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Volume 92 | Issue 2
THE BLOTTER
www.georgiastatesignal.com
CRIME BLOTTER
Aug 30
“Getting my reps in.”
At 6:10 p.m. a non-GSU offender was arrested for trespassing into the Student Recreation Center.
Sept. 1
“Waffle House <3.”
At 8:45 p.m. a non-GSU offender was issued a warning for trespassing into the Waffle House on 100 Piedmont Ave.
LOCAL
Last Tuesday, Atlanta mayor Andrew Dickens spoke at Woodruff Park to announce a $60 million investment that would help end homelessness and build affordable housing. This investment is part of a larger promise by Dickens to provide 20,000 units of affordable housing. The money is said to help fund two of the city’s rapid affordable housing projects that are currently being constructed.The Waterworks in west Midtown and another Cooper Street in Mechanicsville. City officials have announced that they plan to break ground on the Waterworks project this fall.
Sept. 3
“Goin’ up on a Tuesday.”
At 10:25 p.m. a non-GSU offender was arrested for violating liquor laws at the intersection between John Wesley Dobbs Ave and Courtland St.
NEWS BRIEFS
NATIONAL
A 14-year old student opened fire at Apalachee High School last Wednesday, killing two adults and two students. Nine others — eight students and one teacher — were injured during the shooting and taken to nearby hospitals. All injured are expected to survive. The teen had been previously interviewed in May 2023 after the FBI received a tip about online threats he made about an unspecified school shooting. The teen is in custody and will be tried as an adult with murder.
Monday, September 9, 2024
Sept 4
“Where else is there to park?.”
At 9:00 p.m., a non-GSU offender was arrested for trespassing into the “A” parking deck.
INTERNATIONAL
Amid periodic pauses in fighting, the U.N. World Health Organization says 187,000 children in Gaza have been vaccinated for polio as of last Wednesday, with an eventual goal of 640,000. The campaign was launched after Gaza reported its first polio case in 25 years — a 10-month-old boy — now paralyzed in the legs. The campaign is expected to last until Sept. 9, Israel said.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Photo by: Hunter Laserna
Parking Decks around campus closed
Students from Patton Hall, Lofts, and Greek Housing were forced to relocate to overflow parking.
Georgia State University is experiencing its annual parking debacle. Students at Patton Hall, Lofts, and Greek Housing used to be able to park at Lofts
parking, but the garage is now closed for repairs due to it being “structurally unsound.”
Residents received an email regarding parking on August 8th. Where the parking change was first communicated. The only line in the email communicating this change was when it listed where residents were designated to park based on their housing. “Parking Location: M-Deck (Lofts parking deck is closed for repair).”
Lofts had a capacity of 270 parking spaces for on-campus residents, but residents are now designated to park at M-deck. Patton, Lofts, and Greek residents were still required to pay 400 dollars for the parking tag. M-deck is trying to accommodate both on-campus and commuter students, but it has proven to be more difficult.
According to Georgia State University, “M Deck will only be available to semester/housing parking permit holders for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. This change was necessary due to construction in the University Lofts parking deck. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.”
Georgia State has an enrollment of 52,000 students on all campuses, yet according to Parking and Transportation, they have over 9,000 parking spaces on the downtown campus.
Space for parking has been a constant issue for Georgia State this year. Some commuter students who used to park at M-deck are now resorting to other solutions such as parking at Center Parc Stadium’s green lot and taking the Blue Line bus to campus. Not all hope is lost, however. The Convocation Center parking deck is now open to students for free. In order for students to get free parking, they have to register their vehicle with GSU parking. You can visit parking.gsu.edu to register your vehicle to gain access to the parking deck, which is accessible from campus via the Red Line buses.
Besides the closure of University Lofts parking, many other decks have experienced an influx of students. Many reports from students said that by 11:00 a.m. every deck dedicated to student parking was full, with anyone coming in after that being turned away. With every parking deck being full, there are a handful of options students can use. Alternative parking lots like Center Parc Stadium’s Green lot, Blue lot and now the Convocation Center are all large parking spaces with spots available to students. There is also paid parking around the downtown area, even though for some it isn’t much of a solution. Many of the meters downtown charge higher than the GSU lots, and have a cutoff of 4 p.m.
4
“It’s really unfortunate as a Georgia State student because a lot of our classes run past 4 p.m.” shared third-year student Varsha Sudharsan. As someone who is commuting this semester, Sudharsan travels from Alpharetta to come to campus where she then has to find parking and figure out how she’ll get to class.
“I was late to class by like 20 minutes because I was doing street parking and I know a lot of the students on the second day of class actually missed the entire class” said Sudharsan.
If parking downtown seems like an impossible situation, GSU students have access to a discounted MARTA card that takes monthly payments instead of charging per ride. The University encourages students to take advantage of this deal, especially if they’re coming to campus every day.
News Writer Emily Wahner
Illustration by: Shemar DeBellotte
Illustration by: Shemar DeBellotte
OPINIONS
Entertainment is dying
How the overconsumption of media has destroyed everyday entertainment.
emember the days when entertainment meant more than just scrolling through TikTok all day?
A time when we sat down to watch a movie without pausing every ten minutes to check a phone? Or read a book without clocking out after 10 minutes. Well, those days are mostly just memories filed in our minds. Welcome to the era of digital overload, where our attention spans are shrinking faster than the running time of a TikTok video and entertainment as we once knew it is gasping for air.
The truth is, we’re drowning in content—drowning in it. There’s more entertainment out there than ever before, but somehow, it feels like there’s nothing worth watching, reading, or even listening to. Netflix drops new shows every week, Spotify and Apple Music release thousands of new songs daily and social media serves up an endless buffet of videos and memes. Our bookmarks are filled to the brim. We have so much content at our fingertips, yet we can’t seem to stick with anything for more than five minutes. We have entered the pandemic of brain rot, short-circuits and short attention spans. Cause? Overconsumption of media has gone too far!
The golden era of Disney is gone, artists like Beyoncé, Britney, Rihanna and Lady Gaga have ventured into the business world and gotten older. New music artists and socialites are hanging on by a string to cement their place as household names to remember. Entertainment is just not sticking.
This is why we found such a huge wave of clinging to the nostalgia of the Y2K post-Covid. We miss our childhood and would give anything to be outside without social media and the digital era.
We have been groomed by the digital era to crave instant gratification—quick hits of dopamine that fade as quickly as they come. Who has the time for the art of storytelling when there’s another ten-second clip of Baddies just waiting to play?
Here’s where the double-edged sword comes in. The more content we consume, the less we feel entertained. It’s just a revolving door. We keep scrolling, keep searching, and keep hoping for that one thing that will truly captivate us, but all we find is more of the same: recycled ideas, reboots and remakes. It’s no wonder, then, that we’ve turned to nostalgia as our escape route from this digital overload. Nostalgia is like wearing that comfy sweater and walking to “Built This Way” from Mean Girls when the world feels a bit too chaotic and you just wanna be that girl who’s gonna be okay. We cling to the shows, movies and music of the past because they remind us of when we were just okay before every moment of our day was a battle for our attention from our phones or the people inside of it. “Sex and The City” reruns, 2012-2016 fashion trends coming back, or even the resurgence of vinyl records aren’t just trends—they’re lifelines. They are woven into the identities that we want to reclaim as our own in Gen Z. Nostalgia is the break from reality. We didn’t have to deal with algorithms trying to guess our taste or social figures pandering to our every thought. Back then, entertainment was about connection—a shared experience with peers and family, not just an endless parade of strangers grasping for a few seconds of our attention on a screen for validation. So, what’s the solution? I wish I had a simple answer. Maybe it’s about making peace with the fact that we’re living in a world of too much, where less is never more and more is never enough. Maybe it’s about cutting the service—not just from our devices but from the idea that we need to be constantly entertained. Maybe, just maybe, it’s about rediscovering the joy of sitting with bodies of work and figuring out if it resonates with you.
Entertainment isn’t dying because there’s nothing good out there; it’s dying because we’ve forgotten how to engage with it. We’ve forgotten how to sit back and enjoy the show. Appreciate the art of storytelling, learning and growing from entertainment.
Allow yourself to not only laugh and maybe cry, but be inspired by what we consume. The digital overload isn’t going anywhere, but maybe it’s time we tame the beast, and let ourselves be entertained again—truly entertained, in that deep soul-touching kind of way that sticks with you long after the song ends or the credits roll out.
Take your artistry to new heights: Practice self-introspection
Looking into ourselves is the key, to a better art, to a better life.
R “HOW TO CREATE ART AND STAND OUT” plastered across a Youtube thumbnail image. Adjacent to these words sat the decorated and influential music producer, Rick Rubin, smiling gleefully. In the video, Jay Shetty, a motivational force in his own right, interviews Rubin, who wisely reflects his wisdom on questions about living authentically and honoring life as a creative being. What follows is a summary of my essential takeaway: deep self-introspection is necessary for timeless artistry, and even more important for a fulfilled existence.
Rick urges intentionally creative beings to endeavor to know themselves, fully. The command, “Know thyself”, has historically been traced back to ancient Greece. Thought to have been first inscribed at The Temple of Apollo, the phrase implores us all to discover what we think and feel to live a more authentic existence. The only way to do this is to spend time acquainting ourselves with our inner world. Rick encourages us to pause and ask ourselves what we are feeling and seeing in our experiences, and to be introspective. He isn’t the first to suggest that we reorient ourselves inward. His unique artistic past and experiences color and inform his words, however, and this gives them a newness.
Knowing ourselves fully means knowing our ‘why’, as an author, speaker and self-proclaimed optimist, Simon Sinek, might suggest. We should work to become aware of the motivations for our actions and the reasons for our beliefs. Why do we choose to react or not react, advance or stay, play or refrain?
Rubin tells us not to sell ourselves short as artists or to play small. He encourages us to be original and to live for the process, not the outcome. However, to faithfully honor his wisdom requires a heightened degree of self-awareness, perhaps even an uncommon degree. As an artist, I’ve struggled with the age-old dichotomy between earning money and creating timeless art. I’ve even contemplated placing the former over the latter.
When I’d focus more on money, the process of creation would lose its appeal. I’d have no desire to push forward and would begin to feel a low-level anxiety that would turn into depression if I continued against my intuition. Eventually, I’d be forced to slow down and ask, ‘Why?’ Each time this happened, I’d learn a new lesson that reminded me to remain on the path of inner sincerity. As Rubin mentioned, the greatest artists are secure in themselves regardless of what happens in their external environment.
Rubin’s ultimate message is that if we wish to attain more meaningful human experiences, whether they be in our relationships or our areas of labor, we need to engage in deep self-reflection to see this happen. The results are not immediate, and they shouldn’t be. Time is required to investigate our unchallenged ideas and shadow selves. We can rest soundly however, in knowing that the process of self-introspection begins yielding positive benefits for our lives almost the moment we begin.
Kalin Williams Opinions Writer
Photo by: Noah Zeches
FORMER RACETRAC TO BECOME
Students from Patton Hall, Lofts, and Greek Housing were forced to relocate to overflow parking.
The infamous RaceTrac that was shut down this past spring is under new ownership, and its new owner plans to turn Last February, the RaceTrac at 120 Piedmont Ave closed its doors for good after a string of shootings and other crimes years, where it saw reports of 31 charges of assaults, two murders and 13 charges of larceny according to the city’s Since its closure, the area has been noticeably quieter, with GSUPD reporting a decrease in crime in the space. “The change has been noticeable,” said K’lynn Jackman, a second-year student who lives at University Commons across feels like there’s less foot traffic on that part of campus”. However, that emptiness is set to not last much longer. The land for the gas station has now been bought out, and last city to open up a new gas station right where the old RaceTrac stood.
Lakhari is a new businessman in the downtown area who has managed three gas stations previously. On top of his new liquor license to sell alcohol at the new gas station.
City officials have expressed their intention to collaborate with Lakhari to ensure safety in the area. Councilwoman tiari spoke with reporters from 11 Alive about their hopes for the partnership. “We are looking for a partner who is going to be responsive and at the table with us to seek how we improve to make like this recurring,” said Bakhtiari. “We told them we need you to tow cars that are loitering on your property. The owner APD to actually enforce that.”
The news of the gas station’s reopening isn’t exactly good news for a lot of Georgia State students, with some students they’re banding together to write a letter demanding that the Atlanta City Council stop the new applicant from moving Many saw RaceTrac’s closure as an opportunity to welcome a new business to the space that would benefit students campus. One of the most common suggestions for the area was for it to become a resource for students in need of groceries.
“I wish they could turn the space into something useful for students. Maybe a study area, or a cafe. We don’t have a of convenient options nearby for essentials so that would really benefit people living on or near campus” said Jackman.
“It would be amazing if the RaceTrac got turned into some sort of grocery store or food market. There are no grocery stores within walking distance of campus” shared Charlie Lucas, a second-year student living on campus this year.
With the gas station being reopened, students fear that the issues with crime that plagued the area last semester could possibly come back.
“I think that by turning the RaceTrac into another gas station we’re just repeating the pattern that made it dangerous in the first place. It was dangerous as a shell gas station, it was dangerous as a RaceTrac, and it will be dangerous as a different gas station” said Lucas. “There is no amount of security that will make it less dangerous, the fact that it’s a late-night gas station is why it’s dangerous”.
Since the announcement of the new business, members of the Atlanta City Council have been meeting and working with university leaders and GSUPD to discuss how to curb the issues that arose from the location’s previous tenants. No information on an opening date for the new gas station has been released.
BECOME ANOTHER GAS STATION
www.georgiastatesignal.com
turn the building not into a grocery store, or a parking deck, but another gas station. crimes led to students in the area feeling unsafe. The gas station was open for four crime data reports.
across the street from the RaceTrac. “The area feels emptier, and it last July a businessman named Baktari Lakhari applied to the new business application, he has also filed for a and Georgia State alumni Liliana Bakhmake sure we don’t have incidents owner understandably asked students saying that moving forward. students living on groceries.
lot
Monday, September 9, 2024
David Hoffman News Editor
ARTS+LIVING
Volume 92 |Issue 2
www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving
Hollywood hits get wild Bollywood makeovers
Some of your favorite classic films have sister films in Bollywood.
WLamisha Rahman e all love our Hollywood classics, but if you’re growing tired of watching
the same old flicks, here’s some good news. Your favorite cult classics have Bollywood remakes. Next time someone recommends “Silence of the Lambs” (1991) to you, you’ll have something more to add to the conversation.
Though many Bollywood films are originals, plenty are remakes of American movies. While some are official remakes, others have had lawsuits filed against them (while still being successful, might I add!) and others simply draw inspiration. After all, all art is inspired by other art in one way or another.
Although Mumbai is currently the world’s largest film production hub, Bollywood films are often skipped over in discussions about foreign cinema, or at least in the few film bro conversations I’ve stuck around for at GSU (no shade!).
Bollywood films also traditionally feature more musical numbers, melodrama, and emphasis on family/cultural themes. Yes, musical numbers are common in genres you wouldn’t normally expect to see them in, whether you like it or not.
From classics to romcoms to golden era films, these remakes span genres and decades. Some will have uncannily similar posters, some will have titles that are direct translations, and some have the same Letterboxd rating, but these are all mostly well-known and loved in both fanbases.
It’s about time we talk about these Bollywood cult classics which also happen to be remakes of other popular American films. Let’s take a whirlwind tour through some of these wild remakes:
“Silence of the Lambs” (1991) got a Bollywood makeover with “Sangharsh” (1999). While it keeps the basic premise of a female agent tracking a serial killer with help from an incarcerated genius, it takes some detours. The genius isn’t a cannibal (probably because Hindi doesn’t have a word that rhymes with “someone who eats people”), and oh yeah, he falls in love with the agent. It culminates in a bizarre climax involving immortal powers, child sacrifice, and a tender deathbed kiss. This movie can’t decide if it’s a thriller or a romantic movie, but that’s what makes it so entertaining.
“Three Men and a Baby” (1987) became “Heyy Babyy” (2007) in Bollywood. The basic plot remains - three bachelors find a baby and hilarity ensues, but Bollywood cranks it up to eleven. Instead of just Tom Selleck and company fumbling with dia pers, we also get sensual disco dance numbers with questionable butt-slapping. How do they establish how much these guys hate kids? They literally get into a fistfight with super-powered children. Nothing says “I’m not ready for fatherhood” like punch ing a toddler, right? Technically, this isn’t a direct remake of Three Men and a Baby. It’s actually a remake of a Malaysian film, which was a remake of Three Men and a Baby, which itself was a remake of a French movie. So, we’re three layers away from the original concept here—and trust me, you can tell.
Other notable remakes:
“E.T” (1982) transformed into “Koi Mil Gaya” (2003) but you can expect an equally freakish-looking alien. “The Godfather” (1972) became “Sarkar” (2005), featuring the iconic Amitabh Bachchan. “Fight Club” (1999) got a romantic thriller twist in “Karthik Calling Karthik” (2010). For rom-com lovers, “She’s the Man” (2006) be came “Dil Bole Hadippa!” (2009), and “Love Actually” (2003) turned into “Salaame-Ishq” (2007). Action fans might enjoy “Dhoom” (2004), Bollywood’s infamous take on “Fast and Furious” (2001).
So there you have it, folks! Whether you’re a die-hard Hollywood fan or a curious newcomer to Indian cinema, these films offer a unique twist on familiar stories. They’re a testament to the universal appeal of great storytelling and the creative ways different cultures can interpret and reimagine the same tale. Next time you’re in the mood for something familiar yet totally different, why not give one of these Bollywood remakes a shot? You might just find yourself dancing in your seat!
“Rejuvenation” is giving life to the GSU film community
The student-led feature film that gained media attention is now available for streaming.
ejuvenation,” the student-led feature film, gave students hands-on
industry experience, right here on campus. The cast and crew were under the guidance of film producer, Tom Luse.
Luse has produced credits on many noteworthy films and television shows, including The Walking Dead and Jeepers Creepers.
“Rejuvenation” is a psychological thriller starring Imani Okwuosa as a track star, Trinity. The synopsis of the film is, “After suffering a career-threatening injury, collegiate track star Trinity becomes dependent on powerful painkillers during her recovery. Desperate to regain her athletic form, she enrolls in an experimental treatment program at a rehabilitation facility that promises to rejuvenate her body and mind,” according to the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) website.
The film was produced as a collaboration with the Creative Media Industries Institute, Five Points Films and the College of the Arts School of Film, Media & Theatre. “Rejuvenation” had generous support from AMC Networks, Inc., FOX Entertainment, Adobe, Inc. and Canon USA.
“‘Rejuvenation’ stands as a testament to the incredible impact of interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Brennen Dicker, executive director of Georgia State’s CMII. “Partnering with industry luminary Tom Luse, we’ve not only enriched our students’ educational voyage but have also sparked innovative horizons in the world of filmmaking.”
“Rejuvenation” was filmed with a $20,000 budget. The cast and crew consist of 32 Georgia State students. Students worked the entire Spring 2023 semester on the project, which is equivalent to 15 credit hours.
“The project was invigorating physically and emotionally,” Okwuosa said in an interview with Georgia State. “Working those eight-hour days every day for weeks, coming back day after day, being in every scene and having that emotional connection to the character was rewarding.”
Kathryn Szypulski, the actress who played Anna, said, “I know that we had a very in-depth audition process, but I know all of the crew had an in-depth interview process as well. Everyone who was there deserved to be there.”
“This has been a remarkable journey working with some amazing students,” Luse told Georgia State. “Embracing new technology and techniques, the students showed both dedication and creativity. Making a feature film is a difficult task for even the most experienced crew, and I’m excited for our audience to witness the extraordinary achievements of these students.”
Kamal McAllister, the first camera assistant and B-camera operator, said, “The process showed me the importance of being able to adapt to the rapid changes
and challenges of the film industry. Working with people, like my fellow camera department, helped me to improve and provided me with a support team for my filmmaking journey.”
“[The students] were so happy when the movie was over, and it was actually a movie,” Luse told Rough Draft Atlanta. “They were just bouncing off the walls, they were so happy.”
“Rejuvenation” was featured on local news stations and news outlets including Atlanta News First, Fox 5 Atlanta, Georgia State University News and Rough Draft Atlanta.
“Rejuvenation” first premiered at the Rialto Center for the Arts back in October 2023. The movie is currently streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.
Arts & Living Editor Merissa Ware
film
Contributor
Illustration by: Jamari Stokes
Illustration by: Shemar DeBellotte
SPORTS
Atlanta Dream’s playoff push: Dream battle for last spot amidst injuries and key showdowns
With a slim lead and crucial games ahead, Atlanta rallies behind veteran leadership and emerging stars.
WSports Writer D.J. Smith
ith the WNBA playoffs approaching, the Atlanta Dream find themselves in a battle for the final spot. Currently neck-and-neck with the Chicago Sky, Atlanta (11-21) holds a slim two-game lead over the Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings, making each game count.
The Dream entered the Olympic break on an eight-game losing streak, dragging them well under the .500 mark. After the hiatus, the veteran duo of Tina Charles and Allisha Gray led Atlanta to four wins in their first seven games, including a dominant 80-62 road victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.
“The other games coming up are just as important,” guard Rhyne Howard said. “The future that we look into is the next game. We’re not looking into what can happen towards the end of the season because we can control how it ends.”
Injuries have been a significant factor in Atlanta’s struggles. Forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus has been sidelined indefinitely due to an ankle injury she sustained in August. Parker-Tyus has been a key contributor for the Dream, averaging 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Guard Aerial Powers is another player whose absence has been felt. Powers, who suffered a calf injury in August, continues to miss time without a clear return date. Powers is shooting a career-high and team-high 38.9% from beyond the arc this season and has been a reliable scoring option off the bench.
While these injuries have undoubtedly impacted the team’s record, they’ve also created opportunities for other key players to step up and showcase their talents, helping Atlanta remain in the playoff hunt.
“I believe the way that I’ve been playing since the Olympic break is just who I am,” Charles said. “I think there’s more opportunity and minutes now that Cheyenne is out, but what you all are seeing is nothing new, respectfully.”
Charles has been a cornerstone for Atlanta this season, starting every game and averaging 14.8 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds on 47.4% shooting. In August, the former UConn Huskie became the second all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, adding to her hall-offame resume.
Charles isn’t the only player to step up during the second half of the season. The backcourt pair of Gray and Howard have both elevated their play, providing consistent scoring on a nightly basis.
Gray has had a season to remember, making her second consecutive all-star appearance and also taking home victories in both the three-point contest and skills competition. Also getting the job done on the offensive end is Howard. The two-time all-star and 2022 rookie of the year leads the team in both scoring (16.0) and assists (3.1).
Looking ahead, the Dream faces a challenging schedule that will put their playoff aspirations to the test. Key matchups include teams that already clinched a playoff berth like the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty. Atlanta also takes on Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, who are just as determined to secure the final playoff spot.
The WNBA postseason begins on Sept. 22 and the remaining regular season games are essentially a must-win for the Atlanta Dream.
The Falcons add even more to promising defense
The Atlanta Falcons add more key pieces to the top 10 defense during the offseason.
The Atlanta Falcons have had a major offseason with key additions such as quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Darnell Mooney but the defensive side of the ball is where the Falcons spent most of the offseason improving.
Their first big move was re-signing 25-year-old linebacker Nate Landman to a three-year $2.5 million deal. 2023 was Landman’s first year as a starter after recording only one tackle in his rookie campaign in 2022. Landman was third on the team in tackles with 110, only behind Kaden Elliss and Jessie Bates.
In the draft, the Falcons added much-needed depth to the defensive line, selecting Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, Washington edge Bralen Trice and Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus each in the top four rounds.
In college, Orhorhoro tallied up 12 sacks, nine pass deflections and 88 tackles in his four-year career.
Possibly the biggest sleeper in the draft is Trice. The two-time firstteam All-Pac 12 defensive end recorded 28.5 tackles for loss in three years with 23.5 of those coming in just the last two years.
“He’s that enforcer that gets us going not only with his energy, but his playmaking, you obviously see it on tape,” Former Washington teammate Alphonzo Tuputala told reporters. “To have that, it rallies everybody up. He doesn’t talk that much, but he just decides to go out there and do it himself.”
Fans have to wait until next season to see Trice make an impact on the field after suffering a knee injury in a joint practice against the Miami Dolphins that also saw teammate Rondale Moore suffer a season-ending injury.
Another big move wouldn’t be made until August where in the span of a week, the Falcons signed all-pro safety Justin Simmons and traded for New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon. Simmons is coming off a third straight second-team All-Pro season making it the fourth in his career. Simmons was linked to the division rival New Orleans Saints after being in negotiation talks but after a dinner with Falcons players, decided to sign a one-year $7.5 million deal.
“I’m excited. There’s a lot of new, but the guys here have been great, and the coaches have been awesome.” Simmons said. “The acceleration process of learning the defense, learning how the guys communicate, has been awesome.”
As for Judon, the 32-year-old linebacker is coming off a torn bicep that caused him to miss much of the 2023 NFL season. The season prior to that, Judon recorded a career-high 15.5 sacks earning him a Pro Bowl spot. Judon has just one year left on his contract as the Falcons will use this season to evaluate whether to extend him or let him walk in next year’s free agency.
“I hate to say long-term when you’re talking about a 32-year-old player just in general,” Morris said. “But when you get a guy the way we were able to acquire him, that’s always fun. You get a guy with the ability to come in here and be a game wrecker for you right now and you figure out those things.”
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Most recently, star cornerback A.J. Terrell was re-signed to an $81 million deal, keeping him in Atlanta for the next four years. What does all this mean for the upcoming season though? Well, last year the Falcons were seventh in total defense, and with an improved defensive line and even scarier secondary with Jessie Bates, Justin Simmons and A.J Terrell, the sky seems to be the limit for the Falcons with many experts even projecting them to win the NFC South, ending a five-year playoff drought.
Matthew Tindle Sports Editor
Illustration by: Jamari Stokes
9/8
KICKBACK
September 2024
9/9
9/10
Snow Cone Pop-Up
12 p.m.
Collins Street Plaza (between the Greenway and the entrance to Chick-fil-A)
9/11
Coffee with a Counselor
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
55 Park Place NE, 3rd Floor, 302/303
Experiential Learning Fair 2024
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Catherine Henson Atrium
85 Park Place NE
9/12
J’ouvert
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Hurt Park
25 Courtland St. SE
9/13
RISE AND LEAD Student Leadership Conference
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Student Center East
9/14
Farzad Farzin Live in Concert
8:30 p.m.
Rialto Center for the Arts
9/16
9/17
Maker Workshop | 3D Printing & Laser (Hardware Prototyping)
12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII)
Georgia State University Men’s Soccer at Wofford
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
9/18
Feed Your Senses Presents the Zac Denton Quartet
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Rialto Center for the Arts, Lobby
9/19
The Art of the Sneaker Deal Competition/ Conference
9 a.m.
Georgia State University College of Law Health Sciences Networking Event
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
District Atlanta
9/20
GSU Volleyball vs Louisiana Tech
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
New Orleans, LA
GSU Volleyball at Tulane
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
New Orleans, LA
GSU Women’s Soccer vs Marshall
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
GSU Soccer Complex
UPCOMING GAMES
Georgia State University Women’s Soccer at Mercer
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Macon, GA
Georgia State University Volleyball at Tennessee State
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nashville, TN
Georgia State University
Men’s Soccer vs USC Upstate
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
GSU Soccer Complex
GSU Volleyball vs Bethune-Cookman
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Nashville, TN
GSU Volleyball vs Mississippi Valley State
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nashville, TN
GSU Football vs Vanderbilt
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Center Parc Stadium
9/21
Georgia State University Women’s Cross Country at MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational Macon, GA
GSU Volleyball at New Orleans
12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
GSU Men’s Soccer vs Coastal Carolina
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
GSU Women’s Soccer vs South Carolina
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
GSU Soccer Complex
GAMES
Volume 92 | Issue 2
SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH
INVESTIGATIVE CAMPUSLIFE
HEADLINES
INTERVIEWS
CROSSWORD
Down:
1. Cars are fueled with
2. Annual tennis tournament in Queens, New York City
3. “GSU Night” took place at this large amusement park on 9/6
4, English rock band with reunion recently announced
5. Recent movie remake - say it 3 times and he’ll appear
6. U.S. women’s soccer player who recently announced retirement
9. Defined as “popular; fashionable.“ Also the name of a fashion magazine
Across:
7. Governor of the state where the Ravens are based
8. Recently concluded cinema event in Italy
10. Mythical sea creature known for taking down ships at sea
