DECEMBER 2014 • VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 2 • DALTON, GEORGIA • WWW.DALTONSTATE.EDU Long-Lost Relatives on the way by Kayla Henderson Tucker has recently taken her first foray among them Meredeth’s sister Madison and the staff writer into this more limiting of the two genres, girls’ mother Merilee—are running around in a “In novels,” says Barbara Tucker, associate and audiences will get to see the results this frenzy. professor of communication, “you can do weekend. Tucker says one characteristic that makes her whatever you want.” Dalton State’s THEA 2100: Play Development play unique is its focus on women’s roles. A four-time novelist, Tucker knows the is presenting Tucker’s Long-Lost Relatives as “Plays do not have enough female parts,” she freedom that comes with writing fiction—and its fall play Nov. 20-23 at Dalton’s City Park says. “A lot of plays are not for women, and knows that the same freedom doesn’t come with Elementary School Auditorium. Jackie Daniels, that’s really bad. I wanted to fix that.” writing drama. assistant professor of communication and While the girls and their mother busily Writing a novel, she says, “you don’t have theater arts, will direct. prepare for the big day, three long-lost relatives limitations on characters, settings, or any of Tucker and Daniels both describe the play show up at the door, unexpected and uninvited. that.” as a fast-paced farce, a mode DSC’s theater They claim they’re cousins, and even though no Writing a play, however, “you really do. You program has yet to attempt. one recognizes them, they welcome themselves really have to be more careful about how many As Long-Lost Relatives begins, the play’s into the Kendricks’ home. characters you use because there is such a thing main character, Meredeth Kendrick, is to get If the Kendricks thought planning a wedding as too many.” married in three days. Friends and family— was stressful, they really won’t be ready for what this trio will unleash. “Everyone’s got their little subplots, secrets, and issues,” Tucker says. Many wouldn’t be able to handle the ordeal of staging a play, but Daniels—who’s directed a THEA 2100 play each of the last five semesters—describes herself as an unflinching optimist when it comes to directing. “It’s a really interesting process, and I love doing it,” she says. “Creating something out of nothing is rewarding . . . and exhausting.” Daniels says that a variety of students, staff, and faculty have auditioned for roles. “Being on stage is somewhere where you can be completely fearless,” she says. “Many people believe you have to be an extrovert to be able to get on stage, but that isn’t always the case. “Shy people also love the stage. It allows them to create a new persona, one that’s often fearless.” Every production has been a learning process, Daniels says, and each semester the cast and crew learn something new about what works on stage and what could be done differently. “What have we learned? How to make a door work correctly—it takes rope,” she says, laughing. “We’ve learned that it takes a lot of coordination to have it off-campus and a lot of cooperation between Dalton State and Dalton Public Schools.” Daniels says that THEA 2100 can teach students more than just how to act. She believes its benefits run deeper than that. “There’s so much overlap with other subjects,” Daniels says. “I’ve had students come tell me that taking drama helped them in their other classes. Plus, they learn how to perform.” In addition to Daniels, the Long-Lost Relatives production crew includes sophomore Ryan Thomason, assistant director; Thomason, senior Joan Cate, freshman Hannah Badger, and sophomore Evan Kennedy, set design Celebrated journalist speaks on campus and construction; Badger, hair and make-up; New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow spoke Thursday, Nov. 13, in Goodroe Library Assistant Laurie Raper, costumes; Auditorium as part of Dalton State’s fall focus on inequality. Blow is the author of the sophomore Jasmyne Fletcher, properties; autobiography Fire Shut Up in My Bones, copies of which he signed afterwards for the Micah Barton, lighting; and junior Tanner DSC community. (see Long-Lost Relatives, page 4) 2 The Roadrunner / December 2014

Dalton State audience gets the blues by Elise Wright in awe, watching and listening to them.” “A few years back,” she said, “I opened for contributor She learned guitar from that same Merle, doing my blues songs. I was concerned She didn’t need smoke or flashy lights. grandmother, who babysat her every day while that he may not like me singing the blues as his Blues guitarist E.G. Kight captured the her parents worked. She said that Clements opening act, so I mentioned it to him before the Dalton State audience Friday, Nov. 7, as soon as played piano and guitar and started “showing show. she started strumming. And what she strummed me some chords” when she was only four or “He loved the idea. He told me that he was was a Taylor acoustic—a nice one, but still, five years old. playing the blues before he started in country. nothing flashy. Kight described herself as a little girl with the Up until that point, I didn’t know he loved the A powerful singer and skilled guitarist, Kight usual interests, plus one: “You could see me in blues, too.” had the audience clapping along Among her other achievements to her songs and laughing at the Kight numbered “Getting to work stories she told about them. “Blues music is a feeling thing, and with all these tremendous artists; Her set list included original having Koko Taylor . . . record compositions like “Trouble with a if I make someone feel something, some of my songs and sing a duet Capital ‘T’” and “It Takes a Mighty with me on one of my albums; and Good Man,” along with covers of then I’ve done my job.” having multiple nominations for personal favorites, among them the the Blues Music Awards and the folk standard “House of the Rising Blues Blast Awards.” Sun” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom All, she said, “have been Prison Blues.” — E.G. Kight milestones for me.” When she began singing At the same time, she said, “Trouble,” she took a quick break from the yard most any time with a doll in one hand, “my biggest accomplishment has really been strumming to form a capital T with her arms. dragging a guitar with the other.” connecting with, and having the support of my Audience members soon joyfully followed Playing “Folsom Prison Blues,” she implied fans. I get emails, Facebook messages, and notes along, making the capital T themselves during just how far she had come since her early days in the mail about how my music has helped the chorus. with that first guitar as her fingers ran up and them through cancer treatments, divorces, loss Katrina Autry, who took her daughter to the down the fret board with ease. The audience of a loved one, and even falling in love. show, called it a “perfect” night out. “It had clapped along as the rhythm increased. “It touches my heart to know that I’ve been a while since my daughter and I had been Music clearly runs in Kight’s family—in helped someone through a tough time or been able to just go have some fun. addition to her uncle’s and grandmother’s an influence in some way for them. And it’s an “We sang and danced in our seats,” Autry backgrounds, her mother, a talented gospel amazing feeling to know my music has been said, laughing. singer, was once offered a recording contract— with them through the happy times, too.” Introducing “House of the Rising Sun,” Kight but she cited more than just family members as Kight clearly connected with still more fans identified the song as one of the first she learned. inspirations. as the DSC audience began requesting favorite She then began strumming the chords, softly One of her biggest influences was blues songs. “We might be here all night,” she joked, at first, her raspy voice echoing through Goodroe performer Koko Taylor. “She would feel her but the audience begged for still more. Auditorium. The volume increased with each music, and make the listener feel it, too,” Kight Asked before the show what she hopes verse, demanding that the audience listen. said before the show. listeners get out of her music, Kight said, In her second set, as she began “Folsom “Koko had that quality, and it made me want “Hopefully my music will take them away Prison Blues,” she identified it as a song she to deliver a song that way, too.” from everyday stresses, whatever that may be, played on her first guitar for fourth-grade show- Kight clearly seemed to enjoy playing and bring a smile to their faces. Blues music and-tell. DSC—the show was her third here in the last is a feeling thing, and if I make someone feel In an interview before the show, Kight said five years—but Goodroe Auditorium’s is far something, then I’ve done my job.” that that first guitar had been a gift from her from the biggest stage she’s played. Earlier She clearly did her job that night at DSC. uncle Jimmy. He had a band that rehearsed at in her career, she opened for artists including “I would definitely like to see her come back her grandmother Mintie Clements’s house in George Jones, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, to campus,” Autry said. “She gave me chill Dublin, Ga., and as a little girl, Kight “would sit and Jerry Lee Lewis. bumps a couple of times.” 3 The Roadrunner / December 2014 Savannah Nelson: “volleyball is life” by Triston Ledford the girls I played with and the on game days, another girl on the practice and said “‘there’s a small contributor excitement of the games and the team and I would always run down college, it’s 30 minutes from here, “‘I don’t know if this is going to heart we all put into it.” the hallway yelling, ‘IT’S GAME and they’re starting a volleyball work out.’” Nelson also admits enjoying the DAY, GAME DAY.’” team.’” Savannah Nelson still recalls the attention. “I was in the paper every She finished her high school Bramlett went on to tell his team Red Bank Middle School volleyball day for records, stats, and pictures. career with a blocking record of that Bruna Langner, whom Nelson coach wondering whether she I’d never felt famous before, and I 590. In her senior year alone, she knew from area volleyball camps, should put the gangly sixth grader know high school volleyball isn’t scored 97 points, becoming the would be the head coach. on the team. the Olympics, but it was still pretty number-three hitter in Hamilton Still, Nelson says, “I was a little What Nelson remembers more cool to see my name in the paper.” County and once being named a iffy.” vividly, though, is the assistant One of the photos Nelson “volleyball leader” by the Times- But a few months later, when coach’s reply: “‘Give her a chance. remembers best is of an October Free Press. Coach Langner offered her a . . . Give her some time.’” match against Signal Mountain When Nelson wasn’t playing for scholarship to Dalton State and Nelson had already tried nearly during her junior year of high Red Bank, she was playing with the a spot on the roster of DSC’s every other sport—softball, basket- school. Choo Choo City Volleyball Club, first women’s volleyball team, “I ball, and gymnastics among them. “I had just tipped the ball right a traveling team whose season couldn’t resist.” “And nothing fit,” she says. over the block,” she says, “and it followed Red Bank’s. Now, two seasons later, Nelson But then, when the assistant hit the middle of the court, and all “It was volleyball 24/7 for four admits she’d been thinking recently coach talked the head coach into the girls from Signal Mountain are years,” she says. “I had a month off about moving on after her second letting Nelson join the volleyball diving and hitting the floor.” for Christmas, and then it was back year as a Roadrunner. team, she found a sport that fit. The photo ran Christmas day as to volleyball. When I was playing She wants to work one day as a “I just knew volleyball was my the Chattanooga Times-Free Press for Choo Choo, I was on the road news anchor, ideally at CNN, but sport,” she says. “It was natural.” sports photo of the year. every weekend.” as DSC offers only an associate’s Eight years later, the Dalton The Red Bank Lady Lions During her senior year at Red in communication, she was State middle blocker describes went to the Tennessee Secondary Bank, Nelson left Choo Choo planning to transfer—which could volleyball as a “huge part of my School Athletic Association state to play with the Ocoee Heat have meant giving up the sport she life.” tournament all four years Nelson Volleyball Club. But surprisingly, loves. Nelson played all three years was on the team. In 2009, Nelson’s perhaps, she admits not planning to But then came Nov. 13-15 and the at Red Bank Middle, then all four freshman year, they won it. play in college. Roadrunners’ trip to Montgomery, years at Red Bank High. “I miss high school. I miss it “But one day,” she says, Ocoee “I loved it,” she says. “I loved bad,” she admits. “I remember coach Bryan Bramlett came to (see Nelson, page 5) 4 The Roadrunner / December 2014 ROADKILL A love letter to Roberts Library I wish students at this school didn’t by Tanner Blackton The back-left holds shelves and shelves of automatically assume that they deserve to contributor books about hobbies; I distinctly remember pass a class because they showed up and Last Monday began as a gloomy, chilly seeing books on pastimes, on knitting, on slept through four months of lectures. morning, one with an overcast sky and soggy painting and archery and sports. Behind them ground. It wasn’t quite cold, but there was are medical references for biology and nursing, I hate it when Public Safety officers stop enough of a nip in the air to make me wish I an unending supply. side by side in the middle of the road and had worn a heavier sweater. To the right, you’ll find books on plants, force you to drive around them. It got me thinking about my job as a student birds, mammals. Farther right, toward the assistant at Roberts Library almost two years middle, you’ll find law, government, sociology, I have had really positive experiences here ago and especially about how much I miss it. psychology. with classes, professors, and the overall Roberts Library is toasty, inviting, and quiet. In the center are my favorites, books about atmosphere of the school. Nobody rushes around, and nobody hurries the arts: about the Renaissance, music, famous through conversations about research paper artists, film, theatre. The back-right has fiction, Why does every class here have that one deadlines or hastily formulated answers to anything from classic authors to Stephen King guy who’s completely unaware that the mundane questions as they walk to their next and Dean Koontz. rest of the class continually laughs at his class. “How are you?” “LATE!” Then there’s the right-front corner. History. stupidity? It couldn’t be the same guy, The trek to the library always makes my World history, European history, American could it? heart beat faster because I know that inside is history toward the front. To the sides are the a world of literature, of reference and research study rooms, curiously empty for most of the Veterans Services continuously exceeds and knowledge. As you walk through the semester but jam-packed toward the latter half. expectations to ensure that veterans have doors, a calm sets in. And then there’s the back of the building, a positive experience at Dalton State, Immediately on your left is the front desk, the section that faces the trees. assisting with paperwork and helping us where smiling faces greet you and will later, There are armchairs but also long, shiny take advantage of scholarships and other upon your exit, scan your books and stamp wooden tables. Cherry-wood tables where benefits. them, reminding you that you’re borrowing I’ve spread out my books and papers countless these little slices of the college and must times to study for tests or write research Dalton State needs to offer more upper- eventually return them so other students can papers. level classes at night. Too many upper- access the information they house. It’s usually only at these tables that I can level classes are held during the day, while Newspapers, magazines, children’s books. fully focus on my task, commit to putting my we non-traditional students are working. The help desk, where an eager librarian waits words on paper, churn out my assignments. to assist you in finding just what you need. It’s there that I let myself be enveloped by the The Oakwood Café charges too much for Librarians know that the massive amounts of sweet quiet, embrace the somewhat frantic food. They also pour out the sweet tea too information can be hard to sift through. No one silence of others getting down to it and early, even though they stay open until 6 can possibly go it alone. finishing their work. p.m. and students have classes until then In the back, on the left, are the reference We all have deadlines, and we all come here. and beyond. books, books you can’t check out, but still What I love most is the view. In the they sit there stolidly waiting for you to pore springtime, you can see the lush, green trees Dear Public Safety: I’m not speeding. I over their pages. The government documents and feel a sense of hope, of renewal and never have been. My car is just loud. reside in the back right-hand corner, full of rebirth. information suited for history or political In the fall, you can see the calming burnt Why doesn’t somebody put up a red light science majors. orange and muted yellow and crimson of at the intersection of College Drive and The Learning Commons sits in the front the leaves as they settle in, waiting for their George Rice Drive? Maybe then we could right-hand corner, a haven for students who journey to the floor of the woods. get out of here in under 15 minutes. forgot to print at home or want a quiet place to I yearn for the quiet, for the smell of the do their best thinking. library. The smell of lignin mixed with the There just aren’t enough librarians on But upstairs. Oh, upstairs. It’s worth coffee I sip out of my insulated travel mug. staff to help all the students looking for climbing those stairs to enter the warm The cheery hellos from our lovely and helpful books, not just sitting in the so-called and inviting mecca of seemingly endless library staff. study rooms, tapping away on their possibilities. I remember the top level of the The comfort of knowing that your answer, phones. (Just kidding.) library like I remember the roads of Dalton. your idea, your inspiration, lies somewhere To the front-left, visual references, DVDs inside the pages of the thousands upon Dalton State is the best place for those and video cassettes for professors to borrow or thousands of books housed in Roberts Library. returning to learn and further their for students to watch on the TVs in the back. All you have to do is look. careers. The professors are understanding yet firm, so students learn what they need to succeed. I appreciate the opportunities Long-Lost Relatives Dalton State has given me. (continued from page 1) David Moss as Jasper Dubose; sophomore Jamie Steadman as Luza Dubose; freshman The Financial Aid staff is rude and has Blackton, Communications Manager Misty Savannah Cross as Cherry May Dubose; senior made me feel dumb for asking for help. Wheeler, Instructor of Digital Design Scott Josh Beard as Todd; freshman Travis Ford as If you’re going to work around people, Bertram, and Administrative Assistant Donna the reporter; sophomore Ryan Thomason as the you need to be a people person, put a Hendrix, publicity. police officer; and sophomore Jasmyne Fletcher smile on your face, and at least try to be The Long-Lost Relatives cast includes as the EMT. approachable. senior Katherine Fromm as Merilee Kendrick; Long-Lost Relatives will be performed Nov. sophomore Hannah Fromm as Madison 20, 21, and 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. The steps leading up to Peeples Hall are Kendrick; freshman Mollie Crawford as in the City Park Elementary Auditorium (405 going to give someone a heart attack. But Meredeth Kendrick; freshman John Harrelson School St.). so will the 12-mile-long sidewalk you can as Bryant Kendrick; junior Scott Reese as Entrance is free for Dalton State faculty, staff, take instead. John Ross Kendrick; Assistant Professor of and students, and $5 for the public. Spanish Nancy Mason as Jeanne Dubose; To get involved in DSC’s theater program, Dalton State needs more online classes sophomore Sean Self as Kevin Sutton; junior sign up for THEA 2100 (CRN 20167) in the and more classes at more times. Lowell Chappell as Tony Hawkins; sophomore spring or email Jackie Daniels at jdaniels@ Roniqua Wright as Tiffany Forrester; freshman daltonstate.edu. 5 The Roadrunner / December 2014 Nelson (continued from page 3) Take a minute and ‘Thank a Teacher’ Ala., site of the Southern States Athletic Is there an instructor on Dalton enjoyable, inspired you, gave you Conference volleyball tournament. Ranked fifth during the regular season, State’s campus who has gone above some helpful advice, or opened you Dalton State placed third, upsetting fourth- and beyond to help you learn? up to new ideas. You can remain ranked Brenau University, a team they’d never The Center for Academic anonymous or identify yourself on beaten. Excellence is the entity on campus the form. So Nelson decided to stay. that helps professors improve their After you submit the form, it goes “Being in the tournament changed everything,” she says. student engagement and instruction to an office where it is printed on “After finishing in third place, I have more through providing workshops stationery and sent to the faculty of a drive to get that conference championship and resources. This semester the member. So far, 139 letters have been ring. I have a state ring from high school, but Center is holding an initiative to delivered, but there are lots more having a conference ring would be a nice way allow students, alumni, and other thanks to extend. to end my volleyball career.” Placing third out of the ten teams in the employees to send a note of thanks to If you want to go ahead and write conference is “a big deal,” she says, “especially faculty members. your note without the link, you can for our first year. Next year we’re going to be a If you get an email about “Thank look for the Center for Academic real threat.” a Teacher,” follow the link. You Excellence webpage under the Needless to say, she’s happy to continue her can write a note of thanks for that Academics menu on the college’s volleyball career. “Volleyball is life,” she says. “If I’d have to teacher who helped you get your website. There you will see “Thank give it up, I know I would have missed it. It’s brain around a concept, spent a Teacher” on the left side of the been seven or eight years of my life. That’s a extra time with you, made learning screen. big part to me.” HELP US FILL THIS SPACE (AND MUCH BIGGER ONES)

If you’re interested in writing or photography, e-mail Dr. Keith Perry at [email protected] or sign up next semester for ENGL 1111.

Adrian Berrospe -- editorial Jonathan Schwan -- staff writer cartoonist Meagan Standridge -- staff writer Sarah Blevins -- staff writer Dr. Kris Barton -- sports editor Kayla Henderson -- staff writer Dr. Keith Perry -- faculty advisor

Interested in writing a guest column? Have an opinion you’d like to express in a letter to the editor or an entry in ROADKILL? E-mail us at [email protected].

Interested in becoming a staff writer or photographer? E-mail Dr. Keith Perry at kperry@ daltonstate.edu or sign up next semester for ENGL 1111, Student Newspaper Practicum.