NEWS • 03
Waffle House on campus this
LIVING • 07
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ENTERTAINMENT • 15
PERSPECTIVES • 19
arrives University Career Services Football ekes out win Local hip-hop festival The Board of Regents needs week. highlights upcoming events. over Eagles in overtime. celebrates the underground. a student representative.
the
SIGNAL
VOL. 78 • ISSUE 9 • OCTOBER 19, 2010 REGISTER ONLINE FOR BREAKING NEWS AT
w w w. g s u s i g n a l . c o m Students rally against GILEE By MISHALL REHMAN Staff Writer
John Spink • Atlanta Journal-Constitution Members of the Georgia Board of Regents listen at last Wednesday’s meeting about allowing illegal immigrants to attend some Georgia colleges.
Chants ranging from “GSU say no to injustice!” to “Shut! Shut! Shut! GILEE down!” were heard in Unity Plaza on Oct. 12 as the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) rallied against the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE). The rally was a part of PSA’s campaign against GILEE, founded in 1992 by Dr. Robert Friedmann for the purpose of protecting the community for the 1996 Olympic Games. It was later expanded to prepare for possible terrorist threats and improve homeland security. To achieve these goals, the program exchanges policemen from Israel and the United States, specifically Georgia. Israeli police officers come to Georgia to learn anti-drug enforcement tactics and
American police officers go to Israel to learn counterterrorism tactics. GILEE is affiliated with Georgia State and is housed in the Criminal Justice Department, but the program is only open to law enforcement and not students. The PSA is strongly opposed to GILEE and wants the organization immediately shut down because they believe that the Israeli police system works to enforce apartheid against the Palestinian community. The PSA believes that police officials, both in the U.S. and Israel, encourage racial profiling of minority groups and that the tactics learned in these exchange programs will further enforce the oppression of minority communities in both countries. Members of the PSA such as Dawn Gibson, primary organizer of Cont. on page 06
GILEE
Board of Regents bans illegal immigrants By JESSICA MORRIS Staff Writer The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia passed a controversial proposal on Oct. 13, limiting access to higher education for undocumented students in five Georgia colleges. The Board passed four recommendations from the Special Residency Verification committee that requires five Georgia colleges— the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Medical College of Georgia and Georgia College and State University—to implement these recommendations because they are classified as “capacity constrained” or “limited access” schools. The first recommendation would require adding to all university admission applications an “Admission of False Swearing.” Students may be fined $1000 if found guilty of lying on any part of their application. The second recommendation was to add a “Tuition Status Declaration” to applications. This will ensure students are classified correctly for tuition, tax and financial aid purposes. Both of these recommendations passed unanimously. The more controversial proposals included a recommendation to verify the lawful presence of an applicant. The recommendation states that “University System institutions shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident
tuition statuses.” If a student declares their tuition status on their application “in-state,” a college must then verify their lawful presence in the United States, unless they are applying for federal financial aid, which incorporates extensive verification practices. If a student declares their tuition status as “outof-state,” the college will not have to verify the student’s presence. The last recommendation states “A person who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admittance to any University System institution which for the two most recent academic years did not admit all qualified applicants (except for cases in which applicants were rejected for nonacademic reasons).” This recommendation seeks to exclude undocumented students from “capacity constrained” or “limited access” schools. There was much discussion throughout the meeting with Board members and outside the meeting with observers on what exactly “qualified applicants” meant. Georgia State student Tim Squire commented during the meeting’s break. “How dare they call undocumented students not academically qualified,” Squire said. “I think that was atrocious because undocumented students have probably worked harder than any other documented students.” Both of these proposals passed 16 to 2. Regent James Jolly presented the
proposal to the Board and discussed the number of undocumented students in the University System. An audit found that out of more than 310,000 students enrolled in the University System, 501 were classified as undocumented. Jolly said that all of the undocumented students pay outof-state tuition rates, which covers the full cost of instruction. Jolly also said that the state makes a slight profit off of these students. “Let’s take a moment to look at the number 501,” Jolly said. “It is 0.16 of 1 percent of the total USG enrolled. While statisticians would see this percentage and validly note that it is statistically insignificant, we are not seeing it from this perspective. Instead, our view is that this small number shows that our processes are working, leading to identify undocumented students.” “We are not in the immigration business, nor are we equipped to serve as immigration authorities,” he said. “However, it’s the committee’s consensus the recommendations being brought forth to the Board today do strengthen our ability to ensure proper tuition classification of all students.” University System teachers and members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) gathered outside before the meeting to voice their opposition to the proposal. “Nothing in federal law indicates that undocumented students not receive postsecondary education. The Department of Homeland Security Cont. on page 06 Immigrants
John Amis • AP Libertarian gubernatorial candidate John Monds, center, answers questions flanked by Democrat Roy Barnes, right, and Republican Nathan Deal at a Saturday debate at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Center.
Students weigh in on gubernatorial candidates By SUCHI SAJJA Staff Writer After eight years of Gov. Sonny Perdue holding office, Georgia State students have conflicting opinions over who should succeed him. Georgia’s gubernatorial candidates are Democrat Roy Barnes, Republican Nathan Deal and Libertarian John Monds. An Oct. 7 poll by Rasmussen Reports showed Deal in the lead with 50 percent of the anticipated votes. Barnes followed with 41 percent, Monds had 3 percent, and 6 percent are undecided or voting for a different candidate. A former Georgia governor, Barnes’ political career began in the Georgia Senate, where he
served for eight years. He entered the gubernatorial race in 1990, but lost the primary to Zell Miller, who became governor. Two years later, citizens elected Barnes to Georgia’s House of Representatives, where he served until running for governor again in 1998. Barnes won the election and served from 1999 to 2003. He ran for re-election in 2002, but Governor Perdue defeated him. Freshman Nick Hicks appreciates Barnes’ campaign strategy gearing towards younger voters. “I don’t know much about politics, but I would probably vote for Barnes,” said Hicks. “He seems like he is trying to appeal to the younger generation by putting his ads on more Cont. on page 06 Candidates
CAMPUS EVENTS October 19-19, 2010
STAFF INFORMATION EDITOR IN CHIEF NEWS EDITOR LIVING EDITOR
DATE Tuesday
OCT. 19
EVENT
SPORTS EDITOR
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse in the Workplace
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
TBA 1-3 p.m.
PERSPECTIVES EDITOR
Graduate and Professional School Fair
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Main Campus – Student Center 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
ASSOCIATE LIVING EDITOR
Wednesday Georgia State University Arts Fair
OCT. 20
ASSOCIATE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Rialto Center for the Performing Arts 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
ONLINE EDITOR
GSU Intramurals: Registration for Poker Tournament #3 begins (Texas No Limit Hold ‘Em) www.gsuim.com All day
ADVERTISING MANAGER
NAUI SCUBA Diver Certification Class
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Student Recreation Center 5-9:30 p.m.
Thursday
OFFICE ASSISTANTS
Luncheon with the Kenyan Ambassador
OCT. 21
12-1:30 p.m. Members and GSU faculty: $38; Non-Members: $45 Contact Information: Clare Morton, 404-413-7083 Email: chmorton@gsu.edu
Friday
Fall Yoga and Meditation
OCT. 22
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $14/yoga, $10/meditation, discounts are available! Contact Information: Leon Staples, 404-413-3342 Email: edws@gsu.edu
Saturday
Touch the Earth: Cloudland Canyon State Park Trip
OCT. 23
COPY EDITORS
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR
Sheena Roetman signaleditor@gmail.com Daniel Beauregard gsunews@gmail.com Noël Hahn signalliving@gmail.com Kirkland Carter signalsports40@gmail.com Jhoni Jackson signalentertainment@gmail.com Syeda Hira Mahmood signalperspectives@gmail.com Elijah Sarkesian signalprod@gmail.com Angel R. White awhite49@student.gsu.edu Savanna Keo skeo1@student.gsu.edu Jeremy Galloway signalwebsite@gmail.com Emma Harger Shelby Lohr Tara Siddiq signalads@langate.gsu.edu Brian Echols signaldistribution@gmail.com Jared Cate Michael Glass Brianna Alvarez Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu
Northwest Georgia TBA
Touch the Earth: Beginning Fly Fishing Trip North Georgia TBA
Touch the Earth: Horseback Forest Trail Riding Trip Blue Ridge, Georgia TBA
Touch the Earth: Cloudland Canyon State Park Trip Northwest Georgia TBA
Monday
Registration for Spring Semester 2011 Begins
OCT. 25
All Day Contact Information: One Stop Shop, 404-413-2600 Email: onestopshop@gsu.edu
Tuesday
Annual Cemetery Walk
OCT. 26
Meet at Student Recreation Center, walk to Oakland Cemetery 5-6:45 p.m.
Lipid Screenings
Student Recreation Center 8-9 a.m.
How to Work a Job Fair or Career Showcase
MISSION STATEMENT
Main Campus - University Center Room: 245 3-4 p.m.
The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State University community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State University community.
Touch the Earth: Backpacking Clinic
Student Recreation Center, Touch the Earth 6 p.m. Want to see your event in this space? Contact Daniel Beauregard with your event’s name, time, date, location and a brief description of the program. All events listed in the Campus Events calendar must either take place on campus or be produced by a Georgia State-affiliated organization. To request placement of off-campus, Atlanta-based events, contact Jhoni Jackson with your event’s name, time, date, location and a brief description of the event.
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NEWS
News Editor Daniel Beauregard gsunews@gmail.com
w w w . g s u s i g n a l . c o m / n e w s
Georgia State’s green status not up to par By DANIEL B. RINALDI Staff Writer Georgia State will go green if the culture changes, state representative Kathy Ashe said last week at the Urban Life Building. Representatives and directors of various departments and services attended the Green Bag Luncheon, hosted by Ashe, to discuss what steps Georgia State needs to take to be green. Over 600 universities and colleges in the United States and abroad have signed on to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, but Georgia State has not. By signing, Georgia State would commit to eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions. Ashe said signing on would be a “small step in the right direction.” UGA, Georgia Tech, Emory University and Agnes Scott College have taken significant steps to make their campuses sustainable. “You would think that the competitive spirit in Georgia State would say to that other institution in Atlanta, ‘If you can do it, we can too,’” Ashe said. Though other institutions have larger funds to support sustainability initiatives, remembering to recycle and using the right light bulbs is inexpensive, Ashe said. Small actions like these would drastically change the culture of Georgia State, Ashe said. The right actions and the right mentality will bring change on campus and in legislature. “The top only responds when the bottom makes as much noise as it takes to make it happen,” she said.
Ashe alluded to the story that Abraham Lincoln grew his beard by request of an 11-year-old girl. Relating Lincoln’s story to sustainability, she said things change because of the bottom’s “squeaky little voice.” “I always believe in squeaking,” she said. So what steps is Georgia State taking? Currently, Georgia State recycles about 17 tons of paper and cardboard every month, according to Student Assistant for Distribution of Recycling Bins Al Jones. Georgia State has various environmental programs focusing on hazardous waste, lead-based paint, asbestos, the Clean Air Act and energy conservation. The student-led Sustainable Energy Tribe focuses on recycling, water conservation, energy conservation and forest appreciation. The new Petit Science Center is not LEED certified, according to McCarthy Building Companies. LEED is a certification under the U.S. Green Building Council. The Student Recreational Center is assessing its utility usage and other factors to become LEED certified, Senior Associate Director John Krafka said. Furthermore, Georgia State’s Indian Creek Recreational Area, which offers swimming pools, lodging and volleyball and tennis courts to students, can be modified to be LEED certified, Krafka said. The Green Bag Luncheon, sponsored by Greening Georgia State and the Environmental Law Society, will welcome UGA Director of Sustainability Kevin Kirsche on Nov. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. in Urban Life Building room 230.
Nicole Schimmel • Signal A bright and shiny new sign displayed at the bottom of the Petit Science Center, where a Waffle House will open.
Waffle House comes to campus By NICOLE SCHIMMEL Staff Writer There will be a new addition to the Georgia State campus beginning on Oct. 21 at 7 a.m. A Waffle House restaurant will begin to serve its famous “good food fast” in the bottom of the Parker H. Petit Science Center at the corner of Piedmont and Decatur Streets. Like any other Waffle House, this restaurant will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Barry Tanaka, Operations Management and Regional Manager of Georgia State’s newest restaurant, said he is pushing this as a highprofile restaurant. Tanaka runs seven different locations around the Atlanta area, including the one located in Technology Square on 5th Street, which opened in June. He will implement similar marketing and security tactics he uses with his other locations.
“We always have security. It’s just a matter of who we use,” Tanaka said. “At Tech, we ended up going with the on-campus police.” Waffle House seized the opportunity to expand to the Georgia State campus, according to Kelly Thrasher, spokesperson for Waffle House. Their aim for the new location is to have a successful business and bring the Waffle House experience to the customers, she said. The concept for any Waffle House or 24-hour restaurant is to open in a location that will have good business. Waffle House hopes that the Georgia State community will take advantage of another eatery on campus. There is another Waffle House in the vicinity at Underground Atlanta. Thrasher said she does not feel the close proximity of the two restaurants will cause any competition, as Waffle House has many locations in Atlanta
and they all tend to stay busy. For the past two weeks, Tanaka and his staff have been training and getting acclimated with the building. He was eager to hire Georgia State students. However, he said he put up signs all over the Atlanta area and interviewing has been done throughout the city. Tanaka is not sure about any special promotions the restaurant will have for students. He said at the newest Tech location, there was communication between the Alumni Association and he hopes to have that same communication to get something going for the Georgia State location. “Waffle House is excited to bring this experience to the students and businesses of the Georgia State campus,” Thrasher said. “We are excited to provide a place for late night study breaks for the Georgia State students.”
Georgia State professor receives NSF grant By ESTHER J. LEE Staff Writer
Daniel B. Rinaldi • Signal House of Representatives Member Kathy Ashe discusses sustainability with Georgia State students, faculty and staff at the Urban Life Building.
Dr. Mukesh Dhamala, an assistant professor of physics at Georgia State, was awarded a $539,737 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study how the brain uses sensory information to arrive at a decision, a process known as perceptual decision-making. Decision-making includes ideas like distinguishing Braille letters or determining whether a traffic light is either yellow or red. According to the NSF website, the funding will help answer these questions by studying brain activity and networks during both easy and difficult decision-making. Some aspects of the research use tools like electroencephalography (EEG) to record the brain’s electrical
potentials during the course of a decision, according to Dhamala. Dhamala and his team hope to better understand the functional organization of the brain and see how different regions work together to arrive at a decision. This will hopefully give them a better knowledge of neural communications in certain neurological and psychiatric disorders. The NSF grant award process has several stages and Dhamala has been waiting to hear the status of the grant since last spring. Once Dhamala found out he received the grant, he said he was very happy and excited about the work ahead of him. “Stay curious to learn and explore an extra mile. If you truly believe in something that is worth exploring, go for it,” Dhamala said.
Georgia State University Dr. Mukesh Dhamala was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how the brain uses sensory information.
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
www.gsusignal.com/news
NEWS
Police teach women’s self-defense class By CHRIS SHATTUCK Staff Writer On Oct. 14, the Georgia State University Police Department hosted its “Fight to Flight” women’s self-defense class for residents of the Lofts. The two-hour seminar focused on methods to successfully avoid becoming victims of rape and sexual assault, including prevention and precaution as well as passive and combative resistance. Sgt. Kristal Perkins, a 16-year veteran of the police department who is currently assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit, facilitated the class, which is hosted several times a year and is open to both students and faculty. According to Perkins, the class is typically only for faculty or by special request for student organizations or resident advisors. The program is not designed to teach women how to endure in a fight against a stronger attacker, but to teach someone how to best escape and acquire help. “The class is called the ‘Fight to Flight’ because we teach our students moves to incapacitate attackers long enough to get away. Part of that involves using passive resistance along with combative resistance. Passive resistance involves ways to talk your way out. Combative resistive involves the use of limited physical force to escape,” said Sgt. Perkins. Sgt. Perkins began the class
by relating a story of a previous participant who had been raped. She attributed that person’s survival and escape to the defensive techniques she learned from the class. To her, this unfortunate example emphasized the importance of the class and clarified the seriousness of rape to the students. “If we can prevent one person from being the victim of sexual assault or rape, then we’ve done our job,” she said. Next, she warned the women of the dangers of remaining passive if threatened or assaulted. She encouraged potential victims to engage their attackers first verbally with the goal of scaring them off. If that didn’t work, she felt the moves taught in the class would be enough for them get away safely. To prevent being placed in such a scenario, however, she cautioned the students to remain aware of their surroundings. She also reminded the class to use of the campus police’s escort program, particularly if they are alone at night or uncomfortable with their surroundings. “We also provide a safety escort program. When you’re on campus and you feel unsafe walking from one campus location to another or you see a suspicious person that you don’t feel comfortable walking nearby with, you can contact us and we’ll dispatch an officer to escort you to your destination.” Finally, she discussed the
Chris Shattuck • Signal Members of the Georgia State police force practice defense moves with a student at the “Fight to Flight” seminar.
importance of victims reporting the crime and turning in their rapists to the police before transitioning to the hands-on portion of the seminar. Officers Joe Fowler and T. Christian taught the students specific hand-to-hand defensive measures including palm, elbow and knee strikes. The participants each took their turn learning each move by testing them with the officers. Amy Daughtry, a student who attended after seeing the class advertised on a flyer, felt that learning the different defensive moves from police officers
was important. “I like the fact that you can interact and practice those moves. You learn how to do them in the right ways because the police officers themselves are showing them to you,” Daughtry said. She felt the class was especially timely given the recent violent crime on the campus. “I felt like I should go because of all the things that have been going on around the campus with the campus alerts, emails and finding out people are being mugged and women are being approached and attacked. That
freaks me out, and I don’t want that to happen to me. So I want to be prepared just in case,” she said. After attending the class, Daughtry believed that other students should attend the seminar. However, for those who did not attend the class, Officer Perkins offered advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. “Always be aware of your surroundings. Walk in pairs with your friends, particularly at night. But most importantly, be vigilant and be prepared. ”
Dalai Lama visits Atlanta for the first time since 2007 By SAVANNA KEO Associate Entertainment Editor
Rich Addicks • AJC The Dalai Lama acknowledges the crowd gathered at Centennial Olympic Park to hear him speak several years ago.
From Oct. 17 to 19, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama visits Atlanta for the first time in three years though a partnership with Emory University in his role as Presidential Distinguished Professor. Holding true to his promise made during his visit in 2007 that “the professor will return,” the Dalai Lama will speak and participate in several events spanning many topics. Events will include dialogue on science and religion and spirituality teachings of the Buddhist community. The festivities begin on Oct. 17, when His Holiness is scheduled to conduct a session to the local Buddhist community on the practice of compassion. At 9:45 a.m., those with tickets will be given the opportunity to witness the teachings of traditional Tibetan philosophy. Later that afternoon, the Dalai Lama will participate in the Interfaith Summit on Happiness, an open forum with distinguished religious leaders of all divinities. Leaders scheduled to participate in the forum include The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, among others. The events scheduled for Oct. 18 will revolve around the affairs of the
Tibetan community and the Western world. The Dalai Lama will participate in two sessions of compassion mediation, an event designed to bring together researchers from leading universities to discuss the field of compassion meditation research and its future implications. On the final day of his visit, Oct. 19, the Dalai Lama will speak with international humanitarian and award-winning actor Richard Gere and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Alice Walker. The trio will discuss the relationship between spirituality and the arts. His Holiness will also conduct the “Professor’s Office Hours,” allowing the Emory community to pose questions of any academic accord. The role of Presidential Distinguished Professor of Emory is the first and only position that the Dalai Lama has accepted. His installation occurred during his last visit to Atlanta in 2007 among a large crowd in Centennial Park. “I deeply value my close association with Emory University and have always appreciated Emory University’s leading role in developing innovative programs that draw on the strengths of Tibetan and western civilization for the mutual enrichment of our two traditions,” he said during his 2007 acceptance speech. The alliance between the two allows students unique access to
teachings and insights of the leader of the Tibetan people. Through the Dalai Lama’s partnership with Emory, various programs and initiatives have been implemented, allowing Emory to be regarded as one of the foremost educational centers for studying Tibetan philosophy and religion. These include one of the few Tibetan language programs in the United States, the Meditation Program for Preventive Health, the Distinguished Tibetan Scholars Program and a study abroad session to Dharamsala, India. The Dalai Lama recently donated $50,000 to one of the programs, the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI). This program is a collaboration between Emory and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. It strives to fuse together elements of Western science and ancient monastic beliefs. Through ETSI, the first initiative of its kind, faculty members from Emory have the opportunity teach a modern science curriculum to over 100 Buddhist monks and nuns in Dharamsala, India, the capital of the Tibetan exile community. Limited tickets are still available for some of the events taking place. If you are interested in attending, please visit Emory’s website at www.emory.edu for pricing information.
NEWS
www.gsusignal.com/news
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
05
Inside the controversy surrounding Park51 By IRIS EBEN Staff Writer Reactions to plans for the establishment of Park51, an interfaith community center two blocks away from Ground Zero has evolved into a religious and constitutional controversy. In response, members of Georgia State’s Middle East SocioPolitical Association hosted a panel discussion on the topic. Panel members of “Ground Zero Mosque or Cordoba Initiative: Inside the Controversy surrounding Park51” included Dr. Abbas Barzegar from the Department of Religious Studies, Dr. Rashid Naim and Dr. Jeannie Grussendorf from the Department of Political Science and Dr. Joab Eichenberg Eilon from the Middle East Institute. According to the Park51 website, the mission of Park51 is to be “a nonsectarian community, cultural and interfaith spiritual center along with a Muslim prayer area and a monument to honor all those we lost on 9/11... Our goals are pluralism, service, arts and culture, health and healing.” A swimming pool, a prayer room for worshipers and daycare center are some of the facilities that
will be housed at Park51. Much of the public outcry against the community center centered around its nickname as the “Ground Zero Mosque.” Pamela Geller, a conservative blogger and founder of Stop Islamization of America, has been credited with coining the term. The term made some believe that a huge mosque was going to be built directly on top of the grounds of the fallen Twin Towers. “What we debate and how we debate influence the audience who sees it,” Grussendorf said. Other opponents of the center claim that building near Ground Zero is insensitive. According to Naim, those who say that the center can be built, but not near Ground Zero, are really saying something else: that all Muslims are responsible for the attacks. “200 Muslims died at 9/11. Many of 9/11 family members are in favor of the Park51. Many Muslims are fighting and dying for our country. Many Americans don’t know that,” Naim said. The belief that building the center would represent a Muslim conquest prompted the name change. The
Lixin Shi • The Epoch Times 45-47 Park Place, the proposed site for the construction of the mosque and community center by the Cordoba Initiative, located two blocks north of Ground Zero.
belief arises largely from the history behind the city of Cordoba, Spain. Centuries ago, Muslims conquered the Christian city. However, it came to represent a diverse city of Muslims, Christians and Jews. Organizers of the community center therefore
changed the name of the center from Cordoba House to Park51. At the panel, a screening of anchor Keith Olbermann on his MSNBC show criticizing those who oppose Park51 drew nods of assent. “Why are we even having to
here? Why in the US, in this day and time are we having this discussion?” Gussendorf asked. When asked what can be done to educate Americans and ease xenophobia, Eilon said, “I have a short answer to that. Study abroad.”
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
GILEE
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Regents
Cont. from page 01
the rally, believe that an institution such as GILEE does not belong at Georgia State. “Georgia State shouldn’t be associated with oppressive police tactics connected to Israeli apartheid. Violent oppression has no place at Georgia State,” Gibson said. Attempts to contact GILEE for their comments on the rally were unsuccessful. Almost a year ago the Movement to End Israeli Apartheid, or MEIA, discovered GILEE while doing research, partnered up with the PSA to shut GILEE down and the campaign was born. These two organizations are the first to make an attempt at stopping GILEE. Most of the efforts by the PSA and MEIA have been to educate the community about GILEE and why they believe the program is unjust. The week prior to the rally, the PSA held a workshop at Georgia State entitled “What is GILEE?” The two organizations have also submitted a letter of protest with 900 signatures to Georgia State President Mark Becker. Kathryn Hamoudah, coordinating member of MEIA, believes that having a rally was the next thing to do. “The rally was the next natural step in our campaign,” she said. Due to Georgia State’s policy that students do not meet with the university president, the PSA’s requests to meet with President Becker have
Mishall Rehman • Signal Students gather in protest in front of the Student Center
not been granted. The PSA has requested many times to meet with President Becker and have instead been referred to other administrators. Another challenge the PSA has faced is obtaining detailed information about GILEE. According to Gibson, when GILEE was approached for information by the PSA, they were referred to the legal department. According to Gibson, the PSA received less information then what they were promised. “We want them to be forthcoming with information. This is a public institution and if they [GILEE] have nothing to hide then the information should be made public,” Gibson said. During the rally, PSA and MEIA demanded three things: the immediate shut down of GILEE, a meeting with President Becker and more transparency and openness from GILEE. According to Gibson, the rally
was a success. “It was a moment for the campaign to be public and it was a chance for African American and Arabic traditions to integrate,” she said. After the rally, the PSA submitted an additional 381 petition signatures. The PSA has also given their campaign a national face. This past summer, the PSA travelled to Detroit to present their campaign to the United States Social Forum. The PSA received national support from different organizations, including the international Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. The PSA’s strategy is to continue to educate the community and apply pressure on Georgia State administration. Gibson encourages those students who are interested in this cause to join the PSA and go to the MEIA meetings. “This is not something that should be ignored,” she said. “At some point you have to stand up.”
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Cont. from page 01
has verified this as well,” said Azadeh Shahshahani, National Security and Immigrants’ Rights Project Director at the ACLU of Georgia. In a previous press release, Shahshahani said “We urge the Board of Regents to continue to allow undocumented students to receive postsecondary education at institutions of their choosing, an action that is in complete compliance with federal law. Providing students who graduate from high schools in the State with a college education furthers principles of fundamental fairness.” The ACLU, joined by 30 other organizations and churches, issued a letter to the Board of Regents calling
Candidates Cont. from page 01 young adult oriented TV and radio stations.” Sophomore Jennifer Onyirimba said that Barnes’ history in office will keep her from voting for him. “Roy Barnes never came through on any of his campaign promises last time,” she said. “He promised healthcare reform and it didn’t happen while he was in office. He’s also very flashy and that hurts when there are a lot of people who are struggling. We need a Republican. So I’m voting for Nathan Deal.” Deal graduated with a law degree from Mercer University. A former Democrat, he served on Georgia’s Senate for 12 years. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until his resignation in March of this year so that he could focus on his gubernatorial campaign. There has been controversy and speculation surrounding Deal after the public found that he has $2 million in debt stemming from his daughter’s failed business venture. Graduate student Merribel McKeever does not care for either candidate. “Deal is corrupt and Barnes didn’t do a very good job in office the first time,” she said. Libertarian candidate Monds is a Morehouse University banking and finance graduate. He served as president of the Grady County NAACP and on the Libertarian Party of Georgia Executive Committee. He was president of the Mu Beta Beta chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity as well. His website says that Monds is the first African-American appearing on Georgia’s general election ballot in state history. With an unemployment rate of 10 percent, the year’s key issues revolve around job creation and the economy. Barnes and Deal believe that tax cuts will solve both problems. Deal plans to reduce Georgia’s corporate income tax by two percent. He also plans on exempting startup businesses from paying corporate income taxes for their first ten years. Barnes plans on giving companies $300 million in payroll credits if they create jobs or raise salaries. He promises more investors in Georgia with the eradication of a capital gains tax for two years as well. Georgia State student Shanika Gissendanner appreciates Barnes’ emphasis on job creation. “Roy Barnes should win because
NEWS for rejection of the proposals. Jolly commented on the attendance of these organizations and their letters and petition at the beginning of his proposal. “We’ve had some different groups that have communicated with us via letter and petition,” he said. “We’ve had student groups from the University System, we were set up to meet with them prior to this meeting, and they never were able to get away from outside into inside to meet with us.” “Certainly the topic we have before us today is a polarizing topic and one that reasonable people will disagree about, but we do appreciate all the input we’ve had, and I would say especially that from the students who are in our system,” he said. he is focused on creating jobs and as a college student, that is so important,” she said. “We need the money to pay for college.” Monds seeks a laissez-faire approach to business. He believes the government should remove barriers and let the citizens care for themselves. “Casino gambling, pari-mutuel betting (horse racing) and industrial hemp industries should be allowed to set up shop here in Georgia. The economic boom of tens of billions of dollars would result and will make Georgia the economic envy of the nation,” according to Monds’ website. Students across the state depend on the HOPE Scholarship for their education. Revenue from lottery tickets goes towards Pre-K and the HOPE Scholarship, which may be in jeopardy. Deal and Barnes said that that HOPE takes a backseat to the Pre-K program. “Pre-k is more important than HOPE because it gives us a longer opportunity to improve education,” Barnes said on Oct. 5 at a Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students conference. However, Barnes and Monds want student representatives on the Board of Regents to offer fresh insight as to what college students need. As a former commuter school, Georgia State has many students who would be affected by transportation changes. Barnes emphasizes expansion of the current rail system, MARTA, to all of the major cities in Georgia. Deal supports an expanded MARTA as well, but also proposes a high toll lane that would aid drivers who need to get to their destinations faster. Monds vows that no taxpayer money will go towards transportation projects. Instead, he plans on utilizing public-private partnerships, tolls and HOT lanes. Election Day is Nov. 2. Senior Dennis McLoud said that students who do not know about the issues should stay home that day. “Only informed voters should vote. If someone is taking chances at the polls, it’s doing the rest of us a disservice,” said McLoud. For more information about each candidate and the issues, visit their websites: www.nathandeal. org, www.roy2010.com and www.votemonds.com.
LIVING
Living Editor Noël Hahn
signalliving@gmail.com
w w w . g s u s i g n a l . c o m / l i v i n g
Associate Living Editor Angel R. White awhite49@student.gsu.edu
The Rialto brings the world to Georgia State By MISHALL REHMAN Staff Writer
Elijah Sarkesian • Signal University Career Services can help students create a presentable resume.
Career Services offers advice for students By COURTNEY BOYD Staff Writer University Career Services (UCS) is Georgia State’s interactive and comprehensive career center dedicated to helping students maximize their professional development and career potential. UCS works with faculty, academic advisors and other professionals to provide countless opportunities to students. Currently enrolled students and alumni within their first year of graduation can readily take advantage of the many resources. Services are also provided to prospective students with limited, fee-based availability. Its on-campus location at 260 University Center houses four distinguishable programs: the career resource center, the career development team, the employer relations team and the graduate and professional school planning program. The career resource center contains a career library, computer lab with online career tools and support personnel. Students may receive advisement from any of the support persons on staff. The career development team offers career assessments and counseling and coordinates campus workshops. The employer relations team helps students prepare for job and internship searches. The team coordinates career and internship fairs as well as campus employer visits and generates student job and internship opportunities. The graduate and professional school planning program assists students with advanced degree planning and hosts yearly recruiting fairs with over 60 employers. As part of its customer service
focus, Career Services works closely with career professionals across campus to provide majorspecific programs for students in specific fields as well as recent graduates. Partners include the Robinson College of Business Career Management Center, the College of Law Career Services and Georgia State Alumni Career Services. The Robinson Career Management Center supports Robinson College of Business alumni, undergraduates and graduate students. It also offers recruiting opportunities to employers. The College of Law career services presents a wealth of services and resources to students, including individualized career planning and advisement. The alumni association provides an all-inclusive program of career services to assist its members with ongoing career management. To receive services, one must verify their Georgia State alumni status and be granted a unique verification card. University Career Services’ mission is to help individuals identify, prepare for and transition into opportunities that best reflect their passions and skills. Last year, UCS assisted over 17,000 students with its programs and events. This month the center supports a number of students’ interests with its upcoming events. Tuesday, Oct. 19, UCS is sponsoring their annual Graduate and Professional School Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Students can connect with over 80 recruiters to learn about programs in their areas. Attire is business casual and résumés are not required. For more information on this event, please contact Angela Walker by phone at 404-413-1836 or by e-mail
atahwalker@gsu.edu. Wednesday, Oct. 20, Collective Brands, Inc., Business Leadership Program hosts an information session in room 245 University Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. All majors are welcome to attend as representatives discuss the management trainee programs for a leadership position with CBI. Representatives from Kraft Foods will host an information session Thursday, Oct. 21, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in room 245 University Center. Recruiters are interested in those with demonstrated leadership abilities, prior work experience and an interest in sales. A TAG Tent Party for students and alumni of Georgia area colleges and universities will be held Thursday, Oct. 28, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Dahlberg Hall (formerly Alumni Hall). Careers for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math majors will be showcased. Participants are encouraged to bring résumés. UCS is also sponsoring a Career Readiness Boot Camp Oct. 28, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Discussion topics include résumé writing, interviewing skills and learning to dress professionally. In addition to these programs, Career Services offers RésuMania --face-to-face résumé critiques held Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to and career chat panels, or careerspecific discussion panels. UCS frequently visits classrooms to present interactive career-oriented presentations. Staff members also provide classroom coverage to faculty who are unable to teach during scheduled class times. For details about any of these services, events and programs, or contact information visit www. gsu.edu/career.
The Rialto Center plans to bring the world to the doorstep of Georgia State students in its 2010-2011 season entitled Rialto: Where Atlanta Meets the World. The new season kicks off Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. with Noche Flamenca and Soledad Barrio. Noche Flamenco, formed in 1993, is a Spanish Flamenco touring company and is critically acclaimed for being one of the most authentic. The company is returning to Georgia State after their first performance was cancelled due to the tornado that hit Atlanta in 2008. The company is offering a free flamenco dance master class and a free flamenco guitar master class to the community. Tickets for Noche Flamenco start at $21 and include free parking. Also, this season the Rialto Center will be celebrating the Mexican holiday the Day of the Dead on Oct. 30 with the performance of Lila Downs. Leading up to the celebration the Rialto is offering a series of events. The Rialto, in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico and the Institute of Mexico, is offering Dia de los Muertos Art Workshops at No Mas Cantina every Saturday in October until the day of the celebration. To close off the celebration, the Rialto Center is hosting a special Day of the Dead celebration on Thursday, Nov. 4. Among some of the other prominent events and artists this
season, the Rialto will be featuring Angelique Kidjo, who recently performed at the World Cup in South Africa, and the nationally known Capitol Steps. The official event during Rialto Week this year will be Bale Foclorico da Bahia from Brazil. Forsyth Street will be closed down for this event, as more than 500 people will dance to the beat of Bahia’s drums on the street. Director Leslie Gordon believes that this season will be a truly global experience for audiences. “The upcoming season features performance after performance that will not only thrill and entertain audiences, but also challenge, uplift, and inspire them. We believe that our 2010-2011 season will truly be the place where audiences can travel without moving—where Atlanta meets the world,” said Gordon. Instead of buying individual tickets for events, students can become subscribers by picking any four shows. Subscriptions start at $79. Subscribers are invited to attend receptions held after events and are sometimes given the opportunities to meet the artists. Tickets for individual events are half price for students the day of shows and 15 percent off in advance. Faculty and staff of Georgia State receive 15 percent off of tickets. To purchase tickets students can visit Rialto Box Office in the lobby of the Rialto, buy them online at www.rialtocenter.org, or call at 404-413-9849. For more information about the classes offered by Noche Flamenco, call 404-413-9820.
Kara Keene Soledad Barrio, pictured above, will be part of the opening of Noche Flamenco on Oct. 23rd.
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
www.gsusignal.com/living
Georgia State students debate politics before the election
Nicole Schimmel • Signal The political debate became a political panel after the College Republicans pulled out last minute.
By KENDALL HARRIS Staff Writer On Oct. 13, Georgia State University hosted a political debate to promote voter awareness for the Nov. 2 election. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Black Student Alliance (BSA) and Phi Beta Sigma hosted the event. The debate, which was held in the Urban Life building, became more of a political panel after the College Republicans declined to participate. Devin McLaughlin, president of the College Republicans, says that he had concerns about participating in the event because it was hosted by the NAACP which, according to McLaughlin, has political affiliations associated with its name. The members of the panel included Jeremiah Glover, a Georgia State student who volunteered to represent the conservative side, Sean Phillips, the vice president of communication for the Young Democrats, and Joey Hornbuckle and Emmanuel Morrell, Jr., who are also members of the Young Democrats. Alethea Bonello, field organizer for the NAACP, mediated the discussion. The discussion began with the introduction of Alexandra Mackey, the president of the NAACP at Georgia State, Evan M. Eskridge, the vice president of both the Black Student Alliance (BSA) and the NAACP at Georgia State, Maurisia Stansil, president of the BSA at Georgia State and Mark Henderson, who is in charge of voter education and outreach at the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections. Mauricia Stansil explained that the goal of the event was to increase voter awareness and empower the student body to discuss politics.
Henderson gave statistics about voter apathy in Georgia--the state of Georgia is ranked nearly last in voter participation, and Fulton County ranks third to last within the state. Bonello said that the panel provided students with an “engaging opportunity to talk about the election” and began the debate by asking the panel to discuss the HOPE scholarship. Phillips spoke first, saying that “savings accounts for the HOPE Scholarship are running dry,” and suggesting that only those who would not be able to attend school without the scholarship should be eligible to receive the scholarship money. Glover responded by arguing that students should not be penalized for the income of their parents. He proposed that there should be a residency requirement for the scholarship that would require students who receive HOPE to remain in the state of Georgia after graduation or the scholarship money becomes a loan instead. Both sides of the panel agreed when asked how to best “tackle metro Atlanta’s public transportation issues.” Glover and Hornbuckle both recognized that metro Atlanta contains a high volume of traffic and a high level of job and worker displacement and agree that a one percent budget increase for public transportation is a viable solution that would have economic benefits. Hornbuckle even presented an image of what the transportation lines in metro Atlanta would look like after 20 years if this plan were implemented. The mediator then asked the panel to discuss raised tuition and immigration rights. Glover began the discussion by saying that he approves of the removal of majors that only interest a few students. Phillips talked about the Georgia Students for Public
Higher Education. which promotes quality and accessible education and explores possible solutions for funding concerns in education. Regarding the National Healthcare Reform Bill, Glover asserted that the government should not force citizens to do anything, including acquiring healthcare. Hornbuckle did not challenge Glover’s assertion, but rather pointed out various benefits of the reform bill, such as the fact that those with preexisting conditions may receive healthcare and that the mandate prevents people from waiting until they are sick to get healthcare. He also said that the bill will decrease America’s deficit in the long run. When the floor was opened to audience questions, an audience member sparked a debate about immigration when she asked about the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM Act. The goal of the DREAM Act is to assist individuals who meet certain requirements with getting into college, the military or just getting on the path to citizenship. The panel quickly entered a debate about immigration. Morrell dismissed the common notions that immigrants are merely a strain to the economy by pointing out that undocumented persons add over $10 billion per year to the American economy. He argued that if these people were granted citizenship, they would help the economy by going to college, opening businesses or joining the military. Morrell said that the government “should not penalize those who want to help our economy.” Glover concluded by saying that undocumented workers “drive down wages” and that America should focus on helping its own citizens first.
LIVING
Housing recognizes National Coming Out Day By NOËL HAHN Living Editor Last week, the Lofts hosted a masquerade to raise awareness of National Coming Out Day to the many residents living on campus. Last month, nine members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQQI) community committed suicide, according to Blake Singleton, the residential grad assistant at the Lofts. The Masquerade was held to remember them and educate Lofts residents about the LGBTQQI community. The Masquerade theme was chosen by Lofts Residential Assistants Sabrina Attimy and Sara Howard. “People often, before they come out, are wearing a mask because they do not want people to know who they are. They are afraid to take off the mask,” Howard said. Residents were given the chance to make their own masks. Glitter and feathers littered the floor while residents were working. After mask making, the educational part of the program began. Singleton handed out pieces of paper that residents ripped into 12 pieces. On four of them, they wrote titles that they are proud of being, such as Christian or sister. The next four are people that they could not live without, and the last four were objects that they did not want to live without. By the end of the game, Singleton had collected many of the squares
from the residents, sometimes leaving none. “This is to represent what it is like to come out in public. Some people lose things that they never thought they would. Some lost everything. How do you feel?” Singleton said to the crowd. The squares game seemed to hit home to some of the residents who attended the Masquerade. “I think the squares game brings a lot of things to light that I wouldn’t think about related to coming out,” Lofts RA Amanda Kenney said. “It is especially poignant about the sense of lost that I never acutely thought about towards my own sexuality.” “It was a unique discovery of different people and different lifestyles at the GSU campus,” Georgia State freshman Kasey Rollins said. Food was also provided by Kenney. She made Jell-O in rainbow colors, pigs in a blanket, sandwiches, cupcakes, bagel bites and soda. The program concluded with a screening of the movie Rent. “Rent covers all the bases of what we were trying to talk about at the event,” Howard said. National Coming Out Day is celebrated on Oct. 11 in the United States. It was founded by Robert Eichberg, one of the founders of the Experience workshop, and Jean O’Leary, a national gay rights advocate, in 1988. This day is to raise awareness of the LGBTQQI community and their rights movement.
Safia Ansari The Fast-A-Thon will be held on Tuesday Oct. 26 this year.
Student groups hosting sixth annual Fast-A-Thon By KENDALL HARRIS Staff Writer The sixth annual Fast-A-Thon will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 6:29 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. The Muslim Students Association (MSA), the Middle-Eastern SocioPolitical Association (MESPA) and the Council of Interfaith Concerns (CIFC) will be hosting the event. Safia Ansari, the president of the MSA at Georgia State University, defines the Fast-A-Thon as “an annual event hosted by the MSA in which we ask everyone on campus to try fasting with the Muslim students for a day.” The event is open to any student at Georgia State. All proceeds and donations will be given to Helping Hand USA in order to help flood victims in
Pakistan. Participants are volunteering to abstain from all food and liquid as well as activities such as drinking, smoking or sexual activity from sun up to sun down on that particular day. The MSA will be hosting a free dinner at 6 p.m. on Oct. 26 to discuss the tradition of fasting, Ramadan, the spirit of giving in Islam and the people of Pakistan who are in need. The buffet dinner will begin right after the fast is broken at 7 p.m. and the participants will get to hear from people of other faiths who tried fasting and their experience. Students must sign up to participate in the fast. Fliers for the event are available in the Prayer Room in University Center 409. The sign-up sheet is located on the MSA website, www.gsumsa.com.
LIVING
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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Student DJ brings a new mix to the music scene By ANGEL R. WHITE Associate Living Editor DaVaughn Canterbury may appear to be your average college student, but outside of school-and many times on campus--you often hear students refer to him as DJ Peter Parker. Although he is not accompanied with “spidey senses” or a suit that scales walls, he is equipped with keen hand-eye coordination, quick hands and an eclectic ear for good music as an up-and-coming DJ. Canterbury, a sophomore at Georgia State majoring in history, chose the alias DJ Peter Parker during his freshmen year in 2009. At that time, many of the people who knew him were unaware of his ability to DJ. “[DJ Peter Parker] metaphorically represents the special gift I have that no one would think that I would have,” said Canterbury. “Kind of like no one would think Peter Parker would be Spider-Man.” His passion for the art of mixing music began when he was introduced to turntables by his uncle when he was younger. A passion for entertaining crowds through music begin to show from the moment he DJed his first party to when he was 16 years-old and has held strong up until now. Ryan Kulp, executive director for Spotlight Programs Board, has worked with Canterbury on
numerous events. “What makes [DJ] Peter Parker stand out among the rest is his receptiveness to the crowd,” said Kulp. “Unlike some DJs who get lost in their own agenda and creative rampages, Parker remains in tune to the vibe of the people, the venue and the moment.” Canterbury exemplified his connection with the people through the recent self-release of his first mixtape, Scratchin’ the Surface. The mixtape’s subtitle read, “The New School Movement.” Celebrating the inaugural season of Georgia State football, Canterbury believed students should get excited and involved with the new school morale developing within the university’s community. “With the new football team, I wanted to create a mixtape that incorporated the school spirit and the different ethnicities and cultures through music,” said Canterbury. To prepare for the production of the mixtape, Canterbury conducted various surveys from many of Georgia State students in efforts to produce the most well-rounded collection of music for his audience. “DJ Peter Parker took a big chance with having totally different genres of music on a single mixtape, and it paid of,” said DJ Kno-It-All –another one of Atlanta’s up-andcoming DJs. The mixtape included songs of various genres, skits
including Georgia State students and an introduction that featured testimonies from students about their excitement for the football season. Canterbury describes himself as “a DJ with purpose.” He volunteers
his DJ skills by collaborating with non-profit organizations within the community, such as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and hopes to one day open up an academy for
aspiring DJs. When asked about what the future holds for DJ Peter Parker, he said, “There are many big things in store–especially in the next six months, so be on the lookout.”
DaVaughn Canterbury DaVaughn Canterbury, known as DJ Peter Parker is a sophomore at Georgia State majoring in history.
10.21.10
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LIVING
Upcoming Latino conference to educate and enrich students’ identities By DANIEL B. RINALDI Staff Writer As covered in The Signal’s previous issue, students rallied on Oct. 7 to protest for immigrant rights, holding the large banner “DREAM Act Now.” The DREAM Act—a proposed legislation to aid undocumented immigrants in their education— among other topics will be discussed at the Latino College Leadership Summit Oct. 22 and 23 at the Holiday Inn Atlanta Capitol Conference Center. Georgia State’s Latino Student Services and Outreach collaborated with the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute to host this conference to enrich Latino students’ identity, promote education and instill leadership qualities, Academic Professional for Latino Student Retention and Recruitment. They are expecting over 250 students. Over 2,000 Latino students enrolled at Georgia State this fall, and it is important for them to know opportunities such as this conference are available, Amy Molina said. Latinos need support to be motivated to graduate and continue their studies and career. The conference’s motto is “from roots to branches: achieving success while acknowledging where you
By ANNABELLA JEAN-LAURENT Staff Writer The Signal recently sat down with students Erin Burt, Solette Harris and Lela Strong to talk about their study abroad excursion to Tanzania, Africa last Maymester. “The Psychology of Skin Bleaching in Tanzania” program explores the ‘East African slave trade and Colonial era, and history and psychology of skin bleaching in Tanzania.’ The 3-credit hour Maymester trip was led by Dr. Kelly Lewis of the Department of Psychology.
Amy Molina The conference is still open for registration for interested students.
come from.” Motivational speakers, workshops, salsa dancing, team building exercises and socials will make up the conference. The three motivational speakers are Jimmy Cabrera, Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch and Marisel HerreraAnderson. The workshop “Service Beyond Self ” will focus on how one can give back to the community even when one is unsure of how. The workshop “Me, Inc” will focus on how to “market oneself as an individual.”
The workshop “Linguistic Genocide” will focus on the cultural and economic impact of being bilingual in the United States and the slow extinction of the Spanish language. The workshop “Preparing and Applying for Graduate School” will focus on what steps and exams to take to go to graduate school. To register or for more information contact Amy Molina at amolina@gsu.edu or 404-4132046.
All potential candidates must attend one mandatory orientation to become a contestant in the 2011 pageant.
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
October 19 October 20 October 21
12:15 - 1 p.m. 6 - 7 p.m. 12:15 - 1 p.m.
Sessions taking place in Room 404, University Center: Wednesday Thursday Friday
November 10 November 11 November 12
6 - 7 p.m. 12:15 - 1 p.m. 3 - 4 p.m.
Signal: What historical and cultural lessons were taught in the program? Burt: Our lessons were in two halves: colonialism in the East African slave trade and in the second half we focused on beauty and its impact in the African community. Harris: The practice [of skin bleaching] has to do with this idea that lighter skin makes you better and more attractive. I found it interesting, because as a dark-skinned women myself, I only thought these ideas were prevalent here in America. I met one man in the village who called a mixed baby a “favorable product.” Strong: Tanzania has a painful history… these institutions, including slavery and colonization, have left scars on the psyche of the people. Signal: What lesson and memorable experiences did you take with you from Tanzania? Burt: Just the people and culture. I got to learn the language, which is KiSwahili, and used it to barter with the residents. Harris: For me, the experience became personal. I met so many welcoming people. The people didn’t just say, “Oh, we’re talking,” they always said “We’re exchanging ideas.” And these conversations were always so meaningful. We [also] had a close-knit group, and all the people I went on the trip with I’ll remember forever. Strong: The entire trip was pretty memorable, but I truly appreciated moments that I got to spend with the local residents. Mohammed, who was our waiter at our hotel, lived a very modest life, but always had a huge smile and joyful attitude. He taught me a real life lesson about gratitude. Signal: What advice do you have to students thinking about studying abroad? Burt: Do it, do it, do it! Don’t worry about the cost, it will work out. Tanzania helped me transition from the fast-paced and overly materialistic lifestyle to one that is more appreciative of the things and the people I am blessed with. I’ve incorporated pole pole (slowly in Swahili) into my vernacular and think about enjoying life. Harris: In college classes you may remember a few vocabulary words after a lesson is taught, but I can say that I’ll never forget any of the lessons I learned abroad. Strong: I think that it would be in the best interest of everyone to go outside of America and learn how other people live. I didn’t know how I was going to pay for my trip, but I believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way. There will be people to support you and there are grants also.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS Pageant: February 12, 2011
Sessions taking place in Caucus Suite, Student Center:
Signal: Why did you want to study abroad? Burt: I love traveling and had only been out of the country once. I really wanted a cultural experience and had always wanted to go to East Africa and found out about [the program]. A cultural education is so much more rewarding. Strong: My biggest regret from undergrad is not traveling abroad, [but] I was blessed to go on this trip as a graduate student. My experience allowed me to think outside of Western culture and appreciate the struggles and victories of people who live a lifestyle that is different from my own.
To learn more about Study Abroad Programs, please visit Study Abroad Suite 500, 10 Park Place, Suite 500 or call 404-413-2529.
Cierra Gilchrist, Miss GSU 2010 For More Information Contact Tari Wimbley 404/413-1610 or missgsu@gsu.edu Supported by Student Activity Fees
Erin Burt Tanzania, Africa is one of the study abroad programs available for students.
SPORTS
Sports Editor Kirkland Carter
signalsports40@gmail.com
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Men’s soccer ties UNCWilmington, falls to Drexel By WILL HOLLAND Staff Writer
Georgia State Sports Communications Placekicker Iain Vance being carried away after kicking the game-winning field goal.
Football edges Eagles in overtime thriller By SAAKIB ZAFRANI Staff Writer In an ugly game riddled with turnovers and penalties, Georgia State (5-2) edged out a tough opponent in North Carolina Central (2-4) on an Iain Vance field goal that put the Panthers on top 20-17, giving the school its first-ever overtime victory. Georgia State is now 4-1 against FCS opponents and extends their win streak to four. Head coach Bill Curry recognized the team’s miscues, but was content with the win. “Another routine Georgia State win,” Curry said with a grin. “Not only were we inept offensively as a team, we were vacant-eyed. There was something going on that wasn’t as productive as it should have been on our offense today. And yet, we were able to get the job done when it mattered. I’m very proud of our team.” Drew Little threw for 205 yards on 16 of 29 passes, with one touchdown to Danny Williams. Little didn’t light it up like in the previous two games where he threw four touchdowns a piece, but the most important statistic for Little was zero interceptions, a statistic that NCCU did not share. The Panther defense picked off quarterback Keon Williams on backto-back drives to start the game. Redshirt freshman Fred Barnes added a third interception when he picked off Eagles running back Tony McCord in the red zone to stop a drive early in the second quarter. Despite the three interceptions, including one at the NCCU 15-yard
line, Georgia State couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities. The three drives following the interceptions ended in a punt, a missed field goal and a lost fumble. Both teams amassed a total of 17 penalties for 124 yards, with NCCU committing 11 for 78 and Georgia State committing six for 46. Offensive numbers were nearly identical with NCCU posting 329 total yards on 66 plays and Georgia State posting 317 total yards on 64 plays. One key difference, however, set Georgia State’s offense apart. Of the 66 plays run, NCCU only passed on 23, while rushing on 43. Georgia State’s offense had a much more balanced approach, with 35 rushing plays and 29 passing plays. Balance has been the key to the Panther offense’s success thus far in the season. On 406 total plays, the Panthers have rushed on 215 and passed on 191. Consistency has also been the story for receiver Danny Williams, punter Bo Schlechter, kicker Iain Vance and the Panther’s opportunistic defense. Danny Williams posted his second-straight 100-yard receiving game. His 105-yard performance eclipsed his 103-yard mark from the previous week. The Panthers passing touchdown came when Danny Williams stutter-stepped his cornerback and Drew Little found him wide open streaking into the end zone on a 24 yard strike. “The touchdown was one we have been working on all week called ‘Stutter and Go.’ I just stuttered at 10 yards and Coach [John] Bond was saying all week, ‘He’s going to bite.
He’s going to bite on it. Just run it.’ Sure enough he did bite on it and I came wide open to catch the pass,” Williams said. Bo Schlechter, the quarterback turned punter/receiver, had another stellar showing on Saturday with four punts for 204 yards and a long of 59. Schlechter also added a huge 23-yard reception on a key third down to move the chains on a critical fourth-quarter scoring drive. Schlechter has been Mr. Consistency since his collegiate punting career began, averaging 44 yards per punt with a long of 62 with eight receptions for 118 yards. Georgia State couldn’t capitalize on an Iain Vance field goal attempt after an early interception by the Panther defense in the first quarter. “That was all me. I just pulled it left. There is nothing you can do but forget it and go on to the next kick,” Vance said. And that’s exactly what he did as he drilled his second field goal attempt to get the Panthers on the board. Vance, the leading scorer for the Panthers, added to his tally on the final play of the game in overtime. “I’m always looking to redeem myself if I mess up. There is no question in my mind that I wanted to get out there and do that,” Vance said. Vance has now converted 10 of 12 on the season, with two gamewinning field goals to his credit. The Panther defense has caused four turnovers in each of the last three games. This consistency and momentum is crucial as the Panthers hit the road for back-to-back away games. Perseverance was another word Cont. on page 13
Football
In a pivotal match against conference-foe Drexel (7-5-1, 3-3 CAA), the Panthers (5-5-3, 2-4-1) came up just short, losing 2-1 on a Dragon goal scored in the 88th minute on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Vidas Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Coming off a 0-0 doubleovertime draw against UNCWilmington (7-4-1, 3-1-1 CAA), ranked 23rd in the RPI, Georgia State had hoped to mount a charge to climb out of the bottom of the league standings. The Panthers could not capitalize on chances from Gimel Gordon, Eric Lawrence, and Alex Vivanco. Vivanco and Lawrence had solid outings, both with two shots on goal, but the late Drexel goal was a heart-breaker and puts Georgia State in a difficult position for the rest of the season. The Panthers can bring some energy back to Atlanta after a difficult road trip, having held the defending conference champions UNCWilmington at home. As of last week, the Seahawks were ranked no. 27 in the NCAA coaches’ poll. It took a career-best performance from goalkeeper Vincent Foermer to keep the clean sheet. He made 10 saves from shots on goal, and Wilmington finished the game with 19 total to Georgia State’s 10. The Panthers could have easily gone up through a number of chances but the Seahawks goalkeeper was on his game as well, making six saves for the Seahawks. The sophomores made good account of themselves with Yasser Majluf leading the team that day with four shots with two on goal followed by Viktor Nkhoma with two shots and one on goal. Sophomores Peter Vania, Gordon, Lawrence and senior Ayokunle Lumpkin all had chances as well, but they simply could not get past the Dragon’s shot-stopper Brock Duckworth.
The Panthers had hoped to carry some steam into their road trip after a sound 2-0 victory over Bostonopponent Northeastern (4-5-3, 2-13 CAA). Majluf played the hero that day, blasting a shot into the top left corner in the 29th minute on a longrange attempt. Junior Jacob Hamilton sealed the deal with a goal late in the 75th minute off a cross from Gimel Gordon. Head coach Brett Surrency was pleased with his sophomore’s development. “Vincent [Foermer] did well today, but the guy that has been the anchor of our defense this season has been Peter Vania,” he said. “I am so proud of Vania, he has really developed during his sophomore year and has played big time for us.” The Northeastern victory came as a nice rebound shortly after a 3-0 drubbing by conference-leader William & Mary (9-2-1, 4-1-1 CAA). No. 25 Old Dominion (7-3-2, 3-12 CAA) and UNC-Wilmington round out the top three with Old Dominion traveling to Atlanta for a pivotal game for the Panthers. Georgia State sits tied with James Madison, George Mason, and Delaware on 7 points within the conference. VCU (5-2-5, 2-1-3 CAA), Northeastern, and recent defeat Drexel are all within reach – they each have 9 points. Unfortunately for the Panthers every team in the CAA has only played 6 games, except for Georgia State who have played 7. This leaves the Panthers wth little margin for error as an all-important stretch of games approaches against Old Dominion, James Madison and George Mason. All teams sit above Georgia State in the conference table. The top five squads make the conference championship, and if the Panthers are to have any hope of reaching that number five spot, they must take care of business at home this week. Georgia State meets Old Dominion Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Panthersville.
Will Holland • Signal Sophomore Gimel Gordon has struggled to regain his form from 2009, when he led all Panthers in scoring.
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SPORTS
Women’s basketball features seven additions for 2010-2011 By SAAKIB ZAFRANI Staff Writer Georgia State University’s women’s basketball head coach, Sharon Baldwin-Tener, has signed five new recruits to help fill some of the void left from the departure of seniors Danyiell McKellar, Shay Rawls and Brittany Graham. Baldwin-Tener, well-known for her strong recruiting, was brought in last April after the departure of previous head coach Lea Henry, whose final season concluded with a 15-15 record, including a dismal 6-12 conference mark. “We needed a point guard. We needed some people that could shoot the basketball, I think we signed that with a couple of players. We needed some athletic ability, we also signed that. And then we signed some size. I think we filled a lot of different needs at the end of last season,” BaldwinTener said. Of the five new players signed, two are guards and three are forwards. Lanajia Ernest and Kendra Long are the two guards, a position that coach Baldwin-Tener stressed the need to strengthen in the offseason. Ernest is a transfer from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. She brings with her two years of valuable junior college experience and has proved herself as a proficient player on a team that collected more than 50 wins in its past two seasons.
“She’s going to be the one that gets the ball out and goes with it, and she’s also going to be our first line of defense,” Baldwin-Tener said. “She’s capable of driving it all the way to the basket and also shooting the three.” Long originally signed with Georgia Tech last fall, but was released this spring and accepted a scholarship at Georgia State. “She can play either the one or two on offense and has shown good defensive skills as well,” Balwin-Tener told www.georgiastatesports.com. “Her balance of scoring and passing should make her able to contribute soon.” The three forwards that BaldwinTener signed this offseason bring that much needed size and athletic ability to the team. Freshman Jamie Jordan joins the program as a standout at Veritas Christian Academy in North Carolina. “Her size and skills will blend together to enable her to play at the college level,” Baldwin-Tener told www.georgiastatesports.com. Victoria Smith, originally from Gosford, Australia, also joins the Panthers’ ranks this season, hailing from Lake Forest Academy in Chicago. “With her 6-foot-3-inch frame, Victoria adds much-needed size to our post presence,” Baldwin-Tener said. “I really think she has the potential to develop into a strong inside player in this league over the
Georgia State Sports Communications First-year head coach Sharon Balwin-Tener with President Mark Becker and the women’s basketball team.
next couple of years.” Nicole Hargraves, another transfer student, will be eligible to take the court with her teammates 2011-2012. “Nicole’s size and strength, combined with her overall athleticism will provide help in the post,” Baldwin-Tener said. “She will practice and learn our system during her transfer year and then be ready to help us the following season.” In addition to the five signings in spring, two more players signed on with the Panthers this fall.Letecia Davenport brings two years of junior
college experience and has posted multiple 30-point games. Briana Shepherd earned All-State, AllRegion and All-County recognition in her high school career. She was also nominated for the McDonalds All-America team. Both Davenport and Shepherd are competing for playing time this offseason. Baldwin-Tener expects more than just solid play on the court. “I know one thing that we really stress is accountability, the players are accountable for what it is they’re doing on and off the court. It’s very important that we’re good citizens,
that we’re good students and that we’re good teammates,” she said. “That’s been important. We’re going to class, we’re making good grades and we’re doing what’s necessary to be successful even after basketball. On the court, we’re stressing the importance of doing your best every drill and finishing the drill.” Coach Baldwin-Tener is optimistic about the progress the squad has already made what is still to come. “I’m very excited about the future of the program and I think we’ve made great strides already,” she said.
SPORTS
www.gsusignal.com/sports
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Football
Georgia State Sports Communications The 2010 Cross Country teams look ahead to the CAA Championship on Oct. 30.
Cross country looks ahead to CAA Championship By ABBY CARNEY Staff Writer The Georgia State Cross Country travelled to Boone, N.C. and Oglethorpe University this weekend to compete for the last time before the CAA Championship in Wilmington, N.C. on Oct. 30. The men’s team is looking strong and healthy, going into the last few weeks of preparation with no injuries reported. It will be the first conference championship for the entire men’s team with the exception of their captain, junior Chris Harper, who has two CAA meets under his belt. With a whole season of racing behind them, the freshmen are ready to make their CAA debut. “I couldn’t be more proud of the freshmen on this team. The men’s cross country program at GSU has a bright future,” Harper said. Names to look out for are
freshmen Tyler Tomy and Carlos Galindo, as they have had a breakout season peppered with solid performances, often pacing the men’s team. The women’s side, however, will have to compete without the most decorated member of their squad, Caitlin Price. The fifth-year senior and 2008 All-CAA honoree will be missing from competition due to a recent injury, a stress fracture in her femur. Despite this setback, the women’s side still looks strong,led by sophomore Katharine Showalter and freshman Anna Sinclair, with a very solid pack right on their heels. Junior transfer Kacee Houle is determined to make her CAA introduction a good one. “Well, I feel that we’ve been working really hard and have a solid pack in practice,” Houle said. “And even though my legs feel a little heavy,
I’m confident that Coach will have us ready to get it come conference. I’m just excited for it.” First-year head coach Chris England’s Panthers started the season strong, with the men and women sweeping the JSU Struts Invitational and the GSU Invitational. Georgia State is determined to challenge conference greats such as William and Mary, the defending champions of the past seven years on the women’s side. The Tribe holds an advantage with senior Emily Anderson still on the squad, the defending CAA champion from the past two years, but they lost former top runners Meghan Burns and Kayley Byrne to graduation. James Madison and George Mason are also top threats, coming in second and third place at the conference meet in 2009. With a fairly young team, James Madison appears to be on the same level as last year
and George Mason has not graduated any of their top qualifiers either. On the men’s side, William and Mary, George Mason and James Madison also represent the toughest competition, with William and Mary holding the victory spot for the past nine years and James Madison usually following in close pursuit. William and Mary no longer boasts four of their top finishers from last year’s conference meet, so all conference contenders are keeping in mind that it is a new year and nothing is set in stone. Georgia State was runner-up in 2008 and is eager to best their sixth-place finish in 2009. The CAA Conference Championship will take place on Oct. 30 at UNC Wilmington, with the women taking off at 10 a.m. and the men’s race at 11 a.m.
13
Cont. from page 11
of the day, as quarterback Kelton Hill, on his first play of the game, fumbled after a 6-yard scamper. On his second play of the game, Hill fumbled again on a 7-yard-run. On the next drive, after Little’s huge completion to Schlechter to keep the drive alive, coach Curry sent Hill back in. Hill was brilliant on three back-to-back plays, rushing for six, 16 and nine yards respectively. Travis Evans would cap off the drive with a 15-yard downhill touchdown run to give the Panthers their first lead of the day. Hill would return in overtime to get the Panthers in position for Iain Vance’s field goal. “I’m very proud, in particular, of Kelton Hill, who had two very unfortunate plays, and then came back to help us in remarkable fashion to win the game, without hanging his head,” Curry said. The Panthers next two games will be on the road at Old Dominion and South Alabama before returning to the Dome for their final home game against Lamar. This tough win against NCCU gives Georgia State the momentum they need to go forward on the road. Curry was pleased with the team’s gutsy performance. “In order to be a decent program, you’ve got to win these games. You’ve got to win the games when you come out and you just don’t have it.”
Tone Lee • Signal Kelton Hill was instrumental in the game-winning drive.
Women’s tennis holding tryouts for new season By LAUREN-ASHLEY MINCEY Staff Writer The Georgia State women’s tennis team is currently holding tryouts for the 2011 season. There are currently four returning players on the team, followed by four more coming next semester. Women’s tennis head coach Miha Lisac has been interviewing and working with students that may hope to play for Georgia State. Lisac, the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year and Georgia State alumnus, has taken the program farther in his two-year tenure than any other women’s tennis coach in school history. Once a player on the Georgia State men’s team himself, Lisac led the women to the 2008-2009 CAA Title and a first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament, along with a No. 47 ranking. Lisac has been instrumental in the development of the team’s No.
1 singles player, junior Diana Nakic. The Slovenian made a statement in 2010 by not only going undefeated on the season, but she managed to never lose a single set. The tennis try-outs began at the beginning of this semester, but there hasn’t been a major turn out. However, Coach Lisac wants to get the word out and extend that opportunity for Georgia State students. If you are interested, stop by the Women’s Tennis office located in the Sports arena for an introductory interview lasting around 2 minutes. If you meet the requirements, you will be given some paperwork to fill out before you are able to try out. Try-outs will continue indefinitely, but anyone interested should contact Lisac as soon as possible. The women’s tennis office is located on the second level of the Sports Arena. The office hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 404413-4072, or e-mail Coach Lisac at athml@langate.gsu.edu.
Georgia State Sports Communications Women’s tennis head coach Miha Lisac was the 2009 CAA Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
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Look ahead to the Old Dominion Monarchs By D.J. DUNSON JR. Staff Writer On Oct. 23, in a matchup of future Colonial Athletic Association conference rivals, Georgia State (52) will travel to Norfolk, Va. to play spoiler in Old Dominion’s (3-3) homecoming Game. This will also be a matchup between a pair of upstart programs who have played like established football powerhouses. The Old Dominion Monarchs returned to college football in 2009 with a 9-2 campaign, the best record ever for a first-year program in college football’s modern era, also finishing in the top five of all FCS programs in home attendance. This will be the most hostile environment in which Georgia State has played, facing over 15,000 rabid Old Dominion fans. The Monarchs will be well rested coming off a bye week after falling to Cal Poly in a 50-37 barnburner. Georgia State’s Ian Vance will want to kick the ball away from Old Dominion returner Colby Goodwyn. On Oct. 9, Goodwyn set a new Division I (FCS/FBS) college football record for return yardage with 333 yards on nine returns. Despite a lukewarm offensive output last weekend against NC Central, Georgia State’s offense has been torching opposing defenses and Goodwyn may have plenty of opportunities to make plays on kickoffs after Panther scores. The Monarchs will bring
SPORTS
ATHLETIC EVENTS October 19-26, 2010
DATE Friday
OCT. 22
EVENT Women’s Soccer at Hofstra Hempstead, N.Y. 7 p.m.
Volleyball at VCU Richmond, Va. 7 p.m.
Men’s Tennis at Emory Fall Challenge Atlanta, Ga. All Day Continues through Sunday, Oct. 24
Women’s Tennis at ITA Regionals
hamptonroads.com Old Dominion quarterback Thomas DeMarco carrying a Virginia Military Institute defender.
pressure with senior defensive end Deron Mayo and defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron, who have combined for nine sacks this season. Mayo, the younger brother of New England Patriots linebacker and 2008 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo, has recorded 45 tackles and five sacks this season. On the other end of the defensive line is Shantea Green, half-brother to Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse. Mayo and Green’s prime objectives will be to disrupt quarterback Drew Little and contain Wildcat quarterback Kelton Hill. Pedigrees aside, the Georgia State offensive line will face its toughest test yet Saturday in Virginia. Meanwhile, Georgia State’s
front seven will spend the afternoon pursuing the Monarchs’ 5-foot11-inch, dual-threat quarterback Thomas DeMarco. As the Monarchs’ starting quarterback and leading rusher, Demarco is the heart of Old Dominion’s offense. Despite his scrambling abilities, The Palm Desert, Ca. native is averaging 278 yards passing per game, good for eighth in the nation, and is averaging 41 pass attempts per game. He has also rushed for 406 yards and three more scores but has only been sacked six times this season. Georgia State’s secondary will experience a barrage of throws and their coverage will be the difference between victory and defeat.
Athens, Ga. TBA Continues through Monday, Oct. 25
Saturday
OCT. 23
Football at Old Dominion Norfolk, Va. 3:30 p.m.
Volleyball at William and Mary Williamsburg, VA. 7 p.m.
Men’s Soccer at James Madison Harrisonburg, Va. 7 p.m.
Sunday
OCT. 24
Women’s Soccer at Northeastern Boston, Mass. 1 p.m.
Men’s Golf at Georgia Tech US Intercollegiate Atlanta, Ga. All Day Continues through Tuesday, Oct. 26
ENTERTAINMENT www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
Entertainment Editor Jhoni Jackson
signalentertainment@gmail.com Associate Entertainment Editor Savanna Keo skeo1@student.gsu.edu
Local hip-hop festival celebrates the underground By ISABELLE AHANOTU Staff Writer Three days, $33 and close to 300 artists—this year’s A3C Hip Hop Festival, an underground hip-hop showcase, had all the makings of a rapper’s melting pot. From the Bay Area to Midwest to North Avenue of Atlanta, artists flew, drove and walked just to get their 10 minutes of shine on any of the festival’s five stages. Sadly, festival-goers were mostly press, other artists and volunteers. Still, anyone in attendance at the festival, which began on Thursday, Oct. 7, and lasted until Saturday, Oct. 9, had the chance to hear the diversity in hip-hop that most media outlets tend to withhold on a regular basis. The Masquerade was an appropriate venue to host the annual urban gathering, providing that rough and jagged environment that most raw underground rappers are used to rocking a crowd in. The nice weather that’s been missing returned just in time to allow for the events provided outside of the venue to flourish: a VIP patio area, two performance stages, a merchandise area and an unfortunately mundane food court. With showcases presented by the top hip-hop blogs in the country (2dopeboyz, Kevin Nottingham, www.AllHipHop.com and www.DJbooth.net), there was a truly varied slew of hip-hop from all over the U.S. (and even some hailing from other countries) hitting the stage and rocking the mic. Now in its sixth year, A3C has grown to bring out the old and the new, signed and unsigned, major and minor of every hip-hop generation. An attendee tweeted, “#A3C, it’s like [hip-hop] Christmas where you get what you always wanted.” It was good music, good fun and an opportunity to really be yourself around like-minded folks.
Maurice Garland Local R&B/hip-hop artist Boog Brown played around midnight on Thursday.
THURSDAY
A3C’s kickoff introduced the newest festival content—onstage interviews with performers. A representative from the Red Bull Music Academy interviewed DJ and hip-hop soul producer 9th Wonder before his evening show, which featured live music from New York emcee Jean Grae and dread-headed lyricist Murs. In the venue’s downstairs area, the West Coast was taking over Fadia Kader’s Perfect Attendance stage with the condiment king, Tiron (originator of Ketchup and Mustard mixtapes), Southern Calif. duo Pacific Division and Los Angeles up-and-comer Shawn Chrystopher. Some of the most lyrical women in hip-hop performed outside, where they could be heard from blocks away. Day one ended and closed with SMKA’s Stargazing showcase, which featured the Kanye co-sign GLC and Baltimore artist Wordsmith.
FRIDAY
The second day of the festival was more packed with events than the previous, as the edutainment side of the festival started with industry panels that informed the artists and interested the public with updates in the entertainment field. There were also several workshops and sessions for attendees to visit that discussed the breakdown of instrumentation, the newest equipment and other production essentials. The night began with crowds forming at turntables on the dance floor for a battle between DJ Diamond D, DJ Evil D, DJ Scratch and DJ Rhettmatic. Each DJ had their own spin—literally—to the music that blasted out of the speakers. When it came to their turn on the ‘45s, they made the fans move like crazy. Right below them, the Perfect Attendance stage continued with a more Southern vibe, with performances from quirky Grand Hustler Wil May and Tenn.’s young mic-rocker, Skewby. Across the way, more SMKA stars in the Stargazing showcase performed. Outside, Detroit’s Young Scolla and Rapper Big Pooh took the stage to a crowd as winded as the air. Day two was a solid transition into what was going to take place the last day of the festival.
Maurice Garland New Orleans rapper Nesby Phips took the stage Saturday evening.
SATURDAY
In the afternoon, a classic hip-hop characteristic was revived with a one-on-one B-girl and B-boy battle on the dance floor. Unfortunately, this is when the venue really started showing its age: As the beat flowed through into the panels, several tremendous, awkward pauses and even breaks within the forums ensued. At night, A3C headliners EPMD’s Erick Sermon, international duo Camp Lo and Chicago rapper Rhymefest slayed the stage and really shut the festival down after their performances that relived ‘90s hip-hop. The Perfect Attendance stage closed out with DC’s Phil Ade, gifted eye candy DJ Jasmine Solano, S.C. boy Warren Jae and New Orleans rapper Nesby Phips. Meanwhile, Atlanta rapper Donnis and the prophetic Killer Mike represented on the Jagermeister stage into the early morning.
Maurice Garland Donnis, a local rapper who inked a deal with Atlantic Records early this year, performed Saturday night.
‘Never Let Me Go’: a monochromatic tale of love and decided fate By CHELSIE ROHLEN Staff Writer When you’ve been bred to die, your choices are limited. In Never Let Me Go, directed by Mark Romanek, three friends living in dystopian Britain discover the nature of their lives, without much attest. Kathy (Carey Mulligan, also the narrator), Ruth (Keira Knightley) and Tommy (Andrew Garfield) are students at Hailsham, a boarding school tucked away behind pastures and fences. A love triangle forms between the three at a young age, flipping sides throughout the storyline. The main characters are made to be healthy, strong and well-educated,
only to grow up never passing their mid-‘20s. The film is haunting, and sticks with you long after you’ve left the theater. The story begins with flashes of exchanged looks of love, longing and sadness from the outside of an operating room. While seemingly brash in subject manner, the idea of the essential, long and premeditated end comes off as clean and unquestionable. Leading up to the inevitable, there is hardly a question raised by any of the characters. You wonder if the characters are as uninformed as the audience. Due to directorial choices, the purpose of the students is not clearly defined, but hidden in hints scattered
as to what’s really happening. This, unfortunately, is one of the only things that keeps the film moving. Looking for the next clue becomes a game that no one wins. Color is almost completely absent in the film: the sky, grass, water and faces of the characters gray at all times. The actors are what shine through, each a shadow of tragedy, apparent in the glimpses of depth the audience can see. Keira Knightley, who has been present only in shorts and smaller movies since the Oscar-winning Atonement, makes a strong return as the jealous, possessive Ruth. Carey Mulligan, as the passive and shy Kathy H., is more than impressive in her way to overtake the audience with
a half-smiling way of conveying the feeling that she knew all along the fate of it all-—like she knows how the love, jealousy and betrayal that surround the film will dissipate. Newcomer Andrew Garfield secures his place in Hollywood as “Tommy,” the rope in the subtle tug-of-war Kathy H. and Ruth play throughout their lives together. Garfield distinguishes himself from The Social Network’s nice guy Eduardo Saverin, who he will likely be associated with for years to come due to all of the Oscar buzz surrounding that film. The story itself is not light, and rather hard to grasp. The insight comes after you’ve left, and are lying Cont. on page 18
‘Never’
Fox Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Fox
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
ENTERTAINMENT
Torture dens at Chambers of Horror By JUDY KIM Staff Writer Straying from the typical, the Chambers of Horror is not your average haunted house. First off, the house is not haunted. It’s more of a creepy warehouse set up behind the Masquerade, a local music venue, where psychopaths linger and make home for experiments in which they practice disturbing pleasures. At the gate, they’ll check your ID to make sure you’re at least 18 yearsold. There’s a Splatter Bar for drinks, which is a nice addition for the long wait to enter. The atmosphere is perfect—dirt and gravel everywhere and men walking about with tattoos that consume their entire bodies. There are no ghosts or ghouls walking among the guests waiting to enter, so nothing preps you for the scares you’re about to encounter. But before you enter, thankfully, there’s an introductory video to give you an idea of what will happen once inside the house. After the viewing, you walk down a steep hill with a small group of about five to eight. Themed as the Torture Co., these
freaks really did surprise guests. At one point early into the walk, it feels like you’re in a museum. The guide gives you a tour the history of torture in front of mannequins strewed about and body parts dangling in various locations. As the show progresses, you get to meet Dr. Splatter and one of his latest innocent victims, a young college girl suffering from torture wounds. Dr. Splatter slices through her right breast. The gore does not stop there. There’s an obvious reason as to why these guys make sure you are 18 to come inside. The nudity, the blood, the bawdy acts—it’s all very overwhelming and different than most haunted houses. Completely shocking and blatantly brutal, this haunted house is clearly not for everyone. The rest of the walk includes a slew of average-looking people screaming for their lives while running in a futile attempt to escape from the crew of sick and disturbed serial killers. Perhaps the scariest part—for myself, at least—was that I could not have just left or ran through if I wanted to. The warehouse is not set up like a maze or easy path. You’re
stuck in individual chambers until the sadists decide to let you leave. The low-budget attraction was rated number 13 in the nation according to Haunted Attraction Magazine, and it is the only haunted house within the perimeter of Atlanta. Founded by three friends, Chambers of Horror is only in its second season. Because of its obscene, straightup perturbed displays, this haunted house is definitely not recommended for everyone. One of the founders, Lindsay Starke, did dutifully note that when creating the story for the house she was careful to instate that her male counterparts must stray away from group acts like one female against a large group of males and vice-versa. Since they did mix up the acts and made it more egalitarian, the house, overall, is tolerable. If planning to attend, expect to be sprayed with mock bodily fluids, like foamy semen, urine and, obviously, plenty of blood. Needless to say, guests at Chambers of Horror receive quite a disturbing, frightening show.
Judy Kim • Signal No monsters here, just afflicted individuals prepared to torment.
Tickets for the Chambers of Horror (695 North Ave.) are $15, or $25 for a pass that allows you to skip the line. You can spend $45 for a VIP ticket which includes a gift and one free drink at the Splatter Bar. For more on the Chambers of Horror, see www.chambersofhorroratl.com.
SPOOK SCALE
from one (lowest) to five (highest)
Fright factor: 3 • Gore rating: 5 Worth your money? If you enjoy psychopathological performances, yes.
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Application Deadline: February 1, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
ALBUMS IN HEAVY ROTATION 01
Halcyon Digest Deerhunter (4AD)
02
Blind Threshold Beats Antique
03
Airtight’s Revenge Bilal (Plug Research)
04
Public Strain Women (Jagjaguwar)
05
Ship of Light Husky Rescue (Catskills)
06
False Priest Of Montreal (Polyvinyl)
By EMILY YANG Staff Writer
07
Pop Negro El Guincho (Young Turks)
08
Album of the Year Black Milk (Fat Beats/Decon)
09
The Caliph’s Tea Party Gonjasufi (Warp)
10
Pesebre Alex Krygier (Crammed Discs)
11
Drawing Down the Moon Azure Ray (Saddle Creek)
12
WIlderness Heart Black Mountain (Jagjauwar)
13
Business Casual Chromeo (Atlantic)
14
Hot Tropics The Growlers (Everloving)
15
Everything in Between No Age (Sub Pop)
16
If I’m Ancient Carnivores (Double Phantom)
17
Pattern & Grid World Flying Lotus (Warp)
Asian-American electro hiphop quartet Far East Movement has released their major label debut, Free Wired. The group consists of members Kev Nish, J-Splif, Prohgress and DJ Virman. The 11-track album was cowritten by Bruno Mars and features guest producers like Stereotypes, The Cataracs, Fernando Girabay, Cherry Cherry Boom Boom and Roger Sanchez. The first two tracks are previous singles: “Girls on the Dance Floor” (released in 2008) and “Like a G6” (released in April). Both are inspired by the nightlife. The former is about letting loose in the club with women, while “Like a G6” captures the feeling of getting “slizzard,” or fully intoxicated. “Rocketeer” opens with a slow tempo. The sweet vocals of OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder create dreamy imagery: “Take my hand, close your eyes/With you right here, I’m a rocketeer.” “If I Was You (OMG)” boasts an appearance from Snoop Dogg, whose voice is auto-tuned to match the electro feel of the group. The song is an ego-booster for the women: “You ain’t a dime, you’s a silver dolla/It’ll be a crime, if I didn’t holla.” A similar message to ladies is found on “She Owns the Night,” a house track featuring Mohombi. It describes a hard-working and studious woman who, contrary to her serious image, owns the night when she hits the clubs. Switching to yet another genre, “So What” is a hip-hop track that samples the Beastie Boys’ “So What‘cha Want.” This is the only track on the album that does not feature any artists, aside from what’s borrowed from the iconic hip-hop trio. Reminiscent of Far East’s hiphop upbringing, “So What” delivers a confrontational track that asks people what they want and advising people on what they need. The next three tracks describe the history of a relationship. “Don’t Look Now,” featuring Keri Hilson, is about an instant connection after a first kiss. “Fighting for Air,” a collaboration with label-mate Frankmuzik, describes the feeling of being breathless from constantly thinking about a special woman. “White Flag,” a track with
Female-fronted, Finnish indie-pop that’s like a bit tougher version of Lykke Li. Plus, the band name is adorable.
The lyrics are in Spanish, but even Englishspeaking music fans can appreciate his Argentinestyle danceable tunes that are rich with horns, accordion, layered harmonies and even thumping bass.
This folk-based, electroniclaced act is inspired by genres that encompass the globe, and the results are incomparably cinematic and uplifting.
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Everlasting Grandchildren (Green Owl)
19
Jojo Burger Tempest Working for a Nuclear Free City (Melodic)
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Wild Go Dark Dark Dark (Supply & Demand)
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The Hundred in the Hands The Hundred in the Hands (Warp)
22
King Night Salem (Iamsound)
23
Tidelands Moondoggies (Hardly Art)
24
Music for a While Revolver (Astralwerks)
25
Swanlights Antony and the Johnsons (Secretly Canadian)
26
Ring Glasser (True Panther Sounds)
27
The Burnerz Zumbi & The Are (JahWorks)
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One of Us Pomegranites (Afternoon)
29
Opticks Silje Nes (Fatcat)
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The Age of Adz Sufjan Stevens (Asthmatic Kitty)
There’s a wealth of heavy, echoing dance-rock tracks on this Brooklyn duo’s feverish debut.
Premium hip-hop, with buttery flows and simple beats reminiscent of the golden jams of the ‘90s.
Far East Movement Free Wired
Cherrytree Records
Kayla Kai, is an alternative pop jam about surrendering pride in the name of love. To end the album, the last two tracks are modifications to previous songs. For “2gether,” the group and Kannoby got to provide the vocals for Roger Sanchez’s earlier single of the same name. The revision to “Go Ape,” which includes Lil Jon and Colette Carr, gives the already fast-paced, momentous song an even more energetic feel. Far East Movement’s collaborations with different artists allow the group the ability to tap into varying genres. The group experiments with different sounds, and instead of sounding like a confusing mash-up, the album feels cohesive. On the group’s online radio show, member Kev Nish explained that the music they listen to influenced the resulting sound of Free Wired. Not only does the album illustrate their preferences, but it also gives listeners an innovative take on familiar music.
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a quality attributed entirely to McCalvin’s performance. The songwriting is another high point—the lyrics are fun, fresh and funny, like on “Vacation”: “We threw the captain over, and on the crew we emptied a clip.” Mermaids does an admirable job with instrumentation, with a heavy focus on keys and guitar. Both the rhythm and lead guitar parts are strong, and fit the band’s decisively mellow attitude perfectly. A distracting problem, however, lies in the album’s production. More often than not, distinguishing specific melodies or instruments from others is difficult. The overall sound of the album is a little bit washed out. It isn’t uncommon to see indie bands working for a lo-fi sound, but in this case, it was done at the expense of some very good bass and key parts. It’s a minor complaint for a generally strong album, but it’s still a notable misstep. Despite issues with the album’s mixing, the Mermaids have captured the essence of early surf rock, and executed that idea with exceptional precision. It’s a promising start.
Mermaids Tropsicle
Pretty Ambitious
Of Montreal
By MICHAEL RABALAIS Staff Writer
False Priest
With its debut album Tropsicle, indie pop band the Mermaids hopes to remind America why surf rock was such a big deal. The Atlanta-based band may give off a distinct indie darling vibe–with combined coverage from local and national press (the New York Times recently gave the band a gently positive mention), the Mermaids may find themselves in the mainstream before too long. But the avalanche of accolades comes with good reason. If Tropsicle is a sign of what’s to come from Mermaids, garage rock fans have something to be excited about. Comparisons of Mermaids to the Beach Boys are a go-to for most publications, but it’s because the similarities are too impressive to ignore. For fans of ‘60s-era rock, that’s a compliment of the highest caliber. Tight harmonies add flavor to the vocals of singer Matt McCalvin, whose voice is reminiscent of MGMT singer Andrew VanWyngarden’s. McCalvin’s vocals remain loose and melodic throughout the album, and are key in establishing the album’s overall feel. It’s literally impossible to feel stressed while listening to Tropsicle,
By PAUL DEMERRITT Staff Writer
Polyvinyl
It’s difficult to think of a band with a more consistently engaging output than Athens-bred Of Montreal. For more than a decade, they have been able to explore and master genres from simple, sparse love songs to the verbose, experimental psychedelia (which has dominated the majority of their recent offerings). All of this is mostly due to the wonderfully complex mind of one of music’s most interesting frontmen, Kevin Barnes. Ever since the reformative epic “The Past Is a Grotesque Animal” off of Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, Barnes has adopted the Bowie-esque alter-persona of Georgie Fruit, a transgendered funk musician. For the past couple years, Of Montreal has been an almost entirely sexual being, lacing nearly every song with not-so-subtle innuendos. Somehow the band has managed to make the topic consistently unique Cont. on page 18
Reviews
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Reviews
Cont. from page 17
and diverse without sounding silly or tired. Yet their 10th LP, False Priest, exposes the band’s thematic limits. It follows many of the similar staples of earlier songs: obscure art references, slinking bass lines, infectious choruses. The main discrepancy here is that Barnes simply overdoes it. His penchant for wordy lyricism detracts from his verses and other times just gets to the point of being purely goofy. He often abandons lyrical rhythm in favor of out-of-place, contrived wordplay. Thankfully, the choruses are able to delightfully bounce around in your head and usually end up overshadowing some of the more awkward verses. Janelle Monáe, an up-andcoming R&B favorite and a recent Of Montreal touring mate, guests on “Our Riotous Defects” and “Enemy Gene,” serving as a fantastic counterpart to Barnes’ crooning. Solange Knowles offers the same on “Sex Karma,” one of the album’s better tracks. The other aspect of False Priest which disappoints is that the song structures are all sort of normal, an adjective which has rarely ever been applicable to Of Montreal. Aside from a select few of their earliest songs, their albums have always contained songs which act as musical chameleons instead of merely static entities. However, of Montreal as a whole are shape-shifters, which is why this album shouldn’t worry fans in the slightest. Although this is a certain misstep, they have an unwavering efficacy to change their broad styles whenever their originality is placed in jeopardy. False Priest is only the last shell before Of Montreal’s newest form appears.
www.gsusignal.com/entertainment
‘hood life. Production credits include Gucci Mane (his former manager), Lex Lugar and Atlanta-based producer Sizzle (who’s worked with pop darlings Rihanna and Britney Spears). “Bustin’ at Em,” the album opener, boasts ‘hood lyrics flowing over crunk beats, and sets a high bar for the rest of the album. “No Hands,” a club-banging single released in September, features Wale and Roscoe Dash. It’s guaranteed to get people on their feet with its melodic beat and dance-easy rhythm. “Snakes in the Grass” introduces the first female rapper involved with Brick Squad, Cartier Kitten. Flocka warns listeners to watch their backs: “They say its snakes in the grass/ So I’m gon’ cut this sh**/All these girls run this game/So I can’t trust a b**ch.” “Go Hard in the Paint,” another track released earlier this year, is produced by Lex Lugar. Its irresistible beat is filled with bass drums and gun shots, reminiscent of Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys’ “Get Crunk”. “Brick Squad” introduces Flocka’s crew: YG Hootie, French Montana, Joe Moses, Baby Bomb and Slim Duncan. Plus, Young Money artist Gudda Gudda makes and appearance. “Bustin at Em,” “No Hands” and “Snakes in the Grass” are three of the hottest tracks for their head-bobbing beats. But “Live by the Gun” is the weakest—its Darth Vader-like sounds and drawn-out beat are less than stellar. Although Waka Flocka Flame has only been rapping for about two years, he’s managed to hone his skill enough to craft a solid first fulllength. For all the buzz that surrounds Flocka, Flockaveli proves he has some substance.
ATLANTA EVENTS October 19-26, 2010
DATE Tuesday
Strange Veins
Waka Flocka Flame
Self-released
Flockaveli
By KENDALL HARRIS Staff Writer
By KHADIJAH TATE Staff Writer
Sealions, a local electro-pop act which self-released its first fulllength album, Strange Veins, on Oct. 9, is bringing the dance-demanding nature of upbeat ‘80s New Wave jams back. The four-piece band of Atlantans—Jason Travis (vocals, guitar), Joey Patino (vocals, guitar, synth), Keith Edmiston (bass, guitar) and John Craig (drums)—has been working on the LP for the past year and a half. While the quartet’s music is catchy enough to survive in the competitive and crowded local indie rock scene, Sealions offers a unique
Asylum/Warner Bros.
Waka Flocka Flame, one of the most hyped local rappers to hit Atlanta’s overcrowded hip-hop scene in years, has released his highly anticipated debut LP, Flockaveli. This 17-track album commands attention with crunk rap beats and southern style flows and, if it wasn’t obvious already, is named as a tribute to 2 Pac. The album is full of guest features from his Brick Squad crew, plus catchy street anthems where Flocka raps about the industry and
EVENT Catch 23
OCT. 19
The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 8:30 p.m. $5, 21 and up Catch some laughs at Catch 23, a comedy night where three teams compete in four 23-minute rounds. The winner is decided by the audience and a one judge.
Wednesday
Ultra-Mega Throwdown
OCT. 20
Eastside Lounge, 485 Flat Shoals Ave. Free, 21 and up The art at this East Atlanta bar and venue’s exhibits is usually a loosely-themed hodgepodge of interesting pieces. Browse work by local creatives and end the night with a dance-a-thon, courtesy of DJ Dustybottomz.
Thursday
Art is Love
OCT. 21
Kai Lin Gallery, 800 Peachtree St., Suite D 8 p.m.-midnight Free, all ages Don’t miss this one-night showcase of 12 black-and-white paintings by 12 anonymous Atlanta couples. The exhibit is aptly-named—all of the works were created during intimate moments. There will be complimentary cocktails, and a portion of the artwork sales benefits the Fragile Kids Foundation, a local organization that advocates for youth who have severe medical issues.
Friday
Daniel Tosh
OCT. 22
The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. 7:30 p.m. $47.20-$52, all ages The sometimes offensive but generally hilarious host of Tosh.0 comes to Atlanta to perform stand-up comedy.
Comedy Central
Saturday
Nightmare Before Halloween
OCT. 23
Nightmare Before Halloween Lenny’s Bar and Grill, 486 Decatur St. 9 p.m. $5, 21 and up Tim Burton fans, rejoice! Lenny’s is throwing a costume party in honor of the beloved director. The event includes a performance from local electro-rock band Fishhawk, plus Andrew and the Disapyramids and a set by DJ Sweet Warrior.
Sunday
Java Monkey Speaks
OCT. 24
Java Monkey, 205 East Ponce de Leon Avenue 8 p.m. Free, all ages Do you love hearing poetry, or are you ready to share your own? This coffee shop in downtown Decatur holds an open mic night every Sunday.
Monday
Ballroom Book Bash: Daniel Pinchbeck
OCT. 25
Sealions
ENTERTAINMENT
Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge, 644 North Highland Ave. $10-$26, 21 and up 7 p.m. Intrigued by the supposed impending doom of 2012? Head to local independent book store A Cappella Books’ party where bestselling author (and expert on the subject) Daniel Pinchbeck reads from his latest, Notes From the Edge Times. Pinchbeck has written several 2012-centric books. You can get in for the rock-bottom price, but with the purchase of his new work (from A Cappella Books, of course), entry is free. Ghost Project, an experimental electronic band, will close out the evening.
sound reminiscent of past decades of dance music. The songs appeal to nostalgia for ‘80’s dance songs, while simultaneously introducing more modern sounds. The airy vocals are layered over irresistible New Wave-style tunes, with memorable harmonies filtered through synth-based beats. “Bellwether” peaks with the singer echoing, “And I need you now/More than you can know,” over ‘80s-sounding handclaps. But there’s more to the album than just dance songs. The pace of tracks on Strange Veins is varied: some are upbeat, like “Bellwether,” but others exude a more chill and
entrancing tone (“Crystal Ceiling” and Golden”). On “Indian Summer,” the only lyrics not distorted are when the singer repeats, “Let’s all get wasted.” Party-time aside, the band shows a more serious side with their inclusion of love songs like “Hold on Hope” and “Quarter Moon.” The more mesmerizing songs are reminiscent of modern bands like Washed Out, the one-man chillwave show of fellow Georgian Ernest Greene. But Sealions is significantly different because of its frequently strong, up-tempo dance beats. Retro but refreshing, Strange Veins is an easygoing crowd-pleaser.
‘Never’
Cont. from page 15
awake comparing the fate of these damned children and those who live as they should, supposedly normally, playing out the cycle of life and death. What is the difference? Never Let Me Go is playing at the United Artists Tara Cinemas, located at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road. The film will run until Tuesday, Oct. 26, and may be extended at the theater’s discretion. For showtimes or more information, call 404-6345661 or visit www.fandango.com.
PERSPECTIVES
Perspectives Editor Syeda Hira Mahmood
signalperspectives@gmail.com
www.gsusignal.com/perspectives
Board of Regents needs a student representative loans, the Board of Regents makes monumental fiscal decisions that impact all 300,000 of us. In the first student-led With a board that makes such gubernatorial debate on Oct. 3, a imperative decisions about your University of Georgia student asked money, you would hope that those an exceptional question to the 18 people would know a thing or two candidates: “How do you feel about about money. Likewise, for a group having a student representative on that oversees and determines how the the Board of Regents?” money is spent, you hope they would The Republican candidate, know a thing or two about education. Nathan Deal, stated that while he had The University System of Georgia respect for college students, he does and its institutions pride themselves not “think that we should make that on their diversity. However, when it major adjustment to the makeup of comes to a group who controls higher our Board of Regents.” Democratic education, diversity may not be such candidate Roy Barnes and Libertarian a good thing after all. candidate John Monds both said they The occupations and were open to the idea. backgrounds of the members So why who make up not make the Board of that “major Regents range The Board of Regents adjustment?” from a retired makes monumental fiscal After all, Army general decisions that impact all the Board of to a carpet Regents makes m a n u f a c t u r e r. 300,000 of us. important To be exact, our f i n a n c i a l current Board of decisions for Regents is made the 35 colleges and universities up of four lawyers, three investors, it oversees. Together, these 35 one retired Army general, a banker, institutions enroll over 300,000 an orthopedic doctor, a carpet undergraduate and graduate students manufacturer, an alcoholic beverage and employ over 40,000 faculty and distributor, a newspaper publisher, staff. a pulp and paper manufacturer, a If you take a look at your student former teacher, an assistant vice account in GoSOLAR, you’ll notice a president of a railroad company, a University System of Georgia (USG) CEO of Synovous and the Director Institution Fee. The Board of Regents of Communication for Coca-Cola. is responsible for fees and increases What a list! in tuition like these. It is fair to say that the majority Whether you are shelling out of the members, like the three thousands to attend college out of investors and the CEO of Synovous, pocket or signing away your soul for know a little something about money By MIRANDA SAIN Staff Writer
John Spink • Atlanta Journal-Constitution A student representative will add diversity to the Board of Regents which they clearly need.
and how it should wisely be spent. However, what do they know about education? The only experience most of them, with the exception of the former teacher, seem to have with education was obtaining an undergraduate degree. It is also fair to say from the gray hair in their pictures that they’ve been out of the university system for a while. So how can they know what is needed in our current system? Being business-minded individuals, the members should understand how valuable insider input can be. Like the colonial Americans
who chanted “no taxation without representation,” the students of the University System of Georgia should be chanting “no tuition increases or fees without representation.” The money allocated to the board comes from state tax dollars and tuition. In our state, we have the right through voting to have representation and a voice in state government functions. Regardless of whether your tuition comes from loans, grants or your savings account, it is still money being paid out and you have no say in how it is spent. Currently, 11 states have a student representative on its
respective Board of Regents. The University System of Georgia should join these trailblazers in adding a student representative seat to the Board of Regents. While students may not be the most fiscally responsible decision makers, they have first-hand experience in the improvements that should be made in the university system. A cooperative effort between the business minds of the board and the innovative ideas of a student representative would greatly improve the University System of Georgia for the better.
FBI plants tracking device on student By PAUL DEMERRITT Staff Writer For decades, various conspiracy theorists believed that America has devolved into a police state like the dystopia detailed in George Orwell’s 1984. So far, I have been able to laugh off such claims as silly paranoia, but for the first time I’m entertaining the legitimacy of these extreme views. This is due to a chilling story from 20-year-old California resident Yasir Afifi. On Oct. 3, Afifi discovered a strange device on the bottom of his car and subsequently posted pictures of it to the website Reddit, asking for help identifying it. One user successfully detailed it as an Orion Guardian ST820, a tracking device sold exclusively to various law enforcements. The device contains an impressive battery boasting a long life. Two days later, Afifi received a frightening visit in the form of two SUVs carrying four officers protected by bulletproof vests. One of the
officers informed him that the FBI had placed the device under his car and that they wanted it back. Afifi yielded to their demands and the officers left after telling him that he did not need to worry in the future. Afifi has led a diverse life, from a father who was a local Muslim organizer to a family in Egypt that he often visits. This background, combined with a recent blog post his friend had made regarding a bombrelated joke, seems to have led the FBI to electronically stalking him. To detail this incident as merely “outrageous’” would be a grandiose understatement. Tax dollars are being given to agencies such as this under the guise of homeland security, when it is only federal brutes spying on other citizens who are Middle Eastern. Apparently this nation is so caught up in post-9/11 paranoia that one cannot even post on the Internet without fear of intervention from government forces. The most appalling part of this whole thing is that every bit of it is entirely legal. Thanks to a recent
ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court, federal enforcement is allowed to put a tracking device on your car without a warrant, even when it is in your own driveway. The average citizen is, in all likelihood, ignorant to this unspeakably important decision that would seem to violate a person’s constitutional right to privacy. Perhaps these blatant breaches of law would be justified or tolerated if they did some good for the overall safety of our country. There are some legitimate concerns from terrorist organizations. But, when this is used only to track Middle Eastern people, it stops being a program concerned with safety and becomes an inefficient network of fear mongers with nothing better to do. As much as I would like to remain a skeptic, this is certainly not a far cry from the viciously monitored world of 1984. The best I can hope for is that people began to demand reform from a once prestigious organization that has become nothing more than government-funded witch hunters.
Albert Rodriguez A small GPS that can fit on a key chain was attached to Yasir Afifi’s car.
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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EDITORIAL CONTENT
Getting the facts straight on illegal immigration By SYEDA HIRA MAHMOOD Perspectives Editor I recently learned that the Georgia Board of Regents passed a law to bar undocumented immigrants from attending public colleges and universities in Georgia. To summarize the debate, the Board, which oversees all decisions for the 35 public colleges and universities in the state, passed a new law that would prevent undocumented students from pursuing higher education. As of 2010, only 501 out of rouhgly 300,000 students at public colleges and universities in Georgia are undocumented. This law completely ignores what the Board of Regents claims to stand for. I discussed this topic with some of my peers and found that many of them are, unfortunately, completely misguided. There is a substantial lack of knowledge within the Georgia State student body on what it means to be undocumented in America and the process of becoming an American citizen. I’d like to debunk some myths on immigration that are clouding this non-issue. The most popular response I’ve gotten about illegal immigrants is that they do not pay taxes and therefore should not be enrolled in our public schools. This is often untrue. Many illegal immigrants pay income, Social Security, Medicare, sales and property taxes, depending on their occupation and whether or not they rent or buy a home.
On top of that, illegal immigrants do not have access to food stamps or Medicare-Medicaid-funded hospitalization. In this regard, they are assuming the tasks of American citizenship without reaping the benefits. Another myth is that illegal immigrants take away jobs from U.S. citizens. However, the Pew Hispanic Center found that less than 5 percent of U.S. workers are illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants also play a vital role in the American economy. I understand that many Americans are sensitive to the idea of illegal immigrants working jobs that Americans could have because the unemployment rate is now above nine percent. However, I do think that it is fair to acknowledge that both legal and illegal immigrants have always held very specific occupations–in other words, manual labor, workingclass jobs. This has been seen in waves of immigration movements in the United States. So, saying that illegal immigrants are “taking away” jobs from American citizens is problematic because immigrants, illegal or not, have always held this position in society. I have a huge problem with many American-born citizens believing that the process of becoming a U.S. citizen is easy. It is not. Not only is it very difficult, the process takes at least six years, and that is the bestcase scenario, which is rare. Typically, the process takes ten years, and if you don’t have a family member who is a lawful permanent resident, or if
you don’t have a massive amount of wealth or a special skill, you will not be eligible at all. My explaining the difficulty in becoming a U.S. citizen is not an endorsement of entering the country illegally. I do want to make it clear that the process is not simple and that American-born citizens have the luxury of making naturalization sound easy because American-born citizens never undergo this trying and discouraging process. I feel that Americans have a very defensive view on immigrants based on complete irrationality, and for some reason this perspective is popular. Americans have a possessive view of land, rights, wealth and so on, and this dangerous creed cultivates a hostile environment in regards to “us” versus “them.” Immigration is a complex issue and there are concerns that have not yet been addressed thanks to our idle government. The myths surrounding immigration should not dictate the discourse. Hopefully learning how untrue many of these hysterias are will help the Georgia State student body understand how issues like the Board of Regents passing their proposed law is defective. The Georgia Board of Regents should consider researching these immigration myths. Hopefully then they will reconsider their decision because they continue to hamper the successes of our colleges and universities.
PERSPECTIVES
SIGNAL SURVEY Do you think that non-student protestors should be allowed to demonstrate on campus? Answer online at gsusignal.com. Results wll be published next week.
Should football attendance by Georgia State students be higher? Yes. 52% Yes, but at least attendance for football is higher than other sports. 18% No. 16% No opinion. 14%
STUDENT VOX What do you think about the Board of Regents barring undocumented students from universities? “I don’t think that’s right. Wouldn’t having them pay out of state tuition lower our costs? If they pay for tuition themselves it should be allowed.” - Mercedes Perez
Sophomore, Business
“If it brings in more money to the school I don’t see the problem.” -Brittany Babbitt Junior, Computer Science
“I think that’s pretty lousy. Education should be for everyone, and I am not okay with their decision.” - Jabril McIntosh Freshmen, Business Caitie Elle Students in favor of the DREAM Act face opposition from the Board of Regents as well as misinformed students.
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PERSPECTIVES
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
21
LGBT viewers want a more realistic portrayal of gays on television By THADDEUS MORGAN Staff Writer
Sofia Lipko Students protest at Unity Plaza to shut down the GILEE program.
Our international values Georgia State is looking inward and outward. We are thinking about what sort of institution we want to become, and what connections we can make nationally and, especially, internationally. From his investiture speech, President Becker has emphasized opportunities for — and the necessity of — global collaboration. One of the five goals of the University’s draft strategic plan involves “building sustainable international relationships.” This latter wording is significant. It suggests that we be mindful of the sorts of international relationships that we build, that they be sustainable. The values of the Georgia State community should be expressed in the international relationships that we forge. Those values are not entirely transparent. There is no easy method to check whether a particular relationship matches our values. But it is a discussion that we, as a community, should be having. A group of concerned students has been pushing the University to have such a discussion, and we commend their initiative. These students are asking questions about the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE). They have not been receiving many answers. GILEE, hosted by our university since 1992, sponsors visits of Georgia law enforcement personnel to Israel, and visits of Israeli (and other) law enforcement personnel to Georgia. In an endorsement of the program, Governor Perdue said, “Learning from expertise of Israel’s law enforcement community in combating terror will help Georgia law enforcement better protect our citizens.” Is Israel, a country which many human rights groups assert is in flagrant violation of international law because of its mistreatment of an ethnic group, the place that we want to send Georgia police who themselves do not have a stellar record of respecting minority ethnic groups? By hosting GILEE, Georgia State puts itself in an uncomfortable position. For example, in 2005 GILEE hosted the Israeli politician Avi Dichter, an individual who will not even travel to England for fear of arrest on war crimes charges. Is this the kind of global collaboration GSU wants to foster? We support sustainable international partnerships, and some of us are engaged in ongoing collaboration with Israeli academics. However, we think that it is important for the Georgia State community to discuss whether our values are expressed in GILEE. Student activists have done an admirable job of raising these questions. They have submitted a petition with more than 800 signatures asking for Georgia State to stop hosting the program, but the relevant administrators have not been willing to meet with them. In the spirit of democracy, transparency, and open communication, we hope that the university administration will create a space for dialog to address the students’ concerns. Dr. Makungu Akinyela, African American Studies Department Dr. Ian Almond, English Department Dr. Abbas Barzegar, Religious Studies Department Dr. Denise Donnelly, Sociology Department Dr. Amira Jarmakani, Women’s Studies Institute Dr. Charles Jones, African American Studies Department Dr. Julie Kubala, Women’s Studies Institute Dr. Vincent Lloyd, Religious Studies Department Dr. Mark Noble, English Department Dr. Louis Ruprecht, Religious Studies Department Dr. Renée Schatteman, English Department Dr. Wendy Simonds, Sociology Department Dr. Charles Steffen, Religious Studies Department Dr. Calvin Thomas, English Department Dr. Akinyela Umoja, African American Studies Department
British lesbian, gay and bisexual television viewers said in a recent survey that they wanted a more realistic portrayal of gays on British Broadcasting Corporation-owned television. In a study taken by the BBC, viewers said that they wanted to see more images of lesbians and bisexuals as well as alternatives to the stereotypes of gay men shown on the network. Participants in the survey were divided, with about 37 percent saying the portrayal of homosexuality was “honest, fair and reflected real life” whereas 25 percent disagreed, claiming that the corporation relied too heavily on stereotypes. The study also showed that a large percentage of heterosexual viewers felt uncomfortable with certain gay content, specifically images of “emotional and physical intimacy” between same-sex characters. This information could be interpreted in two different ways. Either the audience was disappointed by the lack of realism shown in samesex couples or they were not used to seeing same-sex couples in any intimate situation whatsoever. However, it’s safe to say that if the stance on homosexuality is similar between Britain and the United States, then most likely the latter of the two options is true. In media depictions, lesbians are generally shown as overly sexualized and not taken seriously, while gay men are often shown as effeminate or weak with little depth beyond the occasional quirky comment. Bisexuals and transgendered people are almost completely disregarded in the media, as they were not even part of the survey. A gay equality charity criticized the BBC for its lack of a realistic portrayal of gays on television. It stated that throughout the 39 hours of television examined on BBC One,
Fox Kurt Hummel from the FOX show Glee is one of the many new faces of representation for the LGBT community.
only about 44 seconds showed a positive and realistic portrayal of gays. This observation seems dramatic, but not unbelievable. Note that the 44 seconds was not the entire length of time that gay characters were shown, but when they were shown in a positive light. Between the drugs, promiscuity and ignorance portrayed by gay characters on television, it’s a wonder that even 44 seconds could be seen as positive. Queer as Folk, which premiered in 1999 and focused on the lives of three gay men, was one of the original positive and realistic portrayals of gays presented on television. Other shows that followed featuring gay characters often reduced the depth of the characters to comic relief. Many people are not comfortable
seeing openly gay people at all, much less in intimate or thoughtprovoking situations. Gays and lesbians represent the unknown, and with that there is uneasiness in not knowing what to expect. That does not mean that a particular group should be disregarded or made onedimensional because of another person’s apprehension. That is what remote controls were made for. It’s impossible to please everyone. Television shows will always represent certain people negatively to appeal to the audience’s comfort with the negative actions associated with that group. However, this does not mean that these false representations should be accepted, because as soon as they are, they will stop being inaccurate depictions and will become stereotypes.
Public transportation makes sense for America By SYEDA HIRA MAHMOOD Perspectives Editor I love Atlanta. I love the pockets of neighborhoods that carry their own style, I love the diversity, I love the combination of Piedmont Park and the skyline and I love the people. The only thing I wish Atlanta did have, however, is a decent public transportation system. I know that we have the MARTA transit line in Atlanta and it is better than nothing. But MARTA prices are on the rise and the locations for MARTA stations are poorly situated. There has been no real effort to fix the infrastructure or public transportation system in the city and in this country. We are in desperate need of a good public transportation system. A survey commissioned by Transportation for America reported that 82 percent of Americans want to
Josh Hallett Atlanta needs a more reliable public transit system than MARTA.
see expanded public transportation, including trains and buses. This isn’t necessarily surprising, considering many Americans live in suburbs infested with strip malls and neverending stretches of pavement for parking lots. If you look at a basic strip mall with a Target and a Payless
Shoes, the size of the parking lot is ridiculous and the number of people who drive their cars to get to such places is unfathomable. Since suburbs are more concentrated and less densely population than cities, it only makes sense to provide a public Cont. on page 22
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PERSPECTIVES
Yahoo? Fail! percent of Americans’ web searches. Google is responsible for over 65 percent of the web searches and shows no signs of slowing down. When asked how Yahoo! On Sept. 29, USA Today’s senior planned on beating its competitors, media reporter David Lieberman Bartz offered the CEO answer: “we’re asked Yahoo! Inc.’s Carol Bartz, the going to do a better job.” While this highest paid female Chief Executive message may resonate with her Officer in the country, how she Board of Directors, it failed to sway would grade her performance almost college students firmly committed to two years into the job. Bartz offered a their Gmail accounts and Facebook simple assessment, “I pass.” identities. After the 90-minute I humbly disagree. interview, Bartz failed to offer a Bartz outlined Yahoo’s compelling rationale for anyone to expansionary plans, its plans to use—not to mention invest in— thwart competitors and its grand Yahoo! rather than its competitors, design to become an integral portal Bing, Google and Facebook. for the world’s media consumption. Moreover, Friday’s announcement Writing from three perspectives— that three high-level executives are as a potential jumping from investor in the Yahoo! ship Yahoo! Inc., does nothing to Bartz’s corporate vision as an avid assuage these wasn’t just unpersuasive, Internet user, concerns. it was off-putting. and an engaged B a r t z ’s member of this corporate vision democratic wasn’t just citizenry—I summarize Bartz’s unpersuasive, it was off-putting. She vision and Yahoo!’s trajectory with a scared one potential user—me— different assessment: fail. away. When asked about Yahoo!’s Yahoo! Inc. is a Silicon Valley- mistakes to date, Bartz pointed based public corporation that toward its failure to acquire Facebook provides a multitude of Internet years earlier. Why? “Facebook will services around the world and is tied have a vault of information on with Microsoft’s Bing as the second everybody in the world. And that’s most popular Internet search engine valuable.” Why is that information in the U.S., each servicing roughly 17 valuable for a company like Yahoo!? By SHAWN POWERS, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication at Georgia State University
Wong Maye-E Carol Bartz’s vision of expanding Yahoo! is flawed and geared only toward online advertising.
“We’re in the advertising business,” Bartz continuously stressed. Web entrepreneur and former Yahoo! employee Paul Graham suggests Yahoo!’s obsession with advertising is at the heart of its troubles. In focusing on advertising and media content, Yahoo! has forgotten to improve its core competencies. It perennially underinvests in the technology side of the equation, which is why other Internet companies continue to remain ahead of Yahoo! in providing users with
innovative and helpful tools that enhance their online experiences. As a result, Yahoo!’s expanding Internet services are not primarily aimed at improving the quality of users’ online experience or their digital productivity, but instead to simply gather more and more information about Web users so that it can provide more targeted, and thus valuable, online advertising. According to Bartz: “Advertising is part of the information that powers our life…How else are you going to know what’s going on? How do you buy a car, if you aren’t enticed by ads?” While true, such naked economic reasoning does nothing to improve Yahoo’s brand identity. What Internet user wants to depend on a company whose primary and publicly stated interest in your participation is to sell you products? To put this in perspective, last week Google launched Google Instant, a search feature whose purpose was, according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, “to give you your time back.” Now that’s something an avid Internet user can agree with. Yahoo’s advertising obsession also raises ethical questions about its ability to serve as a reliable news portal. If pleasing advertisers is their
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transportation system instead of every individual person driving their car. An excellent transportation system would also make us healthier. Instead of Americans taking cars everywhere, they would be forced to walk or bike to their nearest transit station. Fewer cars on the road and more people on foot would make health and traveling complement each other in an effective and impactful way. The push for public transportation is rampant in the Northeast, but Transportation for America was careful to avoid bias in their survey. 79 percent of rural voters agreed with the expansion of public transportation, even though the majority of Americans who use public transportation live in urban areas.
number one priority, what happens when, for example, users want to learn more about the catastrophic consequences of global warming on Earth’s ecosystems, a topic that touches on the economic and industrial practices of a number of Yahoo!’s advertising clients? Speaking about Yahoo!’s economic model, Bartz was clear: “We are more likely to antagonize users,” adding, “We never want to antagonize our advertisers.” With news organizations growing increasingly dependent on search engines and web portals such as Yahoo! to bring users to their websites, how informed a citizenry can Americans be if corporate profits are prioritized over public interests? Now, to be fair, media organizations—both new and old— across the board are, to varying degrees, guilty of similar criticisms. But what makes Yahoo! stand out was the brazen model of hyperconsumerism that its CEO, at least on this occasion, described as the de facto modis operandi of the company. While Merriam-Webster defines yahoo (noun) as “boorish, crass, or stupid,” Yahoo! Inc. would be better off if it avoided branding itself as such. I spend way too much time in my car, and in a lot of situations, I have no choice but to take my car. My car has become an extension of me and every time I fill my small green Civic with gas, a little part of me dies. Not because I don’t love my car, because I do, but I can’t help but feel like I am propelling dangerous American faults: our dependency on oil and the degradation of our environment. On top of that, Americans own more cars per household than any other country in the world. Just ask yourself – in your household, how many cars do you have? Public transportation is a simple solution that many countries have adopted except for America. Imagine getting from Georgia to California or Texas or New York by train. Public transportation is cost efficient, good for the environment and it may be one of the only topics all Americans can agree about.
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California’s Prop 19 may start a trend By JUDY KIM Staff Writer In November, Californians will have a chance to decide whether or not to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for those of the age of 21 by approving Proposition 19. Proposition 19 would allow people to possess, at maximum, an ounce of marijuana. Property owners would be able to grow the plant on up to 25 square feet in their yards. Users would not be allowed to smoke in front of people under 21 or in public areas. Proposition 19 would also make it illegal to possess the drug on school grounds or drive under its influence. However, it is up to California’s various local governments to permit and tax marijuana use in their jurisdictions. California would be the first state to legalize recreational use. It legalized medical marijuana in 1996. 14 states including Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii and Maine have also legalized medical marijuana. Marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, but this could change in the
future. Many are concerned that with the legalization of marijuana comes a higher price. These people believe that teenagers will eventually use marijuana as a gateway drug, meaning that they will turn towards more dangerous hardcore drugs to satisfy that “high” feeling. Others argue that with successful drug awareness education, this factor would not even become a concern if Proposition 19 passes. Yet even as these petty arguments about the drug’s morals are tossed back and forth, the heart of the matter is California’s over-thetop $19 billion debt. This month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger passed a bill that moved the possession of the drug from a misdemeanor to an infraction, the lowest level of all state laws. Its punishments usually just include a fine of $100 or a mandated class for minors.. The new law, SB 1449, discontinues the arrest of those who are caught with possession. Offenders do not have to deal with a criminal record. This becomes important because the state would
Judy Kim Legalizing marijuana will decrease the financial debt and reduce the crime rate.
waste less money on court cases and jurisdictions over possession, instead tackling more punishable crimes like rape, fraud or murder. Regulating the sales and taxes of marijuana could save the government $200 million every year in public safety costs, introduce a new business market, increase local government revenues, decrease the rate of petty crimes and stop the illicit activities of those who grow and distribute under the government’s nose.
In April, a Field Poll showed that many of California’s citizens disapproved of the proposition and were against the legalization of marijuana. But with this possible new law, many who do distribute illegally would have to compete with larger corporate distributors, a factor that seemed to have played into the data. At the end of the day, though, the benefits of Proposition 19 seem to outweigh the negative consequences as long as the government can
thoroughly cover every loophole in the system. According to Jesse McKinley in the New York Times, a Field Poll released on Sept. 26 showed that 49 percent of likely voters approved of the proposition while 42 percent did not. If passed, carried out properly and as planned, this bill has the potential to change history as we know it.
Bury my heart on Halloween By SHEENA ROETMAN Editor in Chief Many United States citizens gladly embrace holidays such as Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and President’s Day as being, simply, time off from work. Some citizens might even use these days to reflect on what it means to be “American,” what it means to have a history such as this nation does, at least the kind of history that is taught, or what it means to be lucky enough to live in a “free” society. On the other hand, there are many others—Native American and First Nations groups—who have very different thoughts and feelings during times that our current society deems as celebratory. Combine this with the fact that I rarely see Native cultures represented in popular culture outside of football season, Columbus Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving, and these depictions are almost always inaccurate and cartoonish at best, hostile at worst. Hollywood uses actors who are Greek, Italian, Indonesian or, sometimes, even painted, to portray Native Americans in western films which, inevitably, focus on the “white” characters story and “Indians are the T and A,” as John Trudell said in the documentary Reel Injun. Rarely are specific tribes portrayed or even mentioned—it is always simply “Indian” or “Native American” and never Oglala, never Lakota, never even Sioux. Tribes who have never dwelled in tipis, donned Mohawks, or used peyote are repeatedly represented as having done so and, what’s worse, accused of
still living such lifestyles. The language used by popular culture in the United States in order to discuss Native history, culture and current events was orchestrated by colonization and campaigns such as Manifest Destiny and help to contribute to a public perception of Natives as strange, mythical creatures, goofy caricatures, or savage, bloodthirsty bushmen—but rarely as complex human beings, capable of imagination, emotion, language and civilization, deserving of respect and consideration, and never as being a part of a current, modern reality. Finally, the over-sexualization of Natives, particularly of Native women, acts as a double-edged sword in aiding not only the objectification of Native Americans (remember— Natives are just “T and A”) but also to the objectification of women in general. Take, for example, recent box office Hollywood hits such as Twilight and Avatar. Both films eagerly embrace the stereotype of the “mythical Indian” and the “sexual Indian” and, in the case of Avatar, eagerly campaign for conquering any such person. When imagery of a modern-day Indian does show up in mainstream media, it usually portrays extreme poverty, alcoholism and rape. While these images and issues are very real, they do not exude a completed context and, by doing so, they only help to further a disparity between what reality is produced and distributed and an actual reality. In fact, current trends in popular culture suggest that the public conscious views Native American culture as something of the past entirely. Scantily-clad
pop singers parade around stage donning elaborate war bonnets and glittery face paint and stores such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 have encouraged this appropriation by mass-producing cheap replicas of sacred items and pandering the items as elements of costume in everyday dress for everyday people. In reality, objects such as war bonnets and dream catchers, and certain feathers, patterns, and colors, are just as sacred to their respective tribes as the Bible, Koran or Torah is to Christians, Muslims or Jews. In the contexts of the treatment of Native Americans throughout history and in current media and pop culture, holidays that celebrate colonization and a continued policy of assimilate-or-annihilate tell a very different story than the one taught by public school history textbooks. Objectifying and appropriating cultures and peoples makes it easier for a society to justify certain atrocities committed against those cultures and peoples. Creating a public opinion that centers on the idea that Native Americans are something of the past makes it easier to disregard Natives altogether. Dressing up “Indian” on Halloween may seem relatively innocent, but the very fact that doing so is allowable in our society serves as part of a larger discourse. There are, however, many groups that are campaigning, positively, to take back the media. Indian Country Today is the leading Native American newspaper, owned and published by Oneida Nation, but relevant and distributed to Nations across North America. Websites such as Reznetnews.org and Indianz. com are online resources of Native-
Fox Pop artist Ke$ha regularly wears Native headdresses during performances.
produced or Native-relevant articles throughout the continent. There is also a growing community of incredibly well-spoken and well-informed bloggers that are making quite a name for themselves, not only in the blogosphere but also, slowly, in the realm of mainstream media. To name a few: Simon Moya-Smith, of the Denver Post and I Am Not A Mascot, Adrienne Keene of Native Appropriations, Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children’s Literature and Jessica Yee, cofounder of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and contributor to Racialicious. Other blogs, such as Sociological Images and Jezebel, have recently been featuring more and more content that is Native-relevant. Challenging and changing the
accepted discourse we use when dealing with Native American and First Nations issues goes beyond actual language—it requires serious reevaluation of everything from movies and Halloween costumes to sports mascots and holidays. Most importantly, however, it requires society to begin including Native Americans and Native-produced content, such as those listed above, in the decision-making processes of the mainstream media. For students and faculty interested in Native American culture and issues, please contact Sheena Roetman for more information on the possibility of a Native American student association.