GHC continues its yearly tradition of Student Financial Aid Awareness Month this April.

Student Financial Aid Awareness Month gives students the opportunity to connect with financial aid advisers in a direct way.

FAFSA events were hosted at each campus. Any student who needed help completing their FAFSA or other financial aid processes was more than welcome. These events were in addition to the regular monthly First Friday FAFSA days.

The event at Paulding was held on April 10, while the Marietta event was held on April 11. The Floyd event took place on April 12 and the Cartersville event took place on April 16.

According to Ana Clayton, financial aid counselor at GHC, “If a student wants to complete their FAFSA for summer, they will need their 2015 tax information as well as their parents 2015 tax information if they are a dependent student. For fall, they will need the 2016 tax information.”

Clayton also said, “This year, we’ve set up displays in our areas with financial aid information about the process, different types of aid and some changes that we’ve had within the past few months.

The big changes that we have this year are the implementation of a new verification process and the return of year round Pell.” Clayton continued.

Clayton said, “We are using a program called Campus Logic to complete the verification process.

This really simplifies the verification process for the student but as with any change, we have to get the word out. With year round Pell, students who qualify are now able to use Pell in the summer whereas in the past, they were not able to do so,” Clayton continued.

Students even got to enjoy the food, fun and prizes at the events. According to the Financial Aid Office at the Floyd campus, “If students were enrolled 12 or more credits for fall and 12 or more credits for spring and received their full Pell awards, they must be enrolled at least six credits for summer to receive the additional Pell Grant funds.”

If a student did not receive their full Pell award still has the opportunity to use any “leftover” Pell. An example of Summer Pell for students with 12 credits and $0 in an expected family contribution amount is $5,920 Pell offered for fall/spring, and also $2,960 for 12 credits received in the fall and spring and a summer allowance.

A mudspot near the library at the Floyd campus that could be fixed by those who attend the budget meetings at GHC.            Photo by Joshua Mabry

New renovations made to the Walraven Building at the Floyd campus were brought together by funding to GHC. Photo by Joshua Mabry

Every year a cabinet consisting of the highest officials of GHC, including Donald Green, the president of GHC, academic deans and various campus leaders gather to discuss the budget of all five campuses.

According to Jeff Davis, the vice president of finance and administration, the financial operations of GHC work via “fund accounting,” which is different from what other businesses practice.

Davis said, “A business will just have ‘cash.’  All revenue goes to ‘cash’ and all expenses come out of ‘cash.’  It’s not that straight forward for a state agency like GHC.”

GHC is divided up into funds that have specific purposes and have specific revenues, according to Davis.

The biggest fund to GHC and where most of the operations of GHC get funded is called Educational and General Expenses. This fund is where faculty and staff are paid along with operating expenses including supplies and travel for GHC, with state appropriations and tuition serving as E&G’s primary sources.

Another part that is significant to GHC’s funding is student fees, which are collected for specific purposes such as activity fees, technology fees or athletic fees. Davis said, “All the revenue from each fee are kept in separate accounts within the Student Fees fund.  Expenditures from this fund must match the specific purpose of the fee.  We can’t spend technology fees to buy basketballs, for example.”

The third way GHC gets its funding is from Auxiliary Enterprises. GHC has a number of “for profit” enterprises that operates on campus, such as parking, dining and the bookstore. All the revenue and expenses for these enterprises are kept in a separate “fund.”

An alternate way that GHC is looking to dive more into for funds is grants, but they are for small programs. These grants will help move courses to open educational resource environments and will help make textbooks either free or at a low cost. But they cannot pay for new walls with faculty salary.

With the new upgrades to the Cartersville and Paulding campuses as well as the Walraven building renovation at the Floyd campus, these decisions are based on what need to be prioritized at this moment. Green said, “Some things may happen that we thought would never happen, and some things don’t happen that we thought would happen, but we make sure that we always have money to spend. It all comes down to needs.”

Davis said that it is important to make the Floyd campus look modern, as the Walraven building looked just like it did in the 1970’s before its recent upgrade. Cartersville needed its lighting upgraded and Paulding needed its windows modernized. The purpose is to keep the campuses functional and modern. Davis said, “It doesn’t make sense to paint the interior of a building that’s leaking.”

According to Green, funding can also depend on enrollment, as the enrollment of 2017 will be the basis for the budget for 2019 to 2020. In order for GHC to have funding, it is important for students to enroll and more importantly, graduate. GHC is always looking for new students and faculty, which is why GHC has made such an effort to make the college the most affordable in the state.

As Green said, students going to a college like Kennesaw State would be paying twice as much money, plus room and board as opposed to GHC. Green stated, “It is important to manage finances to keep costs affordable.”

These budget meeting have been becoming increasingly more important for students and faculty. There is a faculty committee that is having an input on GHC’s budget called the Capital Improvement Committee. Students are also welcomed to start their own committee in order to have a better voice in the budget meetings.

For students that see wires sticking out of poles, faulty electricity in the classrooms, old paint on walls, muddy interiors as opposed to exteriors, or leaky bathrooms, the best way to have a better voice when it comes to the funding of their campus is to start their own committees, graduate and bring more students to GHC to increase student enrollment, as increased enrollment allows GHC to make improvements and offer bachelor’s degrees, according to Green.

Davis also said, “Nothing makes the college campus stronger than successful students.” But in the meantime, as the oldest campus at GHC, Davis said that, “Floyd will continue to be our major focus for repair and renovation.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For 10 years the, MCU has captured everything that that makes the Marvel characters unique in superheroes. Each film has brought something special to the table, whether it be great character pieces, challenging themes and the best of spectacle. But “Black Panther” manages to bring it all and so much more as on if the absolute best of the MCU.

What truly makes any story worth telling is the characters that inhabit it, for that is where story comes from. Story is driven by character. They are what pulls the audience into the story. But if a story is just driven by story, the audience is left with nothing but mindless exposition, useless symbolism and allegories without purpose. Fortunately, “Black Panther” suffers through none of that as the characters are complex and multi-dimensional with their own goals and motivations that are made perfectly clear for the audience.

The fact that “Black Panther” is only director Ryan Coogler’s third film at 31 years old is awe-inspiring for young aspiring storytellers. His direction brings out the best of all the characters and tells the film’s excellent story beautifully.

When it comes to performance, the entire cast steals the show. Chadwick Boseman embodies everything that makes T’Challa/Black Panther great while building off of what he started with T’Challa’s debut in “Captain America: Civil War”, Letitia Wright as T’Challa’s sister Shuri brings a performance that is heartfelt and intelligent. Danai Gurira, as general of the Dora Milaje Okye stands out as a traditionalist of Wakandan ways. Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia defines what it means to be a Social Justice Warrior, by not calling out people for not agreeing with her philosophy, but by actually elevating people and by actually fighting and promoting social justice in a positive manner, which is very refreshing.

But one cast member manages to do one thing, which is solving what is often seen as the MCU’s biggest problems, having weak and forgettable villains. Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger brings a certain complexity to the role that has not been seen in the MCU before. His goals and motivations of wanting to be king of Wakanda due to rough past are completely justified, and leaves the audience challenging their own moral beliefs as Killmongers’ goal and motivations are good, but it is methods that are problematic. It can be argued that Killmonger is the best comic book villain since Heath Ledgers’ Joker.

Another strong point of the film is the themes. Themes bring challenge and meaning to a film, and “Black Panther” delivers on a whole new level.

The film’s challenge of choosing between tradition or innovation and globalism vs isolationism, along with questions of how to live up to and move on from a complicated legacy gives the audience something to truly think about as they leave the theater.

Also, its theme of social justice makes Black Panther the most political of the MCU films. The best of the MCU like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” bring challenge and complexity along with consequences that defy different genres while at the same time bringing great character pieces like “Iron Man,” “The Avengers,” “Doctor Strange,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” and the previously mentioned. But Black Panther manages to embody the best of both worlds.

The score is another factor that elevates “Black Panther” to new heights. Ludwig Göransson creates a score that mixes extremely well with traditional African music that blends with the tone of the film beautifully.

There are a few nitpicks that the film has. But they are very minor and do not take away from the film at all. The action scenes throughout the film start off strong, but they begin to stumble by the third act of the film, along with the CGI.

It is definitely not up to the standards of action and visuals of the last two Captain America films, but ultimately that is not what “Black Panther” is about, as it is about much bigger things, so it is not as bothersome.

“Black Panther” is a fantastic film from beginning to end. Its story, characters and themes make the film a masterpiece in both the MCU and superhero films in general. While it is not the absolute best of the MCU, it definitely breaks the top three out of 18 films currently with more on the way, maybe even top two after “Captain America: Civil War.”

This is a film that should be recommended to everyone whether you know the character well or if one has not seen him before and is the perfect film to watch in the remaining days of Black History Month. It shows that representation in film is something to not gloss over, all while serving as a pinnacle of black excellence.

Overall grade: A+

Contributed Photo of Bronson Long

Georgia Highlands College will be sponsoring three study abroad trips to China, Italy, and Berlin in 2018 along with other colleges part of the University system of Georgia and the European Council for Berlin.

According to Bronson Long, director of global initiatives and associate professor of history, “These trips will help students broaden their view of the world and expand their horizons and help bolster their career in a global world.”

All students with a good academic standing are eligible to participate in these trips. But first, students will have to complete a GHC study abroad application, which includes meeting with Financial Aid representatives that may lead to helping pay for the trip for students.

The trips to China, Italy, and Berlin will have summer session courses for 2018 linked to them. Long said, “Study abroad is not only a wonderful way to see more of the world, but it can help you earn college credit and further your education.”

All three trips include round trip airfare, accommodations, ground transportation, site visits, travel insurance, and most meals. These programs will mostly be all inclusive.

For the trip to Italy, students will be visiting Montepulciano in Tuscany and experience the history of Italy through field trips to Rome, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Venice, and other cities. On weekends, students will be free to explore the Italian Peninsula, with activities that include swimming the Mediterranean and hiking the Alps.

The Berlin trip will be hosted by David Hensley, assistant professor of history. According to Hensley, “This trip will bring both faculty and students together to engage in learning about a different place, while being in a different place.” In Berlin, students will be visiting Fredrick the Great’s summer palace, Checkpoint Charlie, a military base used during the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, the town of Wittenberg, where Martin Luther lived and founded the Protestant Reformation Movement, and certain places significant to the Nazi regime, such as a concentration camp.

Taking classes in Berlin will help students broaden their horizons and have a further appreciation of the classes they are taking by following the practices of those that came before, like the backgrounds in science, business, and the humanities.

One class will have a significant impact on students, the History of Nazi Germany. Hensley says, “With this class, I want to show students that Nazism was not some alien concept that took over the country, as it came from existing trends and developed through popular support.” Hensley also wants to show how Berlin today is still struggling with its past with its democratic present. The Berlin trip will cost $5,300 and the deadline is March 2, 2018.

Students will be traveling around by bus, train, and subway. While there will be bilingual tour guides in China, there will not be in Italy or Berlin. But even though most people in those countries do speak English, it could help if students knew a few simple words.

Long says, “Study abroad is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity, especially when you are young, as it is a chance for adventure and to explore the world.”

The China trip will be a nine-day trip from May 25 to June 2, 2018. The Italy trip will last from June 28 to Aug. 2, 2018. The Berlin trip will take place on June 28 through Aug. 1, 2018.

For more information, go to hartttravel.com/ghcchina, dga.kennesaw.edu/educationabroad, and ecstudyabroad.net for each individual trip.

To see information on the China trip, go to http://sixmilepostonline.com/?p=4946 from the October 3 “Six Mile Post” issue.

GHC will be getting a new music production software system installed in the libraries on the Floyd and Cartersville campuses.

The music production software called DAW, Digital Audio Workstation, has been made by the Ableton Company and is a new and professional music software. “This new software will allow students to create compositions, manipulate sound and layer sounds digitally,” said Samuel Baltzer, professor of music. This new software can even allow students to create new sounds as well.

This is the first time that GHC’s music programs will be using a software like DAW. According to Baltzer, DAW was recommended to him by his students, as it is “Industry standard and fully functional and is used by sound designers, and composers of TV, film and games to create music every day.” Baltzer hopes that DAW will bring in more student interest in the music courses.

Along with the package of DAW, there will also be a software called the Sibelius Notation software, which will allow students to produce sheet music and play music live, while DAW is used to create composition assignments.

With DAW and Sibelius being at the libraries of the Floyd and Cartersville campuses, the cost of all the software will be $550 altogether. Since the music courses are not offered at the other campuses, the new software will not be making its way to the other campuses. But Baltzer said that it may be possible if the music courses are offered at the other campuses in the future.

This program came about when a donor gave a $5000 donation to GHC to put a piano in the Heritage Hall site. Baltzer then used the remaining money to purchase this new software.
As for the libraries’ contribution, they will simply provide the space for students to use the new program. They will also be keeping the keyboards, headphones and computers for students to check out, as it is a first come first serve basis. The software is available for MAC and PC, and the sound can only be heard from the computers, but they must be used by the school computers, not on personal laptops.

Even though music today is made digitally, this new program is meant to keep all options open for students, as traditional writing is only half the field, according to Baltzer.
Baltzer wants to keep things as practical as possible and considers this a huge step forward for the music degree program. He said that music reflects the time and it is logical to make music technological.

This program is meant to help students to compose and understand music, and to preserve the music of the past to keep up with the times, since much of the music of the past is timeless. Baltzer said, “It is important for our music programs to be student driven, to meet student needs, and to allow students to be competitive with one another.”
This new music production program is planned to be available by the end of January to music majors and students taking music business and theory.

Xinia Smith-Camacho. Photo by Catie Sullivan

Xinia Smith-Camacho is both a student and an employee of Georgia Highlands College.

She is currently the financial services accountant at GHC. Smith-Camacho has been a part of GHC since 2015.

Smith-Camacho has proven to be a quick learner, and it is with her passion, determination and positive attitude that has led her to overcome and express her struggles through her work and skill as an artist.

Smith-Camacho was born in Costa Rica and lived there for 16 years. Her fondest memories of Costa Rica are being with friends and family, with all of its good food and culture.

But being in America has taught her to love Costa Rica even more. According to Smith-Camacho, “You tend to appreciate what you love more when you are far away from it.”

Costa Rica is where her love for art would also be born, despite limited resources. “My dad did a little art, and I learned by copying him, by putting stuff together and looking at him constantly,” said Smith-Camacho.
When she moved to America and applied to Armuchee High School in March 2009, it was not an easy transition, as she was also struggling with learning English and the school system.

While school was difficult at first, she managed to succeed, particularly in math, physical education and art,  class from which her award-winning painting “Donkey” was created in 10 hours. She graduated in 2009.

Before applying to GHC, Smith-Camacho worked many jobs, ranging from fast food, a technician, a travel auditor and even at a bank. As she worked her way at GHC, she was then recommended by the son of Cynthia Parker, the manager of purchasing, to her current job today. As an avid learner, Smith-Camacho said, “If you’re willing to learn, you can do anything.”

When she is not doing art, or making sure GHC’s expenses have backing, her hobbies include cooking, eating, family, her Mom being her art critic, and being in nature, for nature is the artist that inspires her the most.

According to Smith-Camacho, “Art is in nature, and it allows you to admire what God has created.”

Animals are another part of Smith-Camacho’s life. They serve as the main motifs for the themes in her art. According to Smith-Camacho, “There is a beauty in animals that make them unique.”

To her, animals are the perfect motif for her themes of struggling with the English language and family, as seen in her pieces “Donkey” and “The Three Cheetahs.”

In the future, Smith-Camacho plans to get an Associate degree in Business and her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting.

She is also planning to be a CPA in forensic accounting, inspired by her temporary work for the Floyd County Police, and even going up to the FBI.

When it comes to inspiring artists, her advice would be to always explore, grow as a person and always listen. She said, “You never know what you can do with one step.”

2017 has come to a close and 2018 has come upon us. Looking back on 2017 it was a great year for movies, but unfortunately, there are still problems that continue to plague movies today.

When it comes to film, it is the job of everyone involved to take risks, to do things that have never been done before. When you do the same things repeatedly, originality and innovation tend to run out.

The “Transformers” films, including this year’s “Transformers: The Last Knight,” have continued to be plagued by messy plots, no character development, and visual effects all over the screen that leave the audience wondering what is going on.

“The Snowman” and “Fifty Shades Darker” are based on bestselling novels, but their film adaptations ended up with one as a boring, disconnecting mystery, and the latter a cringe worthy love story where even the actors look miserable.

A hidden genius can be found in all movies. But it can be brought down by flaws that ultimately render it useless.

For example, “mother!” is a film that is filled so many allegories that lead the viewers making connections to the Bible and climate change that show the film is about how humanity has ruined nature. But they lead nowhere, and leaves the audience wondering what the point was.

“Geostorm” brings the idea of a satellite in space that can control the weather, which could go into themes of climate change. But in the end, it ends up being just another generic action movie.

While filmmaking is an art form, it also is a business all about making money. But when corporate capitalism goes too far by cashing in on trends, audiences end up with joyless and formulaic movies.

“The Emoji Movie,” arguably the worst movie of the year, is nothing more than a trendy, humorless, and horrific film that is riding on the highs of trends that are now the norm, product placement, and much better films.

“The Mummy” is another bland action movie trying to cash in on cinematic universes, while completely forgetting the horror elements that made the original Universal monster films classics.

While these are problems that continue to haunt the world of film, I cannot help but hope that movies continue to be an innovative medium of character and story first, and not focus so much on corporate interests. If so, then 2018 could be another great year for cinema.

“Thor: Ragnarok” is the third film in the Thor franchise and also the 17th film in the larger franchise that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a franchise that is close to being 10 years old.

While the Thor films have been the some of the weaker films in the MCU, “Thor: Ragnarok” manages to stand out amongst the Thor films and the MCU as a well-executed comedy. But there are times where the film’s more dramatic moments lose their momentum due to the film’s comedy.

Like most of the films in the MCU, “Thor: Ragnarok” is a hilarious movie. It is easily the funniest film of them all. The film is filled with comedic moments and jokes that will leave viewers laughing throughout the film that keeps a consistent light-hearted tone. The performances are also fantastic. Chris Hemsworth has become the embodiment of Thor. Cate Blanchett gives another stellar performance that makes her character Hela one of the more superior villains of the MCU, as she brings a presence that shows that she is a much stronger character than Thor. Tom Hiddleston continues to impress as Loki, while Mark Ruffalo continues to be the best incarnation of the Hulk.

But the standout character is the character of Valkyrie played by Tessa Thompson, who brings a fresh and complex characterization to the film. The directing of “Thor: Ragnarok” is some of the best within the MCU. Director Taika Waititi brings a special tone, look, humor and set pieces that make Thor a fresh character. He shows just how bizarre and wonderful it can be to be a Norse god with a great power within.

While the comedy is what makes “Thor: Ragnarok” a standout film, it also takes away from the dramatic moments. Characters, places and elements that were once key to the Thor films, are just thrown away followed by funny jokes that do not need to be there, all without any thought or consequence, thus taking away from one of the film’s key themes, which is loss. Overall, “Thor: Ragnarok” is an extremely entertaining popcorn flick that has elevated the MCU to new heights. It is a must see for comic book fans and is a fun time at the theater.

Cartersville students like Avery Johnson will be gaining
faster wireless connections. Photo by Mackenzie Duvall

The Cartersville campus will be getting a new upgrade to its wireless system. The system was first installed back in 2005, during what Rob Laltrello, the chief technology officer of the IT department at GHC, describes as “the pre-iPhone era.”

Chris Pelfrey, the director of information security & network services of the IT department at GHC, said, “Having a wireless system was not very common back then, but now being wireless is a necessity.”

According to Laltrello, “These new upgrades are a renovation to what is already installed.” The purpose of the new wireless system is to enable both faculty and students to bring their own devices to do their work and to provide a connectivity that is reliable and can help students get through their classes. It is not to be a revolution in IT. It is just a way for students to say, “Wow, it’s not slow anymore,” as Latrello puts it. But as Pelfrey explains, “You’re only as fast as your slowest connection.”

The wireless system is made up of a core switch, distribution and access points. The core switch is what brings the internet to the system. The wireless system will receive a new core switch, which will provide a faster and much better internet speed across the board, moving the speed from 100 Megabits to 1 Gigabits.

The distribution is like a water flow, as it allows the internet to travel to access points. The access points are what allow devices to connect to the internet. There will be 30 new access points installed across the Cartersville campus and they will be in the classrooms, library, high traffic areas and outside the HUB of the Cartersville campus. While the hardware is all new, the software side of the new wireless system is mostly the same, but it will be updated to allow the IT department to better protect users’ privacy.

Complaints about the internet access at the Cartersville campus started around 2015. With the age of the equipment and the campus growing, it was time for the wireless system at Cartersville to be upgraded according to Pelfrey and Laltrello. They also said that it can be an expensive endeavor as well, costing thousands of dollars and even being a 10-year investment. Pelfrey said, “Feedback from faculty, staff and students is always taken seriously.”

The wireless system was demonstrated not too long ago at the gym on the Floyd campus, and the response from students was very positive as they were able to stream games in the gym. The new wireless system will be controlled by Pelfrey and a team consisting of six people in a group called Information Security and Network Services of which Pelfrey is the director.

“It is a team effort, and we will continue to be the invisible support to help students do their work with a no hassle experience,” said Pelfrey. Laltrello also said, “Pelfrey is awesome as he does a tremendous amount of work into the system and knows a lot of what happens behind the scenes.”

Expansions have already been planned to go out to the other campuses of GHC. The one in Floyd is already done, while the systems at Heritage Hall, Paulding and Douglasville are scheduled to be completed around the fall of 2018. The new wireless system at Cartersville is expected to be completely installed as a whole by the end of 2018.

Bronson Long, director of global initiatives and study abroad, is playing a major role in bringing the Conference on the History, Politics and Cultural Aspects of Doing Business in China to Georgia Highlands. File Photo

Georgia Highlands College will be hosting an academic conference on the history, politics, society and cultural aspects of doing business in China at the Cartersville Campus on Friday, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The conference will be jointly sponsored by Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Ohio State University East Asia Study Center, Middle Georgia State University and The Nine University and College International Studies Consortium of Georgia, of which GHC is a part.

According to Bronson Long, the director of global initiatives and study abroad at GHC, the College International Studies Consortium of Georgia usually hosts their conference at Clayton State University.

However, since GHC is sponsoring a study abroad trip to China this year along with a college-wide focus on China, Long thought it would be appropriate for GHC to host the conference.

Among the presentations to be made at the conference will be one about the Cultural Aspects of Doing Business With China hosted by Patrick McAloon, a partner of SinoConnect and founding member of the Greater Columbus Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

There will also be a presentation on the Multi-Media Resources for Teaching About China and Asia by Roberta Martin, Ph.D.
Martin is the director of Asia for Educators at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University, New York.

Other presenters will include Christopher Jespersen from the University of North Georgia and Bin Xu from Emory University.
Donald Green, Georgia Highlands president, along with Renva Watterson, GHC vice president for academic affairs, and Long will be welcoming all conference participants.

Joining them in the welcome will be Eric Sun, associate dean of arts and sciences of Middle Georgia State University.

“I am thrilled that Georgia Highlands will be hosting this conference,” Long said. He is also pleased that 12 GHC faculty members have signed up to attend and will be able to bring back what they have learned to the classroom.