Brad Paisley

Country superstar, Brad Paisley, will be performing in concert this Friday, April 27, at Paulson Stadium at 8:00 p.m. As of Tuesday, ticket sales had reached 9,000, but more are expected to be sold. The award-winning singer-songwriter will share the stage with Jack Ingram, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift.

Tickets are $25 for students and $35 for the general public.The gates at Paulson Stadium will open at 4 p.m. with a $10 charge per car for those who wish to park and tailgate. The RAC parking lots, which are within walking distance of Paulson and considered the stadium’s overflow parking, will be open as well with a $5 charge per car to park.

Hershey's is sponsoring the concert and will be giving out tons of free stuff prior to the event. Local country station, KIX 96, will also be giving out prizes to all the early birds.

I'm sure all the country fans at GSU will be heading out to the concert...I know I am! I know Brad is going to give us all a great time. I'm looking forward to relaxing and hearing some great music before I have to start studying for finals! I encourage all country music fans to come out and enjoy the show!!

Virginia Tech Vigil

There will be a candlelight vigil Thursday, April 19, from 8:00p.m.-9:00p.m. at the Russell Union rotunda for any GSU students who wish to honor those affected by the tragic event that took place at Virginia Tech Monday. The vigil is sponsored by the Student Government Association and will feature a representative from the GSU adminstration and GSU's Dean of Students, Georj Lewis.

Different religious groups from campus will share prayer and poetry and a spiritual song will be performed as part of the program. Those in attendance will also have a chance to sign a card expressing condolences that will be sent to Virginia Tech. Students may also give donations that will go toward a memorial fund set up at Virginia Tech.

I think it is very important for everyone, not just students, to take the time to realize that this can happen anywhere. This is no doubt a horrible tradegy and we should honor those who went to class like every other college student around the world Monday morning and just happened to be the victims of a troubled man. For those students who may be having trouble with feeling safe after Monday's events, I would highly encourage you and your friends to attend this vigil as the Geogia Southern community comes together during this time.My prayers go out to the students and families at Virginia Tech.

Power Team visits Statesboro

The Power Team is a group of world-class athletes who use their extraordinary strength as a way to get people's attention so they can spread the word of God. The team has been going strong for 30 years and has held crusades in every state in the U.S. as well as 20 nations around the world.

"It attracts people who wouldn't normally walk into a church and hear a pastor in a suit and tie speak," said Carey Leighow, one of the four members of the team. "We use our physical strength to tell our story," explained Craig Lemley, another of the team members.

The team will be performing tonight, Saturday and Sunday night at the old West Building Supply behind Statesboro First United Methodist Church beginning at 7 p.m. In addition to the performances each night, the team is spending their days speaking at schools, though their message there is strictly secular.

The mission statement of the Power Team is "To reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ which an ordinary church meeting or event cannot. Drawing people through the use of performing visually explosive and spectacular feats of strength by incredible athletes who share with them the life-changing message of the cross."

I remember when these guys came to my high school and they were pretty interesting to say the least. I remember one of them took a phone book and ripped in half straight down the middle, that really got our attention. They mostly talked about making the right choices during the school years...staying away from drugs and alcohol, pretty much the basic topics of any school assembly, but they definately made it much more interesting. I think they are worth checking out if you've never seen of heard of them.

Congressman to visit Statesboro

Congressman John Barrow is taking a week long tour across the district and on April 10, he will make a stop in Statesboro. He is going on tour to hear concerns from military verterans. Barrow will be here from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post #90, which is located at 100 Rucker Lane off of Highway 301 South. Barrow will be hearing ideas from veterans as to how they think Congress and the government itself can better serve those who have served in the military. John's father, James Barrow, was a decorated World War II veteran, and his mother, Phyllis Barrow, also served in the armed service during World War II, attaining the rank of Captain.

Barrow is currently serving his second term as Congressman from Georgia’s 12th Congressional District. John earned degrees in political science and history from the University of Georgia. Later, at only 20 years old, he became one of the youngest members of his class at Harvard Law School. In 1990, Barrow was elected as a charter member of the Athens-Clarke County Commission which he served on for 14 years, voting against every tax increase, working for economic development, fighting for property tax relief for homeowners, and developing innovative programs to improve the quality of life of the people he represents. In the House of Representatives, Barrow currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Agriculture Committee.


In addition to Statesboro, Barrow will be visiting Savannah, Louisville, Milledgeville, Lyons and Augusta. "It's a great opportunity for veterans to come out and tell the congressman what they'd like to see Congress working on," said Harper Lawson, spokesman for Barrow.

I think it is important that all veterans have their voices heard. I encourage any military vet to get out there and let Congress know what is on your mind. Maybe you could be the one to help make a change!

March of Dimes WalkAmerica

This Saturday, March 31, Mill Creek Park will host the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. The goal for this year's walk is $35,000, which will go to help find a cure to birth defects and premature births. Last year, more than 500,000 babies were born prematurely, with many of the babies dying. Also, more than 120,000 babies are born with serious birth defects.


Nationally, the WalkAmerica has raised more than $1.7 billion since its inception in 1970. At least one million walkers are expected to take part nationwide. Money raised by the March of Dimes is used to conduct top-level research into the causes and preventions of premature births and birth defects.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. They carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.

I think this organization works for a great cause. It is crazy how some babies are born way before the nine month mark....they are teeny tiny! This can happen to anyone and I think it is important to try and help those in need. So get up and go out for a good cause on Saturday. The babies need you!

Spring Fling

This past weekend at GSU's Center for Wildlife Education many locals came out to participate in the Spring Fling Egg-stravaganza and Camping Adventure. Those interested in camping arrived on Friday, March 23, in the afternoon and settled in for the night after a short hike and nocturnal animal program.

On Saturday, the wildlife center was full of fun activites for the kids. Complete with face-painting, (my favorite when I was young) crafts, animal shows, honey extraction demonstration, and an Easter-egg hunt.

The Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center opened in October 1997. Since then, it has blossomed as one of the leading environmental education facilities in Georgia. Five acres in the heart of the campus is the setting for The Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center. The main features include a self-guided nature walk through six habitat displays, housing eleven species of live birds of prey. These habitats include a wetlands area, an old-growth forest, and a mountain display. An elevated walkway allows visitors an up-close encounter with a Bald Eagle nest, complete with a Glory, the University mascot!

If you haven't gone to check out the raptor center, you are missing out. I'm sort of a nerd when it comes to anything that has to do with wildlife...I love going to places like this! My favorite part of the wildlife center is the turtles. There is a section of the exhibit where children can play and interact with the turtles and it was quite amusing sitting and watching the kids reactions to the turtles during the Spring Fling. Some were scared to death and other were begging their parents to let them take a turtle home. I had a lot of fun and you will too, so go check it out. Watch out for the owls in the barn though! Just a little tip! Have fun!

J. Allyn Rosser

On Monday, April 2, poet, J. Allyn Rosser will make a trip to the Georgia Southern campus. She will be in room 2209 of the Newton Building at 4 p.m. to talk and answer questions. At 7 p.m., she will give a public reading of her poetry in the College of Education auditorium.

Rosser's first book of poetry, "Bright Moves," was published in 1990 and won the Morse Poetry Prize. Her second book, "Misery Prefigured," was published in 2001 and won the Crab Orchard Award. Her third book, "Foiled Again," is set to be published this fall as the winner of The New Criterion Magazine Poetry Prize. Her poems have appeared recently in several anthologies, and journals including the Ninth Letter.

Rosser now lives in Athens, Ohio and is currently teaching at Ohio University. Her presentation will be free to the public and is sponsored by the department of Writing and Linguistics and the Georgia Poetry Circuit.

I am not really that big on poetry, but for students who are aspiring poets or just like to write poetry in their spare time, I think this would be a great opportunity. I mean, how often do you get to sit down and talk one-on-one with an award winning poet. I think it is great that she is taking the time to talk with students and answer their questions and help them along with their goals. Who knows....you could be an award winning poet someday!