UWG Media

Students Enjoy Snowpocalypse 2012

2012-01-27T16:23:00.002-05:00

Tau Kappa Epsilon along with Stay West Weekends put on the "Snowpocalypse 2012" event on Friday, Jan. 27. Students were able to play in real snow, enjoy free hot cocoa, and receive free t-shirts. Below are a few other pictures from the event.

2012-01-27T16:19:00.003-05:00

Students engaging in a snowball fight at Snowpocalypse

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2012-01-27T16:17:00.002-05:00

Students were not the only ones to enjoy the snow at Snowpocalypse!

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2012-01-27T16:15:00.001-05:00

Students defend themselves from incoming snowballs at Snowpocalypse

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2012-01-27T16:06:00.002-05:00

Students have a snowball fight at Snowpocalypse

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Kovacs Announces 2012 Spring Clinic

2012-01-27T12:50:00.002-05:00

Carrollton, GA - Head soccer coach Marisa Kovacs has announced the 2012 West Georgia Women's Soccer Clinic & Preview Day, scheduled for Sunday, April 15 at the UWG Athletic Complex.

The clinic is open to high school juniors and seniors, giving potential college soccer players a chance to receive two hours of quality instruction and training as well as giving them a chance to show their talents to collegiate coaches.

The clinic will be held at University Soccer Field at the UWG Athletic Complex. Sign-in begins at the Complex at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 15, with the clinic to start at 10 a.m. and finishing at noon. Sign-in for Preview Day with the University begins at 12:30, giving participants a chance to see and explore the UWG campus with student guided tours and informational sessions.

The cost of the clinic is $50, which includes two hours of instruction and lunch immediately following the clinic. High school juniors and seniors who would like to attend, please fill out the waiver form and questionnaire located at the bottom of this article and mail both to the address listed below.

Forms Needed:
Soccer Clinic Waiver
UWG Soccer Questionnaire

Mailing Address

Head Coach Marisa Kovacs Make Check out to;

University of West Georgia UWG Soccer

Murphy Athletic Building

1601 Maple Street

Carrollton, GA, 30118

Players wishing to attend must sign up for the Preview day separately. For information about the University of West Georgia Preview day, please visit the UWG Admissions page. To contact coach Kovacs, email soccer@westga.edu or call (678) 839-6545.

Sims named GSC Player of the Week

2012-01-27T12:45:00.003-05:00

Carrollton, GA – UWG basketball star Da’Ron Sims has received weekly honors from the Gulf South Conference.

Sims was named Wednesday the GSC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his performance in last week’s victories over West Florida and Valdosta State. The honor is the second this season for the UWG standout.

Sims, a 6-6 senior from Oakland, Calif., was outstanding in both Wolves’ wins a week ago. Thursday he scored 29 points and pulled six rebounds in UWG’s home win over West Florida. Two days later, Sims poured in 34 points and had seven rebounds in a big, road win over rival Valdosta State.

For the season, Sims leads the Wolves, and the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 18.6 points per game. He also ranks sixth in rebounds with an average of 7.0 per game.

West Georgia is 17-3 on the season, 4-2 in the GSC, and ranked 22^nd in the nation in this week’s NABC Top 25. The Wolves return to action Saturday afternoon at West Alabama.

Football Duo named All-American

2012-01-27T12:29:00.002-05:00

Carrollton, GA – Two University of West Georgia football stars have received a prestigious national honor.

Wide receiver and return specialist Denarius Appling and place kicker Davis Brackett were named Thursday as honorable mention members of the 2011 Don Hansen Division II All-America Team. Each had previously earned Don Hansen All-Super Region II honors.

Appling, a sophomore from Griffin was a dual All-Gulf South Conference honoree in 2011. He was named first team All-GSC as a return specialist, and was voted to second team honors as all-purpose back. After finishing second in the conference in all-purpose yards for the season.

Brackett, a senior from Marietta, was named second team All-GSC as a placement specialist in 2011. He led the Wolves in scoring with 66 points, and connected on a conference-best 14 field goals a year ago.

Appling and Brackett are the first West Georgia players to receive All-America notice since kicker Jared Guberman earned the honor in 2007.

The Don Hansen Division II All-America Team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 in 2010. Hansen started and published Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.

TV has helped create greater interest in forensic science

2012-01-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

by Kelly Quimby/Times-Georgian

With the growing popularity of television crime shows like “CSI” and “Bones,” interest in occupations dealing with criminal investigations has also increased, creating a surge in the number of college applicants hoping to join the pathological and anthropological professions.

In a lecture at the University of West Georgia Thursday night, Dr. Michael Warren, director of the C.A. Pounds Forensic Anthropology Lab at the University of Florida, and one of a very small number of active forensic anthropologists in North America, set out to outline the true nature of a career in forensic anthropology, which he said is sometimes, but not normally, as nicely packaged as it is seen on television.

“It’s a growth industry,” Warren said. “It involves understanding human uniqueness. We always like to think that we work for the families of the victims. We also like to think that we prosecute the guilty and exonerate the innocent through science.”

Read more:Times-Georgian - TV has helped create greater interest in forensic science

UWG Mourns Student's Death

2012-01-26T14:25:00.002-05:00

UWG mourns the loss of Paul John "PJ" Ehrman, a senior student in the Newnan nursing program who died suddenly Monday of unknown circumstances. Ehrman's family shared viewing and funeral arrangements.

The viewing will be held on Thursday, January 26 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Carl Mowell Funeral Home, 200 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Ga.

The funeral will be held Friday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m.at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 101 Walt Banks Road, Peachtree City, Ga.

The family has asked that no flowers be sent, and instead requests monetary donations for Ehrman's wife and children. An account has been set up at Chase Bank. Contact Jerrell Williams at 770-487-0452.

University of West Georgia ranked in online programs

2012-01-26T14:15:00.004-05:00

According to the first ever ranking of online programs by U.S. News and World Report, the University of West Georgia placed 26th in the nation for Online Student Services and Technology and 27th in the nation for Online Faculty Credentials and Training in the category of Online Bachelor’s Programs. UWG also ranked 14th in the nation for Student Engagement and Accreditation in the Online Graduate Nursing category and 18th for Student Engagement and Accreditation in the Online Graduate Business category.

"UWG has an established tradition of offering high-quality distance education programs," said UWG President Beheruz N. Sethna. "We are home to the University System of Georgia eCore program and offer many innovative online programs in education, nursing, computer science and the social sciences, including a new undergraduate degree in criminology, and the WebMBA program, as well as doctorates in school improvement and, soon, nursing education. This is well-deserved recognition, and I appreciate all the hard work that our faculty and staff have put into making UWG a premier online destination.”

“Whether one is in the next county or another country, our focus on quality, affordability, and student service has made our online programs the ideal choice for many learners,” said Melanie Clay, executive director of extended learning and dean of USG eCore.

With an exhaustive student support system and high course completion rates, UWG’s online programs “have time and time again served as a model for other institutions,” she said.

This new ranking system illustrates that "greater national scrutiny is going to be focused on online programs," said Jason Huett, associate dean of online development and USG eCore.

The rankings by U.S. News & World Report confirm "how fast things are changing, how important this is and that we are on the right track," Huett said.

For more information on the rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.

Stay West Weekends Busy

2012-01-26T14:04:00.004-05:00

Stay West Weekends is packed with several events this weekend.

Friday, January 27, will be "Snowpocalypse" presented by Tau Kappa Epsilon. The event will take place in Love Valley from 12-4pm and students can receive free t-shirts, free hot chocolate, and of course, real snow!

Saturday, January 28, will be "Dinner, Movie, and a Blanket" presented by the Students Activities Council. The event will be held in the Campus Center Ballroom and starts at 4pm. Come out and watch "Contagion" and receive a FREE blanket!

For more information on either event or any Stay West Weekends event, contact Melissa Hewitt at 678-839-6526 or mhewitt@westga.edu.

Snowpocalypse with TKE

2012-01-26T13:59:00.002-05:00

This Friday Jan. 27th Stay West Weekends and Tau Kappa Epsilon will be hosting "Snowpocalypse," a snow day outside the HPE Gym. There will be a snow machine covering the area in snow and all students and faculty are invited to have a snowball fight build snowmen, or just enjoy the weather with a warm cup of hot cocoa.The event starts at noon and ends at 4 p.m.. There will be free hot chocolate and t-shirts.

UWG Winter Preview Day

2012-01-26T13:56:00.002-05:00

Preview Days are your chance to see the UWG campus on your own terms. Meet professors, learn about campus life, and see our residence halls. The choice is yours!

Preview Day Activities begin at 1:30 pm at the UWG Coliseum. However, we recommend you arrive at 1:00 pm for parking and check-in.

For more information, visit the Admissions website.

2012 Oscar Nominations Offer Usual Surprises and Snubs

2012-01-25T09:18:00.006-05:00

By Josh Sewell
Researcher of Film and Television Trends

This year's Oscar nominations were announced on Jan. 24 and, as always, there were a few surprising snubs and inclusions. Here are the nominees in some of the top categories, along with my gut reactions.

Best Supporting Actor:

Kenneth Branagh, “My Week with Marilyn”

Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”

Nick Nolte, “Warrior”

Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Max Von Sydow, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”

The biggest surprise here is Von Sydow’s inclusion, which should’ve given pundits a big heads-up about the Best Picture shocker we’ll discuss later. I’m glad Nolte got a nod, since his work in the little-seen “Warrior” is the best part of a phenomenal movie. I think the winner here will be Plummer, who has already racked up some other awards for his terrific performance in an otherwise insufferable flick.

Best Supporting Actress:

Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”

Jessica Chastain, “The Help”

Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”

Octavia Spencer, “The Help”

Snubs aren’t exactly stunning when the talent pool in this category is so vast. Still, I was surprised that Shailene Woodley wasn’t nominated for her strong work in “The Descendants.” It appears that McTeer got her spot, since everyone else was pretty much a lock. Chastain being nominated for “The Help” instead of “The Tree of Life” probably hurts hers and Spencer’s chances, since they’ll probably split the vote. If that happens, look for Bejo to take home the trophy for her adorable breakthrough performance. Although I’d be totally fine with a surprise win for the hilarious McCarthy.

Best Actor:

Demian Bechir, “A Better Life”

George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Juan Dujardin, “The Artist”
Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”

Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Bechir is the surprise nominee here, edging out a superb performance by Michael Fassbender in “Shame.” In hindsight, that flick was likely too extreme for Oscar’s more conservative voting bloc. The other big news is Oldman getting his first(!) nomination in a career worthy of many more. A win for him would be welcome, but it’s likely a toss-up between Clooney and Dujardin.

Best Actress:

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”

Viola Davis, “The Help”
Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”

Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”

Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn”

Mara (deservedly) snuck into a crowded field, but I doubt she has a path to the win. This one has been a face off between Streep and Davis since the beginning. Honestly, it could go either way, but my gut tells me that Davis will come out on top because she has the better-reviewed movie.

Best Animated Feature:

"A Cat in Paris"

"Chico & Rita"

"Kung Fu Panda 2"

"Puss in Boots"

"Rango"

This marks the first time Pixar hasn’t had an entry in this category, thanks to the critically lambasted “Cars 2” (which I didn’t think it was that bad). I’ve never heard of “A Cat in Paris” or “Chico & Rita,” which seemed to be the general consensus after the nominations were announced. My first impression is that “Rango” will emerge victorious, though I wouldn’t mind a “Puss in Boots” surprise.

Best Director:

Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”

Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”

Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”

Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”

If you want to know the films with a real shot at Best Picture, just match these directors with their work. It’s not scientifically binding or anything, but it lets you know what probably would’ve made the cut if it the big prize remained a five-flick category. If we judge by current momentum, I’d say Hazanavicius gets the win because of all the love “The Artist” is getting. However, sometimes the Academy considers this a consolation prize; in that case, I’d give the edge to Scorsese, who tackles similar Hollywood-friendly material on a grander scale.

Best Picture:

"The Artist"

"The Descendants"

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

"The Help"

"Hugo"

"Midnight in Paris"

"Moneyball"

"The Tree of Life"

"War Horse"

And we’ve come to the biggest shocker of this year’s nominations. Because of the new rules placed on the field by the Academy, most pundits were expecting six or seven films to be in contention for the top prize. Instead, Jan. 24’s announcement revealed nine nominees, including the completely unexpected recognition of Sept. 11 drama “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” That says more about the campaigning skills of producer Scott Rudin and director Stephen Daldry than it does about the quality of the movie, which is passable but nowhere near the quality of its competitors. No matter, as “The Artist” has had this thing in the bag for months now. Pending any changing tides in the next few weeks (which is always possible), it’s your winner.

Be sure to watch ABC on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. to see the winners. Host Billy Crystal returns after a long absence, a safe choice after last year’s debacle with James Franco and Anne Hathaway.

President Sethna Honored as Distinguished Alumnus of IIMA

2012-01-24T16:24:00.003-05:00

University of West Georgia President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, was recently honored by the institution as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. IIMA, as part of marking its milestone, awarded the designation of distinguished alumnus to 40 alumni recipients, including Sethna. Founded with active collaboration from Harvard Business School, the Indian Institute of Management is considered to be the best business school in India and is also considered to be one of the most respected schools in the Asia-Pacific region. His fellow award recipients include Ashok Alexander, India Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and Ajay Banga, president and CEO of MasterCard Worldwide.

While this honor is historic it is not the first of its kind bestowed upon Sethna. Prior to this award, Sethna has also been honored with the title of distinguished alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. IITB is India’s premier engineering school. This places Sethna as being a distinguished alumnus from both of the best undergraduate and graduate institutions in India.

Best Picture Nod for Sept. 11 Drama Stuns Oscar Pundits

2012-01-24T14:40:00.001-05:00

This year’s Oscar nominations revealed the usual snubs and surprises, but perhaps the biggest deviations from the pundits’ predictions were found in the Best Picture category.

Because of the new rules placed on the field by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, most experts were speculating six or seven films to be in contention for the top prize. Instead, Tuesday morning’s announcement revealed nine nominees, including the completely unexpected inclusion of Sept. 11 drama “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.”

“That particular nomination says more about the studio’s marketing campaign than it does about the quality of the film,” said Josh Sewell, researcher of film and television trends at the University of West Georgia. “Critical reception has been wildly mixed, and the film has far lower scores at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic than any other Best Picture nominee.”

Sewell went on to say that it’s clearly a situation where just getting a nomination is the win for “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” as “The Artist” has strong momentum at this point in the race.

The 84th Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 26 on ABC.

"Mr. 1,000" Gavin Field

2012-01-24T14:02:00.004-05:00

Nicknames come and go, but 'Mr. 1,000' might stick with Gavin Field for a while.

The University of West Georgia shooting guard from South Lake, Western Australia is just three points shy of becoming the ninth 1,000-point scorer in school history and the first since 1991.

"It's awesome. Everyone knows about it, especially [fellow senior] Da'Ron [Sims]. People have started calling me 'Mr. 1,000' just as a joke to get on me. Just with the guys, everyone wants me to get it," Field said.

Field's biggest fan might just be men's coach Michael Cooney who recruited the 6-foot-7 Australian as part of his first recruiting class as the UWG head coach. At that time Field was a tall, skinny, raw talent that has become one of the top players in school history.

Read more:Times-Georgian - Field closing on scoring milestone

Rx Committee event Cancelled

2012-01-24T13:52:00.001-05:00

The Rx Committee event on the Consensual Project, scheduled for tonight at the Campus Center, has been canceled because of the illness of the speaker. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Rx Committee Empowers UWG Students

2012-01-23T17:11:00.001-05:00

The Responsible Sexuality Committee (RxCom) of the University of West Georgia was formed to encourage students to protect themselves and others from harm with regard to sexually-related behavior.
The committee will host Ben Privot at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at the Campus Center.

Be sure to like the committee on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rx-Responsible-Sexuality-at-UWG/350839738277751

Free Concerts in February at UWG

2012-01-23T11:45:00.002-05:00

he UWG Music Department will feature a series of recitals in February that are free and open to the public.

On Feb. 8, internationally renowned pianist, Dorian Leljak, will be the guest artist. Leljak is a professor of piano at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and a teacher at the Royal College of Music in London. The concert will be at 8:15 p.m. in Kathy Cashen Recital Hall.

On Feb. 13 UWG’s Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of Josh Byrd. The performance will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts.

On Feb. 16, Kevin Hibbard, the chairman of the Department of Music will conduct the Winter Choral Concert. The concert will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts.

On Feb. 20, UWG’s award-winning music students will perform during the Wright Scholars Concert. The concert will be at 8:15 p.m. in Kathy Cashen Recital Hall.

On Feb. 21, Cale Self will conduct the Symphonic Band and Brass Ensemble. The concert will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information contact Bobbie Emmons at 678-839-6262 or bemmons@westga.edu.

UWG Ranked Highly by U.S. News and World Report for Online Programs

2012-01-23T11:26:00.001-05:00

The University of West Georgia was ranked 26th in the nation in the area of Online Student Services and Technology and 27th in the nation in the area of Online Faculty Credentials and Training, according to U.S. News and World Report’s first-ever national ranking of online educational programs. These rankings were also the highest of any institution in Georgia.

UWG's online degree programs offer students the convenience of attending class on their own time and work well for working students and other non-traditional students.

"The Real Bones": Leading Anthropologist to Lecture at UWG

2012-01-20T16:36:00.001-05:00

Leading anthropologist Dr. Michael Warren visits the University of West Georgia to speak about the reality of forensic anthropology.

His lecture, “The Real Bones: Forensic Anthropology Comes to Carrollton,” will be on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. in Kathy Cashen Recital Hall. The Department of Anthropology and the Antonio J. Waring Endowment are the sponsors.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Warren is a physical anthropologist specializing in forensic anthropology. He has authored or co-authored several hundred forensic osteological reports over the last 20 years, including the skeletal analysis in the recent, widely publicized murder of Caylee Anthony.

Warren assisted the federal government in the recovery and identification of victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attack. He also assisted with the identification of victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was a consultant in the excavation and analysis of human remains from mass gravesites in Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Warren’s research interests include forensic identification, trauma analysis, forensic analysis of human cremated remains, human osteology, victim identification in mass disasters and genocide, and human variation.

He is one of only 88 board certified forensic anthropologists in the world and currently serves as the vice president of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology.

Warren is an associate professor of anthropology and director of the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory at the University of Florida. He also serves as assistant director of the university’s William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine.

He has presented lectures on the importance of forensic anthropology to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Ministry of Justice of Thailand and the University of Bradford in England.

For more information, please contact Dr. Kerriann Marden in the Anthropology Department at 839-678-6450 or kmarden@westga.edu.

Wolves outrace Argos in Carrollton

2012-01-20T14:35:00.003-05:00

Wins never come easy in the Gulf South Conference. The UWG men's basketball team continued to learn that season-long lesson Thursday night at the Coliseum, holding off a furious rally in the second half to beat West Florida 94-86.

It took five players scoring in double-figures and a 53 percent shooting night for the Wolves to take this one, as West Florida's high-powered offense shot 73 percent from the floor in the second half to erase a 15-point UWG lead at the half.

The game started out as a see-saw battle, as there were seven lead changes in the first five minutes of the contest alone. With 15:05 left in the opening period, UWF's Martell Buie tied the game at 11 with a layup on an Argo fastbreak.

That was as close as West Florida would get in this game.

Will HOPE survive? Concerns persist about scholarship's future

2012-01-20T14:24:00.002-05:00

Despite some hopeful oratory from Gov. Nathan Deal in his State of the State speech earlier this month, concerns continue over whether funding will be available to support the HOPE scholarship for Georgia students in the future.

In his speech to the Georgia Legislature on Jan. 10, Deal heralded last year’s HOPE overhaul, which he signed last March and which brought about several changes in the amount of tuition assistance HOPE recipients can receive, as a move “that preserves HOPE for future generations.”

“One year ago, HOPE — arguably the nation’s most generous merit-based, higher education scholarship and grant program — was on an unsustainable course and faced a complete depletion of reserves as early as FY 2013,” Deal said.

But in a recent presentation to state lawmakers, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the state body that administers the scholarship, told legislators that as enrollment and tuition continue to rise at Georgia colleges, and despite efforts of the Legislature to stop the program’s fund hemorrhaging, the amount of financial aid a student would earn from the HOPE scholarship could drop below half of the actual cost of college tuition within the next three years, leaving students to pay the difference.

Read more:Times-Georgian - Will HOPE survive Concerns persist about scholarship s future

Black Inventors Exhibit Comes to UWG

2012-01-19T13:52:00.004-05:00

The University of West Georgia presents the exhibit “What’s The Big Idea? How Black Inventors Past and Present Have Changed Your Life.” It opens on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Ingram Library. There will be a reception on opening day at 1 p.m., followed by a talk and tour by Dan Moore, curator of the exhibit and director of the Apex Museum in Atlanta. Refreshments will be served.

The exhibit is on the main floor of the library and continues through Wednesday, Feb. 29. It is free and open to the public. The library is on a 24/5 schedule, opening at 2 p.m. on Sundays and closing at 11 p.m. on Fridays. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The exhibit features inventions that are part of everyday American life: Garrett A. Morgan’s traffic light; Alfred L. Cralle's ice cream scooper; and the infamous Super Soaker patented by Lonnie Johnson.

Guided tours for groups are available through advanced reservation. The exhibit is sponsored by UWG’s Office of Institutional Diversity and the Ingram Library.

The Apex Museum, founded in 1978, accurately presents and interprets history from an African American perspective. It seeks to help the public better understand and appreciate the contributions made by African-Americans to the United States and the world.

For more information or to arrange a guided tour, please call 678-839-5400 or 678-839-5337.

UWG men look to get back on track

2012-01-19T13:48:00.003-05:00

With its next home contest following tonight’s tilt three weeks and four games away, the University of West Georgia men’s basketball team wants to make the most of this evening’s Gulf South Conference showdown with West Florida — and you better believe coach Michael Cooney certainly realizes the value to it.

So when the ball tips at 7:30 p.m. in The Coliseum, it ultimately becomes the most important 40 minutes — to date — for the Wolves (15-3, 2-2 GSC) all season.

“It’s a huge game for us. We can’t afford to drop home games. Losing the North Alabama game really put us behind the 8-ball. We recovered by getting the split on this last road trip, but we’ve got to get back on the home serve. The only way we can do that is beat this West Florida team,” Cooney said.

Read more:Times-Georgian - UWG men look to get back on track

When Choosing a Movie, Google is Your Friend

2012-01-18T14:17:00.005-05:00

A recent article in the British newspaper The Telegraph reports that some moviegoers apparently make their viewing decisions by playing "Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo." Several audience members at a recent Liverpool screening of "The Artist", the hit silent film about the death of silent film, demanded a refund after discovering that the movie contained no dialogue.

This isn't the first time that an easily-Googled bit of information has caused a stir in the movie business. Last fall, a woman sued FilmDistrict because the indie crime drama "Drive" wasn't more like "The Fast and the Furious."

While humorous on the surface, these examples lead to a larger question: should theaters and studios be held responsible when ticket buyers clearly haven't done the homework on their purchases? Weigh in on the discussion in the comments section.

(Photo credit: The Weinstein Company)

Founder of Innovative Products Company to Speak at UWG

2012-01-17T14:24:00.003-05:00

The University of West Georgia's Richards College of Business will present an address by Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, on Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts. The presentation, part of the BB&T Lectures in Free Enterprise series, is free and open to the public.

Learn how TerraCycle, an innovative company, is reducing waste, raising money for charity and beautifying the world by converting traditionally non-recyclable waste into fun, funky and functional products. Win TerraCycle products and other door prizes.

Free tickets are available at the Townsend Center box office starting Jan. 30.

For more information, contact Beth Chandler at (678) 839-5261 or email bchandler@westga.edu, or call the Townsend Center at (678) 839-4722.

Empty Bowls, Bowl-Making Workshop

2012-01-17T13:36:00.002-05:00

Carroll County Empty Bowls is an event that raises money for the Carroll County Soup kitchen. Because economic problems have affected so many, the Carroll County Soup kitchen has a greater need than ever.

Ingram Library will host a bowl-making party to contribute bowls for the Carroll County Empty Bowls event in February. We'll provide the clay and instructor, you get to make a bowl to donate to Empty Bowls. Or, if you want to keep your bowl, you're welcome to purchase it for a $10 minimum donation.

The main Carroll County Empty Bowls event will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2012, 11a.m. to 2p.m. at the Carroll County Ag Center.

About Empty Bowls:
Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity.

UWG Claims Another Cheerleading Championship

2012-01-17T13:17:00.002-05:00

The UWG All-Girl cheerleading squad successfully defended its UCA Championship at the 2012 Nationals on Saturday afternoon, claiming a second-straight championship and fifth title since 2005. The Coed squad came close, falling to second after winning last year's title.

The win is the first for new head coach Nicole Wiltsie, who joined the UWG staff this past summer.

Both teams earned paid bids to this year's UCA Nationals in Orlando and were judged based on a number of categories, including partner stunts, choreography and basket tosses, among others. The All-Girl squad won going up against Pittsburg State, Columbus State and Northwest Missouri State, among others.

In the Coed championships, the Wolves fell to second place this season, going up against Alabama-Huntsville, Kutztown, Columbus State, Southern Indiana and champion Northwest Missouri, among others.

West Georgia's All-Girl squad will be in action at the men's basketball game at The Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. against West Florida. The Coed team will be on the sidelines for the women's game at 5:30 p.m.

So You Want to Be a Screenwriter...

2012-01-17T10:54:00.005-05:00

Most writers have a ton of unfinished novels and screenplays on a flash drive somewhere. Generally, it's because they lost the motivation to finish the project, hit a brick wall in the narrative or just don't know how to take that next step in the process.

Fortunately, there's an entertaining and helpful article - more like a book, really - that answers any questions a writer might have when it comes to screenwriting, including whether that idea might be better suited for a different format altogether.

Start reading Part 1 of "Screenwriting 101" here. Part 2 is here.

(Note: The article is written by an anonymous industry professional known as Film Crit Hulk. As such, he writes in ALL CAPS as part of the gimmick. If this proves too much for your eyes, try pasting the article into convertcase.net.)

UWG Speaker Discusses Relevance of MLK's Dream

2012-01-17T09:17:00.001-05:00

While there can be no argument that the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has left behind an enormous legacy for generations to come, whether this legacy has brought about a permanent shift in societal behavior is still up for debate.

In the University of West Georgia’s third annual Martin Luther King celebration Thursday night, speakers alluded to the night’s theme, “There is Still Work to Do: Seize the Day,” and challenged the university’s students to realize a dream that is now nearly 50 years old.

Keynote speaker Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, a former trial judge, attorney general, and later television judge, set out to answer the question, “Is Dr. King’s dream still relevant?” before her audience, in what turned out to be not a speech, but a sermon.

“We believe that God transcends religion, God transcends anything,” Reynolds said. “[King] was a man that had a vision...they may have killed the messenger, but thank God, they could not destroy the message.”

Reynolds described herself as a beneficiary of Dr. King’s work, an example of a person’s ability to rise from the ranks and become something out of nothing.

She said that now there exists only two sorts of people, those that can rise above their conditions, and those that cannot. The problem, she said, is there is an ever-increasing number of people who cannot rise above inequality. While the poor get poorer, banks are bailed out.

Read more:Times-Georgian - UWG speaker discusses relevance of Dr King’s dream in today s society

Consensual Project Workshop at UWG

2012-01-13T17:02:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m., UWG’s Responsible Sexuality Committee will host Ben Privot and the Consensual Project as part of the spring program. Privot’s workshop works to bring students a fresh understanding of consent by empowering them to connect with each other and incorporate it in their daily lives. The program is free of charge. The workshop will be held in the Campus Center Ballroom RM 108. For more information about the project, please contact Dr. Carrie Pitzulo at cpitzulo@westga.edu.

UWG's Richards College of Business Praised by Accrediting Body

2012-01-13T13:13:00.001-05:00

The Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia has maintained its business and accounting accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting.

Only 643 schools of business, or less than 5 percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. To maintain accreditation, a business or accounting program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.

“AACSB accreditation verifies the excellence of the Richards College of Business and is a testament to the commitment of the faculty and staff who lead the programs and initiatives,” said Dr. Faye McIntyre, dean of the RCOB. “Maintenance of accreditation is a signal of excellence of our faculty, staff, students, business partners, and programs. Our efforts have been recognized and rewarded with this accreditation decision.”

“I am delighted to receive confirmation that the Richards College of Business has had its accreditation for both its business and accounting degree programs renewed by the AACSB,” said UWG President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna. “As a former business dean myself, I know how rigorous and demanding the process is -- I offer my sincere congratulations to Dean Faye McIntyre, the leadership team, the faculty, staff and students, and to the broader community of supporters.”

Memphis Artist's Exhibit Opens at Bobick Gallery

2012-01-13T13:06:00.003-05:00

The University of West Georgia Department of Art’s Bobick Gallery is pleased to present Memphis-based artist, Cynthia Thompson’s exhibit, Forlorn.

Thompson uses the body as the site of personal investigation. She explores the physical manifestations of denial, shame and oppression by examining issues surrounding the female body. Her meticulously crafted work utilizes hand bookbinding, digital photography, screen-printing, letterpress and relief.

The exhibition opens on Jan. 12 and ends on Feb. 9. There will be an artist talk on Feb. 9 at 3:30 p.m. in room 203 of UWG’s Humanities building. A reception in the gallery will follow at 4:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Thompson’s work contains strong religious undertones and has often been described as “Catholic” in nature and aesthetic— clean, pure, and ordered. At the same time, many of the surfaces and materials used in her work simulate flesh to evoke the body, an alluring and seductive association of great significance.

In particular, Thompson shares her own experiences as a young woman raised in the religious South. In her newly produced body of work, she continues this investigation. But the focus has become of the aesthetic and the process— technique, pattern, place and content, and the historical made contemporary. She addresses her own concerns with beauty, desire, vulnerability, veiling, and body-centered guilt. In aligning herself with Hamlet’s drowning Ophelia, Thompson metaphorically succumbs to the cold blue waters breathlessly searching for redemption as the voice of her soul is silenced.

Thompson lives in Memphis, Tenn. She is the chair of the Fine Arts Department at Memphis College of Art and a professor of book and paper arts. Thompson has also been a visiting faculty member at University of Georgia’s study abroad program in Cortona, Italy. She was the recipient of the 2003 Tennessee State Arts Commission Fellowship Grant and has been awarded numerous residencies.

The Bobick Gallery is on the first floor of the Humanities building on the UWG campus. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. The gallery is closed during university holidays. Parking is available in the visitor lot on West Georgia Drive, across from the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts or in the academic quad lot after 5:30 p.m.

For more information contact Stephanie Smith, the gallery director, at 678-839-4950 or 678-839-6521, slsmith@westga.edu, www.westga.edu/~artdept.

UWG Dominates Debate Contests

2012-01-13T13:00:00.002-05:00

UWG students Damiyr Davis, Miguel Feliciano, Osayame Gaius and Vanova Robles weren't around campus on the first days of the spring semester. That's because they were representing the university in interscholastic competition at the Texas Two-Step, two debate tournaments held at the University of North Texas and the University of Texas-Dallas.

More than 80 teams and more than 160 debaters from across the nation competed against each other, with UWG's teams dominating like no other school.

The team of Robles and Gaius had a combined preliminary round record of 13-1, defeating teams from Boston College, Oklahoma, UT-Austin, Wake Forest, Trinity University, UT-San Antonio, UT-Dallas, Wayne State, and Wichita State. They reached the semifinals at both tournaments, losing close 2-1 decisions in each. Vanova, a sophomore from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was awarded the 13th place individual speaker award at UNT and second speaker at UTD. Gaius, a junior from Miami, was sixth speaker at UTD.

The freshmen team of Davis and Feliciano compiled an 11-3 preliminary record over similar competition, reaching the quarterfinals of the UNT tournament, where they bowed out to the higher seeded team of Gaius-Robles. Davis was named third best individual speaker.

The frosh topped their UNT performance by going undefeated at UTD, winning the tournament with a perfect 7-0 preliminary record, and overall dominating ballot count of 21-1, including unanimous 3-0 decisions in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Davis was named the top speaker and Feliciano was recognized as the seventh-place individual speaker. Winning a national tournament and being named top speaker is highly unusual for a first-year college debater. These two freshmen from New York City have clearly put themselves on the map of intercollegiate debate. They also both made dean's list first semester.

UWG Shines at International Economics Convention

2012-01-13T12:56:00.002-05:00

The University of West Georgia was among 11 institutions that competed at the 19th International Economics Convention in Mumbai, India, last month. Among the institutions, nine were from India and two were from the United States (UWG and Kennesaw State).

The theme of this year’s convention was “It’s time for Africa,” with each school being assigned an African nation, performing analysis and making recommendations to improve the nation’s economy.

The UWG team consisted of five students (Justin Ennis, Osayame Gaius, Quencina Gardner, Catherine Mazhandu and Jannah Singletary), two faculty sponsors (Dr. Michael Hester and Dr. John Upson) and UWG President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna. The team was sponsored by the Richards College of Business and the Honors College.

The students’ presentation, “From Commonwealth to Common Wealth: Indo-Nigerian Economic Cooperation” was very well received and was the only presentation to include empirical analysis. Gaius brought home the Best Presenter award. In presenting him the honor, the speaker rightfully acknowledged that “he basically stole the show.”

The UWG team has been invited back for next year’s conference.

Pictured above are faculty and team members (L to R) Jannah Singletary, Dr. Michael Hester, Quencina Gardner, Dr. John Upson, Justin Ennis, and Osa Gaius.

UWG Bracing for Life on the Road

2012-01-12T15:03:00.003-05:00

The University of West Georgia women's basketball team has played Delta State before, but this year the games will count toward its Gulf South Conference record instead of being played as conference crossover contests.

The Wolves begin their two-game road trip tonight in Cleveland, Miss., this evening at 7 p.m.

"We've actually played decent on the road. We won a couple tough road games at Montevallo and Augusta State. We're looking forward to playing both Delta and Christian Brothers," UWG women's coach Scott Groninger said. "Delta State, as usual, is very good. We're in good health and spirits and up to the task."

West Georgia (6-7, 1-1 GSC) split its conference openers at home last week and will look to improve its conference standing against the Lady Statesmen, who have won four of their last five ball games.

UWG senior Krystal Delph earned GSC Conference Player of the Week honors with her performance in last week's games. The senior captain averaged 16 points and eight rebounds, while playing 39.5 minutes as the Wolves went 1-1 to open conference play. Delph is the first Wolf to be honored since Ashley Huff in February of 2009.

Read more:Times-Georgian - UWG bracing for life on the road

President Sethna Honored as Distinguished Alumnus of IIMA

2012-01-12T13:57:00.006-05:00

Work Under Way on UWG Nursing Facility

2012-01-12T13:25:00.001-05:00

Construction has begun on a new, multi-million-dollar nursing facility at the University of West Georgia, with work expected to wrap up by the fall semester of 2013.

The building, which is going up next to the campus’ new bookstore on West Georgia Drive, is expected to cost $16.5 million, paid for through state bond sales. But it will come with some enormous benefits, said Kathryn Grams, dean and professor of nursing at UWG.

“It will allow us to double the size of enrollment and it will give us instructional space and office space for faculty and staff,” she said. “Right now we’re still receiving applicants, but last year we had 500 applicants for 120 seats in one of our programs, and we had over 200 applicants for the RN program and also only took 120.”

To add to the already tight quarters in the nursing program, Grams said the College of Nursing has around 50 graduate students working toward master’s degrees at the university, but the number of graduate students will also grow if the university is approved to offer a doctorate by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She said the EdD program has already been approved by the Board of Regents.

“We’re hoping to admit to that program in fall 2012,” she said. “It’s a collaborative program between the school of Nursing and Education.”

Read more:Times-Georgian - Work under way on UWG nursing facility

Make Bowls to Fight Hunger

2012-01-12T09:43:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1-4 pm, Ingram Library will be hosting a bowl making workshop to benefit Carroll County Empty Bowls (http://carrollcountyemptybowls.com/joom/).

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity.

Carroll County Empty Bowls raises money for the Carroll County Soup Kitchen (http://www.carrollcountysoupkitchen.org/)

Please stop by to make a bowl, get more information about the fundraiser event, and/or make a contribution to the Empty Bowls collection jar!

Multiplex Spotlight: January 2012

2012-01-10T16:50:00.002-05:00

The New Year brings with it plenty of choices at your local theater. Those looking to keep up with all of those Best of 2011 lists and potential Oscar nominees can choose from several films that are expanding to more screens following limited release.

That includes titles like Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse,” which looks at World War I through the eyes of a steed; “The Artist,” a tribute to the silent film era; “The Descendants,” a Hawaii-set drama that is earning George Clooney some serious Best Actor buzz; “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” a 9/11 movie featuring Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks in supporting roles; and “The Iron Lady,” featuring Meryl Streep’s take on Margaret Thatcher.

There are also plenty of new movies opening each week in January. Here is a week-by-week breakdown, complete with links to watch the trailers:

Jan. 13
“Contraband”
Mark Wahlberg stars in this thriller, as a reformed criminal who is forced back into the world of international smuggling in an effort to rescue his brother-in-law.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sYntGCj8R0

“Joyful Noise”
Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah play competing choir directors in this story about a group of small town singers looking to win a national competition.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAQoo_IVe3s

Jan. 20
“Underworld Awakening”
After sitting the last movie out, Kate Beckinsale returns in the fourth installment of the popular “Underworld” franchise. In this 3D sequel, humans have discovered the existence of Vampires and Lycans, and declared war on both species.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUcrbUCWKQc

“Haywire”
A black ops soldier is out for revenge after she is betrayed during a mission in this action flick. MMA fighter Gina Carano leads an all-star cast, including Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas and Bill Paxton.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFV0Uvzpz0o

“Coriolanus”
Ralph Fiennes makes his directorial debut and plays the titular role in this modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s tragedy. Fiennes’ co-stars include Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain, this year’s breakout actress.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di-XOO_LTlw

“Red Tails”
This non-“Star Wars” Lucasfilm release chronicles the African-American pilots involved in World War II’s Tuskegee training program. Fans of HBO’s classic drama “The Wire” should recognize several cast members, including Michael B. Jordan, Tristan Wilds, Andre Royo and Method Man. Other stars include Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Bryan Cranston and Gerald McRaney.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpA6TC0T_Lw

Jan. 27
“The Grey”
Liam Neeson stars in this tale of an oil drilling team who survives a plane crash in Alaska, only to be stranded in the wilderness and hunted by wolves that see them as intruders.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqP2o62sZMs

“One for the Money”
Katherine Heigl plays Stephanie Plum, the heroine of Janet Evanovich’s popular series of novels. In this installment, Plum takes a job at her cousin’s bail-bond business, where her first assignment involves tracking down someone from her past.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn1PpRgUaeU

“Man on a Ledge”
Sam Worthington stars as an ex-cop turned con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan high- rise, but things aren’t as they appear. Elizabeth Banks plays the police psychologist trying to talk him down. Ed Harris, Edward Burns and Anthony Mackie co-star.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBJSfqdhyTg

Regents Approve Campus Consolidation Plan

2012-01-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

ATLANTA — January 10, 2012

The Board of Regents approved today University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby’s recommendation to consolidate eight of the System’s 35 colleges and universities. Huckaby announced the recommendation last week.

The recommended consolidations are: Gainesville State College and North Georgia College & State University (Dahlonega); Middle Georgia College (Cochran) and Macon State College; Waycross College and South Georgia College (Douglas); and Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University.

“The Board’s approval now paves the way for us to proceed,” said Huckaby. “We will focus on how these consolidations enable us to better serve our students and areas of the state more efficiently and effectively. I look forward to working with the eight institutions on this process.”

Now that the plan has board approval, Huckaby will begin to implement the plan, which is expected to take between 12-18 months to finalize.

Campus working groups will be appointed by Huckaby and charged with developing detailed recommendations for consolidation. Huckaby said the campus working groups should be up and running by the end of January. Implementation actions will be reviewed by the University System Office and approved by the Regents’ Special Committee on Consolidation and the full board.

The consolidation plan is just one of a series of new efforts launched by the chancellor, each part of a focus on increasing college completion rates, broadening access to public higher education and maintaining affordability. Others include the System’s participation in Gov. Nathan Deal’s “Complete College Georgia” initiative, a study of how the USG uses its current facilities, the future design and construction of facilities, the expansion of distance education, a new model of academic program review as well as the integration of academic, facilities and fiscal activities.

The University System has created a special website to help coordinate information and communication related to the consolidation effort: http://www.usg.edu/consolidation/

From Hookups to Relationships: A Sexual Consent Workshop

2012-01-10T13:57:00.004-05:00

Students can gain a fresh understanding of consent through this innovative workshop that shows how to incorporate consent into daily life.

The University of West Georgia's Responsible Sexuality Committee presents "From Hookups to Relationships; A Sexual Consent Workshop."

The Consensual Project partners with schools and universities to bring students a fresh understanding of consent. The innovative curriculum, workshops, and website empower young people to incorporate consent into their daily lives. The Consensual Project is committed to helping students connect through consent.

Tuesday, Jan. 24 7:30 p.m.

Campus Center Ballroom

http://www.theconsensualproject.com/

Former Judge to Speak at MLK Event

2012-01-10T13:35:00.001-05:00

UWG’s Office of Institutional Diversity hosts the 3rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom.

This event is free and open to the public.

The honorable Judge Penny Brown Reynolds will be the speaker. The theme is “There's Still Work to Do: Seize the Day.” Reynolds is former prosecutor and assistant attorney general, who presided over the syndicated television show, "Family Court with Judge Penny." She earned her bachelor’s of science from Georgia State University. She earned her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law and a master's degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Reynolds is the author and co-editor of “Women and the Law: A Guide to Women's Legal Rights in Georgia.”

Currently, she spends time lecturing across the country at colleges and universities, conferences and conventions. She also assists corporations with diversity issues and crisis management.

For more information call 678-839-5400 or visit the website at http://www.westga.edu/diversity.

Live Art at the Townsend Center with “Club Swing”

2012-01-10T13:33:00.001-05:00

Put on your dancing shoes and step back in time. Live Art 2012 at the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts takes you to the swing era on Jan. 21.

This is the fifth annual gala event, which brings unique and talented performers to the region. This year the Townsend Center presents Five by Design performing their musical revue, “Club Swing.” The performance begins at 7:30 pm.

Backed by a live band, Five By Design puts on a show that is reminiscent of the ‘30s and ‘40s club scene. “Club Swing” follows the rise and fall of the big band era at the fictional Club Swing in the Hotel Crosby. The Stork Club, the Copa, the Cocoanut Grove and Club Swing were formerly the hottest spots to see great entertainment. Only the once-magnificent Club Swing is left standing and now the wrecking ball is poised to strike her down. Can Joe Sullivan, the club’s bartender, prevent this tragedy from occurring? A long forgotten neon sign flares to life, illuminating palm trees and the art deco bar, magically restoring Club Swing to her former splendor.

From the frenetic opening of Benny Goodman’s “Bugle Call Rag” to the show’s blockbuster finale of Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Club Swing” celebrates the songs, events and personalities that defined American popular culture during the swing era.

Tickets for this performance are $38. Visit or call the Townsend Center Box office at 678-839-4722 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.townsendcenter.org.

Five By Design’s signature harmonies have withstood the test of time in a career that spans more than twenty years. The group embraces the unforgettable melodies, lush harmonies and swinging rhythms that evoke the names of Miller, Mancini and Mercer. This nationally acclaimed vocal group has been the choice of symphony orchestras and performing art centers, delighting hundreds of thousands. Their performances showcase the group’s penchant for storytelling and the comedic. Their CDs include: “Radio Days,” “Club Swing,” “Stay Tuned” and “The Ultra Lounge Show.”

The Minnesota-based Five By Design includes Lorie Carpenter-Niska, Catherine Farr-Scott, Kurt Niska, Michael Swedberg, and Terrence Niska. Four of the members have been singing together since 1986.

In addition to bringing high quality entertainment to Carrollton, Live Art supports the arts at the Townsend Center. If you are interested in becoming a Live Art sponsor, it is not to late. Your generosity will be rewarded with world-class entertainment and your sponsorship will nourish the arts here, in your community.

Live Art contributions sustain programming and outreach in the Townsend Center Professional Series. Sponsorship packages include name recognition in the playbills, hospitality prior to the performance, priority seating and admission to the cast party.

Help support the arts and join us for a magical evening of Club Swing. For more information, contact the staff at the Townsend Center at 678-839-4722.

Global Warming and Climate Change: Fact versus Fiction

2012-01-10T13:31:00.001-05:00

David Bush, professor of geology in the University of West Georgia’s Department of Geosciences, will present “Global Warming and Climate Change: Fact versus Fiction” on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at UWG’s Ingram Library. The presentation is free and open to the public.

The question of whether the climate is changing has expanded beyond scientific circles to become a primary topic of political debate and a major point of contention in U.S. international relations. It has even been the subject of Hollywood feature films. The public has been left to wonder which parts of this debate are fact and which are fiction.

At center stage is the question of whether the natural cycles of warming and cooling have been changed by human beings in the past hundred years. Bush will seek to correct the misconceptions surrounding global warming and provide information that is useful in comprehending this major issue.

Special public parking is available in the Townsend Center gated lot, beginning at 10 a.m.

For further information, visit www.westga.edu/library or contact Catherine Hendricks at chendric@westga.edu or (678) 839-5337.

UWG Program Takes on Health Care Challenges

2012-01-10T10:56:00.004-05:00

This spring, the Department of Psychology initiates its Integrated Health Studies certificate program. The largely online program will prepare students who already have bachelor’s degrees for the rapidly expanding field that incorporates mainstream medicine with alternative forms of healing.

Certificate graduates will play a crucial role in transforming health care in Georgia, across the U.S. and internationally, said Dr. John Kim, the program director.

“Integrative health is utilizing the available tools in healing in a mindful way. You use conventional medicine when it’s appropriate and use alternative medicine when appropriate,” said Kim, who graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

“You don’t assume that Western medicine is automatically good or bad. Or you don’t assume that alternative medicine is automatically good or bad,” he said. “The whole idea is patient-centered health care. The idea is being an advocate for the patients and helping them make the best decisions for themselves by education and by forming a healing partnership.”

In May the department will host the first Integrative Health Conference: State of Integrative Health in Georgia. Representatives from the Emory-Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute and Athens Regional Medical Center - Mind Body Institute will speak.

In 10 years Kim hopes that UWG will have an institute in integrated health studies, coordinating and funding research. Practitioners would be prepared to meet the nation’s major health care problems, such as diabetes and obesity, head on.

“We have a medical disaster that is coming our way. It’s not due to lack of medication. It’s not due to lack of medical procedure. It’s not due to lack in the number of physicians. It’s a lack of consciousness,” he said.

That is, it’s not all about the medicine. It’s about education, social support, psychology, lifestyle changes and innovative treatments. “Medicine is only one spoke in the wheel.”

Students in the certificate program take three core seminars then choose four electives from a list of nearly two dozen courses, including: Psychology of Dreams; Biology of Aging; Foundations of Nutrition; Sociology of Mental Health/Illness; Music and the Mind; and Clinical Hypnosis.

When Kim was a residential fellow at the University of Arizona, he studied with Dr. Andrew Weil, the founder and director of the Center for Integrative Medicine of the College of Medicine. Weil is a well-known author and speaker on alternative medicine.

In an email, Weil said Kim ”has put together a good program. I think it can have significant impact."

More than 20 percent of the country’s medical schools, including Mercer University and Morehouse School of Medicine have integrated health care components, Kim said. But UWG is the first public university to offer a certificate program. Because the program is not part of a medical school, students can come from a variety of fields, including counseling and nursing, he said.

UWG's program is unique, he said. “What we are doing is taking it to the next step, which is beyond medicine."

The program “brings innovation to our campus,” said Kim, a member of the psychology faculty. UWG’s strong programs in education, nursing, anthropology, counseling and business – to name a few -- and its size make working together across disciplines easier, he said.

“We want to change the health care of this country, of the world. This is an international movement.”

To learn more: http://www.westga.edu/psydept/index_17420.php

New Residence Hall Has a Name

2012-01-09T15:23:00.002-05:00

Have you noticed the construction project going on near the center of campus? Well now it has a name: Center Pointe Suites. It's a new residence hall scheduled to open in the fall.

Below, see the images of what it will look like.

Looks like a great place to Live West!

STUDENT HOUSING - Phase I

Construction will begin on the New Student Housing project during the week of September 19, 2011. Please view the attached Construction Advisory bulletin for important information. For safety reasons, students, employees, and guests are advised to strictly observe all signage and barriers for the duration of the construction, and are not permitted inside the construction fence at any time without explicit authorization from the CP&F office. We ask for your patience as we create this exciting new facility.

Construction Advisories

Construction Advisory #2011.04 December 7, 2011

Construction Advisory #2011.03 December 5, 2011

Construction Advisory #2011.02 September 23, 2011

Construction Advisory #2011.01 September 19, 2011

UWG's Richards College of Business Praised by Accrediting Body

2012-01-06T16:14:00.001-05:00

“It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.”

"AACSB accreditation verifies the excellence of the Richards College of Business and is a testament to the commitment of the faculty and staff who lead the programs and initiatives," said Dr. Faye McIntyre, dean of the RCOB. "Maintenance of accreditation is a signal of excellence of our faculty, staff, students, business partners, and programs. Our efforts have been recognized and rewarded with this accreditation decision."

"I am delighted to receive confirmation that the Richards College of Business has had its accreditation for both its business and accounting degree programs renewed by the AACSB," said UWG President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna. "As a former business dean myself, I know how rigorous and demanding the process is -- I offer my sincere congratulations to Dean Faye McIntyre, the leadership team, the faculty, staff and students, and to the broader community of supporters."

Luv Ya Blue, Wolves

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

January 6 is…

“Big Blue Friday”

Wear your West Georgia Blue and receive discounts or complimentary products or services on Friday, January 6 when visiting the following friends of the West Georgia Wolves…

Advantage Office Solutions American Pie Pizzeria Blue Steakhouse

Carroll County Animal Hospital Chick-Fil-A Food Lion

Harry T’s Car Wash Publix Longhorn Steakhouse

Next Level Sports Center Ozier Apparel Papa John’s Pizza

Shane’s Rib Shack UWG Bookstore Holiday Inn Express

UWG Wolves Basketball This Week!

Thursday vs. North Alabama

(Tip-Off times of 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.)

Saturday vs. Alabama-Huntsville

(Tip-Off times at 2 and 4 p.m.)

The Coliseum

On the campus of The University of West Georgia

GO WOLVES!!

UWG Men's Hoops Gains National Ranking; Big Home Games Coming Thursday and Saturday

2012-01-04T15:10:00.002-05:00

The new year brings exciting things for the UWG men's basketball team, as the Wolves have returned to the national rankings for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

UWG entered the 2011-12 rankings at 25th in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday.

The ranking is the first for UWG since Dec. 4, 2007, during head coach Michael Cooney's first year at the helm of the program. The Wolves that year opened the season with four straight victories and entered the rankings at 24th, then moved up to 21st before falling out for the remainder of the season.

UWG enters Gulf South Conference play with a pair of home games starting Thursday against North Alabama at 7:30 p.m., which will be preceded by the UWG women's team taking on North Alabama at 5:30 p.m. Then Saturday, UWG's women play Alabama-Huntsville at 2 p.m., with the men tipping off at 4 p.m. Alabama-Huntsville's men's team is ranked 13th nationally.

This year, the Wolves have made a strong statement both regionally and nationally with a 13-1 start to the season. UWG is coming off two dramatic wins in the 37th-Annual Tangerine Tournament in Winter Park, Fla., besting California (Pa.) last Thursday by a 67-57 count, then winning the tourney championship with a 58-56 victory over Lake Erie on Friday.

The top five teams in this week's poll are No. 1 Metro State, with Southern Indiana second, followed by Lincoln Memorial, Kentucky Wesleyan and Bellarmine.

Come out and rock the Coliseum in support of the Wolves!

Georgia Trend Honors Bolling, a UWG Alumnus, and UWG President Sethna

2012-01-02T11:09:00.002-05:00

Georgia Trend magazine has selected Bill Bolling, a UWG alumnus, as its 2012 Georgian of the Year. Bolling, founder and executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, was honored for his longstanding commitment to helping feed the hungry throughout North Georgia. When he started the food bank in 1979, it was the first one in the South and one of the first in the nation. Today, his organization works with more than 1,000 volunteers monthly to distribute about 34 million pounds of food a year to more than 700 partner agencies.

Read Georgia Trend's article on Bolling here.

The magazine also once again honored UWG President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna as one of its 100 Most Influential Georgians. The magazine cited Sethna's recent term as chairman of the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, his participation in a delegation of U.S. university presidents who traveled to Israel for education talks and his receiving the Community Builder Award at the USA India Business Summit. View the Georgia Trend Most Influential list here.

Charter Bank fulfills stadium pledge

2011-12-16T12:47:00.002-05:00

Charter Bank fulfills pledge to University Stadium. Pictured are (left) Chuck Thompson, Charter Bank Regional President and Daryl Dickey, UWG athletics director and football coach.

Star of Bethlehem Physics Presentation

2011-12-09T16:18:00.004-05:00

The Star of Bethlehem

a multimedia astronomy lecture

will be presented

Friday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Math-Physics -- Crider Lecture Hall

Free and open to the public

Suitable for ages 10 years and up.

Travel back in time to ancient Babylonia and watch the star rise in the East. Then go by camel with the Wise Men all the way to Bethlehem, and observe the Heavens again.

Presented by

Dr. Ben de Mayo, Prof. Emeritus of Physics

678-839-4087 or 678-839-4097

bdemayo@westga.edu

Cowtown String Band Performing in the Library Today

2011-12-09T12:41:00.001-05:00

Reception and musical performance featuring the Cowtown String Band exploring the influence of the Civil War on America's musical heritage.

The event is presented as part of the reading and discussion series, "Let's Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War." This series is sponsored by the Ingram Library's Penelope Melson Society as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The library is also hosting an exhibit of Civil War artifacts from the Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory as part of this series.

The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. with the musical performance beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the main floor of the Ingram Library.

Cowboy Christmas Rides into the Townsend

2011-12-09T11:21:00.002-05:00

The University of West Georgia’s Townsend Center for the Performing Arts proudly presents Riders in the Sky on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. No matter what age, you will enjoy hours of fun with America’s Favorite Cowboys. Riders in the Sky are comedians whose wacky western wit and songs have delighted audiences from coast to coast.

Celebrating 33 years together including Grammy Awards for Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc., Riders in the Sky gives a saddlebag full of wacky imagination and cowboy music. These four-part harmonizing cowboys have spruced up the bunkhouse, donned their sequined yuletide outfits, and loosed their vivid imaginations to create a holiday musical fantasy for Saddle Pals of all ages. Christmas The Cowboy Way will feature their unique brand of cowboy humor sprinkled with a dash of holiday spice which includes original songs like “Riding Home on Christmas Eve,” “Deck The Bunkhouse Walls,” and “The Last Christmas Medley You’ll Ever Need To Hear.” So put on your merry cheer and saddle up for a holiday evening The Cowboy Way!

Preceding the Riders in the Sky performance, the Townsend Center will continue its annual toy drive tradition. There will be a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Dangle Theatre. Toy donors and their families will enjoy desserts, hors d'oeuvres and holiday music. An unwrapped toy is your ticket to the reception.

Tickets for Riders in the Sky are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and military, and $15 for children. Visit or call the Townsend Center Box Office at 678-839-4722 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or one hour before show time. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.townsendcenter.org .

Carrollopoly Comes to Town

2011-12-09T11:05:00.001-05:00

The Carroll County constitutional officers are now accepting orders for the new board game Carrollopoly.

Based on Carroll County, the familiar and popular family board game style features landmarks, businesses and other recognizable aspect of the community.

“The constitutional officers of Carroll County are looking forward to promoting education in our county,” said Carroll County Tax Commissioner Vickie Bearden. “We feel there is a strong need to fund GED testing, and we want to give high school students a head start on their college education.”

Proceeds from the game will be used to help fund a brand new scholarship fund throughout Carroll County for students and adults. The goal is to help remove obstacles for local residents to gain their GED and open up new and attractive employment opportunities. The proceeds will also provide high school students with scholarship funds.

Men's Basketball Breakdown: The First Eight Games

2011-12-07T10:45:00.002-05:00

As basketball seasons go, the 2011-12 version for the UWG men's team has started as well as could be hoped for, as the Wolves are perfect through the first eight games.

This year's Wolves are utlilizing a solid mix of strong defense and steady offense to get to this point undefeated. The start has included blowouts and close-calls, but each has continued to build on what is the best opening to the men's basketball season since the 2004-05 campaign.

Sims on fire early
UWG senior forward Da'Ron Sims has been on a torrid pace thus far in his final season at West Georgia, averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over the first eight. He is shooting 47 percent from the floor and hitting on 75 percent of his free-throws. Against Columbus State last Saturday, Sims had 10 points and 13 rebounds, his first double-double of the 2011-12 campaign. His points total is also good for tops in the Gulf South Conference.

The Start Historically
A look through the archives of UWG men's basketball shows many solid seasons, but mostly West Georgia would find a loss in game five or six. This year's 8-0 start marks the fourth-best in school history, with the 1972-73 9-0 start next on the list. Fortunately for this year's team, Augusta State is not on the schedule, as the Jaguars have been the team to stop the top three starts in school history.

Read more at UWGsports.com

Refresh & recharge with COSS

2011-12-06T11:10:00.002-05:00

The College of Social Sciences is helping students refresh and recharge amidst the stress of finals.

COSS invites students to stop by the Deans Office, Pafford 3rd floor during finals week (12/5-12-8)
from 9am-5pm. The college is providing snacks and drinks for students, and is offering them "Quiet Zones" (Pafford 118 and 220) for a quiet space to study, reflect, and disconnect from the stress.

For more information, call 678-839-5170.

UWG’s Psychology Department to Launch Study of the Senses

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

The University of West Georgia’s Department of Psychology is currently studying people with synesthesia, a fusion of the senses.

People with synesthesia experience the world on several levels: numbers have personalities; they can taste words; they see colors when they hear music; they experience days of the week, months and even years as circles, ellipses or ovals.

In the first phase of the study participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their experiences. If they meet the study criteria, they will be asked to come to UWG’s main campus in Carrollton to participate in two experiments and for a short interview.

A computer will administer the experiments. One of the experiments involves ESP; the other will explore imagination. The experiments and interview will take up to 90 minutes. Participants who are asked to come to the UWG campus will receive movie or book vouchers worth $15 as a thank you for taking part in this study.

Anyone interested in participating in the study, please contact Dr. Christine Simmonds-Moore at csimmond@westga.edu.

Participant data will be stored in coded form and individual names will not be associated with their responses. Data will be analyzed based on general patterns rather than individual scoring. If examples are used in publications and presentations, such examples will only be referred to by use of pseudonyms.

For more information go to http://www.wix.com/csimmond/synesthesiastudy.

Cowboy Christmas Rides into the Townsend

2011-12-06T09:52:00.001-05:00

Stress Free Zone for Finals Week

2011-12-06T09:40:00.003-05:00

The library opens on Sunday and doesn't close until Friday, so come do your studying at our place!
Beginning at 8pm, Ingram Library will provide refreshments and space to do your studying and to take a study break during finals week.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will offer yoga workshops to help you manage your stress.

On all nights, we will provide board games for your study break entertainment.

For more information contact Angela Pashia at 678-839-6362 or at apashia@westga.edu.

Civil War Exhibit Opens the Ingram Library

2011-12-05T16:26:00.001-05:00

Civil War artifacts and materials are currently on display at the University of West Georgia’s Ingram Library. The exhibit runs through March 2012.

The display features artifacts from the Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory, including salvage from the sunken warship, CSS Nashville. Also on display are items from the library’s special collections. The Fannie Hargrave collection features letters and daguerreotypes of a Carroll County bride whose husband, a Confederate officer, was killed in a raid in Cedartown. In another letter, a Coweta County soldier tells a Villa Rica woman, a mother of seven children, how her Confederate soldier husband died of dysentery and measles in Mississippi.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Friday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. The Cowtown String Band will explore the influence of the Civil War on America’s musical heritage.

The exhibit is held in conjunction with the five-part reading and discussion series “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War,” which begins on Sunday, Jan. 15, with subsequent discussions on alternate Sunday afternoons through March 11. Keith Bohanan, UWG associate professor of history, will lead the discussions.

Participants will read; “March,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Geraldine Brooks; the anthology “America’s War”; and James M. McPherson’s “Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam.”

The exhibit and participation in the book discussion is open to the community. The first participants to register will receive free copies of the books.

To register go to: https://apps.westga.edu/limesurvey/index.php?sid=19159&lang=en.

The discussion series is made possible with a $3,000 grant from the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Penelope Melson Society, the library’s friends organization, provided local support for the series.

The Ingram Library is one of 65 libraries nationwide and one of four in Georgia who received grants to host the series, which will encourage participants to consider the legacy of the Civil War and emancipation.

For more information go: http://uwglibrary.wordpress.com/

Wolves survive on the road, move to 8-0

2011-12-05T08:24:00.002-05:00

When you are undefeated, it gets tougher each night out to stay in that position. The UWG men's basketball team had their closest battle since the season opener Saturday afternoon, holding off a late charge from Columbus State for a 60-59 victory.

The win moves West Georgia to 8-0 on the season, the best start at UWG since the 2004-05 season when UWG started out 12-0. To pick up their eighth win of the season, this year's Wolves needed a solid defensive effort Saturday.

The first 13 minutes of the contest were a see-saw battle, but it was Columbus State that drew first blood, opening up a six-point lead in the first five minutes. The Cougars held the lead until the 7:11 mark when junior guard Quincy Hill raced the length of the court for a layup and a foul. Hill was shaken up on the play and Lavon Gray hit the free-throw in his stead, giving the Wolves a 26-25 advantage.

From that point for the remainder of the half, the Wolves would not give up the lead, with the advantage getting as high as six points and as low as two points. Jamarquis Stevenson hit a jumper at the buzzer for CSU that cut the UWG lead to 37-34 heading into the locker room.

Utilizing stellar ball movement, West Georgia went up by as many as eight in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but Columbus State clawed back into contention, cutting the UWG lead to one at 51-50 with 7:37 remaining in the contest.

Read More at UWGSports.com

Judge to Speak at MLK Day Celebration

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Office of Institutional Diversity of the University of West Georgia will host its third annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom. The speaker for the occasion is Judge Penny Brown Reynolds. The theme for the occasion is “There’s Still Work to Do: Seize the Day.” The program is free and open to the public.

Brown Reynolds presides over the renowned internationally syndicated television show, "Family Court with Judge Penny." After earning her bachelor of science, cum laude, from Georgia State University in only three years, she earned a juris doctor from GSU College of Law and a master's degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center, graduating first in her class with highest honors.

As a former prosecutor and assistant attorney general, Brown Reynolds’ eloquent speaking ability and expertise allowed her to serve as a state trial court judge in Atlanta for nearly a decade. Additionally, she is the author and co-editor of "Women and the Law: A Guide to Women's Legal Rights in Georgia." She lectures across the country at colleges and universities, conferences and conventions, while concurrently assisting corporations with diversity issues and crisis management.

For additional information, please call 678-839-5400 or visit our website.

UWG’s Psychology Department to Launch Study of the Senses

2011-12-02T16:35:00.001-05:00

The University of West Georgia’s Department of Psychology is currently studying people with synesthesia, a fusion of the senses.

Anyone interested in participating in the study, please contact Dr. Christine Simmonds-Moore at csimmond@westga.edu.

For more information go to: http://www.wix.com/csimmond/synesthesiastudy.

Stay West This Weekend

2011-12-02T10:30:00.006-05:00

12/2-12/3 "Photo Snow Globes for Winter Time! Weekends West Georgia
will be hosting Photo Snow Globes in the Ingram Library Nook from
1pm-5pm on Saturday December 3. Come take a break from studying and get ready for winter time!"

12/2-12/3 "The last Stay West Weekend of the Semester is gearing up
today! On Friday December 2 SAC will be hosting SAC-O-RAMA from 3pm-7pm with tons of fun novelties in the HPE Gym, then NAACP will be hosting Exam Pajama Jam in the Campus Center Ballroom from 6pm-9pm with a DJ, tshirts, and fun giveaways.

On Saturday December 3 Art Student Union will be hosting the DADA Art Fest from 12pm-6pm in the Campus Quad and Humanities with lots of fun art to participate in and take home with you! Hope you come out to enjoy these last few events on campus in between studying hard for finals!"

Midnight Breakfast a tradition

2011-12-01T09:27:00.006-05:00

The University of West Georgia held the Midnight Breakfast at the Z6 on November 30. The breakfast is hosted by Auxiliary Services and is one of many end-of-the-semester events held on campus for students as they prepare for finals.

"The semester is a lot of work...the students have been through 14-15 weeks of studies and it’s all coming to an end and it’s time for exams," said Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, Mark Reeves. "This is just an opportunity to get everybody together, have some fun right before exams, let the administration serve them breakfast but at the same time get to mingle with them and also to let the students kind of just let their hair down and relax a little bit too."

The students were able to relax and have fun before the approaching finals while enjoying breakfast. The WOLF Internet Radio provided music for the event which brought several students to dance and sing along throughout the event.

The university wishes the best for all students as they approach their finals and of course, congratulations to those who will be graduating at the end of the semester.

CBS to Rebroadcast THE ELF ON THE SHELF, 12/9

2011-12-01T09:11:00.004-05:00

by BWW News Desk/Broadway World

The CBS Television Network will present an encore of THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF’S STORY, an animated feature based on the best-selling holiday children’s book The Elf on the Shelf, to be rebroadcast on CBS as a special presentation on Friday, Dec. 9 (9:30 – 10:00 PM, ET/PT). (Originally broadcast 11/25/11.)

THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF’S STORY follows one of the many scout elves from the North Pole who helps Santa Calus determine who to put on the naughty and nice lists. Named “Chippey” by his adoptive family, the elf is assigned to help a young boy, Taylor McTuttle, who struggles to believe in the magic of Christmas.

Wolves win defensive struggle

2011-12-01T08:53:00.003-05:00

by Jordan Hofeditz/Times-Georgian

In a defensive struggle, the University of West Georgia women's basketball team pulled out the 54-38 victory over Georgia College and State University on Wednesday night at The Coliseum.

The Wolves (3-2) continued their up-and-down season by holding the Bobcats to their second-lowest scoring total of the year.

"We knew that they only had one ball-handler and really, [Myeshia Simms] was really the key to their offense. Slowing her down and getting into her in the full court was the key and they did a really good job. That was the main key, slowing her down," UWG assistant coach Alexis Pace said.

2011-11-30T15:29:00.002-05:00

Howl for UWG Public Art Project is Dec. 2

2011-11-30T10:23:00.004-05:00

The submission deadline for Howl for UWG is Friday, Dec. 2.

Howl for UWG is a public art project that uses the wolf as a metaphor for community. It seeks to connect art, academics and athletics. Howl is patterned after Cows on Parade, an international public art project of painted cows that has raised millions of dollars for charity.

Howl is open to all artists, designers, schools and community groups. There is no limit to the number of submissions a person or group can enter. Please visit the artists link at www.howlforuwg.com for more information and to download the artist application package.

If selected, the work will be fully credited and displayed at appropriate, high visibility locations throughout the UWG campus and the surrounding community.

Selected artists will receive a $350 honorarium to assist in the cost of art supplies and materials. Selected artists will agree to complete both a life-size wolf and a smaller tabletop replica. Depending on the sponsorship level, selected wolves will be auctioned during the spring of 2013. Each sculpture will include a plaque bearing the name of the artist, the sponsor and the title of the wolf. In addition, selected artists will have their information, along with a photograph of their finished wolf, posted on the Howl for UWG website.

Clint Samples, associate professor of art, and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations are spearheading the effort. For more information contact Samples at 678-839-4949 or csamples@westga.edu.

Furry Friends for Finals

2011-11-30T08:47:00.002-05:00

Furry Friends Coming to Campus...

The end of the semester can be stressful time for everyone on campus-
students, faculty and staff.

This is why PREVENT@UWG is helping you to fight stress by bringing a
few furry friends to campus on THIS THURSDAY!

During this event, "Furry Friends For Finals," students, faculty and
staff will have a chance to play with puppies/dogs, provided by the
staff of the Student Development Center as a method of alleviating
stress and anxiety.

Here are event details:
Title: Furry Friends For Finals"
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011
Time: 11a-1p
Location: Outside the UCC

Wolves Extend Win Streak against Nova Southeastern

2011-11-30T08:29:00.002-05:00

Defense has been the driving force behind the undefeated start for the UWG men's basketball team and that was on full display on Tuesday night at The Coliseum, as the Wolves used a stifling defensive effort to take down Nova Southeastern 65-57.

The UWG victory runs the season record to 7-0, continuing the hottest streak to open the season for a West Georgia squad since the 2004-05 season. Da'Ron Sims and Gavin Field were on fire on Tuesday night, combining for 49 of the Wolves' 65 points in the contest.

The first half was a defensive struggle on both sides of the ball as both teams played strong defense early. The Wolves went on top in the first three minutes thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Sims and Quincy Hill. The Sharks caught up at 9-9 and then took a lead at the 12:44 mark that nearly held for seven minutes.

But with the Wolves trailing 19-17, Field went up for a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. He hit all three shots from the charity stripe, putting the Wolves back in front 20-19. That sparked a five-minute run that ended at the buzzer for halftime as the Wolves outscored Nova Southeastern 11-2 over the final minutes of the opening period. Sims put an exclamation point on the run with a dunk in the final minute to put the Wolves on top 31-21 heading into the locker rooms.

Read the whole story at UWGSports.com

UWG Presents TecHUB, a Free Resource for Educators

2011-11-30T08:22:00.001-05:00

The University of West Georgia's College of Education will proudly unveil TecHUB, a free resource center for educators, on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 9:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Education Center on UWG's Carrollton campus. The event is free and open to the public.

TecHUB is the new name for the Teaching Materials Center, which has long provided teaching components to the community.

So what's new besides the name?

TecHUB will provide more technologically advanced curriculum resources and materials that will let teachers enhance their classroom experience.

Teachers will be able to check out, at no charge, materials that can be integrated into their lesson plans.

The public is invited to see demonstrations of the technology on Thursday, where there will also be refreshments, games, prizes and a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Kim Metcalf, dean of the College of Education.

Source: Westga.edu

League of Women Voters to host forum

2011-11-29T10:09:00.003-05:00

The League of Women Voters of Carrollton and Carroll County will hold a forum for state House District 68 candidates on Wednesday evening, Nov. 30th at the Carroll County Commission Chambers, 423 College St., Carrollton, form 7-9 pm. The candidates are:

James M. Camp, 31, Temple, Libertarian, IT technician.
Thom Fitzpatrick, 48, Villa Rica, Republican, retired.
Dustin “Dusty” Hightower, 30, Carrollton, Republican, attorney.
Marc E. Lattanzio, 38, Villa Rica, Republican, law enforcement.
Alan Martinez, 41, Villa Rica, Republican, business owner.
Tim Whetstone, 50, Carrollton, Republican, salesman.

This special election is to fill the recently vacated seat of Rep. Tim Bearden, who was appointed director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center by Gov. Nathan Deal. Voting Day is December 6th. Early voting is Nov. 28-Dec. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information email carrollton@lwvga.org.

History Club hosting Toys for Tots Drive

2011-11-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

The UWG History Club is sponsoring a Toys for Toys Drive until Friday, December 2. Donations can be taken to a drop off point in the TLC Atrium where Java City use to be located, or the Department of History on the third floor of the TLC.

If donating, please bring a new, unwrapped toy in the original packaging. You can also make a monetary donation in the form of cash or a check made payable to Toys for Tots. All monetary donations should be sent to Professor Vasconcellos, adviser to the club.

For more information contact Vasconcellos at 678-839-6032 or cvasconc@westga.edu.

UWG Duo chosen for Football All-Star Game

2011-11-29T09:09:00.002-05:00

11/28/2011 4:46:00 PM

Carrollton, GA – Two seniors who helped key the West Georgia Wolves’ turnaround in 2011 have been rewarded for their efforts. Running back James Kennebrew and safety Manny Rodriguez have been selected to play in this Sunday’s National Bowl Game in Allentown, Pa.

The National Bowl is an all-star game for college seniors from across the nation. It is an invitation only game featuring players who earned either All-America or all-conference honors.

Both players were top contributors in 2011 as coach Daryl Dickey guided the Wolves to their first winning season since 2005.

“We are very pleased for both James and Manny,” said Dickey. “This is a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents. I am sure they will do an outstanding job representing themselves and our program, and we are happy to support them.”

Kennebrew, a native of Columbus, was UWG’s second leading rusher in 2011. He carried 103 times for 523 yards, and three touchdowns. For his career, Kennebrew completed his eligibility with 1,924 yards rushing, the fifth highest total in West Georgia history.

Rodriguez, who hails from Lawrenceville, played two seasons at UWG following a transfer from

Wittenberg (Ohio) University. He was the Wolves’ second leading tackler in 2011 with 53 total tackles, including 29 solos. Rodriguez also had two tackles for loss, two passes broken up, and one pass interception during his senior campaign. His career numbers include 115 tackles, including 67 solo stops.

Scouts from a variety of professional leagues will attend Sunday’s game. Also, films of the game and practices will be made available to scouts from all levels of the pro game.

UWG puts streak to test against Sharks

2011-11-29T08:29:00.004-05:00

by Jordan Hofeditz/Times-Georgian

The University of West Georgia men's basketball team will look to keep its perfect start to the season intact as Nova Southeastern comes to The Coliseum tonight for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

The Wolves (6-0) have put themselves in a good position early in the season. Of UWG's six wins, five have come by at least 10 points and Saturday's 82-54 win against Tennessee Temple was the biggest margin so far.

Nova Southeastern (2-2) will be the fifth regional NCAA Division II opponent the Wolves have faced this year, and may prove to be one of the tougher tasks.

Riders in the Sky

2011-11-28T10:33:00.004-05:00

It's a great big western ho-ho-ho from "America's Favorite Cowboys!" Riders in the Sky will feature their unique "brand" of cowboy humor sprinkled with songs like "Woody's Roundup" and "The Christmas Yodel." Saddle up your pony and meet us at the Townsend Center for a Christmas The Cowboy Way. December 9th, 2011 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..
Adults $20
Childten $15
Seniors/Military $18

Wrap up Your Semester With SAC

2011-11-28T09:07:00.003-05:00

To help students deal with the stress of their upcoming finals, the Student Activities Council will be hosting a series of fun and relaxing events from December first through third.

On December 1st from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Campus Center ballroom there will be free food and giveaways along with massages and an oxygen bar.

December 2nd from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Campus Center Main Entrance there will be free food, giveaways and music.

December 3rd from 1 pm. to 5p.m. at Ingram Library near Strabucks there will be an opportunity for students to take Snow Globe photos.

Be sure to capitalize on these opportunities for some last minute fun and relaxation.

Wolves 6-0 after beating Tennessee Temple

2011-11-28T08:28:00.002-05:00

The UWG offense rolled on Saturday afternoon at The Coliseum as the West Georgia Wolves ran their record to 6-0 with an 82-54 blasting of Tennessee Temple on Thanksgiving weekend.

Three UWG players scored in double-figures and the Wolves hit on 51 percent of their shots to run the winning streak to six straight to start the 2011-12 season. Senior Da'Ron Sims scored at least 20 points for the third straight game, putting up 26 points to lead the second-highest scoring output of the year thus far. The Wolves scored 98 against Point in the home opener on November 16.

After the Crusaders hit the opening shot of the game, a three-pointer from Weedlens Beavil, the Wolves took complete control. A pair of jumpers in the lane from Sims sparked a 22-4 run from West Georgia and the Wolves never looked back. A fastbreak dunk from Sims at the 4:23 mark of the first half put UWG in front 33-10, giving the Wolves their biggest lead of the opening half.

But Tennessee Temple clawed their way back into contention, going on a 15-3 run to close out the half and and jumper from Jarrett Smith cut the Wolves' advantage to 11 at 36-25 heading into the locker room at the break.

Just over a minute into the second half, Smith hit a layup that cut the Wolves' lead to nine, the first time that the UWG lead had been less than double-digits since the 13:39 mark of the first half. West Georgia then reeled off 16-straight points to squash any thought of an upset from the Crusaders.

Read more at UWGSports.com

Wolves fall in to Tampa in Florence, AL

2011-11-28T08:23:00.001-05:00

The West Georgia women's basketball team came up on the short end of a shootout Saturday night in Florence, Ala., falling 79-69 to the Tampa Spartans in a single neutral site contest.

The shootout came at the three-point line, as Tampa hit 11 three-pointers on the night to the Wolves' seven, but seven of the Spartans' made shots from beyond the arc came in the second half. West Georgia hit five in the first half, but couldn't keep pace in the second, hitting just two three-pointers in that period.

The first half was one of see-saw battles between the two teams, as both squads were able to take as much as a five-point lead in the period, but neither could get any further than that. Both teams shot right at or just below 50 percent in the half and it looked as though Tampa would take a four-point advantage in at the break.

But junior Monè Peoples cut that lead to one with two seconds left in the half, nailing a three-pointer to pull the Wolves to within one at 37-36 heading into the locker room. Peoples went into the locker room as the Wolves' leading scorer in the first half with 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

Read more at UWGSports.com

Outgoing trustees honored

2011-11-27T15:36:00.000-05:00

The University of West Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees recently honored four members whose terms of service concluded. Board Chairwoman Susan Fleck, left, is shown with outgoing board members Randall Redding, Lucille Garmon, Deirdre Haywood-Rouse and Bob White (a 1968 West Georgia alumni).

History Club hosting Toys for Tots Drive

2011-11-18T16:04:00.003-05:00

For more information contact Vasconcellos at 678-839-6032 or cvasconc@westga.edu.

November is Georgia “Apply to College Month”

2011-11-18T15:46:00.003-05:00

ATLANTA — November 18, 2011

by John Millsaps/University System of Georgia

For many high school seniors across Georgia, the application and financial aid process can be overwhelming and deterring. Georgia Apply to College Month, held during November, is full of events specifically designed to to assist high school seniors with the college application process and to make them aware of the many college-related resources that are available. Via www.GACollege411.org students have a one-stop-shop to apply to colleges throughout the state of Georgia.

Georgia Apply to College Month events have been underway at nearly 200 participating Georgia high schools across the state. Open to all seniors at those schools, the program has a special focus on providing assistance students who are the first from their family to attend college as well as those that find the application process confusing.

“As an increased focus has been placed on college completion, it is also important for us to give students all the necessary tools to succeed. That starts with the college application and financial aid process,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby said. “Apply to College Month is an excellent opportunity for high school seniors to receive one-on-one attention to educate them about the materials available to help them successfully transfer from high school to the post secondary option of his or her choice.”

Wolves place seven in All-GSC

2011-11-18T12:25:00.003-05:00

Carrollton, GA - Following one of the most successful seasons in a decade, the UWG football team continued that success Thursday as seven players were named All-Gulf South Conference in the 41st edition of the annual coaches vote.

The seven players named All-GSC included one First Team nod and six on the Second Team, marking a tie for the most West Georgia players honored as All-GSC since UWG placed 10 on the team in 2001. In addition, freshman Teddy Lawrence was named GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year and head coach Daryl Dickey was named Co-Coach of the Year.

Appling

Denarius Appling was named both First Team and Second Team All-GSC this season after earning Second Team return

specialist honors a year ago. He was named First Team return specialist after averaging 38.9 yards per return on punts, including three touchdowns. He was a distinct weapon and didn't get much of an opportunity to return punts in the second half of the season as teams chose to punt away from him. In addition, he returned 33 kickoffs with an average of 20.8 yards per return.

Read More at UWGSports.com

Pilot Club Scholarship Endowed, Named for Longtime Member

2011-11-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

A scholarship that is given annually to a University of West Georgia student majoring in special education or speech-language pathology has recently become an endowed scholarship and has been given a new name.

The Pilot Club of Carrollton Scholarship was established in 1999 in honor of current and deceased members of the Carrollton Pilot Club. This year, the scholarship was renamed the Margaret N. Perkins Pilot Club of Carrollton Endowed Scholarship. Perkins has been an active member of the local club for 57 years, holding a number of elected and appointed offices. She also has held appointments at the district and international levels of the club and has given her time and talents to enrich the lives of others in the West Georgia community.

The Pilot Club is a worldwide service organization with a focus on brain-related disorders, including traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's, stroke and developmental, emotional and mental disabilities.

UWG men on Point in home opener

2011-11-17T08:46:00.003-05:00

by Jordan Hofeditz/Times-Georgian

The home opener for the University of West Georgia men's basketball team went about as close to coach Michael Cooney's plan as possible, as the Wolves eased past Point University, 98-74, Wednesday night at The Coliseum.

The Wolves (3-0) took a 3-0 lead on a Quincy Hill lay-up and free throw and never trailed in the game.

"We wanted to make sure we set the tone at the beginning of the game and I was really pleased with how hard we played, how hard we competed. We got out to a good lead, kind of took away their heart, let them know they weren't going to come in and get an upset," Cooney said.

Wolves Take Down Falcons in Montevallo

2011-11-16T10:17:00.001-05:00

Montevallo, AL - The 2011-12 women's basketball season is officially underway and the UWG squad started things off on solid footing Tuesday night, taking down the Montevallo Falcons 62-57 in the season opener.

Senior Krystal Delph scored 15 points in the first half and a game-high 19 points to lead the Wolves (1-0) to the season-opening victory. The captain also came up big down the stretch with a pair of steals in the final minutes to salt the game away for West Georgia.

"It was really big for us to start off the season strong and we really feel like we started this off the way we wanted to," said Delph. "A huge key for us was that our freshmen stepped up well for us and we are going to need that all season to be successful."

Three players who were either new to the Wolves or didn't play much a season ago saw time in the opener, with Angela Davis, Shakilya McLeon and Kanesha Looper# combining for 14 points. McLeon stepped up in the final moments, drawing a foul while hitting a layup and making the subsequent free throw to put the Wolves up for good with 2:10 left in the contest.

Things started off slowly for the Wolves, as Montevallo used an early 12-1 run to take a 12-3 lead in the first five minutes of the contest. Montevallo kept the lead for much of the first half and led by as many as nine with 5:30 left in the period.

Read More at UWGSports.com

What Makes You Tic?

2011-11-16T10:09:00.003-05:00

SAC Presents: What Makes You Tic? @ 7pm in the Campus Center Ballroom

Marc Elliot knows the importance of understanding people’s differences. He was born with a rare disease that left him with virtually no intestines and at age nine he developed a neurological disorder called Tourette’s Syndrome. He is now inspiring audiences all across the world by sharing his life story to convey the value of tolerance and they basic attitudes and behaviors that allow it to flourish.

Quoted from MarcElliot.com: "Marc's inspiring speech, “What Makes You Tic?” is loaded with timely humor, powerful anecdotes, and fundamental lessons of tolerance to encourage audiences to 'Live and Let Live,' leaving audiences motivated, better-informed, and reflecting on their own lives."

The presentation will be tonight Wednesday November 16th at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom.

Foreclosure Figures Offer a Bit of Hope, UWG Expert Says

2011-11-16T09:47:00.003-05:00

The most recent housing foreclosure figures offer some hope that the worst of the crisis in real estate has passed, a University of West Georgia economist says.

Joey Smith said that locally, the housing industry might be in for brighter days after more than two years in the doldrums.

Filing for new foreclosures fell 53 percent in Carroll County in October, according to figures from RealtyTrac, which reports on the national foreclosure market.

Carroll County posted 162 foreclosures in October, compared with 352 in September and 274 in October 2010.

“This may be a sign for at least some cautious optimism in the housing market,” said Smith. “We’re also starting to see some jobs flow back into the area. This means people will have employment and can pay for houses or catch up on their delinquencies.”

Smith tempered his assessment by saying that some of the foreclosure decline might be because of a more cautious approach used in handling paperwork, which could be slowing the process.

Among Georgia's 159 counties, Carroll is No. 11 in foreclosures. In the third quarter of the year, it was No. 6.

Statewide, foreclosures fell 13 percent in October compared with September. Georgia ranked sixth nationally in the rate of foreclosures.

Nationally, foreclosures rose 7 percent in October.

History Club has Toys for Tots Drive

2011-11-16T08:13:00.000-05:00

The UWG History Club is sponsoring a Toys for Tots Drive in the TLC Atrium until Dec. 2.

If you would like to donate, please bring a new, unwrapped toy in its original packaging (or with tags) to the box that has been set up in TLC (where the Java City used to be).

Another smaller box has been set up in the Department of History on the 3^rd floor TLC.

History Club will also take monetary donations in the form of cash or checks made payable to Toys for Tots.

All cash or check donations should be sent to Colleen Vasconcellos, the club advisor in the Department of History (TLC3209).

If you have any questions, please feel free to email cvasconc@westga.edu or call 678 839 6032

Vote Coach Dickey as Coach of the Year

2011-11-15T17:23:00.001-05:00

We are still delirious about the Wolves knocking off No. 1 Delta State. That win, along with the others this season, makes our coach, Daryl Dickey, No. 1 to us. And it's also his leadership and integrity we love. If you agree, vote for him for coach of the year. Go to this link and click on Division II to cast your vote. And you can vote every day until Dec. 3
http://coachoftheyear.com/default.aspx#fbid=2vPV6rDoSVM

College Football | Coach of the Year | Presented by Liberty Mutual

coachoftheyear.com

You can help your favorite college football coach win the 2011 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. Vote now at coachoftheyear.com.

"Elf" Author Coming Back to UWG

2011-11-15T17:05:00.001-05:00

The University of West Georgia College of Education is proud to bring Chanda Bell, a UWG alumna and author of the best-selling children's holiday book "The Elf on the Shelf," to the campus's Education Center, Room 5 on Wed., Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.

Bell will be reading her best selling book to local pre-school children, with a book purchase and signing to follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Bell's book has become a big hit nationally. CBS will present "The Elf on The Shelf: An Elf’s Story," a new animated feature based on the book, as a special presentation on Fri., Nov. 25 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

"The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story," follows one of the many scout elves from the North Pole who helps Santa Claus determine who to put on the naughty and nice lists. Named “Chippey” by his adoptive family, the elf is assigned to help a

young boy, Taylor McTuttle, who struggles to believe in the magic of Christmas.

"The Elf on the Shelf" was by Carol Aebersold and her daughters, Bell and Christa Pitts, also a UWG alumna, who self-published the book through their company CCA and B. The story was inspired by an Aebersold family tradition featuring

their own pixie elf, Fisbee, who appeared in their home every holiday season. Since 2005, The Elf on the Shelf has sold nearly two million copies.

Big Canoe Entertainment is the Atlanta-based production company that created "The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story." BCE was formed in 2010 by Aebersold, Bell, Pitts, Catherine Scorsese, Chad Eikhoff, Tara Burtchaell and Kenneth Waddell.

Trick 3D executed the animation for the film.

Native American Month at UWG

2011-11-15T11:31:00.005-05:00

The University of West Georgia’s Office of Institutional Diversity celebrated Native American Month by hosting Whigham’s Association of the Lower Muskogee Creek Indian Tribe. Several artifacts were on display and there was a presentation about the history of the tribe.

Dr. Christina Venable, secretary of the tribe, discussed how their ancestors went into hiding rather than be forced out of their territory by the United States. This guaranteed the survival of the Muskogee tribe and their heritage.

The history of the tribe is told through P.A.S.S.:
Physical (Government)
Agricultural (Planting, seasons)
Social (Dress, dancing)
Spiritual (Ceremonial beliefs, views of life)

The Muskogee people are historically friendly, not “barbaric” as many are taught about Native Americans. One of the biggest social aspects of their culture is the enjoyment of stickball. Venable shared with the crowd how the game is similar to baseball, but anything goes.

She laughed as she remembered a game of stickball that took place at Stone Mountain with another Muskogee tribe, and how some ended up going to the hospital. Stickball was generally how the tribe dealt with issues. For example, if someone from another tribe took something from their tribe, instead of fighting or going to war, they would play a game of stickball (which, in itself, could be like war at times).

Venable spoke in great detail on the tribe’s belief in wellness, and how everyone should strive to achieve balance in his or her life.

“If one part of the person is out of balance with itself, its tribe or its family…the whole person is out of balance,” she said.

Venable went on to mention how the Muskogee people believe in the four hills of life: birth, youth, adult and elder. She said the tribe believes in their youth, and that you will never hear a young person told that “they can’t become this, or that they would never accomplish that.”

The material she provided to the audience states, “[w]e must allow youth to have a voice to express themselves openly without criticism. We recognize the youth as a small adult with a mind and spirit of their own.”

Venable concluded by giving students some advice: “[e]ach hill must accomplish its goal, in order to move towards the next challenges in this life. We move in the circle of life, it is unending.”

For more information on the Office of Institutional Diversity, visit www.westga.edu/diversity.

For more information on The Lower Muskogee Tribe, visit muskogee-heritage.tripod.com.