universal characteristics, type O-negative blood is one of the most valuable blood types to have in blood banks if a crisis occurs.

It has become an apparent trend during the summer months that numerous blood banks see a decline in supply compared to the winter months. Hospitals see some of the higher blood demand during the summer months so resolving this shortage is crucial.

Blood donations tend to decrease because schools are out of session, families are traveling and volunteers have less time to make it to donation centers.

“There are various factors that contribute to the summer shortage. A shortage is definitely something that could possibly happen as summer approaches,” said Stancil.

Extreme warm weather can also cause blood drives to be canceled. Donors are encouraged to keep donating through the year, and more so in the summer months to help eliminate this seasonal shortage.

Young people are becoming more active in their roles as volunteers to help sustain local blood banks in case of emergency.  Over 20 percent of all donations come from high school students who participate in local blood drives held at their school. Young adults participating in these drives will hopefully keep doing it throughout their life.

Many high schools and universities hold blood drives that are open to both students and the community. These blood drives give many students the chance to become first time donors and experience what it’s like to donate blood.

“It’s really important for anyone that is eligible to donate blood,” said Kristen Stancil of the American Red Cross. “Blood cannot be manufactured, so it has to come directly from volunteer donors.  We definitely like students to come out and get that experience at a younger age and we hope that they will continue to donate for a lifetime.”

Andrea Martin, a 22 year-old Kennesaw resident, used to donate blood all the time as a student, but with a busy new career, she tries to find more time to make it out to the blood drives.

“It doesn’t take much time and you have such a good feeling after you’ve done something that can save someone else’s life. It puts you in a better mood,” said Martin.

The Red Cross continues to encourage young adults and students to participate in blood drives so that the Southeast region can one day sustain itself and not have to import blood from other regions.

The Cobb Blood Donation Center located in the East Lake Shopping Center is hosting many blood drives throughout the month of April in hopes of increasing the blood bank supplies throughout the Southeast region