QUOTED IN STUDENT NEWSPAPER
ABAC DISMISSES POLICE CHIEF
OVER 'INEXCUSABLE' RAPE COMMENTS
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
ABAC President
David Bridges on
Friday told the local press that campus Police Chief
Bryan Golden is no longer employed with the college, two-and-a-half weeks after the
student newspaper published a series of articles about
sexual assault on campus, quoting Golden as saying most rape allegations are women "being stupid," and are "
about as much a rape as a goat roping."
"The position of chief of police at
ABAC must be one that is viewed as fair and impartial in order to adequately serve and protect the needs of our campus community," Bridges told the press Friday afternoon.
"An effective law enforcement department
requires public credibility. The public's trust in Bryan Golden's leadership has seemingly been
eroded, and I must ensure that the integrity of the college police department is protected.
The inappropriate comments were reprehensible and inexcusable. These remarks do not reflect the attitude of the college or the police department.
"Because of the damage done by these remarks, it has become increasingly clear that the impact of the interaction that Mr. Golden had with the newspaper staff undermined his ability to effectively perform his duties. He is no longer an employee at ABAC," Bridges said.
"The ABAC campus has a longstanding reputation as one that provides a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. That will continue to be the case in days to come."
The newspaper articles have been a
hot topic on the
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College campus. During classroom discussions, students
are suggesting ways to make the campus safer, such as more police patrols, more lighting on campus and installing cameras in parking lots. This past week, the Student Government Association held a
Safety Awareness Week with one day each dedicated to sexual assault awareness, alcohol use, fire safety, cyber
security and bullying
.
In its
Oct. 27 edition,
The Stallion -- ABAC's
student newspaper -- devoted nearly a third of the issue to its cover story,
"One in Four College Women Have Survived Rape or Attempted Rape." The paper reported two alleged rapes this year involving
ABAC students and interviewed several college officials about how such reports are handled.
Police Chief
Golden's comments sparked controversy. He was quoted as saying, "I might sound insensitive, but I'm not. Most of these sexual assaults are women waking up the next morning with a guilt complex. That ain't rape; that's being stupid. When the dust settles, it was all consensual. It (forcible rape) doesn't happen here. It doesn't show up here. They're about as much a rape as a goat roping."
President
Bridges immediately responded that such comments are "insensitive" and do not reflect the attitude of either the ABAC police department or the college itself. Golden was then
suspended without pay but was
back at work earlier this week.
The
Tifton Grapevine reported about
The Stallion articles and Bridges' comments
last Friday. Since then, other local news media have also reported on the matter.
This week, The Stallion is reporting campus
reactions
to the sexual assault stories. Dr. Bonnie Asselin, an English professor,
is
quoted as being
shocked by Golden's comments.
"I find it so disturbing because I think his comments suggest a deeply entrenched attitude in our culture that blames the victim. This is especially worrisome because he has a position of influence. His words let me know that we must work to convince victims of sexual assault that it is safe to seek help. His words tell me that I must do more as an educator to show how words can have a powerful effect, and so we must take responsibility for what we say," Asselin said.
Dr.
Cynthia Hall, professor of English and Honors Program director, organized a faculty meeting to address students' concerns as quickly as possible and encourage them to feel comfortable discussing their safety on campus, the student newspaper reported.
ABAC student
Mary Roy had written a letter to
President Bridges and state Board of Regents Chancellor Hank Huckaby seeking Golden's resignation.
The student had implemented an
online petition
seeking the police chief's ouster. On Friday
, it had more than 200 supporters.
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TIFT GRAD RATE RISES BY 8.8 PERCENT
Tift County Schools' four-year graduation rate, released this week by the Georgia Department of Education, is at 83.2 percent, improving from 74.4 percent the previous year.
"We were very excited to see our graduation rate continue to improve," said Tift County High Principal
Kim Seigler. "We believe this clearly shows our efforts are paying off."
As a whole,
Tift County has focused on being a data-driven system, tailoring education based on students' performance.
"Looking at data results from assessments allows teachers to make more individualized plans for our students," said Chief Academic Officer
Mickey Weldon. "Making learning more specific greatly benefits our students and their success."
In addition to focusing on ongoing data results, the system attributes the improved rate to tutoring programs, extended learning times as well as
BRIDGE (Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy) days.
The BRIDGE Act began in the
2010-2011 school year. The most critical part of the program mandates all students in middle and high school receive counseling and regularly scheduled advisement. It also requires that students choose a career area, create an
Individual Graduation Plan and graduate high school prepared to go to college or to enter the workforce.
"We hold BRIDGE days in the early spring with students in the eighth through 11th grades along with their parents,"
Seigler said. "In these one-on-one meetings, we are able to plan a student's schedule for the upcoming year to make sure he or she is staying on track to graduate. Working directly with our students and parents is crucial to making them successful."
The
class of 2015 was the first class to have been a part of the
BRIDGE programs since the eighth grade.
The
state graduation rate increased from
72.5 percent to 78.8.
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AT ABAC AG MUSEUM/HISTORIC VILLAGE
Visitors can see Native American dancing, mule-powered cane grinding and an old-fashioned syrup cooking during the Native American Experience and Cane Grinding event at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College from 4-9 p.m. Nov. 21.
The Native American experience will feature GoNativeNow, a Native American owned-and-operated educational group. GoNativeNow travels the United States conducting reenactments, providing demonstrations, hosting campouts, and offering performances by The Iron Horse Singers and Dancers.
GoNativeNow is led by Little Big Mountain, a fourth-generation dancer, singer and educator on Native American culture. His father, Iron Horse Big Mountain, was Comanche from Anadarko, Okla., and his mother, Wildflower Big Mountain, is Mohawk from Kahnawake, Canada. Little Big Mountain's reservation is the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Canada.
Little Big Mountain has been performing since he was a child. He has been competing on the Pow-Wow Trail and educating others on Native American culture all over the country for over 40 years. Beginning with Little Big Mountain's great grandfather, the Big Mountain family performances started back in the mid-1800s and continue today. They perform at venues including Disney World and Universal Studios, the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Rank Leisure Dinner Shows, native festivals, history fairs, Pow Wows, and at schools.
For many Southerners, cane grinding is a family tradition that has been passed down through generations. The Historic Village is one of the few places left where visitors can take a step back in time to see sugar cane grinding with a mule leading the way. The sweet juice pouring from the cane mill will then be transferred to the syrup shed where it will be cooked down in a cast iron kettle to make cane syrup.
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Win a Custom-Built Playhouse
for a Great Cause!
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TIFTON REMEMBERS THOSE WHO SERVED
Veterans Day was
Wednesday, Nov. 11
An overflow crowd came out to Tifton's Veterans Park on Wednesday for a Veterans Day ceremony that honored those who have served in the armed forces.
An empty chair was set on stage in memory of the late Henry Bostick, a former state legislator and Tifton lawyer who was a frequent speaker at such events in the past and was well known
for
his colorful orations and tireless efforts on behalf of veterans.
In the photo at left, Brenda Saunders sings during the veterans ceremony. Second from left is Tifton Mayor Jamie Cater.
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Brumby & White 
'Choose & Cut'
Since 1980
Christmas Tree Farm
We Have 3,750 Trees ... Find Your Perfect Christmas Tree!
Leyland Cypress Virginia Pine Fraser Fir Blue Cedar
Carolina Sapphire Red Cedar Blue Ice Naylors Blue
Trees Range from 5 to 11 feet ~ $25 to $95
Spike Stands (holds any tree straight up to 11-feet tall).
All trees drilled for spike stands and water intake.
Cut your own or we cut it for you.
All trees blown out & shaken; all trees baled;
all trees loaded/secured for you in your car or truck at no charge.
Opening Date: Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.
Monday-Friday: Noon - 5:30 p.m. (or Dark)
Saturday: 10 a.m. - Dark
Sunday: 1 p.m. - Dark
We're Open Thanksgiving Day ~ 1:30 p.m. - Dark
229 382-7515 or 229 382-3072
BRUMBY & WHITE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
808 Chula-Brookfield Road
(1/2 mile east of Highway 125/Tift Ave or 3.5 miles east I-75 Exit 69)
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TIFTON CHAMBER'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM KICKS OFF
The 2015-16
TAL:K (
Tomorrow's Aspiring Leaders: Kids) class attended a kickoff luncheon
Monday at
Colquitt EMC. TAL:K is the
Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce's youth leadership program and
50 eighth graders from
Eighth Street Middle School and
Tiftarea Academy will participate in several activities throughout the school year to develop their leadership abilities with an emphasis on community service. Chamber Chairman Dr.
Joe West and Dr.
Chad Stone, principal at Eighth Street Middle School, spoke to the students about the importance of being involved and laid out the year's agenda. The program is sponsored by Colquitt EMC, Tift Regional Medical Center, Georgia Power Co., South Georgia Bank, Heatcraft and First Community Bank.
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Enhancing the Lives of
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Kelly Burk and Kelly Helwig in Tifton
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Aging Adults and Their Families
Companionship
Transitional Care
Medication Reminders
Meal Preparation
Light Housekeeping
Respite Care
Escort to Shopping and Errands
Our services grow as
CAREGivers
sm
find new and
innovative ways
to meet the needs
of our clients
229-396-5243
1810 U.S. Highway 41 N., Suite B
Tifton, GA 31794
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NO HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES
is scheduled this year. The
Tifton Heritage Foundation, which has annually conducted the tour that has centered on homes and buildings primarily in the Historic District, is postponing the Christmastime tour until next year. "Disappointingly,
circumstances beyond the control of THF require the postponement," the
organization reports. The tour is usually held
in conjunction with the Tifton Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration. ...
COUNTRY SINGER DEANA CARTER
rocked the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts
on Wednesday night. The Nashville singer is best known for her No. 1 hit,
"Strawberry Wine."
...
WE SEE
that Dr.
Wes Ross
, a Tift County native, has received board certification in
ophthalmology
. Ross is an ophthalmologist with
South Georgia Eye Partners.
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TAKE A
'WALK'
ON THE 'COOKIE' SIDE!
It's that time of year again! 
The Annual Cookie Walk at Peace Lutheran Church in Tifton will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, in the fellowship hall at 604 Tennessee Drive.
You may mix and match homemade Christmas cookies at $6 a pound; also on sale will be homemade cakes, candles, breads and German pastries. Handmade Christmas items and gifts will also be available for purchase.
Proceeds from the sale are used to provide phone cards for members of the armed forces.
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WHO WANTS TO RING THE BELL?
 Tifton's Salvation Army Service Center is looking for a few more folks to ring a bell during the organization's
Red Kettle campaign
this season.
The campaign's fundraising goal is
$22,000
. Beginning
Nov. 27 (the day after Thanksgiving) through Dec. 24, the local Salvation Army will be seeking donations in its red kettles to help families and children during the holiday season and beyond.
Volunteers may call 229-386-1503. Susie J. Chitwood, is the local service center director.
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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
RECENT RIBBON-CUTTINGS
Atto Partners, LLC
110 East Third St.
Tifton
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Griffin Ford Lincoln
511 W. 7th St.
Tifton
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Austin French of Tifton, who was a finalist on ABC-TV's "Rising Star" competition, gave a special concert on Tuesday, Nov. 10, for students at Eighth Street Middle School who had exhibited exemplary behavior this school year.
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in the Tiftarea?
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YOUR WEEKEND
...at a Glance
FRIDAY, NOV. 13
- Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair, 6 p.m.-Midnight, American Legion Fairgrounds, Tifton
SATURDAY, NOV. 14
- Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Harry Potter Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- Mistletoe Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
- Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair, 2-10 p.m., American Legion Fairgrounds, Tifton
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NOV. 5
Odell Brown Wood, 90, Tifton
Nellie Christine Fausett Walker, 94,
Adel
NOV. 6
Ronald L. "Ronnie" Passmore, 70, Fitzgerald
Bobby J. Hilliard, 81, Adel
NOV. 7
Randall L. "Randy" Stephens, 65, Tifton
Sarah K. "Kathy" Dees Eckert, 54, Tifton
Juanita Lipham Yarbrough, 86, Sycamore
NOV. 9
Mildred P. Hawkins, 94, Rebecca
NOV. 10
Junius Vanvechton Talley III, 80, Tifton
Terry L. Brooks, 72, Sylvester
Willie Ann Holloway, 68, Nashville
James Leonard Spires Jr., 84, Fitzgerald
NOV. 11
Richard Veron Kinar, Sr., 77, Lenox
Lenton Rebecca Fausett Wiseman, Adel
NOV. 12
Sarah H. Browning Doss, 88, Tifton
Billie Medley, 79, Adel
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SERVING YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
$315,000
3004 N. Park Ave., Tifton, GA
MLS #: R125382A
Beautiful and spacious executive home located in desirable neighborhood in Tifton. Immaculate kitchen featuring marble countertops, double ovens and plenty of storage. Cherry Hardwood floors throughout. Mature Landscaping and private backyard! Call today for your own private tour!
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Dwana Coleman
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Call Us Today!
229-386-4222
Blue Skies & Sunshine Through Each & Every
Real Estate Transaction!
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to Participate in Our Great Scavenger Hunt!
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