Volume LVIII, Issue 14 | November 20, 2013

The Too Early Thanksgiving-Hanukkah-

Christmas-Graduation Issue

Brandon Short, Editor-in-ChiEfCSuSaBErEditor@Gmail.Com

malika l. harriS, manaGinG EditorCSuSaBEr.advErtiSEmEntS@Gmail.Com

JoE millEr, adviSErmillEr_JoSEph1@ColumBuSStatE.Edu

EriCk riChman, layout Editor

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tEEfuh ChoiCE, CampuS lifE Editor

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Columbus State University

The Saber Letter From The Editor

Cover Illustration: Skye Williams

THE SEMESTER IS OVER!!! Well, it is for The Saber at least. In you hands (or on your computer screen) is the final issue of The Saber for the fall 2013 semester. In the new spirit of the times, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, swiftly followed by a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah before you really have time to wrap your mind around Thanksgiving. Also, I cannot miss congratulating those students who have done their time, I mean, completed their degree at CSU. Whether it’s a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate, congrats on completing your coursework and doing what we’re all here to eventually do. The Saber wants to wish everyone the best of luck on the rest of their semester, and we hope that you’ll pick us up again in when our first issue comes out in January.

- Brandon ShortEditor-in-Chief

Congrats to Saber staff members graduating this semester:

Ellie Hoffmeister, Julie Kuralt,

Laterika Peak.And to all Fall 2013 graduates.

Student Government Association senators presented a Cougar Mixer where students were encouraged to mingle, network and have a fun time. The mixer was held in the Columbus Room at 6 p.m. on Tues, Nov 12. Upon arrival, students were asked to sign in and were given a blank name tag and business card. Students wrote their name on the name tag, but the blank business cards were a mystery to be figured out later in the evening. The Senators started the mixer by introducing themselves and explaining that participating in the planned activities would increase the experience of the mixer. Students participated in interactive activities that allowed them to meet new people and acquire business contacts. In particular, the last activity had students sit across from each other like a speed date. They were given 30 seconds to answer a question to their partner and after the time allotted they switched. At the end of the activity, if a student wanted to get to know a former partner better they were to write their email address on the blank business card and hand it to them. SGA provided free food and complimentary shirts. The turnout was so great that SGA didn’t have enough T-shirts to give away. Instead, senators made the attendees earn their shirts by either guessing an answer to a question or having the best answer. “I only wanted free food and a shirt, but the mixer was a surprise because I didn’t expect it to be as much fun as it was,” said Simonee Jackson, senior. As the fall semester comes to an end, the senators continue to have the student’s welfare in mind.

Cougar Mixer receives great turnout SGA senators host networking opportunity for students

Teefuh ChoiceCampus Life Editor

Nerds unite! Nerdacon v8 hit the scene as the local convention for the 8th year in a row. This years’ theme was 8-bit, like on the NES or the Nintendo Entertainment System. There was a lot to do at Nerdacon this year, and The Saber outlines a few of them here. One of the things that nerds enjoy most is reading manga. The Carolina Manga Library offered a wide selection of manga. Manga was also retailing for five dollars. In addition to manga, there were a lot of comics to choose from. Whether you root for DC or Marvel, there was something for everyone. Melanie Cummings was a Nerdacon vendor at the very first event, and returned this year with more comics. “It’s good! I’ve had a good time. I’ve been enjoying watching all the costumes.” She hopes to attend next year. Many anime were shown, including “Attack on Titan,” “Tiger & Bunny,” “Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic” and “Sword Art Online.” Victoria Mulneix said, “It’s been a pretty good crowd for some anime. Some anime had gender differences. For some anime, like “Free,” there would be a lot of females. There were a lot of anime shown that weren’t as well known, so people... were curious.” The showing of lesser known amine helped to promote the works. Card games were also popular at Nerdacon, and competitive. Games like Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Pokemon were the focus of tournament play. John Newby, an alum, won all the Magic: The Gathering tournaments, and Brandon Tutt, a senior, won the Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament. Video games were not forgotten. Games that were featured included Injustice: Gods Among Us, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: Two Worlds. Christian Serrano, a freshman at CSU, said, “I think it’s going pretty well. Nothing stolen. People are having a really vgood time. Friendly competitions are always good. I think it’s an

overall success.” To show love for a

character, it’s a good idea to dress up as them. The costume contest featured people

representing many different TV shows and video games, such as

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dark Souls 2, Three’s Company, Doctor Who

and Team Fortress 2. First place went to Celeste Oregame, who graduated Culinard

at Virginia College, for her costume. It took six hours for the

outfit alone and another two to three hours for the staff. When asked how she felt

about winning, she replied, “Pretty super psyched! I worked really hard on this outfit, so I’m pretty happy that

it paid off!” And who could forget zombies? Actors Toby Gowell and Alex Wayne from “The Walking Dead” came out to sign autographs and take pictures with fans for only $10. Ashley Josey, Wayne’s girlfriend and sponsor of the Campus Nerds, reached Gowell on his Facebook Page to invite him. Regarding his time at the convention, Wayne said,

“We’ve done alright. We’ve had a few people come and ask us

questions. It’s fun because they don’t believe it’s us and the characters we portray on the show.” Gowell said, “It’s been so much fun! It’s been so accommodating! Everyone is so much fun. I always look forward to engaging with fans about the TV show. And, of course, there was plenty of merch. Posters, plush dolls, buttons, grab bags and more were on sale.

8 Ways to Get Nerdy!Nerdacon v8 makes its way to CSU

Amanda MironContributing WriterIllustrator: Noah Sachs

Columbus State University|The Saber Campus Life Nov. 20, 2013 | 3

4 | Nov. 20, 2013 Campus Life/A&E Columbus State University|The Saber

Although African Americans gained their civil rights a mere 50 years ago, lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals,

transsexuals, and queers (LGBTQ) are still fighting. After successfully completing the “EveryBODY is Beautiful” fashion show with an outstanding turnout, the Office of Diversity Programs and Services held another divisive topic to students and faculty as a way to foster awareness and open-mindedness. On Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Davidson Auditorium, the Office of Diversity and Program Services featured a panel of three speakers: Adam, Steven Cooper, and Adrian Hernandez; and all shared their beliefs on whether gay is the new black in this generation. This was an open forum and the audience was encouraged to converse between each other and the panel of speakers to get their point across on the matter. The debate opened with questions and the opinions started rolling in from every direction in the auditorium. The creator of the forum, Usen Udo, was the host who kept the debate in check with a break which featured give-away prizes. One of the questions asked was, “Do you think gay rights will still be a topic of discussion a decade from now?” Each of the speakers answered with their point

of view. Adam said, “It will still be a discussion until we realized we are all the same.” President of the Collegiate Chapter of NAACP, Steven Cooper, said, “Black civil rights was considered as a given. In recent years, it is getting attacked and it is continued getting attacked. After a generation enjoys something, we get comfortable with it. The next generation comes and they will not appreciate it as much. Once they don’t appreciate it as much, the people will not like it and will continue to fight it. Once [you] stop appreciating the rights you have, people will fight against you to take those rights. This is whether you are LGBTQ or African American, it does not matter.” Some students in the audience felt as if one’s perception about negativity towards the LGBTQ community came from their household, while others believed it is constructed from the mass media. Although a majority of the people in the auditorium felt gay is the new black, others found the comparison either too general or reductive. The forum received mixed opinions from attendees and it has been said the topic would reoccur next semester to keep the discussion ongoing.

Is gay the new black?The Diversity Programs and Services hosts controversial forum Thursday evening

Brandi PhillipsStaff Writer

Photo: Ashley Kimbell

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to hit theatres this Friday. With several new cast members and even more action-packed sequences, the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy already has the critics talking. The Saber hit the streets to found out what students had to say about the upcoming release.

Mrs. Williams from the Diversity Office starts off the panel.

Verbatim: Are you excited to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire?

Danielle DavisOffice Manager

Photos: Danielle Davis

“I am extremely excited. I recently saw the first one and now I’m even more excited.”– Doni Brooks, early childhood education, sophomore

“Yeah, I’m really excited. It’s a story that addresses human emotion. Not to mention, it targets a young audience. It also promotes heroism and sacrificial love. It’s truly an underdog story and I like that.” – Liz Lara, art, senior

“I’m a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence. I like the way she carries herself. I’m always excited to see her work. I saw the first movie and I hope they do well in this one.” – Cailee Davis, English w/professional writing, sophomore

“Yes. I’m super excited about Catching Fire. I read the books. Catching Fire was my favorite and I’m excited to see how it translates into a movie.” – Emily Fischer, art education, junior

“Very much so, I enjoyed the books so much and I want to see what they’re going to do with it.” – Laura Beth Griffin, Administrative Assistant at the Courtyard 1 Residence Life Office

Columbus State University|The Saber A&E Nov. 20, 2013 | 5

It’s the start of a new and brighter generation, and no I definitely do not mean today’s youth. Friday, Nov. 15th marks the release of the Playstation 4, the new console that will hopefully keep bread on the table for Sony employees. This release will be followed by the Xbox One hitting shelves the following week, keeping the Microsoft vs. Sony grudge match going strong. This shift towards new consoles has been evident this past few months, and not just because Microsoft and Sony posted the release dates of their respective consoles. Take “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag” for instance, an otherwise fantastic game that began to push the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 to their limits in terms of graphics and frame rate. These increasingly technically demanding games needed fresh hardware to use them to their fullest potential, and that is just what the Playstation 4 seems to provide with one of its first releases, “Call of Duty: Ghosts.” Of course we all know what to expect from a Call of Duty game by now, it’s been basically the same formula since the franchise began ten years ago in 2003. The single player mode is essentially an interactive action movie, albeit a really awesome action movie that lets you feel like you are actually contributing to what is going on. As this game goes even farther into the future than previous installments, we can expect to see more apocalyptic destruction with cool new future weapons to use as you fight [insert bad guys here]. Add in the controllable dog soldier, and

we have ourselves a quirky Call of Duty game, ladies and gentlemen. The single player is just the icing on top of the multiplayer cake in a Call of Duty game however, and “Call of Duty: Ghosts” is no different. While the single player will only take you six to seven hours to complete, the multiplayer is a totally different animal (as per Call of Duty protocol). With all this new system hardware to play with, multiplayer matches do seem to run quite a bit smoother than “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2”. However, the coolest new addition in this writer’s not so humble opinion is the inclusion of squads. A squad is like a customizable team of AI’s that

each individual player gets to customize to assist them in online matches. You can choose to bring six of these squad members into the match with you or live Co-Op players. Even cooler is the fact that you could actually just sit the battle out and let your squad do the fighting, which defeats the entire purpose of playing the video game but still is just so great. “Call of Duty: Ghosts” may seem a bit formulaic at this point in the franchise, and that is because it is. But it is a tried and true formula that sells and plays well, and also provides hundreds and hundreds of hours of entertainment—at least in multiplayer.

Dec. 13th of this year marks the premiere of the second installment of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit Trilogy.” As the date draws closer, trailers show that not only will the quest to reclaim the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor come to a close, but danger lurks in every cave and corner. For fans of the book, this is the time for travel in Murkwood, reclaiming the Arkenstone, and preparing for battle as the War of Five Armies begins. But the film will also be expanding the universe and rich tale of “The Hobbit” with a continuation of the fight with the White Orc, Gandalf’s confrontation with the mysterious Necromancer from “An Unexpected Journey,” and fighting the deep and dark desires that fill the hearts of men, dwarves and elves alike as the extent of Smaug’s destruction stretches from beneath the mountain. So, let’s take a bit of a closer look at the trailer. In the original sneak preview, we see the dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo traveling through the woods. Spider webs, elven archers and men block their path. Then there’s the infamous barrel scene, the return of Azog the Defiler, and our first real glimpse at Smaug and his golden hoard under the mountain. Bilbo’s got quite the job ahead of him if he’s going to be stealing back that incredible jewel for Thorin and the Dwarves. That’s going to be one action packed journey ahead, I guess we’ll see on Dec. 13, right?

The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugA look at the upcoming film

Noah SachsContributing WriterIllustration: Noah Sachs

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Let’s Review: Call of Duty: Ghosts Justin MingeStaff Writer

Image: callofduty.com/ghosts

6 | Oct 30, 2013 Campus Life

The Saber | Columbus State University

6 | Nov. 20, 2013 A&E Columbus State University|The Saber

The College Kitchen

The holiday season is upon us and the stress of planning a meal is nothing to be laughed at. Whether it is a potluck with the roomies or an idea for a family dinner, these ideas should help you coast through the holidays. Focus on your family and not the kitchen.

Hannah DavisArts & Entertainment Editor Spread the Holiday Cheer

Spinach DipIngredients:-10 cups frozen spinach-1 tablespoon olive oil-1 pat butter-1/2 small white onion, chopped-3 tablespoons chopped garlic-1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce-red pepper flakes-season salt-garlic powder-1 tablespoon lemon juice-2 tablespoons dry ranch-8 oz cream cheese-5 tablespoons sour cream-3 tablespoons may-1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded-1/2 Colby jack cheese, shredded

Instructions: 1. In a large skillet, melt together olive oil and butter.2. When combined, add spinach.3. As spinach begins to cook, add all ingredients from onion through the dry ranch.4. Cook together until onions are soft.5. Turn off heat and stir in cheeses. When melted, remove from heat.6. Stir in sour cream and mayo.7. Serve with chips. Can be eaten warm or cold.

Mayonnaise Roasted TurkeyIngredients:-12-14 lb. Turkey, completely thawed-6-7 sage leaves, roughly chopped-5-6 fresh thyme stems-2-3 sprigs of rosemary-2-3 sprigs of oregano-1 1/2 cup mayo-1-2 tablespoons coarse ground salt-1-2 tablespoons pepper-3 stalks celery, chopped-1 large onion, roughly chopped-1 stick salted butter

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.2. Lay turkey in pan.3. Remove leaves from herb stems. Add sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano to mayo and combine well. Rub mayo mixture all over outside and interior of bird.4. Generously salt and pepper the turkey. Add the celery and

onion inside and out the turkey, and tuck the butter into the cavity of the bird.5. Roast turkey in 450 degree oven for 30 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 350 degrees and insert meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone. Continue roasting uncovered until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Cover legs with foil partway through the roasting to retain moisture (optional). Depending on size of turkey, the cook time should be about 1 1/2-2 hours. Before taking turkey out of the oven, use the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast. If the temperature there is 160 degrees as well, remove from oven.6. Cover the turkey with foil and let rest for 20-30 minutes. This allows the juices to flow back into the turkey.7. Carve and serve.

Turkey GravyIIngredients:-Drippings from your turkey-1/4 cup flour-1/4 cup water-salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: 1. Skim off most of the fat from the turkey drippings. Simmer on stove for 10-15 minutes on the stove top, stirring occasionally. Use a slotted spoon to remove celery, onion, and any large pieces of drippings. Continue to simmer.2. Combine four and water. Can use a small mason jar with a lid and shake to combine or whisk with a fork in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the flour/water mixture into the drippings until smooth. Lower temperature of the cook top.3. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk well before serving.

Green Bean CasseroleIngredients:-1 10 oz can condensed cream of mushroom soup-1/4 cup milk-1/8 teaspoon black pepper-2 14 oz cans cut green beans, drained-1 1/3 cups French-fried onions

Instructions: 1. Combine, soup, milk, and pepper in baking dish. Stir until blended.2. Stir in beans and 2/3 fried onions.3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.4. Stir. Then sprinkle with remaining fried onions.5. Continue baking until onions are golden.

Catching Fire:The Sparks of Revolution

Columbus State University|The Saber A&E Nov. 13, 2013 | PB

Roasted Potatoes, Cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients-1/4 cup olive oil-1 large sweet potato-3/4 cups Brussels sprouts, halved-1 1/2 cups red potatoes, cut into 1 inch thick cubes-1/2 head cauliflower, florets split in half-1-2 cloves garlic, chopped-1/4 teaspoon rosemary-1/4 teaspoon thyme-1/4 teaspoon sage-1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground salt-1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.2. Coat baking dish with tablespoon olive oil.3. Toss all veggies and seasoning in olive oil and place in baking dish.4. Bake for 5 minutes, mix, and add more olive oil if veggies seem dry. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies Filled With Caramel and Peanut

ButterIngredients:-1/2 cup butter-1/2 cup sugar-1/2 cup brown sugar-1 large egg-1 teaspoon vanilla extract-1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour-3/4 cup old fashioned oats-1/4 teaspoon salt-1/2 teaspoon baking powder-12 caramels-12 tablespoons peanut butter

Instructions: 1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.2. In a small sauce pan, melt butter on low heat until it has become golden brown. Remove from heat.3. In a small bowl, mix sugars, egg, and vanilla together. After combined, mix in butter.4. Mix in oats, flour, salt, and baking powder. Once dough has come together, refrigerate for 20 minutes.5. Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll dough into 12 equal size balls. Place each cookie on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet about two inches apart.6. Push a caramel into the center of each cookie. Form the sides a little bit if you want to cover the caramel a little more.7. Dollop a tablespoon of the peanut butter on top.8. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are golden.9. Allow to cool 15 minutes and serve.

Columbus State University|The Saber A&E Nov. 20, 2013 | 7

Fresh after the end of “The Hunger Games,” “Catching Fire” continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark following their victory in the brutal entertainment known as the

Hunger Games. The president of Panem allowed them both to live despite the rules of the death match, as the audience in the Capitol went completely insane over their supposed love affair. Soon after their victory tour of Panem is finished, Katniss and Peeta attempt to settle into a normal life, albeit one of extreme opulence, as the people around them starve. Due to Katniss being Katniss, and therefore not playing by Snow’s rules, the brewing tensions in Panem escalate and the Capitol begins to harshly punish pockets of rebellion. Events rapidly deteriorate into chaos while the games progress. In the end, Katniss survives as tensions reach a tipping point and open rebellion begins, spurred on by the dramatic ending of the 75th Hunger Games. Collins’s dystopian series has the makings of a huge generational impact through its use of tension, class separation, and government totalitarianism. Combined with the internal view of idyllic life that characters from the Capitol hold, there are very clear parallels to our own political climate, and inspires discussion into what our society is feeling and experiencing through the current run of scandals and privacy violations. So what is it that inspires rebellion? Is it simply the people of a country having reached their limit, or is it constant tension that bursts open from a single act of defiance? The people of Panem were urged into action by a pair of children attempting to die together rather than having one fighter left standing and obediently going along with the sick and twisted plans of the Captiol. As “Catching Fire” premieres later this month and Hollywood does its best to adapt the book, audiences and readers must ask themselves one last thing: With tensions running high and the level of control our own government is exerting, are we on the brink of our own type of revolution?

Sam SachsStaff Writer

Image: wikimedia.org

8 | Nov. 20, 2013 Local & World Columbus State University|The Saber

YouTube, YouTube, YouTube. New changes to YouTube have been causing the most uproar since the advent of the annoying ads. Bloggers and viewers hate the new changes to YouTube. With Google+ being added to YouTube, people who frequent the site and even the people who work for YouTube feel slighted, like they’ve had their privacy invaded. YouTube, which was only looking out for its patrons, has tried to revamp the comments section for videos. The new comment system, which requires users to make a Google+ account, was supposed to give people comments from friends and people close to them. The company claims it was only trying to add to the “YouTube experience.” Google and YouTube have been working closely together to make YouTube friendlier. The primary objective for the new system was to reduce the amount of “trolls” online. Trolls are people on YouTube and other online websites who bomb the comments with unnecessary spam and other things. These trolls usually hide behind the mask of an anonymous account on YouTube. That has all changed. Now to make any comment, you must have a Google+ account. Because people who make comments are forced to make Google accounts, they can no longer hide behind anonymity. Viewers hate the new changes. Even youtubers who most benefit from the new addition are displeased. Some bloggers are paid by not only having many people view their videos but also by having a large number of people leave comments. With the new changes, people simply refuse to make a Google+ account and will not produce the money-making comments. Bloggers are losing viewership and money. One significant YouTube blogger PewDiePie, loves the new changes. PewDiePie, even before the recent YouTube dilemmas, disabled his own comments because he was seeing things from trolls that may have contained content that was less than reputable. On the other hand, Youtube co-founder Jared Karim has made his first comment in eight years and it was about the

new comment system. With the exception of a few choice words, Karim asked “Why do I need a Google+ account to comment on a video?” Karim, who was paid over 60 million dollars by Google in 2007, is enraged by Google’s purchase of Youtube. Change.org, a website where people can create and sign petitions, already has a petition with over 95,000 signatures. The petition demands that YouTube reset to the original comments, asks for 150,000 signatures and continues to slowly creep up on the final number. The petition states, “Google is forcing us to make Google+ accounts and invading our social life.” These new changes have cost YouTube thousands of viewers. Many people have just gotten over the problems with the new interface and continued using the site like always. People that had Google+ or YouTube accounts before the changes have absolutely no worries, they are not being inconvenienced. It all depends on how much you like your six minute videos. The people who should be the most agitated are the YouTube bloggers; the new comments section is eating into their check at the end of the week.

It’s hard out here for a trollYouTube makes irritating new changes

Jared BrewerStaff Writer

Image: wikimedia.org

Columbus comes alive with ChristmasThere’s something for everyone and that’s not even an exaggeration

It’s finally the appropriate time to get ready for Christmas. You’ve seen the preemptive decorations, you’ve heard faint rumors of “Jingle Bells,” and there’s even a chance that eggnog has crept into your fridge. All of this adds up to one thing: Columbus is crazy for Christmas. Here are a few of the myriad events going on in the next month and a half. One of the best parts about Christmas is going out and watching the strain on Georgia Power in action. Aside from Callaway Garden’s Fantasy in Lights, there are other Christmas light shows around Columbus. Ludy’s Christmas Spectacular has a wonderfully ostentatious display with the added bonus of donating proceeds to Make-a-Wish Georgia. For those who feel creative during this time of the year, a workshop on wreath making is being offered at the Columbus Botanical Gardens on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at a cost of $35. It’s an opportunity to make a fresh wreath from scratch, which would make a cool decoration or a lovely fragrant present. Alternately, a little later in the season Callaway Gardens hosts a more involved Fresh Greenery Workshop on Dec. 7 for $45. Columbus’ museums are also getting festive. The National Civil War Naval Museum is hosting a free event known as Victorian Christmas. It’s an open house type event with carolers, concerts, shopping, tours, and even a Victorian Santa, so catch it on Dec. 7 and 8. Not to be outdone, the National Infantry Museum is opening its Leesburg Main Street Christmas Stroll on Nov. 29. This Christmas event also has the music and shopping and lights and there’s even going to be snow falling. Let’s be honest, Christmas revolves around children, but that doesn’t mean all of us have to become Scrooges and Grinches. There are kid-friendly events that could be fun for anyone. The Polar Express is playing in 3D at the IMAX theatre in the National Infantry Museum throughout December. Or, if you’re worried about adding some pounds during the Christmas glut and happen to have kids or much younger siblings, there’s the Reindeer Run hosted by Country’s and the Children’s Miracle Network. It’s only about a mile long so take the youngsters and have a good time. Chilly weather notwithstanding, there are a few events to get you out of the house if you’re staying in Columbus after finals. The annual Bi-City Christmas Parade is happening on Dec. 14. Marching from Phenix City to Columbus, floats, bands and horses will be strolling through the streets and causing general uproar. It’s finishing up in Uptown Columbus so there will be an opportunity to stop in for some coffee before or after. Just go early enough to secure some decent parking. Christmas is going to occupy Columbus for some time, so take the opportunity to try something different. Maybe make some new traditions and do your best to forget the traumatic experience that is finals and paper week.

Elaine HoffmeisterLocal & World News Editor

Columbus State University|The Saber Local & World Nov. 20 2013 | 9

Eat turkey. Eat stuffing and cranberry sauce and green beans, because that’s about all the Thanksgiving spirit you can get this year. Columbus offers few events to capitalize on pilgrims and Indians and cornucopias, and instead skips straight into the real spirit of Thanksgiving: capitalism. Thanksgiving is traditionally about giving thanks for the fortunes in our lives, but lately it’s been all about greed. Those hoping to spend time with their families had better do so before about 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, because many stores will be once again opening on the evening of Thanksgiving, a day earlier than just a few years ago.

Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving and the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, has overshadowed Thanksgiving; the holiday seems to have been skipped over by businesses, and instead has become a stepping stone for Christmas. Following the abnormal Christmas spurt that has had retail in festive attire a full two months before the holiday, the luxury of letting employees enjoy a restful holiday is being eclipsed by the desire of large businesses to one-up their competitors in

a bid to get the most of the Christmas boom. Black Friday is usually the most

productive day in the entire fiscal year of any business.

But Black Friday is stressful. There are lines, parking

problems, crowds and the occasional fight over a cheap set of towels. Unless a person enjoys the thrill of Darwin’s survival of the fittest, the shopping experience is not fun and not worth it. Sure there are sales and doorbusters, but for a final-ridden college student or professor it might be advisable to go on a calmer day, for instance the middle of the next week. For those of you who are interested in the sales, Columbus is taking Black Friday by storm. Most of the stores in the Peachtree Mall are offering sales, as are many of the major retail businesses in Columbus such as Kmart and Sears. One of the biggest Black Friday hotspots is Wal-Mart, which opens at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and boasts of a 65 percent increase in inventory. Other places of interest are scattered all over town. Verizon and Staples might be a good place to get a head start on next

semester. One of the best methods of coping with Black Friday yet not missing out on it entirely is to seek out deals online. Cyber

Monday falls on Dec. 2 this year, and online shopping provides most of the benefits without the angry customers screaming about candles. Maybe a quick trip to Google will even give you time to get a second helping of hearty turkey.

Black Friday devours ThanksgivingHow to survive the day after and of the feast

Elaine HoffmeisterLocal & World News Editor

Illustration: Elaine Hoffmeister

On Nov. 6, the Columbus Consolidated Government released a crime statistics report for the third quarter of 2013. In the report, mayor Teresa Tomlin writes that the crime reports are 6.5% below the six year average for similar statistical accounts. While the mayor says “we appear to be fairly stable in our…reports again this quarter,” the Columbus Quarterly Part-One Crime Comparison for 2013 shows a somewhat different view. According to the Quarterly, Part-One crimes are homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and theft by taking a motor vehicle. Between 2008 and 2009 there was a noticeable decline in crimes of this nature. However, beginning in 2010 the rate of homicide in the 3rd quarter rose from 3 in 2008 to 5, then 8 in 2011, and now 9 in 2013. While the rate for larceny is showing a steady, albeit slow, decline, the rate of burglary has grown rather rapidly, increasing by nearly half from the first quarter of this year to the third, going from 638 to 919 in less than a year. To put it bluntly, while crime has indeed declined since 2008, it is clearly not as idyllic as the mayor’s office is making it out to be, with crime rates once again rising. Despite this trend,

the Columbus State University Police Department continues to provide helpful advice and tips for staying safe on campus. Their annual publication “The Rap Sheet,” printed in October, lists a number of useful programs such as CougarAlert, as well as advice for emergencies and critical situations. Substance abuse, vehicle and property safety, and sexual assault are just a few of the many situations that “The Rap Sheet” provides information and advice about, including what to do if you or a friend experience such difficulties. The publication also details a set of guidelines on parking, proving that they truly are prepared for any situation minor or major. Students are also encouraged to prevent crime on campus by making use of the buddy system, locking their doors and ensuring that their belongings are secure. In short, while the crime rates in the city of Columbus are beginning to rise, the students and faculty of Columbus State University can rest assured that the University Police are ready, willing and able to help in a large number of emergency situations.

Crime is dropping(sort of) in Columbus Sam SachsStaff Writer

Arts&Entertainment

The Saber | Columbus State University

Blockbuster bustedAlmost all existing Blockbuster locations close down with a few exceptions The famous movie and video game rental chain Blockbuster is closing down. Most of the remaining Blockbuster locations will be liquidating their merchandise and are will close by 2014. But hope is not completely lost because the Wall Street Journal admits that among all the news of the franchise closing, there are 50 or so remaining locations that will continue to stay open. Founded in 1985, Blockbuster had as many as 9,000 stores at the height of its operation. Many family movie nights, video game nights and other fun activities were built upon this franchise. Blockbuster would always have a large selection of not only new releases but also older comedy, horror, family and drama movies available for a relatively small amount of money. And even though all of these movies are available on Netflix (either to order or through instant stream), in a Redbox, On-Demand or on Amazon, there is nothing quiet like going to Blockbuster to pick out a movie off the shelf. Alan Payne, who’s is the proud owner of 26 Blockbuster locations says that the reason he is still in business and other stores are not is because he considers his customers. “They took their eye off how to run really good stores,” Mr. Payne recalls. “It doesn’t take much to kill customer loyalty. If they come in, and don’t find what they want, and don’t get treated right… it’s very easy for them to drift away.” And that’s not the only thing that killed this franchise; Blockbuster ran through many owners and managers who continued to struggle with competition such as Netflix, On-Demand and Redbox. Blockbuster became old fashioned. And unfortunately for some, Blockbuster’s failure to reinvent itself for the needs of the masses ended up in a loss of employment. The end of this once popular franchise is also unfortunate because renting a movie for one night from On-Demand can cost as much as $5.99 or more. And what if the movie you want isn’t available through the particular service that you have? Renting a movie to watch on a Saturday night with the family becomes a trial. And sometimes it’s futile either because the prices are unreasonable or the movie is simply unavailable. As much as we enjoy our digital streaming and instant videos online, Blockbuster will be missed. Maybe if enough people show their support for the dying franchise another great movie-rental chain will rise again.

Dana VolkovinskyContributing Writer

Are you ready for some football?Is it time for CSU to its athletics program with a varsity football team? With CSU’s club football team coming off their best season, students are becoming anxious for CSU football to move from the recreational level to varsity. “I don’t personally watch football but having a team at CSU would be exciting,” said Heather Griggs, a junior. “My parents tell me their stories about how fun going to games were and I just want one chance to experience what they experienced.” A lot of the students interviewed share the same desire to experience a varsity football game because of the traditions surrounding football. At CSU tradition is something that both the administration and the student body seem to want to establish and many believe that football will drive the beginning of many new traditions. “Tradition has to begin somewhere,” said Brandon Hatcher, a junior, “and I would love to be a part of the start of a CSU football tradition. You see it everywhere from the slapping of the ‘fight on’ logo as the USC football players exit the locker room to the singing of ‘Rammer Jammer’ after an Alabama victory. Tradition drives college football.” The Saber recently asked both Coach Michael Speight, head coach of the CSU club football team, and the Athletic Director at CSU Jay Sparks if club football was ready to expand to the varsity level. “That is going to be a community thing,” said Speight. “It starts with [university president] Mescon and goes through his staff. Right now we are a club and we are happy to represent CSU recreation sports, but the decision will have to come from a higher power.” “I think we could make the decision today if we convened for a committee, but if we said ‘yes this is something we like to start two years from now’ then we would have to do some serious fund raising,” said Sparks. “The easy part is saying yes, the hard part is after you say yes.” With CSU rapidly growing in other sports and a move to Division I seeming like a possibility in the future, students are wondering if a move to Division I would bring the university closer to varsity football. “There is tremendous reason, positive reason, to start football,” said Sparks, “but then you have to weigh the reason is it more dynamic to start football on a Division I level as it is to start on a Division II level?” If CSU made the move to Division I sports from Division II then it would have tremendous impact on the university. Sparks eluded to the possibility of football but the question does have to be asked if CSU could maintain football on a Division I level. Division II athletic programs have to be invited to play at the Division I level and some would argue that now is the time to make the move with the conference realignment period going on within Division I football. The major factor in all of this is money. At CSU there is an athletic fee that goes towards the athletic department. The university is not allowed to actually put money into its athletic programs. If the move was made to start varsity football, would the CSU student body mind paying a little extra to help support it? “By adding a football team it makes the athletic fee more attractive,” said Hatcher, “because other than soccer there aren’t many sports I follow so I don’t use my free admission that is covered in the athletic fee.” “Absolutely I would pay extra if it means that CSU would have a football team,” said Griggs. “I want to experience a game day at CSU and if my future children decide to attend CSU I would want the same for them.” Ultimately the decision comes down to President Mescon to allow CSU the opportunity to try their hand at varsity football. The student body appears to be ready so now the ball is in his court.

Jake HallStaff Writer

10 | Nov. 20, 2013 L&W/Sports Columbus State University|The Saber

Inspired by Bruce the Mutt. See you all on

the flip side!Ellie

Must do’s for college students

To prepare for Thanksgiving, graduation and Christmas mash-up If responsible for cooking this year, plan your menu. And choose items you can actually make, guys. 1. Prep for your family. In-laws, grandparents, etc. Welcome them with open arms not kitchen knives. 2. Don’t stress, you’ve made it through. You successfully completed your undergrad. It’s time to have fun (before you’re slaving away in the workplace). 3. BLACK FRIDAY. Shop, drop and roll. Just a little tip to escape the masses. 4. Walk the line, people. You didn’t go through all this trouble to now walk up there and get your degree handed to you. 5. Get those gifts early. You don’t want to get caught up in the mob of last minute shoppers. 6. Live, love, laugh. It’s in the spirit of the holidays. Be glad you’re here to see another one. Farewell until next year.

Danielle DavisOffice Manager

Columbus State University|The Saber Rear End Nov. 20 2013 | 11

PB | Nov. 13, 2013 Rear End Columbus State University|The Saber

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