The Red & Black Podcasts

This week, instead of an X’s and O’s football preview, we speak with our Editor in Chief and football beat writer Augusta Stone about UGA Football’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement.  

Augusta’s story this week details the program’s response. Here, we talk about how players have spoken out apart from their program, and what that means.

This week, we speak with News Assistant Foster Steinbeck about what’s happening in the State House of Representatives District 117 race.

A recent survey from a market research group named "The Voter Survey," had a series of questions undermining Mokah Jasmine Johnson’s campaign. Republican Incumbent Houston Gaines, released a statement on Facebook saying his campaign has not conducted any polling this election cycle. The consultancy, "The Voter Survey," has only existed online since this May. On Facebook, the consultancy’s page has only one follower, no substantive posts and a dead end website. 

We talk with Foster about his research into the consultancy, and what the reactions have been within the District 117 race.

This week, we did some socially distanced, open air on the street reporting, talking to students about their experiences with the new dining hall systems. The generally constructive answers surprised us, as freshmen and non-freshmen alike found bright spots in UGA Dining Services handling of the situation. 

We've already covered the logistical changes to dining on campus, so this show is focused on students' reactions and opinions. 

This week, we discuss the University of Georgia's reopening with two professors who signed onto the recent faculty petition condemning the move. Dr. Mark Ebell, epidemiology and biostatistics director at UGA's College of Public Health, and Dr. Amy Trauger, professor in UGA's Department of Geography, each give their thoughts on the university's reopening. 

Today, we discuss what you need to know about the University of Georgia's return to campus plans for fall 2020. We touch on UGA's class attendance policies, back-up plans, residence hall changes, Georgia football, bus routes and more — and how COVID-19 is affecting all of it. 

To listen to our news editor talk about COVID-19 precautions in classrooms, attendance policies and about the dining halls, listen at 1:13. 

To listen to our special publications social media editor discuss policies at the residence halls, listen at 16:34. 

Listen to our assistant news editor discuss about changed bus routes at 20:20. 

Finally, listen to our sports editor talk about he knows so far about UGA Football at 22:38.

From COVID-19 to protests, our summer staff has been nothing short of busy while working remotely. This week, we’re re-capping our summer podcast episodes with The Red & Black’s Editor-in-Chief and managing editor. We’ll revisit some of our most important episodes and give you updates on pressing topics such as the status of bars in Athens and the University of Georgia's fall semester.

Click the link to listen, or hear us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

AthFest Music & Arts festival took over downtown Athens every June for 23 years. For the first time in AthFest history, AthFest weekend — what was supposed to be the weekend of June 25-28 — was void of the music, food and fundraising that had become an annual tradition in Athens due to COVID-19.

On today’s episode, culture editor Anna Thomas speaks with four people involved with the annual AthFest festival. 

Today, we’re hearing from three former Georgia Bulldogs who were planning on participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The worldwide event was postponed for the first time since World War II due to COVID-19. While the event was rescheduled for 2021, a lot can happen in a year for athletes.

From the sports desk, sports editor William Newlin and digital producer Jasmina Charania spoke with former UGA athletes about the postponement and how their plans have been affected.

We’re hearing from Black activists who are leading the protests movement in Athens in today’s episode. Nationwide protests have continued for more than a month, calling for racial justice and support for the Black Lives Matter movement. On a local level, Black women continue to step up as leaders of the activism movement in Athens.

Enterprise editor Anila Yoganathan and news assistant Gabriela Miranda spoke with UGA sociology student Ashley Crooks-Allen and county commissioner Mariah Parker about their activism and about intersectionality in the movement.

We’re breaking down the University of Georgia’s virtual new student orientation.

For most UGA students, attending orientation is their first step on campus as a college student. A night of summer camp away from home. It’s their first taste of dining hall food, their first chance to take part in UGA’s traditions. It’s where orientees get to jump in the iconic North Campus fountain, where they learn how to “Call the Dawgs” and where they make some of their first lasting memories in Athens.

But due to COVID-19, this program had to move entirely online.

We talked to an orientation leader and an incoming freshman about their online orientation experience.