“The ironic part about this is she had the money in her purse to pay for the stuff she had.” -Jasper Cooke

Student shoplifters may think there will be no repercussion when they go to snatch that bag of Cheetos, but a student was caught on camera March 5 stealing food from the Allgood Hall Café.

The employees at the café suspected a student of repeatedly stealing pre-packaged food. Allison Strong, an employee at the Allgood Hall Café, said employees saw the student “milling around” for a long time and then leaving without purchasing anything.  When the student came to the café a second time, the employee notified Strong it was the same girl.  They called Maureen Foster, the general manger of Dining Services, and she told them to call public safety immediately.

Jasper Cooke, director of public safety, said the employees did not see the student physically stealing anything, so officers would have to review footage from the security cameras in the café.

“We basically were able to confirm their suspicions on the tape,” he said. “In this particular case, she did it right in front of one (of) our cameras.”

Cooke said the following day, officers came, “rounded her up” between classes and took her to public safety,  where she confessed to stealing the food.

“The ironic part about this is she had the money in her purse to pay for the stuff she had,” Cooke said. “She knew right from wrong.”

It was up to Dining Services whether it would prosecute, but going beyond the consequences for the student, shoplifting affects the student body as a whole. Cooke said in retail situations there’s always going to be shrinkage due to theft.

“I’ve never really put a dollar value on it,” Foster said. “I would say probably, on a daily basis, we lose, from theft, at least $20. That’s when the prices have to go up. That’s typical everywhere you go. People are stealing from Wal-Mart everyday, and Wal-Mart’s prices go up because they have to make up for the difference.”

More instances of shoplifting usually occur in the cafeteria in the Jaguar Student Activities Center because of its large size and the openness of it, making it easier to steal, especially during the busy lunch hours between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to Foster.

“A zoo does not even adequately describe (the cafeteria) sometimes,” Cooke said.

To combat against this problem, Foster put up signs two years ago, when she first arrived at Augusta State University, letting students know there are security cameras in the JSAC cafeteria and the Allgood Hall Café.  She said she believed it helped alleviate the problem.

“When I first got here, I think (shoplifting) was really bad,” Foster said. “They’ve had these cameras in here the whole time, but I don’t think anyone ever let the students know they were being videotaped. So once we posted the signs that say they are under video surveillance, I think that cut back quite a bit.”

Cooke said he was a little more skeptical about the signs’ effectiveness as a deterrent.

“When the signs weren’t put up versus now that the signs are up, I don’t see any real difference,” he said. “To the folks that are going to do that, that’s just another challenge.”

So, in addition to the security cameras, Foster said a bigger staff presence often cuts down instances of shoplifting.

“Really I just have a lot more bodies on the floor, especially during our busy times,” she said. “We have key people standing in different places, just watching things, and it definitely helps. People aren’t as bold to take something if they know folks are standing there watching.”

Cooke said most of the instances of theft on campus are committed by people who are not part of the Augusta State community. He cited an incident of theft from a couple of years ago.

“In the last couple (of incidents) we’ve had, we had people in the JSAC who got their food and just walked out with their food in the boxes,” he said. “A couple of them weren’t even students. They just took advantage of the busy time. One guy, we chased him all over campus. He ended up going into a classroom in the science building while class was in session.”

But, in the small classroom environment of Augusta State, Cooke said he was not able to blend in.

“(The) professor asked him what he was doing,” he said. “He didn’t have an answer, and then she saw one of the police officers walk down the hallway through the door. She walked to the door and said ‘he’s in here.’”

But Cooke said few numbers of shoplifting incidents are reported, with one being called in about every six weeks. Strong said in her five years working in Dining Services, this recent incident was her first time catching someone steal.

Foster said she hopes this incident will remind students they are being watched and, as a result, can be caught.

Big changes and new leadership arrive for the Student Government Association as the semester comes to an end.

There are several seats to be filled in the SGA next semester, including the presidential seat, said Ethan Holliman, current SGA vice president and junior political science major.

Although the competition for positions in  the student government is low, enough people are running to fill almost every seat in the senate, said Holliman, who is running for SGA president for next term.

“We do have four people running for the four executive positions, and we have just about every senate position being run for as well, except for maybe three or four,” Holliman said.  “That’s a good sign because in the past it was difficult to actually run for the senate election, so we actually have a healthy bunch of folks that served in the senate last year that are running again this year.”

One of the main issues surrounding the elections is not only the short application process, he said, but also the lack of knowledge students have about the student government.

“I wish there was more competition because that would promote the student government,” Holliman said.  “That would improve the voting turn outs during the election process.”

The voting process began March 26 and runs until March 30, and there must be at least a 5 percent voting turn out, Holliman said.

With new leadership comes new change, said John Goldberg, current senator at large and sophomore biology major.  Goldberg will be running for re-election for senator at large representing the College of Arts and Sciences.

“I’m expecting a bigger group of people ready to get started and make sure that we can make the best of our new university,” Goldberg said.  “Whether it be having to change some policies or making sure that every student gets their voices heard for the whole consolidation process because that’s going to be a main priority for us.”

One of the main goals for Holliman, if he is elected president, is to help improve the professionalism of the student government, he said.  He also wants to get the word out to students about what the student government is all about through campaigns and social media.

“We’ve come a little way this year, but we still have a long way to go,” Holliman said.  “A lot of students still don’t know we exist, and I would hope that next year we could at least figure out a way to inform freshman students.”

According to Holliman, not only is it important to get the name of the student government out among the students but also to continue to grow the student government itself.

“My main goal is to maintain consistency and continue to grow the organization, recruit some competent and motivated students to be a part of the student senate, and I’m hoping that if I’m elected president my goal is to appoint some very responsible students that can attend the student committees,” Holliman said.  “One of the primary roles of the president is to appoint students to the various university committees we have.”

Running alongside Holliman for the seat of vice president is Andrew Phillips, current senator at large and parliamentarian.  Phillips, senior political science major, has made it a point to talk to students to get an idea of student’s knowledge about events, such as the merger, and to see what they know about the SGA.

“I’ve just been trying to get a grasp on what people do know and don’t know and any rumors that are being spread, and if there is anything we can do to clear up anything,” Phillips said.  “A lot of it is just getting the word out there that we exist and that we have money for clubs and organizations that are open to all students.”

Georgia Health and Sciences University and Augusta State University should be able to do great things together with the proper communication, Phillips said.  There is still information unclear about the merger and within the next semester questions should be answered making it easier to move forward.

The current president, Barinaadaa Kara, senior political science major, has done an excellent job and whoever follows in his footsteps will have big shoes to fill, Goldberg said.  He has not only done good things for the SGA but also for Augusta State’s name.

“There is definitely going to be some changes with the presidency because Barinaadaa has set the bar high,” Goldberg said.  “Becoming a new university too is going to be an even bigger challenge, making sure that everyone, as far as students go, and the school’s name gets represented well.”

Through his run as president, Kara made sure other universities know about Augusta State and the things that are going on, Goldberg said.

“There are some things that the president doesn’t really have much of a say on, and the SGA here doesn’t have a lot of power,” Phillips said.  “(With) the powers that the president does have, I think Barinaadaa has done a pretty good job so far, and I think it will be able to stay the same.”

Whether it’s a plaque or a ceremony, people can be honored in many ways, but what about with a quilt?

That is exactly what the Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum did when the organization created the Women of Valor: The Legacy Quilt. The purpose of the museum is to preserve and collect the history of Jewish life in Georgia and Alabama, said Pat Pugrant, a volunteer and coordinator of the Women of Valor Quilt Program, and one way it is doing that is with the quilt.

“I began working on this project because I found there were many women who were ordinary folk in their time and did things that were needed in their community,” Pugrant said. “Nobody really honored them for the work they did and the role models they portrayed. So Sandy Breman, who is the archivist of the Breman Museum, asked me if I would do a quilt to honor these women.”

For the project, 11 women whose work occurred between 1850 and 1950 were chosen and put on the quilt, Pugrant said. As to why a quilt was chosen to represent the women and not in another way, there was a certain reason for it.

“We wanted something permanent so their legacy would perpetuate, it would continue,” Pugrant said. “What I have done is, I have traveled around since it was first introduced in 2004 to many different communities all over Georgia, North Carolina and Florida storytelling about these women. I’ve spoken to school groups, church groups, Synagogue groups, senior citizens, young children, anybody who would like to listen to me. I would relate the lives of these women to my audience, so everybody would see these women were actually role models, and they could think about them in their daily life and be able to be like them.”

Pugrant and the quilt first came in contact with Augusta State University when she contacted Reese Library looking for information about certain women, said Carol Waggoner-Angleton, the special collections assistant.

“Ms. Pugrant contacted us originally. She was doing research to do a similar type of quilt, and we worked on material on a Ms. Rose Nachman,” Waggoner-Angleton said. “(She) was active in Augusta (between) 1912 to 1940, especially the Augusta Women’s Club in some of the Jewish Synagogue circles. She was also fairly active in the women’s suffrage movement before 1920. In fact, that’s when her name first gets in the paper, she’s doing events and things to support passage of the 19th amendment.”

During this encounter the Women of Valor quilt came up, Waggoner-Angleton said. From there, its visit to Augusta State was scheduled.

“She mentioned the Women of Valor quilt, and I said ‘oh, that would be a wonderful thing to bring to Augusta’ and she goes, ‘oh, well I can do that, when do you want to do it?’” Waggoner-Angleton said. “So, we set it up for March specifically because March is Women’s History Month.”

On March 20, the quilt made its appearance at Reese Library, where Pugrant gave a presentation about the quilt. During her visit to Augusta State, Pugrant said she was excited to be at the University and give her traditional presentation about the quilt and the story boards for each of the women. But, she also had some more news to add to her presentation about a second quilt being made.

“We are going to (be) honoring someone on the second quilt who is from Augusta,” Pugrant said. “I’m very excited to be able to tell how people reached out and helped one another in the community because I know that theme permeates this quilt, and I know that people in Augusta are very kind and caring for one another.”

The woman on the second quilt will be Rose Nachman, the woman who put Pugrant in contact with Augusta State in the first place, and her work during the flood of 1929 will be featured, Pugrant said. This quilt will be completed around late summer or early fall, and the quilt is being made for a particular reason.

“It’s important to note the role of women because women didn’t get the right to vote,” Pugrant said. “It was very unusual for a woman to actually be able to speak out in public. So many of these women disregarded the fact that it wasn’t common practice and went ahead and did what they believed in because one person has to care for another.”

While Pugrant was looking forward to visiting Augusta, one person who was looking forward to hopefully seeing the quilt and learning about the idea behind it is Leah Ronen, the executive director of the Augusta Jewish Federation and the Augusta Jewish Community.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea; I think it’s fabulous,” Ronen said. “(I’m looking forward to) learning about who’s on it and why those particular women were chosen. I’m assuming because the Bremen Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum is in Atlanta, they focused on people who weren’t originally from Atlanta but ended up in Atlanta. Although I think it’s a wonderful idea and certainly because the museum is in Atlanta, it’s wonderful to focus on women of valor in the Atlanta area; I would love to see a follow up to that quilt.”

A follow up quilt is being made, and with this one, Ronen said she would like to see a broader variety of women on the quilt because of the appeal it could have toward audiences.

“There are some pretty incredible women around North America,” Ronen said. “It would be nice if they were on it. I like things like that. I would like to be able to see it and see what these women looked like and learn more about them.”

Since she has traveled across the Southeast with the quilt, Pugrant said there is one part of her job she greatly enjoys.

“I love to watch the expressions on the faces of the audience,” Pugrant said. “It is the most motivating and exciting experience because I have had people relating to things I’m talking about and when you look at someone you can see they are really understanding what you’re saying and they’re really tuned into it.  That’s what this quilt does. It really captivates your attention and makes you really think how you can better the world of today and tomorrow as well.”

“I see my game improving mostly by adjusting to different things around here. We’re constantly playing different courses.”

A three-day tournament on their home course left the Lady Jaguars’ golf team with a second-place finish.

Over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the women’s golf team hosted and participated in the Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate at Forest Hills Golf Club, where 14 teams competed. After the first day of play, the Jaguars were tied with Purdue University for second place with a combined score of 299 and stood one stroke behind the leading team, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

The second day of the tournament ended with the team earning a combined score of 289, placing them in sole possession of second place. UTSA, which had a score of 286, continued to set the pace, while Purdue slipped to third place behind Augusta State University after posting a score of 293.

During the second round, Lady Jaguar Casey Kennedy, a sophomore health and physical education major, registered a score of 69, leaving her 3-under-par for the day. This score, combined with her 73 from the first day, moved her into first place individually heading into the final round.

The third and final day of the tournament ended with the Lady Jags shooting a combined score of 298, placing them in third for the day, behind Purdue with a score of 295 and UTSA with a score of 296. During the third round of play, Paula Reto from Purdue shot an 8-under-par 64, setting a record low round for the tournament and placing her first individually with a total score of 207. Following 10 strokes behind Reto in the runner-up position was Kennedy from Augusta State, with scores of 73, 69 and 75 for a combined total of 217.

Kennedy said she enjoyed the feeling of getting second place but noticed what she needed to improve on.

“(It feels) pretty good,” Kennedy said. “I came in first before this round (on March 17), and I didn’t play my best today. It was kind of a struggle. I hit the ball well, (but) I just couldn’t make any puts. The girl who won, she lit it up out there and even if I played well, I think she still would have came out with (first place), so I can’t really complain.”

To work on improving her game, Kennedy said she has a plan.

“We’ll have regular practice, and I’ll just work on what I need to,” Kennedy said. “I need to work on putting after today. I putted well; I just couldn’t make any. I just (have) to work on the 15-footers and try to make those before our next tournament.”

When all the scores were tallied after the final round, Augusta State came in second with a total of 886, six shots behind the winning team, UTSA, and one stroke ahead of Purdue.

Even though Augusta State came up short of notching its second win of the spring, Kory Thompson, the coach of the Lady Jags said she was happy with the results at her team’s home event.

“I’m really proud,” Thompson said. “We’ve gotten second (at the Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate) for, I think, the last four years. We were hoping for that win, but they still played great.”

Just like Thompson, Kennedy was also pleased with the results, even though she had higher hopes for the team during the tournament.

“I was looking forward to winning,” Kennedy said. “We came in second, so I can’t really complain about that. We beat a team that was better ranked than us (Purdue), so we’re going to move up in the rankings, which will really help.”

Another player who also thought the team played well was Christine Duschek-Hansen, a sophomore finance major, who shot a 76, 73, 76 and tied for 14th. She said she enjoyed playing in the tournament.

“It was great,” Duschek-Hansen said. “The conditions (were) really good; it was good weather, and the course was in good shape. (There were) good teams and we knew we could win, (and) we played pretty well.”

To prepare herself for each round, Duschek-Hansen said she went through her routines, which included mentally preparing for the round, playing well, staying focused and knowing what to work on. She said there is always something to do to improve her game and prepare for the next tournament.

Thompson has a similar outlook and hopes to come in first at Forest Hills next year. She said one area her players will focus on is their short game because it can make or break a round and can always be improved.

With two second place finishes under the Lady Jags’ belt, one for the team and one individually, Thompson said she enjoyed the week of the tournament.

“My favorite part was (just being at the) home course and (having) so many supporters out here and over 50 volunteers,” Thompson said. “We had more fans than (volunteers) come out and support us. It was just a really good week and I think everyone enjoyed it as far as the teams. We had a cookout on Thursday night and hosted family dinners Friday night, so it was just overall a really good week.”

After touring California and South Carolina for much of the spring 2012 season, the men’s golf team will make its final drive for the postseason to its home course March 31 through April 1.

The Jaguars will play host to the 2012 Insperity Augusta State Invitational at the Forest Hills Golf Club in what Jags’ head coach Kevin McPherson said could be the school’s biggest tournament yet.

“I think this very well may be the best field we have ever had,” McPherson said. “That’s the way we want it on our home course. Just about everybody in the field will have a chance come the final round. The guys really live up to that.”

The Jags, currently No. 46 in Golfweek’s collegiate national rankings, have had a rollercoaster of a season up to this point and have yet to bring home a win despite finishing in the top 10 in each tournament this spring. The team has finished no better than second and no worse than ninth.

“It’s been a learning process the whole year,” said junior golfer Derek Chang. “Everything has been new: players, coach, everything. We’ve had more success this spring than we did in the fall. I don’t think any of our games have changed necessarily. I think we are getting a little more used to knowing what we need to do out there.”

Chang, a transfer from the University of Minnesota playing in his first season with the Jags, said the team will likely be matched with the top-ranked University of Texas throughout the tournament.

“I think coach (McPherson) is trying to pair us up with them this year, and that will give us some pretty good competition,” he said. “We can see what they do right and try to learn from them. First and foremost, we are trying to beat them on our home course. I think we have an advantage playing this course every day.”

Senior Taylor Floyd, who has participated in the last three tournaments at Forest Hills, said there is some added pressure when playing the home course.

“Obviously, there is probably more pressure to play well in front of everybody (in Augusta, Ga.),” said the 2009 Administaff Augusta State Invitational winner. “It evens out with the fact that you are playing around your home course. We feel more comfortable hitting shots around Forest Hills than we do anywhere else.”

Comfort is the key, Chang said.

“It’s going to be good to be able to sleep in our own beds and have the extra time to warm up here,” he said. “It’s just more comfortable the whole week because of the familiarity, so (there is) less stress.”

Despite no wins this season, Floyd said the team doesn’t feel like its reputation is in jeopardy heading into the event.

“We won back-to-back national championships, so I don’t think there is anything else to prove,” Floyd said with a grin. “We just need to prove to ourselves that we can make it back there.”

Following the departure of the entire 2011 national championship team, the future of Augusta State University men’s golf looked grim. However, anchored by a member of the 2010 championship team in Floyd, the team has managed to stay relevant on a national level.

“When you start from scratch, you have to start your expectations from scratch as well,” Chang said. “It’s not the same feeling at all. With our lineup, if we all play well, we have potential to go pretty far.”

A victory in Augusta would secure a postseason trip for the team, the coach said.

“(A win) would be huge,” McPherson said. “It would do a lot for this program. I could see us moving up 10 to 20 spots in the national rankings and that’s where you want to be going into the postseason.”

McPherson said the team shouldn’t stress over the task ahead.

“Come Saturday, we just have to tee it up and let the rest take care of itself,” he said.

“I can’t see myself not being around baseball. I couldn’t stand sitting in an office all day.” - Scott Shipman

With his success derived from what some believe to be a Napoleon complex, Scott Shipman has – one way or another – become Augusta State University’s most prized pitcher.

Born in Charlotte, N.C., Shipman first developed an interest in baseball at the young age of 5 after being immersed in the sport during several outings to Atlanta Braves games. As he grew older, Shipman said he had his eye set on becoming a position player, but after discovering that he had a knack for pitching while in his junior year at Marvin Ridge High School, Shipman transitioned to the pitcher’s mound.

“Honestly, I didn’t start pitching until my junior year in high school,” Shipman said. “Me and my dad would spend hours taking batting practices. We look back at it now and see it as kind of a waste because, when I became a junior, I just quit hitting completely and focused on pitching.”

Players like Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine all inspired the rising pitcher in their own way, he said, but as far as on-field charisma is concerned, Shipman is one of a kind.

“I’m a little bit more worked up when I pitch,” Shipman admitted. “I get fired up. Jones, Maddux, Glavine, they’re a little bit more mellowed out than I am. So, I mean, if anything, I could have taken that from them.”

Head coach Chris Cooper said that while Shipman’s personality can often prove to be a double-edged sword, for the most part, it helps anchor the team during its most trying moments. The coach has experienced instances when Shipman has gotten energized to the point of aggravating opposing teams, something Cooper finds intriguing.

“Sometimes emotions get a little too high for him, but that’s what you want,” Cooper said. “You want guys who are really passionate about what they do. If Shipman strikes a guy out, he’s going to let a little roar out on the mound. We try to control that because I feel like it burns up energy, but it’s hard to slow that emotion down.”

During Shipman’s freshman year at Augusta State, Cooper said that the Marvin Ridge alum really showed the coaching staff that he could get the job done. Throwing the majority of his pitches for strikes during his first year at the university, the staff was beyond impressed, to say the least.

“He really just shut down the (opposing) team every time he pitched,” Cooper reminisced. “The last game of the season we played during his freshman year was against West Georgia and he pitched five or six solid innings. It was probably his best outing of the year, and from that point on, we kind of knew that this was going to grow into something good. He dealt with some tough times, too, but he grew from them. I think growing up that freshman year and saying ‘This isn’t going to happen again’ really helped him, and hopefully it continues to motivate him.”

Shipman said that although his freshman year on Augusta State’s pitching staff felt a little overwhelming initially, the lessons he learned from that first year helped him through many pitfalls later on.

“I had only pitched probably two years prior to coming here and I had never faced college-level hitters,” Shipman said. “So it was a little intimidating, but it taught me how to get through my ups and downs.”

In addition to the hardships suffered during that demanding first season, another aspect that has helped Shipman grow throughout the years is his competitive nature. Cooper said that before going into the spring season, Shipman and his roommate began running twenty minutes a day, adding a minute to their run every day until classes were back in session.

“That’s just the kind of person he is,” Cooper said. “He works his tail off. He wants to compete with others, and he wants to compete with himself.”

Pitching coach Augie Rodriguez – who has pegged Shipman as a “bulldog” and a leader – said the junior pitcher is renowned for his enthusiasm during practices.

“Shipman always bought into what the coaching staff had to say to him,” Rodriguez said. “He’s the kind of guy that does mechanical drills before practice even starts. During practice, he does more mechanical drills. After practice, he does more mechanical drills. When it comes to drills, sometimes you have to kick him out of the bullpen. He just takes pride in what he does and he’s always trying to master his craft.”

As for what the future has in store for Shipman, Cooper said that while minor league or even pro-ball could be in the cards, coaching is an area that the young pitcher has gravitated toward.

“Obviously he wants to play pro ball, but if that doesn’t work out, I think he really wants to become a coach,” Cooper said. “Maybe even here. If we don’t start winning some games, he might take my job.”

For Shipman, becoming a graduate assistant coach at Augusta State is a short-term goal he has his heart set on, but nothing is cemented. The pitcher said that whatever he winds up pursuing, he hopes for it to involve baseball to a degree.

“I can’t see myself not being around baseball,” Shipman said. “I couldn’t stand sitting in an office all day doing nothing. This is what I want to do.”

Pitching makes up a large part of a softball team’s defense, and the Lady Jaguars’ staff has made the team one of the toughest in the nation this season.

Augusta State University’s softball squad, which moved into the top 25 of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll on March 21, is in the thick of the Peach Belt Conference championship race, and its pitchers have played an instrumental role in the team’s success.

The Lady Jags have four pitchers on their staff this season. They are seniors Emily Headrick and Heather Hughes, junior Laura Brown and freshman Heather Sexton.

Though each of Augusta State’s pitchers have helped the Lady Jags reach lofty heights, none of them consider themselves the center of the team. They each said they work hard as a team to push each other and help each other reach their full potential.

“We communicate with each other,” said Headrick, who transferred to Augusta State from Armstrong Atlantic State University before the 2011 season and leads the Lady Jags with 13 wins. “If we have problems with something, and can’t figure it out we ask the others how we can fix it, or how we can improve.  We tell each other if there is an area that needs work.”

This type of support from teammates helps the Lady Jags’ pitchers handle adversity, Hughes said.

“Sometimes it can be a lot of pressure at times, especially if it’s the seventh inning, bases loaded and no outs.” Hughes said. “You just have to be mentally strong and push through it.”

Another reason for the success of the team’s pitching staff, Hughes said, is the fact that every hurler on the roster offers a different look for opposing batters.

“We each have different pitching styles,” she said. “Emily throws a bunch of different pitches; she throws a bunch of high pitches that gets the batters swinging, and Heather throws a lot of drop balls, and I throw off speed.”

Melissa Mullins, the head coach of the Lady Jags, said this variation among her pitchers gives the Augusta State defense an edge. Having an array of styles on the mound makes the team less predictable, she said.

“I feel very confident in (our pitchers), Mullins said. “I feel like they have been very consistent so far throughout the first half of the season. We have the experience of the two seniors and the freshman (Sexton) who has come right in and has done a good job stepping in, mainly as a closer.  You never know what her roles may be in the future, but right now (it is) as a closer.”

Though a lot of the game depends on the pitching, the pitchers are not the only part of the team, and the coach said she makes sure they know this.

“I think one of the things we have really instilled in them is to trust their catcher and their defense, and they have been doing a good job with that; they trust the calls that are being made based on the scouting reports that they have,” Mullins said. “We are setting them up to be successful, which sets our team up to be successful.”

Catcher Renae Kimbell said the Lady Jags’ talented collection of arms makes her job easier.

“We have a pretty solid pitching staff,” Kimbell said. “All four of our pitchers are different in their own way, which helps me out with the calling because then I know I have four different options when they come in.  All around our pitching staff is well-rounded and easy to work with.”

The Lady Jags’ pitchers know that softball sport is a group effort, and they openly show that, Mullins said.

“They really see themselves as a whole staff,” Mullins said. “They back each other, and they are encouraging. They are the biggest cheerleaders.”

The beauty business is booming in the Augusta Exchange.

ULTA Beauty began its month-long grand opening celebration the weekend of Friday, March 9, with free gifts, waxing sessions, professional consultations about makeup application, and discounted beauty products and salon services.  Located on Robert C. Daniels Jr. Parkway, the store occupies a portion of the building that formerly housed Borders bookstore.  General Manager Laura Gaston said the company chose the Exchange location because it felt there was a need in the community for an all-in-one beauty store and salon.

“We carry mass cosmetics, like Maybelline, Revlon, CoverGirl,” Gaston said.  “We also carry the prestigious brands, like Benefit, philosophy, tarte, Urban Decay.  So we carry a lot of brands that aren’t found in regular stores, like Target.   And we’re different from, say, Sephora because we have a hair salon; we also have professional aestheticians, skin therapists that give facials and microdermabrasions.”

The store provides more than 20,000 products, offering makeup and body lotions alongside hair styling tools and accessories, such as clip-in hair extensions and headbands.

Founded in 1990, ULTA attempts to bridge the gap between department store beauty divisions and drugstore beauty aisles, according to the megastore’s website.

Gaston said the beauty emporium’s main goal is to cater to the whims of the client.

“Sometimes a customer wants her Great Lash mascara from Maybelline,” she explained.  “Other days, she may want her Urban Decay…  We can serve a customer with any budget.”

Additionally, ULTA offers rewards to loyal shoppers through its free Beauty Club Card, which allows customers to choose from various gifts or salon services according to the amount of money they spend per quarter. Beauty Club Card members also receive flyers that contain coupons and discounts through email, something to which non-members do not necessarily have access.

One of the store’s most unique features is the Benefit Brow Bar, where an arch expert “brow maps” the perfect shape and thickness of eyebrows for an individual’s face before using hot wax to remove stray hairs.  Arch expert Beverlee Taylor said clients are more comfortable with the waxing process if they get to preview what their brows will look like before any hair is actually removed.  The Brow Bar also offers Benefit makeup and false eyelash applications.

Taylor believes the reason ULTA is very successful is the staff’s eagerness to assist customers.  This willingness to help extends beyond pushing a certain brand.

“I always tell them (customers) Benefit is great, and, you know, we do have a little bit of something for everyone, but it’s not a lot of something for everyone,” Taylor said.  “Most times, they find what they’re looking for with the Benefit brand, but if they don’t, I have a little bit of knowledge, and I can direct them in the right direction…  I can tell them what brands to look for.”

Jodie Searles, sophomore creative writing major,  admitted she is not very knowledgeable about cosmetic brands or body products, and said she is reluctant to enter certain beauty stores because she fears going into a store looking for one thing and coming out with another.

“When I do go to makeup stores, I feel this general whimsy and confusion,” Searles explained.  “There are all these colors and all these types and brands, and I just never really know what to do.  It’s kind of overwhelming.”

Going into ULTA was a completely different experience, she said.  She described the store as really organized, but in a stylish way.

“The staff seems really genuinely friendly and helpful,” Searles said.  “They don’t seem standoffish.  I’ve been in some places with makeup where they just seem so unapproachable.  I feel like it’s (ULTA) a place where you can come with your friends and hang out.  When I go into Sephora, it just feels like I’m getting ready for a guest spot on ‘Sex and the City’ or something.”

While this dedication to customer service is what keeps customers coming back to the store, Taylor said what frequently draws people to ULTA is that it is the store with the widest variety of products.  The one-stop shop’s diversity means a shopper can most likely find whatever she is looking for.

“If you go to another beauty supply store, you may not find everything that you’re looking for because they may not carry every line or they may not have the entire line,” Taylor explained.  “So you’re kind of at the mercy of what that owner thinks should be in that store.  Here, you have more options.  You can get pretty much the inclusive line, full of anything they’re offering, and you get the opportunity to try before you buy.”

Students got the opportunity to experience the taste and flare of a new culture at the “Puerto Rican Evening” held in the JSAC ballroom on Saturday.

Members of the Asociación Cultural Hispanoamericana, also known as ACHA, and Augusta State’s Spanish Club, Los Amigos Hispanos, were all in attendance; receiving a program that was written in both Spanish and English, a brochure on becoming a member of ACHA, and a ticket for not only food, but a raffle held at the end of the evening.

Entertainment was provided by DJ Rickie, of Rodriguez Entertainment, who played music for the dance group, Grupo Kikirikí, and the various members of ACHA, who sang at the end of the program. Although the music and dancing provided great entertainment for the audience, the hit of the night to guests was the homemade Puerto Rican dishes that were brought in by members of ACHA.

Edwin Pérez, Treasurer of ACHA, explained that various notices are sent out to their members through Facebook and their website, not only inviting them to the event but asking them to donate a dish as well.

“We try to program some of our monthly events according to important dates of the Hispanic countries calendar,” Pérez said. “One of which is their most well-known “Hispanic Festival” held in October.”

Pérez also took time to explain some of the dishes that were provided for the “Puerto Rican Evening” which included pork shoulder, spiced chicken, rice with peas or chicken, red kidney beans, as well as black beans.

Despite the setback of not having all of the scheduled dancers at the event, those who could make it, awed the crowd through their movements, performing dances that are reflective of the history of Puerto Rico.

Lissette Claudio, a dancer for ten years within Groupo Kikirikí, explained how she had to learn the history of the dances before being able to perform or choreograph them.

“This particular style is something that isn’t seen all the time and many young people don’t know about it or care to know about it,” Claudio said, “And the connection to Puerto Rico and its history makes me proud to be a part of the group and carry on the tradition.”

The idea of carrying on tradition and keeping Puerto Rican culture and others alive seems to be an important idea to everyone involved in ACHA. Their mission statement, created by the ACHA board of directors, says it best, “Our primary goal is the preservation and promotion of our culture.”

“I just want to share a part of my culture with the community.” Claudio said, “More importantly, I hope the community enjoys watching as much as all of us in the group, even the ones who couldn’t be there this weekend, enjoy dancing.”

Janet Sandarg, professor of Spanish, also played a vital role in the events of the evening. The Spanish Club often teams up with ACHA to put on events like this around campus. Sandarg described the friendly relationship between the two organizations explaining how they have had ongoing collaboration at Augusta State since 2007.

An urban cowboy, an aviator-shade wearing, harmonica-playing soothsayer, a slightly gothic, heavy metal-themed soundtrack, and gunfire turned “Julius Caesar” from a Shakespearean play into a night of laughs, screams and applause.

The play opened with Artemidorus warning Caesar to be careful who he trusts.  The stage went dark, and when the lights briefly came up, Caesar was standing on a platform in front of his accusers, and was then shot. Yes, shot multiple times.  Then the stage went dark, and this mix of heavy metal/rap music began playing. People clapped.  It was a pretty awesome opening scene.

For the most part, Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” is a boring play.  Lots of monologues, little action, with all of the characters complaining about how much they hate Caesar.  However, Doug Joiner, senior lecturer of communications and director of the play, added all of these interesting parts and made it into a punk-rock, gothic, sometimes humorous play.  The audience seemed to like Joiner’s take on “Caesar.” They laughed, clapped, screamed and sighed during the play.

The costumes were not elaborate, and most of the clothing the characters wore were regular, everyday clothes. The female characters wore jeans, boots, tank tops, and sweaters, and had several costume changes.  The male characters wore jeans, combat boots, leather jackets, coveralls and cargo pants, except for the Soothsayer; he had his own special look, which happened to be my favorite.

He was dressed in a tan suit, complete with matching vest and tie.  One of his pant legs was rolled up, showing a navy blue sock and mismatched shoes; one was a dress shoe and one was a loafer. He wore aviator shades, a fedora and played the harmonica.  He spoke in a calm, almost hypnotic tone.

The set was the most interesting part of the play.  From the audience view, on the left-hand side of the stage was a “car.” By car, I mean, I think it was supposed to be a car, but it only had one door, two mismatched car seats, and a headlight, which was later used to show Caesar as a ghost, and a rear bumper.  The characters used the car as one would a couch; they would randomly sit on it to drink whiskey from a flask, talk to each other, or strangle one another.  On the right-hand side of the stage was a wooden box painted gray.  It was used similarly to the car, but not as often. Behind the gray box was a fire barrel.

The main part of the set and stage was quite creative.  On each side of the stage were two huge cylinders, used as the entrance and exits—think sewer pipes.  They were illuminated by green lights, and it gave the stage an eerie look.  In between the pipes was an elevated stage that was back dropped by a partial brick wall with a window; the window was also used as an entrance and exit from stage, characters would climb through the window.

The staircases to the elevated stage were two ladders, but not like regular ladders, they looked like scaffolding ladders. Behind the main stage was another stage area, but it was not used. It looked similar to scaffolding, it was covered in some sort of camouflaged netting and had a machine gun attached to the top of it.  It was definitely not your regular “Julius Caesar” set.

The theater was used as part of the set, too. At one part of the play, Antony walked down the center aisle and onto the stage.  It added an element of surprise.  I was sitting in an aisle seat and wasn’t expecting him to walk past me and onto the stage.

Joiner’s use of contemporary style of music, dress and violence changed the play from a dull, monotonous production into a sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, sometimes really violent play. There are several lessons to be learned from “Caesar:” Things aren’t always as bad as they seem, you really should be careful who you trust, and Joiner can take a mundane play and turn it into a college theater work of art.