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CSU Theatre Struggles To Pay RENT
Students, faculty, and members of the community come out in hoards to see the show

Danielle Davis
Office Manager

Rent One of the major questions posed in Jonathan Larson’s RENT is, how do you measure a year? Larson suggests in his musical, RENT, which focuses on the lives of eight friends struggling with disease, poverty and oppression, that you should measure it in love.

And CSU Theatre’s portrayal of that was spot on. From beginning to end, the actors and actresses were able to keep the audience captivated with their execution of the heartfelt lines and not to mention their soaring musical numbers. There were even moments when the audience was so moved that it was brought to tears.

Although there was much sadness to be shared with the audience, there were also various moments of humor. The most shocking from actress, Jessica Hall, who portrayed HIV positive erotic dancer, Mimi, in that she briefly mooned the audience. Another remarkable aspect of the musical was Thomas Freeman’s portrayal of AIDS ridden drag queen, Angel. From prancing around in stiletto boots to doing a split in the middle of the stage, he did not disappoint on any level and garnished applause at several points during the play.

In addition to this, the dance moves as well as the vocals done in the musical number “Tango: Maureen” which featured Jacob Jones as Mark and Stephanie Earle as Joanne was also a highlight of the musical and received lots of applause from the audience. And the downright raunchiness of the musical number “La Vie Bohéme” which featured majority of the cast and ensemble was another instance in the play that the audience took pleasure in.

So hats off to the CSU Theatre for doing what they do best, putting on yet another unforgettable show. And as for Jacob, who we sat down with last week, he had this to say when asked how he felt after the show, “I think it went freaking amazing!” So don’t miss your chance to see RENT at the end of this week on Mar. 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown Riverside Theatre Complex.

Tough Issues in Sports: Free Agency
“As sports profits rise, athletes struggle to grab share

Brandon Short
Sports Editor

Over the last week, NFL stars have cashed in on their talents through a relatively controversial topic in American sports, free agency. While it does not seem controversial on the surface, allowing players to leave to another team once their contract expires, ask almost any owner, and they'll tell you they despise free agency, for a variety of reasons.

Free agency, especially in recent years, has led to overpaying for players due to bidding wars, decreased parity, and possibly player collusion.

Free agency follows the basic economic rule of supply and demand. If few players supply great talent, then demand for those few players goes up, and so does their asking price. As sports profits have soared dramatically, and teams are now worth billions (yes, with a b) of dollars, teams and owners should have no problem paying for players' salaries, right? Joe Flacco Not exactly. In an attempt by small-market teams to keep up, a salary cap is placed on every team in most major American sports, mainly to prevent the landscape from looking like European soccer, with a set number of rich, top squads every season. This limits the money teams are able to spend.

Without getting into league-specific intricacies, what we have is a system where players can leave their teams once they play out a contract, and can sign wherever they want, for however much they want, in most cases, as long as the team has room under the salary cap.

Looking at it that way, there doesn't seem to be much controversy. Free Agency looks like any regular job market.

Digging deeper is where you find the reason why owners absolutely hate the system. First of all, it makes it difficult to build a team tradition when your top players are leaving after three to four seasons. It gets even harder when you are one of those small-market franchises I mentioned earlier.

Think about it: if you could make more money, and get to go live in a large city with great media exposure, like LA, New York, or Chicago, wouldn't you? It doesn't matter about the adoring fans who follow you in Charlotte, Memphis, or Milwaukee. It is about getting exposure.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but as years go on, players spending their entire careers with one team is becoming a passing trend. This is because of impatience of players when trying to win championships. Players decide that it is quicker to try to join forces with other star players on other teams, than it is to try and build something where they are.

The last four years of the NBA show the impact of player-driven free agency on teams. It started in during the 2009-2010 season, where speculation surrounded Lebron James' impending free agency, specifically on whether he'd choose to stay with the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavs, or move to another large market team.

James graced national television to tell the world that he chose to sign with the Miami Heat. The impact left his Cavs devastated, and the team went from the best team in the NBA to the worst team in the Eastern Conference in one season.

Seeing the fallout from James' decision, star players who were in the last year of their contract, or "contract year", began to float speculation to their teams that they were thinking about leaving. Carmelo Anthony was the first example of this, as he actually demanded a trade, and even listed his destinations. Deron Williams and Dwight Howard have since used this strategy to get traded to better teams and bigger cities. Lebron James The logic is to use the Cavs as an example, and motivate teams to trade stars before their contracts run out, so they get something in return. Some players even restructure their contracts so that they make less money, but leave the team cap space to sign other good players.

While US sports' free agency may not be perfect, it is far superior to having no system at all, forcing players into infinite contracts until they retire. While the salary cap seems to hurt players by not allowing them to make the most money, it slightly balances out teams and keeps them from building teams of the best players in the league, like Europe. Until a better system is found, free agency will continue to work as it does, and teams just have to deal with it.

Swimsuits, Adventures, and Relaxation
“Flashbacks from the 2013 CSU Spring Break”

Angie Dowdell
Campus Life Editor

City scape
The Boardwalk in Shrevport, La. One of the many Spring Break 2013 destinations for CSU students.


Welcome back CSU students! Spring Break has come and gone and students are now embarking on the second half of their Spring Semester. With so much hard work ahead, it is a great thing that many students took advantage of the time on their breaks to recharge, relax, and, most importantly, have fun.

Tanya McClendonHaving a good time was number one for many students as they experienced their 2013 Spring Breaks. “I went Shreveport, Louisiana. I went to casinos. I also walked down the board walk and down the bayou,” says freshman business major Ashley Monhof who also enjoyed her exciting Spring Break.

Tanya McClendon, a junior majoring in criminal justice, elaborated on her eventful and enjoyable Spring Break saying, “I went to Myrtle Beach,[SC]. I walked the strip, went to a Mexican place called, South of the Border." McClendon also "rode a Ferris wheel, and visited the Ripley’s Believe it or Not House."

Stephen Cooper Although Stephen Cooper, who is a sophomore majoring in political science, did not have a Spring Break that was as eventful as McClendon’s, he explained that he enjoyed getting a lot accomplished saying, “I stayed on campus, did laundry, and worked out.” Mass media and communications major Denota Brister, who is a junior, explained that his Spring Break gave him a chance to do what many college students wanted to do saying, “I relaxed for the Spring Break.”
Leiland Arnholt Ashley Monhof Angie DowdellNot only did students get a chance to relax, but students like Leiland Arnhold, who is a Spanish major in her junior year explained that she got a chance to spend much needed time with those she loved saying, “I played video games and soccer with my family. They came up from Florida.”
Alex Asante While spending quality time with family is always great, some students decided to make bonds with students from other schools. “I went to UGA in Athens. I got to tour the campus and talk to other engineering students,” says sophomore Alex Asante.

Although, students spent their time over the break in many different ways, it can be concluded that the Spring Break was a time to relax, have fun, and get a lot accomplished. It is safe to say that the Spring Break of 2013 was a success.

Election Results
Congressional makeup, social and legal issues decided upon

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

This year’s election brought a second term to Barack Obama, but also had an impact on the congressional makeup, issues such as legality of marijuana and same-sex marriage in various states.

Senate Democrats gained seats, bringing the majority to 53 Democratic, 2 Independent and 45 Republican seats. The two independent Senators, re-elected Bernie Sanders of Vermont and newly elected Angus King of Maine, are expected to caucus with the democrats.

There are now 19 women in the Senate, the highest number ever. Claire McCaskill D-Missouri won re-election against controversial republican candidate Todd Akin. Democrat Elizabeth Warren won against incumbent Scott Brown in Massachusetts, a seat previously occupied by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy which went to Brown in a special election in 2010. In North Dakota, Democrat Heidi Heitkamp is the projected winner in a tight race against Republican Rick Berg, with a 3,000 vote difference. In another historic race, Wisconsin elected the first openly gay senator, Tammy Baldwin; she defeated Republican Tommy Thompson. Republican Deb Fischer defeated Democrat Bob Kerrey, previously occupied by retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

Democratic incumbent Sen. from Montana Jon Tester is expected to defeat Republican challenger Denny Rehberg. Democrat Joe Donnelly won Indiana seat over Republican Richard Mourdock. In Connecticut, Democrat Chris Murphy won against Linda McMahon. Virginia elected former democratic governor, Timothy Kaine, over the former Republican Sen. George Allen.

House Republicans retained the majority - 237 Republican and198 Democratic. Georgia Reps. Lynn Westmoreland and Sanford Bishop have been re-elected to their respective seats. Rep. Paul Ryan, Republican vice presidential candidate, retains his seat in Congress as well.

Several controversial referendums addressing same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana were up for a vote in several states. Maine, Maryland, Washington legalized gay marriage in those states, and Minnesotans voted against a proposal to ban same-sex marriage. These states may influence future Supreme Court cases involving the Defense of Marriage of Act.

Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use; while Oregon voters decided not to legalize it. Massachusetts approved a referendum on the use of medical marijuana. Though it will be legal in those states, marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
Barack Obama Re-Elected
Close election delivers another four years

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

Around 11:15 p.m. EST, most major television networks projected President Obama with enough electoral votes in order to win re-election. He was declared winner in various key states including Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, New Hampshire, Iowa and Nevada. Gov. Romney took North Carolina, which in 2008 went for Obama. The Electoral College requires 270 to attain the presidency; Obama is projected to have 303 to Romney to have 206 with Florida’s 29 electoral votes still to be determined.

Many political pundits and advisers such as former Bush Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, former lead strategist for Bill Clinton, stated the key factor in this close election rested with the demographics of the electorate. Data gathered from CNN exit polls based off of 26,565 respondents nationwide.

72 percent of the electorate are comprised of whites; 39 percent of whites voted for Obama, 59 percent Romney. African-Americans make up 13 percent of the electorate, and 93 percent voted for Obama, 6 percent Romney. The Hispanics/Latinos comprise 10 percent of overall electorate (the first time they have achieved double digits in a presidential election) and 71 percent voted for Obama, 27 percent for Romney. Asians make up 3 percent, 73 percent voted for Obama, 26 percent for Romney.

Gender played a significant role as well. With a majority of the electorate comprised of women, or about 53 percent; Obama won this group by 11 percentage points, 55 percent to Romney’s 44 percent. 52 percent of men voted for Romney.

The youth turnout, or the millennials, was higher by one percentage point from 2008; millennials comprised 19 percent of the electorate despite claims at the lack of enthusiasm among the 18-29 year olds. Obama won 60 percent of this vote down from 66 percent in 2008. 30-44 year olds, or 27 percent of the electorate, 52 percent voted for Obama, 45 percent for Romney. The largest age group was the 45-64 year old, the baby boomer generation comprised 38 percent of the electorate; 51 percent voted for Romney while 47 percent for Obama. 56 percent of 65 years or older voted for Romney.

Voter’s income showed a difference as well. According to the Census Bureau, the national median income is $50,054 as of September 2012. Those making $50,000 a year, making up about 41 percent of the electorate, 60 percent voted for Obama, 38 percent for Romney.

The demographics indicate some of the groups played a major role in deciding the election, especially in swing states like Ohio and Florida. As of 4:15 a.m. with 97 percent of precincts reporting in Florida, Obama leads Romney by a little over 46,000 votes out of 8.2 million votes. Georgia went to Romney; 53 percent to Obama’s 45 percent. As of 4:15 a.m. the overall popular vote – 57.8 million for Obama, 55.9 million for Romney.
NBA Preview:
2012-2013 Season

Brandon Short
Sports Editor

The NBA season is officially upon us. With the season beginning tonight, The Saber has a comprehensive season preview, complete with conference rankings and playoff predictions. Next to each team’s name is their Predicted Conference Rank (PCR), or where The Saber predicts them to finish in the regular season.

Larry O’Brien Trophy

Eastern Conference Finals – Miami Heat over Indiana Pacers in five games. The Pacers are the only team in the East that can come close to matching the Heat talent-wise. They’re also deeper. However, Miami’s smallball style will render Roy Hibbert relatively useless, so unless there’s a surge in skill from Paul George or Danny Granger, the Heat will get by.

Western Conference Finals – Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs in six games. The Lakers will mesh together at some point this season and most likely will beat the Spurs purely on talent. Once again, the Spurs will lose to a hungrier team in the Conference Finals. However, it will be a series of close games, and the Spurs could push this to seven, and even have a chance to win.

NBA Finals – Miami Heat beat Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games. The two most talented teams on paper in the NBA will likely square off in the Finals. The Heat have a few edges, notably that Kobe and Steve Nash may not hold up all season. Their biggest advantage is the fact that they have the personnel to play any kind of basketball. The Lakers also lack any one player that can guard Lebron James, and that will make the difference in the series.

Dwyane Wade and Lebron James

Eastern Conference/Southeast Division

1. Miami Heat (PCR: 1) – It’s a no-brainer that there’s a 99% chance that the Miami Heat will repeat as Southeast Division champs, and quite possibly NBA Champs if everything goes according to plan. This year they surround the Big 3 (Lebron, D. Wade, and Chris Bosh) with an array of 3-pt threats in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, in addition to Mike Miller and James Jones. With the Big 3 all in the middle of their primes, there’s no reason to count out the reigning champs.

2. Atlanta Hawks (PCR 6) – Even without Joe Johnson, the Hawks are still levels better than the other three teams in their division. However, the other teams in the East are still more powerful than Atlanta. The Hawks plan to rely on their own slew of 3-pt shooters, with Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow acquired through trades, and John Jenkins drafted out of Vandy. New GM Danny Ferry already sent away two of the worst contracts in the league in Johnson and Marvin Williams, giving Atlanta flexibility in Josh Smith’s contract negotiations this offseason.

3. Orlando Magic (PCR 13) – Orlando did their best Denver Nuggets impression, and traded their disgruntled superstar for an abundance of talent, a word I use lightly. Orlando will rely on former All-Star Jameer Nelson to take them back to the promised land. The Magic also are hoping for Hedo Turkoglu to return to his form during the Magic’s Finals run in 2009.Aaron Afflalo could become a breakout star for Orlando, something they truly need after sending away Dwight Howard.

4. Washington Wizards (PCR 14) – The Wizards are continuously getting better, but they just haven’t gotten good enough to move up in the East. The continued improvement of John Wall is refreshing to the franchise, and they hope 3rd-overall draft pick Bradley Beal out of Florida can exceed expectations and put this team ahead of schedule concerning development. A solid low-post combo of Nene and Emeka Okafor could surprise some teams in the East.

5. Charlotte Bobcats (PCR 15) – Last season, the Bobcats lost almost 90% of their games (a .106 winning percentage). They have to be better this year, right?...RIGHT??? Michael Jordan & Co. hopes that the team can turn it around with the help of 2nd-overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky. MKG will team with Kemba Walker and Ben Gordon to form some semblance of a Big 3 in Charlotte, but the Bobcats are far away from contention. They do, however, have some pretty awesome new uniforms.

Central Division

1. Indiana Pacers (PCR 2) – This year is the year that the Pacers end the Chicago reign over the Central Division. The team’s core of Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Paul George, and David West gets another year to play together. The question will be whether or not the Pacer bench can contribute to the team’s success. Indy has a very shallow set of reserves, highlighted by the Hansbrough brothers and Gerald Green. That’s a bench that just screams “We can’t keep a lead!”

2. Chicago Bulls (PCR 3) – From a shallow team with great starters to a deep team with average starters because their star is hurt, and will be out for most of the season. The Bull showed that they can win without D.Rose last season, to a point, gaining the best record in the East while Rose only played 39 of 62 games. This season the Bulls are worse, replacing Rose with Kirk Hinrich, a player who’s first stint with Chicago went so well that they drafted Rose to replace him, and Nate Robinson.

3. Milwaukee Bucks (PCR 9) – The Bucks are hoping that they can run teams out of the building AAU-style with a backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Having two volume shooters usually doesn’t work well unless you’ve got quality players on the rest of the team, which Milwaukee doesn’t have. Ersan Ilyasova improved dramatically last season, and could develop into a 3rd-option for the Bucks.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (PCR 11) – The Cavs are at least one year away from contending for the playoffs, but a return to the postseason is definitely in the short term future for Cleveland. Reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving gets some more help this season from 4th-overall pick Dion Waiters and rookie Tyler Zeller. These players could form a solid core as the Cavs look for veterans in the next few years to round out the team.

5. Detroit Pistons (PCR 12) – Detroit has some serious young talent in the way of Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe. However, more pieces have to be added to the puzzle if the Pistons want to get back to the glory years. Tayshaun Prince is the unquestioned leader of this team, but he’ll need to relinquish control to the young guns with the Pistons want to improve for the future.

Atlantic Division

1. Philadelphia 76ers ( PCR 4) – The 76ers made a splash by knocking out the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls in the playoffs last season, then followed it up by landing Andrew Bynum out of the Dwight Howard trade, sacrificing Andre Igoudala. Bynum will have the weight of the 76ers on his shoulders, but he does have help from an array of young talent like Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holliday, and Evan Turner. Also, Jason Richardson provides some veteran presence for the young team that is the most talented team in the Atlantic.

2. Boston Celtics (PCR 5) – The Celtics are officially in a transition, handing the reigns of the team from the soon-to-be-retiring now Big 2 to Rajon Rondo. The biggest problem is that Rondo still has some growing up to do before he can lead a team. Between chest bumping an official in the playoffs last season, to being accused of running Ray Allen out of town, Rondo has to mature a bit before leading Boston’s talented young up-and-comers. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry will be around to guide Rondo, and the rest of the squad.

3. Brooklyn Nets (PCR 7) – Joe Johnson will be able to return to the 2nd-option role in whih he flourished in Phoenix now that he’s playing with Deron Williams in Brooklyn, and that’s enough to push the Nets from 12th in the East to 7th in my book. Also, another year of experience for Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez, and Marshon Brooks helps the Nets tremendously. Now, if only they had some help designing better jerseys…

4. New York Knicks (PCR 8) – Speaking of better jerseys, the Knicks have eliminated the black out of theirs, going with a more old-school look. They Knicks also added some old-school talent, picking up Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, and Rasheed Wallace, the youngest of whom is a brisk 38. The aged talent, combined with a young core of Iman Shumpert, Steve Novak, oh and that Carmelo fellow, are good enough to keep the Knicks in playoff contention, as long as Amare Stoudemire doesn’t punch anymore fire extinguishers.

5. Toronto Raptors (PCR 10) – The Raptors are a decent enough team to make some noise in the East if everything goes according to plan. They plan to build around the young core of Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, and Ed Davis, as well as hoping that Andrea Bargnani finally lives up to his 1st-overall hype from 2006.

Western Conference/Southwest Division

1. San Antonio Spurs (PCR 1) – No matter what, the San Antonio Spurs are a regular season team, with the best record in the West in each of the last two seasons and three of the last four. With virtually the same roster as last season, there’s no reason to think that the Spurs won’t take the West again. The Lakers will take a while to gel, and the Thunder got worse. Continuity is a powerful principle in the NBA, and the Spurs will show that this season.

2. Memphis Grizzlies (PCR 6) – The Grizzlies didn’t get worse this year, the rest of the conference just got better. Another 4th place finish in the West is highly improbable, as the Griz lost sixth-man O.J. Mayo to the Mavs and lack a quality bench behind their great starters. The core of Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol will lead Memphis to a respectable record in a strong Western Conference.

3. Dallas Mavericks (PCR 10) – The Mavs have gotten consistently worse since their championship run in 2010. Dirk Nowitzki starts off the year injured, and could possibly start showing signs of his age. Behind Dirk, the roster is shaky, at best. Management tried to help the team by bringing in Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo, but they are useless without a bonfide star. Whether or not Nowitzki can still be that star is yet to be seen.

4. Houston Rockets (PCR 11) – Houston has made plenty of questionable moves this offseason, highlighted by paying $5 million a year to unproven youngsters Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. The Rockets played it safe and snatched James Harden away from the Thunder, and will offer him a maximum deal. With all that money tied into 2 potential stars and a former sixth-man, the Rockets must have a front office full of gambling men.

5. New Orleans Hornets (PCR 14) – Times are looking up for the Hornets, as they won the Anthony Davis lottery in the draft and kept the high-scoring Eric Gordon. 10th-overall pick Austin Rivers has all eyes on him to see if he can live up to the hype he generated at Duke. This young trio is what the Hornets hope to build around for the future. However, Gordon has shown discontent with NOLA in the past, and could become a problem in the locker room.

Kobe Bryant

Pacific Division

1. Los Angeles Lakers (PCR 2) – I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid…yet. While the Lakers reloaded for a title run with Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and Antawn Jamison, there are plenty of questions that surround the team. How will Kobe play now that he’s actually teamed with an All-Star point guard? Will Dwight Howard contract negotiations become a problem? Will Father Time hit Kobe (age 34), Jamison (36), and Nash (38) like a train? If the Lakers can work through these issues, they could unseat the Heat.

2. Los Angeles Clippers (PCR 4) – Lob City is still a step behind the Lakers, but not a big step. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin lead the talented team with a mix of young players and talented veterans. With all their weapons this season, plus Caron Butler and Lamar Odom, the Clips have a legitimate shot at the NBA Finals as long as they don’t run into their Staples Center roommates.

3. Sacramento Kings (PCR 8) – The Kings have been quietly building a powerhouse in Sacramento, and it’s going to get them back into the playoffs this season. With a core of Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, and Marcus Thornton, as well as numerous other high potential young studs, the Kings could play very, very well, or very, very poorly. I’m going with well.

4. Golden State Warriors (PCR 13) – The Warriors won’t be getting out of the bottom of the conference anytime soon, starting the year without Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry. David Lee will have to carry the load for Golden State’s rag-tag team of former college studs and journeymen vets until Bogut and Steph get healthy. Even then, the team needs a little bit more, especially in the defense department.

5. Phoenix Suns (PCR 15) – The Suns are the only roster that made me verbally say “what were they thinking?” After essentially giving Steve Nash away, they grabbed solid, but not star players like Goran Dragic, Luis Scola, and Michael Beasley, traded for Wesley Johnson, and for some God-forsaken reason, signed Jermaine O’Neal. Every player on the Suns look like they belong on the bench outside of Beasley, Scola, and Dragic, who will be expected to act as starts for this team. Scary.

Northwest Division

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (PCR 3) – The reigning Western Conference Champions made possibly the worst move of the offseason by trading James Harden and a few other players to Houston for Kevin Martin, rookie Jeremy Lamb, and draft picks. Durant and Westbrook can carry a team, but without a solid 3rd option, OKC will be hard-pressed to return to the NBA Finals. Also, Martin’s high-volume shooting and poor defense could disrupt OKC’s balance.

2. Denver Nuggets (PCR 5) – The Nuggets jumped into the Dwight Howard trade, grabbing Andre Igoudala for Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington. Now, with Iggy, Ty Lawson, and whichever of their seemingly endless young forward steps up, the Nuggets could make some noise in the West. I have my money on Kenneth Faried, the hard-hustling, physical player who finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (PCR 7) – They’ll go the first month of the season without star pair Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, but the T-wolves have enough depth to survive until the pair makes their returns in December. Minnesota also brings back some former stars in Andrei Kirilenko and Brandon Roy. Fun fact: in a league dominated by African-Americans, the Timberwolves only have four Black players, with most of their roster of European origin.

5. Utah Jazz (PCR 9) – Even though the Jazz were last season’s 8-seed, and bring back their core of players, replacing Devin Harris with Mo “Jumpshots” Williams and Marvin Williams will bring this team down and out of the postseason. A stellar effort from star bigmen Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap will be the only things that push Utah into the playoffs.

5. Portland Trailblazers (PCR 12) – The Blazers plan to build around forward LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the most underrated PFs in the game. Rookies Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard will make immediate impacts, but Portland is still very far off from contending in the packed Western Conference.
Schwob Ensemble Musical Reviews
CSU Percussion Ensemble

Samantha Rollins
Contributing Writer

Director Paul Vaillancourt and CSU Percussion worked together with guest artist Matthew Welch, bagpipe virtuoso, and Hannah Israel, Gallery Director for the Department of Art, to bring musical selections that were both mystifying and haunting to Legacy Hall this fall. Musical selections included artists such as Green, Goto, Welch, Richardson, Honeyman, MacNeill, MacLellean, and Rodriquez.

Each piece displayed a wide range of variety and difficulty. Every piece was demonstrated by individual students with the specific talent to handle each selection carefully; perhaps to highlight the student’s strengths as a percussionist. Highlights of the evening included, March: Lord Alexander Kennedy by J, Honeyman and El Dia de los Muertos by Robert Xavier Rodriquez. March: Lord Alexander Kennedy spotlighted guest artist Matthew Welch, in this iconic piece, widely known throughout the bagpipe community. Welch’s ability to take this common iconic song and develop it in his own playing style was phenomenal and interesting to hear. Accompanied by a simple snare drum this piece highlighted the percussionist ability to maintain a steady and constant pace while following a soloist.

El Dia de los Muertos was a haunting display about the day of the dead celebration. The entire auditorium was darkened as a video created by Hannah Israel was projected, accompanied with the chromatics sounded by the marimba and a spermatic chime of bells the song follows the projected images of haunted figures, people in celebration, and ghosts within grave yards. The piece ends abruptly leaving the audiences with an empty and unsatisfied conclusion, the chimes ringing through the rafters of the auditorium. CSU student Franco Martinez’s quote sums it up about this performance “It was completely mystifying and mysterious and I can’t wait to see what the Percussion Ensemble will do next.”
Schwob Ensemble Musical Reviews
A Choral Adventure: Spanning Time and Space

Samantha Rollins
Contributing Writer

Thursday October 18, 2012, under the director and conductor of Choral Activities at the Schwob School of Music, Constantina Tsolainou; accompanied by Janie Lee Bullock and Susan Hopkins presented in Legacy Hall, a night of choral adventures. Displaying a colorful array of musical beauty with group, solo, and a capella musical selections, it displayed effortless melodies with rhythmic and harmonic density. Works by Mechem, Sondheim, Massenet, Gordon, Wilberg, Strauss, Brahms, as well as several others seemed to be precisely organized to create the best cohesion and connection of text between selections, to create a comprehensive storyline.

“I was completely wrapped up in the story;” CSU student Phillip MacIntyre said. The production begins with an English song by Kirke Mechem. Papagageno and the Prince: Fairy Tale creates the opening atmosphere of a magical world with dragons and longing for true love. The production continues with Chanson a boire, a drinking French song by Maurice Ravel. The atmosphere deters from a happier mood with The Trees on the Mountain by Charlisle Floyd, explaining a world of loosing love and feelings loneliness through metaphors of the trees on the mountain. 
 Highlighted selections included Ritmo by Dan Davison and the closing selection, The Best of all Possible Worlds by Leonard Berstein. Ritmo, a Spanish song about stomping and dancing to life and singing together in liberation, were accompanied by two pianist and percussion by movements of the University Singers. The finale The Best of all Possible Worlds was truly a spectacular array of the talent and professionalism conceived by the Schwob School students. The University Singers directing themselves through this fast paced musical number, with acting and interaction between themselves and the audience made this production 
 “One of the best choral productions this school has ever seen,” says CSU student Alyssa Speicher. This production was truly a night of pure magic and imagination, never a dull moment, the audience was captured in its entirety. The performance truly deserved its standing ovation.

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Campus Life02/20/2013

NPACE Official Launch
CSU Comm. Dept. launches the non-profit Civic Engagement Center

Sarah Tinsley
World News Editor

The long-awaited day finally arrived on Thursday, Feb. 14. Students, professors, and local dignitaries, such as both Mayor Lowe of Phenix City and Mayor Tomlinson of Columbus, gathered at the corner of Broadway and 9th Street to participate in and celebrate the official launch of the CSU Communications Department’s Non-profit and Civic Engagement (NPACE) Center.

The festivities began at 10 a.m. with the Launch Ceremony that was comprised of numerous notable speakers, such as the Communications Department Chair Dr. Dana Gibson, the University President Dr. Timothy Mescon, the Dean of the College of the Arts Dr. Richard Baxter, Phenix City Mayor Honorable Eddie Lowe, and Columbus Mayor Honorable Teresa Tomlinson. The celebration continued until 3 p.m. with light refreshments and tours of the facilities. The entire day was broadcasted live on 1420 AM and 106.5 FM, hosted by the hosts of Friday Night Sports Focus, CSU seniors Maggie Reese and Josh Pate.

The purpose of the NPACE Center is to provide “a bridge connecting college students desiring to gain work experience while making a difference for local non-profit organizations in need of creative ways to overcome resource constraints to survive,” said CSU’s Communication Department. It will provide students with a hands-on experience in New Media Production via the radio and TV productions, numerous internship opportunities with the partnering non-profits, and confidence in their potential communications field. The Center is partnered with over forty local non-profit organizations that better our community. Senior Communications major Tyler Higgins spoke live on air the day of the launch, saying, “We’ve become a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are producing quality work here that is functioning on a professional level even though we are students.”

For further information or opportunities or to get involved, visit www.ColumbusState.edu/NPACE or the official NPACE Facebook page. Students of any degree and year who have an interest in a career in communications and new media, via either television or radio, are encouraged to become a part of the incredible opportunities that the NPACE Center provides. Senior Josh Pate states that “The NPACE Center has provided invaluable resources and unique opportunities, allowing me to pursue my professional goals while also earning my Communications degree.” He encourages students to get involved. “Don’t wait for your shop to come in; swim out to meet it.”
What’s Happening?
Upcoming Campus Events in Feb. between Feb. 20 and Feb. 28

Angie Dowdell
Campus Life Editor

Wednesday, Feb. 20
Nerd Night 6 p.m. Location-Davidson Student Center

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013
Delta Zeta Bake Sale, 11 a.m. This bake sale will be a fundraiser that will help the ladies of Delta Zeta raise money necessary for them to contribute further to both local and national philanthropies. These include Girls, Inc. locally, and the Painted Turtle Camp. Location- Clock Tower

Prayer Meeting, 11 a.m. Location – Davidson Student Center

Soup for Substance, 12:30 p.m. Join Diversity Programs & Services for lunch in the Columbus Room and learn more about diversity on our campus as they will be performing pieces that tell their stories. The audience will be able to experience cultural art and spoken word! Location – Davidson Student Center

SGA Representatives’ Meeting, 12:30 p.m. Location Davidson Student Center
African American Read-In, 2 p.m. Professional story teller LaDoris Bias-Davis will be the special guest at this event. CSU students, faculty, and staff will hear popular African American artists’ works. Students may sign up at the main library reference desk or may email Michelle Jones at jones_michelle@ColumbusState.edu. Location – Simon Schwob Memorial Library, 1st Floor Forum Area

SAC Hip Hop Forum, 7 p.m. Detailed discussion with fellow colleagues and students about how Hip Hop has changed over the last 20-25 years. Also, how it has affected our upcoming generation. Location- Davidson Student Center

Saturday, Feb. 23
Oxbow's Reading Club Oxbow's Reading Club, 11 a.m. These readings take place every Saturday. A one dollar donation earns a child a show and a membership card. Location- Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center

NCLEX Main campus, 7 a.m. According to the CSU website, CSU School of Nursing and Student Nurses Association would like to invite you to their annual NCLEX Bowl and Review at Columbus State University. On Feb. 23, they will begin the day with an interactive style NCLEX review, followed by lunch and culminating with the team NCLEX bowl. Teams can be comprised of 4-5 members. Prize packages will be awarded to the top 3 teams as well as prizes for the top faculty team. The cost per student will be $30 which includes entry for the review and the Bowl as well as lunch and commemorative t-shirt. Faculty will be $15/member to include entry to the Bowl and a distinctive faculty t-shirt. Early registration is due by Feb. 11, 2013. Entries the day of the event will be $20/faculty and $35/student. Location- Schuster Student Success Center

Science Olympiad, 7 a.m. Science Olympiad 2013 – Middle school students who are some of the best performing science students from their schools will compete in a once in a lifetime competition and will get a chance to earn trophies and medals. Location - Woodruff Gymnasium

Sunday, Feb. 24
Columbus Comic Book Show, 11 a.m. The Annual Columbus Comic Book Show and Toy Vendor's Costume Characters and more will be presented. Location- Coca-Cola Space Science Center (River Park Campus)

Monday, Feb. 25, 2013
Safe Spring Break Awareness Fair, 11 a.m. Location-Davidson Student Center

Tuesday, Feb. 26
Servant Leadership Hunger Banquet, 3 p.m. Location- Student Recreation Center

Dual Enrollment Discovery Night, 5 p.m. Location- Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center

Intermediate Professional Floral Design Class, 6 p.m. Continuing Education will offer the Intermediate Professional Floral Design course to those interested. Attendees will be able to expand their skill and versatility as floral designers. They will even learn new tricks and techniques that will take their floral arrangement techniques to the next level. The prerequisite to this class is “Introduction to Floral Design.” Materials will be provided. These sessions will end on Feb. 26. Location-Turner Center Continuing Education

RHA Movie Night, 9 p.m. Students will be presented with a free movie, “American Violet.” Location-Courtyard I Clubhouse

Freakout HIV Screening, 7 p.m. Location- Davidson Student Center

Girl's Life Group, 7 pm. Location- Davidson Student Center

The Voice: Karaoke Night, 7 p.m. Location- Davidson Student Center

Wednesday, Feb. 27
Co-ed Life Groups 1 p.m. Location- Davidson Student Center

Safe Spring Break 1:30 p.m. Location- Davidson Student Center

Thursday, Feb. 28
Spring Semester Midterms, All Day

National Collegiate Day of Prayer, 12 p.m. Location- Clock Tower

SGA Forum, 12:30 p.m. Location- Student Recreation Center

Empowered Youth of Columbus Presents: The Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly, 2:30 p.m. Location-University Hall Auditorium

Shooting HDSLR Video, 6 p.m. According to the CSU website, CSU students are invited to come and learn to get the most out of their cameras. If you own a DSLR capable of capturing HD video, you can capture memories instead of moments. In this photography class, offered through CSU's Continuing Education, explore techniques for shooting video, stabilizing the shot and lighting and white balance. We will discuss shutter speed and frame rates and its effect on video, recording sound effectively, accessories for your camera and much more. Video editing is not covered in this course. Prerequisite: Photography Fundamentals I. Please call Continuing Education at 706-507-8070 to register. Location - Rankin Building (River Park Campus)

Zeta Phi Beta Open Mic Night, 6 p.m. Students are encouraged to join the ladies of the Kaptivating Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for a fun night of poetry and music. Location-Student Recreation Center

Black History Family Feud, 6:30 p.m. Come join Residence Life and see how much you know about Black History. Location - Davidson Student Center

SYE Game Night, 7:30 p.m. Co-sponsored with Residence Life: Sophomore Year Experience. Location-Multipurpose Room

CSU Students Make an Appointment with the Dating Doctor
SAC hosts “Healthy Relationships with David Coleman”

Angie Dowdell
Campus Life Editor

On Wednesday, Feb. 13, CSU’s SAC hosted an event entitled “Healthy Relationships with David Coleman.” Many students came out to prepare for Valentine’s Day and to get relationship advice from a man known to many across the nation as the go to “Dating Doctor.” He led students in a night filled with music, fun, speed dating, and of course, constant entertainment.

Coleman, “The Dating Doctor,” has made over 2,500 appearances in America, including those on CNN, Fox, and Access Hollywood. He has spoken to more than two million people. He has been featured in many publications, including The USA Today, People, Women’s World, Us Magazine, Glamour, Celebrity Living, Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and New York Times.

Coleman has been named National Speaker of the Year 13 times and 10 times by the Campus Activities Magazine. He was the winner of the 2011 Reader’s Choice Award, and the America’s Best Campus Artist Award for 2011.

From the very first moment that Coleman opened his mouth to speak, students were able to see just why he is so successful at what he does. His presentation of his platform entitled “Making Relationships Matter!” was filled with wit, charisma, and humor that was relatable to the eclectic audience that was present. Those in attendance that night learned how to create and maintain healthy relationships.

An example of the advice that Coleman offered students was related to the control aspect in the dynamic of relationships: “If your significant other believes in their heart that you have the capacity to walk away from them and never look back, if you are mistreated or disrespected, they will think twice about doing so. If they treat you poorly and you work even harder to keep them, you have given them all the more motivation they need to keep [doing] so.”

These types of truths, though brutal, were accepted with open arms by students in attendance. This is because they were filled with humor. For instance, when Coleman stated, “If you wouldn’t want to date yourself, how could you expect someone else to want to date you? You will not find the right person until you become the right person,” a ripple of laughter went through the room as people nodded their heads in reluctant agreement. This type of atmosphere was the theme of the event. “Part of the goal of this program is to help you all reach the next level of your social evolution, so to speak,” said Coleman. One could say that is just what this event accomplished for many students, as students laughed the night away.

Those who missed this event should not be dismayed. Students have the option of finding out more about Coleman’s future appearances and products from his website, datingdoctor.com. Also, there are many more SAC events to come this semester. To find out when those events are, students may visit the SAC section of the school website, events, or contact the office via phone at 706-568-2404, or check the event listings on Facebook (SAC CSU) or Twitter (@ CSUSAC). They may also visit the SAC office in Davidson 268. Students may contact the committee volunteer to present an interest in collaborating with SAC for future events, or to offer ideas about events.

Would You Jump with Your Valentine?
Courtyard I presents “Jumping the Broom” for Homecoming Week Movie Night

Ngozi Eme-Akwari
Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., CSU’s Resident Housing Association co-sponsored a movie night for homecoming week. This event took place at the Courtyard I Clubhouse. It also happened to be the perfect Valentines date to take that special someone for those who were on low budgets. Court Yard I gave the freshmen and few upper classmen a treat as they all sat around as singles and couples watching the one and only Jumping the Broom.

This movie, starring Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Tasha Smith, and Meagan Good, was about two lovers who found each other in the big city. As the female lead, Sabrina Watson, was applying makeup and praying to God that He would make obvious who He wanted her to be with, she ran into the male lead, Jason Taylor, with her car.

What starts off as an innocent, yet incredible, five-month relationship soon turns into a wedding fiasco as the in-laws get involved in the love affair of Jason and Sabrina. Jumping the Broom not only left audiences at the edges of their seats, but also gave those “hopeless romantics” another spark of hope that their perfect someone is out there, despite all odds.

Critics say the movie combines “tried-and-true oil-water” class tensions with challenges of modern romance and conflicts between families from opposite ends of the spectrum. It is the perfect movie to see if you want to laugh, listen to Bruno Mars’ “I Wanna Marry You,” or if you want to see a married couple climb out of the ashes of a possible “could have been divorce.” Lastly, if you are seeking advice on how to tell your niece that she is really your daughter, this is the movie for you. Take someone to go see Jumping the Broom, which is now out on DVD.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson Visits CSU
Public Heroes hosts discussion with the mayor on public service and leadership

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson visited CSU on Feb. 13 to speak to students about the meaning of public service and leadership. In the open discussion, Mayor Tomlinson answered questions in depth, drawing from her experiences as a high stakes complex litigator in Atlanta for over 16 years to working at our nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C., as well as her tenure as current mayor of Columbus.

The talk focused on her experiences as an elected official and the leadership involved with it, including standing up and having the courage to prevent or right injustices experienced by those who are unable due to lack of education or access to defend or speak for their interests. “Even if you are shy or timid, leadership is the innate sense and ability to step into the fray even if it means going up against all odds,” Mayor Tomlinson said. “You don’t have to be a CEO, general, or president of an organization to be a leader in righting wrongs. There is not just one journey to becoming a leader.”

When speaking on her experience as a young lawyer, she addressed the concern that the youth is often overlooked due to perceived naiveté “when you’re inexperienced you have the agility of mind, unencumbered by experience.”

Often public officials and those in leadership positions deal with mistakes that cause problems, and in this case, Mayor Tomlinson said, “Correcting a conduct after realizing you’ve made a mistake is vitally important because people will trust you. Covering up never works and someone will eventually find out, and you’ve lost trust.”

Trust is important to the role of a public servant, and people trust those who work hardest and are consistent in work ethic. She also stated that “Some people run for office for the power and title, but if someone does that they’re already in the wrong. It should be about serving the people.”

LT Robert Perez, Public Heroes President and MPA student said, “The mayor came to speak with us because we wanted to know about the nitty-gritty details about the life of a public official and the leadership it takes to be effective in that capacity. Mayor Tomlinson did exactly that, and we are extremely thankful to her for coming.”

Public Heroes is a community and public service-based organization formed in the fall of 2012 that encourages students to get involved with volunteer or public service. The members of this organization have volunteered for organizations, events, and schools around Columbus, including Paws and Claws, Breast Cancer Awareness Run, Gift Wrapping for Soldiers, Families in Need, and have provided tutoring for struggling students at Blackmon Middle School. For more information, visit the Columbus State University Public Heroes page on Facebook or contact Faculty Advisor Prof. Nicholas Easton (easton_nicholas@columbusstate.edu).

Saber Presents…This Week in History
Black History Month facts revealed part two

Brandi Phillips
Contributing Writer

The Civil Rights Movement was led by many great political and social African American activists who paved the way for many rights and freedoms to be accessible to the upcoming generations. During grade school, many of us were presented with limited knowledge about many of the great achievements made by some of these activists. The Saber is going to share with you a This Week in History timeline to include events and African Americans that are rarely mentioned:
February 17, 1942: On this day, civil rights activist Huey P. Newton was born in Monroe, Louisiana. Newton would go on to become a co-founder of the controversial Black Panther Party, a paramilitary political organization that aimed to create social programs for blacks stifled by racial discrimination. Newton would be a central figure of the black power movement of the 1960s.
Source: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/02/17/this-day-in-black-history-feb-17-1942.html

February 18, 2006: Shani Davis became the first African America to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history. He captured the men's 1,000-meter speed skating race in Turin, Italy.
Source: http://blackhistorydaily.com/black_history/shani_davis_gold_medal.html

February 19, 2002: Vonetta Flowers became the first African American woman to win a Gold Medal in any Winter Olympic sport. She was also the first American woman to win a gold medal in bobsleigh. Flowers won the gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City, Utah.
Source: http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/womenenc/flowers.htm

February 20, 1988: This marks the death of Frederick Douglass at the age of 78. Douglass was the leading black spokesman for almost fifty years. He was a major abolitionist, a lecturer, and an editor. He became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti. Frederick Douglass died on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1895, at his home in Washington, DC.
Sources: http://www.floridablackhistory.com/facts.cfm ; http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html

Sports02/20/2013

Tough Issues in Sports: Gambling
The Saber examines gambling's influence on professional sports

Brandon Short
Sports Editor

Professional sporting competitions were created to determine a winner in a controlled environment, where the outcome is decided by the competitors. Sometimes, however, outcomes are determined by things outside the control of all competitors.

A variety of external factors can impact a sporting event. Sometimes, it's a blown call from an official. Other times, it's a poor decision by a player. After Super Bowl XVII, Baltimore Ravens fans may believe that power outages fall into this category as well.

These missteps are usually attributed to slipups or mental errors. However, there are numerous instances in which these cases are documented evidence that an extra incentive caused the errors: monetary gain.

Gambling has had a terrible influence on professional sports, and it was brought to light just how much of an influence after a Europol report showed that over 600 soccer matches all over the world were fixed by a Singapore crime syndicate. Games from lower division matches to World Cup qualifiers and Champions League knockout stage matches.

If you're wondering how it is to fix a match, let me break it down like this. Say you're a referee or star player. Someone shady comes up to you and offers you a large sum of money, at least double your pay for working or playing the match, to call the match tight against one team or another, or to miss a shot or two. Something as simple as passing the ball out of bounds on a pivotal fast break, or choosing not to blow the whistle on an offsides call that leads to a goal. Essentially, you're being paid double (or triple, or quadruple) to make a mistake, in addition to what you usually get paid. This is the thought process that goes on in a match participant's head when they're approached.

Match fixing is not a phenomenon exclusive to soccer. An early American example of match fixing and gambling was the point shaving scandal involving the City College of New York in 1950. Players from CCNY, as well as six other universities, conspired to fix the outcome of matches by intentionally driving the score up or down, depending on whether or not the mission was to cover the point spread.

Sometimes, it's not always an external source that causes the fixing. A noted example of game fixing in America is NBA referee Tim Donaghy's involvement in gambling on games that he officiated. It was found that Donaghy sought to pay off a debt to the mob by fixing NBA games between 2005 and 2007.

Donaghy is not the only NBA ref that fixed games. According to Donaghy, several playoff series may have been fixed to allow for more games in the series to increase drama. One notable example is the 2001 Western Conference Finals between the LA Lakers and Sacramento Kings. It has long been suspected that some games of that series, specifically Game 6, were fixed to push for a longer series between two noted rivals. A statistic pointed to the 40 free throws taken by the Lakers, including 27 in the fourth quarter alone, as well as missed foul calls against the Lakers. Donaghy noted that two of the refs in that game were seen as "company guys," or referees who sometimes set morals aside if it was seen as good for the NBA.

Gambling and match fixing has been seen as one of the biggest issues in the face of the integrity of sport. Not only has gambling wreaked havoc on professional and college sports, but there was even an instance of youth football coaches in South Florida conspicuously and blatantly betting and trading money on games that they coached, during those games.

While the easy way to stop rampant sports betting and match fixing is to push for criminalization of sports betting, it's not as easy as it sounds, especially when so much of sports betting has become digital. The ability to handle all sports betting over a website has allowed sports books to move to countries such as the Philippines, where there is little to no regulatory oversight.

With gambling moving with society into the digital age, and gambling infiltrating down all the way to youth sports, combined with the ease of fixing matches for financial gain, the outlook seems dismal for the future of sports integrity.

Basketball: Cougars, Lady Cougars Sweep Homecoming Games
Wins bolster the fight for postseason position in PBC Tourney

Brandon Short
Sports Editor

The CSU men's basketball team saved their season and tried to claim a spot in the Peach Belt Tournament that will be hosted at the Lumpkin Center, while the Lady Cougars claimed a spot in the PBC Tournament. Both squads claimed victory over the Georgia College Bobcats, ending CSU's Homecoming Week on the highest note possible.

Before a rowdy Lumpkin Center crowd that topped out at 1,132 attendees, Kiersten Reid and Marina DeFoor led the Lady Cougars to victory behind a barrage of three-pointers, going a combined 9-for-14 from downtown. Reid led the team with 17 points, followed by DeFoor's 12 in a 70-60 win over Georgia College.

The Lady Cougars benefited from GC's poor performance from the free throw line, as the Bobcats shot only 51.9% at the charity stripe. Turnovers also did the Bobcats in, as the Lady Cougars forced 19 turnovers.

The men's team kept the momentum going, winning 72-69 over GC. Rory Miller and BJ Battle led the Cougars in scoring of the bench with 18 and 16 points each, respectively. Jermaine Morgan also contributed 12 points and eight boards, leading the team in rebounds in the victory. Ball movement was a key factor in the Cougar's win, led by Jahmad Saleem's seven assists.

The wins were key in helping CSU's postseason push. The Lady Cougars, who are now 11-6 in conference play, clinched a spot in the PBC Tournament. The Lady Cougar's strong record has been a product of their recent run of great form. The victory over GC was their fourth in a row, and seventh out of their last eight.

The men's team was able to keep their postseason hopes alive, as they sit a game behind Georgia Southwestern and Clayton State. Both teams hope to take their Homecoming Week momentum with them on the road to Young Harris this Saturday, as the men continue to fight for their season.

World News02/20/2013

North Korea Nuclear Test
Rogue state conducts subterranean test near China

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

Much to the dismay of world leaders and the United States, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted an underground nuclear test about 60 miles from the border with China on Feb. 12. The test’s estimated yield was 6-7 kilotons; in comparison, Hiroshima’s had explosive energy of about 16 kilotons.

This is the North’s third experimental test with nuclear bombs, the others occurring unannounced as well in 2006 and 2009. The DPRK refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty of 1996, which, if enforced, would ban all forms of nuclear testing for civilian and military use. The test will no doubt bring a unanimous Security Council resolution, further setting up more economic and military sanctions, as was the case in 2009 and 2006.

North Korea’s ally and largest contributor to food supplies in the North, China, has condemned the testing. In the past and for short periods of time, China held back its food aid. The United States has not given food aid to North Korea since the 2009 test.

The country has struggled with issues such as food shortages since the 1990s, causing massive malnutrition. However, despite the problems, it maintains one of the world’s largest standing active militaries with a force of 1.1 million active duty personnel. Congressional reports indicate that the North may be diverting food aid for its military force and also selling to private markets. Since 1995, the international community has donated over 15 million metric tons of food to North Korea.

The Center for American Progress speculates that the North’s new leader, Kim Jong-Un, son of the late dictator Kim Jong-Il, may be sending a tough message to South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye, who takes office on Feb. 25. President-elect Geun-hye said in statement, “North Korea’s nuclear test is a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula and international peace, hampers inter-Korean trust-building, and undermines efforts for peace.”

In response to the greater aggression by the DPRK, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considers taking Japan’s military beyond strictly self-defense purposes, a position deviating from the country’s post second world war pacifism.

Tensions on the peninsula and surrounding areas remain high. The DPRK plans on conducting three more detonations this year.

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns
First Holy Father to vacate the papacy in 600 years

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

In a surprise announcement for over one billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, effective Feb. 28—the first abdication in over 600 years and the first voluntarily in nearly 800 years. Former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected in papal conclave in April 2005, following the death of predecessor Pope John Paul II and donned the name Benedict XVI.

The Pontiff announced this before Ash Wednesday, a major religious period in the Western Christian sects, including Catholicism. Benedict said in a Latin address, “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”

He further stated that he made this decision months ago after his trip to Cuba and Mexico, where he suffered a blow to the head after a fall, and a mere three months after he had surgery to replace the batteries on his pacemaker. The Pontiff is expected to retire in quiet, “hidden from the world.”

Upon the resignation, the College of Cardinals are expected to enter into papal conclave and vote for a new Pontiff, usually from the Cardinal ranks. Several papabile, or favourites for the position, have been identified, including charismatic American Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Other strong Cardinals candidates are: Italian Gianfranco Ravasi, Ghanaian Peter Turkson, Austrian ChristophSchoenborn and Philippine Luis Tagle.

Arts and Entertainment02/20/2013

The College Kitchen
It’s Homecoming Week and you have nothing for that party. What to do?!

Hannah Davis
Arts and Entertainment Editor

Welcome, my friends, to yet another chapter in my fight against overly fattening yet too delicious foods. Ever since I was little, I have consumed mass quantities of hot wings. Hot, mild, teriyaki, even lemon pepper (which are surprisingly good). Now that I’m in college, my rather sad paycheck seems to be devoted more and more to the satisfaction of fatty food cravings, the chief of which being the dreaded hot wing. But I love them. I just can’t help myself, and darn it if it’s not the same for someone else out there. So this is to all my hot sauce junkies: Buffalo Cauliflower.

Buffalo Cauliflower

    Materials Needed:
  • -large cookie sheet
  • -spatula
  • -large kitchen knife
  • -sturdy cutting board
  • -small bowl
  • -large bowl


    Ingredients Needed:
  • -1 head of cauliflower
  • -1 cup buttermilk (the secret ingredient)
  • -1 cup all-purpose flour
  • -2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • -1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted


1. Preheat oven to 450º.

2. Cut cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, about one inch.
-I hate to admit this, but cutting cauliflower scares me silly. The thought of slicing up a rotund, slippery vegetable is not my idea of a good time. So I cheat. After you get rid of all the leafy green things and rinse that sucker off, just cut the whole thing in half. It gives a sturdy side to cut on and less room for error. Plus, the use of a cutting board eases the stress on your counter top.

3. In the bowl, whisk together buttermilk, flour, and garlic salt. It’ll look smooth and kinda gloopy.

4. Place the cauliflower in the bowl and toss to cover each piece.
-It is essential to note that the bowl is large enough for the cauliflower and the mixture or you’re going to have a rather unpleasant mess on your hands. And tossing does not mean anything as vigorous as it sounds. Think tossing a salad. Small, gentle movements should do the trick.

5. Spread the now coated cauliflower onto the cookie sheet. Make sure it’s even or some areas may cook faster than others. Cook for 15-18 minutes, checking it regularly.

6. Combine buffalo sauce and melted butter in the small bowl.
7. Remove the cooked cauliflower and pour sauce over it. Using your spatula, try to evenly coat each piece. It can be a little tricky but the scoop and flip method worked pretty well for me.
8. Return the cauliflower back to the oven for another 5-8 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and let cool. Serve immediately.

And that’s it! These smell delicious and can be eaten in mass quantities without so much of the guilt. Serve as you would hot wings: celery, blue cheese, ranch, the works. Better yet, you can make as much of this as you want! Requests and comments are welcome at CSUSaberArts@gmail.com. Happy cooking!!!!

College, Love, and a Pen
The guide to dating as a college student in the twenty-first century

Franchesca Renfroe
Staff writer

Dear Franchesca,

I am in a long distance relationship with a wonderful man. We were seeing each other for a year before we had to separate. He is 3,000 miles away from me now. We Skype, talk, and text all the time. I know deep down that he is the one for me, but this distance is killing me. How am I supposed to get through this?

Sincerely,
Long-Distance-Love

Long distance relationships are very precious. They take time, dedication, and, most importantly, patience. Some people would say that a long distance relationship is impossible, but it’s not. It takes work, but it isn’t impossible. You love this man? He makes your world a happier place and your dreams come true? Then fight for that relationship. In this day and age, people (especially in college) tend to give up on a pursuing longevity in a relationship when things get difficult. There is also the stigma that while you’re in college you cannot possibly find the person you can grow old with. It’s just college, right? Wrong. You’re growing up here. You’re learning what it’s like being on your own. You’re learning how to live. Isn’t love a part of life?

It gets hard when you see your friends out with their boyfriends and your boyfriend is far away. I can understand that. Just keep in mind the end results. Try to plan at least two trips a year where you all can visit each other. Either he can come to you or you can go to him. Plan weekly Skype dates. Make sure to keep the interaction alive. This can work, and I believe you have what it takes to make it work! Just remember patience! Don’t kill your relationship for temporary fixes. It will be worth the wait once you are standing face-to-face!

If you have any questions or comments about love, dating, or relationships, feel free to email: collegeloveandapen@gmail.com.

OMG! LOL, IDK? IKR!
From AOL chat rooms to iPhones

Jackie Frankovich
Staff Writer

Texting lingo. We’ve all used or seen it used at some point in our lives. And sure, that’s fine if you’re using a dinosaur key pad or flip phone—we understand the difficulty of punching in each letter. It’s frustrating. For heaven’s sake, however, keep that to informal texts or online message boards, not in official emails to professors or prospective employers or research papers. You read that right. I overlooked a paper once that was being passed up front to the professor, and just reading the first line I wanted to intellectually vomit. This student decided to substitute the word “to” for the numeral “2.” I can only imagine the horror awaiting the unsuspecting educator in the rest of the paper.

English is either evolving into an efficient language used by the layman or devolving into caveman grunts and syllables. Now, I find myself infected with this as well. The other day I used “IDK” in a sentence. I couldn’t help it.

Monkey see, monkey hear, monkey do.

But I can’t complain too much. After all, it was my proud eighties generation that invented this abbreviated English in the 90s—the good old times with dial up computers, AOL Instant Messenger and chat rooms. We started LOL, BRB, BTW and TTYL, and used all sorts of emoticons to convey the message or emotion. But the stuff they’re coming out with these days boggles the mind.

GM - Good Morning, IKR – I know right, B4N – Bye for now, ESAD – Eat stuff and die, MYOB – Mind your business, ONNTA – Oh no not this again, FOMC – Fell off my chair, SMH – Shaking my head, RAEBNC – Read and enjoyed but no comment, YABA – yet another bloody acronym, WOD – workout of the day.

Acronyms are the essential part of understanding within the Crossfit, or CF, community. I downloaded an iPhone application for CF workout ideas and the entire thing was written in acronyms. And I thought FML – Fudge* my life. Not only was the entire application in acronyms, the workouts had comments sections including this little shocker: “Michael was so hard yesterday.” Little did I know, Michael is a workout named after Navy Lieutenant Michael McGreevy killed in Afghanistan, to honor his sacrifice.

As if cryptologically-encoded workout phone applications aren’t bad enough, there are further variations of the modified language that put conservative texters like myself in quite the quandary. The well-known and often-used LOL now has abominations floating around: LAWLZ. Why would you do that? It doesn’t even have a translation. It’s just a savage mutation of the classic LOL.

My head has officially exploded. TAF! – That’s all, folks!

The Saber Travels: Spring Break Destinations, Part One
Panama City Beach, Florida

Patrick Hearn
Staff Writer

Distance from Columbus: 189 miles. Best Route: AL-1 S and FL-75S

You knew it was coming. Spring Break isn't Spring Break unless it includes Panama City Beach, and this is no different. From its fame, born from cop shows featuring rowdy college students to MTV's annual beach bash, Panama City Beach has earned quite the reputation as a party spot. For good reason, too; students flock from all over the country to drink and be merry in a place more famous for its idea than for its actual beaches.

However, there is good to be had at PCB. St. Andrews State Recreation area isn't far away, and provides much less crowding at the beaches as well as chances to interact with wildlife (you know, like animals. Not drunken frat boys.) The Shipwreck Island Water Park provides another escape from the beach and gives a more thrilling adventure – and bigger waves – than simply walking into the ocean might. Numerous golf courses dot the area, as well as museums and zoos. The area offers much for all kinds of visitors, even if partying isn't their main agenda.

That said, the party is a major part of the area. The clubs and merchandise stores that line the main strip are testament enough of this; however, it can be fun. The Spring Break parties are truly epic, and occasionally garner the attention of minor celebrities, such as Jersey Shore's “The Situation.” For the more comedic-minded, hordes of 'woo girls' migrate from club to club, looking for the perfect party spot to get their jam on. This can normally be identified by the high-pitched 'woo!' coming through the walls, in addition to the brightly colored beverages spilled around the area.

All joking aside, there are many things to do in Panama City Beach and the surrounding area, and during Spring Break, it offers the chance to meet many people from all over the country. Go out, have fun, and make some new friends – and look for next week's Saber for Spring Break Destinations, Part Two.

Jermaine Morgan: From the Hard Streets to the Hardwood Morgan reveals trials and tribulations, his changed ways, and where he stands today Brandi Phillips Contributing Writer 02/20/2013
Sports
Jermaine Morgan, a senior majoring in Criminal Justice, never thought he would be here as a student playing basketball and raising his five year old son. This is because he was raised by a single mother and was influenced by his peers at the age of 16 to sell drugs. After numerous charges and highway chases, Morgan received a rude awakening when he witnessed his brother and his best friend get murdered. Morgan knew he had to turn his life around for himself and for his mother’s sake. After obtaining his G.E.D., Morgan made a promising deal and flipped his damaged reputation into a positive one by using his athleticism to get granted a basketball scholarship from Columbus State. He also changed by writing, publishing, and selling his own autobiography at the beginning of the year, entitled Destiny Child.

Let’s go back not even ten years ago. Morgan, a Columbus native, was like any other troublesome teenager: living the fast life, selling drugs, and not attending school. He was on the basketball team at Jordan High School, but did not use his full potential because he dropped out in 2006 to serve the streets. Now let’s fast forward to this year: Morgan truly has become a “Destiny’s Child,” rising from the gritty sleepless battles of the streets to the successful star basketball player on campus and a role model in the community.

You may have seen him on WTVM talking about his accomplishments, or you may have read about his story on the front page of the Ledger-Enquirer. After hearing about this amazing, yet breathtaking, story, I had no choice but to salute the star and interview him myself. For the first time, our very own Saber had a one-on-one with Morgan and asked him different questions from the media. Starting on his book about a year ago, Morgan states, “The reason why I wrote the book was for me to get out the lifestyle and tell people my story and display it to the world. There are some people out there who are living my previous lifestyle, and I want to let them know that it is OK to be vulnerable. In order for other people to get out that lifestyle, I wanted to display it to others. I wanted to be that guy to display it to the world. What God has done for me, he can do that for you.”

Morgan has received a proclamation from the mayor of Columbus, Teresa Tomlinson, congratulating him on his achievements and on the publication of Destiny Child. I asked Morgan, “In current time, people are more into music for motivation. Do you think your book could get people to go back to reading for motivation?” Morgan replied, “My story became a popular story throughout the city because it is relatable. I am not trying to sound like a superhero, but it has made a positive impact in the community and I plan on writing more books in the future.” Upon graduating from Columbus State, Morgan plans to continue raising his son, go back to school for his PhD in Criminal Justice, and put his book on more shelves in due time. If you would like to purchase Destiny Child, go to www.destinychildbook.com and you can also read Morgan’s inspirational story that is the talk in Columbus.