The Signal Vol. 87 No. 20

NEW LEADERSHIP

COMING SOON

TRAE YOUNG IS HERE

BLOTTER

SGA made appointments to five different positions at the most recent Atlanta meeting.

An in-depth look at the upcoming 2020 punk and metal music releases.

The Hawks gambled when they traded for the undersized guard and it paid off.

COMIC

PAGE 14

PLANNER

PAGE 19

NEWS

PAGE 3

FEB. 18 - FEB. 25, 2020

ARTS & LIVING

PAGE 13

SPORTS

PAGE 18

PAGE 2

PHOTO BY DEVY PERKINS & PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

VOL. 87 | NO. 20

More than 70 student teams submitted films to this year’s annual film competition. Members from the top 16 teams share what went into the filmmaking process and their experience competing.

@gsusignal

georgiastatesignal.com

A camera, microphone and dreams of Hollywood Students make 73 five-minute films in one week

HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter

A

rmed with a camera, microphones and laptop, 345 Georgia State students took to the city’s streets to make a movie.

Campus Movie Fest (CMF) is the world’s largest student film festival, according to its website, the brainchild of four Emory University students back in 2001 that has grown to reach over one million students and partners with Panasonic, Disney and other major companies.

The idea is simple: CMF visits universities around the country and provides students with a Panasonic camera, microphones and an Apple computer. The students are given one week to create a film of fewer than five minutes.

Janae Belcher, spotlight’s cinema and gaming chair, helped orchestrate the event and served as CMF’s “ear to Georgia State.”

When the deadline arrived, Belcher said, films were judged by an anonymous panel, which consisted of CMF employees and a few Georgia State staff.

The short films were scored on a point system based on content, technical excellence and the overall quality.

From there, only 16 of 73 submitted films were chosen for viewing on premiere night.

Storylines ranged from comedies, fantasy and one film featured a rap song about racial inequality and police brutality.

“Channel 6 News” elicited eruptions of laughter from the audience. The film depicts a news anchor and his eccentric guest. The program gets derailed by UFO sightings, and comic chaos ensues from there.

To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.

This hilariously outlandish storyline was written and edited by seniors Max Kantor and Kai Stephenson. The two have been involved with CMF for the past three years. They met in class, and Kantor later approached Stephenson with the idea of a character who is romantically involved with his verbally abusive Amazon Alexa.

“Lexi: A Love Story” was their first submitted film. The next year, they created “Three Wise Men,” which depicted two of the wise men who accidentally both brought myrrh to baby Jesus.

After three years of working together, the two have established a system.

Kantor brainstorms the plot and writes the script. Kantor spent last semester in a program with Second City, a famous comedy troupe in Chicago. He uses these skills to “bring the craziness and silliness to the characters and the movies we make.”

Stephenson enjoys the production work, focusing on the technical aspects of filming, such as lighting, shooting and editing. He added that his job is to translate the story visually.

This year, the group began shooting on a Saturday, and the film was due the following Tuesday. Stephenson and Kantor agree that this year’s film is their favorite.

“Kai and I can agree [this year] was definitely the biggest response we’ve gotten from any of our CMF premieres,” Kantor said. “To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.”

This self-described “dynamic duo” has been awarded Georgia State CMF’s Jury Awards each year they’ve entered. This year,

Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.

they also won Best Editing and Stephenson took home the award for Best Actor.

At each university, the panel selects four films for the Jury Award, and all participants are invited to the national Terminus Film Festival the following summer.

Based in Hollywood this year, students have the opportunity to network, attend seminars and compete for a chance to attend the Cannes Film Festival in France.

“For the past two years, Terminus was actually held in Atlanta,” Stephenson said. “So, it was really a cool last round … because we’re seniors, so this is our last year participating in CMF. To be able to have our last film actually presented at a national film fest in Hollywood, California, that’s just the best thing that could’ve happened.”

Freshman Matthew Simpson also took home the Jury Award with his film “Boyfriend.” His film is about a student becoming increasingly nervous as someone follows him around campus.

As the character tries to evade his stalker, he calls a girl to say they should break things off, because her boyfriend’s chasing him.

The audience laughed at this unexpected turn of events and exclaimed as the vengeful boyfriend follows the character to the top of a parking deck.

Simpson made short films with his friends in high school, but the CMF premiere night was the first time he’s seen an audience react to his work.

“I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work, even if it’s not entirely how you’d expect

it,” Simpson said. “I remember people laughed at one point that I didn’t expect people to laugh … but I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that is pretty funny.’”

Simpson arrived at the premiere apprehensive because filmmakers are unaware if their film was selected for showing.

His realistic goal was to make it within the top 16, but Simpson was “surprised and grateful” when his film was chosen for the Jury Award, among the highest honors.

“I was incredibly surprised,” Simpson said. “When I was watching the other movies during the top 16, I’m like, ‘Man, these are really good.’ [Winning] was unbelievable; it was one of those movie moments, really.”

Simpson hopes the Terminus Film Festival will help jumpstart his dream of being a filmmaker.

“On the Other Side”’ is another jury winner. The film features members from Atlanta’s homeless population. The documentary-style short shows people discussing how long they’ve been without homes and where they’d sleep around the city on a cold night.

One man emphatically points his finger to the camera, saying, “Stop treating the homeless like we aren’t people. We aren’t animals. We’re people.”

The fourth winner of the Jury Award was “$ix Figures Under,” about a man faking his death for the insurance money, only to wind up accidentally buried alive.

Stephenson and Kanton look back on their CMF years fondly and have advice for future Georgia State participants.

“Definitely take pride in your film no matter how far it goes, [no matter] if it wins awards [or] if it doesn’t,” Stephenson said. “Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.”

Like Stephenson, Kanton encourages future filmmakers to take pride in their hard work and final product.

“Don’t make [art] for other people because when you make it for other people, you are always going to let somebody down; you’re going to feel let down, and you’ll never be satisfied,” Kanton said. “But if you only make your own art, then you’re never going to be disappointed because you’re always going to be happy with what you do. So, I would encourage the future CMF filmmakers to make your movie for you.”

I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work.

PHOTOS BY DEVY PERKINS & PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

THE SIGNAL

2

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

BLOTTER FEB. 10

Keep your clothes on. It’s cold outside.

At the Student Recreation Center, a Georgia State student was a victim of public indecency at 6:53 a.m. The case is still active.

FEB. 11

Someone call the FBI.

At 12:54 p.m., a Georgia State student was a victim of terroristic threats at Piedmont Central. The case is still active.

Go get your own job buddy.

At Library North, a Georgia State student was the victim of financial fraud at 10:28 a.m.

FEB. 13

Keep your personal belongings at home.

A Georgia State student was the victim of larceny at 11:01 a.m at Aderhold Learning Center. The case is still active.

FEB. 12

Don’t leave your clothes at home next time.

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested for public indecency at 9:06 a.m. at 121 Edgewood Ave. ILLUSTRATION BY SAMAR KHADER | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

SGA swears in new leadership at Atlanta meeting Sen. Fye picks up two new positions ahead of election season WILL SOLOMONS Managing Editor

W

ith the Student Government Association election season underway, SGA faced a problem: the resignation of their university-wide and Atlanta communications director and Downtown campus election commission chair.

Evan Malbrough, who has participated in multiple politically active organizations on campus such as Vote Everywhere and the Young Democrats of Georgia, announced his resignation shortly after the last SGA University-Wide Senate meeting on Jan. 23.

His resignation came on Jan. 28, after an “incident” following the previous week’s university-wide meeting, according to SGA University-Wide President Jazmin Mejia.

“The reason why he resigned is after the u-wide meeting we had, there was a little incident that occurred afterward, and we all came to the conclusion, including himself, that it’d be best if he took some time off from SGA indefinitely just so SGA can continue to move forward and create success,” Mejia said. “But at the same time, we could show that everyone’s mental health is appropriate and well.”

Applications opened to replace Malbrough as communications director on Jan. 30. A new communications director, freshman Shaun Cunningham, was sworn in on Feb. 13 at the Atlanta Senate meeting.

In addition to appointing a new communications director, the Atlanta senate also had the opportunity to both swear in and vote on several key positions.

With the resignation of Sen. Jonathan Tshizubu from his position as the Student Services committee chair, Sen. John Le was voted in.

A contentious vote was held to elect the speaker pro tempore for the Atlanta senate, with three candidates nominated for the position by their peers.

The speaker pro tempore takes on the duties of the speaker of the senate in their absence, as well as serving other duties to help operate the senate smoothly. Sen. Nigel Walton called for a roll call vote, meaning every senator had to vocalize who they would be voting for.

Senators Nia Cole and Peter Minetos, who are both vying for the speaker of the senate position in the upcoming SGA election, received four and one votes respectively.

Sen. Terry Fye, a veteran SGA member and former presidential candidate, as well as head of the bylaws committee, won the position with seven votes.

On top of that, he was sworn in as the vice-chair of marketing for the election commission on the Downtown campus.

Although she was not in attendance and therefore not sworn in yet, Kristyn Drummonds was appointed as senate clerk following the resignation of Brittany Dankwa.

ELECTION SEASON TRANSITION

Since election season began, Vice Chair for Marketing Fatoumata Fofana has moved up to replace Malbrough, following Article 2, Section 7(A)(b) of the Election Code.

Mejia said she isn’t worried about what the transition will do to the election process.

“I think it’ll be a smooth transition considering I know Fatou is very aware of what the election consists of, and she’ll have a lot of support from past commission chairs, but also us if she does need any help in regards to the election,” Mejia said.

With Fofana’s experience as the marketing chair, Mejia said that she is well equipped to handle the election moving forward.

“And plus, when it comes to marketing, she’s also the marketing chair simultaneously while that’s vacant, considering

The Student Government Association met on Thursday to vote and swear in several officers.

that was her position before moving up,” Mejia said. “So, I have no problem; I’m not worried that [this transition] is going to affect it.”

STATE OF THE “STATE OF THE STATE”

One issue that arose from Malbrough’s resignation was that the State of the State, an event that invites local politicians and highlights Georgia State’s current progress, had to be canceled since Malbrough was the one spearheading the program.

“One of the reasons being with Evan’s resignation, he was the creator of this event. So we realized that if Evan is to leave and not be a part of SGA any longer … we wouldn’t want to host it without him or take over it considering we didn’t really know what was going on since it was planned mainly by him,” Mejia said.

Another reason why they followed through with canceling the event is that it turned into publicity for local politicians without the number of RSVPs for which SGA was hoping.

“People weren’t prepared. The RSVPs weren’t as high as we anticipated them to be,” Mejia said. “We realized instead of legislators being there, it was more just outside organizations or people who were running for seats in the House or Senate, and it was going to become a giant photo-op for them.”

Because the event was going to be held in the Capitol on Jan. 30, the Atlanta SGA senate was going to conduct their meeting in the same room.

However, without the State of the State event, Mejia said that they lost their room reservation in the Capitol for their senate meeting as well. Because a room wasn’t reserved on the Atlanta campus, their senate meeting had to be canceled entirely.

Despite the State of the State’s cancelation, Mejia plans on trying to have it at a later date.

“We’re thinking of either having it coincide with our inauguration or just having it [as] a whole separate event, but that’s not determined yet,” she said.

PHOTO BY WILL SOLOMONS | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

4

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Uniting international students at Georgia State Jesse Calixte’s plans for his new student organization MARY A. BRASSFIELD Staff Reporter

W

hen it came to having an on-campus organization that helps international students find jobs after graduation, Georgia State did not have one.

Jesse Calixte, a student at Georgia State, decided he wanted to change that and started an organization called World Students United.

“This organization is here to promote a new culture on campus, the culture of helping international students with their professional growth,” Calixte said.

Calixte, the founder and president of World Students United, realized that there were many organizations on campus that taught the cultures of international students but none of them helped with finding the right careers for them.

“Can you imagine for an international student, like me and others, who are paying a lot of money to go here but after graduating barely being able to find a job?” Calixte said.

He realized this was an issue after his former roommate, who was an international student, became depressed when he was not able to find work after he graduated a year ago.

World Students United looks to mostly help international students, but all students are welcomed to join.

“Although I am not an international student myself, I have seen the hardships and struggles that international students have faced in the job market,” Kevin Chen, vice president of WSU, said.

Chen, who is Chinese-American, says that he was willing to join the organization because of the experiences he went through. He hopes to be able to help alleviate some of those concerns.

Both Calixte and Chen plan on having events with speakers for the club to help bring awareness to how international students can find jobs.

On Feb. 5, WSU hosted their inaugural event with corporate executive Crystal Khalil and graduate student Phillip Karaya.

The event began with an icebreaker exercise in which all the students engaged.

The exercise was a game of bingo that required the students to walk around and ask other students there if what was written in the spaces applied to them.

The game lasted about 15 minutes before the host of the event, Terry Fye, a senator from the Student Government Association, introduced the first speaker, Karaya.

Karaya spoke to the students about his experiences during his time as an undergraduate at Georgia State and the importance of using your time wisely.

He went through many different job positions and internships and even changed his major.

Karaya informed the students that most of his opportunities

Students can now join World Students United, an organization that educates international students in navigating through the workforce.

were gained because of the people he knew and with whom he surrounded himself.

The next speaker, Khalil, talked about knowing what to do to move up the corporate ladder.

Khalil talked about her time as a representative for Coca-Cola and Porsche and how she fought to look like she was worthy of a promotion.

“Hard workers work hard and networkers move up,” Kahlil said.

This quote was the root of her speech informing the students that you have to become active in your career early and know where you want to be.

She presented a slideshow that detailed how she navigated from

PHOTO BY MAYA TORRES | THE SIGNAL

being looked over for positions to being given promotions simply because interviewers knew her work and effort.

Both guests gave speeches that told students that networking plays a big role in finding work after graduation.

Calixte said that he plans on getting sponsors and other organizations involved with WSU to increase students’ chances of finding jobs.

“We will try to get the Career Advisement Center and International Students and Scholar Services’ help with coming up with strategies to aid students,” Calixte said.

Calixte also plans to hold more events with speakers to keep the club motivated.

Resell your textbooks and get your money back A comparison of resell prices for commonly used textbooks BROOKLYN VALERA News Editor

P

urchasing textbooks each semester for classes can get costly.

The average in-state, undergraduate student taking 12 or more credit hours spends about $1,298 a year on books and supplies at a four-year public college, according to the College Board, a non-profit organization that helps expand access to higher education.

Renting a textbook is an option when looking for supplies, but the majority of college students buy their textbooks to own.

According to the National Association of College Stores, 83% of students bought at least one required course material and 44% rented at least one required course material during the spring 2018 term.

Students generally don’t have a say in what textbooks they have to buy in order to pass a course.

Many textbook sellers, including the Georgia State University Bookstore, allow students to sell their textbooks back to earn some cashback.

BookFinder.com compares the sell-back prices of your textbooks across various platforms, including Amazon, after entering its ISBN. Once the prices are compared, the highest amount of cash you could earn back is highlighted.

This method allows students to spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks and still earn something back after its one-time use.

Critical Thinking (PHIL 1010), a required core class at Georgia State, has a mandatory textbook, the second edition of “Critical Thinking: The Art of Argument.” It is sold with an access code in the Georgia State University Bookstore for $160.75.

The highest amount of money you can receive back for this textbook is $20.79 via Booksrun. This significant decrease is largely due to the fact that the access code for the book is no longer valid after its one-time use.

The required textbook for Introduction to Mass Communication (JOUR 1000), an entry-level journalism class, required for all journalism majors at Georgia State, is the sixth edition of “Converging Media.” It is sold in the Georgia State University Bookstore for $94.95; the highest amount of money you can receive back for this textbook is $40 via TextbooksRush or $42 worth of store credit.

Elementary Spanish I (SPAN 1001), a beginners-level Spanish class, requires students to acquire the fifth edition of “Aventuras.”

It is sold with an access code in the Georgia State University Bookstore for $208.

The highest amount of money you can receive back for this textbook is $43.91 through TextbooksRush or $46.11 worth of store credit. Like with the critical thinking textbook, this significant decrease is also mostly because the access code for the book is no longer valid after its one-time use.

The eighth edition of “Calculus: Early Transcendentals,” the mandatory textbook of Calculus of One Variable I (MATH 2211), a common math class at Georgia State, is sold with an access code in the Georgia State University Bookstore for $157.50.

The highest amount of money you can receive back for this textbook is $25.98 via Booksrun. The access code for WebAssign is no longer valid after its one-time use, hence the amount of cashback. If you happen to still have the access code for WebAssign, you can receive $50 back on AbeBooks.

The Georgia State University Bookstore will look at the conditions of your textbook and give you a sell-back price in person when you bring your books in. You can get up to 50% back for your textbook depending on its condition and demand.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

NEWS

5

Georgia Senate alters dual enrollment Students in Georgia now have credit limitations NIDA MERCHANT

LOCAL Georgia primaries voter registration deadline is Feb. 24

Staff Reporter

A

s if college admissions weren’t difficult enough, future Panthers may soon have to face another difficulty in applications: The Georgia Senate passed HB 444, which limits the number of dual enrollment courses a high schooler can take.

On Jan. 28, the Georgia Senate passed the Dual Enrollment Act (also known as the “Move on When Ready Act”).

The bill limits a student to 30 credit hours with a course limit extended primarily toward high school juniors and seniors. Any other credits taken would be paid for by the students.

According to an audit conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the general spending conducted in the program increased by about 325% over the past five years.

In the 2019 fiscal year, nearly 52,000 students have participated in dual enrollment.

“We see how much this program has grown with no guardrails in place, with no end in sight,” Rep. Bert Reeves (GA-34), the sponsor of this bill on the Senate floor, said.

Georgia State is particularly active in allowing students to participate in dual enrollment classes.

These students feel a certain way with the increased legislation on the previously celebrated program.

The bill proposes these changes in hopes for a budget analysis, which has critics wondering how they got their numbers in the first place.

“I’m not satisfied if we did our job [researching the bill]”, Sen. Elena Parent (GA-42) said.

Others agree that the bill does not accommodate the low-income students who not only dually enroll to save on future tuition costs but also try to gain a competitive application to attend highperforming universities.

But admissions counselor DiAna K. Kelley has a different opinion on the matter.

“In the past few years, dual enrollment has become so extensive that the future of this program was in jeopardy,” Kelley said.

The dual enrollment specialist believes that the cap on this program is the most effective way of allowing the program to last for future students.

According to Kelley, most students that dually enroll at Georgia State hardly reach the 30-credit cap since a majority of the high school students take a mix of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes along with their other core classes.

She advises students who are worried about this bill interfering with other programs offered by the state — for example, the Early College High School initiative that allows students to receive an associate’s degree along with their diploma.

“In fact, most college recruiters expect a wide variety of class rigors on their transcript at the time of applications,” Kelley said. “If students only invest in one program, such as dual enrollment, they would be missing out on other important opportunities.”

In her opinion, Georgia State will not suffer from the dual enrollment restrictions because it has already placed its own restrictions on the program.

Thousands of high school juniors and seniors apply to the program every year, and the number is not expected to drop any time soon.

This bill may impact smaller local colleges that only have a limited number of high school students on their campus.

But despite Georgia State’s lack of concern toward the program, students have expressed their concern toward the restraint in the Dual Enrollment Act. Jared Chen, a senior at Lakeside High School and a dual enrollment student, was one of the few who chimed into the recent changes.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Georgia primaries voter registration period ends Feb. 24. Last election season, what is known as “Super Tuesday” was held in late February. It has now been moved to late March. This change gives Georgians more time to register to vote. Registration allows residents to vote in local elections and the presidential primaries held on Mar. 24. If you haven’t already registered or are unsure of your voter status, visit the Georgia My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos. ga.gov. This page also gives you the chance to update your address to find your designated polling location.

NATIONAL Trump administration wants to boost immigration arrests in “sanctuary cities”

Tattyanna Acosta-Gill, a senior on the Alpharetta campus, spoke against the new dual enrollment bill.

“On one hand, I understand their reasoning because the number of dual enrollment students has risen over the years, and there is not enough funding,” Chen said. “I also understand that schools want to encourage AP classes, instead of dual enrollment courses, which some may say are ‘easier.’”

Chen takes classes at the Clarkston campus where many students from the DeKalb County area attend as well. He is in the process of graduating with 45 credits and recounts how this bill would have affected him if it were enacted earlier.

“The experience has been transformative,” Chen said. “I have been able to experience and meet a wide variety of people that I never would have in a high school classroom.”

Tattyanna Acosta-Gill, a senior at Lambert High School, attends the Alpharetta campus and believes the bill is taking away opportunities from students.

“The whole point of dual enrollment is to set students up for success for the future,” Acosta-Gill said. “Dual enrollment gives high school students a toe-dip into a true college experience.”

Acosta-Gill has noticed a few of her own friends who come from low-income families and dually enroll to reduce the burden of future college expenses.

The state funding helped assist them and allowed them to gain more than 30 credits and gain more opportunities at education.

Acosta-Gill raises an important point: According to U.S News and World Report, the state of Georgia ranked 30th in education, a 15-point rise in ranking from last year.

Department heads from the Senate submitted

PHOTO COURTESY OF TATTYANNA ACOSTA-GILL

more than $210 million in cuts for the mid-year budgets, with an estimated $300 million reduction by the 2021 fiscal year. Among these cuts includes the reduction in the dual enrollment program.

In other words, Gov. Brian Kemp has signed off to a 4% budget cut in 2020 and a 6% cut in 2021.

Officials claim the Dual Enrollment Act is one of the many bills that have been implemented to cut costs.

The Dual Enrollment Act expects to begin enforcement from June 2020 and applies primarily to high school juniors and seniors.

Sophomore students who wish to participate in the program must either attend technical schools or have a 3.7 GPA or higher and must have earned a 1200 on the SAT or a 26 on the ACT. In effect, they must meet the requirements of the Zell Miller Scholarship.

Freshmen have been restricted from dual enrollment altogether.

In addition to these restrictions, the dual enrollment program applies only to the “eligible core courses,” meaning the courses the students can participate in are English, math, science, social studies or foreign languages.

All eligible CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) courses are included as well.

Other courses that specialize in career interest are not included.

These restrictions have been put in place to allow students to focus on their prerequisites.

“In my recommendation, students should discuss their future academic plans with their advisor and research into other post-secondary class opportunities,” Kelly said.

Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York City are among the “sanctuary cities” where tactical unit officers have been deployed to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to U.S. News.

“Sanctuary cities” are cities where “sanctuary” policies have been implemented to combat deportation and protect undocumented immigrants. Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Boston, New Orleans, Detroit and Newark are also among the cities on their list.one.

GLOBAL The possible end of 18 years of war

On Feb. 14, it was announced that American troops might be coming home from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan and the U.S. have agreed on a temporary truce that would result in a seven-day grace period.

The grace period includes a countrywide cease-fire that would make way for discussion of an official peace deal that opens the door to bring American troops home.

NEWS

6

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

STUDENT MEDIA SERIES: ALBUM 88

Album 88’s history of amplifying the student voice at Georgia State since 1971 IMANI DENNIS Staff Reporter

S

tudents interested in journalism, writing, art, film and almost any other major can find a home in Georgia State’s student media.

In addition to The Signal, there are four other student-led media organizations on campus: Album 88, Neo Network, New South and Underground.

Album 88 stands out from the rest as a radio station dedicated to giving a voice to new artists and students alike.

The radio station debuted on Jan. 18, 1971 as a space for student-operated programming of diverse music genres. For Katherine Flores, Album 88’s program director and DJ, it was an attractive organization to join on campus because of the station’s dedication to playing diverse, indie music. She’s been working there since the spring semester of 2017 when she was a freshman.

“I started because I saw them tabling at OrgFair and saw that they were looking for DJs, and I thought it would be cool to work for a college radio [station],” Flores said. “I never thought it would be something that would connect to my major at all; it was just music, and I figured it would be cool to work with diverse music for four years.”

Flores focuses on giving orientations to the new DJs so that they do their legal sessions, training for the graveyard shifts, creating the schedule each semester and approving show ideas for broadcast. Flores began as a DJ. “I still DJ for special shows every once in a while,” she said.

The specialty shows consist of a wide variety of genres, including “Moshi Moshi,” a show dedicated to Japanese artists, and shows like “Jew Jams,” which showcase Jewish artists. “[Students] basically pitch ideas, and most of these shows stay for a while. But the DJ can pitch a show and once they graduate, they can teach someone else how to DJ the show and pick the music,” Flores said.

Students have to pitch Flores a one to two-hour playlist of songs, and an explanation of the theme or genre that they’re going for.

Then, they have to do a second legal session to ensure that they know what can and cannot go on air, which Flores says is the biggest challenge.

“We have to make sure that there is no profanity, and DJs know what they can and cannot say on air.”

The types of music that is played depends on if DJs would like to run the show, which allows Album 88’s landscape for what they broadcast to change many times since the 1970s.

“There’s been a shift in what we play just because there’s been a change in the music industry from the 90s to now, for example,” Flores said. “Back in the day, we had a long-lasting R&B show but for a little while no one wanted to pick it up. Or we used to have a lot of like post-punk or metal shows that never got picked up, but now we have DJs that are interested in that again.”

Album 88 has also contributed to introducing bands and nowfamous artists to the public like Outkast and R.E.M. They also played popular alternative artists like Deerhunter.

The radio station also went through a controversial transition in 2014, when Georgia State University President Mark Becker announced a deal with Georgia Public Broadcasting, allowing them to take over daytime programming on the radio station for NPR from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. This left Album 88 to only operate on the physical station for a much shorter period of time.

A petition created by a listener in 2014 described the change as something that would jeopardize the “truly unique voice on a station that remains untainted by corporate interest and steadfast in its mission to be a source of musical exploration for Atlanta.

Kenleigh Watkins was the General Manager of Album 88 for two years. Like Flores, she began as a DJ at the radio station.

Watkins said that the partnership with GPB caused confusion for listeners.

“Many people thought that GPB had completely purchased the station and that we were no longer on the airwaves. Some also would call or email thinking we were them and it was a giant mess. Even after five years people don’t know that we’re still here anymore,” Watkins said.

Although the change occurred before Watkins was general manager, it still created challenges for her job, like regularly updating the Album 88 website.

Watkins also felt the transition between GPB and Album 88

everyday was problematic.

“The way that [the partnership] is portrayed is GPB is the only one on the station until three minutes before the airwaves switch to [Album 88] at 7 p.m. when they say a little something about [the students] at Georgia State. It’s like we weren’t taken seriously,” Watkins said.

The announcement received press from local and national publications alike including The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Atlanta Business Chronicle.

But this change also affected how the graveyard shifts work at the radio station. All graveyard shifts are two to three hours and students have to go through a graveyard shift in order to become an official member at Album 88.

“It’s how our process works,” Flores said. “This is the easiest time for someone to train because it’s early in the day so students can learn and make mistakes then.”

Album 88 also holds their annual WRAS Fest, which is a music festival showcasing local artists in Atlanta. In past years, some artists who have performed include Janelle Monáe and Ringo Deathstarr.

Most of their funding from the Student Activity Fee goes to this

An Album 88 DJ preparing the next songs during Friday morning’s radio station hours.

event. Flores says that the turnout each year and says that, last year, the venue got pretty packed towards the end of the night. WRAS Fest is often held at local venues like The Bakery.

Students can also submit their own music to be broadcast.

“From the point of a student, this station is great because much like GSU campus; it’s incredibly diverse and it gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people who are those different from you with a commonality of your love of music,” Watkins said.

You can listen to Album 88’s shows on WRAS-FM (88.5 FM) from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. or online at WRAS HD-1 24/7 on TuneIn.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

A camera, microphone and dreams of Hollywood Students make 73 five-minute films in one week

HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter

A

rmed with a camera, microphones and laptop, 345 Georgia State students took to the city’s streets to make a movie.

Campus Movie Fest (CMF) is the world’s largest student film festival, according to its website, the brainchild of four Emory University students back in 2001 that has grown to reach over one million students and partners with Panasonic, Disney and other major companies.

The idea is simple: CMF visits universities around the country and provides students with a Panasonic camera, microphones and an Apple computer. The students are given one week to create a film of fewer than five minutes.

Janae Belcher, spotlight’s cinema and gaming chair, helped orchestrate the event and served as CMF’s “ear to Georgia State.”

When the deadline arrived, Belcher said, films were judged by an anonymous panel, which consisted of CMF employees and a few Georgia State staff.

The short films were scored on a point system based on content, technical excellence and the overall quality.

From there, only 16 of 73 submitted films were chosen for viewing on premiere night.

Storylines ranged from comedies, fantasy and one film featured a rap song about racial inequality and police brutality.

“Channel 6 News” elicited eruptions of laughter from the audience. The film depicts a news anchor and his eccentric guest. The program gets derailed by UFO sightings, and comic chaos ensues from there.

To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.

This hilariously outlandish storyline was written and edited by seniors Max Kantor and Kai Stephenson. The two have been involved with CMF for the past three years. They met in class, and Kantor later approached Stephenson with the idea of a character who is romantically involved with his verbally abusive Amazon Alexa.

“Lexi: A Love Story” was their first submitted film. The next year, they created “Three Wise Men,” which depicted two of the wise men who accidentally both brought myrrh to baby Jesus.

After three years of working together, the two have established a system.

Kantor brainstorms the plot and writes the script. Kantor spent last semester in a program with Second City, a famous comedy troupe in Chicago. He uses these skills to “bring the craziness and silliness to the characters and the movies we make.”

Stephenson enjoys the production work, focusing on the technical aspects of filming, such as lighting, shooting and editing. He added that his job is to translate the story visually.

This year, the group began shooting on a Saturday, and the film was due the following Tuesday. Stephenson and Kantor agree that this year’s film is their favorite.

“Kai and I can agree [this year] was definitely the biggest response we’ve gotten from any of our CMF premieres,” Kantor said. “To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.”

This self-described “dynamic duo” has been awarded Georgia State CMF’s Jury Awards each year they’ve entered. This year,

A camera, microphone and dreams of Hollywood Students make 73 five-minute films in one week

HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter

A

rmed with a camera, microphones and laptop, 345 Georgia State students took to the city’s streets to make a movie.

Campus Movie Fest (CMF) is the world’s largest student film festival, according to its website, the brainchild of four Emory University students back in 2001 that has grown to reach over one million students and partners with Panasonic, Disney and other major companies.

The idea is simple: CMF visits universities around the country and provides students with a Panasonic camera, microphones and an Apple computer. The students are given one week to create a film of fewer than five minutes.

Janae Belcher, spotlight’s cinema and gaming chair, helped orchestrate the event and served as CMF’s “ear to Georgia State.”

When the deadline arrived, Belcher said, films were judged by an anonymous panel, which consisted of CMF employees and a few Georgia State staff.

The short films were scored on a point system based on content, technical excellence and the overall quality.

From there, only 16 of 73 submitted films were chosen for viewing on premiere night.

Storylines ranged from comedies, fantasy and one film featured a rap song about racial inequality and police brutality.

“Channel 6 News” elicited eruptions of laughter from the audience. The film depicts a news anchor and his eccentric guest. The program gets derailed by UFO sightings, and comic chaos ensues from there.

To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.

This hilariously outlandish storyline was written and edited by seniors Max Kantor and Kai Stephenson. The two have been involved with CMF for the past three years. They met in class, and Kantor later approached Stephenson with the idea of a character who is romantically involved with his verbally abusive Amazon Alexa.

“Lexi: A Love Story” was their first submitted film. The next year, they created “Three Wise Men,” which depicted two of the wise men who accidentally both brought myrrh to baby Jesus.

After three years of working together, the two have established a system.

Kantor brainstorms the plot and writes the script. Kantor spent last semester in a program with Second City, a famous comedy troupe in Chicago. He uses these skills to “bring the craziness and silliness to the characters and the movies we make.”

Stephenson enjoys the production work, focusing on the technical aspects of filming, such as lighting, shooting and editing. He added that his job is to translate the story visually.

This year, the group began shooting on a Saturday, and the film was due the following Tuesday. Stephenson and Kantor agree that this year’s film is their favorite.

“Kai and I can agree [this year] was definitely the biggest response we’ve gotten from any of our CMF premieres,” Kantor said. “To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.”

This self-described “dynamic duo” has been awarded Georgia State CMF’s Jury Awards each year they’ve entered. This year,

Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.

they also won Best Editing and Stephenson took home the award for Best Actor.

At each university, the panel selects four films for the Jury Award, and all participants are invited to the national Terminus Film Festival the following summer.

Based in Hollywood this year, students have the opportunity to network, attend seminars and compete for a chance to attend the Cannes Film Festival in France.

“For the past two years, Terminus was actually held in Atlanta,” Stephenson said. “So, it was really a cool last round … because we’re seniors, so this is our last year participating in CMF. To be able to have our last film actually presented at a national film fest in Hollywood, California, that’s just the best thing that could’ve happened.”

Freshman Matthew Simpson also took home the Jury Award with his film “Boyfriend.” His film is about a student becoming increasingly nervous as someone follows him around campus.

As the character tries to evade his stalker, he calls a girl to say they should break things off, because her boyfriend’s chasing him.

The audience laughed at this unexpected turn of events and exclaimed as the vengeful boyfriend follows the character to the top of a parking deck.

Simpson made short films with his friends in high school, but the CMF premiere night was the first time he’s seen an audience react to his work.

“I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work, even if it’s not entirely how you’d expect

it,” Simpson said. “I remember people laughed at one point that I didn’t expect people to laugh … but I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that is pretty funny.’”

Simpson arrived at the premiere apprehensive because filmmakers are unaware if their film was selected for showing.

His realistic goal was to make it within the top 16, but Simpson was “surprised and grateful” when his film was chosen for the Jury Award, among the highest honors.

“I was incredibly surprised,” Simpson said. “When I was watching the other movies during the top 16, I’m like, ‘Man, these are really good.’ [Winning] was unbelievable; it was one of those movie moments, really.”

Simpson hopes the Terminus Film Festival will help jumpstart his dream of being a filmmaker.

“On the Other Side”’ is another jury winner. The film features members from Atlanta’s homeless population. The documentary-style short shows people discussing how long they’ve been without homes and where they’d sleep around the city on a cold night.

One man emphatically points his finger to the camera, saying, “Stop treating the homeless like we aren’t people. We aren’t animals. We’re people.”

The fourth winner of the Jury Award was “$ix Figures Under,” about a man faking his death for the insurance money, only to wind up accidentally buried alive.

Stephenson and Kanton look back on their CMF years fondly and have advice for future Georgia State participants.

“Definitely take pride in your film no matter how far it goes, [no matter] if it wins awards [or] if it doesn’t,” Stephenson said. “Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.”

Like Stephenson, Kanton encourages future filmmakers to take pride in their hard work and final product.

“Don’t make [art] for other people because when you make it for other people, you are always going to let somebody down; you’re going to feel let down, and you’ll never be satisfied,” Kanton said. “But if you only make your own art, then you’re never going to be disappointed because you’re always going to be happy with what you do. So, I would encourage the future CMF filmmakers to make your movie for you.”

I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work.

PHOTOS BY DEVY PERKINS & PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

8

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Astrology and star signs are meaningless No one should take their zodiac signs seriously

executive INTERIM president & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ada Wood editor@georgiastatesignal.com creative director Vacant managing editor Will Solomons

LEE FAGAN

Staff Columnist

director of business operations Vacant Editorial NEWS EDITOR Brooklyn Valera

M

any believe they can obtain divine information through unconventional methods, such as psychics, palm readings or even fortune cookies. Divination or seeking knowledge supernaturally has been used throughout history in virtually every region and culture.

Of course, divination today isn’t necromancy or tarot card reading; instead, astrology is used to validate superstitions.

Astrology, the study of the movement of celestial objects to predict events, is unusually common among millennials. To them, a birth date can predict the future and determine one’s personality.

I can’t comprehend how they form these exact conclusions, but numerous people accept this speculation as truth. In fact, people frequently base their social life on zodiac sign compatibility. Despite its popularity, astrology is defective, and it’d be more efficient to use logic.

I’ve encountered some individuals who feel that astrology influences their lives. They depend on the zodiac to make decisions rather than think independently, but they don’t realize that this method is unreliable.

Astrology is fundamentally flawed because it fails to take into account basic astronomical phenomena. If you were somehow offended by this fact, you should seriously reconsider how a particular constellation impacts your life. Discovering that you’re a Cancer instead of a Leo does not alter your identity.

Astrologists believe that everyone has distinct personality traits determined by their zodiac sign.

For example, the so-called water signs — Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces — are all allegedly “ultra-sensitive.”

But there is no logic behind zodiac signs affecting one’s personality, and it’s unfair to assume that these signs are oversensitive, especially since it’s impossible to identify human characteristics through birth date alone.

Personality is more complex than horoscopes and consists of at least three components: the id, the ego and the superego. The ego and superego, both learned from our guardians or the environment, become noticeable in childhood. These elements develop from the id, the

news@georgiastatesignal.com

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Vacant

news2@georgiastatesignal.com OPINIONS EDITOR Shari Celestine opinions@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Kenneth Lockett III opinions2@georgiastatesignal.com arts & living EDITOR Bria Suggs living@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE ARTS & Living EDITOR Vacant living2@georgiastatesignal.com SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Freedman sports@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Erik Indrisano sports2@georgiastatesignal.com COPY EDITOR Miro Georgiev copy@georgiastatesignal.com

Production PRODUCTION EDITOR Nadia Mohammed

productions@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION EDITOR Montenez Lowery production2@georgiastatesignal.com

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR (ATLANTA) Matt Siciliano-Salazar photo@georgiastatesignal.com PHOTO EDITOR (PERIMETER) Vacant photo2@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Vacant

Digital DIGITAL EDITOR Will Holley

digital@georgiastatesignal.com ASSOCIATE DIGITAL Editor Vacant digital2@georgiastatesignal.com VIDEO EDITOR Julia Peake associate vIDEO EDITOR Vacant

ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON ZHAN | THE SIGNAL

human instinct to satisfy needs and desires.

Astrologists are convinced that astrology is a valid science. People assume that predictions based on the movements of objects in space would be supported by scientific evidence, but that’s false. Astrology is nothing but a shared delusion.

It’s irrational to depend on a superstition that lacks substantial evidence. Believers may cite the one time a horoscope was spot on or their Gemini friend with the corresponding traits, but these are coincidences.

According to the journal Psychological Reports, the “majority of studies conducted do not confirm astrological claims.” Although some scientific studies

have suggested astrology can predict some human traits, the results are often insignificant. The validity of astrology cannot be proven; therefore, it should not be trusted.

Too many adults blindly trust the zodiac despite confirmation of its worthlessness. Unlike astrology, problem-solving skills are useful for making the right choices. Instead of relying on a constellation for answers, try analyzing the situation to make the appropriate decisions. Rather than basing your identity on your zodiac sign, be your own person.

Astrology is meaningless and no one should ackowledge it over rationality.

You reached the top, now you can relax Contentment is necessary for college students JAMAL LEMOND Staff Columnist

W

hat do I think of when I hear the word “success”? It sucks. A constant drive for greatness is exhausting and stressful.

Students enter college with big dreams, and over time, their ultimate goals overshadow all the small accomplishments achieved along the way.

Unfortunately, we’re told to give 110% at all times and look to the future, but we need to occasionally take a break and feel satisfied with just what we have.

We’re stuck in an endless cycle of work, school and career. College students are always busy, and we tend to prioritize our results over our social lives and mental health.

Celebrations are time-consuming, rest is rarely on the schedule and we laugh at the thought of completion. College students are always seeking more and are never rewarded the opportunity to feel content.

Students are competing with each other for time, expectations and personal issues. We sacrifice rest and entertainment now for success later on, but “all work

and no play” is no way to live; in fact, it could even be fatal. Students must embrace occasional satisfaction and enjoyment of the moment.

On average, I spend around 50 hours per week studying, and I work another 40 hours per week. In addition to sleeping and traveling, I never have time for rest or extracurricular activities. I am always worrying about my next assignment. Being just “good” isn’t good enough; I have to be “the best,” whatever that means.

When the semester starts, I normally shut down everything and dedicate myself to my studies. This mentality spilled over even into my time away from school, to the point where, instead of enjoying my time off, I was still working from home. I was always searching for my next assignment. I realized I had to accept my work could wait, that I could rest and set aside time for myself.

Megan Marshall is a Georgia State alumna.

Marshall’s family migrated to the U.S. from Trinidad and Tobago shortly before her birth. Her mother, a former maid, instilled the importance of education and hard work in Marshall, who understood her opportunity and dedicated herself to her academics wholesale. Her quest to become an OB-GYN has left her no time to bask in her own glory.

“I am a big critic of myself. Even when I got my

bachelor’s degree, I didn’t celebrate because I was so fixed on getting into medical school, and I feel like, no matter what I accomplish, it’s almost like I can never be satisfied with what I’d done,” Marshall said. “When I look back, now that we are talking about it, I do realize that I have accomplished a lot more than a lot of people from where we are from do.”

Marshall is currently enrolled at St. George’s in Grenada, and although she understands the necessity of hard work, she is also learning to enjoy the moment.

“When I look back, I have accomplished a great deal, considering the migrating thing and being the maid’s daughter. However, [when] people look at you, they don’t expect you to come out and be anything,” Marshall said. “I will work on that, celebrating the little things, not being so stuck in work mode and worrying about the future all the time. I am going to work on that. I think I’ll be a much happier person too if I could stop and enjoy as I go.”

Of course, we all must put in the work in order to achieve our goals and being great should always be the standard. But, if the price for greatness is insanity, then I’ll proudly accept being good and happy with what I have instead of being miserable and unhappy with what I could have.

THE SIGNAL BUREAUS BUREAU CHIEF (CLARKSTON) Seawards Dawson BUREAU CHIEF (ALPHARETTA) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (NEWTON) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (DUNWOODY) Ashten Cunningham BUREAU CHIEF (DECATUR) Markia Lawrence ADVERTISING STUDENT MEDIA ADVISeR Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu

BUSINESS COORDINATOR Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISeR (PERIMETER) Zoana Price zprice@gsu.edu

MISSION STATEMENT

The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State University community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State University community.

ADVERTISING

The deadline for all advertising is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the desired issue of publication. Ads must be print-ready and in PDF format; files must be delivered via e-mail at signaladvertisingco@gmail.com. Please visit our website at www.georgiastatesignal.com/advertise for more information, including rates and payment methods.

COVERAGE REQUESTS

Requests for coverage and tips should be submitted to the Editor in Chief and/or the relevant section editor.

SUBMIT LETTER TO EDITOR

Letters must be submitted to the Opinions Editors via e-mail and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. Letters should be 400-500 words maximum. The Signal will allow longer letters, but only in rare circumstances.

Letters must include the full name(s) of the writer(s) and include their year and major. If the writer is a faculty member, they must include their title and department. Letters will be fact-checked prior to publication. The writer may be obligated to make changes to the letter for publication. Letters will be edited for grammar, clarity, length, factual accuracy and adherence to The Signal’s policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/ or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff.

DISCLAIMER

Opinions and Letters to the Editor expressed in The Signal are the opinions of the writers and readers. It does not reflect the opinions of The Signal.

OFFICE INFORMATION

The Signal Student Center West, Suite 250 P.O. Box 3968 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-413-1620 Fax: 404-413-1622 Web: www.georgiastatesignal.com The first copy of The Signal is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1.25 each in 250 Student Center West.

ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

Attending Georgia State as a disabled student

How her sorority sisters became her second family BEN PARKER Staff Reporter

U

nless she made friends, she was dropping out of college.

That was the end-all for Maddy Gunawan, a second-year at Georgia State. In a wheelchair with 24/7 assistive care, it was hard for Gunawan to branch out at first until she decided to go through recruitment to join Greek life.

The three days of recruitment were “intense,” especially as this was the first weekend Gunawan had stayed on campus rather than gone home to her parents’ house. Gunawan left sorority recruitment as a member of her first-choice sorority, Delta Zeta.

“I think I was the first one to rush with a disability,” Gunawan said, reflecting on how Delta Zeta has learned to be more accommodating.

Fostering a community described by Gunawan as “home,” her friends at Delta Zeta have helped her in times when she needed it. Two of Gunawan’s aids were hired from Care.com; the rest are her friends from her sorority.

“Being around them has taught me to not be in my comfort zone as much,” Gunawan, who is an active member in Delta Zeta, filling leadership positions and planning events for her sorority sisters, said.

Currently living at Piedmont North Residence Hall, Gunawan spends three to four days a week spending time at the Delta Zeta house, making connections with those in the surrounding Greek houses as well.

Although Gunawan has faced the extra challenge of accessibility, she said that everyone has tried to be accommodating, her friends making sure that she can partake in every activity.

At first, her sorority sisters did not know how to act around Gunawan, but she then “initiated joking so that they would jump in.”

“They joke about funny stuff [now],” said Gunawan. “[like] okay we’re going to put Maddy in a corner and leave her there.”

“Most people would be like, ‘Oh, my god, why did you say that to her? That’s so mean,’” Gunawan said.

“They don’t try to tiptoe around her or anything,” Lillie Weeks, one of Gunawan’s aides, said. “I think a lot of people are really intimidated [at first] and don’t know what to do or how to react.”

Weeks, a previous Georgia State student only a couple of years Gunawan’s senior said that she was really intimidated because before she met her friends.

“I had mostly been interacting with her dad, who was very serious, and it is serious, but when I met her friends, and they were joking around, [so] I was like, ‘Oh,’” Weeks said. “I remember Maddy said to me, ‘It’s not that deep.’”

“Being around them has taught me to not be in my comfort zone as much.”

— MADDY GUNAWAN Georgia State student With an optimistic attitude, Gunawan has rolled with the punches. Falling out of her chair while entering the pregame to her sorority’s formal at a fraternity house, Gunawan had broken both of her knees and gained a slight concussion yet stayed at the fraternity that night to party.

Smiling at these situations, Gunawan and Weeks joked about a recent visit to Whole Foods in which there were no more handicap parking spots available.

Having to park far from the door, the 30-degree Fahrenheit weather limited the range of motion in Gunawan’s hands, preventing her from being able to drive

Maddy Gunawan is pictured between two of her sorority sisters of Delta Zeta.

her wheelchair. Weeks recalled pushing Gunawan in front of her and a shopping cart behind her inside of Whole Foods as the pair laughed together through the discomfort.

Transportation on Georgia State’s campus has been its own feat for Gunawan.

Sometimes having to leave for her classes two hours early, Gunawan must take the Green Route from Piedmont North to class. Her freshman year, they did not strap down her wheelchair while the bus was moving. They also did not know how to use the ramp to get her inside the bus at first either.

Gunawan and Weeks must arrive at her classes early in order to “get the good seats.”

“So many times, I’ve wanted to fight people,” Weeks said, referring to the people who do not register the need for Gunawan’s accommodations. “People aren’t really aware of what’s going on around them.”

Joining groups for projects can be challenging as well with the “intimidation” factor often displayed by other students surrounding Gunawan. She and Weeks prefers that teachers assign groups instead of having to select one’s own.

Some other challenges Guanawan faces on campus have to deal with administration.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDY GUNAWAN

One professor has “just been really weird to Maddy,” said Weeks.

Gunawan’s first day in class the professor first looked her up and down before asking her how much strength she had, an uncomfortable question for Gunawan. He then asked her if she could write on paper to which she responded, “No.” Not realizing that Weeks was Gunawan’s aide, the professor asked in annoyance if he had to sign her in every day on the attendance.

Another time when returning to her dorm building, Gunawan’s aide could not park in the handicap spot as there were cars parked there without tags.

Approaching the security officers at the front desk, Gunawan told them her troubles, to which they replied that those were their cars. When they moved their cars, Gunawan felt as though she had to say, “Thank you. Sorry [that] you had to do that and be nice.”

“You’re forced to advocate for yourself a lot,” Weeks said.

Gunawan is currently majoring in computer information systems in order to develop better assistive technology for those with disabilities.

“Assistive technology is currently not made by those who have experienced it,” Weeks said. “She has good insight.”

A camera, microphone and dreams of Hollywood Students make 73 five-minute films in one week

HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter

A

rmed with a camera, microphones and laptop, 345 Georgia State students took to the city’s streets to make a movie.

Campus Movie Fest (CMF) is the world’s largest student film festival, according to its website, the brainchild of four Emory University students back in 2001 that has grown to reach over one million students and partners with Panasonic, Disney and other major companies.

The idea is simple: CMF visits universities around the country and provides students with a Panasonic camera, microphones and an Apple computer. The students are given one week to create a film of fewer than five minutes.

Janae Belcher, spotlight’s cinema and gaming chair, helped orchestrate the event and served as CMF’s “ear to Georgia State.”

When the deadline arrived, Belcher said, films were judged by an anonymous panel, which consisted of CMF employees and a few Georgia State staff.

The short films were scored on a point system based on content, technical excellence and the overall quality.

From there, only 16 of 73 submitted films were chosen for viewing on premiere night.

Storylines ranged from comedies, fantasy and one film featured a rap song about racial inequality and police brutality.

“Channel 6 News” elicited eruptions of laughter from the audience. The film depicts a news anchor and his eccentric guest. The program gets derailed by UFO sightings, and comic chaos ensues from there.

To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.

This hilariously outlandish storyline was written and edited by seniors Max Kantor and Kai Stephenson. The two have been involved with CMF for the past three years. They met in class, and Kantor later approached Stephenson with the idea of a character who is romantically involved with his verbally abusive Amazon Alexa.

“Lexi: A Love Story” was their first submitted film. The next year, they created “Three Wise Men,” which depicted two of the wise men who accidentally both brought myrrh to baby Jesus.

After three years of working together, the two have established a system.

Kantor brainstorms the plot and writes the script. Kantor spent last semester in a program with Second City, a famous comedy troupe in Chicago. He uses these skills to “bring the craziness and silliness to the characters and the movies we make.”

Stephenson enjoys the production work, focusing on the technical aspects of filming, such as lighting, shooting and editing. He added that his job is to translate the story visually.

This year, the group began shooting on a Saturday, and the film was due the following Tuesday. Stephenson and Kantor agree that this year’s film is their favorite.

“Kai and I can agree [this year] was definitely the biggest response we’ve gotten from any of our CMF premieres,” Kantor said. “To see and hear people laughing at the content you produced, there’s no better feeling.”

This self-described “dynamic duo” has been awarded Georgia State CMF’s Jury Awards each year they’ve entered. This year,

Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.

they also won Best Editing and Stephenson took home the award for Best Actor.

At each university, the panel selects four films for the Jury Award, and all participants are invited to the national Terminus Film Festival the following summer.

Based in Hollywood this year, students have the opportunity to network, attend seminars and compete for a chance to attend the Cannes Film Festival in France.

“For the past two years, Terminus was actually held in Atlanta,” Stephenson said. “So, it was really a cool last round … because we’re seniors, so this is our last year participating in CMF. To be able to have our last film actually presented at a national film fest in Hollywood, California, that’s just the best thing that could’ve happened.”

Freshman Matthew Simpson also took home the Jury Award with his film “Boyfriend.” His film is about a student becoming increasingly nervous as someone follows him around campus.

As the character tries to evade his stalker, he calls a girl to say they should break things off, because her boyfriend’s chasing him.

The audience laughed at this unexpected turn of events and exclaimed as the vengeful boyfriend follows the character to the top of a parking deck.

Simpson made short films with his friends in high school, but the CMF premiere night was the first time he’s seen an audience react to his work.

“I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work, even if it’s not entirely how you’d expect

it,” Simpson said. “I remember people laughed at one point that I didn’t expect people to laugh … but I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that is pretty funny.’”

Simpson arrived at the premiere apprehensive because filmmakers are unaware if their film was selected for showing.

His realistic goal was to make it within the top 16, but Simpson was “surprised and grateful” when his film was chosen for the Jury Award, among the highest honors.

“I was incredibly surprised,” Simpson said. “When I was watching the other movies during the top 16, I’m like, ‘Man, these are really good.’ [Winning] was unbelievable; it was one of those movie moments, really.”

Simpson hopes the Terminus Film Festival will help jumpstart his dream of being a filmmaker.

“On the Other Side”’ is another jury winner. The film features members from Atlanta’s homeless population. The documentary-style short shows people discussing how long they’ve been without homes and where they’d sleep around the city on a cold night.

One man emphatically points his finger to the camera, saying, “Stop treating the homeless like we aren’t people. We aren’t animals. We’re people.”

The fourth winner of the Jury Award was “$ix Figures Under,” about a man faking his death for the insurance money, only to wind up accidentally buried alive.

Stephenson and Kanton look back on their CMF years fondly and have advice for future Georgia State participants.

“Definitely take pride in your film no matter how far it goes, [no matter] if it wins awards [or] if it doesn’t,” Stephenson said. “Making a movie at any length, with any amount of equipment, is very hard, and just be able to take in the moment and just be proud of what you do.”

Like Stephenson, Kanton encourages future filmmakers to take pride in their hard work and final product.

“Don’t make [art] for other people because when you make it for other people, you are always going to let somebody down; you’re going to feel let down, and you’ll never be satisfied,” Kanton said. “But if you only make your own art, then you’re never going to be disappointed because you’re always going to be happy with what you do. So, I would encourage the future CMF filmmakers to make your movie for you.”

I loved every second of it because it’s really nice to see people react to your work.

PHOTOS BY DEVY PERKINS & PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

12

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

On-campus sustainable options for panthers The best ways to reduce, reuse and recycle right on campus HANNA WEILAND Staff Reporter

O

n campus, students cannot take a few steps before coming across a blue recycling bin or two. The loud crash of a Hydro Flask water bottle hitting the classroom floor will shudder a few nervous students. The young and old of Georgia State are taking the mantra of going green to a greater level.

Social media has given the younger generations an overwhelming amount of environmental awareness. Posts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch filters through Twitter pages constantly, and if one is not aware of the state of the oceans, they are surely aware of the climate change policy debates led by the youth of today.

Georgia State’s sustainability initiative focuses on local issues that involve students. From speaker series featuring corporate sustainability managers to creative ways to reduce the waste of Keurig cup pods, the group brings awareness to smaller issues that students are able to help with.

If students’ rooms are piling up with electronic waste, such as laptops, cords, chargers and old phones, the sustainability initiative frequently hosts e-waste drives. Not only will they take your waste for your convenience, but the group also collects the items right in the middle of the Student Center East lobby.

The group also encourages using reusable mugs at local restaurants by posting giveaways on the Sustainability Instagram page. Restaurants, including Buenos Dias Café and Rozina Bakehouse, participate in discounts and mug usage.

On a campus with over 33,000 students enrolled, the reliance on every single student to join and participate in sustainable awareness is small. Vending machines with plastic bottles and food packaging are in every classroom building. Restaurants and coffee shops are on campus and are visited daily.

Starbucks is one of the most visited stores on campus with two locations, one in Hurt Plaza and the other in the Equitable building. The cups are recyclable and the company hopes customers will throw the cups into a blue bin once finished (ironically, neither location has a recycling bin).

Hurt Plaza manager, Keisha Rhodes, encourages the use of reusable coffee mugs, but it is hard to encourage every customer to bring in a cup.

“We see up to 40 reusable cups a day, 30 personal cups and 10 of the cups purchased from our locations,” Rhodes said.

While waiting in line, the popular coffee chain displays an assortment of reusable cups to be purchased by customers.

Averaging around $16, customers have the ability to purchase their own cup and use it whenever. Anytime a customer brings his or her own mug, the store rewards a $0.10 discount.

Whether a customer enjoys iced or hot coffee, the options are numerous. The location is visited by only a small handful of reusable cup users out of the hundreds that visit daily.

“We can try to have reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, although I think big corporations should start to worry about their plastic use more than a few college students.”

— MELISSA PEARSON Georgia State student Up the street from the heart of campus, Buenos Dias Cafe, a family-owned establishment, crafts authentic Salvadorian cuisine with the goal of being a fresh, natural and sustainable restaurant for students and faculty to visit.

Husband and wife Ken and Jeanette Katz established the restaurant on campus and enjoy the student and faculty life Georgia State offers. With the core values including

Some students think there should be single use plastics on campus, instead of having to recycle or trash it.

“fresh food, natural ingredients, minimal waste and genuine interest in customers,” the restaurant remains on campus as a student favorite.

The majority of the menu consists of vegan dishes. The ingredients are sourced from local vendors. To add to their environmental awareness, the owners encourage customers to bring a mug of their own and use it for each visit. The restaurant has been a pride and joy of campus since 2013.

With the encouragement to “reduce, reuse, recycle,” and the fear of being shamed when not using reusable water bottles, some students find the task of carrying around a water bottle hard to follow.

“I have a reusable water bottle,” senior Sydney Stroud said. “But, sometimes, I forget it, and that’s when I will buy a plastic bottle from a vending machine.”

Convenience is an issue among students on campus.

Students find the pressure to be environmentally friendly through social media and initiatives being made by politicians, but the reusable water bottles are viewed as a smaller idea to some.

“We can try to have reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, although I think big corporations should start to worry about their plastic use more than a few college students,” junior Melissa Pearson said.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

According to CBS News, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola was one of the four companies that produced 6 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. In response to the scrutiny they have faced, major brands plan to change the system for producing plastic.

Economically, reusable plastic prices can be expensive and the average student might not be able to afford a reusable water bottle. The best-selling bottle on Amazon is $29.95.

Prices ranging from $8 to $95 for the high-tech items.

As the trend of using reusable items continues to grow annually, time reveals that the bottles will need to be replaced once a year or else the bottle will begin to break down.

Brands will continue to promote sustainability and strive for less mass production, but the worry of being shamed for not using reusable water bottles remains with the younger generations.

“I don’t think the every-day citizen should be criticized for using a plastic bottle once a week,” Stroud said.

For a student on Georgia State’s campus, there are recycling bins for individual waste in every classroom building. Not only was the Student Recreation Center “Green Globe” certified in 2012, but it provides bicycles and outdoor gear for students to enjoy the outdoors.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

ARTS & LIVING

13

Is 2020 the biggest year for rock and metal?

Students weigh in on the biggest music events of 2020 SHARAYAH DAVIS Staff Reporter

F

rom the beginning of the year, 2020 has proven that it will be a huge year in the world of music. Throughout January, emo-era legends My Chemical Romance began teasing their return. Fittingly on Halloween of 2019, the band announced their first live show in seven years to take place in Los Angeles on Dec. 20, 2019.

The Instagram post announcing their return stunned the public. Die-hard fans scrambled to get tickets to the coveted performance, which sold out in less than four minutes.

The band announced their first North American tour in nine years on Jan. 29, where they were also announced as the headliners of Atlanta’s Music Midtown 2020. On Jan. 31, the tour tickets went on sale and sold out in just six hours.

Molly Taylor, a senior at Georgia State, reflected on the return of My Chemical Romance and the significance of the return in the rock music scene.

“I think regardless of whether or not you spent your middle school years listening to My Chemical Romance, it’s easy to understand why their recent comeback is so incredible,” Taylor said. “A band that went dormant with no promise of returning for seven years makes a triumphant return with instantly sold-out shows and a primetime slot on Atlanta’s premiere music festival.”

Although My Chemical Romance was not her top choice of bands from the emo era of the early to mid-2000s, Taylor recognizes the magnitude of the band’s impact on music history.

“While I was more dedicated to Fall Out Boy during MCR’s emo reign, their influence was not lost on me,” she said. “From the theatrics of their live shows and music videos to the rabid obsession of the fan base, I was shown the absolute depth and power that music can possess. They are truly an important band, and I welcome them back to the scene.”

The year 2020 is showing to be a particularly powerful year for rock and metal music, with many big artists releasing highly anticipated albums just in the first quarter of the year.

On Jan. 24, Breaking Benjamin released the album “Aurora,” which featured new versions of their most popular songs and special guest appearances from Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath and Scooter Ward of Cold. The band’s hit song “Dear Agony” recently celebrated its 10

year anniversary and gets reimagined on “Aurora,” with special guest and former Flyleaf lead singer Lacey Sturm.

February has and is going to see several big album releases. On Feb. 7, Avenged Sevenfold re-released their b-sides album “Diamonds in the Rough” to a digital audience for the first time. The album will also feature an unreleased track from the recording of “Hail to the King” called “Set Me Free”. Their 2008 “Live in the LBC” show was also re-released for digital download.

The album, though it is a re-release, excited many fans as the band has not had much activity since 2018 when lead singer M. Shadows began vocal recovery.

Georgia State student Jorge Delgado expressed excitement about the release of the album. A fan since childhood, Delgado awaited the songs he grew up with to be released to a digital era. “‘Hail to the King’ aside, I feel like a lot of their albums have songs with a unique feel,” Delgado said. “Their new album is supposed to be more of their older stuff, and I’m really excited to see that old Avenged Sevenfold [that] I grew up on.”

On Feb. 14, Hollywood Undead released “New Empire, Vol. 1”. The album aims to lead the band in a new stylistic direction, according to vocalist and bassist George “Johnny 3 Tears” Ragan in a statement.

“Our goal from the outset was to make music that stands alone from our other albums, yet seamlessly fits with what we’ve made before. Building upon the old to create a new sound and a New Empire,” Ragan wrote.

The album features two special guests: Sleeping with Sirens vocalist Kellin Quinn on “Upside Down” and Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden on “Second Chances.”

Ozzy Osbourne releases his new album “Ordinary Man” this Friday, featuring several notable artists such as Elton John, Post Malone and Slash. Osbourne noted in an interview for Rolling Stone magazine that the title track inspired him to reach out to John for a special guest.

“When I was writing ‘Ordinary Man,’ it reminded me of an old Elton song, and I said to Sharon, ‘I wonder if he would sing on it?’

We asked and lo and behold, he agreed and sings and plays piano on the song,” Osbourne said.

Following the release, Osbourne will embark on a tour with Marilyn Manson, making a stop in Atlanta on May 27.

Delgado will be at the show at State Farm Arena.

“I’m pretty excited for [it], although I’m a little disappointed that Megadeth isn’t still opening for him,” he said.

Pearl Jam will release their new album “Gigaton” on March 27. The album’s lead single, “Dance Of The Clairvoyants,” was released on Jan. 22 as a preview for what the new album’s sound will be.

Taylor spoke about her thoughts on the single. “‘Dance Of The Clairvoyants’ is certainly a new direction for Pearl Jam, featuring a more electronic, new-wave style, grooving along like Talking Heads,” she said. “The track is also the ‘dancey’ rock ‘n’ rock that I love, a la the Strokes or the Killers. Beyond the fresh take on the band’s original sound, the lyrics are also poetic and serve to add to the song.”

She also expressed excitement for the album as a whole based on the stylistic direction that the single indicates.

“If the band continues to explore new styles while still acknowledging their roots, ‘Gigaton’ is sure to impress,” she said. “I definitely wouldn’t be disappointed if the band leans into this dark, moody new-wave sound. It is really refreshing to hear a band that has existed for 30 years, that is still able to grow and expand their sound beyond what made them a hit.”

With many bands experimenting, exploring different stylistic directions and getting back together after years on hiatus, 2020 is sure to please rock and metal fans.

TIMELINE 1. Jan. 24: “Aurora” by Breaking Benjamin 2. Feb. 7: “Diamonds In The Rough” by Avenged Sevenfold 3. Feb. 14: “New Empire, Vol. 1” by Hollywood Undead 4. Feb. 21: “Ordinary Man” by Ozzy Osbourne 5. Mar. 27: “Gigaton” by Pearl Jam 6. Sep. 20: My Chemical Romance at Music Midtown 2020

ILLUSTRATION BY ALLEN NGUYEN | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

14

games

SuD0KU

easy

games

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

medium

comic

“post valentine’s day” Comic by Esteban Rodriguez

HARD

SPORTS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

ÅMLI TO ATLANTA: THE STORY OF ELISE SAGA

The Norwegian exchange student prepares for the 2020 season ERIK INDRISANO

Associate Sports Editor

F

or many people around the world, a common goal is to travel the world and do something they love. For Georgia State freshman Elise Saga, she is living this exact dream, playing beach volleyball.

Saga was born and raised in Åmli, Norway. The small town of roughly 1,800 residents helped push Saga into the sport of volleyball. From a young age, Saga always found herself doing something outdoors, as many Norwegians do.

“I’m from a really small town,” Saga said. “I’m used to hiking a lot in the forests and mountains; I just love being outside.”

This love for the outdoors along with an active lifestyle had her destined for a life in sports from a young age. Luckily for Saga, her neighbors were top-tier beach volleyball players in Norway, allowing her early exposure to the sport. “[The neighbors] had children that were my age, so we were friends growing up,” Saga said. “They started [teaching] their kids, and I just jumped on.”

The cards seemed to all fall into the right place for Saga. In addition to her neighbors, the town of Åmli was known for being a volleyball town.

“My town is really known for playing volleyball … that’s the big sport there, which is very unusual in Norway,” Saga said.

If you have not been to Norway, the weather can hinder a sport like beach volleyball. Winters are frigid with lots of rain and snow, rendering the outdoor sport impossible to play. It is because of these conditions Saga actually started her career with indoor volleyball.

“I started in indoor, but the summer right after, I started playing beach,” Saga said.

After playing on the beach for a change, she instantly fell in love with the sport. But the weather prevented her from playing outdoors year-round. Luckily, there were ways to get around these obstacles.

“We can’t practice outside [year-round] because we will get snow no matter where you are in the country,” Saga said. “We have indoor facilities we have to use.”

As Saga has noticed, the differences between beach volleyball in Norway and the U.S. have accumulated quite the list. From playing with a different ball to having a team of only you and your partner, the differences could go on and on. The road to success is one of self-accountability; everything comes down to you.

“You kind of have to make it on your own. You have to finance everything, [travel] on your own,” Saga said. “You don’t usually have clubs in Norway. You have some volunteer coaches; you just have to be where they are.”

As the years went on and the skill level increased, Saga was right there with the best and when it came time for the next step, she attended a private boarding school specifically for volleyball.

The cherry on top: One of her childhood neighbors was a coach at the school. She credits him for her progression in the sport.

“He has [taught] me so much,” Saga said.

It was during high school that Saga had her favorite memory of the sport. In a big tournament in Norway’s capital, Oslo, Saga and her teammate defeated a top-tier English duo that many believed was unbeatable.

“I had a North European tournament in a big square in Oslo … my partner and I had a really good game against an English team, and we won [as underdogs] … so that’s my best memory,” Saga said.

As her time playing volleyball in Norway concluded, it was time for Saga to make a decision, pursue beach volleyball abroad in the U.S. or stay in Norway and continue to play.

“I was thinking a lot about [going to the U.S.],” Saga said. “It sounded fun because, in Norway, it’s hard to get better if you don’t go abroad after high school.”

Eventually, she ultimately decided to test her luck and went abroad.

“I felt like it was a good way to combine both the sport I really love and education,” Saga said.

The recruitment process is similar to the other aspects of Norwegian volleyball: everything is on your own. Players must seek out schools of their choice with the help of agents and, if

Elisa Saga discusses transitioning from playing volleyball in Amili, Norway, to the game in the United States.

accepted, have to make choices without even visiting the campus.

After roughly seven years of playing beach volleyball, all the hard work paid off for Saga as the colleges came calling. With the offers on the table, the emotions built up for the Åmli native.

“It was really exciting, but I was also a little nervous … you don’t get to visit the school, you kinda just jump into it,” Saga said.

Despite the offers on the table, Saga knew Georgia State was the right fit for her.

“I got a really good feeling about Georgia State when I talked to [head coach Beth Van Fleet],” Saga said. “She seemed like she really cared about the players and not only volleyball, and I think that’s a big part of the game. Of all the schools I talked to, she made me feel most comfortable.”

From here, Saga officially committed to Georgia State and joined the Panther family. But adjusting to a new home can be a challenge for anyone.

PHOTO BY SHEL LEVY | THE SIGNAL

“There are a lot of cultural differences from [Norway] … but I’ve been traveling a lot around the world, so I love exploring,” Saga said.

In addition to adjusting culturally, Saga, like most people, struggled with homesickness.

“I was really homesick the first semester … but I went back for Christmas break, so that was needed,” Saga said.

For Saga, this season will mark her first time playing with the American style of volleyball.

“I don’t really have any expectations because I don’t really know what to expect … I’ve never done anything like it before,” Saga said.

Despite all the difficulties Saga has overcome them and is ready for the season.

“I’m really excited for the season, I’m counting down every day,’’ Saga said. “I feel like the hard semester I had last year is going to pay off now.”

SPORTS

16

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Panthers win again, move to second in the Sun Belt How Rob Lanier’s team kept the ball rolling vs. App State ANDREW FREEDMAN & AVERY WIGGINS Sports Editor & Staff Reporter

I

n their quest for the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, the Georgia State men’s basketball team defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers 76-65 Saturday night at the GSU Sports Arena.

The Panthers led wire-to-wire for the entire game, never having less than a 78% chance to win the game. For reference, this was ten seconds into the game after the Panthers missed their first shot.

Every time the Mountaineers got close, the Panthers quickly slammed the door shut on them. After the game, Panthers first-year head coach Rob Lanier talked about the effort his men displayed on both ends of the floor.

“We always talk about, in each game, which team is going to play the hardest the longest,” Lanier said. “I thought tonight we did that. We came out with a focused effort and we defended really well. I do think that there’s a correlation between our connectedness on defense and the way we play offensively.”

The win can be credited to three players: redshirt sophomore guard Justin Roberts, redshirt senior guard Damon Wilson and junior guard Kane Williams. The three backcourt starters scored a combined 42 points.

Led by Roberts’ 17 points and five threes, the team thrived. Although he hit 5-6 from three-point range and only missed one of his seven shots, Roberts credited his teammates.

“It feels good, just hitting five threes and a couple of free throws,” Roberts, who sank both of his free throws on the night, said after the game. “Credit just goes to my teammates for finding me and just doing my job.”

For Roberts, this season will be one to remember: 27 games into his first year as a Panther, the DePaul university transfer leads the team in minutes (836) and steals (43).

Even more impressive, he ranks in the top three for rebounds, assists and three-point percentage.

“I think he’s a really good player, and he’s a great kid, and I love him, and I love coaching him,” Lanier said about his starting guard.

But the real reason Coach Lanier loves Roberts extends beyond statistics.

“We always talk about, in each game, which team is going to play the hardest the longest. I thought tonight we did that. We came out with a focused effort and we defended really well.”

— ROB LANIER Men’s Basketball head coach

“I think as a point guard, he’s got a long way to go,” Lanier said of Roberts. “And the reason I love coaching him is cause I do think he knows that.”

It should be noted that he is doing this despite being the shortest player on the whole team. At just 5 feet, 9 inches, his height would be a disadvantage under normal circumstances. But his quick hands and feet allow him to be a threat on the defensive end of the floor.

Wilson had 10 points on four out of seven shooting, including two out of four from three-point range. Williams had 15 points on five out of 14 shooting, including five out of nine from the free-throw line.

The redshirt senior has stepped up this season, averaging 11.1 points and a team-high 4.9 rebounds. His contributions will need to continue as the season enters the last few games and into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

But who controlled the game for the Panthers?

Josh Linder and Georgia State men’s basketball warm up before their home game against Appalachian State.

“For the most part, Kane [Williams] controlled the game in the second half,” Lanier said. “Statistically, it might not say that. But we put him in some situations where he made some poor decisions where he owned them, but I thought he controlled the flow of the game.”

Those on the bench also gave Coach Lanier exceptional minutes and were major contributors in the win with a combined 28 points. All of the players on the bench scored in the game, led by Nelson Phillips’ 16.

“I thought Nelson made a couple [of ] timely threes,” Lanier said when talking about the depth of the team in this game.

Overall, as a team, the Panthers shot 26 out of 56 (46.4%) from the field. Even more impressive than their three-point shooting: They shot 52% from three, making 13 of 25.

The only issue from a shooting perspective: free throws.

The Panthers shot 11-16 from the charity stripe. 68.8% on free throws won’t get the job done each game, but their three-point shooting was too good for them to lose this one.

For the Mountaineers, the offense ran through freshman forward Kendall Lewis. He scored at will, dropping 24 points and seven rebounds on a career night while shooting 7-9 from the floor and 10-11 on free throws.

PHOTO BY ANNA GORICKI | THE SIGNAL

Coach Lanier expressed the frustration Lewis caused his team on both ends of the floor. “[He] did a great job getting to the offensive glass and getting in the open court, and that’s just an area where we’ve got to improve,” Lanier said.

How does this affect the rest of the team moving forward?

With this win and the win over Coastal Carolina, the Panthers are now in sole possession of the second place in the Sun Belt Conference with an 11-5 record inside the conference. The team is only one game behind the firstplace Little Rock Trojans, who have a 12-4 conference record.

The 2020 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, which begins on March 7, will hold its semifinal games on March 14. The conference championship is on Sunday, on March 15. All games will be at the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans.

If the Panthers are able to sweep the next three games and stay in second place, they clinch a bye through the semifinals.

Having the time to scout other teams and also rest before games will be extremely important for the Panthers.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

SPORTS

17

Should the Falcons retire Michael Vick’s No. 7?

Discussing one of Atlanta’s most polarizing athletes JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

E

SPN’s “30 for 30” documentary about Michael Vick aired on Jan. 30. It reopened an old debate on retiring the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft from the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor.

Let us do the same here.

In short, Vick’s legacy as a Falcon is polarizing for fans.

While it reflects on the great times of the early 2000s, it also opens up old wounds for the franchise. As the team’s starting quarterback from 2001-2006, Vick put the franchise on the map and guided them to the most successful season since the 1998 Super Bowl team.

Vick made history by beating the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs, the first team to accomplish such a feat. In 2004, he guided the franchise to its second title game in and infamously graced the cover of Madden NFL 2004 The Virginia Tech product went on to establish the franchise as a must-see experience. Before Vick, the Falcons were nothing special, which explained their disappointing amount of nationally televised games.

Stepping aside from football, Vick’s best moments as a Falcon expanded far beyond the Georgia Dome. Much of the city rallied around Vick as the face of a predominantly AfricanAmerican city. His presence affected longtime fans, such as Demario Scott, who felt that cultural connection to Vick.

“His impact was huge,” Scott said. “Atlanta is a black city so, of course, the city wants a black quarterback to thrive and be successful.”

The cultural impact was not lost on the sports journalists in the city as well. Longtime Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Terrance Moore recognized the impact Vick’s tenure had on the culture of Atlanta.

“Atlanta, with a huge black middle class, finally had a quarterback that looked like them,” Moore said. “And many black fans, to this day, still see Vick as their quarterback over [Matt] Ryan.”

But these facts may not be enough for some.

As shown in the documentary, Vick had many shortcomings both as a football player and a leader of his team. While some fans glorify his tenure in Atlanta, his final years were rife with controversy.

Even before his indictment, Vick was heavily criticized for his lack of on-field preparation. One of the most infamous moments of him in Atlanta was flipping the bird to fans in the Georgia Dome in 2006.

Now, 14 years later, many have forgotten just how bad the end of his time in Atlanta really was, to say nothing of his role in dog fighting.

Michael Vick made a cultural impact and his legacy continues even after the league.

With all of that said, Vick was an overall average quarterback for the Falcons: While his arm was a cannon, and he could outrun nearly anyone on the field, Vick’s 53.8 completion percentage for his Falcons career was subpar, at best. In his final season in Atlanta in 2006, he had a terrible quarterback

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

rating of under 50%, souring his relationship with the team in the process.

The debate regarding Vick’s number being retired will remain a polarizing one. The bottom line is this: For all his many flaws and complicated legacy, Vick is unquestionably the most consequential quarterback in the team’s history.

Atlanta Falcons free agency update

What to expect following an underwhelming season MICHAEL CUNEO Staff Reproter

W

ith the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Superbowl LIV, the 2020 NFL offseason is officially underway.

In a period when both the agonizing pain of a football-less society and the excitement of potential new additions flusters fans across the country, the NFL offseason marks the start of a seven-month sabbatical from Sunday afternoon football.

Whether eliminated in the later rounds of the playoffs or failing to obtain a record above .500, most NFL teams will dabble in the complexity of the free agency market in 2020.

The Falcons are no stranger to this offseason free agency saga, and they are already making significant moves.

Per the team’s official Twitter account, Vic Beasly will not return to Atlanta in 2020.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Falcons reporter D. Orlando Ledbetter thought the move was necessary regarding

both roster talent and cap space.

“When you make mistakes, the sooner you can move from them, the better,” Ledbetter said when addressing the Falcons selecting Beasley No. 9 overall in the 2015 draft. “Even though Vic does have a $7.3 million market value, they decided to spend that money elsewhere.”

Since his selection, the Clemson Tigers product has had highs and lows, recording 15.5 sacks in his rookie season, only to fail to reach double digits in the category in the three seasons since.

Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff thanked Beasly for his contribution to the team in a statement made after the team’s official announcement.

“As we continue to craft our 2020 roster, we’d like to thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization,” Dimitroff said.

On the offensive side, Atlanta is currently still in negotiations with Austin Hooper, the teams starting tight end that has made consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

The team has commented on the status of Hooper sparsely, with Dimitroff saying that negotiations are “trudging along.”

Hooper expressed interest in returning to the Falcons but said the team would need to provide the proper deal.

“I don’t,” Ledbetter said when asked if he envisions Hooper returning to Atlanta in 2020. “His market value is such that his agent would be committing malpractice if he signed him for less than $10 million a year. If the Falcons can’t get him to sign a team-friendly deal, the franchise tag is going to be too high.”

If Atlanta lets Hooper explore free agency, the team will need to shop for an offensive weapon.

Wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley continue to lead the team in offensive weaponry. However, after trading Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots and the potential free agency loss of Justin Hardy, Atlanta lacks depth at the position.

Linebacker De’vondre Cambell and defensive end Adrian Clayborn are also on the fringe of free agency, and talks with the team have not resulted in any substantial progress.

After finishing 7-9 in 2019, Atlanta has needs on both sides of the ball. First, they will need to manage their current players efficiently and then seek out talent in both free agency and the draft in an attempt to build a more rounded roster in 2020.

SPORTS

18

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Trae Young: The sooner is an all-star

How the Oklahoma product made a name for himself NAJEH WILKINS Staff Reporter

Y

ou may remember Trae Young from his days in college where he was the star player of the University of Oklahoma. You may also remember him posting 10 points and 10 assists in Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game, where he hit a half court shot at the buzzer to end the first half.

As a Sooner, Young led the nation with both 27 points and eight assists per game, proving just how dynamic of a scorer and passer he was. In his lone college basketball season, the Stephen Curry comparisons ultimately sealed his fate as a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Young gave dazzling performances, and you knew whenever he was in the game, his team had a chance to win.

Although he lost in the national tournament against Rhode Island, he filled the stat sheet with 27 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Entering the 2018 NBA Draft was a no-brainer for Young.

In his rookie year, Young averaged 19 points and eight assists. He made a late-season push that year to challenge Luka Doncic for Rookie of the Year with his scoring outbursts. But Young’s elusive pursuit of the honor came up short, with Luka Doncic taking home the hardware.

The transition from year one to year two has been monumental for Young: He entered All-Starr Weekend third in scoring (29.7 points per game) and second in assists (9.2 per game), demonstrating just how masterful he is with the ball. Even his opponents have raved about how good he is.

“Every time we play against him, he dominates the game,” 76ers forward Tobias Harris said.

Young is not the prototypical point guard with super athleticism, and his 6-foot, 1-inch frame is not exactly eyeopening. But his ability to handle the ball is second to none.

Effortlessly at times, he embarrasses defenders with crossovers. When he does not, he makes a beautiful pass to set up teammates for open looks.

Young continues to be a match-up nightmare for defenders as they are starting to have no answers for the young star. Former NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star James Harden praised the second-year Young after the Houston Rockets’ 122-115 win against the Hawks on Jan. 8.

“He continues to show he can be effective in this league and play at a high level,” Harden said.

To not only get recognition from teammates and coaches, but well-respected players of the stature of Harden speaks volumes to how far Young has come in such a short time.

In year two, Young has also done a better job at getting to the free-throw line, especially on three-point attempts, often frustrating head coaches. Just a few weeks ago, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown picked up a technical foul after Young drew a foul on a three-point attempt during an intense period of play.

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens noted Young’s ability to draw fouls as well.

“Our guys did a really good job of keeping their hands back and making sure they didn’t foul him on any of those three-pointers,” Stevens said following their Feb. 3 game in Atlanta.

Already, Young has proven himself to be the leader of the Hawks. Despite his tender 21 years, he regularly acknowledges that he can improve, repeatedly saying, “I have to play better.” Young takes ownership of team losses, striving to play better next time out on the floor — not many young players or even many All-Star starters have this mindset.

Young reminds you of a mix of the modern and also the past NBA. His playmaking ability is similar to that of Steve Nash, a basketball legend. The no-look dimes and the effortless flow of the offense all remind you of Nash in his prime.

The long-range shooting from 30-plus feet and the ability to shoot off the dribble is reminiscent of Steph Curry. Those dazzling threes that halted runs or started an avalanche of points disposed of opponents within minutes. With consistency and more efficiency, Young can also be in the conversation of deadly, quick striking ability giving his opponents headaches and no answers defensively.

The talent around the All-Star is still in question, but his devotion and continuing to strive at getting better have shown.

Dominique Wilkins speaks to Trae Young before the Atlanta Hawks game versus the Phoenix Suns.

“He’s just getting more consistent,” All-Star Ben Simmons said.

The recognition for the young star is apparent as more opponents are recognizing his game. Once the talent is up to par, Young will flourish and show the NBA what he is really made of.

“He gets that look in his eye and he gets to be almost unstoppable,” Hawks forward John Collins said.

Having a teammate with a fire in their eyes motivates you on the court. Not many athletes possess this when playing.

For the select few that do have it, nothing can stop them.

Remember Michael Jordan’s games — opponents talked about “that look in his eyes” and said there is nothing they could do to stop him. Young strikes a similar fear into his opponents. If he can have that look consistently, look out!

Young is also a pillar of his community. Not only does he contribute to the community in Atlanta but also in Oklahoma. He not only plays well on the court but also helps his community in a multitude of ways.

“Giving back to this community is extremely important to me,” Young said.

In 2018, he gave away 500 backpacks as part of a backto-school community event held in the city of Atlanta. Last

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

month, he canceled $1 million in medical debt for Atlanta’s residents.

During the summers, you can find Young playing in ProAms in his community alongside Collins. This past summer, the two linked up at Atlanta Elite Basketball League for a weekend and left the crowd in awe.

For fans of Young in less fortunate neighborhoods, seeing him is a dream come true. He is a hero to them, and his game is being emulated, as young hoopers are looking to perfect his three-point shots from near half-court.

Back in his days at Oklahoma, Young dazzled the college basketball world with his shooting and passing ability. Socalled-experts had their doubts about him. But after being voted in as a starter for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, Young is on top of the world and proving those same “experts” wrong.

Moving forward, Young is in store for much more greatness and a long career. With the humility he possesses, the willingness to get his teammates involved and the deep range shooting prowess, a few key players are separating him from an NBA Finals in the future.

to-do

my notes

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

1BSL 1MBDF 4BUVSEBZT .BZ +VO B N Q N

(404) 413-7300

execed.robinson.gsu.edu

@gsutestprepacademy

@testprepacademy

1FUJU 4DJFODF $FOUFS 5VFTEBZT .BS .BZ Q N $PMMFHF PG &EVDBUJPO 4VOEBZT "QS .BZ Q N

1FUJU 4DJFODF $FOUFS 8FEOFTEBZT .BZ +VM Q N

$PMMFHF PG &EVDBUJPO 4VOEBZT %BZT

'FC .BS B N Q N 1BSL 1MBDF 4BUVSEBZT .BS .BZ B N Q N

1FUJU 4DJFODF $FOUFS 5IVSTEBZT .BS .BZ Q N

1FUJU 4DJFODF 4DJFODF 8FEOFTEBZT .BS .BZ Q N

LSAT

GMAT

/P 1SPNPUJPO $PEF /FFEFE

$

monday

GRE

Featuring Dr. Gary B. Cohen

sunday

Test Prep Academy

saturday TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

THE SIGNAL 19