The Local Impact

It is reported that during spring break, more than half of all males and 40% of all females binge drink themselves until they are sick, addiction.com states, which pulled statistics from the  Journal of American College Health.  With spring break just around the corner for Troy University students, Trojan Outreach encouraged students to have a safe, substance free, spring break on Wednesday.  The group hosted a booth in the Trojan Center with the goal of displaying to the student body the dangers of drug and alcohol addition, by spreading the word through means of a popular television game show.  Trojan Outreach encouraged students to spin the wheel of misfortune, a wheel detailing ways people can get themselves into trouble through substance abuse. The wheel featured situations like car wrecks, criminal records and serious injuries.  While sugary sweets are not exactly the same as illegal drugs, the group used candy to provide students with a v...

When you think of public participation, or civic duty, odds are the word “voting” comes to mind. When done correctly, voting in elections, whether they be local or national, is the ultimate way for civilians to have their voices heard and to make a difference in their community.  Unfortunately, many to do not express their opinion by casting their ballots at the polls, but rather bicker about the outcome of elections over social media.  During the 2016 Presidential Election, a little over 58 percent of eligible voters actually voted, according to  PBS News . That means 42 percent of the population’s opinions were not expressed.  This trend can be seen other places, including right here at Troy University.  Each school year, the student body has the chance to elect representatives into the Student Government Association’s Executive Board, which is made up of Troy University’s President, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Vice President of Cam...

“Being a better man, and just being a more diverse man”  - Destin Henderson, Troy Student Following Martin Luther King Jr. Day last month, February is Black History Month. For many, the month is a time for reflection on civil rights issues in the United Sates, but for others the month is a time of evaluation, or a look at how to address unification moving forward.  Troy University student leaders, administrators, faculty and staff members of varying backgrounds come together on Saturday Feb. 9 for an  Inaugural Martin Luther King Day Male Unity Breakfast. The breakfast included an opening prayer by the Student Government Association Vice President of Campus Activities Morgan Long and Board of Trustees member Lamar Higgins as the main speaker. The group broke bread, rather literally with biscuits, to create a dialogue about how to best unify students of differing demographics.  “Things are never going to change unless you take action, and o...

I first heard of the Jan. 19 Wetumpka tornado through social media, as Troy University students from the Wetumpka area posted their thoughts and prayers on Instagram. People at the university were personally involved in the tragedy that was over an hour away. I questioned whether there was something there and if I should develop a story. It was 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. As I was preparing for bed, I had a curious idea. It’s most likely the same feeling journalists get when they hear breaking news. In the event of a tragedy, the journalist is concerned for the parties involved, yet intrigued by what happened. I had this urge to visit Wetumpka, for a community of people were affected not only there but in Troy. I packed up my equipment, texted a fellow student journalist to tag along, set my alarm and went to sleep.  Wetumpka had trees down, buildings destroyed and the Bibb Graves Bridge which connects the east and west sides of the city closed off. Winds speeds reached 120-1...

My name is Brady Talbert. I’m a student journalist originally from Birmingham, Alabama. I’ve been covering news stories for five years now, and still get a thrill watching stories come alive on a page or on television.  I have gained experience in broadcast news through internships in the video production field, as well as TROY TrojanVision News at Troy University. I also have a background in print news writing, as a staff writer at the Shelby County Reporter.  As a local reporter, I’ve had to take broad concepts and show people in my community how such current events affect them. Nationally, the effects of stories trickle down into our small home towns and communities.  How is the government shutdown affecting the food supply locally? How does a hurricane in Panama City, or a Tornado in Wetumpka affect members of our community? These types of topics will be discussed.  It’s important to have an understanding of what is happening locally in order to ...