The Carrier

On Wednesday, residence hall visitation hours were extended by two hours effective next fall after College President Stephen R. Briggs signed the recommendation submitted by the Student Life Council. 

The new visitation hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. during the week, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

“I have received and signed the paperwork authorizing the change for the 2008-2009 academic year, with the understanding that increased use of the roommate contract will be implemented to facilitate roommate problem-solving and conflict resolution and to protect roommates from abuses of the visitation hours.” 

According to Briggs, students who need rest in order to attend an early morning class or start on-campus jobs early should be given priority over students merely wishing to entertain guests.  

In addition, scheduling arrangements will have to be worked out through Residence Life in how to responsibly accommodate RAs to staff the additional hours.  

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Debbie Heida said the new hours will be reviewed after a year, and changes may be made after the one-year trial period. 

“We’ll see how we are after the first year and go from there.” Heida said. 

The visitation discussion started in the spring of 2007 at SGA where Senior John Luke Weaver started a subcommittee to SGA’s Student Affairs Committee to address visitation hour concerns. The proposal was presented to the students in the SGA meeting on November 13, 2007.

The proposal presented to Student Life Council requested 24- hour visitation on weekends, but the council proposed that weekday hours stay the same. The original proposal also requested that study rooms be open 24 hours in all the residence halls. Quiet hours were proposed to remain the same even with the 24 hour weekend visitation. Residents were also to escort visitors of the opposite sex out of the building. 

The last change made to visitation hours was in 1994, which originated from an SGA motion to adopt the hours currently instated. 

“Berry has a history of making gradual changes over time rather than drastic ones,” Heida said. 

Heida said the new hours will be reviewed after a year and changes may be made after the one-year trial period. 

A $55 million bond resolution for funding new residence hall construction, Dana renovations, Krannert Center expansion and roof replacements was approved by the Development Authority of Floyd County Monday, April 21. 

Construction for the new residence halls will begin in June after architecture and design plans for the foundation will be finalized by the architecture firm, Cooper Carry, on May 16. Architect Krista Theiler said those plans will then be submitted for a city permit to begin construction. 

“The approval from the Floyd County Development Authority last week moved us one step closer to issuing the bonds in late May,” Assistant Vice President for Finance Scott Shank said. “If we were unable to issue the bonds, none of the projects would progress.”

 Other bond-funded projects to begin this summer include a telecommunications shop near Viking Trail to provide support for the new residence halls, and pole barns to be constructed near Rollins Dairy as storage space for agricultural equipment that will be displaced during construction in the Emery Barns area. 

R.J. Griffin & Company, the construction company that worked on the Cage Center, will be doing the construction on the new residence halls.

“I like it because Briggs wants to see Berry bigger; if they have the money then they should use it… why not? I’m glad Briggs came in and started changing things at a faster pace, things get done now,” junior Tristan Pierce said. “At least we are outsourcing the work and hiring contractors, it’s not like Berry is having to do it.” 

While R.J. Griffin will handle the new residence halls, Director of Physical Plant Mark Hopkins said his personnel will be overseeing and working on most all of the summer projects.

“This summer is by far the busiest summer for physical plant in tackling projects,” Hopkins said. “We usually do one big renovation on one residence hall each summer, but this year we have several big projects planned.”  

Hopkins said West Mary would undergo the same treatment East Mary got last summer with new paint, carpet, heating and air. The roofs on the Cook Building, Barstow and Hamrick Hall on mountain campus will be replaced. Evans will receive new paint and carpet, and New Residence Hall will also receive a paint touch-up. Hopkins said physical plant’s role in the new residence hall construction will be to supply electricity and oversee the laborers working on the project. 

Physical plant will also be working on projects in order to become compliant with modern Environmental Protection Agency regulations. This summer, physical plant will seal off unused underground gas storage tanks around campus formerly used as alternative energy stores in the 1940s. 

Hopkins said the first project of the summer will be renovating the College Chapel steeple to begin on May 12.

The summer construction and renovation plans are part of a ten-year plan to maintain and catch up on needed facilities repairs. 

According to the Facilities Conditions Assessment, which is an inspection process to assess the maintenance needs of campus facilities, $35.1 million will be needed to provide maintenance for campus facilities over the next 10 years.  

In addition to maintenance needs, interest payments on the bonds will also have to be made monthly over the next 30 years.

Vice President for Finance Brian Erb said interest payments will be paid to bond holders  each month and once per year for principal, regardless of the status of construction. 

“The residence halls related projects will be covered by the room revenue generated, which is the majority of the bond” Erb said. “The remaining bond payments will be covered through the college’s capital project budget, which is part of the overall college budget.”

According to the President’s Report, an increase of $200-$300 thousand must be allocated each year to the capital projects budget to meet maintenance needs.

“Heating, air, roofing and technology needs are all on a similar life-span cycle in regards to when things near the end of their life-spans and become critical for being replaced,” College President Stephen R. Briggs said. “To address those needs we will have to shift some money around here and there in the budget, but you have to consider what $300 thousand is in the grand scheme of a $77.4 million overall budget.”

With bond payments and maintenance costs, some students said they were concerned with whether or not the administration is trying to accomplish too many projects at once. 

“I think it’s a little ridiculous because Berry is biting off more than it can handle,” junior Caitie Jones said. “We need it [renovations], but maybe we should focus on what we have first.”

“We need the renovations but we should work on what [the buildings] we have before we start on new ones,” freshman Katie Underdown said.

Briggs said the long-term project schedules fit together and are dependent upon one another for progress.

“Dana Hall is in great need of renovation, but we can’t work on it until we have a swing place to put those residents, which is why we have to construct the new residence halls first,” Briggs said. “So everything is interrelated.”

“All our projects do sound like a lot of work for us this summer, but I feel confident in my staff and the timetable we have worked out for each project,” Hopkins said. “We’ve pretty much got the HVAC renovations down to a science after doing it in other dorms, and we have charts that show specific dates for when we want to have certain things completed. The key is in the planning, which I think we’ve done really well this year.”

The new residence halls are expected to be completed in the summer of 2008. 

Renovations in Dana will include redoing heating ventilation and air conditioning system, side entrances, elevators, sprinklers, bathrooms, carpet and paint. Dana’s renovations will also be covered by bond funds, and construction will begin in the summer of 2009. 

The next step for the new residence hall construction is for Cooper Carry to work out the pricing package with R.J. Griffin Contractors, which is the construction company responsible for executing the architectural plans. 

Theiler said she estimates that they will be able to start pouring concrete foundation by July 9. 

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Debbie Heida said she will plan a ceremony for the ground breaking in June. 

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.,  will be the honorary guest speaker at the spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. on Memorial Library lawn. 

Chambliss is the second high-profile Georgia politician to speak at Berry in the past two years, following Gov. Sonny Perdue, who spoke at last year’s spring commencement.

College President Stephen R. Briggs said he thinks it is important to bring nationally acclaimed individuals to Berry to speak to students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff. 

“I feel that it is important for our students to know who our legislators are and vice versa,” Briggs said. “These people have a unique perspective on our state, our nation and our world.”

Elected to the U.S. Senate in November, 2002, Chambliss is Georgia’s 63rd U.S. Senator. “Georgia Trend Magazine” described Chambliss as a “highly visible and well-respected presence in Washington,” with a reputation as an “affable but straight-talking lawmaker.”

Chambliss is a member of the Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee and he is the Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

During the 109th Congress, Chambliss chaired the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and is the only U.S. Senator since 1947 to chair a full standing Senate committee after just only years serving as a Senator.

In addition to the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Chambliss’ leadership on terrorism and homeland security earned him an appointment to the prestigious Senate Select Committee.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chambliss carries on Georgia’s tradition of leadership and advocacy of the state’s military installations. Chambliss fought policies in 2005 that would have closed several of Georgia’s military bases and also continually fights for a higher quality of life for our troops by pushing progressive military legislation.

Chambliss was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, representing Georgia’s 8th District. He is a past recipient of the Air Force Association’s W. Stuart Symington Award, the top civilian award given annually by the association. In January, he was awarded the Legislative Advocacy Award for legislation he began in order to reduce the minimum age at which members of the military can receive retirement pay.

Chambliss earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 1966 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968.

Chambliss and his wife, Julianne were married in 1966 and reside in Moultrie, Ga. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Briggs said he looks forward to the opportunity to glean from Chambliss’ words of wisdom. 

“I think Senator Chambliss has done a lot for Georgia and the United States of America, and it will certainly be an interesting and inspirational afternoon.”

Some of the best movies go unseen and unheard of in mainstream culture.  

We’ve all watched the Oscars and been completely lost as the presenter reads the list of nominees that we have never even seen previews for, but those films always seem to win some of the most esteemed awards.

So when Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová took the stage to perform the Oscar nominated song “Falling Slowly” from the movie “Once” at the 2008 Oscars, most viewers had no idea who this talented pair was.  

But they soon stole the hearts of the nation, including those of the academy, as they walked away with the Oscar for the best music (song) category, beating out songs from films such as “August Rush” and the extremely popular “Enchanted.”   

“Once” may have been released last summer, but it is stronger now than it was at the time of its release thanks to DVD and CD sales. Credit should go to the songwriting talent of the film’s leading characters, Hansard and Irglová, who wrote all but one song on the soundtrack. 

The soundtrack has been on the Billboard Top Independent Album chart for 44 weeks and was still holding strong at number two on the list for the week of April 12.

Clocking in at only about 85 minutes long with the majority of it as music, “Once” will only leave you wanting more of Hansard’s emotional vocals and guitar and Irglová’s soothing piano.  The songs instantly stay with you, haunting you until the next time you can watch it or listen to the soundtrack.

Produced by John Carney, the film was made in a matter of weeks and had a budget of only about $150,000, but these small numbers do not reveal themselves in the final production, which grossed about $16 million internationally while in limited release.

Winner of the Audience Award at the Dublin International and Sundance film festivals, “Once” is unlike any other “musical” released in recent years.  The story does not follow some unrealistic plot that randomly breaks out into song.  Instead, it tracks a week in the lives of two musicians, only referred to as “guy” and “girl” in the credits, on the streets of Dublin, dreaming of simply playing the music they love.  

Filming for the movie was extremely simple.  The picture quality comes across almost as a simple homemade video, but it only adds to the intimacy of the film.

  The crew utilized long lenses, which allowed the music scenes on the streets to be filmed from a far distance.  That way, neither the actors nor the passersbyers would even realize that a movie was being filmed, allowing for improvised dialogue and a high level of comfort for the inexperienced musicians-turned-actors. 

Carney always had Hansard in mind to write the music, but did not originally have him in mind to play the lead role. 

“Though I was initially thinking of using a good actor who could half sing, I quickly realized I should do it the other way around and get a good singer who could half act,” he said in a Chicago interview. 

Hansard then told Carney of a friend of his that would be perfect for the role of “girl,” and Irglová was soon cast for the role once Carney saw the chemistry between the two on screen and within the music.

Besides the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly,” another standout song is the powerful “When Your Mind’s Made Up,” which appears at the climax of the film.

During her acceptance speech at the Oscars, Irglová spoke of the overall message of the film through the song “Falling Slowly.”

“This song was written from a perspective of hope, and hope at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are,” she said.

Hope certainly does connect the characters as they accomplish their dreams of recording, and even though the ending may leave viewers a bit unsatisfied, “Once” is about the soundtrack of a journey and not the ending of a road. 

Every moment seniors Shannon Douglas and Stephanie Kipfer have experienced has been inspiration for this very moment.  After years of hard work and creativity, these two seniors are combining efforts for their first official gallery showings with the exhibition of their senior art theses, displayed in the Moon Gallery April 11-18. Douglas and Kipfer each contributed seven original pieces and transformed the gallery walls into an impressive display of art for the opening on Friday.“I wasn’t sure how everything would turn out, but once it went in the gallery with the lighting, it really came together,” Kipfer said.  The themes of the exhibit focus on the life and inspiration of the artists, illustrated in each work of art.For Douglas, the theme “Remember This” is a reflection on every experience she has encountered.  “There are moments in which one is aware of its significance as it transpires,” Douglas said. “I catalogued a particular image to remember that moment and showed the significance of it with the medium.”  Through the use of mixed mediums, Douglas was able to add entirely new dimensions and emotions to the paintings.  “It’s about playing with the boundaries of drawing and painting, creating a hybrid,” Douglas said.  “Conceived in Autumn” exemplifies this new approach to art.“[It] combines both drawing and painting to enable both internal and external realities to co-exist in the picture plane,” Douglas said in her artist’s statement. “They Were Here First” also plays with the complexity of reality, depicting a couple embracing yet invisible in each other’s arms.At the student symposium, Douglas presented “Standing in the Ashes and the End of the World” to show how the use of specific colors is essential to inducing the same feelings and emotions Douglas experienced at the time.  By showing the image without the dominant green overtones, the sensations depicted by the painting are drastically changed, leaving behind a heinous color that evokes anxiety and even nausea.  The addition of the green shades is essential to the purpose and message.The approach and techniques Douglas utilized lend themselves to a radiance that is apparent to all viewers.  “The way she presents her work allows for art to be more than just art and beauty,” said senior Lyndsey Johnson.  “The art has a purpose.” The exhibit would easily survive on its own if each piece were displayed individually, but what truly sets this gallery apart is the addition of Kipfer’s art and the interaction between the two styles.“When I make a painting, I have an image in my mind, like a tiny dream,” Kipfer said.  “It is a cross section of the artists’ mind – a manifestation.”This theme, “Tiny Dreams,” occurs in each painting, but stems from one in particular.  “Homage to ‘Grey,’” a tribute to a song by Ani Difranco, combines the technique of paneling, dividing the entire work into smaller sections, and the addition of text to create a tangible image of the song.A lyric from the song, “I smoke and I drink and every time I blink, I have a tiny dream,” is written on the painting and stands as the basis for Kipfer’s inspiration.“Procrastinating” is another unforgettable work from Kipfer that creates a depth unmatched by the other paintings, achieved through the use of spray paint.  “I wanted to create an image of what procrastination looks like in my head,” Kipfer said.  Within the painting, time is literally being eaten away as the distance looms on in the background.  Ironically, Kipfer said it “took forever to finish it.”With Kipfer’s eagerness to discuss each painting and its story, it is apparent that a true passion exists.“I wouldn’t be in school for anything else,” Kipfer said.The works of Douglas and Kipfer combine all elements of distinctive art, but the element of human experience is what truly brings them to life.

After months of waiting and restless anticipation, tonight will be the first night back to work at “The Office.” The cult classic returns tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC, for its first episode after the writers’ strike.

Due to the long hiatus, it’s almost as if a new season is beginning.  For those of you who forgot the events of the first half of season four, here’s a quick recap.

The first episode of the season saw everyone’s favorite drunk, Meredith (Kate Palmer), bounce off the hood of the car of self-proclaimed “world’s best boss,” Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Shortly after that unfortunate auto encounter, Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) cat, Sprinkles, was the victim of a mercy killing at the hands of Dwight K. Schrute (Rainn Wilson).  The one positive point in the episode came when Jim, (John Krasinki) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) finally confirmed their office relationship.  I nearly cried. “They’re like PB & J. Pam Beesley and Jim.” said Kevin (Brian Baumgartner).

Michael subsequently blamed the unfortunate events on a “curse,” but was relieved upon hearing that Meridith’s stay in the hospital led to the discovery of her acquisition of rabies. Naturally, Michael instituted a “Fun Run” to raise money and awareness of this terrible disease. “Myth: rabies kills three people every year. Fact: rabies kills four people every year.” said Dwight.

After the dust had settled on the “Fun Run,” Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak), former temp and newly appointed corporate supervisor, instituted a new Web site: Dunder Mifflin Infinity. The new, young look of the company forced Michael to learn PowerPoint and Creed (Creed Bratton) to dyed his hair from gray to black

Michael found a second job as a weight-loss supplement telemarketer to support girlfriend Jan Levinson’s (Melora Hardin) expensive tastes, then realized he could make a living on one job if he cut out his expenditures on magic kits.

Dwight and Angela eventually split, and Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) steped in to fill the Schrute-sized void in Angela’s life.  Dwight became Andy’s confidant in “Operation Fallen Angel,” but continued his slide into an Angela-less depression while outselling the company’s new Web site in one day.

Michael attempted to recreate the danger of “Survivorman,” Dunder Mifflin Utica a fake mustache in the branch wars against Utica and eventually must testify in Jan’s lawsuit against the company.  The last episode before the strike saw Michael siding with Dunder Mifflin over Jan after she stole his personal diary for evidence. “You expect to get screwed by your company, but you never expect to get screwed by your girlfriend,” said Michael.

So what happened to Jan and Michael after Michael ruined any chance Jan had of winning her suit? We could find out tonight, when Michael hosts a dinner party for his employees.  According to the summary on NBC.com, Angela and Andy are invited as a couple, pushing Dwight’s jealousy to an all-time high.

Hilarity is bound to ensue in the six remaining episodes of the season. It is disappointing that so few episodes will be produced, given the fact that these guys had several months off for the strike.  How could they possibly need a break?  Oh well, we’ll just have to enjoy what little time we have left in season four.

If you need to catch up on the first half of season four,  check out every episode online at NBC.com. Now you can watch these masterpieces guilt-free, knowing the writers are receiving their just compensation.

Clocking in at just short of 35 minutes, “Accelerate,” R.E.M.’s 14th studio album and their first in nearly four years, also happens to be their shortest album in their 25- year career. 

Originally based out of Athens, Ga., the band helped to popularize college rock in the ‘80s and pioneered the emerging sound of alternative rock in the early ‘90s. After their original drummer left in 1997, R.E.M released a string of poorly received albums,and many began to wonder if the band was still relevant. 

With lead singer Michael Stipe suggesting the band would split up if they were to release another bad album, the band spent only three weeks in the studio preparing “Accelerate.” The quick recording schedule reflects the album’s fast and fresh feel, something they’ve lacked on their albums for quite some time. 

Compared to their previous albums, “Accelerate” contains a loud production quality, mirroring their guitar-based 1994 album, “Monster” (“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”); except for the haunting track, “Houston,” which echoes some of the experimentation on their landmark album, “Automatic for the People.” 

Despite its short length, “Accelerate” is not a throwback to their work in the ‘80s, but it is something fresh.

The first three songs provide an energetic push to get you into the album, starting out at breakneck speed and reaching the high point with the third track, the catchy single “Supernatural Superserious,” serving as a nice radio-friendly update to R.E.M.’s peachy sound. 

The fourth track, “Hollow Man,” starts off slowly with just a piano and Stipe’s vocals, quickly building into another flowing and rocking R.E.M. track, the song contains some possibly introspective lyrics into the personal dilemma of R.E.M. and their fall out with their critics and fans: “I’m overwhelmed, I’m on repeat, I’m emptied out, I’m incomplete.” The next track, “Houston,” is full of a weird and almost hypnotic rhythm, with even more ambiguous lyrics from either the perspective of a Katrina survivor, or, as the last few lines suggest, a perspective on R.E.M.’s once faltering career: “And some things they fall to the wayside, their memories yet to be stilled, belief has not failed me, and so I am put to the test.”

R.E.M. may have passed the test, but “Accelerate” still has the feeling of a band in transition. Within every track, you can sense that the band is having a good time for a change, trying to feel out what it was that got them together in the first place. The lyrics are layered with political undertones, but most of it can be left up to the listener. 

While a song like “Until the Day is Done” is obviously about the current state of the union, the song “Mr. Richards” could either be a politically motivated song on troubled times, or a humorous evaluation of Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld) and the racial comments he made during a standup act two years ago. But it is with the title track that the band clearly displays their motivation behind the album: “No time to question the choices I make, I’ve got to fall in another direction.”

“Accelerate” stylistically is R.E.M. in the fast lane, both with the album’s length and the composition of the songs. However, their destination is unknown even to them. With the quality behind “Accelerate,” it could go either way for R.E.M. But just like the opening track, “Living Well is the Best Revenge,” the band seems to be happy living well with their newfound sound.

Joe Satriani has been on the music scene for more than 20 years, storming the spotlight with his groundbreaking album, “Surfing With the Alien,” which changed the instrumental guitar album forever. Known not only for his wizardry on the guitar, but for teaching other great guitarists, such as Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett and Alex Skolnick, Satriani, or “Satch” as he is referred to by his fans, is still putting out fantastic material. On April 1, his 13th solo album, “Professor Satchifunkilus and the Musterion of Rock,” hit the shelves.

Unlike some musicians who have been around for a while and peaked years ago, Satriani continues to mature and to produce music of excellent quality. “Professor Satchifunkilus” is an excellent testimony to that fact, exploring a number of epic themes, and is one of Satriani’s most interesting journeys yet. He said in an interview with the Web site Myplay that he whittled the list for the album down from 30 or 40 songs, as per usual, saying that he wanted the songs on the album to be ones that he could continue to explore night after night, and that he wanted to find something new inside of him.

The album begins with the track “Musterion,” which refers to a slight mistranslation in the Bible from Greek to English, in which the word “musterion” was translated to mean mystery when the meaning is closer to secret. Satriani said he found two chords and a melody that came to him one day, and he couldn’t figure out exactly how they were connected, thus resulting in the title. The track itself sounds very secretive, giving off the aura of something locked away somewhere.

The album then goes to the track “Overdriver,” a more straightforward hard rock song about a car with a mind of its own, and then to the album’s big single, “I Just Wanna Rock.” This track explores Satriani’s interest in science fiction and the human facets of robots by telling the story of a robot’s experience of finding a purpose in life. The song is another upbeat hard rock track, and a great display of Satriani’s technical mastery. The album’s title track, (featuring Satriani’s son ZZ on the tenor saxophone) is next. This track, as its title suggests, is a funky style song about a cartoonish mack daddy, according to the Myplay biography.

The next two songs are great examples of Satriani’s ability to convey lyrical ideas without using words, but simply through the expressiveness of the guitar. The next song, “Revelation,” is a personal ballad about the recent passing of his father. The song has a reflective sound to it in the harmony and melody, with more than just a hint of sadness. The song comes to an emotional climax during the solo of the song in which Satriani pours out his feeling into every note he plays. It is the third song he has written for his father, the last two being “Cryin’” and “Into the Light.” 

The next track is a love note to his wife Rubina, titled “Come On Baby.” This is another fantastic example of Satriani’s ability to express emotion. The song ranges from a quiet intro to an more expressive middle section in which he captures his affection for his wife perfectly. It fits in well with the songs he has already written for her, most notably “Always With Me, Always With You” on “Surfing With the Alien.”

The next track, “Out of the Sunrise,” demonstrates Satriani’s skill not only as a musician but as a storyteller and as an artist who paints pictures with music. The song’s introduction paints a perfect picture of what the title suggests. The song is about a man who has been up all night, looks at the sunrise and, in that moment, realizes all the evil things he’s done; at the same time he realizes that it’s a new day and that he has a chance to change. It’s a track that almost anyone can identify with and makes for a very good touch.

“Diddle-Y-A-Doo-Dat” is the next track, and is more of groove song in which the guitar line introduction mimics the title and continues through a mad dash of swing. The last two tracks are a tribute to Turkish saz (a four-stringed instrument) player Asik Veysel. The first of these two, called “Asik Veysel,” is a song in which Satriani celebrates hearing Veysel’s music for the first time. Satriani uses a slightly different guitar technique where he plays more lightly to achieve a more saz-like sound. The album’s closing track, “Andalusia,” is written in memory of Asik Veysel and is also inspired by the beauty of Spain’s countryside, where Satriani paints vivid pictures of the country’s natural beauty.

All in all, the album is a project of truly epic proportions: deep, personal and heavy despite being only ten tracks long. Satriani pays close attention to every aspect of this album, tightening up every loose end and making sure that it is a great experience all the way through, and he succeeds brilliantly. His virtuosic playing and brilliant use of word-painting and melodic themes to express lyrical ideas, though instrumental, make this album another great achievement for him.

Rome has an impressive array of unique restaurants. Newly added to the list is the Santa Fe restaurant on Turner McCall between 5th Avenue and Riverside Parkway.

This restaurant has a little bit for everyone from the steak lover to the vegetarian. I love this restaurant so much, I have already been twice. 

Santa Fe has just about everything, including steaks, ribs, burgers, pasta and sandwiches, all with a southwestern flair. 

A unique dish is the death burger, which is smothered in queso and jalepenos—perfect for those who love spicy food. A more common option is the Santa Fe chicken. It is a large chicken breast topped with barbecue sauce and cheese. It comes with two sides. Whatever you choose, make sure you choose the fries; they are the best in town. Another great choice is the Cajun chicken. Penne pasta in alfredo sauce is topped with slices of chicken and a piece of Texas toast. 

The food is not the only thing with flair. The décor inside Santa Fe will leave you in awe. The centerpiece is a huge fan that could fill up four dorm rooms. The floor is covered in peanut shells, and there is not a bare space on the walls. You will undoubtedly see something new on each visit. 

The service is also great. On my first visit, the waitress gave a run through of the menu; she knew it like the back of her hand. She was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. If there is a wait, a large barrel of peanuts at the entrance will keep you entertained.

If you leave any room for desert, try the mud pie. A flowerpot is filled with chocolate pudding, peanut butter pie and Oreo crumbs topped with a silk flower. 

Don’t expect to get all this great food for free. Santa Fe is moderately priced. A dinner will cost about $10-$15. However, it is also open for lunch.

Robert Arnett is a photographer by trade but in essence, he is much more. After capturing the rich culture, religion and history abundant in India within his photographs, Arnett spent some time at Berry this week to share his experiences and wisdom.  

Raised in Columbus, Ga., Arnett said he knew that it was his calling to bring the beauty of India to America.  Since 1988, he has traveled to India five times and witnessed the daily cultural mecca that is India, which Arnett describes as a continent within a country.  

He has documented it all in a book of photography, “India Unveiled.”

Arnett said he knew that in order to capture authentic scenes of daily life in India, he would have to place himself in a vulnerable position.  

“Getting out on a limb is not sufficient.  You have to saw off the limb and let some higher power in the world take control,” he said.

While in India, Arnett traveled in crowded buses and stayed in homes of families with various backgrounds in order to experience the true Indian lifestyle, one that is vastly different from what Americans know. 

This mindset led to incredible stories and travels for Arnett.  One of the main cultural differences Arnett said he witnessed was the faithfulness and loyalty present in Indian culture.

In India, giving your word is a far more sincere gesture than here in America. He told a story of a young girl he met who asked him for an American pen pal.  

When Arnett was confused as to why she would not give him her address, the next day she replied that she honestly did not want to commit to writing to another person for the rest of her life.  

He also told accounts of how hospitality and honesty are abundant in the culture of India, and all of this is evident in his photographs.

In “India Unveiled,” the photos range from moments of everyday life to religious scenes.  Arnett captured images of ancient cave paintings, beautifully carved marble statues and dense fog in the Himalayan Mountains during the monsoon season, but his focus was on the religious aspects of Indian culture. 

India is a very diverse country in regards to religion.  There are 4 indigenous religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism) in addition to Christianity and Judaism.  

In any other country, one would see this diversity as a source of conflict; however, Arnett depicts India as a divine country of peace focused on religion and not in conflict.

“Religion did not come to the earth to separate the people of the world, but to unite the people.  Fire and flame in every religion represents the God that cannot be extinguished,” Arnett said. 

One day at the beach, Arnett saw a priest emerging from the water and said he knew that it was a prime opportunity.  The man was performing his daily ritual and with a gesture to bless the priest’s soul and Arnett gained permission to capture the moment in time. 

The result is the latest cover image of “India Unveiled,” the pristine image of the man rising out of the calm waters.  

After traveling to India numerous times, Arnett has finally determined his favorite sites to visit.  India draws nearly 27 million people to religious festivals. 

“The pilgrims had such devotion.  It was just inspiring to see the devotion of those who were there” Arnett said in reaction to his experiences.

More pilgrims visit these Indian religious festivals each year than those who make the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca or to the Vatican.  In fact, Arnett said one can now buy tickets online to the festival or even watch it on television.  

After experiencing the wisdom and photographs of  Arnett, it is clear that he has a passion for India that shines through in his photographs.  But Arnett’s purpose runs deeper than that.  His hope is for the entire world to live in the harmony that his photographs have captured.  

“I am very disturbed today how religions are separating people instead of uniting them,” Arnett said.  “But once we go deep within and seek our happiness in serving others, then we know, like Shiva, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammad, we then know that dancing to the heavenly music, doing God’s will, is the only dance there is.”