Vol. 81 | No. 18

JAN. 28, 2014 - FEB. 3, 2014

VOL. 81 | NO. 18

Neighborhood Guide Part I

The HIGHLANDs Discover on foot the best places to eat, shop and play in Poncey and Virginia Highlands—day or night

page 10 - 11

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

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social progress

Passing to play

Mammal Gallery On the Rebound

Richard Blanco speaks about identity and acceptance at 31st MLK convocation

Find out why athletes passed in school for free to play on the field become the real losers

Georgia State alumni help to breathe life into the less popular side of Broad Street

The women’s basketball team has turned its season around from No. 8 to No. 2 in the Sun Belt

News | Page 5

opinions | Page 6

A&L | Page 9

Sports | Page 17

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 6

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

2

NEWS

last week...

Local

Party foul

A Georgia State student has filed a lawsuit against a Georgia Tech fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta) for allegedly drugging her and writing vulgar slurs on her body when she attended an “Islander Week” party on Fowler Street on April 19, 2012, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. According to the suit, the plaintiff’s mother took her to Grady Memorial Hospital where an invasive rape kit was administered. However, the results were negative.

National

Shop ‘til you drop

On Sat., Jan. 25, Howard County Police Department reported that three individuals were found dead at a shopping mall in Columbia, Md. Police found another body which they believed to be the shooter near ammu-

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

blotter

nition and a gun. He was identified as Darion Marcus Aguilar. CNN reported that two other victims with minor injuries were transported to Howard County General Hospital. The first 911 call was made at 11:59 a.m., police said.

Global

A call for peace

President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine had a discussion with opposing leaders in Kiev on Jan. 25 to alleviate some of the current civil uprising within the country, according to the New York Times. Yanukovych proposed Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk as prime minister and Vitali Klitschko as vice prime minister in humanitarian affairs. The New York Times also said that leadership changes and a deal would allow for the possible release of previously detained protestors charged with non-serious crimes and would call for reshaping the Central Election Commission.

Jan. 21

Jan. 22

Jan. 23

The University Bookstore issued a criminal trespass warning after an argumentative student caused a disturbance.

Officers were forced to make contact to diffuse the situation, however no arrest was made. Information was given to the Dean of Students to handle.

When a student returned to a nearby window ledge after a game of basketball, his wallet was nowhere to be found. A report was filed and is currently in the hands of investigators.

A busted building window and graffiti on the wall were the discoveries of one Georgia State staff member. Those responsible for the crime have yet to be found.

University Bookstore

Alderhold Learning Center

A non-Georgia State student was arrested for criminal trespassing and had already received a warning for trespassing. The individual is now in Fulton County Jail.

Student Recreation Center

University Lofts

A report was filed for terroristic threats after a Georgia State student claimed he was threatened by a fellow student. Investigators are currently handling the case.

Decatur Street SE

After a Georgia State student secured his bicycle on a fence at 12:30 p.m., he found it stolen when he returned at 4:15 p.m. A report was filed for theft and is currently in the hands of investigators.

Recycling Center

Jan. 24

University Commons

An officer noticed a stumbling male around the University Commons and upon further inspection discovered the individual was intoxicated. The Georgia State student was under 21 and arrested for alcohol possession under 21 years old.

Photo of the week PHOTO BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL The Southern Star tattoo shop on Ponce De Leon Avenue takes customers back in time.

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

] N O I T C U R [CONST New law building construction continues CIARA FRISBIE

Associate News Editor

N

orth of Woodruff Park, on the corner of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue and Park Place, the new law building is currently being constructed and is expected to be completed by 2015. A full construction schedule was posted on the College of Law’s web page on Sept. 30, 2013.

“Now that we’ve officially broken ground on the new building, it’s time to look forward to the rest of the process. We’ve received a tentative construction schedule with important milestones,” the website says.

September and November’s milestones in 2013 were “Earthwork and Excavation” and “Begin Foundation Work.” This upcoming May and October’s will be “Structural ‘Top Out’” and “Complete Skin.” By March 2015 the final milestone will be “Complete Rough-in and Fit Out.” Currently, McCarthy Building Co. has a construction-update Twitter account for the new college of law, @GSULawConstruction.

On Jan. 13, McCarthy Building Co. tweeted, “Welcome back GSU College of Law students! In 2015 you’ll be able to move into your beautiful new home.”

This tweet was followed by another posted on Jan. 16 that referred to building other portions of the building after layers of concrete were poured.

“GSU Law is elevating at a whole new level,” the company said.

The College of Law’s official website is also working on an in-

teractive option for viewers to take a virtual tour of the building.

Currently individuals have the option of viewing building feature photos and a map.

Overseeing the progress

Christopher “Chip” Hill is the assistant dean for administration and finance at the College of Law. Mr. Hill said that he and Professor Doug Yarn are the co-chairs of the building committee for the College of Law. “This means that we are in the vast majority of the meetings with all of the other entities who have input on the project. We represent the college’s interests as the ultimate end-users and consult with our dean, faculty, staff, students and alumni to gather feedback on how we want the building to look, feel and operate,” Hill said.

Hill also said that the contractor McCarthy has done most of the excavation and shoring, also known as “prop” work, for the building.

“By Friday, the contractor should finish pouring all of the foundation slabs of concrete. The structural columns have been set, and over the next four months, the concrete and steel skeleton of the building will rise out of the ground,” Hill said.

He added that the new Law building will have a total of seven stories, including an underground floor and six above ground. He explained that the framing for all of the floors will be completed by the end of May, and that the next ten

months will be dedicated to both interior and exterior work necessary to finish the building.

“Construction should be complete by early March 2015. At that point, we will have a handful of weeks to coordinate the installation of the information technology and audio-visual equipment and furniture. Our goal is to have that done by the end of April 2015, which would allow us to move in early May 2015 and teach our summer 2015 classes in the new building,” Hill said.

High expectations

Hill added that there is excitement among the College of Law faculty, staff, students, alumni, the legal community, the City of Atlanta and State of Georgia.

He explained that the building has been a work in progress for nearly a decade, and that the new space will provide law students with a much better experience, both in and out of the classroom, because it will foster interaction between faculty and students in a way that the Urban Life Building could not.

“We are really excited that all of the effort is so close to fruition.

Many people have helped us get to this point. We are grateful to the State of Georgia, City of Atlanta, Board of Regents and the Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission for their guidance and support,” Hill said.

“Many departments through-

Continued on page 3

PHOTOS BY RAVEN SHLEY | THE SIGNAL Construction of the law building began in September of 2013 and is said to be finished by the summer of 2015.

“

Welcome back GSU College of Law students! In 2015 you’ll be able to move into your beautiful new home.”

- Tweet from McCarthy Building Co.

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Student government

SGA creates new positions

Freshmen now able to participate CAMERON WASHINGTON Associate News Editor

D

uring the month of January, the Student Government Association (SGA) made headlines by adding an amendment to its constitution, swearing in a new Executive VP, and beginning its election commission term.

The two biggest pieces of news that came out of the Jan. 16 SGA Senate meeting were the swearing-in of new Executive Vice President Ashley Osato Uzamere, and the passing of legislation that will now allow freshman to contribute to the SGA during their first semester of college.

Sen. Justin Brightharp proposed a bill during a Senate meeting that would create 12 positions on each of the senate standing committees that could be filled by freshmen in their first semester at Georgia State.

“Creating these 12 new positions would provide a fast-track for first-semester freshman who are eager to get involved with SGA,” Brightharp said.

“These representatives would have the same responsibilities as Senators, advocating for student rights and such, however they would not be able to vote or pass any legislation.”

While holding the senate floor, Brightharp went on to say that these positions would allow freshman to

gain invaluable experience as a part of the SGA. More importantly, they would not be overwhelmed with responsibility.

“The creation of these positions would create more available spots for students interested in getting involved with SGA, and would also create more representation for the student population at Geogia State,” Brightharp informed his fellow senators that before these positions were created, the ratio of students to SGA representatives at Georgia State was 1000-1. Creating these new positions would cut the ratio in half, according to Brightharp.

These new positions will not be made restrictive to freshman applicants only. Any student can apply for these new positions in SGA, but freshman are encouraged to do so.

After much discussion between the senators, the bill was voted into law by a slim majority of senators.

The new law will go into effect starting (date), according to Brightharp.

After the act was passed, Ashley Uzamere was sworn in as new Executive VP. No senator opposed her instatement.

“I am so excited and truly honored to become SGA’s new Executive VP, “ Uzamere said. “I can’t wait to work with the senators and support my president.”

Ashley Uzamere replaced Ashley Epperson, the former executive VP

university

Professors weigh in on gun bill BECCA LONG Staff Reporterr

B

efore the “opt-in” clause of the campus carry bill was deemed unconstitutional on Jan. 23., Georgia State professors expressed their concerns about the possibility of college presidents being given the power to allow concealed weapons on campus.

“I think it says a lot about the legislature’s attitude toward education. Their main order of business is not anything that funds programs, assists students, or facilitates research, but rather enables people on college campuses to carry weapons,” Dr. Jonathan Herman from the Religious Studies Department at Georgia State said.

The argument against guns on campus is not limited to Georgia State. The University of Toledo in Ohio conducted a study in 2013 that focused on faculty opinions toward this topic.

“Nine out of 10 faculty members think that it’s a very bad idea to have concealed weapons carried on campus, and they feel that it would not make it a safer environment,” co-author James H. Price said in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch.

Visiting professor Sally Allen agreed that this kind of law would only complicate matters on campus.

“I do not support the campus carry law. I simply think this does not make sense from a risk/reward standpoint, and as student populations continue to swell, here at GSU and at colleges state-

wide, the process of effectively screening gun carriers would become more and more untenable,” Allen said.

Professor Galen Olmsted, an adjunct professor for Georgia State’s Ernest G. Welch College of Art and Design does not consider the idea of guns on campus a reasonable one.

“My position on guns being legal on campus: an enthusiastic no. Hell no,” Olmsted said. “All our common sense justifications, self-defense being an example par excellence, for copious amounts of firearms in American households, campuses, etc., crumble when confronted with statistical fact.”

One Georgia State professor did more than just share his opinion on this piece of legislation.

Dr. Stephen Clay Anthony, a political science professor, is a member of the American Association of University Professors.

Along with the AAUP, Dr. Anthony has worked to keep the exception of college campuses in the bill.

“Everything that could be said has been said, testified and given in a committee and within the debates on the bill last year. They have all the information.

It’s just going to be a matter of whether they hear what we’ve said or ignore us,” he said. “We are hopeful that a compromise will get worked out.”

Despite the fact that some members of Georgia’s legislature fought for the provision, it remains illegal for Georgia State students and faculty members to possess concealed weapons on campus.

who graduated in the fall 2013 semester. However, Uzamere will only be in office for a short period of time, as the new election term fast approaches.

According to current SGA president, and former election commission officer Andrew Whyte, the role of the election commission is to set the time table for the election process on campus.

“The election commission term period begins on Jan. 21 and continues on through late April,” Whyte said. “Incumbents have to re-apply for positions in SGA just like newcomers do.”

SGA applications are available starting on Feb. 10, and they have to be submitted by the Feb. 28. After reviewing the applications, the election commission notifies all applicants on their eligibility for the positions they applied for by Mar. 5.

Starting on Mar. 24, all candidates begin campaigning around the school. Three days later, individuals participate in a debate that takes place at 7 p.m.

On Mar. 31, one week after beginning the campaign trail, the voting period will begin. Then, four days later on Fri., April 4, the voting period ends. The election commission will tally the votes, and by noon on April 8, the new SGA representatives are announced.

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA AND MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

Construction (cont. from page 3) designers and contractors who are turning ideas into reality. Our alumni, students, friends, faculty and staff have provided invaluable support.”

He also said that he and the College of Law hope that when they open the doors to the new law building, everyone will take pride in their new home, as well as use the facility to help Georgia State provide “one of the best programs of legal education in the nation.”

Making it happen

Between the years of 1982 and 2006, student enrollment and faculty stretched the usable space in the Urban Life Building, according to the Georgia State Law Magazine.

In May of 2007, students raised $5,300 in support of the new law building, and Governor Deal and the Georgia General Assembly allocated $5 million dollars in the fiscal year 2011 state budget in the spring of 2010. By fall of 2010, the University purchased the current lot and Georgia State Law administrators and faculty began designing with SmithGroup and Stevens & Wilkinson.

State allocations provided $58.8 million dollars, according to Global Atlanta. This and a grant from the Robert W. Wood-

ruff Foundation made construction possible.

However, on the Georgia State Law website it says that the College of law still needs help through donations to ensure that needed equipment and furnishings are provided.

“Alumni support is critical to the College of Law,” the website says. “Gifts to fund for Law support our programs and scholarships, ensuring we provide the best programs possible and attract the most qualified J.D. candidates,” the College of Law website says.

Donations and pledges range from $50 to $10,000. Individuals wishing to donate also have the option of choosing their own amount.

“During the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the college enjoyed 71 percent participation from the Law Firm Campaign and 21 percent overall participation rate from our alumni,” Senior Director of Development John Harrison said on the College of Law website. It also states that the College of Law hopes to reach 25 percent.

New additions

Some features in thew new Law building will include a ceremonial courtroom equipped with

230 seats, a conference center, an International Arbitration Center and different areas for community outreach and clinical practices.

“The Law Library will occupy the top two floors and offer flexible learning space for individuals, groups, classes and guests, as well as a formal reading room, a café and outdoor terraces,” the College of Law website says.

According to Georgia State Law Magazine’s “Guide to Our New Building,” the entrance will be located on the corner of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. and Park Place for convenient access. The lobby and atrium will promote greater student interaction, and the law library that will be featured on the top two floors will allow for flexible work areas.

“The new building provides a unique opportunity to become an intellectual and professional hub that encourages education, interaction and synergy among students, alumni, the university community, members of the bench and bar, legislators and policymakers and nonprofit organizations dedicated to service advocacy,” Steven Kaminshine said in Georgia State Law Magazine’s article “New Building Taking Shape” by Emily C.B. Diffenderfer.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

NEWS

5

campus news

MLK

31st convocation a celebration of social progress

SUBMITTED PHOTO The statue of Dr. King captures the monumental scope of legacy.

ALEX KUGACZEWSKI

T

Senior Reporter

he audience sat still, eager and attentive. All eyes were fixed on the speaker. When he finally began, his words cut through the air. Strings of radiant imagery became real and tangible as he read them, and when he was done, thunderous applause filled the room.

For those in attendance, Georgia State’s 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation wasn’t just a campus event. It was an affirmation of identity and a celebration of social progress.

Acclaimed poet Richard Blanco, inaugural poet for President Obama’s second term of office, graced the audience as the afternoon’s keynote speaker.

Blanco, an openly gay CubanAmerican, interspersed recitations of his own work with commentary.

He reflected on home, identity and acceptance, resonating with the words Dr. King spoke decades ago.

Blanco specifically referred to the line, “I have a dream, we keep dreaming,” from his inaugural poem “One Today.” ”I wanted to honor that moment and that day as a subtle nod to Dr. King,” Blanco said. “The dream never ends. Every generation has new struggles and every generation therefore begets new dreams.”

Throughout his presentation, Blanco recounted his history of searching for a home, something he found particularly difficult as a Cuban-American who was born in Spain. Further complicating his quest for a home was the struggle to find acceptance as a gay man.

“What did a pudgy Cuban gay kid have to do with MLK? Everything,” Blanco said. “His legacy is timeless. [It’s] across race, gender and sexuality. It’s across everything.”

Blanco also spoke of the immortality of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, remembering when he heard the words as a child. Though he was inspired, he couldn’t understand why at the time. All he knew then was that he was hearing something “beautiful, important and amazing.”

He said that to this day he reflects on King’s message.

Along with Blanco, Georgia State students and faculty found honor in the celebration of Dr. King.

LaConya Cobb, graduate assistant of Campus Events, said that while her position in society as an African-American is far more secure today than it was in the time of MLK, she still feels more can be done.

Cobb recalled an incident she witnessed in her own neighborhood.

“I saw five police officers shove a black man to the ground, though he didn’t fight or resist the officer’s advance. He was cooperative. I found it disturbing,” she said.

Even though the man was suspected of firearm possession, Cobb believed he should have been treated better since he had surrendered himself to the authorities.

Despite the problems marginalized groups still face today, Cobb said that she is proud of the progress that has been made and is humbled

by Dr. King’s legacy. “[MLK] is a visionary. He embodied what it means to give back to your community and to serve others.

Martin Luther King Day is a day to give back and reflect on where we are now and where we come from,” she said.

PHOTO BY AFI CAKPO | THE SIGNAL Guest speaker Richard Blance entertained his audience with poems based on his life experiences during his speech for the 31st Martin Luther King Convocation on January 23, 2014.

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Winning on the field, losing in the classroom

E

AMI DUDLEY Opinions Editor Ami is a senior English major and published flash fiction writer. “I’ve constructed my premier works on coffee napkins.”

Follow her @amidudley

arlier this month, reading specialist and University of North Carolina (UNC) faculty member Mary Willingham found through her research that over half of the school’s athletes are illiterate, causing an uproar on campus. The research school and home of the Tar Heels promptly responded, denying her findings and placing an abrupt halt on her research.

The issue of fudging student-athletes’ grades in order to keep these profitable players in the game remains a concern of the general public. But the only winner in this game is the University. The athlete, cheated out of an entitled education, always loses.

Whether Willingham’s findings are true or not, the priority to have a student-athlete maintain a certain GPA at any cost seems quite plausible given the lucrativeness of university sports programs.

For renowned universities like UNC, sports programs are the cash cows of the farm. These prized beauties are milked for staggering amounts like the $16.9 million profit of UNC’s men’s basketball team in 2012, the second largest sports program profit of that year, according to CNN Money.

So when Willingham claimed that 60 percent of the 183 football or basketball players she interviewed read at fourth- to eighth-grade levels while roughly 10 percent read below a third-grade level, UNC’s rather defensive response, while controversial to some, seemed warranted. There is much at stake in the exposure of such findings and especially in the confirmation of them. What’s at stake in the burial of such findings (if true) is even more colossal.

While the question of whether a university education is a necessary catalyst of a fruitful livelihood remains a conversational centerpiece – especially with notable examples like college dropouts Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs – the lack of such education could

do damage to the student. The key word here is education, not degree. Anyone can get a degree, but, as we see in Willingham’s findings, not everyone receives an education.

Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs provide a very marginal example that includes other substantial factors in their success. For the rest of us who aren’t taking this non-traditional route, a university education is valuable. It’s only here, at the university, that we will discover the keys necessary to unlock those heavily guarded entries into industries such as the corporate world.

This issue would be easier to manage if it was exclusive to universities, but the truth is that it isn’t. If these studentathletes are entering the university with such grand rates of illiteracy, the issue is one of our entire educational system, from elementary and on, thus making the issue more of a burden on the university, not a product of it.

So, what responsibility does the University have when faced with this? And should any actions taken have any bearing on the progress of the student-athlete in their respective sports program?

This problem becomes our responsibility when we decide to profit off of these student-athletes. Swapping out a student’s education – one they are entitled to – for a “lucrative” future that may or may not come into fruition is simply wrong. And while the student-athlete may not acknowledge this robbery due to the distraction of a promising future, as investors, the university should see to the care of its “share.”

This care should not just be attentiveness to the athlete’s physical health, but the athlete’s educational health as well.

For every hour spent doing suicides in the gym, a struggling athlete should be encouraged to spend an hour with a tutor.

To deny them of this opportunity is to value what the student athlete can do more than who they are.

The results of such attentiveness to the educational health of athletes can prove very fruitful. Many athletes have used the education gained in higher institutions of learning to find success beyond the courts and fields.

Again, Willingham’s findings may or may not be true but provoke a question: Do we value what our athletes can do more than who they are? We must remember that student athletes are students first and the rightful heirs to an unabridged education.

“ PHOTO BY AMI DUDLEY | THE SIGNAL Jah-mai Davidson, a sophomore psychology major and member of the Georgia State football team.

No one should get a free pass.

No matter how good you are, you need to be able to be a student-athlete. They didn’t just bring you here for you to play and then just pass you on.

So, if you’re not good enough to do good in school and on the field, then you shouldn’t be on the field.”

- Jah-mai Davidson

7

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

For-profit college and the landscape of higher “education”

F MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a junior finance major and student financial advisor.

“My goal is to have more college students financially literate.”

Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

Follow him @madmoneyATL

or-profit colleges are something we all know about and hear the commercials for all the time. Places like Devry University, Phoenix and Westwood College all boast their flexible opportunities to get the degree you need to land a job. They cater to the “non-traditional” student, one who may be older, working a full-time job or just hasn’t had any luck at a traditional four-year college.

With the explosive growth of these schools in the past 10 years, critics including myself are beginning to see these institutions for what they really are: businesses out to make a profit at the expense of the students.

There is a grey area where the product being sold is the idea of success and a stable career. But when it comes to education, profit-hungry companies shouldn’t be able to enter the equation; yet, they have.

And with explosive growth.

In 2001, for-profit colleges had an attendance of 766,000 enrolled students, according to a 2012 report by the Senate Education and Labor Committee. In 2010, that number was 2.4 million. The growth of this industry is shocking when compared to similar, traditional institutions.

For-profits grew 225 percent from 1998 to 2008.

Compare that to traditional institutions, which grew only 31 percent in the same time period. Obviously the demand is skyrocketing for these types of schools, but research shows the quality of education and prestige from an employer’s perspective is severely lacking.

The Senate report from 2012 concluded that forprofit colleges showed “overwhelming documentation of exorbitant tuition, aggressive recruiting practices, and abysmal student outcomes.” The real problem is that hopeful students are still flocking to these institutions en masse, seemingly unphased by these reports.

I’m not saying that traditional universities are free of problems of their own, but for-profit colleges in their nature raise a lot of red flags.

Just take The University of Phoenix’s final point of its mission statement, “To generate the financial resources necessary to support the University’s mission.” No college in America should have this in their mission statement. It shouldn’t be the schools goal to finance itself because when an institution is in that position, it begins seeing people as customers rather than students.

When profits are involved, it becomes the university’s priority to maximize those profits. Whether or not their “customers” land a job with the help of their degree doesn’t affect this. There is little incentive to support the student after graduation.

The average salary for a CEO of a for-profit college is $7.3 million. Compare that to the $250,000 average that college presidents in Georgia make, and you see the stark reality of where for-profit colleges stand and what the CEO’s have to lose.

It is a sad and exploitive industry that takes the optimism of hopeful graduates and capitalizes on it, making sure the students convert their optimism into student loans that these companies rake in. And yes,

Dollars & Sense with

Mitch

the loans are plentiful, with an astounding 96 percent of students at for-profit colleges taking them out.

By the sheer fact that you’re reading this, your life and schedule allow you to attend a traditional fouryear university. But for many, a fast-paced lifestyle and busy schedule only allow them to attend these profitdriven schools, and they are at a disadvantage in their future job search because of it.

There is hope that regulation will come to these profit-hungry universities with more and more studies coming out each year. Until then, I would advise you stay in school—and make sure it’s a public one!

For further statistics: I recommend visiting this article on ProPublica’s website: www.propublica.org/article/ the-for-profit-higher-education-industry-by-the-numbers

From the Editorial Board

There is only one ‘GSU’ and it’s in Atlanta

L

ast week, the Sun Belt Conference reversed itself on an important reference guide designed to determine how the conference and its member schools should refer to each other.

The reasoning for the change was inspired by Sun Belt members like Appalachian State and Arkansas State, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, not to mention Georgia State and Georgia Southern. It could be easy for those unfamiliar with the schools to mix up or confuse their abbreviations.

Therefore, App. State would become “App” and Arkansas State would become “A-St” on second reference; the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as “UL-L” and the University of Louisiana at Monroe as “ULM”; and, finally, Georgia Southern would be known as “GS” and Georgia State would be recognized as “GSU.” Pretty straightforward, right? What could possibly go wrong with that?

Well, for starters, it turns out that students, alumni and fans care quite passionately about how others refer

Now hiring

columnists

to their schools. In response, the Sun Belt backtracked itself into a corner, releasing a series of revisions to the reference guide before finally giving up on it completely.

And, of course, they blamed the PR mishap on the fans.

“We have observed unintended uses of this guide, specifically as it relates to university abbreviations,” read a statement from the SBC. “Therefore, we have elected to eliminate the reference guide from public display and distribution.”

What a shame. But fans in other states weren’t the only ones upset about the abbreviation change.

No, many of our friends in Statesboro also had something to say about Southern becoming “GS” as the moniker of choice over “GSU.” Indeed, a quick Twitter search of #TheRealGSU or #SouthernNotState from last week might give you some insight into how strongly some reacted to the change.

Try not to hold it against them, though. They know not what they say. (Seriously, have you seen their graduation rate?)

Regardless, the rivalry is real, even if the battle for

“the real GSU” was won a long time ago—reference guide or no.

Don’t believe us? Consider these facts: Georgia State was granted university status in 1969, more than 20 years before Southern; we contribute more than $1.4 billion of economic activity to the City of Atlanta annually, nearly single-handedly revitalizing Downtown; we have more than triple the number of living alumni; and, we’re viewed as a national model for our diversity and programs designed to graduate more students from lowincome backgrounds.

Oh yeah, plus we have the domain name. Search “GSU” on Google and see what comes up.

Football record or not, the fact of the matter is that Georgia State also has much better name recognition than Southern with nationally ranked business and law programs attracting record growth and grant money.

Nothing is going to change that, so it’s time people stopped asking “where is the real GSU?” Anybody outside of Statesboro knows that question has already been asked and answered.

You’ve got the opinion.

We’ve got the soapbox.

To be a guest columnist, send in your thoughts to signalopinions@gmail.com. To be a (paid) staff columnist, download an application from georgiastatesignal.com/employment and turn it in to Dr. Bryce McNeil at 330 Student Center

8

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Why net neutrality doesn’t provide even playing fields CAMERON WASHINGTON Associate News Editor Cameron is a journalism major with a concentration in telecommunications.

His minor is marketing.

Cameron’s ultimate goal is to become a sports broadcaster/reporter with either the ESPN or NFL networks. He is a sophomore at Georgia State and expects to graduate in spring 2016.

N

et neutrality is essentially the idea of making a neutral playing field for competition between websites on the Internet.

The issue has been brought to international concern as companies such as Google and Facebook have been able to charge high prices for Internet usage in poorer places around the world.

Providing Internet access to areas allows mammoths like Google and Facebook to squash their local competition before it’s even created. While this is a problem internationally, in America, these web companies have free market competition like Yahoo, Twitter, Skype and Bing. This competition ensures that one company will not dominate the market, but net neutrality would eliminate that.

Net neutrality induces the possible stifling of innovation on the Internet. I fear this could hap-

pen if there is no competition between entities to create the best product.

It’s a simple principle: You get what you pay for. The additional revenue that comes from a competitive market can be used to develop. Future innovations in the Internet industry are borne from today’s profits.

Moreover, why would a company look to improve Internet access for their consumers if they know that there has to be a cap on how much they can improve their product? National-level net neutrality could hinder free market innovation, something that has been the backbone of the American economy since its inception.

Opponents of net neutrality legislation point to concerns of privacy rights that could come about as a result and how those infringements of privacy

can be exploited.

There is the concern that Internet Service Providers (ISP) may have profit motives to analyze what their subscribers are viewing and be able to use such information to their financial advantage.

David Clark, a senior research scientist at MIT, has this same fear.

“With the implementation of net neutrality, ISPs may be able to essentially replicate the targeting that has already been employed by companies,” Clark said. “The real question is, who has the right to observe everything you do?”

There is no question, however, that net neutrality should only be used as a safeguard to monopolization in areas with little to no Internet access looking for a beginning.

drive-thru university by Laura Apperson

Get a d and F egreeDon’ AST! t for get th e

Diplom

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ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

THE MAMMAL GALLERY Hoping to make Broad Street a community

PHOTOS BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

The founding members of The Mammal Gallery (bottom right photo, L to R: Brian Egan, Dan Dewberry, Chris Yonker) host their first gallery at 91 Southwest Broad St to revive the Underground area.

KAYLYN HINZ

Associate Arts & Living Editor

B

road Street houses many of students’ favorite lunch-hour restaurants, including Tin Drum, Naan Stop and Mamma Mia’s. But the southwest side of the street beyond Five Points MARTA station is often the side students forget about. This “other side” of the street contains a quirky art gallery, The Mammal Gallery, with owners who hope they can improve the neighborhood with their business.

“A lot of buildings have failed business and nothing is really being done with these buildings.

And people can just sit on the street and sell drugs because there’s nothing else is going on.

It’s just empty,” Brian Egan, one of three operators of The Mammal Gallery, said.

Heads of the neighborhood

association south of Five Points Kyle Kessler and Richard Miller are owners of several buildings on Broad Street.

When Kessler was in the market for an artist group to move into the area, he fell upon the names of Brian Egan and Chris Yonker, both former Georgia State students.

“It’s weird, it definitely fell into my lap,” Egan said.

After Yonker received the go to move into 91 Broad St., he called long-time friend Dan Dewberry to join the team.

“I was in Savannah working and I just quit my job and came here. I have a weird faith with Chris Yonker. Whatever he puts his mind to, it usually turns out pretty well,” Dewberry said.

Brian Egan, Chris Yonker and Dan Dewberry are all in charge of the gallery with separate roles for each. Yonker takes care of scheduling and booking bands, Egan is responsible for the artwork and showcases, and Dew-

berry picks up what is not finished along with videos and disc jockeying.

“We are focused on being kind of like a positive force on the street, so anything we do, the starting point is our location, space and time,” Egan said.

The gallery itself is split up into two floors serving two different purposes. Upstairs, the art gallery is showcased and opens two hours before the downstairs area on event nights.

Downstairs, the decor is eccentric; pink and ivory chevon covers the walls. Friends of friends come together and celebrate both art and music on these nights.

Community plays a role with The Mammal Gallery. The owners not only want to make a community for artists and musicians in the Atlanta area but also want to create a place Georgia State students can call home.

“It’s like the coolest spot. It’s a little out of the way, but if you

go there it’s cool because it’s not like the whole GSU population is there,” Egan said. “I wanted to see this collaboration between Georgia State and us because we are the middle point between Georgia State and Castleberry Hill.”

The name “Mammal Gallery” came from a thinking process of wanting a name that sounded warm and homey. Their first thought was “The Butter Gallery,” but they soon learned it was being used in Miami. Putting the relation between humans and mammals, it all made sense.

The team would like the gallery to eventually be in the same category as The Earl or

“

529. Since there is nothing in the downtown area to cater to something like this, the Mammal team remains hopeful.

“There’s a bunch of art galleries around, music venues and bars around, but there’s not too many that focus on the people that are showing work or preforming.” Dewberry said.

The Mammal Gallery’s owners showcase art and music because they enjoy seeing a community come together in an area like downtown Atlanta.

“I love the feeling of bringing people together. It meets a lot of restraint kind of, but once it’s over you can take a deep breath and look at the end results,” Egan said.

A lot of buildings have failed business and nothing is really being done with these buildings.”

- Brian Egan

Neighborhood Guide

The Highlands

By: Samantha Reardon Cafe 640

Ponce De Leon Ave NE

Cafe 640 is at all times many things: a bistro, a cafe, a restaurant and a bar.

Chef Peter Frazzano mixes European and American cuisine to produce dishes that are both affordable and contain high quality ingredients.

“That’s the nice thing about the title of our restaurant—Cafe 640 —we can really do anything. We’re not stereotyped as being a certain restaurant,” Frazzano says.

General manager Ticia Grass attests to the importance of lending a hand to other local businesses and appealing to customers.

“We definitely try to appeal to our neighborhood,” Grass says.

The cafe also boasts various events throughout the week, such as live music performances each Thursday at 8 p.m.

Go for: brunch (eggs benedict and grapefruit rosewater martini), live music Thursdays, an affordable menu that changes seasonally.

Visit their site at www.cafe640.com

Righteous Room Sandwiched between Urban Outfitters and the Plaza Theatre off Ponce de Leon Avenue, The Righteous Room is the perfect stop for drinks after a Friday night Rocky Horror show— it’s a dive-bar with a bohemian flair, a kickass playlist and general coolness.

Business partner and bartender Patrick Galvin was printing CD covers for albums he burned for the bar’s playlist when he discussed his start as a bartender at The Righteous Room.

The bar has been serving the Highlands for 17 years, and some of the regulars are just folks working down the street. Drinks come sans tax; a $4 beer is $4 flat.

“People in the service industry, I don’t think they want to pay eight to 12 dollars for a drink, you know? ‘Cause they don’t make much money either. You know, they need to pay rent and pay all their bills, so we afford them the opportunity to drink on the cheap,” Galvin explains.

This solidifies the bar’s neighborhood relevance, making it one of the most iconic spots in the Highlands.

Go for: the cheap beer, the chicken wings (which, as Galvin asserts, “are some of the best in Atlanta, and I’m not exaggerating”) and the homemade veggie burger Visit their Facebook page: The Righteous Room Atlanta

Highland Row Antiques

Videodrome

Highland Row Antiques is rather unassuming if you never make it past the main floor. But the cashier will prompt you to go downstairs, and by all means—go.

You will be greeted by six rooms filled with everything from vintage clothing to mid-century furniture to preserved Playboys, and everything in between.

Owner Angela Carbon opened Highland Row Antiques 10 years ago with a handful of vendors, and now she has more than 20 who sell their wares in the store.

“I just like to keep it small. I don’t like change too much. I like the personalities of the people that are there. You sort of have to fit the store.”

The store’s aesthetic is funky and eclectic—a reflection of Carbon’s vendors. She tries to focus mainly on antiques from the 50s through the 70s.

It seems like they have everything imaginable.

“We’ve had some vintage, erotic S&M stuff before – I mean, we’ve got it all.”

Videodrome is covered wall-to-wall in DVDs and movie posters, and, at first entry, it’s a little overwhelming.

But with the selection of about 18,000 DVDs covering several genres—American indies, foreign films, sci-fi, horror and anime—it’s as simple as speaking to an employee and finding something you like.

Owner Matt Booth opened Videodrome in 1998. His introduction to non-mainstream films came when he was a student at the University of Georgia. After seeing films like Unbelievable Truth, Booth explains he couldn’t stop.

And though movie lovers can easily stream movies online now, Booth says that Videodrome offers an alternative to the culture of having to sign up for multiple, costly accounts that carry different films, like Netflix and HBO GO. “Because different sources carry different material...so we have all that, so you don’t have to search around for what you want,” Booth says.

Go for: Fun. Allow yourself half an hour to

Go for: Three-night rentals at $3.78 per title.

get acquainted, and a couple more hours to really dig in. Highland Row Antiques holds its Basement Market every Saturday from 10 a.m.

- 7 p.m., where they showcase vendor’s fresh stock.

Visit their website at www.videodromeatl.com

Visit their site at www.highlandrowantiques.com

Atlanta Cupcake Factory In its eight-year run, Atlanta Cupcake Factory (ACF) has made quite the name for itself under the helm of owner Jamie Fahee; it has been featured in several local publications, including Creative Loafing.

ACF is not just any cupcake shop, baker Zoe Mayfield explains. Fahee opened her doors before cupcakes became trendy.

“We’re like the original gangster of cupcakes, so we did cupcakes before the trend,” Mayfield says.

Mayfield thinks you’re either born to bake or you’re not. But either way, anyone can enjoy the cupcakes at ACF. What really sets ACF apart are the natural ingredients used, making each bite taste like it was homemade in the family kitchen. All cakes are baked fresh daily.

Go for: the sweet potato bourbon cupcake, the sugar cookie salted caramel cupcake (one of Mayfield’s favorites), the red velvet whoopie pie Visit their site at www.theatlantacupcakefactory.com

North Highland Ave NE

North Highland Ave NE Start here

T

he Highlands boasts such a vast array of awesome local haunts that it would be impossible to highlight all of them. But in the first installment of The Signal’s neighborhood guide series, we bring you five local establishments you won’t want to miss. Bonus: they’re all within walking distance of one another.

DESIGN BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

12

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Co-op program provides full-time job for students NAJA MCGOWAN Staff Reporter

A

t 5:30 a.m., a time when most college students are shuffling underneath their covers, Rory Bertram rises before the sun and heads to his classroom – an office at The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) headquarters in Atlanta.

Bertram is a part of the pilot cooperative education program at Georgia State, which provides a structured, paid workforce experience to computer science and computer science information systems (CIS) students.

“Every day I have to learn a new skill or tool to help me effectively do my job,” the senior CIS major said. “You’ve really got to use every single synapse in your brain and I love it.”

Bertram is one of the 12 students currently in the program.

“We are in the beginning stages of our co-op program,” said Makesha Hillery, co-coordinator for cooperative education and internships at Georgia State’s Career Ser-

“

You’ve really got to use every single synapse in your brain and I love it.”

- Rory Bertram

vices department.

Co-ops are different from internships; they are facilitated by the university, and students basically become employees.

“From what I’ve heard from other students’ experiences, a lot of interns are doing mindless data entry and filling the coffee maker – basically low-level work,” Bertram explained.

“Whereas I’m getting the workload, benefits and healthcare of a full-time employee doing what people who have graduated with IT degrees are doing.”

Bertram’s infrastructure coop position at INPO allows him to hone his problem solving and technical skills at what is essentially the service desk for nuclear

plant operators and employees.

“I provide IT and technical support on both a software and hardware level for my entire 400-person building, and I also do lower-level support for every nuclear plant in North America, which is about a hundred plants.”

Bertram had to go through stringent GPA requirements, program qualifications and job preparation modules before his resume was even sent out to potential employers.

His resume caught the eye of Brenda Byrd, the section manager of Customer Enterprise Services.

“Rory is a very impressive young man,” Byrd said. “I was impressed by his resume and even more impressed when I met him

in person. He is professional, polite and he definitely has the gogetter attitude, so I just knew that I could trust him to do the work.”

Byrd has been a mentor for coop students for six years. She and two other staff members are in charge of educating the students daily and evaluating their performance at the midpoint and end of the semester.

INPO’s four-semester co-op program has been offered to students for over 20 years. The program, which usually requires two semesters, was condensed to a semester for Bertram because of advance position in his academic program and the limited time that he has until graduation.

Before his co-op, Bertram’s other job was as a baggage handler for Delta airlines. The keys to his early success at his co-op are his curious nature and the analytic skills instilled in him as a Georgia State student.

“I just started like most IT people, working and figuring out my computer problems,” Bertram said. “Georgia State and the CIS track specifically have forced me to retrain my mind and how I go about solving problems.”

Bertram’s employers have taken notice of how quickly he has picked on their difficult program and are reassured that they made the right decision.

“I’m sure it’s been challenging for him and he’s learning a lot of things that he never really thought about before, but he’s been here a few weeks and understands a lot now,” Byrd said.

“Rory is our first GSU student and he has been very open to learning and a joy to work with.

I’m really glad I stepped out and took the chance on him.”

Currently, the cooperative education program is limited to computer science and CIS majors, but according to Hillery, University Career Services staff are building relationships with more of the employers to expand the opportunity to more students.

“This experience has really changed my perception of the workforce in a positive way,” Bertram said.

“When you’re working for and with a group of people who you enjoy, the work becomes secondary. And even though my job is f--ing hard, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

13

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Spending time apart Communicating may be the key to a successful relationship break

d e e n e w ih nk

t I “

” . k a e br a e k a t to

...here we go...

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA N. YANG | THE SIGNAL

JEWEL WICKER

Associate Arts & Living Editor

R

elationship breaks have been talked about in pop culture for quite some time now, but recent headlines about NBA basketball player Dwyane Wade and rapper Ludacris fathering children while on a break from their long-term significant others have given the topic new relevance.

The media has often discussed breaks in terms of the messy aftermath, but not in regard to making them worthwhile and beneficial to the relationship.

Sometimes couples find spending some time apart is necessary, even though they don’t want to actually break up.

Many students believe relationship breaks can be just as complicated as staying together, though.

Like most things, there is no “one size fits all” answer for how to take a successful break, but many believe communicating with your significant other plays a major part in taking a beneficial time out.

Student Dayvon Kimble dated his ex-girlfriend on and off for four years while in high school.

They had three breaks in their relationship, the longest one lasting for two months. He explained how they didn’t set rules for each other during their time apart.

“In a break, you know that something is still there, but at the same time you’re willing to test the waters,” Kimble said.

Kimble views relationships differently now that he’s older.

He hasn’t dated since coming to college, but he thinks most of his friends who go on relationship breaks are delaying the inevitable.

“The break is pretty much a breakup, but they don’t know it yet.”

Dr. Mindy Stombler, a sociology professor who teaches classes on sexuality and society, said taking a break to date or have sex with other people isn’t necessarily bad for a relationship.

“If people decide that they want to take a break and have sex with other partners, as long as that’s been communicated and both people agree that it’s a good idea, then it doesn’t necessarily have to be in-

“

It’s hard to establish guidelines. It seems more complicated than it’s worth.”

- Tia Jackson, student

herently damaging.”

Students Tia Jackson and Willie Robinson have been dating for nearly a year and agreed that they wouldn’t take a break in their relationship.

“I think taking breaks in a relationship is BS,” Jackson said.

“It’s hard to establish guidelines. It seems more complicated than it’s worth.”

Jackson admits she has taken breaks in a previous relationship, but explained that she now finds the concept selfish.

“Relationships are work and it’s not easy. You don’t get to have free time when you’re having problems.

I understand the concept of time apart, but I couldn’t imagine look-

ing at Will and saying, ‘Lets not talk for two weeks,’” Jackson said.

Stombler said there can be benefits to taking a break from a relationship, however.

“I understand why students want to take them. They’re very busy and they need to decide if this relationship is the right relationship for them,” Stombler said.

Christen Lott and Aaron Hunte have been dating for almost two years after meeting through Hunte’s roommate at Georgia State.

They say they’ve tried to go on breaks before, but they never last more than two days.

Still, the couple said they can understand taking time apart to cool off and reflect after heated

fights.

“Emotions are high and you say things that you don’t mean,” Lott said, noting that she and Hunte are working on their communication skills.

Stombler agreed communication is important even when couples are deciding to spend some time apart.

“I would agree with those couples and just say that communication is absolutely key. It’s key to a healthy relationship and it would be key to a healthy break.”

Stombler said relationship breaks are different for every couple, but she doesn’t know of any official research on the subject.

“In terms of research or data on this, I don’t know of any research where people have actually surveyed students and found out how they define appropriate activity during a break in a relationship.”

It seems some students believe effective communication will prevent couples from needing breaks from one another, while others seem to think having time apart isn’t a bad thing as long as expectations are discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

columns

14

Study abroad column

Crunch time at Mainz CALEB ROBERTSON Columnist

Caleb Robertson is an English major at Georgia State. Caleb spends his free time rock climbing and playing video games and is a strong supporter of Batman’s war on crime. He is currently studying abroad at Mainz University in Mainz, Germany.

Follow him @CJRobertson10

I

hope all of you are enjoying the easy time at the beginning of a new semester, the time where your class finds its legs before your professors start assigning work. Because it’s crunch time here at the University of Mainz.

The semester ends the first week of February, and that means it’s time to take exams and to write term papers. This semester, I have one exam (American popular culture) and four ten-page term papers due a month after the last day of class (first week of March).

The end of the semester in Mainz looks similar to Georgia State: sleepy students studying in the library, spikes in sales of coffee and that general sense of stress that works its way into on-campus conversation.

There is one key aspect of the end of the semester in Germany: The exam or term paper are the only grades given in each class, so they determine the final grade for that class. Many professors say they also factor in class participation to the final grade, but many other students say that this is rare in reality, if it happens at all.

It’s stressful, to say the least, and of course Caleb from October didn’t realize that he would soon be Caleb in the middle of January with zero pages written out of the forty he needs to write.

Other students prepare a little more than I do, fortunately for them. Student Katrine Blichert says it depends on the class.

“For translation I’m not preparing at all,” Blichert said. “But for cultural studies I’ll probably take a couple of days and nights out of the calendar to read up and prepare.”

Student Marie Henrich, who plans to study abroad in the United States next year, said she doesn’t think the German system is as effective for education.

“We have this word for it; it is called ‘bulimic studying,’ because you try to study a lot of things but nothing actually stays in your system,” Henrich said. “[with the American system] people would actually have to participate and show up in order to pass the class. And not just stupidly remember facts at the end of the semester.”

So my advice is this: If you find yourself studying at a German university (and I recommend you do; it’s worth the stress), get started on the end-of-semester stuff during the two-week Christmas vacation, even if that means spending less time drinking mulled wine. Or you could be like me and pull your hair out for a whole month trying to play catch up. Your choice.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Music column

Elliot Street Pub musicians revive Atlanta jazz music

I

PAUL DEMERRITT Columnist

Paul DeMerritt is a freelance journalist and musician with extensive experience reporting on the music and culture of Atlanta and the globe.

Follow him @PaulDeMerritt

recently attended a local jazz performance com- lanta’s strong hip-hop tradition with the spontaneity prised of musicians who had been a part of At- and relentless energy of jazz could birth a new musilanta’s jazz scene since the 60s. One performer cal niche in Atlanta. had even been playing in Atlanta for over 55 years. I Already, a dedicated class of diverse, young muwas eager to use their experience to trace the time- sicians has started to fill in the gaps between the line of Atlanta jazz, considering cities like New York old and the new. The Elliot Street Pub jam session, and New Orleans have such fascinating histories hosted by Kevin Scott, gathers every Tuesday night with the genre. The one question I posed to all five to offer promise for the eventual rebirth of Atlanta musicians led me to the disturbing realization that jazz. Musicians are allowed to explore the improvione of the last American genres was dying fast in sational limits of jazz without feeling confined to Atlanta. playing crowd-friendly covers and conforming their Q: How have you seen Atlanta’s jazz scene evolve sound to maximize tips. over the decades?

Their jam session starts off with a single, unA: It hasn’t. interrupted set that typiI was stunned. cally goes for around 45 How could a genre minutes, but the only real be performed in the time limit is decided by the How could a genre be same area for over 55 wild impulses of the jam. performed in the same years and not change Unlike typical jazz pereven remotely? Cerarea for over 55 years and formances where a band tainly jazz is not eascomprised of a pianist, not change even remotely? isdrummer, ily digestible and its bassist and one foundations are antior two horn instruments, radio, but even the Elliot Street Pub invites most difficult music guitarists, conga players, manages to eek out a few distinctive differences electronic instruments and even spontaneous spoamong generations. ken word pieces into the mix.

What depressed me more than the stagnation of Following the unwieldy directions of their imAtlanta’s jazz scene was the musicians’ resigned ac- promptu solos is like watching a train veering off ceptance that their sound had been limited to back- the rails, flailing in whatever direction gravity dicground music for fancy brunches and the few re- tates. Over the course of one set, the jam session maining venues dedicated to jazz survive with steep can jump from jazz, funk, noise rock and electronic cover charges or wealthy benefactors. breakbeats to sounds that genres can’t begin to adAs a wellspring for hip-hop trends, Atlanta equately describe. needs to embrace a more thriving jazz scene. The Maybe Elliot Street’s ever-changing, ragtag entwo genres have been bedfellows since pioneering semble will mark a new vitality for Atlanta jazz. rap groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul Maybe their fearless commitment to improvisation constantly referenced jazz legends in their rhymes will finally take jazz out of the overpriced clubs and and especially their production. the five star restaurants – and give it back to the Modern producers such as Madlib and Kanye people. At the very least, I hope that in another 55 West, especially with his recent track “Blood on the years Atlanta jazz musicians will finally be able to Leaves,” continue to incorporate the moody ambi- say that their music has a new face and a healthy, ance of jazz luminaries into their work. Fusing At- ever-beating heart.

“

Sex column

How many sexual partners is too many?

W

RACHEL KINGSLEY Columnist

Rachel believes even though society has become more open about sex, it’s still a highly taboo subject. To become more open and accepting, she believes we need to start with education. Rachel shares her experiences.

Follow her @rachelkingsley

hen you start dating someone, many new questions come up—how is your relationship with your family? Where do you work? What’s your favorite band? How many people have you had sex with?

When I’m dating someone new, I am always honest, even when it comes to the number of people I have been sexually involved with. I was recently dating a guy who asked the “number” question. My number was significantly higher than his.

It made him uncomfortable...so uncomfortable that we stopped dating, and I haven’t spoken to him since.

In 2014, is there still stigma about the number of men that a woman has had sex with? What about the number of women a man has had sex with? What is an appropriate “number” of sexual partners?

My friend James told me that when I meet a new guy I should lie about the number of men I’ve been with. He said that it’s a little white lie that everyone tells. I don’t think that any relationship should start out with lies—even little white ones.

My other friend Zach told me that if I need-

“

As long as you’re practicing safe, consensual sex and being tested regularly, I don’t see why a number should be a deal-breaker.

ed to lie to someone about my sexual past, that I shouldn’t be with that person anyway. He also asked if I would consider having sex with a virgin—and I said absolutely. Some people have more experience than others, but that doesn’t affect who that person is.

I wouldn’t judge someone by the amount of sexual partners they have had. As long as you’re practicing safe, consensual sex and being tested regularly, I don’t see why a number should be a deal-breaker. Call me a feminist or sexually progressive! Everyone enjoys sex and, in our culture, you don’t have to be in a relationship to have sex or enjoy it. The number of partners that I have had is not who I am. It’s what I’ve done.

reviews

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

15

ALBUM REVIEW

Kid Ink’s “My Own Lane” is his own sell-out album 1 2 3

V/A - THE BEGINNING “V/A - The Beginning” NICK WATERHOUSE “Holly” THE RANGE “Nonfiction”

4 5

KRTS “The Foreigner”

6 7 8

DAMIEN JURADO “Brothers and Sisters of The Eternal Son” FORÊT “Forêt”

9

SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS “Give The People What They Want”

10

CEEPHAX ACID CREW “World Dissolver EP”

V/A - I NEED YOU BAD “V/A - I Need You Bad”

WUN TWO “rio”

NOW PLAYING AT

Cinefest

RCA Records Release date: Jan. 17, 2014 Grade: CVerdict: When a handful of Chris Brown guest verses are the best thing about your album, you might have a problem.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

I

n case you hadn’t heard, the L.A. rap scene has been making a comeback lately – with a vengeance. And with acts like Future pairing that West Coast swagger with a refreshing willingness to push the boundaries of conventional music, that scene has never been more vibrant.

Take the “hipster rap” label and wear it with pride, I say. If hipster rap means hearing less of the same obnoxious songs, with the same five beats about going to the same damn club to attempt to pick up the same damn girls with the same damn nonsense about poppin’ bottles like they don’t cost a cool mortgage these days, then I’m all for it.

“But wait!” I can hear some of you saying.

Surely enjoying simple, banal hip-hop isn’t a bad thing, and one could find a place in their heart to enjoy some non-thinking bumping and grinding and every now and then, right? Excellent point, fictional person! No, not every new

rapper has to blow up the box and reinvent the wheel to be considered good.

Kid Ink, who has more or less admitted that he does NOT want to reinvent the wheel, is quite content putting out the crowd pleasing numbers. After all, he DID get his start as a producer, making a lot of those same crowd-pleasing beats. But if creativity isn’t what he was aiming for, then the least he could do is not be so dang middle-of-the-road boring for an entire album.

After all that dazzling potential the Kid demonstrated on indie debut “Up & Away,” “My Own Lane” feels like a disappointingly safe album. Deep down, it’s no doubt that he’s secretly been most comfortable churning out the most conventional beats.

It has its share of highlights, though. Kid Ink’s ear for a good hook shows in some of the album’s stronger moments. Opening track “Hello World” has a damn infectious, swelling beat that doubles both as the intro and the main chorus, putting Kid Ink’s best assets to work at once: his talent for blending hard hitting beats with melodic singing. And when those elements come together just right, it’s almost enough to

make you forget that Kid Ink’s kinda lousy at this whole rapping thing.

The guest verses courtesy of Tyga on the otherwise uneventful “Iz U Down,” King Los on the otherwise clunky “No Option” (seeing a trend here?) and even the ones doled out by Chris Brown on the album highlights “Show Me” and “Main Chick,” just stand out to make Kid Ink’s flow look dull by comparison.

The tracks where Kid Ink alone carries the vocal duties feel like empty moments that go on entirely too long. After the halfway point – save for one stellar vocal performance by Elle Varner on “No Miracles” – there’s precious little worth recommending.

Beneath the ‘tude and the uninspired mashup of bro-tastic clubbing anthems, Kid occasionally shows flecks of that old talent of his. He does have a gift for making insanely catchy beats and producing great songs, and after years of doing just that for other mediocre rappers, you couldn’t blame him for deciding to cash in to get his own piece of the pie. You just sorta wished he’d waited a few albums before opting to sell out.

funny lines, but also the strength to bear the burden of moving the story forward, even at the expense of a joke if the plot requires it.

In “Ride Along,” Kevin Hart does just that.

Obviously he isn’t alone in carrying the entire weight of the film; he’s got the unmeltable Ice Cube on his side. Ice Cube is a veteran of the film industry who has a knack for getting involved with great projects, (“Boyz in da Hood,” “Higher Learning,” the “Friday” series, etc.) and discovering talent whose careers could use a little boost (Omar Epps, Chris Tucker, Mike Epps, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rapaport, etc).

The success of some of Ice Cube’s former co-stars suggests that doing a project with Ice Cube is almost like an actual “Ride Along;” and the outcome of the relationship between James and Ben parallels the potential outcome of the career of Kevin Hart. At this

point, Ice Cube can’t completely make or break Kevin’s career, but he sure can make it easier or harder.

Hart is smartly following the trail blazed

by Eddie Murphy: going from stand-up comedy to TV comedy to buddy/cop actioncomedies. But because of his physical stature, being taken seriously doing very physical action sequences is going to be difficult for Kevin Hart. The filmmakers of “Ride Along” seemed to keep this in mind and did not put him in implausible situations. In fact, they made Ben’s strengths his inquisitive nature and his natural intellect. In the one scene where Ben does physically overcome a much larger opponent (and seriously, who isn’t much larger), it is done in a way that makes sense and is perfectly logical and possible.

“Ride Along” is well worth the price of admission and is just the first of many, hilarious Kevin Hart adventures.

MOVIE REVIEW

Ride Along Rating: PG-13 Running time: 91 mins.

Grade: B+ Verdict: “Ride Along” is a very funny movie with just the right amount of heart, soul and action.

PEDRO ALVARADO Staff Reviewer

B Synopsis: “The Grandmaster” is a story that spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war that was also the golden age of Chinese martial arts.

Showtimes: Weekdays: 11am, 2pm., 5pm and 8pm Weekend: 1pm, 3pm and 6pm

Running time: 133 minutes Rated: R

en Barber (Kevin Hart) is a public school security guard whose lifelong ambition is to join the police force. He’s in love with Angela Payton (Tika Sumpter) and wants to ask her hand in marriage, but her brother, James Payton (Ice Cube) is an Atlanta police detective who is very protective of his little sister.

In order to receive James’ blessing, Ben must accompany James on a ride along and impress James enough to give Ben both a recommendation to the police academy and Angela’s heart.

In his first starring role, Kevin Hart shows that he can bring more to a film than just comic relief. If you’ve ever seen Kevin Hart perform before—either his stand-up or on TV or other films—there is no question that he is an extremely funny man. What will make him a true action-comedy film star is not just the ability to deliver the

games & such

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• Personalized WANTED Posters • Art Talks and Performances from Spelman Museum of Fine Art • Go West! Tours • Wild West Photo Booth & Art-making • Art by Brenau University Students Take

$7 for students FREE for members and academic affiliates Brenau University and Southern Polytechnic. $5 for groups of 10 or more, call 404-733-4550 More at

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Thank you to The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for their generous support of this program.

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

ON THE WAY UP Women’s basketball team turning season around DAVID A. NORWOOD II Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State took sole possession of second place in the Sun Belt Conference Saturday after defeating The University of Louisiana at Monroe (7-12, 3-4 Sun Belt) 77-66 on the road.

The Panthers have gradually turned their season around, winning four consecutive games despite being ranked No. 8 in the Sun Belt two weeks ago.

Before competing in a single game this season, the Panthers were underdogs coming off a 13-16 season, where they finished ninth in their last season in the Colonial Athletic Asssociation (CAA).

Georgia State (9-10, 5-2 Sun Belt) was picked eighth in the 2013-14 Sun Belt

Conference Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll.

From early November to late December, the nonconference portion of their schedule, the Panthers went 4-8, including a 58-70 loss to then-No. 22 Georgia in the championship game of the Georgia State Invitational.

Giant killers

On Jan. 14, Georgia State shocked the Sun Belt by defeating previously undefeated Sun Belt frontrunner Arkansas State 76-74 in Jonesboro, Ark. “This was a great team win over a very good basketball team on its home court and it should give us a little confidence,” Head Coach Baldwin-Tener said to Georgia State Athletics.

“Despite the 76-74 I think we played pretty good defense.”

The next game marked a new challenge for the Panthers as they faced Sun Belt preseason No. 1 University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) on Jan. 14.

Georgia State found themselves in a familiar position, playing from behind.

UALR led by seven points with 3:25 left in the game.

“We talked in the timeout... I told them we got plenty of time if we just get some stops, get rebounds and quit fouling taking them to the line,” Head Coach Baldwin-Tener said.

“We’re used to being in tight games and have a lot of confidence down the stretch,” Baldwin-Tener said.

With aggressive defense, the Panthers won 61-59 after a clutch shot within the final

two seconds from sophomore guard Gaby Moss. “[Moss is] not necessarily our best rebounder so I thought that’s pretty big,” Baldwin-Tener said.

“I thought we were pretty aggressive and we wanted to win this basketball game and we made a play down the stretch.”

Filling the void

Redshirt-junior guard Alisha Andrews filled a leadership gap in the team after last year’s leader, Cody Paulk, graduated from Georgia State along with two other seniors.

Andrews finally made her debut this season after being denied her hardship waiver to play last season when transferring from North CarolinaWilmington.

The new addition to the team worked out for the bet-

ter for Georgia State as they ranked fourth in the Sun Belt, averaging 12.79 assists per game.

Andrews currently leads the Sun Belt in assists, averaging 4.8 assists per game. Senior guard Kendra Long is eighth in the conference averaging 2.9 assists per game.

The Panthers are fifth in the Sun Belt for scoring offense, averaging 67.8 points per game.

Kendra Long leads the team with 14.6 points per game, totaling 102 points for the season.

The Panthers will try to extend their winning streak Wednesday against South Alabama at 7 p.m. at home. *For recaps of the Lady Panthers’ two game Louisiana road trip against Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe, visit georgiastatesignal.com

PHOTO BY ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN | THE SIGNAL

The Lady Panthers hype themselves up before their game against UALR Trojans. The Panthers won the game 61-59.

SPORTS

18

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Track

Stefanoff strides for conference title ERIC YEBOAH Staff Reporter

L

ong distance runner Hannah Stefanoff is primed for a big season and has begun taking big strides as she won the 5,000M event on the first day of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazer Invitational that took place earlier this month.

This came just after Stefanoff earned a spot on the 2013 AllSun Belt Conference first team for cross country by placing fourth out of 72 at the Sun Belt championship race in November. She is still striving for more.

“For indoor, I will like to get all-conference for the 5K and 3K because last year did not go that well for me,” Stefanoff said. “Another big goal of mine would to place top three in the 10K for outdoor.”

Running all year can take a toll on the body, but Stefanoff ’s offseason training has greatly helped her and has a lot to do with her success.

Coming into this year’s task of both cross-country and track and field, Stefanoff knew that to reach her goals she would have to train harder.

“This past summer, I trained

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Hannah Stefanoff started the women’s track season on the right foot winning the 5,000 M race at the UAB Blazer Invitational. harder than the years before in order to improve and I saw the payoff at the last competition at UAB,” Stefanoff said.

Another runner might be satisfied with a top 10 finish in last years 10K at the the conference

championship, but not Stefanoff, whose strong love and motivation for the sport started back in middle school.

“I just went and tried it, and surprisingly, I was good at it,” Stefanoff said. “After that, I began

working hard and I still enjoy it now.”

Stefanoff said she gets motivation from her teammates, such as Katharine Showalter, who broke the indoor track and field school records for the 2013 season as well

as competed in the 2012 NCAA National Championship for crosscountry.

Stefanoff trained hard not only for herself, but also for her team, which she thinks can do big things this season after finishing seventh at the conference championship last year.

“Last year we felt we didn’t do as well as we thought we could in conference,” Stefanoff said. “But this year we added new coaches that are really motivating and everybody we redshirted last year is coming back, so I think we have a really good chance of doing well.”

After analyzing the upcoming schedule, Stefanoff is excited about the Florida Relays being held in April because of the large group of runners participating, including several top-ranked runners.

“Even though they may be faster than me, I still want to race them because it makes you better,” Stefanoff said.

However, the only competition that matters to Stefanoff and her teammates on the schedule is the Sun Belt tournament held in May in San Marcos, Texas.

“Perfect ending for this season would be to win the Sun Belt outdoor conference as a team, which I think is very possible,” Stefanoff said.

Women’s Tennis

Sisters leaving a legacy together ALEC MCQUADE Sports Editor

A

bigail and Marcia TereApisah are sisters from Papua New Guinea who both took their talents around the world to play women’s tennis at Georgia State.

Abigail Tere-Apisah, known amongst the team as Abby, is a senior in her final season while her sister is a freshman who just wrapped up her first fall season.

Papua New Guinea, where the sisters grew up, is a country in the Pacific just above Australia.

“It’s a beautiful and very diverse country,” Abby Tere-Apisah said.

“We grew up in a neighborhood with lots of kids, and so we were always on the streets with friends and would come home late.”

Abby Tere-Apisah and Marcia Tere-Apisah left Papua New Guinea when each was 10 years old to further their education and tennis careers.

When it came time to think about college, Abby Tere-Apisah said she met a Georgia State tennis player who told her about the program and

the city of Atlanta, something that drew her to Georgia State.

“I didn’t really care, to be honest, if [Georgia State was] ranked or not ranked,” Abby Tere-Apisah said. “I just chose it because it was in the city and it’s different from back home. I wanted a change.”

Marcia Tere-Apisah is a softspoken freshman who joined the team in the daunting shadow of her accomplished older sister. However, Marcia Tere-Apisah said she does not feel any added pressure having to live up to her sister.

“I wanna be better than her,” Marcia Tere-Apisah said, making her sister and coach Robin Stephenson laugh. “I want to be No. 1 when she’s gone.”

Abby Tere-Apisah is quite accomplished. Even before starting her collegiate tennis career, she played in several junior tennis championships such as the junior Australian Open.

Now, in her senior year, she has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year and the 2012 CAA Player of the Year.

In addition, Abby Tere-Apisah is the highest-ranked female athlete in Georgia State history. If she moves

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

The Tere-Apisah sisters (left: Abigail, right: Marcia) came overseas to play tennis at Georgia State. up in the collegiate tennis rankings into the top five, she will be the highest-ranked Georgia State athlete in the school’s history.

“I guess since I’ve been here I’ve really improved a lot,” Abby TereApisah said. “Since [Coach Stephenson] has come in and all the change in practices and conditioning in ways that really helps a lot. I think it’s

really contributing.”

Marcia Tere-Apisah has had plenty of successes of her own, competing in several junior tournaments.

She won the 2009 and 2013 Fiji Open and made it to the finals of the Air Pacific South Pacific Open Junior Championships in 2013.

Surprisingly, the two successful sisters don’t butt heads too often on

the court, according to Stephenson.

Abby Tere-Apisah said if her sister struggles in a match, she may step in and coach her. Marcia TereApisah, on the other hand, said her older sister isn’t as willing to take tips.

“She won’t listen,” Marcia TereApisah, said joking with her sister.

Coach Stephenson says it is a positive influence to the team to have the sisters on the team, especially with Marcia Tere-Apisah following in her sister’s footsteps.

“They’re both so laid back and great team players,” Stephenson said.

“Abby with all the accomplishments she’s had, she’s more interested in what the team does, and I think that Marcia has got the same personality.”

The women’s tennis team’s spring season is underway, and Coach Stephenson said she is excited to see where this season’s team will go.

“Over the fall I think we really found what roles everyone plays,” Stephenson said. “I think just working on same things we’ve been doing over the fall and getting better as a team and becoming more of a unit.”

The team’s next match is Jan. 29 against Mercer University at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

PANTHER Of The Week

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

BRITTANY LOGAN BASKETBALL

Brittany Logan helped lead the women’s basketball team to two more victories this past weekend by earning two consecutive double-doubles.

Logan scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the women’s 72-67 overtime win over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Thursday.

The center helped extend the Panthers’ lead in overtime by making two free throws.

Logan’s second double-double came Saturday in the 77-66 victory over the University of Louisiana at Monroe by getting 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The win put the women’s basketball team’s winning streak at four.

Logan is a junior who transferred from Georgia Perimeter College this past summer.

Logan is from Decatur, Ga. and graduated from Lane Academy in Greenville, S.C.

Sports Calendar

*CONFERENCE GAMES

Wed, Jan. 29 Women’s Tennis Mercer Piedmont Park 2 p.m.

Fri, Jan. 31 Men’s Tennis Columbia New York, N.Y. 3 p.m.

Wed, Jan. 29 Women’s Basketball South Alabama* GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

88.5 FM WRAS & 1340 AM The Fan 3

Sat, Feb. 1 Women’s Tennis Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 1 p.m.

Thu, Jan. 30 Men’s Basketball South Alabama* GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

88.5 FM WRAS & 1340 AM The Fan 3 Thu, Jan. 30 Women’s Tack & Field Southern Miss.

Birmingham, Ala. TBA Fri, Jan. 31

23 19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY DECEMBER 28,10, 2014 2013

Sat, Feb. 1 Women’s Basketball UT Arlington* GSU Sports Arena 6 p.m.

Sun Belt TV 88.5 FM WRAS & 1340 AM The Fan 3 Sat, Feb. 1 Men’s Basketball UT-Arlington* GSU Sports Arena 8:30 p.m.

Sun Belt TV 88.5 FM WRAS &

1340 AM The Fan 3 Sun, Feb. 2 Men’s Tennis Cornell Ithaca, N.Y. 10 a.m.

Wed, Feb. 5 Women’s Basketball UALR* Little Rock, Ark. 8 p.m.

88.5 FM WRAS Thu, Feb. 6 Men’s Basketball UALR* Little Rock, Ark. 8 p.m.

88.5 FM WRAS & 1340 AM The Fan 3 Fri, Feb. 7 Men’s Tennis Wichita State Atlanta Athletic Club 2 p.m.

briefs Men’s basketball No. 1 Georgia State tied the school record for most consecutive wins with 11 on Saturday night, defeating the University of Louisiana at Monroe 66-58 in Monroe, La. On Thursday, the Panthers defeated the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 77-70, in Lafayette, La. Redshirt-junior guard Ryan Harrow led the teams in points with 18.

Football Albert Wilson received an invitation to the NFL Combine that’s held Feb. 22-25. Wilson is the first player from Georgia State to be invited to the combine.

Men’s tennis Georgia State lost to Wichita State 3-4 in Los Angeles, Calif. Saturday morning.

Last Monday, Georgia State defeated USC Upstate 5-2 at home.

The Panthers won all three matches in doubles and went 4-2 in singles.

Women’s tennis The Panthers defeated Troy 4-3 at home Saturday.

Men’s soccer Michael Nwiloh became the first MLS draft selection when the Chivas USA chose him in the fourth round with the 59th pick.

Sun Belt Standings STANDING

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

1st

Georgia State 7-0 | Overall: 14-6

Arkansas State 6-1 | Overall: 12-7

2nd

WKU 5-2 | Overall: 13-7

WKU 5-2 | Overall: 13-5

3rd

UALR 5-3 | Overall: 10-10

Georgia State 5-2 | Overall: 9-10

4th

Arkansas State 4-3 | Overall: 11-7

Texas State 4-3 | Overall: 7-11

5th

UT Arlington 4-3 | Overall: 9-10

South Alabama 4-3 | Overall: 6-11

6th

UL Lafayette 3-4 | Overall: 12-8

UALR 4-4 | Overall: 9-9

7th

UL Monroe 3-4 | Overall: 6-9

UL Lafayette 3-4 | Overall: 10-8

8th

Texas State 2-5 | Overall: 6-14

UL Monroe 3-4 | Overall: 7-12

9th

Troy 2-6 | Overall: 7-13

Troy 2-6 | Overall: 6-13

10th

South Alabama 1-6 | Overall: 7-13

UT Arlington 0-7 | Overall: 1-17

What’s

Happening eb.

Jan.-F 4 201 Monday Tuesday

2014 Miss GSU Scholarship Pageant Full Dress Rehearsal 6-9 p.m.

Senate Salon Student Center

27

Good Morning Commuters

8-10 a.m., Langdale Hall & Unity Plaza

3

Model Call for Spring Fashion Show

5-8 p.m., Senate Salon, Student Center Casting male & female runway models of all sizes.

Open to all schools. Wear all black, no jewelry & minimal to no makeup.

Supported by Student Activity Fees

Wednesday

Courtyard Music Series: Kawehi – Guitar, Beat Boxing & Looping 12-1 p.m.

Courtyard Stage Student Center

Courtyard Music Series: Femi – Piano & Vocals

Thursday

Friday

Sat-Sun

February 1

29

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GSU’s Best Dance Crew Auditions

GSU’s Best Dance Crew Auditions

6-9 p.m.

225 University Center Sign up in 380 Student Center. Crews are limited to 6-8 people.

Campus Events studentevents.gsu.edu

Cinefest Film Theater spotlight.gsu.edu/cinefest

Spotlight Programs Board spotlight.gsu.edu

Student Media studentmedia.gsu.edu

Student*University Center studentcenter.gsu.edu

Campus MovieFest Tech Support

6

12-4 p.m.

404 University Center See details below.

12-4 p.m.

460 University Center See details below.

GSU’s Best Dance Crew Auditions

10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 6-9 p.m.

225 University Center Sign up in 380 Student Center. Crews are limited to 6-8 people.

For event details, visit our websites:

31

30

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5

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Cinefest

7 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom See details below.

The Grandmaster, Jan. 27-Feb. 2

Film Theater

FREE for GSU students, faculty & staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. & $5 at 5 p.m. & after.

. ' B N Q N Q N Q N /P Q N TIPXJOH ' +BO t 4 4 Q N Bamboo House of Dolls, +BO t F: 9 p.m.

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Followed by Meet & Greet r studentevents.gsu.edu

MOVIE MAKING WEEK

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SIGN UP ONLINE BY FEBRUARY 5 AT

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FINALE THE TOP SHORT FILMS! WIN DOOR PRIZES! THURSDAY, MARCH 6 LI>:D>K L :N=BMHKBNF% LMN=>GM <>GM>K 6:30 p.m. DOORS // 7 p.m. MOVIES

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