The Signal Vol. 84 No. 16

JAN. 10 - JAN. 17, 2017

VOL. 84 | NO. 16

The signal at georgia State University

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION & DESIGN BY TAMMY HUYNH & KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

Inside New Football Staff

Going Private

Letter from the editor Fashion’s Fate In order to continue growing, it’s time we ask “What more can we do?”

The fashion world is changing so let the battle between consumers and companies begin.

Head Coach Shawn Elliott finalized the new Georgia State football coaching staff.

News | Page 4

Opinions| Page 8

A&L | page 14

Sports | page 15

Three streets by Georgia State’s Atlanta campus were sold to a private company.

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

2

NEWS

blotter

for trespassing at the Clarkston Campus.

The case is closed and trespasser has been arrested.

Jan. 2

Did you C anything?

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

READ OUR ONLINE CONTENT Visit us online anytime for daily news and updates.

georgiastatesignal.com

JAn. 4

A walk that went south

A Georgia State student was the victim of an armed robbery on Butler St. SE on the Atlanta campus. Case is under active investigation.

Jan. 3

Citizens don’t trust

A Georgia State student filed a complaint for theft at Citizens Trust Building on the Atlanta campus. The case is still under active investigation.

Don’t walk here!

A non-Georgia State student was arrested

A Georgia State student made a theft complaint from the Decatur C Building on the Atlanta campus. Case is still active and under investigation.

Let’s not get physical

A verbal confrontation between two or more people occurred at University Lofts.

The complaint was made by a Georgia State student, the case has been cleared.

Not a present...

A Georgia State student made a complaint for a suspicious package at the SunTrust Building on the Atlanta campus.

Case is still under investigation.

CL

K!

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CK CLI

ICK!

CLIC

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Iguanas and creatures alike take over the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds for Repticon, Jan. 7-8.

PHOTO BY HANNAH GRECO | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

DACA WINS IN-STATE TUITION,

USG APPEALS Court’s decision will hold until court date, students’ lawyer says CHRISTINA MAXOURIS News Editor

T

he University System of Georgia Board of Regents (BOR) has appealed a court decision that would have allowed DACA students to pay in-state tuition for Georgia’s public universities.

In the Dec. 30 decision, Judge Gail S. Tusan, Chief Judge of the Fulton County Superior Court, ruled in favour of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and granted them in-state tuition, forcing Georgia’s Board of Regents (BOR) to follow the federal government’s definition of lawful presence for the students.

In a statement released to The Signal, USG spokesperson Charles Sutlive announced the board’s plans to appeal the decision.

“We have reviewed the Court’s decisions with the Office of the Attorney General, and we plan to appeal. We believe our policy follows the law. As the Superior Court’s decision will remain on hold during the appeals process, our current in-state tuition policy will remain in effect.”

And USG made their claims true on Jan. 6 when they appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals.

The original ruling, released on Jan. 3, stated that the “Defendants are hereby compelled to perform their duty in applying the federal definition of lawful presence at it relates to students who are DACA recipients and to grant them in-state tuition status”.

DACA is a 2012 Obama administration policy which grants minors under 16 years old who entered the country as undocumented immigrants a two-year renewable work permit and deferred action from deportation. According to the federal government, DACA provides lawful presence throughout the country.

But according to the University System of Georgia policy 4.3.4, “each university system institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status”. But for the board, DACA students did not make the cut.

Before the ruling, the BOR did not recognize DACA recipients as lawfully present in the United States, following a 2008 Georgia law which disallowed non-citizens from paying in-state tuition.

Charles Kuck, the immigration lawyer of the case said that even if USG appealed the decision, DACA students are still to pay in-state tuition until the court date.

In an article on the Kuck Immigration Partners website, Kuck wrote that during the time before the appeal court date, the decision which the court has made should stay in place. A decision which Kuck said, he’s grateful for.

“The students who will benefit from Judge Tusan’s order are grateful to have had their position affirmed. They should have been allowed to pay in-state tuition as DACA recipients for the last four years,” he said. “We are grateful that now these students can pay in-state tuition for the time they remain DACA approved. No one loses here, because no one loses when someone is educated, a principal that America has long sustained. We are honored to have

represented this exemplary young women and men.”

Along with their appeal, USG has filed for an ‘Application for Supersedeas’, which aims to put the judge’s decision on hold, therefore continuing to demand out-of-state tuition from DACA students.

“If the judge does not rule on the Application on Monday, or if she denies the Board of Regents Application, then on Tuesday the state MUST [accept] in-state tuition payments for qualified DACA students, and, of course, return any monies already overpaid for out-of-state tuition (for the coming semester) when in-state tuition should have been paid. If the judge grants the Board of Regents Application, all DACA students will have [to] pay out-of-state tuition until the appeals process completes (or if DACA is ended by President Trump),” Kuck wrote in an updated blog post.

The lawsuits

This is one of three lawsuits the BOR is facing since September, when three DACA students partnered with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and sued the Board of Regents on its 2010 policy which disallowed undocumented immigrants from enrolling in the state’s top universities, as well as paying out-of-state tuition.

The third lawsuit was first filed on Aug. 1, 2013 by a group of DACA students including Rigo Rivera, at the Superior Court of DeKalb County, and about a year later, Superior Court Judge John Goger ruled against the students. They appealed, until the case reached the Georgia Supreme Court on April 8, 2015 where the same decision was made. The students filed their new lawsuit in April 2016, where they sued each of the BOR members individually.

While the lawsuit against the BOR admissions ban is still pending, Rivera said this decision will affect the result.

“Our lawsuit is in the same concept as that lawsuit, since we are only arguing legal presence,” he said. “They will have to change the ban policy since it goes against the findings of the judge.”

The court decision came weeks after Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, said he would introduce bill which he predicted, according to AJC, could make the two lawsuits “go away”.

The senator’s proposed bill would draw a distinction between the state’s definition of legal presence, and the purpose of DACA, which he said was the government’s way of saying, “we know you are guilty of a crime, in this case the crime of being in the country illegally or without legal status, but we are choosing not to exercise our discretion to have you deported”. And according to McKoon, the policy did not, in fact, make the students legally present.

McKoon’s proposed bill would have banned undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition, since he said they were illegal.

“To qualify for in-state tuition at a Georgia public college or university you have to be not only in Georgia - a Georgia resident - but you have to have legal status within the United States,” McKoon told WABE. Visit georgiastatesignal.com for updates on this developing story.

TIMELINE OF LAWSUIT

20 13 AUG. 1

Lawsuit first filed at Superior Court of DeKalb County

DEC. 5

First oral arguments

20 14

FEB. 11

Judge transfers lawsuit to Fulton County

SEPT. 3

Plaintiffs filed Opening Brief at the Court of Appeals

20 15

MARCH 19 APRIL 8 JUNE 15 JULY 6 AUG. 31

20 16

Court of Appeals upholds Superior Court of Fulton County decision Plaintiffs file an appeal at the Supreme Court of Georgia Supreme Court of Georgia accepts the Appeal Plaintiffs file an opening brief Supreme Court of Georgia schedules Court Hearing for Oct. 16, 2015

FEB. 1

The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld lower court ruling

APRIL 26

A new lawsuit against the BOR is filed at the Superior Court of Fulton County

DEC. 30

Decision made by Judge Gail S. Tusan, Chief Judge of the Fulton County Superior Court in favor of Plaintiffs

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

LOCAL

New regulations for Downtown Atlanta

Citizens outraged after City Council decides to give WRS authority over public streets SYRINA MERILAN Associate News Editor

A

fter a Dec. 5 Atlanta City Council decision, the downtown almost-Panther territory streets may have restrictions on who and when can walk on them. A move that may land them in the middle of a lawsuit.

In the meeting, council members decided in a 10-4 vote to allow WRS Real Estate to privately own previously public streets Lower and Upper Alabama Street, Upper and Lower Pryor Street and Plaza Way, as part of the company’s plan to redevelop Underground Atlanta.

Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong, who voted against the privatization, said that she could not support the sale because it evaded the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) process, which limited the amount of community involvement in the deal.

“I did not support the street abandonment associated with the pending sale of Underground Atlanta, because the legislation authorized waiving the NPU process,” Archibong said. “Although the recommendation from the NPU would have been advisory in nature, I strongly believe in the value and benefit of having community input. The proposed legislation completely bypassed the community and the NPU. For that reason, I could not support the legislation.”

Atlanta advocacy group Thread ATL said they support the redevelopment, but oppose the nature in which the deal took place. Co-founder Darin Givens said that the privatization of the streets happened without the knowledge of the citizens.

“We’re not opposed to the sale and redevelopment of the property — in fact we think it’s a good idea,” Givens said. “The fact that the neighborhood has been kept in the dark regarding details makes people only more suspicious of a deal that already warrants skepticism, due to this developer’s main experience being the construction of suburban big-box strip malls.”

Kyle Kessler, community program manager of the Atlanta Center for Civic Innovation (CCI), also supports the redevelopment and said he feels that it is a step in the right direction for the city of Atlanta, but criticized the lack of community involvement. He said the community getting involved is imperative for the development’s long term success.

“We believe that the redevelopment of Underground will be most successful when the surrounding community is allowed to affect it. There are nearby residents, small businesses, office workers, artists, students, property owners, and other stakeholders who have vision, knowledge, skills, and other resources that are vital to Underground’s long-term success,” Kessler said.

Kessler said that at a panel held last month citizens posed questions that the stakeholders did not have answers for. Though they seemed interested in all the public had to say, Kessler feels that the input of the community could affect the possible solutions to these dilemmas.

“At our event last month questions were posed by some of these community stakeholders and other concerned citizens to the developer including about who the project’s designed for, who would be allowed on the privatized streets, will there be affordable housing, what history will be preserved, how will the development supporting alternative means of transportation, and what happens to the existing businesses,” Kessler said. “Although the developer is interested in these questions, it is clear they don’t yet have the answers and will need input from and involvement with the community to find good solutions.”

Federal law violations

Thread ATL plans to take legal action on the issue because Givens believes that the approval of privatization of public streets without the input of the city citizens is a direct violation of federal law, Title 36. “[The] Atlanta City Council has approved this giveaway of several blocks of public streets to private buyers without public input which is required by the federal government,” Givens said.

“Just prior to the vote last week, councilman Kwanza Hall said that they checked with the city attorneys and decided that they weren’t violating law with the giveaway of these blocks of street. We disagree. The federal requirements are very plainly stated.”

Federal law Title 36 outlines that the sale of a redevelopment area that may be used for residential, recreational,commercial,ind ustrial, or other public use must have a urban redevelopment plan that is approved by a local governing body, such as the NPU, in order for the sale to be made official.

According to Title 36, “A municipality or county may sell, lease, or otherwise transfer real property in an urban redevelopment

MAP ILLUSTRATION BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL

Map of previously public streets to be a part of WRS Real Estate's plan to redevelop Underground Atlanta, according to ThreadAtl.

area or any interest therein acquired by it and may enter into contracts with respect thereto, for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, or other uses or for public use. Such sale, lease, other transfer, or retention and any agreement relating thereto may be made only after the approval of the urban redevelopment plan by the local governing body.”

“The purchasers or lessees and their successors and assigns shall be obligated to devote such real property only to the uses specified in the urban redevelopment plan and may be obligated to comply with such other requirements as the municipality or county may determine to be in the public interest, including the obligation to begin within a reasonable time any improvements on the real property required by the urban redevelopment plan.”

Givens believes that the privatization of these streets obstructs the citizens right to public space, which contradicts Mayor Kasim Reed’s goal to increase mobility in Atlanta through transit.

“This Underground Atlanta property is the eastern gateway to Five Points MARTA Station which is, according to MARTA’s statistics, the largest and most heavily used station in the system.

Easy walkability for all people, not just whomever the private security allows, should be paramount here,” Givens told The Signal. “ Furthermore, streets and sidewalks are our largest public space. Where everyone has the right to be. We’re losing public space and the freedom it affords with this deal.”

According Saporta Report, WRS CEO, T. Scott Smith, has publicly announced that the company’s agenda is not to restrict access to the pedestrians, instead they plan to create more of community.

“We are not going to close the streets to pedestrian or bike traffic. We would like to stop vehicle traffic so that we can join the four corners and make a community feel to the development.

At no time would the streets be closed to thru walking traffic or bicycles,” Smith said.

Kessler said that the privatization hinders the citizens’ freedom of speech that is usually protected when on public property, because the owner is allowed to create rules and regulations that if broken can lead to arrests.

“A privatized street is private property and the owner of that property is allowed to put rules and policies in place that are more restrictive than those on public property. On public property your freedom of speech and right to peacefully assemble are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution,” Kessler said. “On

private property you may be prevented from exercising either of those. If you don’t follow the rules and are asked to leave, you could be arrested for trespassing if you don’t comply.”

Thread ATL has made it clear that they do not want to prevent the development of Underground, instead that wish to have a definitive plan on what is happening and when it will be happening, as is there right according to the federal law, according to Givens.

“What we want to see is a definitive plan and a public process for the redevelopment of this area that affects so many businesses, residents and organizations within this Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU-M) and within the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association area,” Givens said.

Kessler said that after multiple attempts to reach out to both the City of Atlanta and WRS Real Estate they were unsuccessful in creating a community dialogue.

“Since the city first announced that a deal had been reached with WRS, CCI has tried to engage both the City and WRS in community dialogue with limited success. We are concerned about the city’s decision to privatize the street without the typical public notification and input associated with abandonment,” Kessler said.

Downtown Atlanta resident Matthew Garbett said that without a definitive plan the city is left to assume the worse, which would be that WRS plans to gain the property of a private agenda.

“Without any plans, assuming that WRS is not taking responsibility for the $40 million street repair of Pryor, and assuming that WRS’s plans do not include construction of new buildings on the right of way, I am left with the inevitable conclusion that the motivation is entirely to satisfy the developer’s desire to control access to the property,” Garbett said. “This is a thinly veiled anti-loitering law, except enforcement is private and anyone is instantly potentially trespassing while walking through the area.”

Garbett said he considers this an issue for all citizens of Atlanta, as it affects their right to walk where is most convenient after exiting public transit.

“This should concern all Atlantans. Our Downtown streets should not be private property. The rights of citizens who use them, who walk them after exiting the Five Points MARTA Station, is not up to the discretion of a private landlord who can vacate anyone who does not look like they belong because they are now, legally, trespassing,” said Garbett.

5

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

City

Unlawful booting in Downtown

Last Week Local

Four fire stations broken into in Gwinnett County

According to WSB-TV, four fire stations were broken into on Saturday night, Jan. 7 while firefighters were out working. The Gwinnett County firefighters discovered the break-in on Sunday morning when one of them noticed his gun missing.

According to the Gwinnett County Fire spokesman, the stations have urged police departments to keep a watch on their parking lots, which have helped stopped breakins in the past.

National

Fort Lauderdale shooter facing death penalty

A car is booted in the parking lot across from One12 Courtland Apartments.

KYLA OKOBAH Staff Reporter

K

evin Patrick Law and The Werner Law Firm have filed two lawsuits against major parking companies in Atlanta, such as Advanced Booting Services and Empire Parking Services.

According to the lawsuit filed against the two Atlanta booting companies that own hundreds of parking lots within the Atlanta City limits, they are illegally immobilizing vehicles with those bright yellow boots.

In 2008, the city of Atlanta mandated all booting companies to have clear, two and one-half by three feet signs along with other compliances listed in the Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Art. 5 § 162-261. However, if a company has not followed all applicable city zoning ordinances regarding the posting of signs and the specified requirements then it is unlawful to place a boot on anyone’s car.

Trial attorney Kevin Patrick, from Kevin Patrick Law told The Signal that’s not the case with most of the booting companies roaming around Downtown.

“These companies are not allowed to use abbreviations, and they are supposed to have accurate phone numbers so if your car gets booted there is a way to work things out. What we’ve found is that most of these companies don’t follow the law, and we are trying to hold them accountable,” he said.

Signs posted by Atlanta Booting Services throughout Atlanta have their name abbreviated as ABS. The ordinance states that no abbreviations shall be used in the language contained in the sign, the company has made unauthorized abbreviations. Not following that qualification specified in the Atlanta City ordinance automatically disqualifies this company from impounding cars, according to

the ordinance.

In order to hold these companies accountable, on Nov. 13, 2016, the first class action lawsuit by Melissa Ledbetter, Ryan Tibbetts, Sherry Rosen and any similarly situated persons, was filed against Advanced Booting Services, a company thought to participate in this practice.

Both law firms are working on filing more lawsuits against booting companies such as Lanier Parking Solutions.

Georgia State student Taylor Davis said he thinks he’s been a victim of the violations.

“I’ve gotten a boot four times in four different parking lots and decks. Every single time I had to pay $75 to get it off. Some times I had to call my mom and ask for money because I didn’t have enough,” she said.

The Atlanta City Ordinance states that the cost of impound per day should be a maximum $50. Although there are maximum fines allowed by law, disclosures that these fines have exceeded the city’s law must be provided on the sign and they do not.

Georgia State student Daniel Schmidt said he had to pay a $200 fine to have his boot removed because he did not know there was a sign that stating the cost of a boot removal.

“I just feel like if I can’t park my car for five minutes to go to the top of an apartment complex to take a selfie under the stars without my car getting booted, what can I do?”

The plaintiffs of the lawsuit are seeking financial compensation for the total amount of fines they had to pay even though these companies were not following the law.

“This is about having a meaningful way to resolve disputes. By not putting the legal name of the parking lot owner on the sign, and instead using a parking agency, the lot owners are attempting to avoid responsibility for using predatory practices to exploit patrons of their businesses,” Matt Wetherington from The Werner Law Firm said.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

IN ORDER TO LEGALLY BOOT CARS: 1. Signs shall be located at each designated entrance to a parking lot or parking area where parking prohibitions are to be effective. Where there is no designated entrance, such signs shall be erected so as to be clearly visible from each and every parking space.

2. Such signs shall be a minimum of seven and onehalf square feet in area (two and one-half feet by three feet) 3. Such signs located at a designated entrance to a parking lot shall be at least four feet above the site grade. Where there is no designated entrance, such signs shall be six feet above site grade.

4. No abbreviations shall be used in the language contained in the sign. Where this Code section leaves a blank, the signs shall include the appropriate phone numbers. The lettering on such signs shall be black on a white, reflective background, and shall be illuminated if out of headlight range.

Regulations taken from: municode.com

Developing news from The Washington Post of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shooting and the alleged gunman, 26-year old Esteban Santiago, said that he may be facing the death penalty in an announcement made by the Justice Department on Saturday night. The suspect went on a bloody rampage after flying from his hometown Anchorage, Alaska to the Florida airport.

Travelers are allowed to bring firearms in their checked bags under the pretenses that they’re unloaded, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The airport re-opened on Saturday morning although some flights might have been cancelled or rerouted.

Global

Officials point to motives behind Russian hack

According to reports from CNN, the US Intelligence community found that Russian President Vladimir Putin played a role in the 2016 presidential election.

The interference consisted of hacking Democratic groups and releasing that information to third party websites like Wikileaks. U.S. Intelligence community assessed Putin targeted Secretary Hillary Clinton most likely because he held a grudge against her for encouraging mass protests haunts his regime in late 2011 early 2012. In addition, Putin’s goal may have been to undermine faith in the U.S. democratic process.

NEWS

6

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

City

Seasonal hires boost city’s economy

Atlanta outperformed Georgia economically late in 2016 WESLEY DUNKIRK Associate News Editor

R

ecently released economic indicators point to a productive Atlanta economy and positive signs for Georgia’s economy as a whole, according to Dr. Laura Wheeler, a Senior Research Associate at Georgia State’s Center for State and Local Finance/Fiscal Research Center (CSLF).

These economic indicators show that in November 2016 less people were unemployed, more people actively looked for jobs, and more money was spent in Georgia, according to reports released by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the Georgia Department of Labor and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

The Georgia Department of Labor recently reported that seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers for the state went up from 5.2 percent in October 2016 to 5.3 percent in November 2016.

Wheeler pointed out that the increase in Georgia’s unemployment may in fact be a positive sign for Georgia’s economy, if it is not a long-term trend.

“An increase in the unemployment rate also may reflect increased confidence in the labor market,” Wheeler said. “As people are more confident about their ability to find employment, there may be more shopping around for employment and workers may be willing to risk a short period of unemployment to find other employment options.”

Wheeler said that people who were not

previously accounted for in the labor market, such as discouraged workers, may be “drawn into the market if they believe their options for seeking employment have improved.”

Atlanta unemployment had a better November than unemployment figures for the state of Georgia, as the department also recently reported that non-seasonally adjusted unemployment in the Atlanta area dropped from 5 percent in October 2016 to 4.8 percent in November 2016, while the BLS recently released seasonally adjusted versions of the Atlanta area’s unemployment rates remaining the same at 5.1 percent from October 2016 to November 2016.

“It is typically the case that in the last quarter of the year we see a rise [in] temporary employment which usually results in a decline in the unemployment rate,” Wheeler said. “Seasonally adjusted numbers account for this expected and temporary change which is why the seasonally adjusted figures [for the Atlanta area] did not change. There can be a lot of variation month to month in the seasonally unadjusted figures.”

The notion that the drop in non-seasonally adjusted unemployment is due to seasonal hiring is reaffirmed by the BLS’s report that jobs in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector (which encompasses retail jobs) grew by over 11,500 from October 2016 to November 2016, the largest job growth by sector in that time.

Wheeler said that it is not too surprising to see Atlanta’s seasonally adjusted unemployment remain the same while Georgia’s seasonally

adjusted unemployment went up, attributing the discrepancy to “higher levels of economic activity” in urban areas like Atlanta versus smaller areas of the state.

However, CSLF Senior Research Associate Peter Bluestone expressed caution for reaching major conclusions from these changes.

“It’s hard to draw too much out of a monthly number in unemployment, especially when you’re looking at changes of the decimal point,” Bluestone said. “I would be cautious in trying to interpret too much from that.”

The Georgia Department of Revenue also recently reported that Gross Sales Tax collections for November 2016 increased by 2.2 percent from the collections in November 2015, meaning people are spending more money in Georgia.

“The Georgia economy is performing well,” Wheeler said. “November 2016 net sales and use tax collections exceeded November 2015 net sales and use tax collections by 5.9 percent. Individual income tax recipients are up 3.9 percent over this same period last year.”

Bluestone once again expressed hesitation in drawing conclusions from the increase in sales tax collections.

“It’s better for [sales tax collections] to be going up, which means the state economy is doing fairly well, versus going down,” Bluestone said. “But again, it’s hard to put too much on just one number and comparing to last month’s number, or even last year’s number.”

State

Georgia House bills place restrictions on drivers

Prefiled bills seek to improve public health and safety on Georgia roads WESLEY DUNKIRK Associate News Editor

G

eorgia legislators are set to push for legislation that would prompt changes to the commutes of many Georgia drivers.

Two pre-filed bills in the Georgia House of Representatives aim to place restrictions on Georgia drivers as the house prepares to enter the 2017-2018 legislative session on Jan. 9.

House Bill 7 (HB 7), prefiled by State Rep. Keisha Waites, would ban the use of cell phones to make calls while driving other than hands-free calls. House Bill 18 (HB 18), prefiled by State Rep. Sandra Scott, would ban smoking inside all motor vehicles when a minor is present in the vehicle.

Waites cited a high number of vehicle fatalities when making the case that HB 7 is needed.

“In 2015 we had 1,427 Georgians that died in automobile accidents,” Waites said. “When you PHOTO BY GORDON CLARK | THE SIGNAL look over the nine-year period of time, we’re Driving while holding your phone to your ear may be illegal soon according to two house representatives, going in the wrong direction, our deaths are according to State Rep. Keisha Waites. actually getting higher, they’re increasing.” see legislation passed that limits cell phone usage in to understand that smoking in an enclosed car is Waites said that while she has received 92 e-mails young beginner drivers. not healthy for the child, as well as for themselves.” from people expressing their support for the bill, “What I would tell you that I would like to see Scott said she hopes that the bill will help she has also received about a dozen emails from is for individuals who are new drivers, around decrease the number of minors that begin smoking critics of the bill who argue that statistics do not the ages of 15 or 16 years of age, that we do at a young age. show making hands-free calls is safer than making limit their complete cell phone usage for those “We have to educate the parents as to why they calls while holding a phone. individuals until they’re 18. I think that’s more than shouldn’t be smoking in cars and we’re going to “House Bill 7 is not going to be the end all, fix all reasonable,” Waites said. have to let them see what happens to them if they of this dynamic. I think the issue is that we need to Rep. Scott also hopes to improve public safety smoke in cars they have their kids in, looking at change the culture,” Waites said. “I think that for the by banning smoking in vehicles when a minor is what happens to their lungs,” Scott said. “We’re 1,400 lives that have been lost in Georgia in 2015 [in present through her prefiled HB 18. moving in the right direction. This is one direction auto accidents], I think we owe it to those families “I’m hoping that parents would think about all that we need to think about like I said and try to take some type of action to start to reduce the of the childhood diseases that their kids are having to make sure it is passed to try to help kids who number of fatalities on the road.” due to smoking,” Scott said. “That is one of the cannot help themselves from having to deal with biggest forefronts of it all, when parents will begin secondhand smoke.”

Waites said in the future she would also like to

‘Tis Official!

The sign’s up, and Georgia State’s gearing up for Turner Field’s renovation CHRISTINA MAXOURIS News Editor

Four days after its shouldhave-been deadline, Georgia State made it official and put the sign up declaring Turner Field, officially, Panther ground.

In a press release on Jan. 5, 2017, the university announced it had closed on the property along with its real-estate partners Carter, Oakwood Development and Healey Weatherholtz.

The reason behind the delay, according to Georgia State, was a complicated process which the partners had been working through for months.

In a statement released the same day, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the deal will give Georgia State an “expanded campus community”, but will also help surrounding neighborhoods.

“The redevelopment offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring new amenities, transit and infrastructure to the Southeast stadium neighborhoods of Summerhill, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Grant Park,” he said.

Out of the 68-acres that were on sale, Georgia State will control 38, which include the stadium and Blue Lot, while the real-estate companies will take over 16 acres to build a mix of housing and retail space.

Another 13.5 acres will be leased to the university, according to the press release.

On the purchase, Georgia State University President Mark Becker said the project will be “transformative” for both the city and Georgia State.

Stadium works are set to begin in February, and later on Georgia State has planned on converting the former Atlanta Fulton County Stadium site into a baseball park.

“When this chapter of Atlanta’s history is written, I believe the sale of Turner Field will be counted among the most consequential redevelopment efforts in the life of our city. For the first time in over 30 years, the promise of a best-in-class mixed-use housing and retail development will be realized,” Reed said in his statement.

EDITORIAL

8

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

EDITORIAL

Give the boot to booting!

D

on’t you just hate when come back to your car and the hands of fortune have just decided that a boot is the best kind of decoration? There really is nothing worse than the sparkling orange parasite on the wheels of your vehicle with an accompanying $75 ticket, when you’re coming out of work or class late at night, with $3.04 on your card. The only thing worse than that is… finding out it’s been done illegally.

It’s quite simple Atlanta. We get syllabuses so that we know how to act, what’s required of us, and what we are allowed to do in class and not. You get ordinances. And you follow them. Ordinances that state the fine maximum allowed is $50, not $75, and definitely, absolutely, not $200. So despite the little yellow intimidating vest the booters may wear, don’t be afraid to ask them to provide all the information they’re

supposed to.

Even abbreviating the company’s name is going against regulations, but there’s another loophole they’re allowed to play with that no ordinance can save us from.

According to ParkAtlanta’s website, for five years now, the City can boot your car if you have more than three unpaid parking tickets - even if your car’s parked legally.

So that means that if your car is parked outside of your apartment on the street and a ParkAtlanta employee checks your tag and sees you have more than three unpaid tickets, he or she can boot your car legally. I know, it sucks.

According to the regulation, “The City of Atlanta has adopted new legislation authorizing the immobilization of vehicles with unpaid parking tickets. This program became effective on November 1, 2009”.

And to be fair, those people are doing their jobs, and the city’s trying to keep cars parked and stopped in an organized manner, and that’s all well and fun, but here’s the other side, on behalf of The Signal, our friends and a lot of, if not most of, the Downtown student body: parking Downtown is hard! There’s no free option (which is ridiculous - living in a city that’s booming so fast, students - especially- should be able to grab some relief out of parking their car at not expense), and even paid options are not guaranteed (yes, we’ve missed class trying to find a spot in parking decks we’ve paid for. And when leaving the campus district, we’ve got to think twice about grabbing a coffee with a friend because of the level of difficulty that comes along with parking. Street parking definitely isn’t free and comes with limits.

joining the signal is only

ATL’s booting procedures are annoying AND illegal

one click away

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

What can we do for you?

T

hank you for picking up your student-run independent newspaper at Georgia State. We are The Signal, and you can expect to see us around campus every Tuesday on stands and online daily. I’ve said we would not stop growing and improving, and I meant it.

We can always assume we know what are readers want and try to set and meet goals. But I think it’s time we ask. What can The Signal, your student newspaper do more of for you?

We will continue to report and look into issues that are on and off Georgia State’s campus, Our readers at Perimeter, we want to know. Our marketing department will make better

strides to make sure you know who we are and what we can do for you.

How can we ensure that you pick up a Signal on any Georgia State campus every week and keep up to date with us online? How can we produce better content that speaks to you? What is your preferred method of getting information, Georgia State?

There are so many questions that you have to answer for us. We’re listening. Visit our OrgSync portal and tell us how in the discussion.

For our avid readers, if you have not seen our new website, I suggest you do.

It is now mobile friendly and can be viewed easily from any device.

If media is your career choice or

just your curiosity, our doors are open for you with many routes to choose from in this area. You do not need to be a journalism major to be a part of The Signal. We offer many roads that can help boost your knowledge and experience. Our application can be found online at georgiastatesignal.com and on OrgSync.

If you would like to be a guest columnist for the opinions section, submissions must be sent to signalopinions@gmail.com.

We’re growing, but we need your help to do it.

Welcome back, Georgia State.

Sincerely, Troi Charity Editor-in-Chief, The Signal

About the editor Troi is a senior studying journalism major with a concentration in multimedia reporting. She’s going into her second term as editor-in-chief of The Signal, and while at Georgia Perimeter College, she served as editor-in-chief for The Collegian. You can email her about any questions or concerns about The Signal at thesignalfrontdesk@gmail.com

@troicharity

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

AN ILL UMINATI NG EN L IGHTENMEN T vib o t ta n a l s At e s o p l ex a v i t s e F The Chin e se L an t ern INGA MASIC

Arts & Living Editor

T

he utilization of lanterns was used for several worldly celebrations, like the lantern walk celebration of St. Martin’s Day in Germany. There is another pivotal lantern celebration in the wide scope of cultures featured across nations, and that’s the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival.

The Chinese New Year this year is on Jan. 28, and Atlanta was welcomed with the authentic method for celebration when the event graced the fields on Centennial Olympic Park. The Chinese Lantern Festival opened on Dec. 9 and is staying open up until Jan. 15.

Once night bestows the city, the lights from the lanterns begin to radiate through the park. The different shapes, colors and interpretive art pieces come to life, and China is born in the middle of Atlanta.

THE ORIGIN STORY

This festival is not simply trying to grasp the concept of a traditional Chinese celebration, but because of the company behind the creation, Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc., it is a legitimate manifestation of authenticity and culture. Morgan Smith-Williams, the senior communications specialist at Georgia World Congress Center Authority, explains how in-touch the festival actually is with its Chinese roots.

“The lanterns come from the Sichuan province, and they come from the town in that province called Zigong,” Smith-Williams said. “Traditionally in Chinese culture, they use lanterns as a way to celebrate the New Year. They start [production] in Zigong, and there are artists that make and paint all the fabric, and a lot of the artists on site here are from China. They travel with the festival, but are actually from that province. It took about a month to

build the festival, we had to shut down the park around mid-November and open it on Dec. 9. These artisans from China had to use about nine shipping containers to ship the material that was painted and sewn in China, and then they came over and built them on site.”

Each display at the festival tells a story or has a rich history behind it, and that’s due to the artists wanting to convey their background and ancient/ modern Chinese lifestyles within the vibrant colors and mechanisms. It didn’t stop there. However, Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc. wanted to pay homage to the city where the festival is being held so Atlanta’s identifiers were transformed into luminescent creations.

“For each display there is a sign in front that explains the significance.

Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc. travels around the US with these installations, but in each city it’s a little different.

In our Atlanta festival, we have Peach Trees lanterns (being that the Peach is our state fruit). A lot of the traditional items do have a deeper meaning in the Chinese culture. If you’re in the festival, you’ll be able to stop and read what the significance is for each display,” SmithWilliams said.

THE APPEAL FACTORS

The visitors of the festival evidently appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of every work of art, but there are some that Georgia residents seem to be drawn to more. Perhaps it’s the amount of cuteness the display contains, or simply the amount of beauty and magnitude it holds.

“From what we can see from photos posted on social media, visitors specifically enjoy three displays. They really like the pandas, the exhibit feature two pandas on a seesaw that moves back and forth. People love that,” Smith-Williams said. “The second installation that they love is the dragon, and the dragon is huge. It is maybe about nine or ten feet long, and maybe

15 to 20 feet high. It’s definitely one of the tallest things at the festival. The third piece people love are these vases, mainly because it’s a perfect shot right above the ferris wheel, and so seeing the lights of the ferris wheel and then seeing the lights of the vases makes it a really beautiful shot.”

The festival does not only feature lanterns, but also acrobatics, dancers, theatre and craftsmen that fashioned together edible sugar dragons and Chinese paintings. Everything about this festival is a glimpse into the delicate transcendence that revolves around China’s culture.

“All the performers at the festival came from Zigong as well, and a lot of them are trained in the traditional Chinese art. They have all been training their whole life to be able to perform these traditional dances and art shows,” Smith-Williams said.

IT’S ALMOST LIGHTS OUT

The unfortunate truth is that the festival might not be setting up shop again in Atlanta anytime soon, mostly due to the high demand around the U.S. to see the wonders of China.

This reality is bittersweet: since the festival won’t return for quite some time, encouragement to visit now is extremely apparent.

“This is the first year it has been in Centennial Olympic Park, and it’s actually the first year the festival has been anywhere in the Southeast,” Smith-Williams said. “We know that the Lantern Festival travels all over the country and it might be a few years before it comes back to Atlanta, so this is definitely something to see while we have it here. It’s a very unique experience and it’s great for families.

The little ones will enjoy the lights, how they move and how they change color.

Then the adults will appreciate the history and the performances, because they are fantastic.”

c t n ra

ur t l u

e

WHAT TO KNOW Festival closes on Jan. 15, 2017

Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 6 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday : 6 p.m.- 11 p.m.

Prices: • •

$16 for adults and $12 for children on Freshtix.com $18 for adults and $14 for children at the door *Children three and under are FREE

Location:

Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

SPECIAL TREATS • • • •

Food services by the festival Hot chocolate and hot cider Full bar inside the festival Surrounding attractions: Skyview Ferris Wheel and Centennial Olympic Park’s Ice Rink

PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN |THE SIGNAL

INGA MASIC

Arts & Living Editor

B

eing a woman in this world consists of constant bitter realities.

Biologically we suffer through the monthly visit of a disliked relative and when the right time unveils itself, we suffer a tiny human exiting a vital feature of our bodies; economically we suffer the unwavering barriers set forth around us that we continuously reject and aim to diminish; theologically we suffer the ancient allocation of our existence being beneath that of a man’s.

These pivotal realizations are a few among many that women must embark through daily however, the other bitter reality is that some women deal with exponentially more. Some women suffer through the lack of resources, knowledge and guidance woman should be granted. That’s where Sisters Helping Each Other and Pads for Princesses join the fight.

These two Georgia State organizations have separate agendas in the fight for women, but share the same end goal: aid in the battle against female injustice within this world. They are our modern-day Wonder Women.

P4P I N F O R M AT I O N Email Candace Barr at padsforprincesses@gmail.com Visit and join the organization by signing into gsu.orgsync.com and searching Pads for Princesses and learning all about their group.

Pads for Princesses

There are women who are enduring far more than the average one, and every day they are stripped from the necessities and respect a woman should be granted, and unfortunately those women are plenty here in our very own concrete jungle.

“Pads for Princesses (P4P) is an organization orchestrated to serve the population of homeless women in Atlanta,” Candace Barr, founder and president of Pads for Princesses said. “We provide feminine care products to women dealing with homelessness in the Atlanta area through donations.

P4P connects with outreach centers and organizations in the Atlanta area to distribute these products.”

The junior and Neuroscience major was inspired to start this organization after spending some time at local homeless shelters and witnessed the clear deprivation of female needs.

“Women would come in and ask for sanitary napkins and there would be none available. Through conversations with the director, I learned that feminine hygiene products were the least donated item,” Barr said.

Pads for Princesses have taken large initiatives to combine their work with this university, through attending functions, and they want to get their cause out there, because then residents and students will realize what is not usually spoken when seeing a homeless woman, they are still women, regardless of their economic situation.

“We have tailgated at Georgia State football games to spread the word.

We have collected over a 1000 products and distributed them in Atlanta and surrounding areas,” Barr said. “In the residential community, we held a program called LIFE that raised homeless awareness and connected students with resources and volunteer opportunities on and off campus. The program was recognized nationally by NRHH. Pads for Princesses, was also recognized at Atlanta GLOW’s annual drive. In the future, we plan to do a volunteer night as a group and start a membership program.”

Barr made the realization that providing feminine care products for women wasn’t a major movement that people focus on, especially given that Atlanta is a hub for protesting major social injustices happening in our world, like Black Lives Matter and Love Trumps Hate. And even through the fight to end poverty has been apparent for several years, the hidden struggles of homeless women isn’t regarded to as often. Barr wanted to change that.

“Homelessness is pervasive in Atlanta. Feminine care products are a small need that people usually don’t think of giving. I felt that acknowledging the need could make a huge impact on our community. It’s just a reminder that someone is looking out for your best interest and you aren’t alone,” Barr said.

Barr understands that with the recent election it is easy for women to lose sight on what's important for them, but women and young girls on the street need other women to not surrender the our fight.

“My hopes are that women stay encouraged and hopeful to continue to involve themselves in the feminine movement, because with everything going on it’s so easy to become discouraged and give up,” Barr said. “I think the best way this can be achieved is to stay connected with like minded people, then those people can be a support system. My hopes are that women and girls can collaborate to find other needs that aren’t being met and find a way to satisfy that need. I hope this organization empowers women to showcase their leadership capabilities.”

Barr wants members of Pads for Princesses and women in and around campus to take away something essential from this organization. Something that should remain in the back of the mind every day and never be forgotten.

“I want women to learn that there is always a way to help or add value to your surroundings/community, even if it’s just a wave or a smile. [We need to] build one another up, this is not a competition.”

IT F E N

E B T S TE A E R G “I BELIEVE THE D N A G N I E B S I N E FOR W OM

FEELING RECO

" .

D E GNIZ

ARR B E C - C A N D A ESIDENT P4P P R

S

SHE I N F O R M AT I O N To learn about what upcoming projects SHE is involved with or to learn more on the organization, check out their social media pages.

• Instagram & Facebook: @SHE.GeorgiaState • Twitter: SHEGeorgiaState • Contact Ashley Brooks: she. georgiastate@gmail.com

MENTOR

S H I P, D I A L O GUE, S ERVICE & SIS T

Sisters Helping Each Other (SHE)

Sisters Helping Each Other (SHE) is a community service-based organization that focuses on connecting, empowering and inspiring fellow college women and young girls. They complete this task through various methods, such as mentorship, dialogue, service and the establishment of sisterhood.

The organization’s founder and president is Ashley Brooks, a junior Respiratory Therapy major, who saw a lack in the women supporting each other in the world and chose to do something about it.

“I noticed the need for a real organization on campus that actively uplifted and connected women and young girls. I noticed that girls like myself needed a safe haven, a place to call their own without judgement,” Brooks said. “SHE is an open, accepting, and comfortable space for any and all people. Members are just an extended family.”

Besides providing a refuge for women to feel content and accepted, the organizations also takes the proactive steps to aid females in and around the city of Atlanta.

“SHE has volunteered at the International Women’s House and also with MARTA for their annual Get Ready for Transportation Summit (GRT) conference. Being that mentorship is a huge part of the organization's platform, SHE has partnered with the Bethel Center’s GIRLIE program. SHE members will also be paired with young girls in middle or high school and act as their mentors for six months,” Brooks said.

There are young girls and women in the world who have had the role of a strong female example missing from their lives, like a mother. With that unfortunate truth, the likely result will be that those girls will lose sight of the amount of power and wonder a woman contains, but SHE aims to help them find out. They don’t take the place of the important role only a mother

D O O ERH

can fill, but they hold a hand through the journey of self-empowerment and fellow female encouragement.

“I have hopes that this organization continues to push and challenge women and girls to support one another, to uplift each other instead of tearing one another down,” Brooks said. “We aim to create an open and honest dialogue surrounding issues that affect women and young girls in everyday life.”

One thing that SHE wants to make clear with their movement is that they don’t want to diminish the male’s existence in this world, the goal of feminism is for men and women to be equal, side by side. They want males to join their organization just as much as females, because it helps men realize the obstacles women face and the admirable humans that they are.

"We believe that this organization will not work without the support and inclusion of males in some form or another. It’s important that people know that SHE supports men as well and accepts them as members,” Brooks said.

Brooks’ main goal for Sisters Helping Each Other is that she wants women to realize that the greatest way to reach a strong grasp on personal empowerment is to help others reach it along the way. Especially given the drastic changes in the political realm of this country, she doesn't want females to lose sight of what they are fighting for.

“I believe that the recent political change pushes the agenda for the equality and feminine movement to the forefront even more. I hope that organizations such as SHE can help educate and inspire women to take up more leadership positions and aid in change,” Brooks said. “One message I would give to the female community would be: Own your truth and accept the changes that may come. I believe the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

PAGE DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

14

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

Column

SASHA GAY TRUSTY Staff Reporter

T

Diversity, a buzzword that took center stage last year, and rightfully so, will undoubtedly continue to shape the world of fashion in 2017. The previous year points to bringing these issues to the forefront. Not just to designers, but for brands and retailers also.

Additionally, acts of appropriation were forcefully addressed (Marc Jacobs’ dreadlocks fiasco), models of color demanded equal opportunity and standards of beauty were boldly challenged, such as Maria

Going green may have once seemed like just another hipster fad, but sustainability has planted its foot into society, forcing fashion companies to scale back and become more thoughtful. All across campus and the city, recycling bins and clothing banks are placated proudly for everyone to see and use. But this year, the fixing of these issues will be internally.

According to the United States Fashion Industry Association’s 2016 Benchmarking study, increasing sourcing cost is the number two concern for fashion businesses in the country. Adding to this, designers and the stores offering their garbs have been pressured to be familiar with materials’ sources and to publish their efforts in saving the planet.

Admirable deeds, Yes, but there are potential negative effects that directly impact the local economy. The trends show rising sourcing costs and sustainability strides could increase product prices. More than ever, customers want to know that companies are involved in environmental protection and will provide quality garments at reasonable costs.

The issue, however, is that ethical sourcing and sustainability practices are still in the alpha-testing stage. Therefore, stores will have to try various approaches – which may include cutting staff, not

$

Social Aspects

Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability

hiring new employees or reducing the number of individual items purchased in the buying process.

While apparel stores are figuring it out, consumers can chip in by taking advantage of clothing recycle options like those available in all H&M stores locations.

$

he consensus (also known as the Internet) will agree that 2016 was a complicated year for many sectors, but the fashion industry’s particularly convoluted direction reached a climax, after indications slowly escalated for a few years.

This culmination of tension was bred by declining sales for major retailers such as J.Crew, Nasty Gal and Ralph Lauren, and rather subtle inflections that would prove paramount in terms of relevance and sales: social media’s influence over buyer’s activity and its introduction of the “new-age shopper.”

While many companies can sigh with relief at surviving some of these recent challenges, there is no doubt that the new year will breed other struggles and provide novel insight to ongoing ones.

In the midst of talks about new style trends - the 80s resurgence, billowing bell sleeves and so on - it is imperative that students already working in fashion are keen on other topics of interests that relate to this field’s very operation.

Especially for Atlanta, which is consistently moving up in rank as the next major fashion capital in the United States, a claim supported by Southern Living in article titled “Will Atlanta Be the South’s Next Fashion Capital?” Retail is experiencing remarkable uncertainty, making sustainability is more crucial than ever and social conditions are forcing businesses to rethink how and to whom they target products.

All hope is not lost, however. The 2016 Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study by Dr. Sheng Lu indicates that in regards to the future, “92 percent of participants say that they are optimistic or somewhat optimistic.” Still, with so much restructuring to occur simultaneously, it is time to take these issues more seriously.

These are all the areas that will be of great importance in 2017 to industry rookies and pros alike.

Borges opting to wear her natural, short hair during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show two years in a row.

Efforts did not go unnoticed.

The Fashion Spot’s diversity report said that “Of the 120 Fall ‘16 shows at NYFW, 68.1 percent of the models cast were white and 31.9 percent were nonwhite.”

Quite impressive, as the Spring shows of the same year saw only 28.4 percent nonwhite models, according to the diversity report. However, there are more strides to be made. The report also states that no plus-size models were featured in the Spring shows and that only two of the 13 top-requested models were of color.

Georgia State student models from organizations like Panthers Allure have ample opportunity to approach local agencies while the pressure is still on to add variety to their lineups. Even with so much cultural variation and aspiring models in Atlanta, the more elite fashion shows still lack models of color.

Agencies to consider include Click, Factor Chosen and Ursula Wiedmann, all of which manage talents well.

$

Business Strategies

Last week, news that Macy’s will lay off over 10,000 employees and close just over 60 stores in the coming months reiterated the sect’s mood of instability went viral. Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) reported that the long-standing department store’s $10,000 job cut contains 6,200 management roles.

This news is just the latest example of fashion businesses making unfortunate decisions in order to stay afloat. Implementing modern strategies will top many companies’ list, as consumer behavior continues to change. The keyword this year is “streamline,” meaning businesses will have to slash significantly in certain areas, and systematically enhance others.

Stores are expected to further develop the online shopping experience, making it easier for shoppers to find products and their information. It will be clean, have easy navigation of the site and have checkout options to fit every type of customer. Of course, this puts a dent in the success of brick and mortar versions of a company, which can also affect jobs and in-store product availability. But experts predict physical locations will pick sales back up, so don’t expect Lenox Mall’s crowd to subside any time soon. In fact, this year businesses can finally figure out how to meet the demands of digital and traditional shoppers.

Expect to see more brands selling online exclusive offers, while in-store arrangements become carefully selected and less cluttered. Fast Company reports that Birchbox CEO Katia Beauchamp said she “predicts that in 2017, customers will increasingly visit stores to get curated experiences from shop representatives.”

In a nutshell, Fast fashion will slow down.

Meaning, the tasks of stores will be to meet the demand of new age customers who seek personalization. Shoppers are no longer shopping just to have a full closet. Instead, modern shoppers want shopping to be an experience in which they are buying items that truly speak to who they are.

It won’t be long before stores in the area adopt personal shopping techniques as a part of its customer service. The bleakness surrounding the fashion industry is not to be overlooked, rather, viewed as a time to facilitate required changes and replace old methods with creative, progressive ones. Over the next 12 months, optimism and hard work will lead this change.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

13

ARTS & LIVING

Movie review

A great play forced onto the screen Buoyed by great performances and writing, it’s still kind of annoying to watch off stage ALEX GRAHAM Staff Reviewer

A

s far as I can tell, “Fences” is a great play. August Wilson has written a moving, empathetic story of a Pittsburg trash collector whose bouts of violence, hardheadedness and obsession with his failed baseball career complicate his relationships.

Wilson’s writing is pitch perfect, his dialogue is poetic, but natural and his characters are hearty and rich.

But a great play doesn’t necessarily make for a great movie, which is where Denzel Washington’s “Fences” finds trouble. Everything good about it comes from the writing and the strong cast, while it struggles to turn something made for stage into a visually compelling film.

Washington (director and star) and Viola Davis are the heart of “Fences” as Troy and Rose. Troy, our Pittsburg garbage man, loves Rose with all his heart, but this doesn’t stop

him from screaming and knocking around when he’s drunk and mad. Rose takes this in stride after 18 years of marriage, knowing he’ll snap out if it and smother her with love in due time. The story focuses on a few important moments in their lives, as Troy’s hardwired understanding of a man’s role in the world complicates their marriage and the lives of his mentally handicapped brother Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson), and his sons, Lyons (Russell Hornsby) and Corey (Jovan Adepo).

These characters are a delight, bursting with life thanks to both terrific acting and great writing. Troy in particular is a triumph. He’s a character much easier to hate than sympathize with, and it’s a mark of Wilson’s immense talent that we understand him so well and can forgive him when we need to. But he’s never let off the hook; he and the audience know that all his problems are is own, and we are never teased into unearned sympathy. We’re both angry with him and understanding, which makes him truly human.

A movie is more than its writing and characters however, and the presentation of

“Fences” really detracts from all that delicious empathy. Wilson wrote the screenplay based off his own script, resulting in long stretches of monologues that Washington should have axed with his directorial power.

Movies are best when we understand characters through what we see, not through what they say. Take, for example, one of this year’s best films, “Manchester by the Sea.” We understand Casey Affleck’s character just as completely as we do Troy, but it’s because we watch how he lives in a series of short, compelling scenes. We don’t listen to him talk about himself for an hour.

Washington’s direction ignores that principle completely, giving us 10-20 minute periods of people jabbering, while the camera obnoxiously circles. Such monologuing works within the restrictions of theater, but in movies it’s a bore to watch.

Save your money and catch “Fences” on TV. Or better yet, pray a theater company near you puts it on and go see that. Wilson’s work deserves better than this adaptation.

Grade

C

Verdict Bubbling with empathy and richness, August Wilson’s play maintains its humanity despite iffy filmmaking choices.

calendar&games

14

Campus & Downtown Events Tuesday

Murder Mystery Jan. 11

It’s the last chance to join the murder mystery fun at Agatha’s “A taste of Mystery” Dinner Theatre. See if you can find out who the killer is.

Jan. 10

Bring the little ones and they can dance, sing, learn about science, perform in theatre shows and create amazing crafts at this fun destination.

5

Thursday

Friday

Atlanta Boat Show

Basketball Lovers

2

Hundreds of new boats will be available to see at the Georgia World Congress Center, so for all those nautical lovers out there...all aboard!

Former Hawk Al Horford returns to Phillips Arena with the Boston Celtics.

Come watch this budding rivalry.

Jan. 14 7 p.m.

It’s monster truck time at the Georgia Dome. If you enjoy watching killer trucks jump in the air and smash into each other, then this is the event for you.

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The Children’s Museum of Atlanta

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

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Jan. 16 The Martin Luther King Jr. 7 9 March and Rally is happening on 4 Peachtree St. and ends 6 on Auburn ave. Don’t miss the celebration of an iconic figure.

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

New house, new staff RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor

“

We’ve got to hire guys that I can

TRUST and certainly, Shawn Elliott RESPECT. Head Coach

“

New Football Head Coach Shawn Elliott cleans house

TRAVIS TRICKET

NATHAN FUQUA

CEDRIC WILLIAM

Offensive Coordinator

Defensive Coordinator

Offensive Line coach

Trickett began his college coaching career in 2003 as a student assistant at West Virginia, where he worked with quarterback Pat White.

As the defensive coordinator at Wofford, Fuqua recruited the players from central west Georgia, which include the cities Fayetteville, Columbus, Macon and McDonough.

Williams followed Coach Elliott from the University of South Carolina and previously was the offensive line coach at Newberry College in South Carolina.

JOSH STEPP

TRENT MCKNIGHT

Running Backs coach

Wide Receivers coach

“Coaching college football has been my ultimate goal and it is a great opportunity to work for a great coach who is beginning his time there,” Stepp said to The State about Elliott and Georgia State.

In 2014, as the wide receiver coach, McKnight coached All-SoCon receiver Karel Hamilton, who brought down 55 catches for 877 yards and six touchdowns.

RUSTY WRIGHT

SAM SHADE

Inside Linebackers coach Wright was the linebackers coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he coached at least one linebacker to the first team All-Southern Conference honors.

Cornerbacks coach

Shade played for the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL from 1995 to 2003.

JESS SIMPSON

Defensive Line coach

Simpson coached as an assistant and head coach at Buford High School for 10 of its 11 all-time state championships.

CHRIS COLLINS

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANICS | THE SIGNAL

Head Football Coach Shawn Elliott (above) reviews his new coaching staff picks.

Welcome to the family!

Read full bios online at www.georgiastatesignal.com

Safeties coach

Collins is another Southern Conference product, playing as a safety and outside linebacker for Western Carolina from 2006-2009.

HEADSHOTS BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

PAGE DESIGN BY TAMMY HUYNH | THE SIGNAL

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QA

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

&

with Malik Benlevi Benlevi beginning to be a fan favorite at Georgia State D’MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

W

hile he isn’t believed to be the star athlete on this Georgia State men’s basketball team, Malik Benlevi now in his second year playing under head coach Ron Hunter has indeed turned heads thus far. With his high intellect on the defensive side of the ball and the wise decisions he makes offensively, Benlevi has entered the discussion of being that player on the rise.

Coach Hunter expressed many times during his press conferences his gratitude for having a wellbalanced player, such as Benlevi at his disposal. But one coach in particular that has seen Benlevi’s progress over the duration of the offseason is Ray McCallum, who is in his first year with Panthers as the associate head coach. When asked which player has impressed him the most during practice and in the offseason Coach McCallum didn’t hesitate to say that Benlevi “is going to be one of the most improved players on this team.”

Benlevi sat down with The Signal to answer questions regarding his play as of lately.

At the beginning of the season, Coach McCallum said that he felt you were the one player that has impressed him the most during practice and the offseason. Express what that means to you.

Benlevi: It means a lot. Coach Ray is new to the program, and he got a chance to watch everybody play.

He never saw me play before so I guess the way my game is and the energy I bring—he always motivates me to go hard.

What was your main focus coming into this season?

Benlevi: To get a consistent jump shot. Last year, I started off kind of hot, then at the end of the year I kind of faded off—I wasn’t hitting as many jumpers, so I got in the gym a lot and started shooting a bunch of threes, pull-ups—everything so I could get better at shooting.

What exactly did you envision for yourself this season?

Benlevi: I figured I’d start. I felt like I wasted my freshman year, and I knew my sophomore year was

going to be a big year for me, so I gotta produce more and play harder.

On Twitter, I mentioned that I believe you are a player that is capable of averaging a double-double if given the minutes. Do you feel that’s possible this year or more so next year?

Benlevi: Yeah, I feel that’s possible. I just have to keep rebounding; I’m scoring pretty good right now, so I just have to rebound some more. Conference play is about to start, so I should be averaging a doubledouble in the conference; That’s one of my goals.

What do you feel you have to do in order to be a consistent starter in the lineup and continue to contribute to the team’s success?

Benlevi: I gotta keep playing hard. My team depends on me to play great defense and give great energy so we can start off the game good. But it doesn’t really matter if I come off the bench I’m still going to play as hard as I can.

What area do you feel you improved the most?

Benlevi: I would say ball handling. My defense was pretty good last year so I would say ball handling.

Coach Hunter always tells me “Malik, you gotta get you a move [ a go-to move].” I’m kinda figuring that out now. He trusts me with the ball in my hands, so that gives me a lot more confidence.

If you had the opportunity to get drafted right now, which team would you want that team to be?

Benlevi: To be honest, it doesn’t really matter. I feel like whoever pays me the most.

Who do you have the tightest relationship with on the team?

Benlevi: I came in with Austin [Donaldson]...that’s my boy. Jeremy [Hollowell], that’s my boy. [Justin] Seymour that’s my boy. Really, I’m cool with everyone-I’m a cool dude.

Benlevi finished with a career-high of 19 points when Panthers defeated South Alabama 78-77 on Jan. 7.

Malik Benlevi SPORTS HISTORY • In high school, Benlevi played football and ran track and field.

• As a junior in high-school, he was an AllSavannah Morning News first-team selection after helping the Jenkins Warriors to a Region 3-AAAAA title and the Class AAAAA semifinals of the state playoffs.

• His senior season in high school was also one full of accomplishments.

Savannah Morning News Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors after leading Jenkins High School to an undefeated run through Region 1-AAA play GHSA Class AAA state title, which was the first basketball championship in school history.

Named the Region 1-AAA Player of the Year and earned all-state first-team honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

• In his freshman season as a Georgia State Panther, he saw action in 28 games. Benlevi began his career with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals in an exhibition game against Oglethorpe.

The Signal Sports Editor, Rashad Milligan asked Benlevi just how he developed such a big fan base, and Benlevi said with a smile: “Just being the guy that I am...like I said, I’m just a cool dude, and I get that from my mom. It’s just my personality; I like to laugh, and everybody likes me.”

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State men’s basketball player and sophomore Malik Benlevi continues his improvement streak scoring 19 points during a game against South Alabama, Jan. 7.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

SPORTS

17

Finishing games is a major key Panther basketball close to being elite, but there is still a lot of work to do

The Georgia State men’s basketball team plan to win more games against Power 5 competition this season.

CHRISTIAN CRITTEDEN Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State athletics have come a long way over the past five years especially the basketball program, but it still has a few hills to climb before it wants to be considered an elite program. Right now if you were to ask a random person on the street what they knew about Panther basketball they would probably bring up RJ Hunter and the shot he hit against Baylor in the NCAA tournament.

While that isn’t a bad thing, because that was probably the best season in program history, with a record of 25-10 to go along with a regular season Sun Belt title, a conference tournament title, and a NCAA tournament victory over Baylor, it is not necessarily the greatest thing either.

That was two seasons ago, and now the Panthers are trying to get back to the tournament and stay there. Being a mid-major school success is measured at different levels compared to schools at the power five level. For Georgia State, being an elite program would just require them making the tournament year in

and year out. Mid-major schools like Gonzaga and Butler are elite programs because of their postseason success. Butler has made it to a few final fours, but without those appearances, it would still be an elite program.

There are other factors that make a team elite, however, and Georgia State is on the right track, but they are not quite there yet. They have however been very successful over the past few years.

“In the last five years, we have taken Georgia State to a level that it has never seen before. We have put together three of the most successful seasons in program history, won in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the postseason three times,” Coach Ron Hunter said. “ From a wins perspective, we have won more games than any other Division I program in the state of Georgia since the start of the 2013-14 season.

We have a lot of things we still want to do, but we feel like we are moving in the right direction.

Our next goal is to get back to the NCAA tournament.”

Hunter has a record of 110-67 since taking over the program in 2011. Hunter mentioned that the team had a lot of things that it still wants to do, and one of those things must

include finishing out big games, or pulling off upsets.

Hunter isn’t a big fan of the term pulling off upsets.

“The first thing is that we don’t look at pulling off upsets, we look at winning games. When we step on the court, it doesn’t matter who we are playing, we believe we can win. As soon as you start to think about upsets it means that you aren’t good enough to be on the court with your opponent and we don’t want to think that way.

We leave the upset talk to others and just focus in on doing what we do on the court,” Hunter said.

Hunter is right, you should never go into a game thinking that you can lose, but no matter how you look at it, there is no getting around the fact that they must start finishing games against big opponents.

The Panthers have had several chances to do just that this season. They were up as many as 11 points in the second half against Purdue, were down only five points to Auburn at halftime, and only down eight to Mississippi State at the half in that game as well. You won’t win every game unless you are the UConn women’s basketball team, but when you do have

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SIGNAL ARCHIVES

a chance to defeat Power 5 School, you have to take advantage.

In those three games, the Panthers were outscored 123-85 in the second half. They are in the past now, and it’s important not to dwell on them, but they were important for the process of becoming elite. Not only being elite, but also gaining national respect, and building your tournament resume.

One of the key factors in those games and others is that they tend to happen on the road.

“I think the one thing that you have to look at when it comes to beating a Power 5 opponent is that most of the time those games come on their home court. Home court advantage is big in all of college sports. The biggest thing in those games is that the margin of error is very small.

You have to play smart throughout and truly limit your errors otherwise the opponent will definitely take advantage of them,” Hunter said.

Panther basketball has definitely had its best three-year stretch in school history, but now it’s time to take it to the next level, and part of that involves finishing out big games. That will in turn result in more NCAA tournament appearances and success, which will truly make it an elite program.

SPORTS

OVER THE BREAK

18

SIGNAL ARCHIVES

MEN’S BASKETBALL During the holiday break, Georgia State has a record of 3-3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

SIGNAL ARCHIVES

WOMEN’S BASKETBAL The Panthers are falling fast, and need to fix it soon.

D’MITRI CHIN

CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN

hroughout the duration of the winter break, the Georgia State men’s basketball team has found themselves being mighty busy. The Panthers have played six games (three at home and three away) and had a record of 3-3.

If you weren’t able to follow along these past three weeks, don’t worry, here’s how the Panthers performed while you were away.

On Dec. 14, against Alabama A&M, the Panthers simply steamrolled their way to a 94-79 victory at the Sports Arena.

Here is where the Panthers fell into a bit of a seesaw battle with themselves as they failed to secure another win on Dec. 18 against Old Dominion.

Georgia State bounced back with their most impressive win over the six-game span by beating Middle Tennessee 64-56 on the road. Jeremy Hollowell once again led the team with 20 points, and the Panthers made a huge statement by defeating a NCAA RPI Top 10 team.

The Panthers then went on to lose two straight against UMass and Sun Belt rival Georgia Southern. The loss to UMass at home was just the fifth time the Panthers failed to secure a win at the Sports Arena since the start of the 2013-14 season.

The loss to Georgia Southern was the first conference game of the season for the Panthers, but they bounced back with a come from behind win against South Alabama on Jan. 7. Down by two points with 11 seconds left on the clock, Justin Seymour found Devin Mitchell in the corner who knocked down a huge three-pointer that gave the Panthers a 78-77 win at home.

As a whole, the Panthers have played well at home but must improve their play on the road. As of now, the Panthers are 1-5 away from the Sports Arena.

hile the majority of Georgia State students were at home relaxing over holiday break the women’s basketball team were hard at work on the basketball court. They weren’t able to find much success, going (1-5) in their six games over the holiday break. Their lone win came against arch rival Georgia Southern in Statesboro. Senior forward Tiffany Holston has been a godsend for the Panthers. She lead the effort with a double-double, 15 points and 17 rebounds.

The Panthers lost all five games by an average margin of 22 points, and in those games their opponents averaged 81.2 points per game.

During the break, the Panthers started the most important part of their season, Sun Belt conference play. So far they are 1-2 with a win over Georgia Southern, and two losses to Troy and South Alabama. While they do have a losing record so far this season, they have time to right their wrong and turn the season around. Every team makes the conference tournament, so all they have to do is get hot and find their stride at the right time.

Freshman Jada Lewis continues to impress on the court this season. She scored 21 points twice, both in losing efforts to Troy and Elon. She is averaging 9.4 points per game this season, which is second behind Holston.

Guard K.K Williams set career highs in points and rebounds 13 and 8 respectively against Elon.

The Panthers have gotten great individual performances this season, now it is about finding that consistency as a team down the stretch

Staff Reporter

T

SIGNAL ARCHIVES

FORMER PANTHERS Panther Pros continue to find their way at next level RASHAD MILLIGAN

Staff Reporter

W

Sports Editor

N

ew Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz arguably ended up with the best professional season for any former Panther in 2016. Lutz finished the regular season with a Saints record of 28 field goals, ending the year with 13 consecutive makes. Lutz earned a spot on Mel Kiper’s NFL All-Rookie Team. Lutz remains Georgia State’s all-time leader in field goals (31), extra points (120), and points (213).

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Ulrick John started his first three NFL games this season, with his first being in the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons. John was the second Panther ever to be drafted in the NFL, going to the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 seventh round. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson brought down 31 catches for an average of nine yards in the 2016 regular season. Wilson scored two touchdowns, including a 55yard run against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome on Dec. 4. Wilson and Chiefs continue their season journey as the second seed in the AFC Playoffs. In 2016, Robert Davis broke Wilson’s previously held Georgia State records in receptions (222) and receiving yards (3,391), but Wilson still leads the Panthers all-time list in receiving touchdowns with 23 touchdowns.

NBA guard R.J. Hunter signed with the Long Island Nets of the NBA D-League on Jan. 6. Hunter was waived by the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 29 after appearing in only three games for Chicago this season. Hunter played 13 games in the D-League before signing with Long Island, averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. Earlier this season with the Windy City Bulls, he’s averaged 18.6 points a game. Before the 2016 regular season began, the Boston Celtics waived Hunter on Oct. 24.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

SPORTS CALENDAR *CONFERENCE GAME

SPORTS EDITOR’S NCAAM PREDICTIONS RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

Baylor vs. West Virginia

MEN’S BASKETBALL Saturday, Jan. 14 GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Jeff Thomas Men’s Basketball The redshirt sophomore had 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Panthers 78-77 win over the South Alabama Jaguars. Thomas led all first half scorers with 10 points, knocking down two three-pointers as Georgia State trailed 37-35 going into halftime.

at Monroe, Louisiana 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Saturday, Jan. 14 UAB Vulcan Invitational

Monday, Jan. 16

at Birmingham, Alabama 10 a.m.

UL Monroe*

Louisiana*

at Lafayette, Louisiana 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Jan. 12 UL Lafayette at Lafayette, Louisiana 2 p.m.

Standings

FOOTBALL

1st

Appalachian State 7-1 | Overall: 10-3

2nd

PANTHER OF Duke vs. Florida THE WEEK State

Duke vs.

Louisville

MEN’S TENNIS Saturday, Jan. 14 FAMU

Chiefs vs.

Steelers

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UT Arlington 3-0 | Overall: 10-3

Arkansas State 7-1 | Overall: 8-5

Louisiana 2-1 | Overall: 12-4

Troy 3-0 | Overall: 10-4

3rd

Troy 6-2 | Overall: 10-3

UT Arlington 2-1 | Overall: 12-4

Little Rock 4-0 | Overall: 10-6

4th

Idaho 6-2 | Overall: 9-4

Arkansas State 2-1 | Overall: 11-5

Louisiana 2-1 | Overall: 8-4

5th

Louisiana 5-3 | Overall: 6-7

Little Rock 2-1 | Overall: 11-5

South Alabama 2-1 | Overall: 7-7

6th

Georgia Southern 4-4 | Overall: 5-7

Texas State 2-1 | Overall: 9-6

Appalachian State 2-2 | Overall: 7-8

UL Monroe 3-5 | Overall: 4-8

Coastal Carolina 2-1 | Overall: 7-9

Texas State 1-2 | Overall: 6-8

South Alabama 2-6 | Overall: 6-7

Georgia State 1-1 | Overall: 8-6

Georgia State 1-2 | Overall: 5-9

Georgia State 2-6 | Overall: 3-9

South Alabama 1-1 | Overall: 8-7

Coastal Carolina 1-3 | Overall: 6-8

New Mexico State 2-6 | Overall: 3-9

Troy 0-2 | Overall: 8-8

Arkansas State 1-3 | Overall: 3-13

Texas State 0-8 | Overall: 2-10

UL Monroe 0-3 | Overall: 5-9

Georgia Southern 0-3 | Overall: 4-10

8th 9th 10th 11th

Hawks

PatriotsPANTHER vs.

OF Patriots TexansTHE WEEK

Georgia Southern 2-0 | Overall: 9-6

7th

Louisville

NFL PLAYOFFS

at Tallahassee, Florida 10 a.m.

Junk

Duke

NBA PREDICTIONS Celtics vs. Hawks

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Baylor

Chiefs

Football Football team loses ten commits after Miles firing Jordan Ferguson, Dorian Jones, Jordan Ballard, Kendall Lawrence, Cameron Adams, Kamron McFolley, Mehki McKinney, Bruce Squires, Julius Pearson, and Matthew Boring have all decommitted from Georgia State since former head coach Trent Miles was fired on Nov. 12. Ferguson and Jones were both three-star recruits. Ferguson is 6-foot3, 240 pound tight end from Norcross High School. Jones is a 5-foot-10, 180 pound cornerback from Ocoee High School.

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