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Georgia State researchers The Signal spends 10 Women’s soccer scores late The King of Pops makes What’s wrong with twentystudying Gulf oil microbes. minutes with Craig Robinson. in double overtime triumph. his way to Woodruff Park. somethings these days?
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VOL. 78 • ISSUE 2 • AUGUST 31, 2010 REGISTER ONLINE FOR BREAKING NEWS AT
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THE WAIT IS OVER
Meg Buscema • University Relations
By D.J. KUNOVAC Staff Writer A countdown that started 863 days ago will finally reach zero on Thursday, Sep. 2nd, and Georgia State University will do something that it has never done in its 97-year history: play football. For over two years, those two words have been on the minds of hundreds of people charged with the task of introducing Georgia State to the world of college gridiron, especially the players. “The good news is that we have a football team that loves to play football,” head coach Bill Curry said. “And the sport of football, if you don’t love to play it, will destroy you. It’s just that simple.” The love for the sport of football might have been bittersweet for those players who have been practicing since August 2009 without getting to showcase the result of their grueling preparation. “It’s been so hard to practice and not play any games,” linebacker Jake Muasau said. “We
just want to get on that field and make a statement.” Muasau and his teammates will finally get a chance to make that statement when they open the inaugural season against Shorter College, and Georgia State as a university will never be the same. The significance of this event may not be fully grasped or appreciated for years to come, but there is little doubt that at this point no other undertaking in the school’s history has impacted Georgia State quite like joining the world of college football. In a country where football is the undisputed king on all levels of sport, Georgia State has made a splash like no other college startup. The eight-part video series on ESPN.com, which chronicled the building of the Panther football program, culminated in Georgia State making the cover of the 2010 ESPN the Magazine College Football Preview edition. “The expectations are going to go through the roof,” Curry said to his players as they posed for the photo shoot.
Curry understands the magnitude of the moment, even if some of the players may not. To put it in perspective, the last school from Georgia to make the cover of ESPN the Magazine was the University of Georgia in 2008, when their football team was ranked No. 1 in the country to start that season. But for Georgia State, the media publicity did not stop with ESPN. The Panthers graced the cover of Atlanta Magazine, the Atlanta INtown newspaper and even the front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s sports section alongside the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, the trio dubbed “The Big Three.” Then there are the Atlanta radio stations. From 680 the Fan to 790 the Zone, the Panthers have been local media darlings throughout the summer. But perhaps the most notable publicity for the young program came from the Q100 radio station, when Bert Weiss from the popular morning program, “The Bert Show” endorsed the Georgia State
Panthers as his new college football team. Two days later, Curry made a guest appearance on the Bert Show and just as he has done many times before, Curry won the hearts and minds of both cast members and listeners. While all this media attention may appear to have happened overnight, it has in fact been a calculated product of long months of work by many people in the administration, led by Georgia State University President Mark Becker, Director of Athletics Cheryl Levick and of course, Curry. “[Becker] is a very competitive guy,” Curry said during his interview with the Bert Show. “He loves football.” Becker’s competitiveness was evident during his tenure at the University of South Carolina, where he fulfilled a request to make the Gamecocks marching band the loudest in the Southeastern Conference. His most notable move for Georgia State athletics came with the hiring of Levick in March of 2009.
In her 17-month tenure at Georgia State, Levick has already transformed the athletic department like no other athletic director in school’s history. “She’s demanding,” Curry said about Levick in a recent interview with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “I’ve never known a great leader that wasn’t.” During the school’s largest athletic undertaking, Levick’s leadership was essential, as she oversaw every aspect of the process from marketing to academic compliance to ticket sales, and the results speak for themselves. “When I got here, our annual [athletic] fund for the previous year was thirty three thousand dollars in unrestricted money, and this past fiscal year we closed at three hundred and three thousand,” said Kevin Miller, the Assistant Athletic Director for Development. The near thousand percent increase in annual funds is a testament to the long hours logged by numerous people in the athletic Cont. on page 14
Football
02
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS August 31 - September 7, 2010
DATE Tuesday
AUG. 31
EVENT Click-It or Ticket: Safe Driving Program S, K, N Decks 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Atlanta Vendor Fair Gilmer Street 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Student Organization Street Fair Hurt Park 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Time Flies When You’re On Facebook: Time Management Techniques Student Center, Lucerne Suite 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
5th Annual Georgia State Idol Rialto Center for the Arts 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday
SEPT. 1
NEWS
STAFF INFORMATION EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sheena Roetman signaleditor@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR Daniel Beauregard gsunews@gmail.com LIVING EDITOR Noël Hahn signalliving@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Kirkland Carter signalsports@langate.gsu.edu ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jhoni Jackson signalentertainment@gmail.com PERSPECTIVES EDITOR Syeda Hira Mahmood signalperspectives@gmail.com INTERIM PRODUCTION EDITOR Elijah Sarkesian signalprod@gmail.com INTERIM ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITOR Beau Torres signalprod@gmail.com ONLINE EDITOR Jeremy Galloway signalwebsite@gmail.com COPY EDITORS Emma Harger Shelby Lohr ADVERTISING MANAGER Elijah Sarkesian signalads@langate.gsu.edu CIRCULATION MANAGER Brian Echols signaldistribution@gmail.com OFFICE ASSISTANTS Jared Cate Michael Glass STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu
Counseling and Testing Center and Student Health Promotion Open House Citizens Trust Building 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
So You Think You Can Drive? Gilmer Street 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
College Fair on the Plaza Library Plaza 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
University Library Tour University Library North 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Semester 101: Connecting With Your Professors Student Center, Lucerne Suite 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Graduate Student Social
Student Recreation Center Conference Room 3:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m.
Casino Night
Student Recreation Center Lobby 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thursday
SEPT. 2
Football Pep Rally
Library Plaza 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Confidential HIV Testing Services by Student Health Promotion Citizens Trust Building, Suite 240 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Inaugural GSU Football Game: GSU vs. Shorter College Georgia Dome 7:30 p.m.
Friday
SEPT. 3
Tour of Petit Science Center Petit Science Center Lobby 11:00 a.m.
Time Flies When You’re On Facebook: Time Management Techniques Student Center, Lucerne Suite 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday
SEPT. 6
Labor Day Luau
Indian Creek Pool 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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NEWS
News Editor Daniel Beauregard gsunews@gmail.com
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The dangers of SAP By SARAH BALTER Staff Writer
Lee Celano Scientists are working in the Gulf of Mexico to find out about oil microbes.
Georgia State researchers studying Gulf oil microbes By DANIEL BEAUREGARD News Editor This fall, Georgia State researchers are going to Louisiana to study oil-degrading microbes in order to aid the ongoing research about the environmental effects of the recent Deepwater Horizon spill. The group of researchers, headed by geologist Dr. Daniel Deocampo and microbiologist Dr. Kuki Chin, received funding for the project from a one-year $61,537 Rapid Research Response (RAPID) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). With this funding, they plan to go to Louisiana sometime during mid-September and do research on the oil-degrading microbes in the marsh areas of the Gulf of Mexico, hoping to add to research already being done dealing with the environmental damage of the recent oil spill. “The purpose of this project is to see how minerals and microbes interact…It’s been shown in other labs that when you add certain clay minerals to these microbes it helps them get their nutrients and it helps them break down the oil faster,” said Deocampo. This hypothesis, successful in lab testing, hasn’t been tested in the
field before, although many believe that these microbes played a large role in breaking down the oil from the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and will play a role in the cleanup from Deepwater Horizon. “The idea is, we locate the optimal site, cover it with this clay and compare it with the control on the other side of the area. Then, each additional month we’re planning on analyzing it in different ways— maybe geological, chemical, physical, microbiological,” said Chin, who added that since this type of science isn’t concentrated in one area, they’ve enlisted the help of experts in several different fields. In the past several weeks, numerous reports have challenged the government’s findings on the remaining oil in the gulf. Most notable are the studies from the University of Georgia and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, both of which have found there’s still a significant amount of oil in the water, albeit most likely broken down into tiny particles because of the dispersants used during cleanup. “I think part of what we’re seeing is the way science works through the issue, because we’ll have conflicting reports and then there will be conferences in a
year or two and people will come up with ways to test each others ideas,” said Deocampo. Both Deocampo and Chin explain that it’s a tough area to study because of the emergency condition as well as the size of the area. “With environmental disasters you can’t really have a control,” says Chin. The group at Georgia State is just one of around 60 recipients of RAPID grant’s from the NSF. Normally it takes about six or eight months to have a proposal granted, but due to the recent environmental disaster and the RAPID program, the team received their answer within several weeks. Deocampo and Chin said that if everything goes as planned, they hope to see some short-term results within six months so they can have something publishable within a year. However, they’re quick to say that science is tricky and things don’t always work out as planned. “It’s very difficult to look at something like this in such a short period of time…I can imagine that everyone funded by the NSA, a year later, will come up with many different conclusions that will be useful once they’re all put together,” said Chin. “I think right now we’re making a seed and we need to watch it grow.”
The Georgia State Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy places a time limit on how long students may qualify for most types of need-based federal aid. Students dependent on financial aid to fund their educations must complete their undergraduate degrees before accumulating 180 attempted credit hours, including transfer credits. The SAP policy doesn’t usually pose a hurdle for in-state students maintaining HOPE, or students who stick to their major, maintain good grades and didn’t transfer in with many credits outside of their degrees. Most undergraduate bachelor degrees require between 110 and 130 credits, so students who do well in their classes aren’t confronted with the denial of financial aid. For students who change majors, retake a substantial number of classes for better grades or transfer in with credits from a previous college, this policy may come as a shock. They usually aren’t aware of it until they violate the time frame standard. Imani Mandela, 20, is a 5th year senior and has earned 140 credits. The HOPE scholarship helped her until she reached the standard limit of 120 credits. She now depends on Federal Financial Aid to fund the majority of her education and is double majoring in African American Studies and English. Although she remembers skimming over the financial aid policies available on the Georgia State website, she had
Attention MARTA Customers
no recollection of the time frame standard. When asked if she was familiar with that portion of the SAP policy, she couldn’t relate the policy to SAP. “I must have read that, but I didn’t know that was the policy that you were talking about. I wouldn’t associate the two together,” she said. Mandela, like most students, only associates meeting standard academic progress with a good GPA and following the Code of Conduct. Her GPA is 3.6, and while she makes good grades, she sometimes has trouble making straight As because of her workload. She will retake a course if she feels it will help her gain the average she needs to fulfill her goal of admission into Yale. This has brought her number of attempted credits to 170. Thanks to her double major, she is afforded an extra 90 attempted credits before she loses eligibility for federal aid. She was considering dropping one of her majors due to her workload, and if she had, she would qualify for need-based federal aid for only 10 more credits to complete her remaining degree. This would have brought her dangerously close to losing her eligibility. “GoSolar tells me if I have a hold of some kind on my account, but there are no warnings or alarms for this policy,” said Mandela, “Had I been undecided about something or made the wrong move, that would have sucked.” The numbers start getting
Policy
Cont. on page 05
Elijah Sarkesian
Auxiliary and Support Services announced late last week that prices for monthly MARTA passes will go up, effective next month (for October passes). Student passes will now cost $41, while faculty passes will now cost $53. The normal rate for similar cards purchased directly from MARTA is $68.
04
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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NEWS
Catering to the millennial generation By IRIS EBEN Staff Writer
Atlanta.net Segway tours are just one aspect of Altanta tourism that is in trouble.
Are Atlanta tourist attractions vanishing into thin air? By LASHONDA EDWARDS Staff Writer Atlanta is home to many tourist attractions, but two of those attractions seem to have decreased in popularity lately: the Segway tours and horse-drawn carriages that once frequently roamed the streets. Known for offering a unique perspective on major landmarks in various countries around the world, Segway tours are found in many cities including Atlanta. City Segways, on 250 Park Ave., offers tours of Atlanta landmarks, the World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park and the CNN Center. According to Trip Advisor City Segways reviews, Segway tours are still in high demand despite the economy. Recent vacationers from places like California, Texas and Virginia all agree the Segway tour inspired them to tour other cities by Segway. City Segways’ website also notes continued demand. The only changes they have made are using the new i2 Segway and adding a shortened tour time. In addition to the usual three hour tour, tourists can now tour the city in just an hour and 30 minutes. The shorter tour can help
avoid overbooked schedules. The new time frame may also explain why Atlanta natives and residents could miss out on observing some of the Segway tours. However, these Segway expeditions will not be the only time Atlanta residents see Segways on the go. Other uses for Segways include by police or security officers and mail carriers. Nottingham Shire & Carriage for Hire has tours of historical landmarks in Atlanta, but the majority of their business is for weddings, parades, quincineras, films and other major events. Weddings typically happen during the spring and summer, so the only times people might see the horse-drawn carriages during the summer is for the Fourth of July parade and possibly at fantasystyle weddings. Like the City Segway tours, the horse-drawn carriages have a precise time schedule for tours. Their tours last from fifteen minutes to an hour. Their business has not been affected greatly by the economy because there will always be formal events and parades the company can rely on. For now, Nottingham Shire & Carriage for Hire is standing strong behind their business, like City Segway is too.
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Generation expert and coauthor of Millennials Go to College Neil Howe spoke to Georgia State administrators and educators last week about how the university can cater to the current generation of college students. “Organize teaching around their learning needs,” said Howe. “Teach students not as you understand, rather how the student best understands it.” Howe defines the current generation of college students as Millennials, born between 1982 and 2004. Although the media and Boomer generation parents promote this generation as the worst of all, Howe disagrees. “There is no such thing as a good or bad generation,” he said. According to Howe, the statistics tell a different story. Teen risk factors such as the abortion rate, teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, substance abuse and smoking rates have all declined since the early 1980s, when the first Millennials were born. Youth crime has declined by 65 percent. The only teen risk factor to increase is obesity, a result of overprotection by Boomer parents, said Howe. The childhood of a Millennial occurred during a child-friendly era of protection and structure. Howe said inventions of the early 1980s, such as “baby on board” bumper stickers and the minivan, reflect this cultural mood. Monitoring of Halloween bags for poison became a common parental protection practice. The emergence of team-oriented extracurricular activities and participation awards became the new norm. This generation is the most diverse and most tolerant of any generation, according to Howe. Forty percent are non-white and twenty percent have at least one immigrant parent. In order for universities such as Georgia State to meet the educational needs of its students, having generational knowledge about the student body will ensure proper education, he said. “You have to treat students as V.I.Ps . If you are smart, you will use self esteem boosting as a lever…This is a generation used to being told that they are special ,” he said. Millennials are all about
Lee Celano Neil Howe, authoer of Millennials Go to College, spoke at Georgia State last week.
community. The institution of live and learn communities in universities fulfill the need of students for a sense of togetherness, Howe said. The popular freshman learning communities and themed housing options at Georgia State reflect the desires of communityminded Millennials. The addition of cutting edge networking technology by universities should be instituted to reinforce social networking, he said. Howe described Millennials as “feedback junkies” and emphasized proactivity by professors willing to establish mentorship relationships with students. He claims Millennials want professors who are active participants in their respective industries. This generation is more career-focused and want to see the practical application of their
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New Student Programs and Parent Relations Howe stresses the importance of parents in the lives of college students.
degrees. He made reference to a study that said 30 percent of college graduates will get their first job from the companies they interned with in college. Knowledge of soft skills such as how to shake hands, answer the phone and dress professionally is desired by Millennials, he said. The Boomer parents of Millennials, according to Howe, cannot be left out. He suggests that universities form a partnership with parents in a way that has never been done before. The Boomer parents of Millennials, sometimes referred to as helicopter parents, are the biggest professional complaint of K-12 teachers. Therefore, universities must include parents in the educational process, rather than put them at a distance. Georgia State’s parent-student Incept orientations reflect this need by keeping parents involved and informed. The only danger Howe fears for this generation is the need to always arrive at a consensus. He said that media professionals were often frustrated by interviews with students. Millennials always sought the opinions of friends before delivering an answer that ended up often in agreement with their peers. “For my generation, the Boomers, the fear was having Big Brother put a camera in your room, with this generation they themselves put cameras in their own rooms,” he said.
NEWS Policy
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Cont. from page 03
confusing, especially when students are unaware that they must factor both earned credits and attempted credits into their financial planning. Some students feel that it would be better to learn from the university as freshmen. Ceylan Odunkessenler, 20, is a sophomore Psychology major. She read the SAP policy, but found it too confusing and too frustrating to understand. She feels the policy could be better explained verbally. “The way stuff is written is very confusing. I think that information should be told to us in the beginning. They should tell us what limits are placed on financial aid. That should be one of the first things they tell us about,” she said. To students early on in their time at Georgia State, the prospect of accruing more debt adds strain to the difficulty of understanding the policies and procedures necessary to qualify for aid. “I know I’m on a schedule, and I have to pay things at this time and that time, but it’s all very stressful to worry about. I’m only 20 years old, but I’m already in so much debt,” said Odunkessenler. Planning for academic success is difficult in itself, and students stressed out over assignments, tests and other deadlines have to deal with the additional burden of ensuring their classes are paid for. Those who don’t meet SAP time frame standard requirements find themselves abruptly disqualified for aid with a notification in the mail. The notice itself does not explain what ‘maximum time frame’ means, but it does provide a checklist including all of the reasons a student can be denied aid under the policy. Some parents provide their income information and help their students fill out the complicated income and expense reports, along with other paperwork in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid available online. The site, however, doesn’t mention the federally mandated SAP policy, so parents may be unaware that students should plan to avoid violating the policy rules. Parents and students who map out an appropriate academic course towards a degree without clearly understanding
There is an SAP appeal process by which students can attempt to justify why they violated the maximum time frame policy. The form clearly explains all of the requirements and ramifications of appeals processing. Among them are: • • • •
05
Archaelogists uncover a long lost Civil War camp
Changing majors does not qualify as extenuating circumstances, due to standard being ‘quite generous in the time frame allowed to complete a degree.’ The SAP Appeal Board has 30 days to review completed forms. There is no guarantee the appeal will be approved. Students must be prepared to pay all tuition and fees through resources other than federal and state financial aid while their petition is being reviewed.
The form also states that there are submission deadlines due to the high volume of appeals received. The form is available at http://www.gsu.edu/images/financial_aid/SAP.pdf. The additional information link for filing an appeal is broken, providing only a ‘Page Not Found’ notice on the Georgia State website.
SAP may fail to coordinate both the academic and financial aid requirements into their plans. The SAP time frame requirement isn’t typically violated until students are closer to graduating, so they may become accustomed to filing a FAFSA annually, and receiving the aid before deadline each term before they are confronted with the maximum time frame standard. The university is required to inform students of its financial aid procedures, deadlines, and how and when qualified students will receive any financial aid, according to the FAFSA website. This requirement is fulfilled on the Georgia State website in the Financial Aid section under ‘Maintaining Your Aid’, but as to when and how students must be informed or alerted about the policy is not defined. Gabrielle Arrington, 20, is in her 4th year and recently changed her major from Political Science to Sociology. She doesn’t have to worry about the federal aid requirement because she still qualifies for HOPE, most of her credits apply to her new major, and she is well beneath the 180 credit maximum. She does, however, see the value in actively informing freshmen about all aspects of the SAP policy as part of an overall program of guidance on financial
aid planning. “I would have appreciated this knowledge as a freshman, but not just the [time frame standard]. I think [Georgia State] could tell freshmen how they can plan now to fund their education, and include information regarding loans and other options of financial aid,” said Arrington. “It would be good for freshmen to have more strategies for planning.” Arrington does not, however, feel it is right to point fingers at Georgia State for not being more active. “GSU may think that most students won’t get up to 180 credit hours, so they may think that they don’t have to promote that policy. I don’t think they’re doing it on purpose. I just think that financial planning in general is something that should be emphasized with freshmen,” she said. All three students believe that actively informing all incoming students, including transfers, may help them avoid SAP obstacles that could come up during their final semesters. More details on this and other parts of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy are available online at http://www.gsu.edu/ financialaid/maintaining_your_ aid.html.
Beau Torres Financial Aid at Georgia State comes at a limit - after 180 hours, students aren’t eligible for state or federal aid.
Georgia Southern University Camp Lawton was built in the closing months of the Civil War.
By MISHALL REHMAN Staff Writer On Aug. 18, archaeologists from Georgia Southern University announced their unearthing of the hidden and thought to be long-lost Confederate Camp Lawton. Camp Lawton, located in Magnolia State Park just north of Millen, Ga., had been hidden underground for nearly 150 years before work began to uncover it last December. Though the camp has been out of sight for a little over a century, its existence was known through historical documents such as a drawing of a map that was used by the team of Georgia Southern archaeologists to find the camp. The team, headed by Dr. Sue Moore, began surveying the park to find a possible camp location. They then came across a piece of earthwork as a clue. Soon after, the team began using various archaeological technologies to find the camp, such as metal detectors and ground penetrating radar (GPR). Kevin Chapman, the graduate supervisor of the project, was one of the first people to come across an artifact. “We were not expecting to find much but I came across [a] Union button then five minutes later a musket ball and then an 1824 large cent,” said Chapman. Among the items recovered was one of the stockade walls of the prison, along with the area thought to be where the prisoners were held. According to Moore, most of the artifacts were living debris such as coins, buttons, a tourniquet buckle and even a daguerreotype frame. In total, nearly 200 artifacts were found. The artifacts will be available for public viewing starting Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Georgia Southern Museum. The prison camp is thought to be so well preserved because of its rural location. In early 1936,
the camp’s area became Magnolia State Park, keeping it safe from development. Moore believes that the artifacts were not swept clean by souvenir collectors because they may have assumed there wasn’t much there since the camp was only occupied for six weeks. Camp Lawton was built in summer 1864 in an effort to relieve the overcrowded Andersonville Prison Camp, also located in Ga. Nearly 10,000 Union soldiers were kept at the camp. Though conditions were considered to be better than Andersonville, Camp Lawton still had its fair share of problems, including ration shortages and lack of medical attention. It is estimated that more than 700 soldiers died there. The camp was quickly abandoned, after being used for only six weeks, on Nov. 22 due to Sherman’s March to the Sea. Prisoners were moved to Savannah, Ga. Work at the Camp Lawton site is not done. Archaeologists are continuing to survey and work on the site to try to find the remaining stockade wall and other hidden areas. “We’ve only recovered a tiny tiny percentage and it will take years and years of work on the site,” said Moore. The discovery of this camp will give archaeologists a unique opportunity to learn more about Civil War prison camps and the lives of those imprisoned there. “It will give us a chance to start understanding what life was like for those who were interned in the South during the War. We can make this history come alive through the archeology,” said Moore. “I am humbled and honored to get to work at the site. It gets you very up close and personal with people who were there and may never have left. You think about that when you find artifacts like the tourniquet buckle or pipe,” she said.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Parker Petit (far right) speaks at the dedication of the Petit Science Center.
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NEWS By MIRANDA SAIN Staff Writer The name Parker H. Petit has been recently leaving its mark around campus. The name is on the new science building on the corner of Decatur Street and Piedmont Avenue and has regularly shown up on the Georgia State website. In March, Georgia State University dedicated its new stateof-the-art science center to Petit. Pete has been a loyal friend to Georgia State for many years. He is a champion of higher education. We are deeply grateful for his support, which will build upon our mission of creating a premier urban research university,” President Mark Becker said in a press release. The press release adds that the building was named in “recognition of his leadership gift to Georgia State University.” Petit served as chairman and CEO of Matria Healthcare until it was sold in May 2008 to Inverness Medical Innovations. Matria Healthcare was a subsidiary of Healthdyne, which Petit founded in 1970. Petit also served as chairman and CEO of Healthdyne after it became a publicly traded company in 1981. Petit earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and his Master of Science degree in engineering mechanics at Georgia Tech. He earned his master of business administration degree at Georgia State in 1973. Petit currently serves as chairman and CEO of MiMedx Group Inc. MiMedx Group Inc. is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of bio-material based products. For Georgia Tech, he personally funded a professorial chair for Engineering in Medicine and endowed the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. For Georgia State, he contributed substantially to the funding for the new science center that now bears his name. “I feel very grateful about what was made available to me, and I also feel strongly about giving back. I hope that facility is going to fill a very key role in Georgia State’s future,” said Petit. As reported in the Signal, Petit also recently donated $1.5 million to the Georgia State football program, specifically for the new football practice complex. It was the largest donation ever made to an athletic program at Georgia State. “However long I get to live, there won’t be a day that I won’t be personally, deeply in debt to Pete Petit,” said Coach Bill Curry. In honor of the donation, Petit will be performing the coin toss at the inaugural game on September 2nd at the Georgia Dome. Petit was inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia in 1994 and into the Georgia State Business School Hall of Fame in 2007. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Research Alliance which is chartered by the state of Georgia to “promote high technology and scientific development.”
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CRAIG ROBINSON
By NOËL HAHN Living Editor
Craig Robinson and his band the Nasty Delicious performed to a full house of Georgia State students this past Saturday. Robinson is a comedian and musician. He is known for his most recent roles in Hot Tub Time Machine and The Office. Robinson grew up in Chicago, where he earned a master’s in education at Saint Xavier University. After teaching music at an elementary school, he started doing stand-up. Since then, he has had several roles in films including Knocked Up, Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Pineapple Express. He performs comedy and music with his brother, Chris Robinson, in their band the Nasty Delicious. The Nasty Delicious’s music is influenced by jazz artists such as Miles Davis. The Signal and GSTV were given the opportunity to sit down and interview Robinson.
Beau Torres The Georgia Dome will be host to seven home games for the Panthers. The Athletics Department will be sponsoring tailgating before home games.
Tailgating, Panther style By NOËL HAHN Living Editor Grab your blue and white paraphernalia for the first ever football game for the Georgia State Panthers this Thursday. Georgia State Athletics will be holding a tailgating party for the first few games of the season. This tailgating, known as PantherZone, will be held in the orange lot of the Georgia Dome. Beginning three hours to kickoff, student shuttles will leave to take student to the Dome. These shuttles will be leaving from the Sports Arena and the Panthers Den Restaurant. Students can walk across the street to the Orange Lot from the FREE Shuttle drop at the Silver Lot and go directly to the Tailgate. There will be lots of free giveaways and the first 250 Students at the tailgate will receive a wrist band that grants them
access to the exclusive “Panthers Den,” the home of the “Blueligans” the new Student Spirit Group. D.J. Malik will be providing music and tons of games including a bean bag toss, virtual gaming, and air brush face and body painting to get everybody riled up for the game. At 5:30 there will be a wing eating contest. PantherZone is sponsored by Cooper Atlanta Transportation, the Rialto, and J.R. Crickets. “The new Panther Football team truly belongs to the students of Georgia State, and we want our students to experience GSU football to the fullest,” said Marketing assistant Kyle McKeon. “We encourage everyone to arrive early and kick off this historic day at the PantherZone presented by Cooper Atlanta Transportation. Remember to bring your valid Panther ID, jump on the FREE student shuttle to the Dome, and get ready for some footballl!”
Athletics and Housing have been working together for this year’s football home games. For the first game of the season, the Lofts will be going over together. This event before the game is called Panther Paint-down. Meet in the lobby of the Lofts, and at 4:15 the group will leave to head over to the Dome. Depending on the weather, walking or taking the shuttle will depend. While waiting in line face painting and stickers will be decorated to get students pumped up for the game. A prize will be handed out to the person with the most Panther spirit. “This is really our way of insuring that we are a part of history,” Lofts RA Kendra Kelley said. Check with other University Housing dorms to find out what they will be doing for game day.
Q: What inspired to name your band Nasty Delicious? A: It just came to me. They are so funky when they play, it’s just nasty. And at the same time, they are so sweet and delicious, so I put them together. Q: Because there are a lot of students here that want to go into the entertainment business, do you have any advice for those who want to reach out into comedy or acting? A: Go for it…Get out there. Take some classes, make some big mistakes. And figure out if it’s really what you want to do. I’m leery about giving advice or whatever. Some people in LA will talk like they really want to do this or that but you better be careful who you are around and listen to, cause this person might not be as serious about their craft as you are. Therefore, they might be working in an office later. So, I have no idea where that’s going, but there’s something in there. Q: You incorporate music into your comedy. What made you choose this career? A: Comedy chose me. I grew up very silly all the time. Even now people are like ‘Can’t you just be serious?’ So, when I was in college I realized the people I could touch. Comedians seemed like superheroes and such. But I saw some people do some stuff, some of the guys I knew and I was just like wow. I fell in love with it. Q: Is there a favorite thing you’ve done in your career so far? A: They’re all special, you know. Hot Tub, that was a real special thing. Just the title alone is something. It’s hard to tell when you are making a movie exactly what it’s going to be. If we ever got too heavy on set we would just remember that we were making a film called Hot Tub Time Machine. Q: Are there any comedians you are inspired by? A: Oh God, so many. Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Steven Wright. It’s a lot of different personalities I have stolen from. Q: Do you have any plans for the near future? A: I just signed on to make a movie called We the Peoples. Did a Chevy commercial and a Nike commercial. Also, I will continue with The Office. Things are pretty sweet; I’m ending my year nicely.
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LIVING
Get to know your letters: a guide to sorority life By NOËL HAHN Living Editor and ANNABELLA JEAN-LAURENT Staff Writer
Pull out the Greek letters and colors because sorority recruitment week is coming up. This event, going from Sept. 9-12, will include the participation of several of Georgia State’s 13 sororities. Here are six out of the 13—check back next week for the other seven, and in future weeks for more on fraternity life. Delta Phi Lambda Delta Phi Lambda sorority, an Asian-American sorority at Georgia State, is a close-knit sisterhood that strives to enrich the lives of one another and their community. A fairly new organization, Delta Phi Lambda was established in 1998 at The University of Georgia under the direction of two of its five founding members, Anh Noc Nyugen and Teresa Sung. The girls found it difficult to relate culturally to other students and began seeking out other interest-minded students who desired a positive and uplifting union to join. However, lacking in membership numbers caused the chapter to later become inactive. In 2004, Georgia State sophomore Jennifer Chow began noticing the same lack of cultural awareness and diversity on campus among Asian students; after retrieving information on the Delta Phi Lambda chapter, she sought the advice of Njuyen on reviving the organization. Chow later found other interested girls- Lauren Soriano and Lena Chen Quach-and the three ladies began promoting Delta Phi Lambda all over campus. Delta Phi Lambda’s mission is to create a unified organization that promotes not just diversity and sisterhood, but aims to debunk any stereotypes people may have towards Asian Americans. The sisters believe that giving back reminds them to always be thankful for their good fortunes and in turn to never underestimate the power of giving. While Delta Phi Lambda is Asian-interest organization, any student is welcome to join their union. In fact, the sisters believe in the importance of diversity and believe that in order to learn and appreciate the uniqueness in others, we must ‘bridge the gap between all minority groups.’ Any student who would like more information on Delta Phi Lambda here at Georgia State, please visit: http://www.deltaphilambda.org/.
Gamma Sigma Sigma Gamma Sigma Sigma National Sorority is a nationwide volunteer service sorority that began in New York in 1952. Its purpose is to implement a spirit of servitude among its members and to develop strong multicultural bonds with other students. In 2007, the organization’s national service hours reached 2,100. With more than 70 chapters and colonies nationwide, Gamma Sigma Sigma averages 35 members per chapter and carries their mission, ‘a lifelong commitment to service and diversity, with dedication.’ This fiftieth year ‘Unity in Service’ tradition propels Gamma Sigma Sigma to become dedicated in helping others unify for a common cause and establish lifelong bonds. What is most unique about this sorority in servitude is that current members of the organization do not choose future members. Instead, interested persons may decide for themselves if it is the right organization for them. The only requirements for joining are that a student has completed at least 15 credit hours, has a strong interest in community service, is in good university standing and has completed a membership intake process. For more information on Gamma Sigma Sigma, please write to gsu_gammasig@gsu.edu.
Header photo by Meg Buscema. All other photos provided by the individual organizations.
LIVING
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest Greek-letter black sorority. It was founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. by nine women. It is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Alpha Kappa Alpha creator Ethel Hedgeman Lyle viewed the sorority “as an instrument for enriching the social and intellectual aspects of college life by providing mental stimulation through interaction with friends and associates,” according to the Alpha Kappa Alpha website. With over 13,000 women around the world and 850 chapters in America, Alpha Kappa Alpha promotes sisterhood. The official colors are salmon pink and apple green and the official mascot is the ivy leaf. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s purpose is to promote sisterhood, to be a service to the community and to promote high scholarly and ethical standards. Requests for comment from members were declined. For more information on the Georgia State Eta Mu Chapter, visit http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwaka/home. htm.
Delta Zeta Delta Zeta, a Panhellenic Sorority at Georgia State, is a sisterhood that promotes enrichment. It was founded in 1902 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio by six women. The Georgia State chapter was founded in 1955. The colors are pink and green, their mascot is the turtle and their motto is to enrich. “We enrich not only ourselves but that of the community,” Delta Zeta President Elyssa Jacob said. Delta Zeta’s national philanthropy supports the research for the speech and hearing impaired. The Georgia State chapter’s philanthropy is ovarian cancer. Delta Zeta works with several organizations, including The House Ear Institute and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Both these foundations raise money and do research to help the hearing impaired. The Georgia State chapter of Delta Zeta has many principles to live by. These principles include uniting its members in the bonds of sincere and lasting friendship, stimulating one another in the pursuit of knowledge, promoting the moral and social culture of its members and developing guidance and unity of action, objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort according to the Delta Zeta website. “We want the girls to choice the sorority they feel the most comfortable with. I knew Delta Zeta was where I belonged. Being Greek makes the campus smaller and gets you out there,” Jacob said. Along with the other Panhellenic Sororities, Delta Zeta will be participating in Recruitment Week. House tours will be held Sept 2nd and 7th from 12-1 p.m. Anyone interested in joining Delta Zeta or any of the other Panhellenic sororities must sign up by Sept. 8 at gsupanhellenic.org. For more information on the Georgia State Delta Zeta Chapter, visit http://www.deltazetagsu.com/.
Alpha Xi Delta The Delta Xi Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority was founded in 1963 at Georgia State University. The motto is “Realize your potential.” Alpha Xi Delta was founded nationally in 1893 by ten young women at Lombard College in Galesburg, Ill. These women built the sorority on several principles that are still being followed today, including sisterhood, leadership, knowledge and service to the community. Alpha Xi Delta’s national philanthropy is “Autism Speaks.” Autism rates are ever-growing, with 1 in 100 children being diagnosed, and 1 in 70 boys, according to Membership VP Ashley Wampler. Autism is one of the least funded diseases yet one of the most prevalent. Alpha Xi works with various autism agencies, including the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta. The chapter colors include light and dark blue and gold and their mascot is BetXi Bear, adopted in 1989. “Alpha Xi Delta has been a home away from home. I can honestly say that joining was the best decision I have made in my college career. My sisters are the most genuine and loving people I’ve even met. They have always been there for me,” Wampler said. Recruitment starts with house tours. These house tours will be held on Sept. 2nd and 7th from 12–1 p.m. All five Panhellenic chapters will be shown and the tours will be around twenty minutes. To participate in these house tours, registration is required through the Georgia State Panhellenic website. Anyone interested in joining Alpha Xi Delta or any of the other Panhellenic sororities must sign up by Sept. 8 at gsupanhellenic.org. For more information on the Georgia State Delta Xi Chapter, check out http://gsu.alphaxidelta.org/.
Delta Sigma Theta The Zeta Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Georgia State is a volunteer-oriented sisterhood that was founded at Georgia State in 1969. It is the first black Greek sorority and second black Greek letter organization on campus. As part of the Panhellenic Council, Delta Sigma Theta does not participate in activities with other fraternities and sororities, including Recruitment Week. “Because we are a member of the Council, we won’t be participating in Recruitment Week with the NIC fraternities and PC sororities,” said chapter president Kortney Easterly. Delta Sigma Theta was founded at Howard University in 1913. It is an organization that promotes academic excellence while devoting time to those in need. One of its first endeavors was that same year, when the organization took part in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, D.C. With over 900 chapters worldwide, Delta Sigma Theta’s goal is to provide necessary support and assistance to the community through special programs. Thus, they have developed what they call the Five Point Pragmatic Trust, which includes educational and economic development, political and international involvement and physical and mental health. “This semester [we have] a number of programs, events, community service initiatives and fundraises planned.” Easterly explained. “And we base our programs on these five points.” For more information on Delta Sigma Theta, please contact President Kortney Easterly at zetaphi1969@ gmail.com.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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LIVING
Georgia State law professor reviews KNOW A GROUP case that hits close to home with Angel R. White By SYEDA HIRA MAHMOOD Perspectives Editor Arnold Friedman was a high school physics teacher at Bayside High School in Long Island, New York. He taught at Bayside High for more than 20 years. He was beloved by many of his students and colleagues; they even threw Friedman a retirement party, recalling him as “unforgettable.” Lester Speiser, who was principal during the time of Friedman’s teaching career, said that the retirement party was a “very emotional scene…There was just an outpouring of warmth and regard and respect that those of us who are teachers in the school system recognize as being quite rare.” In 1987, Arnold Friedman and his son, Jesse, were convicted of child molestation. A federal sting operation unfolded the truth about Friedman’s secret life after the FBI learned that Friedman was receiving child pornography magazines from the Netherlands by mail. Friedman also taught computer classes to several children in the basement of his home after his retirement. Further police investigation and a series of interviews with the abused children led to the arrest of Arnold and Jesse Friedman. Perry Binder, associate professor for legal studies at the Georgia State College of Law, knew Friedman personally and had seen blogs about Friedman’s case for the Huffington Post. Binder attended Bayside High School and recalls Friedman as being quirky and a good teacher. Binder also writes in his own
First-year students stand out with Alpha Lambda Delta By ANGEL R. WHITE Staff Writer
George Argerolos Arnold Friedman and his son Jesse, being arrested for child molestation in 1987.
book “Unlocking Your Rubber Room” his feelings of confusion about Friedman. As Binder states in his Huffington Post article, “He was a funny, inspirational, awardwinning teacher whose teaching techniques I model in my college classroom.” Binder explains the constant mental battle between seeing Friedman as a fine educator and learning of Friedman’s horrifying past. Arnold Friedman died in prison and Jesse Friedman was let on parole in 2001 as a registered sex offender for life. In his Huffington Post article, Binder explains Jesse Friedman’s fate. On August 16th, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the second circuit found “a reasonable likelihood that
Jesse Friedman was wrongfully convicted,” and now the district attorney’s office may reopen Jesse Friedman’s case and examine the evidence against him. Binder goes even further in his article, explaining the imperfections of the court systems that need to be reconstructed to combat the predictability in law. Jesse Friedman’s innocence has not yet been validated, and Binder believes that “he was pressured into accepting a plea deal and his guilt cannot be proven ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Perry Binder is a regular contributor for the college section of the Huffington Post. The full Huffington Post article can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost. com/perry-binder.
Thinking about a career in Physical Therapy? Come to the School of Health Professions Division of Physical Therapy Open House for the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree September 15, 2010 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Location to be announced l l l l
Meet the faculty and current DPT students Ask questions about the program Get detailed application information Meet academic advisors
RSVP by September 8, 2010 Call (404) 413-1225 GA STATE Signal 2010.indd 1
College of Health and Human Sciences 8/23/2010 10:28:53 AM
College is often seen as the time to meet new people, discover the “true you” and, seemingly most importantly, party like never before. While the social development gained during college is important, the academic effort put forth is just as vital to a student’s success. Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) is a national honor society at Georgia State that believes in the importance of spotlighting their members’ social and academic achievements in college and beyond. Grace Lee, current chapter president, said, “[Alpha Lambda Delta] helps promote academic excellence to any freshman that maintains a 3.5 GPA after their first year in college. It’s a great opportunity to meet other students and network with upperclassmen,” said Grace Lee, current chapter president. Networking is imperative and easily done through the lifetime membership received when a student is inducted. The ALD database is continually expanding, with more than 250 chapters nationwide. This organization is also a résumé booster because of its affiliation with the Association of College Honor Societies. ALD combines the importance of social and academic development through local and national events. Every year, ALD hosts their Annual National Leadership Workshop where students are groomed to become student leaders in their chapter, communities and universities. There are also student positions available on the national council as well as community service and campus programming. “We hope to provide events like workshops, community service projects and social activities throughout the year, so students can feel better connected to the GSU community,” Lee said. In order to receive an invite, students are required to be
Angel R. White
registered full-time, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, have a 3.5 or higher GPA and in the top 20 percent of their first year or first term class. Once membership dues are paid, students can access the many benefits of the organization, like receiving a membership pin and certificate, workshops and potential scholarships. Annually, ALD offers more than $140,000 in educational funds to its qualified members. Scholarship opportunities include the James G. Stemler award, giving winners $1,000 toward a study abroad program, and the Jo Anne J. Trow award ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. The latter scholarship this year has increased its awards and now offers ten $3,000 scholarships and 25 $1,000 scholarships. All scholarships are awarded to recipients based on merit and a vigorous selection process. When asked about the future plans for ALD and its members, Lee said “All our events are being planned for a great school year, and with the increasing academic standards of our incoming freshmen class at GSU, ALD is excited to welcome and recruit all potential members of the class of 2014.” For more information on Alpha Lambda Delta, visit www. nationalald.org. If interested in joining the Georgia State Chapter, please email gsu. alphalambdadelta@gmail.com or Grace Lee at glee15@student.gsu. edu.
SPORTS
Sports Editor Kirkland Carter
signalsports@langate.gsu.edu
w w w . g s u s i g n a l . c o m / s p o r t s
Former Panther Bobby Bennett named Director of Baseball Operations By SONYA WASHINGTON Staff Writer Georgia State baseball head coach Greg Frady has announced that Bobby Bennett, a former Georgia State baseball player, has been hired as Director of Baseball Operations. “Jobs like this one are only worth doing because you love them,” Frady said. “Passion is the only thing that makes it possible to exert the amount of time and effort it takes to get the job done.” The former pitcher graduated from Georgia State in 2008 with a degree in business and a focus on real estate. Bennett set several records in his time as a Panther, including 81 mound appearances, according to www. georgiastatesports.com. Bennett has been busy since graduation, as he has taken on the role of commissioner for the Sunbelt Baseball League, a job which allows Bennett to oversee several areas of administrative planning, including budgeting and recruiting. As director of baseball operations at Georgia State, Bennett’s main responsibilities will include providing food and lodging for players during events, arranging travel, providing equipment, keeping track of the team’s budget and game day operations. The Director of Operations also works closely with alumni. Bennett’s colleagues, including
Frady, praise Bennett for being hardworking and enthusiastic. Bennett will bring a great deal of knowledge about baseball and student-athletes to the job. Bennett is eager to work behind the scenes as a Panther. “It seemed natural because of how much I loved playing ball here and how much I love the team,” Bennett said. Bennett said his main career goals are to stay involved with student athletics and to one day own his own franchise. For now Bennett said his focus is simply on providing the players with everything they need to be successful. “I hope the team makes [the] regional again and that they can become a top 25 team,” Bennett said. “I bring a keen sense of understanding about the hard work and dedication that it takes to be a student athlete at Georgia State and also of the pressure that it can place on a student.” Bennett advises Georgia State students who are interested in pursuing careers similar to his to study business and hone their skills in management. Bennett is thrilled about the new opportunity, but he is quick to tell how much he enjoyed competing on the field. “The adrenaline rush that competition gives you, it’s unlike anything, except maybe skydiving,” Bennett said.
Stephen Jones Photography Bobby Bennett owns the Panther record for 81 mound appearances.
Christine Vineyard Erinique Owens thwarts an attack from Mercer.
Women’s soccer scores late in double overtime triumph
By WILL HOLLAND Staff Writer In another heart-stopping finish, the Georgia State women’s soccer team stole a victory late in double overtime against in-state rival Mercer in Panthersville on a balmy Sunday afternoon. A mirror image of the Panthers last game against Jacksonville State, the team put in a gritty, hardworking performance to keep Mercer out of their goal until Sarah Bennett found a spectacular shot in dramatic fashion to keep Georgia State undefeated for the season. Bennett put away the chance in the 106th minute after the best piece of play from the Panthers all game. The defense played a ball into the right corner to find Jewel Evans on a long diagonal run late in overtime. With her body she shielded the ball well from her defender and allowed support to arrive in the form of Jocelyn Baker. Baker beat one defender and sent a powerful in-swinging cross into the box that was controlled nicely by Apryl Goodwin and touched to Sarah Bennett who had made a 30 yard run from a deeplying midfield position. Bennett took one touch to set up a half-volley on her right foot that she drilled into the bottomright corner of the net giving the Mercer goalkeeper no chance to stop it. The five-pass sequence represented the best passage of play for the Panthers all day and they were rewarded for their unwavering commitment. It was a beautiful team goal that involved each of the Panther’s stand-outs: Apryl Goodwin, Sarah Bennett, Jewel Evans, and Jocelyn Baker. Erinique Owens also contributed a herculean display in the midfield, winning challenge after challenge
and stymieing many of Mercer’s dangerous attacks. Coach Domenic Martelli, however, was quick to give credit to his entire team for another neversay-die effort following a grueling win against Jacksonville State. “You can single out all 12, 13, 14 girls who played...When you look at each individual piece, our focus today was what can they influence on the game, individually who can influence a certain part of the game or what can you do to influence the game and make a footprint. I have to say every single player that stepped on the field today for Georgia State, all of them, put some kind of an imprint, and a footprint, and influenced the game in our favor and that’s why we won 1-0 in overtime.” He did reserve some praise for Jewel Evans, Jocelyn Baker, Enrinique Owens, and the goalscorer Sarah Bennett. “Jewel’s speed is very noticeable, you look at everything Jocelyn has done, I think Erinique came out and had a great game and helped us in certain spots.” He was also impressed with back-to-back more than 100 minute defensive performances. “You’ve got to give credit to Lani Huntley, who has a broken finger, a hurt knee, Kaila Mueke covering the best player that I think we’ll play in non-conference and then of course Sarah Bennett with the beautiful finish.” “We talked about it at the end of the game, right before the second overtime – she had a couple of good shots but was just a little bit over zealous on them, and she took a second, took a more focused approach and struck it well and – boom – it was a goal.” Bennett took 3 shots, putting 2 on target, including the gamewinner.
Georgia State was fortunate to come away with the win as Mercer was in the ascendency for the majority of the 2nd half and overtime. The Panthers came out strong to start the game with Kaila Mueke slipping Jewel Evans in on goal who beat the keeper but also beat the post. Evans, who scored the game winner in the Panthers’ previous match against Jacksonville State, was active early. In the 5th minute she broke down the right channel, earning Georgia State their only first-half corner. A few dangerous balls were played in by Jocelyn Baker in the 12th minute, then Sarah Bennett in the 19th minute, Lani Huntley in the 26th, and Bri Cagle in the 35th minute, but Georgia State couldn’t find the handle on the ball in Mercer’s 18-yard box. Georgia State would have some break away attempts in the 2nd half orchestrated by Apryl Goodwin and Jewel Evans, but by the end of the 1st half Mercer had asserted their dominance and continued into overtime. Hard working efforts in the midfield by Erinique Owens and Kaila Mueke kept Mercer at bay during a second half 7-shot onslaught led by Mercer’s Nadja Kolliesuah, Olivia Tucker, and Casey Barrett. Both Heidi Blankenship in the 1st half and Kellianne Collins in the 2nd had flawless performances between the sticks. They never really looked troubled throughout the match. Collins had some especially clutch saves toward the end of the 2nd half in regulation, keeping the Panthers alive for overtime. The Panthers look to keep their undefeated record intact as they face Statesboro rival Georgia Southern away on Friday, Sept. 3rd.
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SPORTS
Volleyball comes back to win Invitational By JUDY KIM Staff Writer The Georgia State volleyball team starts the season strong (3-0), after coming back to defeat Wright State (3-2) to win the Georgia State Invitational Saturday, August 28th. With first year Head Coach Tami Audia directing the team, the Panthers came to compete, as all three games were very exciting. There were several great rallies in the first match against Morehead State. Senior Audrey Cantrell played with incredible athleticism as she had 10 digs in the first round of the game against Morehead State, with the Panthers winning the round 25 to 23. In the second round the away team started hitting several short balls. At one point, the Panthers were behind 10 points, with the score at 1-11. Few easy points were lost due to failed attacks or the ball having gone under the net, leaving the Panthers down 15-25 in the second round. Georgia State lost the third round as well 19 to 25. With determination and vigor, the Panthers mounted a comeback with absolute tenacity. Junior Vineece Verdun was leading the way with the highest percentage of attacks at .368. Senior Ashley Jones was also assisting the
team with ferocious attacks, contributing to the scoring. Senior Rachel Boryc was also making great plays by having impeccable timing when it came to blocking, even managing to get down fast enough for a dropped ball at the net. The Panthers went up against some tough defense with Morehead State, who would also successfully block balls while making impressive digs against the powerful Panther offense. But it wasn’t enough for Morehead State, as Georgia State won the fourth round by two points. Just as Morehead State reached the 14th point in the fifth round, the Panthers sided out and ended the night with an impressive kill. Georgia State won 16-14, finalizing the first match of the season against Morehead State. At the game against the University of North Florida, the Panthers won an easy match with three wins to one loss. The ending scores were, in order, 25-21, 25-11, and 1925 and 25-23, according to www. georgiastatesports.com. Things began to look grim for the Panthers when they played the Wright State Raiders Saturday. Georgia State had lost the momentum from the last two wins, falling behind quickly with the loss of the first two rounds. The Panthers were not to be denied, however, and rallied to win the next three matches in a row,
claiming the Georgia State Invitational. The scores were 22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-19 and 15-10, according to www.georgiastatesports.com. “We know now that we can fight back, Junior Chelsea Perry told www.georgiastatesports.com. “We know that we’re fighters, and we know that no matter what the score is, we’re not gonna give up.” The top three players to note throughout the tournament had to have been middle hitter Vineece Verdun, defensive specialist and team captain Audrey Cantrell, and freshman Emily Averbeck, who made her debut as a Panther. Verdun is known for earning all-tournament honors, and throughout the Georgia State Invitational, no one can question that fact as her skills and athleticism were showcased in every play. For her efforts, Verdun was awarded MVP for the Georgia State Invitational. Cantrell currently holds six Georgia State records as fourth in all-time digs with 1173, first (531) and seventh (417) with most digs per season, first in all-time digs per set and first and fourth in digs per set in a season. Cantrell led the team’s defense in the Georgia State Invitational with the most digs in each game. Averbeck did extremely well in her matches at Georgia State.
Judy Kim Vineece Verdun (left) and Chelsea Perry await a serve.
The five-foot-three-inch player was very noticeable when standing amongst her teammates, and she was even more noticeable on the court with her digs and serving power.
The Georgia State Volleyball team will now travel to Fullerton, Ca. this coming weekend on Sept. 3rd and 4th at the Titan Classic. They will face off against Colorado, Cal State-Fullerton and Montana.
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SPORTS
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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Naysayers, friend motivate Matthews By ZAKKIYAH ANDERSON Staff Writer At first glance, Demarius Matthews isn’t what you might think. Along with an assortment of tattoos, Matthews carries around an intimidating blank stare, one that could easily be taken as “Back off.” Matthews, or “D,” as his friends call him, is quick to point out that his stare belies his true nature. “People always think that I’m a mean guy, [but] I like meeting new people, making new friends,” Matthews said. “I want people to know that I’m not a mean guy.” As a freshman at Georgia State, Matthews is about to be an integral part of the biggest thing that has ever happened at the school: the inaugural football season. But Matthews isn’t just about the gridiron. Behind the facemask is a young man with an intriguing story to tell. Matthews was raised just down the street in Adamsville, Ga. As a child, Matthews was a bit of a troublemaker. In an effort to focus some of his energy into something positive, his aunt suggested putting him into a football program. Starting at around age 6, Matthews began playing football for recreational teams in Forest Park, just a few miles south of Georgia State’s campus. Matthews discovered that he’s a natural athlete, excelling at baseball and track as well But it wasn’t until he arrived at Mceachern High School in Cobb County that Matthews decided he wanted to focus his efforts on football, although he continued to run track in the off-season to stay in shape. People have reasons for why they love what they do. For Matthews, it’s the contact that
drives him. “I guess it’s because we get to hit people and not get in trouble for it,” Matthews said. Matthews speed had him playing running back until his tenth-grade year, when McEachern coaches opted to use his speed and athleticism at a completely different position: cornerback. “Defense is where it’s at,” Matthews said. Two of Matthews’ favorite players are James Davis of the Cleveland Browns and the Boffalo Bills’ standout CJ Spiller. Another one of his idols is “Neon” Deion Sanders, a big part of why Matthews would like to go on and play for the Dallas Cowboys one day. Matthews does not forsake his local team, however, and is quick to profess his love for the Atlanta Falcons. “I’m a dirty bird fan,” Matthews said. “I’ve been down since Jamal Anderson.” Like many football players his age, or football players in general, Matthews has several tattoos. In total, the count is at nine, and he’s not done yet. On his left arm you’ll find one to honor his grandmother, who is a survivor of breast cancer. On his right arm above his elbow is a tribute to his mother and right above that, there is a tribute to his best friend, Rajaan Bennett. Matthews met Bennett in eighth grade at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, of course, through football. But it wasn’t until one day after a track meet in ninth grade that they became close friends. One day at Matthews’ friend’s Marcus’s house, Matthews and Bennett discovered that they had a lot in common, including the fact that Bennett’s father once worked for Matthews’ uncle. From that point on, the three were inseparable.
“We could sit in a room and look at each other without saying anything and know exactly we’re talking about, and [burst] out laughing,” Matthews said. “We just had that connection.” “Rajaan was the [most] mature out of all of us, like if Marcus and I wanted to do something stupid, he would tell us no,” Matthews said. “He was like the person watching over [us].” On Feb. 18, 2010, Matthew’s close time with Bennett would come to a devastating halt. That Thursday morning around 2:30, Bennett’s mother’s boyfriend, Clifton Steger, shot and killed Rajaan before taking his own life after police had already arrived on the scene. Just days before, Bennett signed to Vanderbilt at the same signing party with his teammate and best friend Matthews. “We were just talking about [the day before] how people die for stupid reasons, for no reason at all…as far as drugs, or someone being jealous.” The morning after that conversation around 6, Matthews found out that his best friend had died. One of Matthews’ coaches, Coach Tarkley, called him, clearly in distress, saying, “Tell me it ain’t true “D”, tell me it ain’t true.” After asking what the coach was talking about, Tarkley finally responded, “Rajaan died.” Matthews was immediately in denial, even after a phone call from another teammate, telling the friend, “He’s probably at his house chilling.” The tragedy still not registering, Matthews even attempted to call Bennett on his cell phone, but it wasn’t until he received a phone call from Kyle Hockman, the head coach at Mceachern, that Matthews realized his best friend was gone. “After that point I couldn’t
Georgia State Sports Communications Matthews at the Georgia State football practice facility.
deny it [anymore],” Matthews said. “I just started crying.” Matthews was heartbroken after the passing of his close friend, missing school for almost a week, and he wasted no time getting the tattoo, going the day after the shooting. But Matthews doesn’t let Bennett’s death bring him down. In fact, he says he uses him as “motivation.” “I know if he was here he wouldn’t let me quit on a play, he wouldn’t let me stop,” Matthews said. “I’m doing all this for him, everything he couldn’t accomplish, I’m going to do for him. I made a
promise to myself that I’m gonna look after his [mother], too. I gotta make sure she’s straight. I’m [going] to make it.’ Matthews will be taking the field with a lot to prove, to himself and to his friend Rajaan. But he will also use the naysayers as motivation. “We’re so ready…we let our haters be our motivators,” Matthews said. “We’re taking the field to prove all the doubters wrong. In football, you never know what could happen between those two white lines.”
Baldwin-Tener brings in former assistant coaches for women’s basketball By JENALYN WRIGHT Staff Writer First-year head coach of Georgia State women’s basketball, Sharon Baldwin-Tener, hired Adrienne Shular and Jocelyn Wyatt to assist with coaching the Panthers for the 2010-2011 season. Both Shular and Wyatt worked under Baldwin-Tener at East Carolina, collectively bringing a proven staff to Georgia State. The three have known each other for years, crossing paths early in their collegiate women’s basketball careers. The paths would all ultimately lead to Atlanta, Ga., and the three of them face a new challenge in leading the Panthers. Baldwin-Tener and Shular played basketball for the University of Georgia together during Baldwin-Tener’s last two seasons. After graduating, Shular spent a summer playing in the WNBA for the Washington Mystics. Shular would later become the head coach of women’s basketball
at Appalacian State University, where she coached Wyatt. After graduating from Appalachian State University, Wyatt went on to the University of Georgia as a graduate student. Balwin-Tener also eventually became an assistant coach at the University or Georgia as a graduate student. Shular and Wyatt have spent the last two years at East Carolina, and the pair will now prepare for the upcoming 2010-2011 season with the Panthers. Shular is quick to point out the importance of chemistry within the coaching staff. “Having the connection is a big positive,” Shular said. “Jocelyn played for me, [and] coach [Baldwin-Tener] and I played together.” “[They’re] quality people,” Shular said. “[They’re] very professional, goal-oriented and we all share that love of basketball.” Baldwin-Tener describes
Shular as a “well -experienced, orgainized, no nonsense, take care of business,” kind of person, while Wyatt is personable and does a great job relating to the players. Wyatt, being the youngest of the three, tries to provide an example whenever the players are confused about certain plays and drills. “She’s the one that usually demonstrates the play exactly,” Shular said. “In a way I’m still coaching her.” Wyatt knows her role, and is thankful for the experience that Shular provides. “I bring the energy, and I’m very passionate about what I do,” Wyatt said. “Shular keeps everything in line.” Baldwin-Tener, with the help of Shular, Wyatt and Jonathon Barbaree, the only holdover from the previous staff, plan on playing in a more up-tempo style with fast breaks, press and runs.
Georgia State Sports Communications Baldwin-Tener’s new hires worked under her at East Carolina.
Baldwin-Tener is in the process of training the athletes for this style of play. “They’re going to be in the best shapes of their lives,” BaldwinTener said. Shular is confident in the new strategy for the Panthers as uptempo has always been her style.
“Everything we’re doing: conditioning, practicing and weight lifting, is geared towards that,” Shular said. Wyatt was quick to add the maxim that the team will live by. “Training is hard, but losing is worse,” Wyatt said.
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Football
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Cont. from page 01
department, especially Miller and Ford Williams, the Associate Director of Development. Under the supervision of Todd Reeser, the Senior Athletic Director of Development, Miller and Williams organized an outbound call center where Georgia State interns reached out to over a thousand alumni and former donors every day. “We started with a base of about hundred basketball season ticket holders,” said Miller with a grin on his face. Miller has a lot to smile about these days, as Georgia State has sold over 4,200 football season tickets. In total, over 8,000 tickets have been sold for the inaugural game, and that figure does not include the roughly 1,000 complimentary tickets reserved for the athletics staff and family members of the players and the band. The last, and perhaps the biggest, piece of the attendance puzzle are the students, who will be provided free shuttle services three hours before the game at the corner of Collins St. and Decatur St., as well as outside of the Panther’s Den on Piedmont Rd. As for the players, the reality may not fully sink in until they run out of the tunnel into the Georgia Dome. “Every night, I actually have dreams about it,” said Eduardo Curry, the first ever high school player to commit to the Georgia
SPORTS
ATHLETIC CALENDAR August 31-September 7
DATE Wednesday
EVENT Men’s Soccer @ Gardner Webb
SEPT. 1
Boiling Springs, NC 4:00 p.m.
Thursday
Football vs. Shorter
SEPT. 2
Georgia Dome 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Women’s Soccer @ Georgia Southern
SEPT. 3
Statesboro, GA 4:00 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Colorado Fullerton, CA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
SEPT. 4
Women’s Cross-Country @ Struts JSU Opener Oxford, AL 10:00 a.m.
Volleyball @ California State, Fullerton Fullerton, CA 4:30 p.m.
Men’s Soccer vs. USC-Upstate Panthersville 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cheryl Levick (center) was hired in March 2009 to replace Mary McElroy.
State football program. Curry, no relation to Bill Curry, has been waiting two years for this moment, and to him and his teammates, this is more than a game. “Sept. 2nd, Georgia State the movement. We’re taking off,” running back Travis Evans said during the Georgia State University
Photo Day. Coach Curry has a lot of favorite quotes he says to his players, but when the countdown clock finally strikes zero, perhaps none will be as appropriate as the words uttered by Curry’s former teammate, the NFL Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas, before each game: “Talk’s cheap. Let’s go play.”
Volleyball vs. Montana Fullerton, CA 8:00 p.m.
Sunday
Women’s Soccer vs. Georgia
SEPT. 5
Panthersville 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday
Women’s Soccer vs. Alabama A&M
SEPT. 7
Panthersville 6:00 p.m.
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gsubookstore.com
GSU Bookstore
University Bookstore Building 570_RATFBTS10
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment Editor Jhoni Jackson
signalentertainment@gmail.com
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
Annual book festival unites readers and authors By ANNABELLA JEAN-LAURENT Staff Writer
Judy Kim Steven Carse, pictured above, is finding success as the King of Pops.
King of tasty treats pops up in Woodruff Park By JUDY KIM Staff Writer If you walk through Woodruff Park to class, you might’ve noticed it already—an umbrella bearing every color under the sun shading an ice cream cart with orange wheels. On the cart’s side, there’s an image of an orange popsicle wearing a crown. The guy standing beside it selling tasty, handmade popsicles is Steven Carse. The youngest out of three brothers, Carse started the King of Pops around mid-March of this year. The idea came while traveling around Mexico and Central America during a threeyear brainstorming session, “I used to be at AIG working as a product analyst until I got laid off last December,” Carse said. “So the timing worked out perfectly.” Almost immediately after losing his job, Carse’s work was well underway. He bought materials to construct his business from scratch, and began to experiment with different flavors. Now, a normal day for Carse begins at 7 a.m. with ingredientsshopping, then pops-making, then he freezes the pops until 3 p.m. For the remainder, he sells his handcrafted fare somewhere (it depends on the day) until around 8 p.m. Despite his long days, the University of Georgia graduate still claims that he is much happier
doing what he is doing now. Originally, Carse started selling at the corner of North and North Highland avenues in the Buddy’s gas station lot. Though both he and his brother Nick Carse, who also works with Steven, like the idea of having ice cream carts, they hope to establish a store sometime next year. Lucky for us Georgia State students. in the meantime, the Carse brothers have opened up a new cart location near Aderhold. Many have already caught onto the hype—a steady stream of excited customers at the new spot is already commonplace. Though the menu changes every single day, flavors like Banana Puddin’, Blackberry Mojito and Chocolate Sea Salt tend to be the most popular flavors with King of Pops fans. “We always make sure to have chocolate though,” Carse assured. “If people come by and ask for chocolate, they usually don’t want anything else.” But there’s much more to choose from than just chocolate— the King of Pops’ rotating menu includes more than 150 unique, signature flavors. And though the price may be a bit higher compared to manufactured pops ($2.50 each), your extra buck guarantees you the freshest ingredients from local farmers markets. Carse makes all of his fruit popsicles with organic
fruits, and the cream-based popsicles contain organic whole milk from a local organic dairy where cows are grass-fed. The King of Pops operates in
Woodruff Park between 11:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. throughout the week. For more chances to try the King of Pops, see http://www.kingofpops. net.
Review of August 26th’s Menu Banana Puddin’: It’s as sweet as it sounds, with real banana chunks thrown in the mix. And do I taste graham crackers? I believe I do! Yum. I would totally recommend this to those who love pastries and have that sugary kind of sweet tooth. Arnold Palmer: Have you ever had the drink itself? It’s sweet tea and lemonade shaken together, and would this popsicle have been melted down into a cup, it would’ve tasted just as delightful with your afternoon turkey sandwich meal. It tastes just like the Southern beverage with a kick of tart. Great for a hot summer afternoon. Pear Honey: Don’t let its brown color fool you—it’s quite delicious. The taste is definitely something you can’t find in Publix or Kroger. It tastes like a pear, but with a strange twist at the end—hints of honey dispersed all about. Fancy. Strawberry Banana: Like its smoothie brother, this pop tastes exactly like its name but looks tastier, with a bright red color and banana bits all over. Definitely a safe but delicious choice for the folks who don’t like exotic flavors like Mango Habanero or Grapefruit Hibiscus. Chocolate Sea Salt: I was weary with this particular flavor. One—I don’t like chocolate. And two—sea salt? Yikes. But I had to give it a try; all the chocolate-flavor-loving people have been raving about it. And with good reason, too. It turns out that this thing is pretty tasty. The context is extremely soft, velvety and teeth-friendly, and the added salt reminds one of, as Carse puts it, “a chocolate-covered pretzel.”
Since its birth in 2006, the Decatur Book Festival has grown from just an idea into to the largest independent book festival in the nation. The literary pilgrimage for book lovers and the people who write them is held every year over Labor Day weekend in downtown Decatur. Jack Riggs, a creative writing professor at Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia Author of the Year recipient for his novel When the Finch Rises, said the festival is an important event for people to be a part of. “You have upward of 70,000 readers coming to Decatur,” he said. “All the authors there are worthy of the time spent with them. It’s just the place to be.” In 2006 alone, around 50,000 people took part in the Decatur Book Festival. This year, more than 300 authors are scheduled to attend, and all events, including a book market, street fair, food, live music, writing classes and special activities for children and teens, are offered free of charge. With a plethora of attractions and more than 20 different genres of books to choose from, it’s no tall tale to say that the Decatur Book Festival will have something for everyone. Amanda C. Gable, author of The Confederate General Rides North, is a graduate student at Georgia State. While she’s finishing up the Creative Writing MFA Program, in addition to her debut novel, Gable’s short stories have appeared in The North American Review, The Crescent Review, Quarry West, Other Voices and other literary publications. She’ll host a panel discussion with fellow southern fiction writer Olivia deBelle Byrd called “The Sweetness (and Sassiness) of Southern Fiction” at the stage at First Baptist Carreker Hall on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. “This will be my second year doing the festival,” she said. “I’m very excited.” Gable’s first novel, which Atlanta Magazine called an “extraordinary debut,” is about Katherine McConnell, a young war buff who charts famous Civil War sites and monuments during a road trip north with her mother. In the end, McConnell has to make a life-changing decision. Gable looks forward to talking Cont. on page 20
Decatur
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
ENTERTAINMENT
THE SIGNAL’S GUIDE TO By JHONI JACKSON Entertainment Editor
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday
Atlanta Radio Theatre Company Get spooked by “The House Across the Way,” an audio drama by Kelley S. Ceccato about a trio of sisters—one of them dead—vying for a male neighbor’s affection. Plus, you’ll hear “The Proper Thing to Do” too, the story of a surprisingly friendly alien invasion, written by Brad Linaweaver and William Allen Ritch. Dragon*Con Wrestling 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Watch Mikal Judas, Ace Rockwell and Shadow Jackson go to battle in extreme wrestling. The event takes place on the pool level of the Hyatt.
Saturday
Annual Dragon*Con Parade 10 a.m. Don’t miss this march through downtown—it’s the convention’s greatest spectacle. Expect to see elaborately costumed pirates, ghouls, zombies, aliens, comic book heroes and, of course, a bevy of storm troopers flood the streets by foot and aboard larger-than-life floats. The out-ofthis-world display is outside the hotels, so anyone’s free to watch it, including non-ticketholders. Guest of Honor Awards Banquet 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency’s VI-VII ballrooms Tickets are $50, but you’ll get to see DragonCon’s biggest stars in one room. Get your pass online at http://www. dragoncon.org. Browncoats: Redemption 7 p.m., Westin Peachtree Ballroom This independent sci-fi film is a jump-off from Firefly, a space western television series created by Joss Whedon, the brains behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Proceeds from the movie benefit five charities: Equality Now, Kids Need to Read, Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center and the Dyslexia Foundation. Attend the special screening, and meet members of the cast and crew at the Dealer’s Room during the convention.
If you’ve never been to Dragon*Con, Atlanta’s annual sci-fi and fantasy fest that draws around 30,000 folks from all over, this is the year to get in on the action. The convention spans five downtown hotels—the Hyatt Regency, the Marriot Marquis, the Hilton, the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the Sheraton. It’s the south’s version of Comic-Con, but it’s no down-home shindig. You can dance at late-night parties, get celebrity autographs, watch film screenings and, best of all, see incredibly devoted fans of sci-fi, fantasy and all things fictional donning outrageous costumes. At the door, you’ll be given a hefty schedule for the weekend. But for now, check out these highlights to get yourself pumped. Courtesy Dragon*Con Photography (c) 2010 Dragon*Con/ACE
Not a hardcore sci-fi fan? Here are some helpful tips:
1. Don’t say sci-fi. Fans of the genre prefer SF instead. 2. If someone says, “So long, and thanks for all the fish,” they’re referencing a cult favorite, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and they really just mean “goodbye.” In the Douglas Adams book series, earth is demolished to make room for a hyperspatial express route. The line is a message left by dolphins, who escape the planet before it’s destroyed. Side note: Don’t bother mentioning that you’ve seen the movie to a SF fan unless you’ve read the print stories. 3. If someone says “the ‘verse,” they mean “the universe.” 4. Take care of yourself while you’re there. Bring your own drinking water. There’s free water all over the place, but it runs out quickly. Pack a snack, too. 5. Get ready to be shocked, enlightened, wowed and appalled—all in one holiday weekend.
Daily
Celebrity guests and live music More than 400 guests and bands are confirmed for this year’s fest, and the full lineup is available on the convention’s website. Lou Ferrigno, professional bodybuilder and the original Hulk in the ‘70s CBS program based on the Marvel comic, will be there, along with Tyson Houseman and Daniel Cudmore from the Twilight series. The Wookiee Chewbacca in four Star Wars films, Peter Mayhew, will also make an appearance. Sean Astin (Mikey of The Goonies and Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings), Stan Lee (former Marvel Comics president and chairman, and co-creator of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, the Avengers, Iron Man and the Hulk), Scott Adsit (Pete Hornberger on NBC’s 30 Rock), writers and founders of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 and a slew of bestselling authors, television authors, revered makeup artists and more are also scheduled to appear. Music acts slated to perform include local electronic dance-rock outfit Attention System, Ego Likeness (a female-fronted dark electronic band), Leslie Fish (filk singer) and Cruxshadows, a dark-wave band that’s always a big hit with the Dragon*Con crowd. Belly Dancing 101 Ever wanted to try getting that seductive tummy undulation down? Dragon*Con is the perfect chance—hourlong classes will be hosted by Phoenicia, a master belly dancer with more than 20 years experience.
Night at the Georgia Aquarium 7 p.m.-11 p.m., $17 per person Experience the aquarium after dark with other DragonCon fans. All five of the aquarium’s main exhibits will be open, footage from conventions past will be projected in the atrium and signature Dragon Con cocktails will be available at a cash bar. Shuttle buses from the participating hotels will be offered.
Dealers Room and Exhibit Hall Peruse original crafts, Silver and Golden Age comics, Japanese animation merchandise and unique books, plus medieval arms, artifacts, posters, models, games and accessories in the Dealers Room. Head to the exhibit halls (Imperial and Marquis ballrooms) for the latest releases in gaming, comics and books—and maybe even chat with creators and publishers. On Friday, these attractions are open at 1 p.m. and closed at 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday, you can check them out as early as 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., with the exception of Monday (they close at 5 p.m.).
Sunday
Band and Fan Tables, Concourses Fan and freebie tables will be at the Hyatt Regency (outside the Grand Hall) and the Sheraton. Performers and bands will have tables at the Marriot Marquis’ convention level. There’s acoustic/ambient tunes outside the Hyatt’s Centennial ballroom and one floor below the lobby.
Atlanta Radio Theatre Company Immerse yourself in the classic H.P. Lovecraft tale, “At the Mountains of Madness,” adapted for audio by Brad Strickland, supplemented by a performance by Atlanta-based experimental instrumental band The Ghosts Project. The second story is “Time and Time Again” by H. Beam Piper and adapted for audio by Ron N. Butler. Piper’s tale involves time travel—as a result of a nuclear bomb. Robot Battles Watch robots brawl at Robot Battles 39, held at 10 a.m. on Sunday (ant and beetle weight categories) and at noon on Monday (12 and 30-pound robots fighting sumo-style).
Monday
1 p.m. Hyatt Regency, Centennial Ballroom Cheer or jeer for amateur acts at DragonCon Has Talent, the convention’s newest event. Judges will determine a winner in multiple categories, and the honored few will receive cash prizes.
Walk of Fame The Hilton hosts most of the autograph signings in its Grand Ballroom. Some of the media guests might charge for autographs.
Nightly
Have you ever danced alongside a storm trooper? Or shimmied with Spider-Man? At Dragon*Con’s nightly parties, both scenarios are possible. There will be DJs starting late in the evening until dawn from Friday through Sunday, but don’t forget to check out filk-singing at some point. The folk-based, acoustic jamming is a tradition at SF conventions. And, of course, there will be plenty of impromptu drum circles that last for hours.
Four-day passes are $100, Saturday through Monday passes are $75, and a Sunday and Monday ticket is $50. Passes for multiple days are available at the door on the day the pass would be effective. Tickets for individual days range from $25 to $50.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
17
‘The Suburbs’ overproduced, still resonant By PAUL DEMERRITT Staff Writer
ALBUMS IN HEAVY ROTATION 01
Ritornano Quelli Di... Calibro 35 (Nublu)
02
The Budos Band III The Budos Band (Daptone)
03
Transit Transit Autolux (TBD)
04
The Way Out The Books (Temporary Residence)
05
Crazy for You Best Coast (Mexican Summer)
06
Tall Hours in the Glowstream Cotton Jones (Suicide Squeeze)
07
Fortress Miniature Tigers (Modern Art)
08
A Place Called Stardom Tabi Bonney (Independent)
09
The Drums The Drums (Downtown)
10
Mines Menomena (Barsuk)
11
Church With No Magic PVT (Warp)
12
Disconnect From Desire School of Seven Bells (Vagrant)
13
The Suburbs Arcade Fire (Merge)
14
5:01 Overtime Laws (J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
15
Sand & Lines Venice is Sinking (One Percent Press)
16
So I Ate Myself Bite By Bite Dreamend (Graveface)
17
Black City Matthew Dear (Ghostly International)
18
More Than Your Money’s Worth Instruments of Science and Technology (Asthmatic Kitty)
19
Music for Paradise Armor Instruments of Science and Technology (Asthmatic Kitty)
20
Hidden Lands Candy Claws (twosyllable)
21
Crown of Thorns Rakaa (Decon)
Catchy lo-fi indie pop act that’s poised to blow up Beach House-style. For more on this indie folk band’s latest, see review on page PAGE
Check out Paul Demerritt’s analysis on P!
Swedish indie pop (in English) that’s mainstream-ready, but still smart and complex.
22
Trust in Numbers Lake Heartbeat (Service)
23
Made the Harbor Mountain Man (Partisan)
24
No Ghost The Acorn (Bella Union)
25
WEAREALLGOINGTOBURNINHELLMEGAMIXXX3 El-P (Gold Dust)
26
The Orchard Ra Ra Riot (Barsuk)
27
Strange Weather, Isn’t It? !!! (Warp)
28
Lisbon The Walkmen (Fat Possum)
29
Jesu: Pale Sketches Demixed Pale Sketcher (Ghostly International)
30
All We Grow S. Carey (JagJaguwar)
Thoughtful garage rockers go delicate and orchestral for their sixth LP.
Arcade Fire is a band that knows what it means to live in the 21st century. They know what it means to be paranoid by their television, to bask in the empty glow of streetlights and to glide through crowded city streets and feel a certain sense of loneliness that can’t be adequately touched or described. That’s why The Suburbs managed to debut at number one on Billboard. To put that accomplishment in perspective: A band that has made a trademark of soaring violins and existential lyricism outsold Eminem. And that makes perfect sense, because Arcade Fire has that unique gift to make listeners feel a little less alien in an increasingly alien world. Yet some degree of that feeling that is lost on The Suburbs, compared to earlier releases that propelled the group to greater emotional heights. This is the curse of over-production. There needs to be a certain amount of error, a vocal crack here, a tempo fluctuation there, or maybe just a few wrong notes. To err is human nature—to produce a work that elimates that natural aspect is to weaken the ability of a person to truly relate to it. What’s truly baffling is that the beautifully macabre voice of the male singer, Win Butler, is masked. His restrained yelps and melodic frustration have always propelled the band’s songs into a ferocious intensity. On The Suburbs, Butler’s voice is often lost among waves of multilayered instrumentation and many times takes a back seat when it should be a driving force. If you’re waiting for Butler’s cries to take off on any given song, don’t— most songs back off and simply move on without reaching any significant climax. After the title track and “Modern Man,” there’s an entire fifty minutes left to the album, and no real musical peaks.
Merge Records
At least the group’s female vocalist, Régine Chassagne, finally gets some much-deserved attention. Her vocal talents practically made Arcade Fire’s initial self-titled EP, yet for some bizarre reason have since been restricted. On “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains),” the best track on The Suburbs, Chassagne’s voice ultimately crafts all of the emotion, as her melodies tenderly bite at the lush synths swaying in the background. Because of the band’s consistent lyrical prowess, The Suburbs retains the mystique and personal hold of Arcade Fire’s prior works. The difference here is that while Funeral and Neon Bible were coated with optimism, The Suburbs leaves you with feelings of desperation and resignation. The album even begins with a mournful refrain in the opening chorus of the first song and title track: “Sometimes I can’t believe it, I’m moving past the feeling again.” The band is starting a conversation throughout the album without offering many concluding remarks. They’re screaming doubts of ever returning to the world they grew up in. They barrage the listener with imagery of cities and parking lots that are achingly empty and vaguely evil, encircling them and yet rejecting them at the same time. All of these pictures are echoes of an unabashedly modern world that is poured out of fluorescent lights and ghoulish skyscrapers. So while Arcade Fire has fallen under the spell of overproduction, they’re still doling out bits of magic and plenty of resonance. The Suburbs helps us feel less alone, and more unified—which makes this effort an undeniably important album, both musically and emotionally.
Posner’s ‘Takeoff’ falters By ELIJAH SARKESIAN Advertising Coordinator After releasing a few mixtapes last year, recent Duke University graduate Mike Posner just released his major-label debut, 31 Minutes to Takeoff. The album’s promotion began promisingly enough, with lead single “Cooler Than Me” becoming one of the biggest hits of the summer. Takeoff follows through on the single’s catchy electropop sounds, providing 12 tracks of irresistable ear candy. Posner, who handles production duties on most of the album’s tracks, proves to be a capable producer. As a songwriter, though, Posner falls into a particularly nasty problem. Posner and his record
label have frequently promoted Posner as a Duke frat boy, and his lyrics take on a sadly stereotypical frat boy stance toward women. “Cheated,” for example, features this gem of a chorus: “I should’ve cheated on you / I was everything you wanted and more / I should’ve cheated on you / Nobody told me I was dating a whore.” The song is made more grotesque by a specific naming of the lyrical target. Overall, Posner shows some promise with his album. In particular, “Please Don’t Go” and “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” are potential hit singles. His vocals are similar to, but thinner than, Justin Timberlake’s. If he can get past the lyrical issues, he could stand a shot at a decently successful career.
Suicide Squeeze Records
Cotton Jones cheers up on sophomore album By JHONI JACKSON Perspectives Editor Now on its second longplayer, Maryland-based Cotton Jones has perfected a difficult task: meshing accessible folk and country in a way that’s nonchalantly cool. Combining folk and country—a sound often filed under Americana—is easy. Doing it well, however, is complicated. But Tall Hours in the Glowstream is a breeze. If Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw experienced difficulty or forced any sentiments, listeners won’t notice. The pair’s vocals still echo like an homage to Mazzy Star, and the retro-sounding but entirely of-themoment lo-fi quality is firmly in place. The sweet exchanges between the two, reminiscent of televised old school country performances (like Loretta Lynn’s frequent duets with Conway Twitty), are less prevalent, but remain an obvious highlight. The album opener, “Sail of the Silver Morning,” and the upbeat, drum roll-peppered “Glorylight and Christie” both feature that lovely back-and-forth. And though sometimes McGraw’s voice is used simply to accent Nau’s, the results are just as delightful. On last year’s Paranoid Cocoon, the tune of most songs, although beautiful, are hard to follow naturally. The organ-backed “Gotta Cheer Up,” for one, is a tinge creepy in its repetitiveness. In this sophomore effort though, the duplicated lyrics are happier in content and backed by similarly lovely, but certainly more hopeful, melodies. It appears Nau and McGraw have taken their own advice—they’ve cheered up.
J Records
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Decatur
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
Cont. from page 17
more about her new book during her panel discussion, but is also excited to attend. “I love the people and seeing the book collectors,” she said. “I’ve been going [to the festival] since 2006, and that was before I had a book out. I am both a writer and a fan.” This year’s keynote speaker, Jonathan Franzen, won the 2001 National Book Award for his novel The Corrections. Franzen will host a signing of his latest work, Freedom, on Friday at 8 p.m. at Agnes Scott College’s Presser Hall. Enoch King is a thirteenyear actor with roles in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion, Drumline and the biopic The Fighting Temptations. An Atlanta native, King takes part in the event “Adapting the Dunces,” which will be held Saturday starting at 1:45 at Decatur High School. “I will be acting in a variety of scenes from John Kennedy Toole’s novel, A Confederacy of Dunces,” he explained. “Basically, pulling out different scenes that people may remember and relate to.” An avid ”book nut,” King said he is excited to hunt for new novels and looks forward to meeting other books lovers like himself. “Books excite me more than anything,” he said. “People should come out, see the show, and pick one up.”
“
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS
LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR August 24-30, 2010
Guest House Exhibit at Beep Beep Gallery August 30-September 5 The Cove
J.R. Schulz
DATE Tuesday
September 3 Journey of the Childmen
Wednesday
Guest House exhibit at Beep Beep Gallery
Cinefest is located on the second floor of the University Center. Admission is free for Georgia State students, faculty, and staff with valid Panther ID. General admission is $3 before 5:00 p.m. and $5 after 5:00 p.m. For showtimes, please visit www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcft or e-mail cinefest@gsu.edu.
“FINALLY!
A FRESH ROMANTIC COMEDY. IRRESISTIBLE!” “HILARIOUS!” “A GREAT DATE MOVIE.” “HIGHLY ENTERTAINING AND EXTREMELY FUNNY.” “SEXY AND SERIOUSLY FUNNY.”
695 North Ave. $15 8 p.m., all ages Dance all night to catchy synth jams by this California band. Glitch Mob headlines the venue’s upstairs stage, Heaven, and Marty Party supports.
Thursday
SEPT. 2
-Kerry Maller, KCBS-TV
F**k Yesss Dance Party at the Drunken Unicorn
$5 for 21 and up, $7 for 18 plus 11 p.m., 18 and up Don’t miss Le Castle Vania’s monthly late-night dance-a-thon with RRRump. The Atlanta-bred DJ is gaining ground around the globe, but continues catering to his loyal locals.
The NEC, Thank God, WYMYNS PRYSYN and Siamese Twin at 529
529 Flat Shoals Ave. $5 9 p.m., 21 and up Hear local indie bands at a wonderfully tiny East Atlanta venue. The NEC play psych-infused, shoegazestyle rock, and WYMNYNS PRYSYN play a superfast, punk-inclined soundtrack to aggression.
-Ben Lyons, E! ENTERTAINMENT
Friday
SEPT. 3
Saturday
Little Brother, Binkis Recs, Dillon, 4-Ize and Locsmif at The Loft
1374 West Peachtree St. $18 8 p.m., 18 and up Get your hip-hop fill courtesy of southern duo Little Brother. The show starts at 9 p.m.
SEPT. 4
Comedy Class Graduation at the Laughing Skull Lounge
Sunday
Trailer Vic’s Beach Party at the Earl
SEPT. 5
STARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 - CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR LISTINGS
696 Charles Allen Drive Free Noon-6 p.m., all ages Check out new work by J.R. Schulz and Jason Murphy before it’s too late! Guest House opened on Aug. 14, and is available to see (or purchase) until Sept. 5. If you can’t make it today, check the gallery’s also open Thursday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., and noon until 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Glitch Mob at the Masquerade
-Caryn James, MARIE CLAIRE
-Jeff Craig, SIXTY SECOND PREVIEW
Hip-Hop Jam Session at Apache Café
64 Third St. NW $5 9 p.m., 18 and up Witness head-to-head lyrical battles and hear guest performers and DJs at this weekly event.
September 6-12 The Runaways
-Liam Mayclem, CBS-TV
EVENT
AUG. 31
SEPT. 1
THE BEST COMEDY OF THE YEAR!” -Joel Amos, SHEKNOWS.COM
ENTERTAINMENT
878 Peachtree St. $10 5 p.m., 18 and up The Laughing Skull Lounge at the Vortex is one of the city’s most revered comedic institutions. Have some laughs at this showcase, which features upand-coming Atlanta comedians. 488 Flat Shoals Ave. $6 3 p.m., 21 and up Give summer one last hurrah with Trailer Vic’s mobile tiki hut, a makeshift beach behind the venue and surf rock sounds.
PERSPECTIVES
Perspectives Editor Syeda Hira Mahmood
signalperspectives@gmail.com
www.gsusignal.com/perspectives
What’s wrong with 20-somethings? By THADDEUS MORGAN Staff Writer
Reuters Former Governor Sarah Palin recently began describing herself as a feminist.
Is Palin a feminist? By MIRANDA SAIN Staff Writer Once again the dreaded “F-word” is popping up in our culture. No, I’m not talking about the curse word. I’m referring to the horrid word “feminist.” One of the most polarizing female political figures, Sarah Palin, has begun to embrace the word, using it proudly in a speech she delivered May 14 for the Susan B. Anthony List, a political action committee for antiabortion female political candidates. In response to Palin’s speech and the recent unveiling of her pro-maternity “Mama Grizzlies” campaign theme, EMILY’s List, a national organization that promotes the election of pro-choice Democratic women, announced their own counter-campaign theme: “Sarah Doesn’t Speak For Me.” Naturally, it got under Palin’s skin and she promptly retaliated with a power-punching tweet. “Who hijacked [the] term: ‘feminist?’ A cackle of rads who want 2 crucify other women w/ whom they disagree on a singular issue: it’s ironic(& passé),” tweeted Palin. Regardless of the questionable “intelligent” use of “cackle of rads,” Palin is raising a notably, worthy point for discussion: abortion and feminism. Traditionally, “feminism” has been accepted as a liberal position, especially when it comes to the rights of a woman in her reproductive choices such as
abortion. However, it is important to keep in mind that being a feminist is not only centered on the issue of reproductive choices. Feminism is equality between men and women and not allowing your gender to be an obstacle for success or an excuse for failure. I am also of the mind that men and women can be feminist. After all, declaring that feminism is only for women does not exemplify the equality feminism strives to achieve. Just as men can find their place within feminism, so can prolife women such as Palin. We must remember that we each have our own beliefs based on what we feel is right when it comes to political and social issues like abortion. Many who are antiabortion have religious reasons for their beliefs. Feminists cannot exile women based on their stance on abortion. This exile suggests that there is a standard mold that a woman must fit into to rightfully be a feminist. For a word that has long been considered to be an insult to a woman, its embrace by women and men across a wide spectrum should be welcomed. After all, there is strength in numbers. If feminists begin to create an “us and them” mentality, the feminist movement will not be able to function to the best of its ability. Something can also be said for the fact that Palin publicly and strongly embraced the word feminist. That alone shows some
Cont. on page 21
Palin
It’s no surprise that college students, along with people in their 20s in general, have always been seen as struggling and broke because this is when people attempt to define their adulthood and find their place in the world. However, it’s recently been said that people in their twenties have been unable to make the adjustment into adulthood at the same pace as those before them. The New York Times recently claimed that people in their 20s are moving at a much slower pace than the previous generation in the transition to adulthood. They define adulthood as meeting five criteria: finishing school, growing up, starting a career, settling down with a family and eventually retiring. The average time that people from previous generations took to accomplish all of these tasks was significantly faster than now. For example, the median age for 20-somethings to get married in the 1970s was 21 for women and 23 for men and the median ages for marriage now are 26 for women and 28 for men. The rates for marriages for people in their early twenties from previous generations may have been higher, but that may also contribute to the higher divorce rates in older married couples. Why is one facet of the generation gap examined while the other portion is ignored? Plus, who is to say that the
current generation believes these five circumstances is the criteria necessary to reach adulthood or maturity? As the rate at which these standards are met have changed, the standards themselves have changed due to various factors the previous generations did not experience. For example, more openly gay couples being unable to get married, premarital sex being seen as more acceptable than it was in the past, the prices of colleges and universities increasing, and possibly the most important factor in this transition is the current economic status of the nation. This country is currently in a recession with employment rates well below average. This environment makes it much more difficult for people in their 20s to get a job, much less maintain a career. As a result, many people in their 20s take longer to graduate from college because of increased hours at low-paying jobs and the transition from their guardians’ home takes longer due to the difficulty of saving enough money to become completely selfsufficient. Also, the previous generation examined in the 1970s was the baby boomer generation, which had many children because of the economically sound status of the nation at the time. This could have allowed for an easier and more stable life for that generation financially in comparison to the generation of today. One example of why the 20-somethings of today are not as
advanced as the previous generation is the fact that this generation was raised by the previous one. The previous generation is the source of guidance, structure and stability for the new. If the new generation fails to meet the standards set by the previous one, then isn’t it feasible that the ones responsible for those disappointing results are the previous generation themselves? This older generation seems to lack the ability to accumulate wealth that can help today’s generation. Conversely, more and more debt is piling up in various ways like college loans and credit card debt, resulting in a hole that will affect not only this generation, but generations to come. The 20-somethings of today may not represent what generations of 20-somethings in the past represented, but why should that be considered a bad thing? This is the only generation experiencing the hardships of the nation in such a way that it could help build coping skills for the future and produce a completely new set of standards for the next generation to abide by. Because of the nature of employment, this generation could also possess a ferocity and competitive nature that no previous generation has ever had. Before people make assumptions that this generation of people in their 20s is so much worse than older generations, the status of the environment they in should be taken into consideration.
Tracey Dixon 20-somethings are different today than they were 30 years ago, but that’s not a bad thing.
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PERSPECTIVES
EDITORIAL CONTENT
This is your brain on wi-fi
SIGNAL SURVEY MARTA prices are going up for students and faculty. What do you think about the increase?
By SYEDA HIRA MAHMOOD Perspectives Editor Anyone who knows me fairly well could tell you that I am an Internet junkie. Whenever I use the Internet, I have three or four tabs open at once. I check my e-mail about every two hours. I am constantly reading something new, visiting a new blog, typing up my own thoughts and getting lost in the mire of the Internet. I have a need to be constantly informed and updated about everyone’s life, from my best friend who lives in Texas to Aziz Ansari’s comedic blog. Never mind the fact that I am completely enthralled with journalism and political commentary. I am also, like many of my peers, addicted to Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, LiveJournal and any other social networking site that sounds like the name was made up by your four-year-old sister. I visit one news source for about 20 to 30 minutes and then visit another. This action is repeated several times for a few hours. However, no matter how hard I try, I always end up on Facebook. I previously had e-mail access on my phone. After acknowledging my strange addiction to the Internet, I decided to disconnect my e-mail service through my smartphone for the sake of normalcy. My peers, on the other hand, I feel are much worse than me. When did this shift in technology dependency happen? I have my own personal horrifying moment in noticing the depletion of my memory and attention span. I have always considered myself to be an avid reader. Books are what saved me throughout high school. Now when I try to sit down and read a book, I get uncomfortable and anxious. Oddly enough, the same feeling of withdrawal from any sort of addiction occurs. I can no longer read a book for hours and hours on end. I stop reading after 30 or 40 pages and decide to check my e-mail. Once again I am back on the Internet. The process of information overload repeats itself. With all of this information
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Answer online at gsusignal.com. Results wll be published next week.
STUDENT VOX Did you have any problems with registration this semester? Giana Milazzo The long-term effects of using electronics may be different than you think.
being hurled at us at super speed and the rapid change in modern communications technology, how does this affect how we think? I feel that my brain is no longer trained to focus. Using the Internet so much has given me the freedom of reading anything I want, whenever I want. If I get bored with what I am reading, that’s okay. The Internet has given me endless options. The abyss of information is now my downfall for concentration. Maybe I am being too hard on the Internet. It has done a lot of great things for everyone. Instead of standing in line at the Georgia State bookstore, I can purchase my textbooks on Amazon. I could email my mom while I was in Spain. It was easy, quick and it cost nothing. I can find out what the Muslim population is in China just by one click. Scientists have conducted research on the permanent changes of the brain due to Internet usage. Here is what they found. Computer users at work change their windows or check e-mail about 37 times an hour. Computer users are constantly moving their attention for new and quick information and the brain is extremely sensitive to any sort of stimulation. Constant brain stimulation leads to a surge of dopamine being released. Without dopamine, people feel bored. With the Internet at our fingertips, we are missing the qualities of patience, concentration and legitimate human interaction. “We may be doing things faster,
but sloppier,” a specialist from the University of California said in his research study. Everything must be known right away and selfreflection is completely out of the question. I am not at all suggesting that swearing off the Internet is the solution to this problem, or if I would even consider Internet usage a problem. I see Internet usage as another shift in the history of humans and technology, and perhaps in another 50 years there will be another sweeping advancement that will permanently change the function of our brains. Adapting technology to be more efficient is a staple in the relationship between humans and technology. Yet, in spite of the wonderful things the Internet has given us, it is worth noticing that our basic human interactions are rapidly vanishing and affecting our relationships with one another. I will also say this. I miss being able to sit down at a table with a delicious meal in front of me and not sharing my meal with someone’s iPhone. I like having face-to-face conversations where the person has to strongly consider and carefully articulate everything that they are saying. I like having eye contact in conversation and genuineness. I counted how many times I veered away from writing this article to check my email, go on Facebook and refresh the home page of the New York Times. Eight times in two hours. It’s not perfect, but it’s less than I thought.
“Not this semester, but in semesters past, I have.” - Heather Sessions
Senior, Spanish/ International Business
“Its pretty easy, I think…I haven’t had any problems.” - Ascennett Martinez
Sophomore, Anthropology
“The Incept thing, it was late. So all the classes were... taken up. The FLC took up most of the classes. Others were restricted to freshman. I just had to wait for the first week of school so people would drop.” - Dejan Lazic
Freshman, Undecided
“I’m a first-term law student, so they did all that for me. I just showed up. You don’t get to choose your classes first term.” - Mike Burke
Graduate Student, Law
The following guidelines must be followed when submitting a Letter to the Editor. Failure to follow them will result in your letter not being considered for publication. Letters must be submitted either online at www.gsusignal.com/perspectives or directly to the Perspectives Editor via email and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. • Letters should be 200-400 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 Signal policy. • The Signal reserves the right to reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff.
PERSPECTIVES
www.gsusignal.com/perspectives
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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Dr. Laura’s racism goes beyond POLITICAL BEAT with Emma Harger the repeated use of an epithet By ASHLEIGH ATWELL Staff Writer
U.S. Congress Nathan Deal needs to be honest about his potential birther beliefs.
Nathan Deal and the birthers By EMMA HARGER Copy Editor This is a new weekly column similar to the AJC’s Political Insider column by Jim Galloway. I will focus on Georgia politics or national political issues that directly relate to the state. After a tumultuous primary season came to an end earlier this month, with former congressman Nathan Deal emerging from a crowded Republican field to take on former governor Roy Barnes in November, his comments regarding President Obama’s citizenship rose again to the forefront of discussion. Sam Stein of the Huffington Post even asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs about Deal having “dabbled in birther conspiracies” in the Aug. 11 daily press briefing. When something like this gets all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., it’s deserving of a closer look. Calling someone a birther is the shorthand way to say that they are unsure of whether or not President Obama was born in the United States. A related group of people are the “tenthers,” who interpret the Tenth Amendment’s clause about powers not granted to the federal government being directed to the states or to the people. Some tenthers go so far as to suggest secession. Birthers often publicly ask to see Obama’s birth certificate, although a simple Google search will call it up, but then they also point out tiny details about said certificate to prove that it is supposedly a fake. For example, the document is called a certificate of live birth, not a birth certificate, although most states (including Georgia) refer to the document this way. Obama also has a United States passport listing his birthplace as Hawaii. Last year, California dentist, lawyer and birther Orly Taitz represented two soldiers in Columbus who sued the government and questioned military orders because the Commander-in-Chief is, to them,
supposedly not an American. The judge sanctioned her and fined her $20,000 for “abusing the right to practice law.” She has appealed to the Supreme Court after an unsuccessful try with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to remove the fine. As of this writing, the fine still stands. But, as mentioned above, the very root of the birther conspiracy was denounced as far back as during the 2008 election. Many politicians will not even discuss it. Yet, Deal has “dabbled” in it, according to Stein. In this case, what does “dabbled” mean? Last December, when Deal was still in Congress, he sent a letter to the President requesting that he release a copy of his birth certificate. In the letter, he writes about joining “several of my colleagues” in this request, but no one else co-signed. In January, someone on Deal’s staff leaked information about the letter to The Post & Email, a pro-birther website, but a copy of the letter itself was not released until recently. In the full text of the letter, he proclaims his respect for the president and his personal belief that he is legitimately president. His constituents—in the Ninth, the reddest of the 13 Georgia House districts, up in the mountains around Gainesville—were concerned about his citizenship and he just wanted to clear things up for them, not for himself, he explains. But in a different interview with blogger Mike Stark, Deal said “I have no idea where he was born at…I take his word for it. He’s the President and he’s sworn to tell the truth, so I assume that he has.” He has further clarified his position by saying that he simply wanted to refer skeptical constituents to a credible source of documentation. However, by not making this clear back in December, he allowed birthers to presume that he was one of them. Deal may not be a birther himself, but Stein’s description of him as dabbling in birther conspiracies is apt.
Recently, Dr. Laura Schlessinger ended up surrounded in controversy when she went on rant during which she used the n-word almost a dozen times. Consequently, she has decided to quit her radio show so she can say whatever she wants to say and “regain her First Amendment rights.” The n-word has been drenched in controversy for decades. There have been battles over the word’s spelling, the word’s meaning and whether or not non-black people should be able to use it. Like most people, I was shocked when I heard the rant, but honestly there was some validity in that tirade. During the rant, Dr. Laura said, “If anybody without enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing. But when black people say it, it’s affectionate. It’s very confusing.” As a black woman, I have heard that word and its variations around me for all of my life and I have been guilty of saying it. I’ve heard people use it in a variety of ways, from denoting friendship to accompanying insults. I have also seen the reactions of my family and friends when someone that is not of color uses that word. In laymen’s terms, all hell breaks loose. So, I could see why that could be confusing to non-black people. After all, it does look crazy when people use a word on a daily basis but get angry when someone else decides to do the same. For that reason, I do not react as strongly to someone using that word as I used to unless someone is being insulted. Also, I feel that there are worse things that have been said about black people than that stupid word. I was more insulted by Dr. Laura’s claims of “hypersensitivity” and her saying “don’t NAACP me” than her use of the n-word. I feel that black people should reevaluate their relationship with the n-word. Perhaps we should stop saying it or stop getting sensitive when someone else says it. There is a lot of dark history and hate behind that word and that alone is justification for us to stop using it. It is illogical to use that word to denote camaraderie and turn around and get upset when someone follows your example. This same logic can and has been applied to the usage of the word bitch by women. There are plenty of women who use the word bitch positively but get upset when
Palin
Cont. from page 19
skin, right? Palin’s use of the term and media presence might in fact help the public view of feminism. For decades, the public view of feminism our society has received continuously from the media is that feminists are men-haters who don’t wear bras or shave their armpits.
DrLaura.com Dr. Laura recently came under fire for her repeated use of the n-word.
men use the word. These double standards need to be eradicated. Also, there are plenty of black people who do not like to use the n-word. They are being subjected to hearing a word that hurts them or irritates them because of that double standard and that is not fair to them. That could deter anyone, regardless of race, from using the word. Everyone should not be forced to be politically correct, but everyone deserves to have their feelings respected. On the other hand, the fact that some non-black people want to use that word intrigues me. They know about the double standard and its potential consequences, yet they insist that they should be able to use it. Although I can understand why the double standard is confusing, I cannot help but wonder why nonblack people would want to use it. Dr. Laura’s rant had strong racist undertones, even when she was not using the word. It makes me wonder if some people want to use the word so they can get away with being racist. Perhaps that is why a lot of black people are not too fond of non-black people using
the word. When black people say it, I generally know their motives. I know “what’s up my n**ga” is a greeting and so on. When white people or other non-black people say it, we do not know if they are saying to be insulting or to express camaraderie. I understand that the double standard surrounding this word is confusing and a tad stupid, but I do not get the point of someone who is not black using the word. Truthfully, the fact that black people want to use it is perplexing enough to a lot of people. I think there is a lesson to be learned in this story and there are plenty of conversations and debates that need to happen. It is obvious that race is still an issue in this country, even though a man of color is president. Despite what some people would like to believe, this is not a post-racial society. If it was, the Dr. Laura incident and other incidents would not be happening. Society needs to stop ignoring racial issues in the country and face them headon instead of trying to feed us a kumbaya fantasy.
If Palin continues to proudly wave her “Mama Grizzly” arm in the air, staking claim to the word, maybe the public will finally notice that some feminists do indeed shave their armpits. It may take some more convincing, however, to persuade the public that some shave their legs too. Whether you love or loathe Palin, her ability to capture
media attention is as respectable as her bravery to claim her label as a feminist. Just like there are many facets within political parties (moderate-Republican, conservative-Republican, etc.), there can be facets within feminism. After all, it works for the political parties, why wouldn’t it work for feminism? It all goes back to that strength in numbers thing.
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PERSPECTIVES
Georgia’s Right to Life claims African-Americans an ‘endangered species’ By SYEDA HIRA MAHMOOD Perspectives Editor It is no surprise to the culturally or politically aware person that the pro-life movement is seen as a predominantly white, Christian and conservative movement. This has been the stereotype of prolifers for decades. However, in Atlanta, there is a new angle for this movement and it begins with Georgia’s Right to Life – the state’s largest pro-life group. Georgia’s Right to Life has attempted to handle the controversial issue of the inexplicably high number of black women who have abortions. Instead of the organization spending the bulk of their funds on pregnancy hotlines, as they did previously, the organization hired a spokeswoman named Catherine Davis to be the minority outreach coordinator. Davis travels to churches and colleges around Georgia delivering an eerie yet effective message – that abortion is the primary tool in a decades-old conspiracy to kill off blacks. The result? Less money was spent and more phone calls to the hotline were received, says Nancy Smith, the executive director of Georgia’s Right to Life. Georgia’s Right to Life has placed 80 billboards throughout Atlanta that proclaim “Black children are an endangered species.” One of these billboards is on the corner of John Wesley Dobbs and Peachtree Center Avenue. There are many aspects of this particular story that are shocking and appalling. Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta say that black women make up nearly 40 percent of all abortions, while blacks make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population. This startling number will no doubt propel conspiracy theories.
On the other hand, there are also African-American women combating this conspiracy theory and supporting a woman’s right to choose, such as Loretta Ross, who founded the organization SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective. Pro-choice supporters claim that the conspiracy theory portrays black women as victims of deception. Ross says that a lack of access to birth control, a lack of education and a high rate of sexual violence are all reasons for the high number of unwanted pregnancies. “There’s an assumption that every time a girl is pregnant it’s because of voluntary activity, and it’s so not the case,” Ross said. Now, the almost exclusively Republican pro-life movement is turning to the African-American community to support their cause. Abortion is a difficult, personal and divisive issue in the United States. One of the most embarrassing and cruel chapters of American history is our record of racial injustices and inequalities. It led to the suffering of generations of African-Americans, with disastrous results, like deeply embedded racism and hate that we still see today. Combining these two hot-button topics to gain popularity on an issue of morality is not only inconsiderate but also offensive. One thing I find most peculiar about this confrontation between the conservative pro-life movement recruiting black women to side with them on this multifaceted issue is that, historically, the right-wing conservative movement has done little to support the advancement of minorities in this country. Any sort of extensive improvement for the lives of minorities by the U.S. government has been largely credited to progressives. For example, the Great Society was a set of social reforms to eliminate poverty and injustices
TooManyAborted.com A new anti-abortion campaign uses scare tactics and manipulation to sway women from having abortions.
created by President Lyndon Johnson, including Medicare, Medicaid, and federal funding for education. One of the more wellknown and ambitious plans of the Great Society was the War on Poverty, initiated by Johnson and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Most importantly, President Johnson signed many of the demands of the civil rights movement into law. Job discrimination, segregation and preventing African-American citizens from voting by using unfair voter qualification tests were all abandoned under Johnson’s stance on civil rights. Another minority group treated poorly in the United States, Native Americans, were given priority through the Civil Rights Act of 1968, banning housing discrimination and expanding constitutional protections to Native Americans living on reservations. Coincidentally, Newt Gingrich, former Republican Speaker of the House, said that the Democrats passing the recently successful health care reform bill will “destroy their party as much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years.” In reaction to the progressive ideologies of the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Reagan and Bush era swept the nation and began implementing a newfound social conservatism.
Reagan completed his presidency with a generally positive outcome and many historians rank him as one of the most successful presidents of the 20th century. However, Reagan’s fiscal policies also cut funding for federal programs that assisted the poor and minorities. Other conservative presidents, such as President Nixon and President Ford, removed funding from poverty programs in government departments. With the overwhelming evidence clearly showing that the socially conservative right-wing movement has strict interpretations on what it means to be a Christian, how to define a nuclear family and how to define marriage, it is hard to believe that the conservative movement is suddenly showing immense interest in a minority group they never outwardly supported for the past three or four decades. I am not at all claiming that the pro-life movement is immoral or outrageous. What is outrageous is that the very policies that created such large disparities between blacks and whites in America were propelled by the same movement that is suddenly interested in gaining support from the African-American community in the social ideals to which they ascribe. Encouraging women, and in this case, black women, to be
pro-life but to not engage in federal programs providing birth control and financial assistance to those who need help is misleading and counterproductive. Georgia’s Right to Life engaging in a dialogue with black women on having a pro-life stance is in itself positive, but their actual message is desolate and outlandish. The very idea of the pro-choice movement harvesting a conspiracy to wipe out the black race is insulting and completely incorrect. Saying that abortion clinics are intentionally placed in black neighborhoods to prey on black women is a cheap way of gaining the African-American community’s attention on the issue. Whether pro-life or pro-choice, abortion will always be a sensitive issue that should be handled with care. Manipulating the issue at hand but ignoring the original reasons for racial disparities that initiated many of the problems in the African-American community does not reach a solution to the problem. The foundation for problems within the community should be acknowledged and discussed openly. Abortion is not strictly a black woman’s issue, it is a woman’s issue, and if it is a woman’s issue, it is a human issue. The controversy should not be seen as anything but that.
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