News Archive - 2015

UGA North campus with trees
A Welcoming Environment

The speed with which the Confederate flag has fallen below the line of acceptability in a single week is inspiring. That symbol is not just being talked about - it is being taken down. As a part of this swirl of events in motion, predicated on the murderous rampage in Charleston one week ago, how will the conversation to make our campuses more inviting, welcoming and diverse - especially here in the South - continue to progress? Other…

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Athfest 2015

One of the many reasons we love the symbiotic relations between town and gown, music and the university go together like UGA and Athens, GA and there is no better example than ATHfest: AthFest is a multi-day music and arts festival in downtown Athens, GA that showcases local, regional, and national musical talent. The festival includes three outdoor stages, an artist market, a two-night Club Crawl in more than 10 venues, and a three-day KidsFest…

Ocoee scenic byway photo
Buffer Zones Needed

Interesting findings from Warnell School researchers that could have much broader implications (than just the sites mentioned) - natural wilderness areas need the protection of buffer zones: Coveted for their beauty, these wilderness areas draw innumerable outdoor enthusiasts eager for a taste of primitive nature. But University of Georgia researchers say these federally protected nature areas have a problem: Their boundaries have become prime…

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WUGA TV

The sale of WUGA-TV to Marquee Broadcasting is scheduled to be completed on July 1, and we would be remiss not to note the end of this mini-epoch in university broadcasting. Since 2012, WUGA-TV existed as a local PBS affiliate in Athens, owned by UGA and whatever may have been its initial puropse or the original motivations behind the endeavor, the Franklin College became a significant contributor to the station. It broadcast, in every sense of…

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Methane emissions

And speaking of the need to protect pristine areas, some that might not be thought of as necessarily pristine also deserve greater consideration of their important functions as natural areas. This new study emphasizes methane sinks that need to be better understood: Though they occupy a small fraction of the Earth's surface, freshwater wetlands are the largest natural source of methane going into the atmosphere. New research from the University…

American Flag
American Independence Day

It was on this date in history, July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in June 1776. The Declaration was not delivered to Great Britain until November of that year. The document was signed on August 2, 1776. But on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. They'd…

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Amazing student: Colton Fowlkes

We talk often (and hear even more) about high school students' involvement in a range of activities beyond the classroom, and how this can make them more attractive applicants in the selective college admissions process. But what about after they are admitted and become university students? Are extra-curricular activites still important? Is having fun while you're making a difference important? Double-major in psychology and biology Colton…

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Cobb in TIME

Spalding Distinguished Professor of History James Cobb takes to the pages of TIME magazine (via Zocalo Public Square, a not-for-profit Ideas Exchange that blends live events and humanities journalism) to discuss the issues surrounding the removal of the confederate flag: In South Carolina, that flag might still be flying atop the state capitol had a torrent of threatened economic and tourist boycotts and pressure from the state’s…

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Croatia Study Abroad

UGA study abroad programs never cease to amaze. The Croatia program is a three-week Maymester in Croatia, one of the gems of Central Europe. Now in its 10th year, the program has had over 200 students visit the country. Croatia's rich culture coupled with crystal-clear sea, beautiful islands, countless beaches and harbors, unspoiled villages, mountains, vineyards, Roman ruins, medieval towns and baroque cities provide immersion in cultural…

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Athens Science Café

Billed as conversations not lectures, science cafés are meetings held in places like coffee houses, pubs and community centers where everyday people come together and learn about a variety of topics from professional scientists. Tonight, July 9 is the next meeting, and it couldn't be timed better: the science of ice cream. It’s summer in Athens and what screams “summer” more than incessant heat and 100% humidity levels? ICE CREAM! The Athens…