An argument that is becoming more popular among Americans is the effects and desensitization of children and teens due to video games. Do video games create violent people, or are video games an outlet for violent people to take out their aggression?

The increasingly realistic and exciting nature of electronic games has helped to make them hugely popular with children and youth. 79% of American children now play computer or video games on a regular basis, some up to 8 hours a day.

“Considering things like World War I and II happened before the invention of video games, I don’t think that violent video games contribute to violent behavior,” said Michael Anthony, an avid gamer.

Although there has always been violence, even before the creation of video games, games like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor allow the player to roam a map in first-person view mode, like a simulation of war. It is easy to see how people can believe that such graphic imagery can effect a mind, but not every mind is the same.

“I believe it is all based on the type of environment that you have been raised in. It is based on personality. I love to watch action packed movies, with lots of things blowing up and guns. I also like movies like Saw with lots of blood. It is all about knowing the line between entertainment and reality. I am happy to believe that I am normal. I do not play video games because I suck at them, but I do not think they are linked to the violent acts of others,” said Yaritza Roman, a non-gamer.

Prominent organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association have all concluded that the scientific evidence shows a cause-effect relationship between television violence and aggression among the children and youth who watch it. Based on this research, many social scientists have predicted that we should expect video games to have an even greater impact because it is more hands on that television.

The media reported in the 1999 Columbine killings that the killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were “gamers” and spent a lot of their time playing video games such as “Doom”, “Wolfenstein 3D” and “Mortal Kombat” on their computers. On June 1, 1999, following the horrifying school shooting in Littleton, Colorado, President Clinton requested that the Federal Trade Commission conduct a study of whether the motion picture, video game and other media industries market and advertise violent entertainment material to children and teenagers.

The Columbine shooting brought high attention to youth violence and what causes it. In 2012, there were two mass shootings, Aurora and Newtown, Connecticut, both of which people blamed media violence for the killers actions. Both shooters were under the age of 25.

Since the Sandy Hook tragedy, President Obama has asked Congress to set aside $10 million dollars to study the relation between violent video games and violent people.

When does the reason stop being video games and television and start becoming psychological issues? Billions of people play the same games and watch the same movies, but only a select few decide that visual stimulation is not enough and take action.

“I’ve played violent games as an adolescent and to some degree still do. I’ve served in the U.S Marine Corps, where I did what violence was required to ensure my survival but found much of it appalling. In the end, all I’ve done and seen has led me to a life dedicated to the preservation of life, not ending it,” said Dwayne Mann, lieutenant at the Sylvester Fire Department.

This back and forth, chicken before the egg debate will be around as long as there are video games and movies to blame it on. There will always be two sides, one side saying that video games breed killers, and the other side saying that without video games, kids and teenagers would find worse, more dangerous ways to spend their time.

President Obama recently made headlines by pushing a gun bill that would ban military grade weaponry. Some of the major details of this plan include background checks for every purchaser of a weapon, a ban on assault rifles, a mental health check, and a ban on gun magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

The problem will be trying to convince Republicans and some Democrats in the House to agree to pass the bill. Gun control is a controversial topic, especially for Republicans, so passing a bill of this magnitude will not be easy. However, there are certain aspects of the bill Republicans do agree with, such as background checks and mental health checks, which 89 percent of Republicans would agree to pass.

Probation Officer Craig Taylor, who owns Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, disagrees with banning assault weapons.

“I believe that we should have the ability to protect our families and not depend on the government for our protection,” said Taylor. “If we take away the guns, it’s not going to stop the criminals from obtaining them.”

“America has always had the right to bear arms and I believe that other countries have been reluctant to invade us, because every household can defend themselves,” he said.

He also said teachers and students should be allowed to carry guns on campus. With the recent school shootings, campus safety has also become an issue.

Brian Perkins, broadcast journalism coordinator, supports a ban on assault weapons and opposes guns on campus.

“Here at Darton State College we are a top five school in the state in terms of campus safety, so we are a very secure place to learn,” said Perkins. “I do not feel teachers need to carry weapons if they do not want to, and should not be burdened with the training it takes to carry these firearms.”

Professor David Latona pointed out the difference between modern arms and those that existed at the time the Bill of Rights was adopted.

“At the time the founding fathers passed the Second Amendment, the only guns they had in their homes were hunting muskets,” said Latona. “They did not have cannon or explosives in their personal homes.

“I agree with the right to bear arms and have your own weapons, but do we really need military grade weapons to go hunting? I am fine with prohibiting the assault rifles but I feel America will not let the government take all our guns away,” he said.

Latona thinks the answer to campus safety is a larger security force.

“I think we would really slow down crime if we had more police officers,” he said. “In the ‘90s we had more police officers and lower crime rates. If we up our police number everywhere, like on campuses and in cities, we would have a better chance at lowering the crime rate.”

If Obama can get this bill passed it would bring definite change to American society, but whether it will be a good or bad change has yet to be seen.

Gainesville State College recently implemented a system to encourage students to finish their degrees. This system asks students to sign a banner pledging that they will finish their associate’s degrees and certificates.

This method has not yet proven to be successful, because it is the middle of the school year, but GSC administrators believe that this method represents hope and belief.

How would this signing of a banner fare at Darton State College? Darton has some of the lowest graduations rates in the state of Georgia. Georgia colleges, especially community colleges, already have some of the lowest graduations in the country.

According to American School Search, an organization that tracks graduation rates at U.S. colleges, the graduation rate at Darton State College is 14 percent. Nearly 39 percent of the school’s undergraduate students transfer to other colleges.

Several Darton students said, in an informal survey, that they plan to transfer from Darton.

“I am just here to prepare myself for a university,” said Israel Vega, a sophomore.

“I just want to get good grades here so I can move on to a bigger school,” said Trini Walker, a member of the basketball team.

But there are students who want to receive the associate’s degree from Darton State College, and think that signing a banner to pledge to graduate could prove be a great incentive and a source of accountability.

Marquel McMillon, a nursing major, said, “I think signing a banner to pledge to graduate would be great and effective. It will push students to finish because they put their name on the line. I plan to graduate from Darton, and could use the extra push.”

Some teachers even bought into the idea of a pledge to graduate.

“I think it would not only be a great event to give some notice to the school, but it will add some positive pressure to students to graduate,” said Bobby Miles, an advisor for student affairs.

Boosting graduations rates is fine, but the ultimate purpose is to prepare students for life and for their careers. Maybe students at Darton could use the extra push.

For the third year, Darton State College has been named a military-friendly school by Military Advanced Education in its 2013 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities.

“We are very pleased to be receiving this award for the third year. Darton is committed to helping our veterans and providing educational opportunities not only to our service members and veterans, but also to their families,” said Valerie McCarley, director of Military and Adult Education at Darton State College.

Among the attributes considered in evaluating this year’s institutions for inclusion in the guide, were flexibility of online learning options, transfer credits policies, on-campus active duty and veteran assistance and the support provided to the families of service members.

“The guide has become an invaluable tool for both education services officers and transition officers when advising service members and their families about degree and certification opportunities currently available from institutions of higher learning,” said Laural Hobbes, MAE’s editor.

This is the second time this year that Darton State College has been honored for its educational opportunities for service members. In September 2012, G.I. Jobs magazine also named the college a “military-friendly school” for 2013.

Darton State College is a member of the Service Members Opportunity Colleges and houses a Military Resource Center to help students achieve their educational goals.  For more information, contact the Military Resource Center at (229) 317-6538 or visit their website, www.dcmrc.com.

It’s not basketball, but Darton State College will be running and shooting for scholarships on April 13.

The school has two events planned, the 4^th Annual Clay Shoot Competition and the Smokin’ Butts 5k & Fun Run. All proceeds from both events will be used for student scholarships.

Event goers can start the morning with the Smokin’ Butts 5k & Fun Run. The run is sponsored by the Darton Cross Country team, Global Education, and the Darton Alumni Association. The 1-mile walk/run will begin at 8 o’clock, followed by the 5K at 8:30. Registration for the 5K, and the 1-mile fun run is $25, but if participants register before March 31, it is only $20. Runners and walkers can register now online at www.active.com. For more information please contact Lisa Malinowski, alumni coordinator, at (229) 317-6729.

After the Smokin’ Butts run, the business and social science divisions will hold the 4^th Annual Clay Shoot Competition. The event will be held at the Flint Skeet & Trap Club, located at 1319 Lily Pond Road in Albany. Tickets for the clay shoot are $40, which includes 75 shots, and lunch catered by the award-winning Darton Cookers. Clay shoot registration is from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., with the competition starting at 11 a.m. Space is limited, but participants have a chance to buy tickets early. For more information, call (229) 317-7001.

All proceeds from the Clay Shoot Competition, and the Smokin’ Butts 5K & Fun Run, will benefit student scholarships through the Darton College Foundation. Approximately 75-80 percent of Darton’s students receive federal or state financial aid. The Darton College Foundation is dedicated to enhancing and promoting higher education, creating scholarships and endowments, supporting faculty and staff, and expanding educational opportunities at Darton State College.