Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: UGA African Studies Institute Vandalized

By Martha Michael | January 31, 2017 1:38pm

Photo Credit: Tifara Brown/Facebook

University of Georgia police were contacted Sunday afternoon after visitors on UGA’s North Campus noticed that an exterior glass door had been shattered at the African Studies Institute in the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, named for the two black students who integrated the university in 1961.

According to a statement released by UGA police, “the door was found to have damage to the lower half, consistent with being kicked.” The reporting officer contacted UGA Facilities Management Department to secure the door and clean up the glass. There was no other damage to the building.

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In the Loop: Morehead Releases Stronger Statement on Travel Ban

By Blake Aued | January 30, 2017 10:43pm

University of Georgia President Jere Morehead emailed a "personal follow-up" to the UGA community this afternoon on President Donald Trump's ban on refugees and travel from seven Muslim nations.

An initial statement released this morning—taken almost verbatim from an email University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley sent to college presidents—was met with derision among some faculty and students for its stilted language. For example, one professor referred to it on social media as "weak sauce," while another called it "tepid, at best."

The latest statement reads:

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In the Loop: Lawyers Fight for Travelers Trapped by Trump

By Baynard Woods | January 30, 2017 12:22pm

Photo Credit: Baynard Woods

Lawyers work at Dulles International Airport.

Lawyers huddled up, poring over papers on the floor of Dulles International Airport, outside of Washington D.C. a couple hundred feet away from the throngs of protesters cheering, chanting and welcoming home people coming out of customs from international flights.

Since President Donald Trump signed a poorly considered and chaotically implemented executive order banning immigrants, refugees and even green card holders from seven majority-Muslim countries on Friday evening—stranding people already in transit to the U.S.—these lawyers have been busting their asses.

“I could quit my job and just file Habeas writs,” one said. Her colleague laughed wearily.

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In the Loop: UGA: No One Affected by Trump Travel Ban

By Blake Aued | January 30, 2017 11:16am

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

No UGA faculty or students were affected by the executive order President Donald Trump signed Friday restricting travel from seven predominately Muslim nations, according to the university.

UGA President Jere Morehead, Pamela Whitten, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten and Associate Provost for International Education Noel Fallows released a statement this morning:

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In the Loop: UGA Announces Need-Based Scholarship Program

By Martha Michael | January 26, 2017 11:07am

Diversity and inclusion in the student body and various academic disciplines and research initiatives will be the University of Georgia’s priorities, UGA President Jere Morehead said Wednesday during his annual State of the University address.

Of all the achievements and awards the university has earned over the past year, receiving the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award exemplified that “diversity and inclusion are core values of this university,” Morehead said. “We will continue to provide support and resources here to become even more connected.”

In order to help recruit students from different financial backgrounds, Morehead introduced the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, a scholarship matching program that would generate 400–600 new need-based scholarships. Any gifts in the amount of $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 will be matched by the UGA Foundation. As these endowments grow, so will the size of the scholarship award.

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In the Loop: Two Ex-Commissioners Up for Downtown Post

By Blake Aued | January 25, 2017 5:14pm

Two former Athens-Clarke County commissioners are among the finalists to head the Athens Downtown Development Authority.

Linda Ford represented Five Points from 1999–2003. David Lynn represented the Prince Avenue area from 2003–2011.

A third finalist, William Herbig, is currently a program director at the Congress fort he New Urbanism in Washington, D.C., and former director of urban design for the Midtown Alliance in Atlanta. He studied architecture and historic preservation at the Savannah College of Art & Design, and holds a bachelor's degree in urban policy studies from Georgia State University and a master's in city planning from Georgia Tech.

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In the Loop: Thousands March Against Trump in Downtown Athens

By Martha Michael | January 20, 2017 10:38pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Jesse Houle fires up the crowd at the City Hall before the march starts.

On an unseasonably warm night for mid-January, a makeshift band, giant bird puppets and a crowd of thousands gathered around Athens City Hall in protest of newly inaugurated President Donald Trump, filling in every inch of space from Washington Street to Hancock Avenue and from College Avenue to the City Hall doors.

At what might be the largest march in Athens history, the Day of Resistance drew an estimated 2,500–4,500 attendees, according to Athens for Everyone, who helped organize it.

While the march was organized in response to the inauguration of Trump, it was not specific to one cause. Speakers included representatives from U-Lead Athens, an organization for undocumented students; The Cottage, a nonprofit that assists sexual assault survivors; Students for Justice in Palestine and Athens for Everyone.

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In the Loop: Creature Comforts Is Building a Second Brewery in Boulevard

By Blake Aued | January 17, 2017 7:39pm

Photo Credit: courtesy of Creature Comforts

Creature Comforts will renovate part of an old mill off Chase Street just north of Boulevard into an $8 million new brewery slated to open this fall, the Athens company announced today.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission unanimously approved a $475,000 taxpayer contribution to the project at a specially called meeting tonight. The county Industrial Development Authority will use the money to buy brewing equipment that it will lease to Creature Comforts for a nominal fee for five years, after which Creature Comforts will own the equipment.

"This is an Athens company, and we want to keep those expansions here," ACC Manager Blaine Williams said.

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Culture Briefs: ESPN: Georgia Might Win the SEC East Next Year

By Blake Aued | January 10, 2017 12:08pm

After a disappointing season capped off by watching Clemson win the national title with a quarterback from Georgia whom the Bulldogs didn't even bother to recruit, UGA fans probably needed a stiff drink last night.

But this morning, ESPN posted its first top-25 rankings for the 2017 season, and guess what? They think Georgia will be pretty good this year!

The Worldwide Leader ranks the Dawgs No. 13:

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Culture Briefs: RIP Georgia Superfan Mike 'Big Dawg' Woods

By Blake Aued | January 4, 2017 11:09pm

Photo Credit: UGA Football Live via Twitter

You know who I'm talking about—the bald guy with the bulldog painted on top of his head who's ubiquitous on Athens gameday Saturdays.

Georgia superfan Mike "Big Dawg" Woods died earlier today, according to several sources. UGA Football Live appears to have broken the news:

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