The Signal Vol. 87 No. 15

FINANCIAL AID

APPLE OR SPOTIFY?

PANTHERS FOOTBALL

BLOTTER

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Beginning this semester, some courses will no longer be covered by financial aid.

The rise of streaming has revolutionized music over the last decade.

The first ten years of the team have ushered in a new era for the school’s athletics program.

SUDOKU

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COMIC

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NEWS

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ARTS & LIVING

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SPORTS

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VOL. 87 | NO. 15 VOL. 87 | NO. 15

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR AND PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

JAN. 14 - JAN. 21, 2020 JAN. 14 - JAN. 21, 2020

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BLOTTER JAN. 6

Isn’t this the center for art?

A case of vandalism was found at the Rialto at 10:12 a.m. The case is still active.

It’s just chemistry!

An arrest was made in the Natural Science Building for a drug law violation, larceny and criminal trespass. The offender does not go to Georgia State.

So these books aren’t free?

A non-Georgia State person was the victim of larceny at the

Learning Resource Center on the Clarkston campus at 11:17 a.m.

JAN. 7

We were only supposed to knock down Kell!

An active case for damage to property at Sparks Hall took place at 12:32 p.m.

JAN. 9

Campus isn’t open yet...

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested for criminal trespass in Student Center West at 5:08 p.m.

ILLUSTRATION BY ESTEBAN RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Federal aid to no longer cover all courses

Georgia State will begin to enforce old U.S. Dept. of Ed. rule MARY BRASSFIELD Staff Reporter

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he students at Georgia State who receive federal aid may be under the impression that it will cover any class they choose to register for — because that is the way it has always been.

But thanks to a newly enforced rule by the U.S Department of Education, students are now only be able to register for classes that are in their academic pathways.

The set of classes required for a student’s major, minor and core classes is what makes up an academic pathway.

Louveisha Francois, assistant director of Academic Advisement, said these pathways are set by the department for each major.

Student Lauren Grove said she was creating her class schedule for the spring semester and received an error message she had not seen before.

“I logged onto my PAWS account, and it would say I have a program of study issue that I had to acknowledge,” Grove said.

Grove, a chemistry major, was registered for a music course that is not included in her academic pathway.

Grove took this class to satisfy a rule required by Student Financial Services, stating a student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours to receive federal grants; otherwise, their grants will be reduced.

Grove said she had already registered for the only two classes she had left to take to graduate, but those classes did not equal six credit hours. She thought she would be able to register for any class of her liking and that financial aid would cover it but saw that was no longer the case.

“It’s an inconvenience to have to sit in an advising office to have to figure out which classes will be covered rather than just being able to register for what better suits my tastes,” Grove said.

According to Atia Sherese Lindley, director of Student Financial Management, students are still welcome to take classes outside of their pathway, but they are putting their financial aid at a risk.

“If the course is not required for his/her degree, [then] his/her financial aid could be prorated or cancelled as

required by the U.S. Department of Education,” Lindley said.

If your major allows for electives and you have available credits remaining in your elective section, electives will not have an impact on your financial aid.

However, if you have satisfied all of your electives, then the course is most likely not eligible for financial aid. While this rule is not new, Georgia State now has the appropriate technology to implement it. ““While the rule is not new, the technology has not been available to provide an automated way to check each student’s schedule each term until recently,” Lindley said.

“Our work with EAB and the early already system helped ensure that our risk was minimal prior to having an official process in place.”

Georgia State wanted an automated way to check each student’s schedule for each term.

The Signal previously reported in June that Georgia State worked side-by-side with the data firm EAB to develop the models that are now used in the web platform Navigate for Georgia State’s GPS Advising initiative.

This system works to monitor, alert and respond to potential threats to a student’s success. Students will now receive error messages in their PAWS account whenever they register for a class outside of their academic pathways and will be required to acknowledge the message.

“Georgia State has always taken pride in actively working to encourage students to not waste time or money by encouraging students to take classes that apply towards their program and graduate on time,” Lindley said.

This rule applies to students who receive any type of financial federal aid, including the Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Grant, Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work-Study.

“Federal aid is awarded based on the number of credit hours applicable toward your degree… some federal and state financial aid requires you to be a full time student,” Lindley said.

For an undergraduate student to receive the maximum amount of their aid, they are required to be full-time, which means being registered for at least 12 credit hours that are applicable towards their degree. For graduate students, they are required to be registered for 9 credit hours.

While Georgia State say they only want to make sure

students stay on track with graduating, some students, such as Grove, feel like this is a way for Georgia State to not allow them to explore different classes at no cost.

Grove said that she was not going to pay out of pocket for the music class and settled for registering for a different class instead.

“I’m still going to continue in my program, [this] just means I will have to take global history instead of music,” she said.

Grove sat down with an advisor who helped her go over the classes that are covered by financial aid and other alternatives for which she was eligible.

While students still have the option to change their majors to take a different set of classes, students could still run into issues with this.

Often students admit to no longer feeling passionate about their current majors or some do not have any idea of what they would like to major in. While there are no rules saying you can not change your pathway, doing so multiple times could lead students to taking more classes than necessary, causing them to have to stay in school longer.

The more semesters a student adds to their time in college begins to affect their federal aid because there is a limit to the amount of HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship students are eligible to receive.

While students like to use their federal aid to explore classes that pique their interest, they may now have to think twice about that. Students can also prepare themselves before sitting down with their advisors by viewing their required classes through DegreeWorks and making a schedule themselves.

DegreeWorks is a student’s academic evaluation and can be found through PAWS. It shows students all their previously taken classes, classes they are currently enrolled in and classes they are required to take, it also can tell students how many classes will be added if they decide to change their majors.

There is no guarantee that this new implemented rule will change the core courses or add electives that students are allowed to take within their academic pathways because Georgia State is not sure yet.

“That’s too early to know. This is new to Georgia State, so more changes are likely to come down the road as the semesters go along,” Francois said.

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTE LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Trans student turns to social media for a place to stay When winter break sets in, some students have no place to go BROOKLYN VALERA Staff Reporter

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or Georgia State students, Dec. 17 officially marked the end of the fall 2019 semester. It symbolizes for many the beginning of a much-needed break from a stressful, but hopefully productive four months.

However, stress doesn’t dissolve for all students. Some have nowhere to go once the semester ends.

This was the harsh reality for Noctis Jean Pierre, a 19-year-old freshman, who took to social media for help. Pierre is a Georgia resident and a member of the Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, one of Georgia State’s largest LGBTQ+ organizations.

In an Instagram post shared by the student organization, Pierre said that he was unable to go home because of his homophobic and transphobic parents.

“I believe I contacted housing [around] probably November about possibly staying in the Lofts during winter break because I didn’t have a place to stay before,” Pierre said.” I did let them know that I had a job. I am still currently employed. I would be able to take care of myself in any compatible fashion.”

This fall semester, housing gave students until Dec. 18 to move out of the dorms. Students are required to move out of the dorms, except for those in the University Lofts, during the holidays. But some, and only some, students are allowed to stay via a “late-stay request.”

“Late-stay requests are for the end of the semester are for graduating seniors and commencement volunteers,” Shannon Corey, interim and associate director of Resident Life, said.

“Our student staff also remains late as a result of their job responsibilities in closing the buildings.”

Athletes who remain late for tournaments and other athletic events make their preparations through Athletics.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of college room and board has increased 50% over the past 20 years.

Students pay anywhere between $6,004 to $12,038 for both fall and spring semesters, according to Georgia State’s housing page.

Students, regardless of how much money they pay to stay on campus, are asked to vacate every winter.

Pierre spoke to Fallon Proctor, coordinator of student assistance in the Dean of Students’ office.

In an email received from Proctor, he told Pierre: “I heard back from University Housing and they indicate that you are currently placed in gender-inclusive housing and that they do not have gender-inclusive housing at the Lofts at this time, thus you would have to opt-out and permanently move to the University lofts, which would incur a cost increase of $100 - $350 for the fall semester.”

But Pierre said he didn’t have the funds for the increase.

“I just checked my financial aid a couple of days ago and I was only going to get a $180 refund so that would not be covered by my financial aid,” Pierre said. “I eventually brought this to the Dean, which is what I wanted to do.”

He noted he also would have had to cancel his meal plan to live in the Lofts, which requires a cancellation fee of over $2000, according to Georgia State’s dining page.

Students who are unable to pay the fee like Pierre are left with no choice but to move out, even if they have nowhere else to go.

In an email between Corey and Fallon, Corey offered to meet with Pierre after the break to see what they could do for him.

However, Pierre declined because he’d be back in Piedmont North with no need for further assistance at that point.

The housing move-out policy for the holidays was the first thing on the current residents’ housing page at the end of the fall semester. It clarifies that all residents, except for those in University Lofts, must move out for the break.

Student Myah Anglin lived in the Lofts during the fall 2018 semester.

“I stayed at the Lofts and that’s where the exchanges stay as well. So, we weren’t told we had to leave,” Anglin said.

Students coming from overseas are accounted for over the break because Georgia State puts them in the University Lofts which remain open over the break.

Georgia State’s official move-out page informs the other students that their dorms will not be accessible over the break.

Residents are allowed to leave their belongings in the dorm.

However, they aren’t allowed to stay in the dorm themselves.

Through social media, Pierre was able to find temporary housing with two individuals residing in an apartment at the Muse’s Lofts.

They allowed him to stay with them, no charge, until Dec. 30.

A student opens a door to Piedmont Central during Georgia State’s spring move-in day.

“One of the roommates’ parents found out that I was staying [with them]. Since [they] didn’t tell them that I was staying there, they got very upset and asked me to leave,” Pierre said. “I am currently living in an extended-stay motel. My roommate did help me monetarily with paying everything, so I really am grateful for that. But I pay for most of my stay.”

The Georgia State Housing Agreement informs students that they must make their own housing arrangements during any academic breaks.

“All Residents must make alternative arrangements at their sole expense for housing during periods of closure of the Residence Facility,” the policy states. “If Provider elects to allow Residents to remain in the Residence Facility during any academic break, Resident will be responsible for payment of all fees charged by Provider during that period.”

Students who don’t have a place to go to over the break like Pierre are often forced to stay with friends or find people willing to house them for the four weeks the dorms are closed.

“I’m not saying to keep all the dorms open over break but at least provide some solution that doesn’t involve even more money being required to pay to have a place to live,” Pierre said.

Corey said that the reasons for closing the dorms vary but it “helps control costs and keep housing charges reasonable for students, allows work to be done if needed (cleaning or construction) and conserves energy and resources.”

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

“It is common practice for university residence halls to close over winter break and for students to move out,” she said.

“Georgia State was closed until Jan. 6, and we have limited staff and resources during the university’s closure.”

College homelessness isn’t entirely uncommon in the U.S. According to CNBC, in 2018 researchers found that 36% of all college students were deemed to be housing insecure.

Between 2017 and 2018, 9% of four-year college students described experiencing complete homelessness.

This is an ongoing struggle for Georgia State students and college students everywhere. Occasionally, students get lucky and find individuals kind enough to offer temporary housing.

However, that is not always the case.

“I definitely do think there needs to be a change with how they do it. I found out that Kennesaw State University offers winter housing. So, if Kennesaw can offer that, why can’t we?” Pierre said.

Pierre said he thinks there definitely needs to be change at Georgia State.

“Because without being able to find a temporary place then I would have basically been on the streets until I was able to move back into the dorms,” he said. “There might be more kids in my situation that are on the streets right now, or couch-hopping, and that’s just unacceptable.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

NEWS

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Two Young Democrats’ view on the party Both feel a need for cultural change within their party IMANI DENNIS

LOCAL Death toll rises from storms across Southeast

Staff Reporter

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n what’s typically viewed as a predominantly liberal campus, former President of the Georgia State Young Democrats Evan Malbrough is navigating the complex Democratic Party while working to excite student voters on campus at the same time.

In contrast, Jaylan Scott is taking a state-wide approach, creating grassroots campaigns in local areas in Georgia, a state that some are beginning to view as a potential battleground for both Republicans and Democrats.

Both of these leaders in the Young Democrats are Georgia State students.

Jaylan Scott, who is the executive vice president for the Georgia chapter of the Young Democrats of America, was inspired to get into politics after growing up watching his mother struggle to pay bills.

“I am not the only person that goes through these issues, and I want to improve the lives of people in my community,” he said.

Scott said he was drawn to the Young Dems when he was 16 and was looking for an organization that was made up by people who were average citizens and with 9-to-5 jobs but still worked in politics.

His job consists of supervising the other vice presidents, advancing the organization’s platform, preparing for conferences, fundraising and supporting local chapters.

Scott has worked on multiple campaigns, including Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Georgia Governor and other Georgia politicians, including Michael Blake, Lester Miller and David Cook.

He recently met with members of the Bernie Sanders campaign to discuss issues involving young voters.

Scott feels that the Democratic party can do more to invigorate voters on campus.

“We need to organize and do statewide events that involve the Georgia State campus, especially protests,” he said.

Scott feels that the distrust between Democrats and voters goes back to the youth.

“I was not super happy with myself about being a Democrat, because the party does not invest in young people,” he said. “We need to invest in communities and local areas.”

Scott sees fundraising as incredibly important when organizing the party on a state level.

As a member of the Young Dems, Scott sees that the Democratic Party is fragmented.

“The DNC is blocked by their own establishment ideas; there are many of us that are a lot more progressive than [the establishment’s] moderate ideas,” Scott said.

He also wants to see more discourse on issues besides immigration and healthcare.

“We need to be able to focus on other issues like homelessness,” he said. “I hate walking down Georgia State’s campus and seeing all these homeless people and we’re not doing anything about it.”

As a black man, Scott also works hard to ensure that black people are fully represented.

“The contribution that black women bring to the Democratic Party is often ignored. Issues like black hair discrimination are not actually addressed,” he said. “When I move into spaces you have 99 white faces and then you have me.”

Scott said grassroots is the heart of their movement, by going into communities he thinks the Republican Party ignores.

“We seek to influence people that may not know if they’re going to vote or who they’re going to vote for. We had to do that with Stacey Abrams,” he said.

Evan Malbrough shares a similar sentiment to Scott and worked to connect with liberal voters on

NEWS BRIEFS

ABC News reports that at least 11 were killed as storms brought high winds, heavy rain and floods, and tornadoes swept through the Southeast on Saturday.

In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson had to declare a state of emergency as crews worked to restore power across the state. Georgia had about 98,000 power outages Saturday evening, according to ABC News.

NATIONAL Earthquakes rattle Puerto Rico

Learn how young Democrats Jaylan Scott (right) and Evan Malbrough (left) are navigating the political space on Georgia State’s campus.

Georgia State campus during a turbulent time in national politics.

Malbrough’s father was a small business owner in Smyrna, Georgia, and he met politicians through local business functions and church.

As president of the Georgia State chapter of Young Dems in his sophomore year, from May 2017 until the end of 2018, he had issues with how students viewed Democrats.

“Not only did we face fallout from Donald Trump [winning the election] but also from Hillary Clinton,” he said.

Malbrough described a situation that was rough, including getting “dirty looks” at the OrgFair.

So, he focused on more grassroot ideas, having bi-monthly meetings and brought in Democratic candidates to speak directly to students.

They also established the Young Democrats and College Republicans Debate, which he says is the Young Dems’ biggest event.

Malbrough is now the president of Vote Everywhere GSU, a local chapter of a national, non-partisan movement to increase civic engagement through student leaders. While still a member of the Young Dems, he currently works for the Georgia State Student Government Association as the communications director for the Atlanta campus senate. Recently, he interned for Georgia Congressman David Scott.

Malbrough said he balances his nonpartisan work with Vote Everywhere and the highly partisan aspect of the Young Dems by focusing on the issues and not the politics.

“The biggest thing I learned being in Young Democrats is that I don’t like Democratic Party politics, I prefer to focus on the actual issues,” he said.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

To explain this, he describes how some candidates may have ideas that are unconstitutional or not politically viable. As an example, he mentions former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke’s comments about taking away tax exempt status from churches that will not perform gay marriages ceremonies.

He feels this is what turns many voters away from the party.

“It’s grandstanding and politics and it’s become a part of [the Democratic Party’s] culture now. So, we need to focus on coming up with issues and [a party infrastructure] that Democratic voters want to hear about,” he said.

An example of these key issues for him is his work on the upcoming 2020 census.

“The focus of the census is social programming and extending voter access, which is something that voters can relate to,” he said.

Malbrough is also working to establish his own identity in the field.

“When you’re a black person in politics, they always align [me] with the latest black person in politics to make it big,” he said. “Like, I like Stacey Abrams too, but I’m not Stacey Abrams.”

Malbrough also brings news that Georgia State may soon see voting booths on campus. He is currently working alongside the Zeta Mu Alphas and the Student Government Association to make this possible.

“We’re onset to have the only polling location run by students in the county. We have 12 students that have signed up and we’re working with Fulton county right now for training,” he said.

Starting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Puerto Rico was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that destroyed homes and killed one man, according to CNN. On Friday afternoon, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck with another hitting on Saturday at 5.9 magnitude.

Thousands remain without power and the governor has estimated $110 million in damages. As the people still work to recover from Hurricane Maria in 2017, about 500 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher have struck Puerto Rico since Dec. 28, according to CNN.

GLOBAL U.S. and Iran face mounting tensions

On Dec. 27, longstanding tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated when an American defense contractor was killed by an Iranian-backed Shia militia group, according to CBS News. The situation deteriorated quickly after Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s top military and political figures, was killed in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump on Jan. 3. Following this, Iran fired missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. After no U.S. casualties, Trump addressed the nation, saying that Iran “appears to be standing down.” During this time, a Ukrainian passenger jet was mistakenly shot down by Iranian missiles, killing all 176 passengers on board.

Additionally, 56 deaths and 213 injuries were reported in a stampede at Soleimani’s crowded funeral.

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Ever wished you could change a grade?

Students share their experiences with the grade appeal process DANIELLA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

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he effort towards straight As and a 4.0 grade point average always diminishes as the semester continues. Grade appealing and repeat to replace are two ways students can “fix” academic troubles many they come across as their educational adrenaline declines.

The repeat-to-replace policy helps those who have retaken a class and want to have the first grade average they earned excluded from their official grade point average — but it will not be excluded from their transcript. Instead, it will be replaced with the grade the student earned in the class the second time they take it.

However, according to the policy, there are a number of restrictions to the repeat-to-replace policy: 1. Students must retake the class 2. No more than four classes can be replaced 3. Ws, Ss, and Us cannot be replaced 4. This policy applies only to the first recorded grade in a course that a student has repeated 5. Repeat-to-replace applies only to degree-seeking students pursuing their first associate-level or bachelor-level degree at Georgia State According to the Office of the Registrar, many students are encouraged to discuss discrepancies in their grades with their professors before filing a formal grade appeal.

According to Jeremy Craig, communications manager for the Office of the Provost, the process of appealing a grade makes its way through several people on campus.

Starting with the student and instructor themselves, if they are unable to reach an agreement, the request then heads to the department chair, the dean of the college, the provost and finally, the president. The process must be followed in this order, without skipping any steps.

Averil Smith, senior associate registrar, said that the registrar’s office works at the very end of the process.

“The provost can only consider an appeal on the basis that the decision was made in an arbitrary, discriminatory and/or capricious manner,” Craig said. “Simply disagreeing with an assigned grade is not sufficient grounds for an appeal to the provost.”

If a student can’t resolve their problems privately with the professor, the first step is to file a formal grade appeal with the department chair.

“The appeal must be in writing and describe the precise reason for the appeal,” the policy states. “Any pertinent information must be submitted with the appeal in order to be considered in this or subsequent appeals.”

ILLUSTRATION BY JACY SHEPARD | THE SIGNAL

Some students have reported having good experiences with grade appealing.

Elaina Pamela Amoro Nyandat, a fifth-year senior psychology major, had a successful grade appeal in two of her psychology classes.

“When grades came out that semester, I was expecting to have a B in cross-cultural psychology and an A- in social psychology based on that professor’s point system,” Nyandat said. “However, [the professor] gave me lower grades.”

After emailing her professor and the department chair to prove she should have gotten a higher grade than she received, her professor found an error in her calculation. After her appeals, she received an A in cross-cultural psychology and an A- in social psychology.

Snotti Prince St. Cyr, a senior exercise science major Georgia

State, successfully appealed his failing grade in nutrition and physical fitness.

“Family issues and major depressive disorder caused me to fail the course because I was not able to commit enough time and concentrate on the coursework,” Prince said.

Prince was advised by his friend to either appeal his grade or request an incomplete. Prince chose to appeal and was able to receive a B- in the class after originally failing it.

“I think the process overall is decent, but I would ensure that the Access and Accommodations Center is still involved and instructors still adhere to the recommendations and cater to students when necessary,” Prince said.

Students have up to 10 days after final grades have been posted to take this action. This semester’s spring classes end on Apr. 27, and final grades are due May 7.

You’ve said farewell to Kell ­— here’s what’s next The most updated completion dates for spring projects NIDA MERCHANT Staff Reporter

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s the first semester wraps up, students and faculty alike can reminisce about the days of crowded corridors between classes and sounds of construction as one of the campus’s most iconic buildings ended its time at Georgia State. With blue curtains hiding what little remains of Kell Hall, students and those with their eyes on the project cannot help but wonder when the construction process will finally end.

In May 2019, Vice President of the Facilities Management Services Division Ramesh Vakamudi estimated the completion date was January 2020 after the originally budgeted $5 million project doubled to almost $10 million.

Now, Vakamudi says that the Kell Hall and plaza demolition is complete and the contractor is moving onto the next steps: on-site grading, installation of underground utilities and facade improvements for three buildings — Langdale Hall, the Arts and

Humanities building and Sparks Hall.

The project plans to use the area previously occupied by Kell Hall as well as the now flattened portion of Library Plaza for the planned greenway, with the construction of a stairway entrance to Library North as the next project in line.

Senior Director of the Facilities Design and Construction Services Kimberly Bauer told The Signal in September that the project would be completed in March, instead of the January completion date given late last spring.

Now, she says the completion of the greenway project should be in April 2020 if the weather permits.

This additional one month delay is claimed to be due to unforeseen conditions with the exterior surface not being smooth enough in the Arts and Humanities building. The second phase of the project, the new stairway into the library, is still planned to begin shortly afterward.

But as students return for the spring semester, they cannot say goodbye to the blue curtains just yet. According to Bauer, half of the area is still closed off to the public.

This means those shrieking bulldozers are still going to stick

around. But the area that was closed during the demolition period will not be open.

As exciting as the project is to many students, it is no surprise that the demolition has been rather strenuous to all of those traversing the campus. Students around Langdale and Urban Life area may have grown weary of the noisy bulldozers and other construction equipment outside their windows.

Though the construction period is far from over, students can finally say goodbye to Kell Hall. Though some are disappointed at the demise of one of the university’s oldest buildings, many are excited to see what the new face of Georgia State can offer to its students.

“This has been one of the most complex projects that the university has undertaken,” Bauer said. “Once it and the new Library North addition are complete, the students, faculty and staff can enjoy an exciting green space that becomes the heart of campus.”

Those blue curtains may look hideous right now, but when they finally down, Georgia State will have a whole new look.

TUESDAY, TUESDAY, JANUARY JANUARY 14, 15, 2020 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Why bother with New Year’s resolutions?

There’s no need for resolutions when you’re already doing your best NICOLE CASTRO Staff Columnist

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ith the advent of a new year upon us, there is a fairly widespread feeling of hope and optimism that comes along with it. People are thinking of all of the ways they plan to learn from their 2019 experiences in order to make 2020 their year.

For example, maybe you want to exercise more and party less in the new year, but in any case, a new year is all about setting goals and thinking of healthy lifestyle changes to implement that will improve your life once January 1st comes around. That sounds like a good thing, and it can be if you really mean it, but an even better thing would be to start working toward your goals right now, regardless of what day it is.

New Year’s resolutions are inherently lazy, like a form of organized procrastination. Think about it: You tell yourself, “I’m going to start doing ‘X’ next year.” The intentions are good, but they mean nothing without the actions that should follow.

Clinical psychologist Joseph Luciani has determined that, by the second week of February, around 80% of people will have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions.

This comes from a place of feeling like you have to do something rather than truly wanting to do it, which makes it feel more like work and therefore, more stressful.

“New Year’s resolutions have the potential to actually solve a problem, but most people lack the discipline to make any actual change,” Trent Trammell, a Georgia State sophomore, said.

It is all about mentality when it comes to meeting goals: You have to want it to put forth the effort that is necessary.

If not, your intentions are meaningless. By choosing to wait for the beginning of a new year, whether that means next year or simply tomorrow, you reinforce your procrastinatory habits.

What is stopping you from starting right now? The sooner you embark on your journey of self-improvement, the sooner you will see results and meet your goals.

Selecting a date in the future on which you will begin your new habits creates the feeling of having a deadline, which we all dread. Often with a looming deadline, we remain comfortable and complacent, waiting until the last minute to get to work.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALLEN NGUYEN | THE SIGNAL

This tends to result in a substandard product that we are not proud of. By eliminating this “deadline” concept and deciding that today is the day that you will start making changes (and actually follow through on that decision), you will have truly made progress toward your goal.

With enough determination, that one decision can turn into a habit, and at that point, you are able to consistently move closer and closer toward your goal.

Once you find yourself in a routine composed of healthy habits, the need for things like New Year’s resolutions

becomes obsolete. You will find that you don’t need to bother with resolutions because you are already on track to meet your goals.

As you set new goals for yourself, you will have the discipline to work toward them immediately rather than waiting for a new day to come. Again, the most important part is your mentality.

If you decide that you are going to do something to improve your life, do it as soon as you are able to and be consistent. You will thank yourself for doing so.

Procrastination: The good, the bad and the truth How to change the narrative surrounding procrastination ADRIENNE LONG Staff Columnist

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remember when I had to write a six-page paper for one of my classesI had one week to write it, proofread and submit it. I wrote it the night before it was due and got a “B”. To most people, that sounds ridiculous. Why would you write a six-page paper the night before it’s due? One word: procrastination.

The word “procrastination” brings up a wide spectrum of emotions to people. Some people see it as a necessity that’s needed to complete a task; others see it as a form of laziness.

I tend to lean toward the former. But for those who might be on the side of the latter, there’s a question that I would like to ask: Is procrastination really such a bad thing?

Procrastination and laziness are often seen as being one

and the same. If you know that there is something that needs to be done, and you’re not doing it, is that not just being lazy?

The answer to that question is yes and no — yes, because if the person who is avoiding the task at hand is doing so with the mindset of never intending on completing the task, has no motivation to complete it or completely blows it off, then that absolutely falls under laziness.

However, if they’re putting off the task just for the time being, but they do intend to complete it and are still motivated enough to finish it, then that is what you call procrastination. I’m not trying to tell you how you should feel when it comes to procrastination, but perhaps it doesn’t always have to be so maligned.

Some people procrastinate out of fear of failing or even out of fear of succeeding. You have people who are perfectionists and need everything to be as perfect as they can be before starting a task. Then you have those who work on bits and pieces at a time instead of taking on the

entire assignment at once. Other times, people simply need a little time to gather their thoughts on how to proceed with something instead of jumping in headfirst.

According to Psychology Today, about 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. Verywellmind states that 25-75% of college students procrastinate when it comes to their academic work. Regardless of how high these percentages are, there is still the fact that procrastinating isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

The main reason is that you have people who are doers and people who are non-doers.

Doers will complete an assignment way before the deadline. They know exactly what they need to do to get the job done and how long it will take for them to do it.

Non-doers may need time to think about exactly what they need in order to complete the task at hand. The point of this article isn’t to say that one is better than the other but that they are just different. And different isn’t a bad thing.

OPINIONS

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I said it once, so why can’t I say it twice?

Students should be able to use their old assignments

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O

ne of the requirements for incoming freshmen at Georgia State is to take a GSU 1010 class. The class essentially gives you a rundown of the college, where certain offices are located, what they do and little tips and tricks. The overall purpose seems to be to the optimization of students’ success and make the transition into college as smooth as possible.

One of the things you learn in the class is the academic honesty policy, which covers plagiarism and the consequences that come along with it. In a nutshell, the policy states that no student shall be permitted to steal someone else’s work, including themselves.

This policy should come as no surprise to anyone; it’s common sense. You get in trouble for trying to pass off someone else’s work as your own, but what if it IS your own?

The academic honesty policy is flawed here in my opinion. If a student has a piece of work that can be applied to another assignment in another class, they should be able to do so. I fail to see the logic behind why it isn’t allowed because professors seem to do it all the time.

If you search up a homework question on Google because you’re stuck on it, nine times out of ten, you’re going to find the answers to the entire sheet and more. Why? It is because professors distribute the same assignments every semester. Any argument made against students not reusing their assignments can be reapplied to professors. Why must students redo assignments from scratch, taking care to sound as original as possible, if professors can reuse assignments, tests and quizzes verbatim that they’ve already given out?

College can be overwhelming sometimes, so when students receive an assignment and notice they have completed a previous assignment that

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can be repurposed, they’re going to jump on the opportunity. It would seem silly and repetitive not to.

The assignment is still written by the student.

It’s all their own thoughts and ideas, just expressed at a different point in time. If an old assignment meets the requirements for a new one, what is the issue?

The Georgia State University academic honesty policy states that a student can only re-use their work if a teacher gives explicit permission to do so, but that’s probably never

going to happen. A teacher is not going to be in support of a shortcut; they’re going to want their students to put effort into their assignment.

But why put the effort in if there’s none needed?

People say, “Work smarter, not harder,” for a reason.

Getting this one item off of a student’s plate might be the only reason they clear it. In a student’s entire college career, the chances of them having multiple assignments that can be reused are few. So, when the opportunity does comes about, why can’t we take it?

Welcome to your virtual classroom There’s no risk in taking classes online, so try it ARIA JOHNSON Staff Columnist

W

e live in a world that is heavily based around technology. We even attend a university that is known for staying up to date on the latest technological advances.

It’s important that colleges and universities offer online classes.

Not every college student has the luxury of living on campus or not having to work fulltime. Life outside of college should never stop someone from pursuing an education. Online classes are beyond beneficial for many reasons.

When I first started college, I avoided taking online classes because I didn’t know what to expect. It wasn’t until my junior year that I had no choice but to take an online class.

I immediately recognized that I needed to adjust my habits and get organized. The thing about online classes is that the assignments are already posted; it’s just a matter of not missing

those due dates.

“I’ve always thought that more tenured students, juniors and seniors, should be given the opportunity to go completely online because life happens,” Imani Rucker, a 2018 Georgia State graduate student, said.

My experience with online classes has been a positive one. I enjoy being able to learn from the comfort of my own home. It’s also nice being able to avoid commuting into the city when traffic is hectic.

It’s no surprise to learn that college tuition and housing costs are rising. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the cost of tuition across Georgia universities and colleges will rise 2.5%. Along with that, the cost of living on campus will increase by 3%.

The reason why this is happening is that technology, academic programs and building costs are increasing. Considering attending college is already expensive, it can be stressful to know that the fees are rising.

The silver lining in all of this is that the cost of online classes are not increasing. In fact, they are decreasing by 33%. This is great news for

those students who are determined to maintain an online schedule. Those who attend college but want to save money however they can need to simply prioritize their studies as if they were in a physical classroom.

It may sound easier said than done, but it is possible. Once you get used to the structure of your online classes, it starts becoming second nature. Getting into the routine of doublechecking your work and communicating with your professors and classmates will make you wonder why you didn’t take online classes sooner.

It can be intimidating taking an online class but apps like GroupMe make a virtual classroom feel real. Group chats for online classes are essential because you will never miss a due date and everyone forms a bond. It makes you realize that you aren’t alone.

Taking advantage of having online classes is something I highly recommend. As college students who have lives outside of the classroom, why not make your life a little less stressful by taking a class online?

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ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

FROM STARVING ARTIST TO SUCCESSFUL TEACHER Professor Mary Emily Deal on acting, teaching and giving back MAYA TORRES Staff Reporter

M

ary Emily Deal, a theater professor at Georgia State, has been performing since the third grade.

“I have always enjoyed acting, or back then I just called it playing,” Deal said. “I was always dressing up and pretending to be someone else. The first time I remember actually wanting to be an actor, I was very young, and I wanted to be in commercials, but I was concerned that if I became an actress, I might have to say things about a product I didn’t like, … and I thought it was illegal to say something that wasn’t true. I tried not to be an actress, because I didn’t want to be faced with that moral dilemma.”

However, Deal’s third grade performance as Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” had her hooked on acting.

“I have tried not to be an actor so many times throughout my life, but it always pulls me back in,” she said.

Deal lived in New York for a period of time, working as a temporary employee at Citibank and living off of the two cheeseburger deal at McDonald’s.

Following this, she moved back to Georgia to teach at Piedmont College and discovered a brand-new interest in her life: a love for teaching. The administrative skills she honed at Citibank proved useful, and she was promoted to associate professor and department chair.

Then, Deal began her time at Georgia State.

“My hope and true mission at [Georgia State] is to help build a new way of looking at teaching acting,” she said.

“Instead of teaching to the platform such as theatre versus film, we teach actors the craft of acting and then teach them the technical skills they need to adjust their performance for each. In today’s world, an actor needs to be able to move fluidly between stage and screen and new and evolving media.”

This mission is in part made possible by a decision made by the university.

“We are really in a lucky position, because just a few years ago, [Georgia State] created the new College of [the] Arts pulling music, art and film and theater out of the [College] of Arts and Sciences, and they created the new School of Film, Media and Theatre,” Deal said. “This gave a new breath to the theater program by connecting it with film and this allowed the natural progression of being able to teach acting for not only theater but also for film and other types of media.”

Deal, along with the other professors at the School of Film, Media and Theatre, has the goal to give opportunities for students to express themselves through their own work, rather than the work of their teachers.

“I think one of the greatest things we are trying to build is an opportunity for the unique and diverse voices of the GSU student body to be heard in a structured and significant way,” she said. “For the last year we have been connecting students to one another by having the dramatic writing and screenwriting students taught by Sojourna Collier to write pieces that are then performed by acting students and directed by directing students.”

This is just one of many projects Deal and her counterparts have put together to showcase students’ talent and creativity.

Mary Emily Deal is giving back to Georgia State through teaching and directing in the School of Film, Media & Theatre.

“In spring of 2019, we had our first Night of Sexy Shorts, which consisted of students’ written work that had either been filmed by the students in the Acting and Directing for the Camera class taught by Susan G. Reid or staged readings from the Acting II class Susan and I both taught last spring,” Deal said.

Not only is Deal trying to make student voices heard, but she is also trying to bring light to issues that may affect Georgia State students and Atlanta as a whole.

“This fall, we had the first ever ‘Give Back’ series that focuses on an issue and giving back by raising awareness,” she said. “This program was led, produced and coordinated

by Susan G. Reid. It was called ‘Trafficked,’ and it was student written, acted, and directed all around the subject of human trafficking.”

This program, however, is just the beginning for the “Give Back” series.

“Our next [project] is ‘The Vagina Monologues’ to raise awareness [about] violence against women,” Deal said. “I’m overseeing and producing this event along with Camilla Pham of Student Health Promotions. I think we have 19 students involved in this production. [Student Health Promotions] will be providing counselors to be on hand for anyone who may be triggered by the performance. We also plan to have a talk back after the performance on the 13th to discuss these issues [and] collect feminine hygiene

PHOTO BY AYESHA PATEL | THE SIGNAL

products and donate to an organization that assists victims of violence.”

Outside of her hard work at Georgia State, Deal is the single mother of two teenagers. In her free time, she meditates, writes and does yoga. She has completed her energy healing training, a form of alternative medicine said to promote emotional and physical healing, and is now a reiki master.

Along the way, Deal has learned many lessons from her students, the most prominent being humility.

“Being the teacher doesn’t make me smarter, [but] it makes me want to be a better student,” she said. “This generation in particular has taught me that the things that my generation took as fact are not facts at all but simply one way of seeing things. I love that students these days are not encumbered by things such as gender or age when they choose material to work on.”

In her life, Deal has become many things: a performer, a teacher, a mother and a role model. But instead of focusing on the milestones of her accomplished life, she instead dwells on the journey and the relationships forged along the way.

“There are a million stories of costume mishaps, forgotten lines, choking back laughter, but most of all, it is about the relationships with people who love the same things as you do,” Deal said.

The power of performing poetry STUDENTS ARE ON THE ROAD TO SLAM THEIR HEARTS OUT IN VIRGINIA WRITTEN BY BRIA SUGGS | ARTS & LIVING EDITOR

A

team of poets are in the midst of creating something no other person at the university has done. Six Georgia State students have come together to create the university’s first College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational Team. CUPSI is a poetry slam competition put on by the Association of College Unions International . Colleges and universities from all over send teams of 4-5 student poets to compete.

The competition will be held at Virginia Commonwealth University from April 15-18.

According to the ACUI’s website, each year, “poetry slam teams from across the country travel to compete for top honor at this event.”

This is not the first time a CUPSI team has tried to be formed at Georgia State. Last year, some students tried to make a team and were unsuccessful. Inspired and determined by their predecessors, Nathan Wallace, Scenarious Thurmond, Taniya “Tan” Paylor, Shekrina Roberts, Khymorah Bashir and Jermarcus Wise pushed each other to successfully make the team.

Wallace and Thurmond started the logistics side of making an idea a reality and are the acting coaches. The students also sometimes reach out to established poets for feedback.

In order to make the team, the students had to place top five at a campus-wide poetry slam that was put on by Wallace and Thurmond. The CUPSI team is not yet officially recognized by the university, because the organization the team would have been under went dormant.

Wallace and Thurmond hope to start a new poetry organization on campus so the CUPSI can be official and receive funding.

WHAT HAPPENS AT CUPSI

The four-day competition has a full schedule with days that start as early as 9 a.m. and last as late as midnight. The first day focuses on the first round of preliminary performances and open mic.

Day two includes a head-to-head haiku battle, the second preliminary round and open mic.

The third day is the busiest with an event called “Nerd Slam,” workshops, semi-finals, open mic and team meetings.

The competition will come to an end on the fourth day with the final round of competition and the awards ceremony. Teams send up one piece to be performed each round. Performances are judged on a scale of 1-10 including decimals.

Georgia State’s team has already started their weekly practices of performing, writing and editing along with fundraising for the upcoming competition.

MEET SCENARIOUS THURMOND

Thurmond is currently a senior majoring in sociology with a double minor in psychology and theater. She helps the team edit and practice, but will not be attending the competition in April. This isn’t her first time making the cut for a potential team, but it is the first time that the team created will be attending the invitational.

“Under the Student Org Conscious Collective, I slammed to be a part of the team twice and made it both times, but due to funding, we were not able to go,” Thurmond said.

Like Wallace, she started writing poetry in elementary school and began performing in high school.

Even though she won’t be able to attend the actual event, it’s still worth it to help out the team during practices because of her passion for poetry.

“I love poetry, specifically slam poetry, and I have wanted to compete for a while. I first learned about slam in highschool, and at that time, I wanted to be a part of a national

MEET TAN PAYLOR

A junior marketing major and neuroscience minor, Paylor discovered the qualifying slam contest via flyer. Paylor is new to performing and writing poetry.

“I just recently started taking poetry seriously towards the end of 2018 after my mental health got really bad and I stepped away from music and song-writing. I’ve never done slam, but I released a few short poems on my Instagram that got a little buzz, and I performed at two open-mics,” Paylor said. “I was super nervous both times, but something about being that vulnerable on stage stuck with me. I knew it was something I wanted to continue doing.”

Her first poetry performance was at Urban Grind’s Open Mic in March 2019. Paylor doesn’t have a favorite style of poetry, but she enjoys emotional poetry that brings her close to tears.

Paylor is looking forward to being a part of the CUPSI team not only for the opportunity to compete, but also to bond with fellow artists that share her craft.

“We want to win, of course. But, I know personally it’s inspiring being around so many talented people,” Paylor said. “When they share their work, it gives me a peek into the

MEET SHEKRINA ROBERTS

Roberts isn’t new to poetry. Like Wallace and Thurmond, she has been writing since she was in elementary school. However, she’s never performed a piece before.

“Every time I was on stage, it was singing, dancing or acting. The idea of presenting my words and my art was always nerve-racking,” Roberts said.

Unlike some of her teammates, her favorite style of poetry is free verse.

“Free verse poems are my favorite,” Roberts said. “I come up with the structure and guide the narrative. I don’t like the idea of rules in my self-expression.”

Roberts has been busy perfecting her craft leading up to her first poetry competition.

“With practice, we try to meet once a week, but you definitely have to do the work individually. There’s a lot of writing we do by ourselves and together. We edit together [and] practice our performance,” Roberts said. “Each member pulls their weight, so it requires us to wear multiple hats. We edit, come up with fundraising ideas, write and coach each other.”

Her goal for the invitational is not only for the team to do well but also to better herself in the process.

“Well, we definitely hope to win at CUPSI, but personally, this is my first time putting myself out there as far as my art is involved, so I hope to push myself and present my work proudly,” Roberts said.

MEET KHYMORAH BASHIR

Bashir is a senior majoring in psychology. She has been writing poetry for the last six years and started performing last year. When Bashir learned about the opportunity to compete to go to CUPSI, she wasn’t hesitant to try.

“I have been wanting to pursue spoken word and poetry for a while, but I didn’t know how I wanted to get started. So, when the opportunity was available, I definitely went for it,” Bashir said.

Like Roberts, Bashir also considers free verse to be her favorite style. Even with the disciplined preparation for the competition, she still sees being a part of the CUPSI team as a worthwhile experience.

“The team, as a whole, has been very helpful in terms of me expressing myself through poetry,” Bashir said. “Being on the team has definitely challenged and improve my artistic abilities.”

THE PATH TO RICHMOND, VA

Since the CUPSI team is not yet recognized by the university as an athletic team or student organization, it is up to the team to fundraise their trip to the invitational. So far, a GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for the registration, transportation and lodging necessary to attend the competition.

There are also other fundraising plans in the works to fund the trip. The team is considering hosting open mic events, selling some of their poems in a book and possibly even merchandise.

Affording the trip was the biggest obstacle that prevented students from attending in past attempts, so the team is determined not to let it defeat their efforts this time around.

Paylor encourages students to “support art just like you support sports!”

The Signal reached out to CUPSI team member Jermarcus Wise, but did not receive a response.

MEET NATHAN WALLACE

Wallace is a junior majoring in history and minoring in creative writing. As one of the front-runners creating the CUPSI team, he isn’t new to the world of poetry. He started writing poetry in elementary school, and started performing his work in the 11th grade.

He was inspired to create the CUPSI team mostly by his passion for poetry. His favorite style of poetry is slam because “it’s the perfect mix of raw poetry and stage presence.”

“I got my first taste of doing poetry slams with Atlanta Word Works, and I’ve loved doing it since,” Wallace said. It has its down[sides], but I think the expression is needed and CUPSI has one of the biggest stages.”

Forming Georgia State’s first CUPSI team was no easy task. According to Wallace, it took a lot of “research, writing and dedication.”

“Scenarious [and I] wanted to have a team put together before the spring so we could have strong writing to perfect going into the next semester,” Wallace said.

Wallace’s goal for the creation of the team is to “give the students a creative way to express themselves and more exposure to new people, experiences, and to reach a wider audience.”

WHERE TO REACH OUT AND HELP OUT Nathan Wallace’s Instagram: @iamnathanwallace Shekrina Roberts’ Instagram: @perfectly_kina Khymorah Bashir’s Instagram: @kh.ymo Tan Paylor’s poetry page: @exbelowwhy Tan Paylor personal page: @whyoverex

ARTS & LIVING

12

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Bettering Atlanta one photoshoot at a time Student-model uses his platform to aid his community BRIA SUGGS

Arts & Living Editor

A

s a junior majoring in studio arts with a concentration in drawing, painting and printmaking, Antoine Manning is already becoming a well-established model. With over 7,000 Instagram followers, Manning’s feed includes shots from magazine photoshoots, runway shows and even posts giving awareness to some social justice issues that define the U.S. Growing up in Covington, Georgia, Manning felt as though he didn’t have the resources necessary to fulfill his aspiration to model, yet he gave it a shot in high school anyway.

“During my fall semester of freshman year, my friend recommended me for a photoshoot with one of her friends.

When he contacted me and told me the details of the concept, I was very nervous because it involved me being shirtless, and I was very insecure at the time because of my physical stature,” Manning said..

He ended up loving the results of the photoshoot and discovered a little self-confidence along the way.

“After that, I just began doing it heavily because I finally started something I wanted for so long,” Manning said.

Juggling a modeling career and also being a full-time student has slowly taught Manning the art of balance.

“The balance is pretty hectic. This semester was my hardest, and my 6 absences with the attendance policy at GSU caused me to have my worst grade point average ever,” Manning said. “It’s a constant lesson on time management, discipline and just raw motivation … Everything I’m putting my time into is genuinely because I believe enough in it, so I will do what I have to do to maintain them all.”

Luckily, Manning believes these struggles to be worth the outcome. He believes modeling has changed his life for the better.

“Modeling has impacted my life by helping me to love myself externally as much as I do internally. It has allowed people to appreciate me for who I am and not to discount me for what I may lack,” Manning said. “It’s also just helped me be a role model to those who come from similar [places] and circumstances as I have.”

Along with modeling and classes, Manning is also behind the brand Homage Year. The “HOMAGE” stickers that can be found around the Atlanta campus come from Homage Year. In addition to the stickers, Homage Year also makes apparel.

In Atlanta, everyone knows someone with a clothing brand. However, Homage Year comes from personal hardships and humble beginnings.

“Homage Year is a clothing brand that was idealized in 2014 and executed in late 2015 after the passing of my father and [other] people in my community. I wanted their names to live on, so I used the loss [I felt] to create something,” Manning said. “Homage [Year] is used to highlight sociopolitical issues such as, but not limited to, police brutality, interracial crime, black-on-black violence, peer pressure and finding your purpose.”

One of the main goals of the creation of Homage Year was to establish and maintain a sense of community, which is why Manning showcases the brand on campus with stickers. In addition to using Homage Year to create that feeling, Manning uses his platform to help the local Atlanta community that already exists.

He created a GoFundMe to raise money and awareness for homeless individuals in Atlanta.

“What made me want to start raising money was seeing how plagued our city is with this issue,” Manning said.

Walking around campus and seeing people living on sidewalks and under bridges inspired him to act.

“I’m just tired of seeing people getting looked over because of their financial and societal issues. This was just an experiment to see if people really are willing to help, and [to] my surprise, they were. We are $150 away from reaching our [$1,000] goal on the GoFundMe,” Manning said.

Manning plans to use the money to give back to those who need it the most.

“The money was initially [going to] be used to buy materials to give out for the winter but as a student with a business and multiple other ventures, I wouldn’t be able

Sit down with Antoine Manning, the man behind Homage Year and a GoFundMe to help the homeless.

to do it adequately. After a recommendation, I decided to give [the money] to the United Way of Greater Atlanta,” Manning said.

The GoFundMe isn’t Manning’s only helpful use of his following. He often checks on his followers by posting polls on his Instagram asking if they’re okay with “yes” and “no” as options. “[For] those who say no, I D.M. [them] and see if I can help them resolve, see beyond or find the root of their issue.

I do my best to use the platform that I do have for causes such as the GoFundMe. I usually repost news and other GoFundMe fundraisers that are going towards a genuine cause [as well],” Manning said.

For the start of the new year, Manning has already started his resolution for 2020, which is to focus on being more disciplined and being the best possible version of himself.

His advice for students trying to better themselves is to “prove your dream to be real. It will be extremely difficult.

PHOTO BY MAYOWA AMOSU | THE SIGNAL

But in the end, it will be worth it. If you ever need an ear, if things get harder than you ever imagined, feel free to contact me. I am judge-free and always available to help.”

HOW TO FIND ANTOINE MANNING • manningantoine@hotmail.com • Personal Instagram: @manningantoine • Instagram shop: @homageyear

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

ARTS & LIVING

13

Playlists, artists and streaming wars, oh my!

How music streaming has broadened our music horizons SHARAYAH DAVIS Staff Reporter

T

he rise of music streaming in the last decade has revolutionized the way that many people consume and discover music by providing unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of songs and algorithm-created playlists that are curated to the individual consumer.

Streaming platforms have become increasingly competitive as more people are turning away from buying music to paying a monthly fee for unlimited access. The two biggest competitors in today’s streaming market are Spotify and Apple Music.

Spotify launched in Sweden in 2008 and became massively popular as it spread throughout the rest of Europe. The app made its highly anticipated debut in the U.S. in 2011 and has since become the most-used streaming platform worldwide with a staggering 113 million users in 2019. It is also the second most-used platform in the U.S. with 47.7 million monthly users in 2018.

Adam Holcomb is a junior at Georgia State who has been a Premium member of Spotify for a little over a year and an overall member for two years. He speaks about the numerous reasons why Spotify has gained such a massive, worldwide user-base that its biggest competitor, Apple Music, falls far behind at just 60 million worldwide users. “[Spotify] has a great algorithm to recommend new songs to users, and it’s cross-platform between iOS and Android. Overall, it connects to people more than Apple Music,” Holcomb said. “Friends can follow each other to keep up with what they are listening to.”

Along with music streaming, Spotify creates curated playlists for users to discover music based on their current libraries. The “Discover Weekly” playlist provides users with new music recommendations and is updated every Monday to suggest fresh music.

Holcomb speaks fondly about his experience with Spotify’s personal recommendations for him.

“They recommend different songs, and it’s easy to add

new songs to the current playlist,” he said. “I’m always making new playlists for my new music and different moods, and it helps me find and add new songs.”

Holcomb explains how the “Daily Mix” playlists on Spotify, in particular, have helped him discover new artists based on the music to which he already listens.

“They have Daily Mix playlists that change up every so often, and they are based off several artists you listen to,” he said. “So, if I am heavily listening to Khalid, then it’ll base it off him. But it takes it a step further to add additional artists and help you become aware of artists outside of your little bubble.”

Spotify has recently made waves throughout the internet and their user base for providing Premium members, including those with a student discount, free gifts from their partners.

“Google partnered with Spotify to give Premium users free Google Home speakers, so that was a nice perk,” Holcomb said.

With any service, there are usually a few things that can be adjusted to improve the user’s experience. Although he has had few complaints, Holcomb explains one thing that he would like to see adjusted by Spotify.

“I wish that when I share a song on Spotify to someone without Spotify that they could preview it,” he said.

As of 2018, Apple Music was the most-used music streaming platform in the U.S., with 49.5 million monthly users. Launched in the U.S. four years after Spotify, Apple Music has since grown a loyal following thanks to its smooth integration with other Apple products.

Connor McCage is a freshman at Georgia State who has been an Apple Music user since 2018. He speaks highly of his smooth experience using Apple Music on other Apple devices. He explains that the app’s interface is one of his favorite features.

“I think Apple Music is definitely the smarter choice for iPhone users solely because of the more cohesive interface and integration,” McCage said. “I find the interface far more pleasant to look at and to use than the platform’s competitors.”

Unlike Spotify users who often cite the generated playlists for helping them discover new music, McCage explains that Apple Music’s playlists have not really helped

him at all.

“I have found maybe two songs from the generated playlists. The recommendations the platform gives you seems to be based on genre and less on artist, which means you’ll often get very generic recommendations that are uninteresting,” he said. “I only scroll through them when I have absolutely exhausted everything else. I do enjoy the playlists that compile what your friends listen to.”

McCage speaks about how the poor recommendations are his least liked feature of Apple Music.

“I definitely think they need to work on their music recommendation algorithm,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s pretty terrible as it stands, and from past experience with Spotify, it completely pales in comparison.”

However, McCage still stands by his loyalty towards Apple Music as the generated playlists are something that he can live without.

“If you can get past the playlists and just find your music through the vast world of the internet, then you can’t beat Apple Music,” he said. “For anybody on an Android, I think Spotify would be superior, though.”

Both Holcomb and McCage cite their music streaming services for helping them discover new artists that they may not have known about had it not been for streaming.

“I wouldn’t know about or would be able to listen to over half of what I listen to if it wasn’t for music streaming,” McCage said. “I’ve also found with some smaller artists like Acid Bath that never really got a major label release, and they are far more likely to be on Apple Music.”

Holcomb speaks about his own experiences with discovering new artists. “[I discovered] the band CAMINO. They’re smaller, so they don’t get massive coverage like larger names,” he said.

Music streaming has dramatically transformed the way that the world consumes and discovers music. Without streaming, many people would not have discovered the music that will go on and be an inspiration throughout the rest of their lives.

The days of hearing a good song on the radio and having to decide to go to a record store and buy the whole album are over. Now, the regular music fan has almost unlimited choices for far less of a price.

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTE LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

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Georgia State football: A decade in review When Georgia State football began to play in 2010, no one could’ve predicted how fast the program would grow by 2020.

JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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eorgia State football has seen a decade of change, featuring growing pains and positive developments. However, the program has officially wrapped up their first 10 years, marking another eventful season in the books.

Let us do some reflection, shall we?

When Georgia State football began to play in 2010, no one could’ve predicted how fast the program would grow by 2020.

During the inaugural season, head coach Bill Curry did not even have all the equipment required to field a team.

“We didn’t even have a place for practice,” Curry said. “We needed things from footballs to chin straps.”

9/2/2010: GAME ONE

The first game was a success when Georgia State defeated Shorter University 41-7. The Georgia Dome would draw over 30,000 fans for the big event. The Panthers were independent their first season in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the lowest tier of college football programs. Former Georgia State Associate Athletic Director Kosha Irby views the first game as a great experience.

“It felt like being a part of a startup company, and I was proud to be apart of the experience,” Irby said.

The Panthers got an impressive 6-5 in their inaugural season, their first and, for a long time, only winning record until the 2017 season. The following seasons would be full of growing pains as the program would go through many upheavals.

THE CHALLENGES

One of the biggest problems that both fans and players agreed on during the season? Their own home stadium. From 2010-2016, the Panthers would play in the Georgia Dome, the former home of the Atlanta Falcons.

Alumni who experienced going to the games, such as Jack Brinson, noted how bad the seating conditions were. Brinson was a superfan who went by the alter ego “Blue Bandit” when attending games.

“Because the dome was so big, many students wouldn’t sit in the student section but in better viewing points, which hurt some of

the crowd chants because we were so spread out,” Brinson said.

Former players also shared a similar view of the stadium, such as former team captain Nathaniel Paxton.

“When we played at [the Georgia Dome], we always knew it was the Falcons stadium and not ours,” he said. “It didn’t feel like home.”

NEW BEGINNINGS

Despite poor end-of-season records early on, the play on the field propelled the program to a consistent rise as a division-1 team. In 2012, the program would enter the Colonial Athletic Association, finding subpar results at best.

After the season ended, Curry would retire from coaching and would leave Georgia State with a 10-23 record from 2010-2012.

Trent Miles would replace Curry as head coach and lead the program in a new era.

Georgia State wouldn’t stay in the CAA for long; they left the conference after just one season. The program would make its final move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2012, where it has remained ever since.

Players who went through the rapid change saw it as vital for the program but also a major adjustment. Former safety Dartez Jacob took note of the growing pains of moving to the FBS quickly.

“It was definitely an adjustment with all the new teams we had to play and the new recruiting class coming in,” Jacobs said.

Being in the Sun Belt, the program now faced a slew of new challenges, and their lack of facilities wasn’t going to help them.

While other Sun Belt teams, such as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, had their own stadiums, the Panthers were still far behind, sharing the Georgia Dome with the Falcons.

MAKING NOISE AND MAKING MOVES

Coach Miles would lead the Panthers to their first bowl appearance in 2015 and was a significant point in the program, especially during that 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt) season. Despite the record, 2015 would prove to be the start of the program coming into its own. Under Miles, the Panthers were 9-38 but earned the program’s first bowl appearance in the AutoNation Cure Bowl, losing to San Jose State.

But it didn’t stop there.

In addition to the national stage, Georgia State would acquire Turner Field in 2016 after the Atlanta Braves left for Cobb County.

Georgia State University President Mark Becker marked the

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

purchase as a game-changer for the program.

THE SHAWN ELLIOT ERA

In 2017, Georgia State would make their biggest decision to date, hiring Shawn Elliot. Since day one, the former offensive line coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks has brought the school success.

The Panthers won their first bowl game in his first season. After a tough 2018 season (2-10), the Panthers came back strong in 2019 with a program-defining win over Tennessee, one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

Led by senior quarterback Dan Ellington on literally one leg, the Panthers earned a trip to the Arizona Bowl but fell to Wyoming in a year that showed signs of growth. After the game, Coach Elliot highlighted how far Georgia State has come as a football program in his two years so far.

“Four years ago, students wouldn’t make the trip to see Georgia State University, and [The Signal] are here, so I thank you,” Elliot said.

LOOKING AHEAD

While the future looks bright for the program, there are still challenges ahead. One obstacle is gaining the support of an inconsistent fan base. The stadium has a capacity of 24,333, yet the attendance fails to sell out the stadium most of the time.

Part of the issue is that many students do not live on campus and thus miss out on the games through no fault of their own.

Current Associate Athletic Director Mike Holmes blames the lack of attendance on a diverse audience.

“We have a very diverse student base and having a diverse base means a lot of diverse interest,” Holmes said.

The other challenge for the program is finding its identity not just in a crowded city but a crowded state. Georgia is seen by many as the capital of college football, housing historic programs such as the University of Georgia in Athens and Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Although it has made great strides to be on par with UGA and Georgia Tech, Georgia State still has a long way to go to stand out from the competition.

Georgia State not only should be proud of what they have done in a decade but commended. To build a program from scratch at a commuter school is a victory on its own, and only bright things are ahead for Panther football.

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The Panthers went 8-3 over winter break. How? Analyzing an exceptional 11-game stretch for men’s basketball ERIK INDRISANO Staff Reporter

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anther family, we hoped you have enjoyed your winter break and look forward to seeing you pack in the Sports Arena soon! Before we begin the spring semester, it is important to highlight what our basketball team accomplished to close out the 2019 calendar year For most students at Georgia State, they have been enjoying their winter break, but for the men’s basketball team, December has been packed with a busy schedule.

For head coach Rob Lanier and his men, they closed out 2019 with a bang, going 3-1 in their final four games.

The three wins came against conference opponents UT Arlington and Texas State to open the season undefeated in the Sun Belt, as well as Middle Georgia State. The one loss for the Panthers came at the hand of the always-tough SMU Mustangs.

So what went well for the Panthers over this stretch, and what can be improved as they enter Sun Belt play in 2020?

Let us begin with what went well.

JUSTIN ROBERTS

The redshirt sophomore guard has been productive at a high level for the Panthers all season, and that hasn’t changed over the break. Roberts averaged 17.5 points and 3.7 assists per game over the past four games, with many taking notice. He was named the Georgia State StudentAthlete of the Week for his performances against UT Arlington and Texas State.

In an offense dominated by guard play, it’s crucial for the Panthers to see this success from Roberts as the season continues. With an increase of output from Roberts, the weight is taken off the shoulders of players like junior guard Kane Williams and senior guard Damon Wilson. If this continues, the offense can become a big threat to any team they face.

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

Not only has Roberts been producing, but the entire offense has been playing at a high level. The Panthers averaged 80.7 points per game over the four-game stretch and reached 83 points twice against UT Arlington and Middle Georgia State.

Georgia State’s offense is heavily reliant on their backcourt’s ability to score the ball, and that has been no issue for the Panthers. Damon Wilson averaged 13.7 points per game over the stretch, including tying his season-high of 22 points against UT Arlington. Kane Williams also saw a productive four games, averaging 15.2 points per contest and also achieving his season-high of 22 points against SMU. For Coach Lanier and the Panthers, this production cannot go away. The weight of the season sits on these men and their ability to score the ball.

So far, we have not seen any signs of slowing down, with different players stealing the show each night. This ability for any guard to go out and score 15+ allowed the Panthers to enter SMU on a seven-game winning streak.

If the Panthers continue to produce at the high level they have shown, there is no doubt they are more than capable of winning the Sun Belt for the third year in a row and being a problem for any team they draw in March Madness.

Not many red flags were raised for Coach Lanier and the Panthers, except one.

OUT-OF-CONFERENCE PERFORMANCE

The Panthers had yet another tough out-of-conference game against the SMU Mustangs. Despite the loss, Georgia State played them close but ultimately fell 85-76. Playing strong out-of-conference opponents has been a recurring theme, with close games against Duke, Georgetown and Charleston, and the Panthers have fared. Now, despite having an out-of-conference record of 7-4, those four losses raise some flags.

Panthers shoot over 50% as a team from the field and from 3-point range over the dominating win against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

For teams who win the Sun Belt, it’s very unlikely to get a seed higher than 13. At that seed, a team is more than likely to play a Duke-level team than someone like Charleston or Georgetown, which does not bode well for Georgia State.

The good news for the Panthers is how close they have played these top teams: three of the losses were single-digit ones. Going forward, if the Panthers are able to punch their ticket to the dance, something will need to change in order to see the success Georgia State saw in 2015 when they upset the third-seeded Baylor Bears in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

SO WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE?

Overall, the end of 2019 was very successful for the Panthers. Their three wins put them at 9-4 on the year.

Georgia State will enter conference play at 2-0 and first place in the Sun Belt and will look to continue this momentum throughout the rest of the break. The Panthers opened up 2020 on a road trip, which featured three games in five days: Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Arkansas State.

To open up 2020, the Panthers picked up a 69-60 win over Appalachian State to move to 3-0 in conference play.

However, Coastal Carolina had their number two days later, as the Chanticleers knocked off the Panthers in a nail-biting 74-72 game.

Stretches like this make it obvious that the team is not quite where they need to be before the conference tournament beginning on March 7. But they are making strides and they’ve been hungry all season long. While it is tough not to look at the future, Coach Lanier is constantly making sure that his team is focusing on the present.

Games closing out winter break will include Arkansas State to wrap up a week-long road trip before heading home to face the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Jan. 9 followed by a matchup with the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Saturday afternoon.

PHOTO BY SHEL LEVY | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

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A mid-season recap of the Atlanta Hawks What’s been working for them this year? What hasn’t?

ANDREW FREEDMAN Sports Editor

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he 2019-20 NBA season has been a bit of a ride for the Atlanta Hawks. They had two of the top picks in this past summer’s draft, head coach Lloyd Pierce was entering his second season with the team and the roster is young and hungry to learn.

Sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings with an 8-29 record, the Hawks are looking for answers to turn the season around. Unfortunately, State Farm Arena has provided no advantage to the Hawks whatsoever, as they are just 4-13 at home this season.

So, here is what we can say about the team so far in our first season covering them.

The Hawks rank in the bottom ten in a number of categories, including points, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. They are in the bottom five for rebounding and dead last in both three-point percentage and turnovers per game.

They are struggling to find a rhythm, which is understandable. As a younger team, they have often struggled to close out games, such as ones against the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. It has been a learning experience, and it is something that could humble them in what could be a brighter future.

Let us briefly look at key players, beginning with the team’s only projected All-Star.

Trae Young, the third-overall pick last year in the draft, has been drawing comparison to future Hall of Famers Steve Nash and Stephen Curry since he was in college at the University of Oklahoma. The second-year point guard led Eastern Conference guards in All-Star Game votes when the first results came out on Jan. 2, and his playing has been absolutely brilliant so far this season, as he’s putting up 28.8 points and 8.3 assists per game, ranking him in the top five for both.

While Young has been consistent all season, injuries and off-court issues caused various lineup issues to begin the season.

John Collins was suspended by the league for his use of performance enhancing drugs Nov. 5, but his return reminded the league what he brings to the table. In his first game back on Dec. 23, the second-year big man dropped a brilliant 27 points and 10 rebounds. Since his return, the former Wake Forest product is averaging 18.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in eight games.

Young’s backcourt mate, second-year sharpshooter Kevin Heurter, is someone who also has drawn comparisons to the game’s great shooters. However, struggles with back and shoulder injuries earlier this season made it difficult for the former Maryland Terrapin to find his role on the team. When healthy, however, Heurter has looked more comfortable game-by-game as a second distributor behind Young.

After missing 10 of the team’s first 34 games this season, it seems like the 21-year-old is more comfortable on the court.

Also finding their grooves have been rookies De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish.

When I asked Reddish, who played his lone season of college basketball at Duke University last year, about the differences between college and the NBA, he said there were none. The kid has confidence, and it’s clear that he wants to get better.

It’s why they passed him the ball with the game on the line in the closing moments against the NBA’s best team right now, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reddish had missed a corner three-pointer that would’ve tied the game at 99 with 9.7 seconds to go. But after the loss, coach Pierce shared a thought on the young buck.

“I just told Cam Reddish that this is the moment that just got him better,” Pierce said. “I think now he’s gone through it, and this is going to help him with his career.

In that situation, the team did not pick a vet, they chose a rookie. Everyone on the team trusts each other, and this is just an example.

Another player earning trust has been the former second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Jabari Parker, who

The Atlanta Hawks fall to the Los Angeles Lakers during their home game on Dec. 15.

signed a two-year, $13 million contract this summer with Atlanta. The fifth-year forward is averaging 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 26.5 minutes this season.

What stands out to me about Parker is his IQ. After a 121-109 loss to the Sacramento Kings in early November, I overheard him express frustration to a teammate. He looked at the game notes in his locker and immediately cited the Kings taking 11 fewer shots and still winning by a dozen. Although injuries have kept him sidelined the last few seasons, Parker has been quite a bargain this year for both his consistent play and his knowledge of the game.

But the one thing I have taken away from this Hawks’ season above all: Vince Carter’s legacy will never be replicated.

The future first-ballot Hall of Famer is in his record 20th NBA season and is still a sniper from three. His

PHOTO BY ANDREW FREEDMAN | THE SIGNAL

contributions to the game of basketball go far beyond the league, let alone the Hawks. Simply put, it has been a privilege for the city of Atlanta to be front row every night for his farewell tour season as he concludes the only career to span over four different decades in league history.

Frankly, for the almost-43-year-old, it is about playing the greatest game as much as he can before taking off the Jordan UNC’s for the final time.

Aside from Carter, fans of the team know that the potential is there. While injuries have derailed them all season, this is an inexperienced Hawks team that has simply had to overcome great obstacles. They have learned a lot this season and have the chance to show for it.

So, let us sit back and relax wherever the Hawks land in April. Something tells me that Atlanta is in for a fun ride over the next four months.

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Georgia State is boasting a record 12-6

Analyzing how the Panthers have played this season ANDREW FREEDMAN Sports Editor

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oming into the season, there was a lukewarm buzz for the Georgia State Panthers: A new head coach Rob Lanier.

A new leader in Kane Williams. Two starters coming off redshirt years in guards Corey Allen and Justin Roberts.

The Panthers had lots of question marks before the season began.

The consensus by many familiar with the Sun Belt Conference was that they would not even crack the top 3 of the conference rankings.

Sitting at second in the conference and having won seven of their last 10 games, they have let their actions speak.

It is how Lanier always them to be: humble.

From clutch games to life-changing road trips, the Panthers have settled in a bit more following a 1-3 start.

Sitting at 12-6 (5-2 in Sun Belt), their sights are set on a third straight Sun Belt crown, automatically guaranteeing them a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

What has made this year memorable so far? Let us look at three answers.

ROB LANIER IS CHANGING THE CULTURE OF THE PROGRAM

From day one of hearing the players talk, it was evident that they trusted their new head coach. Senior Damon Wilson spoke to us during Media Day back in October.

“He’s very defensive-minded,” he said of Lanier, “and it works in our favor.”

All season long, the team has been pressing their opponents all 94 feet, running a man-to-man set, two things returning players did not do last year with Ron Hunter. Their top-25 ranking in points per game has helped increase their point differential, up from 3.1 last season to 9.6 this year. Again, these numbers come after playing No. 2 Duke and Georgetown on the road in November.

The team has bought in all the way.

A WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER CHANGED THIS TEAM

In a span of 72 hours, the Panthers lost back-to-back games against two of college basketball’s most iconic programs, the Duke Blue Devils and the Georgetown Hoyas. Despite the results, it is evident that the team cherished their time in the 2K Sports Classic this past November.

After a recent game, we talked up with Kane Williams, who was sporting a beanie with the tournament logo.

After the loss to the Hoyas, he was frustrated. The team was upset.

Those two losses gave the team time to think, as the locker room was silent.

A month later, the team has learned from their losses — they’re 11-3 since that game.

“It was fun, of course,” Williams said with a smile, reflecting on

Damon Wilson high fives his teammates as he walks back toward the bench.

that weekend before Thanksgiving. “One for the books for sure, one to tell my kids.”

COREY ALLEN IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOOTERS IN RECENT SCHOOL HISTORY

The “Fun Belt” has lived up to its name yet again. The forward, who had not played college basketball in a year, is on a more competitive team his former 8-24 University of Detroit Mercy team was two years ago.

PHOTO BY SHEL LEVY | THE SIGNAL

“At my old school, we didn’t have an atmosphere like this. This reminds me of high school,” he said following the Panthers’ win over Dartmouth Dec. 3. “I love stuff like this, and I live for the big moment.”

That big moment he is referring to is a game-tying shot he hit that night with less than a second left in regulation, sending the game into overtime and, ultimately, a victory in the Sports Arena.

The Ypsilanti, Mich. native has proven his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, and he will only get better.

Georgia State athletics and the gambling industry How Panther sports will be affected by the policy JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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egalized sports gambling in the Peach State could be coming soon, impacting Georgia State athletics in a major way.

As of Jan. 6, Georgia is one of many states yet to legalize gambling. Gambling has been frowned upon by many in the state, as they see no positive outcomes in the situation.

However, with a brand-new decade in front of us, major changes could come relatively soon. Big names in the industry have already endorsed their support for gambling. A potential change would highlight the impact on both the Peach State and Georgia State specifically.

In November 2019, all four professional teams of the state came together to endorse legalized sports gambling in Georgia. Through the mutual endorsement, Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, is heavily investing in a major

legislative decision in the state.

Among those joining Blank in the endorsement is Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark. Not only has Clark endorsed gambling, but he also plans to build a billion-dollar casino near the speedway.

“Georgia is the 12th largest state for illegal wagering,” Clark said regarding the subject of gambling. “It’s not going away, and that is why we must ensure the industry is above-board and transparent.”

Georgia State will be at the forefront of legalized gambling. As the second-largest college in Atlanta, Georgia State will have no shortage of students putting down money on certain games.

With all of this said, it is evident that the growth and improvement of Georgia State athletics could encourage more betters to place money on the Panthers for significant events, such as bowl games and the NCAA Tournament in March.

Associate Athletic Director Mike Holmes is just one person who has kept tabs on recent developments with Georgia State’s entrance into the everyday gambler’s eye.

“We are keeping a close eye on the situation just like many around the state,” Holmes said.

Georgia State, while smaller in prevalence compared to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, may turn out to be the biggest winner of the three if gambling is legalized in the state.

Benefits from the profits could lead to the construction of new facilities as well as higher-ranked recruits. What’s more, the rapid growth of Georgia State will also ensure that thousands of students of age have a chance to gamble.

However, the obstacles remain when it comes to legalized sports gambling. Both Governor Brian Kemp and House Speaker David Ralston are still staunchly opposed to legalized gambling. Ralston, while open to having discussions about the idea, would still not support any legislation.

Ralston was quoted as saying he was “open to positive ideas,” but that “[he is] not advocating for it.”

The fight to legalize sports gambling is not only ongoing but definitely gaining steam. With all four professional sports teams in the state, Blank and Clark now supporting sports gambling, even with the state’s conservative stance, the shift to gambling could be a matter not of “if” but “when.”

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Student Activity Fee Funding for Fiscal Year 2021

sunday

Budget requests must be submitted in PIN by Friday, February 7th, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Late, emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

To assist student organizations funded by Diversity or Atlanta Campus Wide Fee Councils a Pre-Proposal Workshop will be held on Friday, January 17th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in 460 Student Center West.

If you are unsure as to which funding process applies to your organization, please direct questions to Shantavia Reid-Stroud, Director, Student Engagement & Programs Administration (sreid@gsu.edu) or Latisha Barnes, Manager Business Services (lbenoit@gsu.edu).

This also is also not the process associated with other fees for Athletics, Transportation, Health, Recreation, International Education and the Student Center.

This is not the process used by the various colleges to allocate funds to chartered student organizations whose mission or membership is closely related to their degree programs (i.e., Chemistry Club, History Society, Social Work Club, etc.).

Please visit your College Dean’s office for further information regarding their process to obtain fee funding.

This application process applies only to the allocation of Student Activity Fee funds for student organizations assigned to the Diversity Fee Council or Atlanta Campus Wide.

The Student Activity Fee Committee (SAFC) has released the budget application for the Diversity and the Atlanta Campus Wide Fee Councils for Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021). The request form is currently available in PIN at: https://pin.gsu.edu/submitter/form/start/367443.

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