Harvey Moody conducts a chemistry lesson. Photo by Lydia Chandler

At the end of the semester, Georgia Highlands will say farewell to Harvey Moody, a long time professor of chemistry on the Floyd campus.

Moody began his career with Georgia Highlands 21 years ago, starting in August of 1995.

Before teaching chemistry at GHC, Moody taught the subject for 13 years at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Prior to teaching chemistry, Moody served as a pilot in the United States Air Force for 25 years and has also trained more than 150 students in flight, logging over 3000 hours in the air.

For his own education, Moody attended Louisburg College for two years before moving on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn his Bachelors in chemistry, and later attended West Virginia University, earning his doctorate in chemistry.

When asked what he loved about teaching, Moody said, “It is exciting to take someone who doesn’t know about a certain topic or area and you give them a little knowledge, and they get excited and start learning the subject and go much further on their own.”

He continued, “What I’ll miss about teaching is my association with the students, faculty and staff, but I’m old! I’ve hit an age where I am starting to slow down now. If I’m going to teach students, I want to be effective. I want to leave teaching while I’m still effective.”

After retirement, Moody plans to use his free time to work on application development and has aspirations to write a mystery novel.

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Johnny Duke writes a math formula in front of a Floyd campus class. Photo by Lydia Chandler

After 40 years of teaching, 18 of which were spent at GHC, Johnny Duke, a professor of mathematics on the Floyd campus, will retire.

Duke began his teaching career in 1977 at Memphis University School where he taught mathematics and bible at the 7^th grade level for three years.

After leaving MSU, Duke went on to teach mathematics at Lipscum University in Nashville, where he also earned a master’s degree in mathematics.

With his master’s in hand, Duke went on to spend his next 8 years serving in ministry in Louisville, Ky. and working towards a doctorate in Christian education which he eventually earned in August of 1990.

Duke then took a position at Shorter University where he taught for 16 years, also teaching in Parallel for 8 years at Floyd College.  In 2006, Duke took a full time position with Georgia Highlands College, one year after the school changed its name.

When asked why he was retiring, Duke said, “There are some things I’d like to do before I get too old. There is more to life than work, and I’m ready to do those things. There is also a three year old redheaded little girl in Nashville I’d like to spend more time with.”

After retirement, Duke plans on spending his free time pursuing the things he enjoys like the outdoors, photography, friends & family, God and grandchildren.

The Policial Science and Criminal Justice Club meets in the Solarium to discuss today’s politics. Photo by Taylor Barton

On Jan. 26, the Political Science and Criminal Justice Club held its first meeting on the Floyd campus. The meeting, which took place in the student atrium, drew 25 interested students.

Students grabbed pizza and soda, which will be available at every meeting, and quickly got to the business at hand. Students debated for the majority of the hour-long session, and were able to speak about political issues they were interested in. As well as the student-led discussion, advisers Randy Green and Greg Sumner shared announcements and opportunities associated with the club and allowed students to nominate and vote on club officers.

After the student vote, Grayson Alswalt-Smith was named club president, Jeffery Marion took the seat of vice president and Kevin Thomas-Griffin took the position of club secretary.

The next meeting for the Political Science and Criminal Justice Club will be on Feb. 24 at 12 p.m. in the student atrium on the Floyd campus.

In the last week of January Georgia Highlands College will observe First Amendment week. First Amendment week, which was started in 2004 by GHC’s news publication, the Six Mile Post, was established as a campaign to foster awareness of the amendment.

There are five pillars of The First Amendment, freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The amendment was signed into law within the first 10 amendments to the Constitution in The Bill of Rights and went into effect Dec., 15, 1791.

Written to protect citizens from the power of the federal government, The First Amendment has not only been a safeguard to voices of change, rights activism, and religious movements, but also to the individual.

While these protections have long stood at the forefront of The Bill of Rights, they are not always a given in situations of adversity but, rather, must be evoked within the power of U.S. law.

Precedence has been established time and again through interpretation of the law.

As the world changes, new issues arise that challenge the language outlined in The First Amendment.  Innovations such as film, television, and the internet have all had to call upon The First Amendment and the U.S. court system to reinterpret what is and what is not protected under its provisions.

There will always be a push to stifle platforms of expression, but no matter how hard the push, we must not give up the inalienable right of even a single voice.

GHC Chief of Police David Horace (right) confers with college Security Officer Ralph Mallad. Photo by Holly Chaney

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Two conflicting Georgia gun laws are causing a bit of confusion at colleges across the state, and well-meaning students are putting themselves at risk legally and academically by not clearly understanding their rights.

The problematic House Bills, which were both passed July 1 of 2014, are House Bill 60 and House Bill 826.

In a Georgia Department of Law memo available on the law.ga.gov website, State Attorney General Samuel Olens spoke about the confusion by saying there have been “numerous inquiries” about the “two conflicting measures.”

Georgia House Bill 60, which has been dubbed by many as the “guns everywhere” bill, allows for licensed gun owners to carry firearms in safety zones, which are defined in the Bill as bars, churches that “opt-in” and in government buildings without security screening checkpoints.

“House Bill 60 is problematic because it is misunderstood to be a bill that allows you to carry everywhere, and that is not true,” said Georgia Highland’s Chief of Police David Horace.

Alternatively, House Bill 826 works to more clearly define where guns are allowed. Under House Bill 826, licensed gun owners who have a concealed carry permit are allowed to have their weapons in their cars while parked or driving through school grounds but are not allowed to remove the weapons from their car.

“House Bill 826 does give permission for permitted gun owners to have their weapon within their personal vehicle. However, many confuse the parking lot allowance for a building allowance. That just isn’t so,” said Horace.

The problem occurs when students fail to be informed about the gun policy, said Horace.

“We have seen a couple of students carry guns into school thinking that they had a right to. We were able to resolve these issues quickly, but it is something that students need to know,” said Horace.

In addition to more clearly defining safety zones, House Bill 826 also gives administrators the right to determine the punishment for a student who brings weapons inside the school.

Horace said, “If there is an incident on campus, and a well-intentioned student is seen holding a gun, authorities don’t have the time to figure out if you’re a good guy. They will be looking for a guy with a gun. No matter a student’s intentions, it is the kind of situation would not turn out well.”

Horace stated, “It is in the best interest of all students that they understand that weapons are not allowed on campus, licensed or not.”

Students who would like to read more about House Bill 60 and House Bill 826 can do so at law.ga.gov.

Candice “Septymber Fifteenth” Whitfield shows her array of emotions in the “Lipstick Monologues.” Photo by Holly Chaney

Douglasville student Candice Whitfield, who may be better known to some as Septymber Fifteenth, recently concluded an Atlanta performance as the voice of reason in the “Lipstick Monologues.”

Septymber, gave a powerful performance. Using a soulful and commanding voice, she gave vast contrast to the sometimes painful and risqué narratives that embody the Lipstick Monologues.

The Monologues, written and directed by Atlanta native Andre Orie, focus on allowing women to tell their real stories.

The official Lipstick Monologue website describes the play as “a uniquely arranged portrayal of words and soliloquies that often go unspoken in the minds and hearts of women.” It further describes the play as “placing front and center the range of emotions that women and teen girls experience in their daily walks of life.”

Frank Murphy works in his home studio. Photo by Holly Chaney

Frank Murphy may often be seen carrying pizzas or a guitar as he heads to the Baptist Student Union meetings.

What students do not see is that Murphy, Floyd campus minister, is an accomplished artist. His paintings, which have repeatedly been featured in the college literary magazine, the Old Red Kimono, are evidence of his talent.

Murphy found his artistic gift early on in life.

“I have drawn all my life, and I knew from kindergarten on that I had a gift in art. For me, that was just drawing the things I loved: horses, eagles, baseball, football, basketball players,” he said.

He was devoted to pursuing that gift into adulthood.

Murphy said, “I was determined that when I went to college that I would major in art.”

Unfortunately, college proved to be foreign to the natural artist, and he felt out of place as an art major.

“After a year in the art department, I was not sure that I really wanted to do that. The terminology was strange to me, and I didn’t feel like I was doing what I really loved, nor was I really being encouraged by the art professors, so I changed majors,” he said.

Murphy changed his major to physical education, hoping to go into coaching, but then found himself pulled towards a higher calling.

He said, “I felt God calling me to serve in ministry. It was always to work with students.

I first began as a youth minister in a small country church while I was in college.“
While Murphy had devoted himself to ministry full time, in 1996 he took another leap of faith.

“I was serving as a member of a college student ministry advisory group for colleges in Rome and Floyd County. We were searching for someone to serve at GHC (then Floyd College) part-time. Someone suggested that maybe I should consider doing it and trying my hand as an artist in my other part-time world. After a lot of prayer and fear and faith, I decided to do it,” Murphy said.

Murphy has been serving as the BSU minister since then but still devotes a part of his time to his art work.

Students interested in seeing more of Murphy’s work can pick up an issue of the Old Red Kimono in the student life area on each campus.

Every spring two students are chosen to represent their fellow graduates as student speakers for the Georgia Highlands’ graduation ceremonies. These students have proven themselves to be notable and exemplary models of the Georgia Highlands student body.

This year’s honored student speakers will be Kristen Mullis and Connor Hooper.

Connor Hooper

Hooper, a native of Rockmart and political science major, began his journey at Georgia Highlands in the fall of 2012 as a dual enrollment student.

Hooper’s choice to attend GHC was not decided half-heartedly, but rather, assuredly as he followed in the footsteps of his father, mother and sister, each of which also attended GHC.

During Hooper’s time at Georgia Highlands he has had the privilege of holding an announcer position for the school’s basketball team and has broadcasted as “The Voice of the Chargers” in over thirty games in the course of two years.

Hooper, who is also a HOPE scholarship recipient, wishes that he had more time outside of work and keeping up his GPA to be more involved in school activities.

Hooper, who identifies himself as a regular guy, was humbled by the speaking honor and said, “I’m not your average student to get the speaking opportunity. I’ve only made the Dean’s list twice. My GPA is 3.5, and I made a 79, C, in statistics once.”

The biggest obstacle Hooper faced, as a student at GHC, was the death of his grandmother. Hooper stated, “That was the toughest time for me in my life. I lived with my grandparents, and my grandmother was instrumental in shaping who I am today.”

After Georgia Highlands College, Hooper plans to attend the University of West Georgia. He is planning to major in political science with a minor in mass communications.

After graduating from UWG, Hooper plans on marrying his girlfriend currently of three-years, Hannah White, and has big dreams to work for a major news network and find his way into national politics.

Kristen Mullis

Kristen Mullis, a native of Cleveland, Ga., began her journey at Georgia Highlands in the fall of 2013 as a student athlete for the school’s inaugural softball team.

Starting as a left fielder, Mullis helped her team to come in third at conference, a notable achievement for a first year team.

As a freshman at Georgia Highlands, Mullis was awarded Scholar Athlete on both the GHC softball team as well as the female with the highest GPA overall for the school’s athletic program, finishing the semester with a 4.0.

Mullis, who has studied at both the Cartersville and Floyd campuses, will be graduating with an Associates of Science Degree in Biology. After graduating from Georgia Highlands College, Mullis will attend the University of Georgia where she plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology.

After completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia, Mullis plans to extend her education further by becoming a physician’s assistant where she aspires to specialize in surgery or emergency medicine.

Traditionally, faculty members have held the honor of student speaker nominations, however, the graduating class of 2015 was the first to be granted the opportunity to nominate student speakers to represent their class.

In an effort to raise awareness concerning the turn in tradition for student speaker nominations, faculty started a campaign to inform students and staff at the end of last semester.

Tammy Nicholson, the vice president for student affairs, said, “Announcements that included the speaker eligibility requirements began in December with emails directly to graduating students and with GHC Inform posts targeting faculty and staff.”

She continued, “Posters were printed and distributed for display at all GHC instructional locations. The Six Mile Post provided an ad promoting the process ahead of the deadline.”

Once nominated, student information was sent to a speaker selection committee where numerical values were assigned to each of the nominees in various fields. The points for each nominee were then added to provide an overall rank from the committee and returned to them for review and approval.

Sweaty palms, a racing heart and dizziness are just a few examples of what students may experience through test anxiety.

Test anxiety, as described by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, or ADAA, is marked by a range of physical symptoms that include “headache, nausea, diarrhea, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, light-headedness and faintness.”

In addition to these physical symptoms, a person experiencing test anxiety may also experience distressing emotional symptoms such as, “anger, fear, helplessness and disappointment,” says ADAA.

The unfortunate reality for many college students is that making the grade is not only about studying and being prepared, but it is also about managing a fear of failure.

Douglasville student and pre-pharmacy major Soriah Fleury shared her own experience with this phenomenon. “When I had college algebra, I felt all of this pressure at the last minute that I wasn’t good enough,” Fleury said.

She continued, “I would stay up for countless nights and indulge in caffeine until I understood the material in various ways.”

Students, like Fleury, are not alone in their struggles. Students looking for someone who shares their anxiety on test day need not look any farther than the peer sitting next to them.

While the severity of anxiety is wide, it is a shared part of the college experience.

However pervasive the issue, tackling tests with minimal anxiety is a possibility for students. Those looking for coping methods have quite a few options.

One such resource is online. A simple Google search for “test anxiety” returns eighteen million hits.

When looking for legitimate help online, students should consider trustworthy sources such as the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education.

Students who would like one-on-one counseling concerning their testing anxiety can talk directly to their professor in preparation for the exam.

A professor can be a number one ally for those who want to see if they are studying the right way or if they understand something correctly.

Another option offered to students is GHC Student Support Services. These professionals are there to help and are a very knowledgeable resource for struggling students.

Students seeking assistance through personal or academic counseling can find out more information about the Student Support Services on their campus by vising Georgia Highlands’ website at www.highlands.edu/site/student-support-services.

Tyrone Bledsoe

Georgia Highlands College will welcome Tyrone Bledsoe as the 2014 spring commencement keynote speaker at GHC’s graduation Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Forum in Rome.

Born and raised in Grenada, Miss., Bledsoe received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Mississippi State University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Georgia.

He was also honored by the State of Georgia as Outstanding Doctoral Student, and the University of Georgia has recognized him as Outstanding Doctoral Alumnus.

Bledsoe also served as vice president for student life and special assistant to the president at the University of Toledo. He is a lifetime member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and currently resides in Toledo, Ohio.

Beyond Bledsoe’s awards, affiliations and academic achievements, he is the founder and executive director of SAAB, the Student African American Brotherhood. GHC’s Brother 2 Brother is a chapter of SAAB and recently won chapter of the year.

SAAB, which was founded in 1990, has grown to more than 300 chapters across college and university campuses as well as middle and high schools in more than 39 states in the U.S. SAAB provides young men of color the privilege of social, cultural and spiritual enrichment.

SAAB’s values are the cornerstone for organizational decisions, program development, and strategic collaborations and partnerships.

SAAB encourages participants to embrace Core Principles of Accountability, Proactive Leadership, Self-Discipline and Intellectual Development in order to exemplify the values that uphold the SAAB mission and vision.

Faculty will also be honored at graduation.

David Mathis, assistant athletics director, will be receiving the Presidential Meritorious Service award.

Carolyn Hamrick, former Cartersville campus dean, will be awarded the Wesley C. Walraven Faculty Award posthumously.

Catherine King will be the mace bearer and will lead the faculty graduation procession.

The Douglasville campus library provides computers for student research. Photo by Holley Chaney.

If students at the Douglasville campus need to checkout a book for a research paper, they won’t be visiting the school library, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, students are directed to a computer lab that has been officially designated as the school library.

While the Douglasville location is the only Highlands campus that does not possess a traditional library, it has yet to be a hardship on students. In our technologically ingrained culture most students already use the web to answer their own daily questions, so it is not a tall order to ask students to take their research online.

Through this virtual library, students have access to a myriad of online resources, are able to speak to live librarians and can also checkout books from other Georgia Highlands locations with the expectation of receiving them within just a few days.

Virtual reference centers allow schools to bypass the financial hardship of a proper collegiate library while allowing more space for classrooms and seating for students.

So while the Douglasville location is lacking a traditional campus library, it is still meeting the needs of its students virtually and doing so with excellence.

Not to knock the physical, tangible glory of a good book, but with research resources like GALILEO, students have entire educational references available instantaneously through a few tiny keystrokes. It is an advanced simplified system that, might be easier to use than the traditional book stacks.

With digital copies quickly becoming as available as their hardback predecessors, students have the option to forgo the hassle of digging, flipping and lugging around the heavy informational references of the past.

While some might see the lack of those catalogued library corridors as a shortcoming, others may see it as an eco friendly, resourceful innovation of the modern educational system.