Vol. 80 No. 7

Crime report:

Larceny still a problem OCT. 2 - OCT. 8, 2012

Georgia State Police Department has released the annual crime report for 2011.

While most crimes are down, larceny incidents have increased.

news | page 3

VOL. 80 | NO. 7

Everybody has tattoos, but not every employer likes them.

Here’s what you can do to avoid the stereotype.

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL

Arts & living page 9

Editorial:

Stop complaining and start voting Nov. 6 is fast approaching.

Don’t think your vote matters?

You couldn’t be more wrong.

opinion | page 6 Daily news updates at www.gsusignal.com

The decline of handwriting?

Sand Volleyball:

As technology rapidly evolves, so does the way we write. Will cursive handwriting be a thing of the past?

Georgia State’s newest sport settles into new home and preps for upcoming season

Arts & living | page 10 & 11

sports | page 17

News 3

Opinions 6

Home sweet home

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

02

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

last week...

Local Comair, subsidiary to Atlanta-based delta airlines, made its final flight last week. The regional flight carrier fell victim to rising fuel cost and high labor expenses. Delta paid $2 billion for Comair more than 12 years ago.

Clayton County school system has received a warning from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools that it could lose its accreditation. Clayton County school system previously lost their accreditation in 2008.

A Conyers crematory owner’s license was suspended after the unauthorized dismemberment of a corpse. William B. Ellenberg III, owner of Metro Embalming & Crematory Inc. previously lost his license after a failed suicide attempt at his business.

National The Phoenix man whose hour-long police chase ended in his suicide being broadcasted on national television has been identified.

Jodon R. Romero, 33, was a convicted felon with numerous violent crimes in his background.

Authorities reported no serious damage af-

ter an earthquake shook a Dallas suburb last week. The 3.4 magnitude quake, about 2 miles north of Irving, TX, cracked walls and rattled homes, but caused no serious damage.

In the tight presidential race incumbent President Barak Obama is gaining momentum. Recent polling data showed Mitt Romney at a disadvantage as the President takes the lead. The first presidential debate will be Wednesday Oct. 3.

THU 80/55

September 26 Library Plaza

A Non-GSU individual was arrested for false information and issued a Criminal Trespass Warning. Officers contacted a male observed loitering. The individual gave police a false name. After discovering his real identity officers arrested the man and he was transported to Fulton County Jail.

Piedmont North

World The U.S. Embassy in Manila Philippines warned westerners of a potential security threat last Friday. Britain, Australia and Canada are also cautioning citizens to be on guard when attending large events.

A typhoon hit Japan on Sunday, pelting the main island with high winds and rain. Initial reports stated 158,000 people were without power and 104 persons had been injured.

Pope Benedict XVI’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, goes on trail for theft. Gabriele gave the Pope’s letters and documents that allegedly proved corruption in the church to the media. If convicted Gabriele could face up to four years in jail.

Two students and a NonGSU individual were arrested for possession of marijuana and a trespass warning was issued. Officers responded to an odor of marijuana and the three individuals confessed to smoking marijuana. The students and the Non-GSU individual were arrested and later released.

Piedmont North

A student was arrested for alcoholic possession under 21 years old. An officer saw the student unable to keep his balance. After an investigation the officer confirmed the individual was underage and drunk. The student was arrested and later released..

Waffle House

weather WED 78/53

blotter

source: weather.com FRI 82/56

SAT 80/55

SUN 76/53

A student stated she had her wallet and later realized her wallet was missing. handled by 09/26/12

University Commons

Officers issued a CTW to a Non-GSU individual who was identified as a squatter.

The individual was given his notice and escorted off the property.

Piedmont North

A report was filed for simple battery and criminal damage to property. A student stated he broke up with his girlfriend, a fellow student, and she confronted him by physically attacking him and pouring lemonade on his Laptop.

University Commons

Officers issued a CTW to a Non-GSU individual who attempted to gain entry to the University Commons by using a student’s identification.

The individual was given a notice and escorted off the property.

September 25 Sparks Hall

A student stated she placed her cell phone on a dispenser in the restroom and when she returned five minutes later her property had been stolen .

September 24 Park Place

A report was filed for Fraud.

A student stated she deposited money in her account.

She latter received a fraud alert regarding her account.

She discovered someone

used her credit card and made a $ 207 purchase.

Piedmont North West Housing

A student stated he left his wallet containing $120.00 in cash on his desk in his room.

When he returned the money had been stolen.

Shell Station John Wesley A report was filed for Fraud.

A student stated he last used his credit card at the Shell Gas Station. He later discovered someone used his credit card had made a $ 179.09 purchase.

General Classroom Building A student stated she recalled having her purse in her possession and later she realized her property was lost or stolen. The purse contained her driver’s license, social security card, debit card and vehicle keys.

Freshman Dormitory

A student stated she left her room unsecured for the weekend and when she returned she realized someone had stolen her jewelry from a bag in her closet.

University Commons Bldg A A student stated she left her clothes in a washing machine when she returned all of her items had been stolen.

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL Jovita Moore gave an inspiring account of her rise to anchor of WSB-TV to students at the 2012 Modern Media Conference on Sept. 28. You guys totally missed a great event.

NEWS

www.gsusignal.com/news www.gsusignal.com/news

Larceny still a problem

Emergency notification:

Prevention programs:

Georgia State Police’s 2011 crime report also found drops in vehicle theft and liquor violations

How you know of an immediate threat

You can do your part to improve campus safety

TERAH BOYD

News Editor

Aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft and liquor law violations are down on campus, while larceny remains a problem.

In compliance with the Student Right to Know and the Campus Security Act of 1990, the Georgia State Police has released its 2011 campus crime numbers.

The report comes in the shadow of the Atlanta City Counsel’s task force assembled to reduce crime in City of Atlanta college’s campuses.

Crimes like larceny and robbery are constant with previous years—and higher.

As reflected in campus crime alerts, larceny is the most reported crime on campus with

382 reported cases this year, up from 378 cases in 2010.

Students leaving items unattended in common areas, like the library, compile most of the cases of theft.

“Its just carelessness,” said Sgt. Sharon Ware of Georgia State Police Department Crime Prevention. “Having the understanding that if you actually walk away from an item and you’re expecting it to be there when you return back is a misconception here on Georgia State property.”

Faculty and staff fail to take precautions to safeguard their possessions, causing theft rates to remain stagnate.

Stolen items are also difficult to recover.

“I would say we do have honest people that do see those things around they do turn them in. But nine times out of ten if somebody picks

it up they’re normally going to walk away with it and keep it,” Ware said.

Motor vehicle theft has decreased over the last three years. In 2009 there were 30 cars stolen on and off campus.

The latest numbers report 10 thefts this year. A student reported their car was stolen from the Turner Field blue lot on Sept. 17.

The report reflects a major decrease in liquor law violations. Violations for the past three years have occurred in residential facilities. The previous number of reported cases in 2010, 202, is down to 107 cases in 2011.

Teaching students the rules is one reason the violation numbers are down, Ware said.

The number of persons actually arrested for their liquor law violation is on the

rise. 60 arrests were made, up from 39 in 2010. Charging students has also contributed to lower liquor law referrals.

“Just from the students being aware that we are charging them [has lowered violations]. If they are under the age of 21 they understand that they cannot consume alcohol or things on the property, we also educate them by giving them classes,” Ware said.

Other tools, like cameras installed across campus, have helped police solve crimes.

“We are able to grab the BOLOS [be on the look out] from the camera footage and put that information out to the public also it officers that pictures of that individual so if we come into contact with that individual on the street we can reflect back on that picture and arrested for the charge,” Ware said.

Protect yourself What Georgia State Police want you to know to stay safe

1.

Buddy system: an uncomfortable situation could be a dangerous one.

Avoid empty houses, parking lots and buildings.

o PANTHER ALERTA remotely hosted mass notification system that alerts students, faculty and staff through text, email and phone messages. o OUTDOOR EMERGENCY BROADCAST SPEAKER SYSTEM-

o WEB NOTIFICATION-

Safety tips and practices can make your office more secure. Other concerns specific to office workers make the workplace safer.

Emergency notification systems can be posted as a banner on the university’s homepage. This can also link other important information to the banner. o INDOOR BUILDING PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM-

Some Georgia State Police vehicles are equipped with their own speaker system that can be used to allow mobile dissemination of emergency information.

4.

Lock your doors: park cars in welllit areas and don’t leave any visible items in your vehicle.

MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

o FLIGHT TO FIGHT: You can prevent or escape an attack. Passive and combative skills are taught to keep you safe from attack or assault.

o POLICE VEHICLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SPEAKERS-

2.

Heighten your awareness and knowledge of crimes that can occur in an urban setting. This program also teaches students how to avoid potentially dangerous situations.

A siren and voice over notification system can be heard throughout campus. During times of severe weather six speakers notify students in transits on campus.

A remotely activated speaker system allows notifications to be sounded inside particular buildings.

Defend yourself: carry a whistle or enroll in a self-defense class. Remember it is illegal to carry weapons on campus and one can easily be used against you.

o CAMPUS SAFETY:

3.

Take the long way: don’t cut through alleys or tunnels. Take a well-lit path.

5.

Be confident: Walking with your head up makes you look less vulnerable and you will have better visibility of your surroundings.

o OFFICE SAFETY:

o UNIVERSITY HOUSING SAFETY: Each hall is offered this program to teach you to be as safe as possible while living on campus housing. Crime prevention through awareness and education. o OPERATION I.D.: Learn how to protect yourself by marking your items with your information. The Crime Prevention Office’s marking kits can also aid in the recovery of lost or stolen items.

o DUI/ALCOHOL AWARENESS: Learn Georgia’s alcohol laws. Students learn about driving under the influence, blood alcohol concentration laws and underage possession of alcohol

6.

Stay calm: if someone is threatening or yelling at you back away from the individual and report the ordeal if it occurred in class or on campus.

NEWS

04

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

Lost in translation Students don’t get why they need a second language TERAH BOYD

News Editor

& ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN

Associate News Editor

A

s U.S. businesses continue to expand overseas, there is a growing need for bilingual jobs in the public and private sector.

Georgia State requires all College of Arts and Science majors to take some foreign language courses, but students may, or may not, take enough away from the class.

“If we are to be successful in such a competitive new global economy, we must have a population that is able to understand other languages and cultures,” said Fernando O. Reati, chair of the department of modern and classical languages at Georgia State.

Reati said the U.S. faces a past stigma of citizens not being versed in world cultures.

“While this may no longer be totally true, since we have made some progress, it is unfortunately a reflection of the fact, that until not long ago the U.S. was mostly insular with respect to the rest of the world and we expected everybody to speak English,” Reati said.

Aside from the stigma, knowing another language puts students in a better position to

find a job. ens the securi“When it comes to ty of the United Benefits of a second language career stuff, there’s no States as well as question that having a its ability to com• You get better grades second language opens pete in the global • Narrows achievement gap up potential opportumarketplace and • Better basic skills nities,” said Dr. Kevproduce an in• Makes you an abstract thinker in Gaw, director of the formed citizenry.

• Enhances cognitive development University Career SerThe U.S. educa• Enhances achievement vices. tion system has, • You do better on standardized tests A native of Indonein recent years, • Become more culturally aware sia, Gaw speaks Malay placed little value • Better chance of getting into college fluently, a skill that has on speaking lan• Higher chance of getting a job opened many doors in guages other than • More security awareness his life.

English or on un“I was able to go to derstanding cul-NEA Research Dec. 2007 work in the university tures other than because of my language one’s own,” the skills that were already study stated. in place,” Gaw said.

Most students, despite the advantage a As the director of University Career Ser- second language would give them, just take vices, Gaw helps students find employment foreign language classes to fill the class repost-graduation. quirement.

“In the corporate world, having a second

Student Gavin Lovett said he thinks language is valuable,” Gaw said. students won’t continue taking foreign lanA 2007 National Education Association guage classes past the requirement “unless study on the benefits of second language found they are going into a career that utilizes lanthere was more to knowing a foreign language guages.” than landing a job.

“Otherwise, they just take them because “A pervasive lack of knowledge about for- they have to,” Lovett said. eign cultures and foreign languages threatAlthough students don’t voluntarily con-

tinue in a foreign language program, Lovett said he believes the required courses do make an impact.

“While they are in class I feel like students care about the language and culture they are studying,” Lovett said. “However, it’s an interest that only lasts for the duration of the time they are in class.”

Some students may not even retain the information after the course is through.

“In my classes people enjoy the lessons but they don’t really learn more than what is asked of them,” student Ryan Sanders said. “Years afterward they might remember a word or two, but very few ever master or control the language.”

Reati said he believes Georgia State’s Strategic Plan’s goal of “globalizing the university” is the first step to take to make students wellrounded world citizens.

“Learning foreign languages and cultures is one of the most obvious paths to achieving those goals,” Reati said. “With increased global competitiveness, enhanced cognitive skills, more educated and employable individuals, and even the possibility of beating back those “senior moments” of old age as a result of learning foreign languages, what is there to lose?”

-- Laura Haas contributed to this report.

Another hoop to Plus or minus jump through Georgia State to consider uniform grading policy for students

Funding for an Office of Sustainability may be held up for another year ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN

Associate News Editor

P

resident Mark Becker will not entertain the possibility of any new fee or fee increase this year, weakening the possibility to gain funding for the proposed Office of Sustainability.

At the Mandatory Fee Committee meeting held this past Friday Dr. Douglass Covey, vice president of student affairs, explained to the committee members that President Becker’s refusal to entertain the possibility of a new fee or fee increase would force the Student Activity Fee Committee to find other ways of funding any new programs or organizations, such as the Office of Sustainability.

As of press time, President Becker could not be reached for an official comment.

“I think that we didn’t raise any fees last year and feel that it’s in the best interest of students not to raise the mandatory fee this year,” Dr. Covey, said. “Given the economic times, there is a great deal of sensitivity to the cost of education.”

A new Mandatory Fee or an increase in the Student Activity Fee to fund an Office of Sustainability would cost students $3 more per semester, bringing the total Mandatory Fee to $663 or Student Activity Fee to $43.

At the SAFC meeting later on that Friday, the committee discussed how they would receive student feedback on a reallocation of Student Activity Fees.

The committee planned to hold open forums for students to attend and discuss and will release the dates later on this week. They also planned to send out a survey to students to get the overall student opinion on a new Office of Sustainability.

JASMINA ALSTON Contributing Reporter

A

change in the consistency of the grading system at Georgia State could occur in the future, depending on student viewpoints.

Georgia State’s current grading system, according to Adriana Macchione, Student Government Association Vice President of Academic Affairs, could make a move to a standard policy of either a consistent use of plus or minus in grading or no use of plus or minus in grading.

“We’re thinking to just establish a consistent policy throughout the University which means that all professors have to use the plus/minus system or not,” Macchione said.

“If students like the plus/minus system then what we’re going to push for is consistency which means no matter what class you have, no matter what department a 91 to a 93 will be this, for an example.”

Currently, the grading system in place allows professors to use plus or minus in grading at their discretion and allows them to decide what would be considered an A-, A or A+, for instance.

“For example, if you get a 93 in a class

VOTE Time is running out for Georgia voters!

You have until Oct. 6 to for the general election. The state of Georgia does not allow day of registration. If you do not register by

and a professor uses the plus/minus system and they say a 93 is an A- and then you get a professor who doesn’t use it (plus/minus system) and you get a 91, it’s just an A,” Macchione said. “So that 93 is actually less than your 91.”

Before making any definite decisions to go on with this proposition, SGA will survey students on whether or not they feel the change is necessary.

“We just purchased the pro version of Survey Monkey, so now we can survey unlimited numbers of students and get their feedback and hopefully get started on that today,” Macchione said last Wednesday.

SGA is aiming for 10,000 student responses to the survey, which will be administered through email, though SGA will also put in some footwork to get the numbers.

At this semester’s first SGA meeting a possible alternative mentioned was a 100 point system, but now consistency seems to be an important factor in whatever students want.

“We’re not pursuing that (100 point system) as an alternative anymore,” Macchione said.

Macchione, who met and discussed this with the Chair of University Admissions and Standards Committee, explained that opting for a 100-point system would require a

Oct. 6 you will not be able to vote for the next U.S. president.

Not 18 yet? Fear not—if you are going to turn 18 by Nov. 4 you can still register today.

Sos.georiga.gov/elections is Georgia Secretary of State Brain Kemp’s website and has every resource for registering and finding your polling place in Georgia.

Registertovote.org is an easy

lengthy process of going through the Board of Regents. A change for Georgia State would cause a change to all universities in Georgia and prestige: most colleges and universities do not use a 100-point system.

“Whatever seems to be fair is what is probably going to take place,” Macchione said.

While a change may not impact professors as much, students could see positive consequences.

“I think [the grading system] should be uniform and every professor should use a plus/minus system so that it works better for students’ GPAs,” said Taylor Burns, a senior at Georgia State.

When asked her opinion on the matter, Dr. Cynthia Hoffner, a Communications professor, said that she does “not have strong feelings about it either way.”

At other Georgia universities, such as the University of Georgia, all professors are required to use plus/minus in their grading, but they may decide how to assign grades in each class. Also, plus/minus grades are never considered when transferring to Georgia universities.

Currently there is no set time for when, if any, changes to the grading policy will take place. A tentative goal of Fall 2013 is set, though the process could take years.

to use website that can help students who may or may not be Georgia residents register to vote online.

Not going to your home state in time to vote? No excuse; absentee ballot options are designed for students and other voters that cannot return to their designated polling place on Nov. 4.

Oh yeah, you can vote early

too.

See you at the polls, Georgia State! that cannot return to their designated polling place on Nov. 4.

Oh yeah, you can vote early too.

See you at the polls, Georgia State!

CAmpus briefs President Mark Becker will deliver the State of the University address on Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Singer, songwriter and pianist Maggie McLure will be performing at the next Courtyard Music Series on Oct. 3 at noon.

05

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

vote 2012:

Built to

what do you want this election?

burn

ALEX OSIADACZ

Staff Reporter

F

Demonstration destroys mock dorms in minutes

Georgia State hosted the Fire and Emergency Preparedness Carnival on Thursday when they lit two fake dorms on fire to show the dangers of fire and being unprepared.

Robinson College of Business was awarded a $326,606 National Science Foundation Grant to improve software development processes.

Georgia State Athletics opens its new sand volleyball facility on Monday and invited students and guests to participate in a small ceremony marking the official start of fall practice.

Former Vice Chancellor of New York State Board of Regents and retired educator Adelaide Sanford will speak at the 24th Benjamin E. Mays lecture on Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Speakers Auditorium.

Georgia State has named Don Hale, former vice president of public affairs of The University of Texas, its new vice president for public relations and marketing communications. He will begin the job on Oct 1.

Andrew Young School of Policy Studies will host Homecoming of the Professions Oct. 19. Featured speakers will be on the 7th floor of the AYSPS building from 3p.m. until 9p.m.

The Paton Institute of Training teaches students practical paten drawing. This will be on the 3rd floor of Urban life Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 5-6p.m.

A fake dorm fire demonstration at the Fire Safety Carnival last week ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN

Associate News Editor

W

ithin seconds, smoke from the fire will engulf the dorm room. Within minutes… well, after a few minutes it doesn’t matter anymore.

Fake dormitories were set ablaze at Georgia State’s third annual Fire Safety Carnival. Students were taught what a lack of fire safety could cause.

The carnival held at Hurt Park greeted students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors with games, music and free food. Many of the games taught participants how to handle a fire emergency.

“This is basically to prepare the students for any safety issues that they can encounter in their dorm,” said Raphael Johnson, one of the volunteer organizers.

“Fire safety is the main concern, though.”

The main attractions, two fake dorms, were set on fire to demonstrate the danger of dorm fires and to show the response time of firefighters—six to seven minutes—is sometimes not quick enough. The time it took for the dorm to be engulfed in flames was about four minutes.

Despite the precautions taken by the university, cooking accidents caused many fires; there have been a total of seven in the last three years. The biggest and

LEAH JORDAN | THE SIGNAL

most expensive fire occurred in May 2011 and damaged $47,200 worth of property. Cooking was stated as the official cause, according to the Campus Safety Report.

“In a way I feel safe, but sometimes the fire alarms don’t always go off,” said Phan Lu, freshman and resident of the Lofts.

Other students, such as freshman and resident of Freshman Hall Jennifer Vega, expressed their concerns that their dormitories are not safe enough.

Vega pointed out that the stairs in Freshman Hall are usually blocked and said she worries that if a fire were to occur, the stairs would not be a viable escape option.

these tips could save your stuff, dorm and most importantly, your life • Know where a fire extinguisher is • Have a meeting place with a friend or roomate in case of a firew

Check your smoke detectors • Know the quickest way out of your dorm • Keep emergency numbers handy

inancial aid and the economy topped the list of issues concerning Georgia State students who participated in a political survey last week.

In the survey, students were asked to select issues that matters most to them, which candidate offers the best solution to that issue and if they knew which candidate they would vote for in the Nov. 6 presidential election.

37 percent of the surveyed students selected financial aid as their top concern, while 31 percent said the economy matters most.

The results of the poll showed 78 percent of students think President Obama is the best choice for fixing their selected topic, while 8 percent think Gov. Mitt Romney offers a better solution. Students dissatisfied with both candidates made up 14 percent of the poll.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, ages 18-29 voted for President Obama over John McCain in 2008 by a 2:1 margin.

All of the students who selected Romney also answered, “yes” to “do you know who you will vote for in November?” Seventy-five percent of those who selected Romney also agreed the economy was the chief concern in this election.

Fourteen percent of students surveyed said they had not selected a candidate to vote for in November.

A poll from a non-partisan organization Generation Opportunity released in early September revealed 76 percent of the 18-29 year olds surveyed intended to vote in 2012.

President Obama and Gov. Romney will debate for the first time on Oct. 3. Follow The Signal on Twitter for live coverage and discussion.

What Issue Matters Most to you?

Fin Aid 37% Healthcare 8% Unemploy 8% Economy 31% Other 16% Which candidate offers the best solution?

Obama 78% Romney 8% Other 14% Have you selected a candidate to vote for November?

Yes 78% No 22%

OPINIONS Editorial

www.gsusignal.com/opinions

Why the elevators need bouncers

Editorial Cartoon

Stop complaining and do something about it

W

ith the first round of presidential debates approaching, now is a crucial time for students and young people all over the nation to tune into the pulse of the bloated and complex American electoral system. Unless you are a Political Science major or otherwise overinformed about the American government, chances are that you may be a little foggy on the exact process of how we elect our commander-in-chiefs. It’s all right; you’re in the majority, and Nov. 6 is coming up.

Most of you know about the Electoral College, and how there are more or less only a few states where your vote would even have any influence on the outcome of the election.

These are affectionately known as “swing states”; doesn’t that sound like fun?

It’s common knowledge that Georgia is as red as the devil’s ass, and, often, voters in states that have a solid reputation of going one way or the other feel discouraged about voting because it feels like it doesn’t matter anyway.

Well, it does. Voting not only determines the leader of the nation, but also a whole slew of local issues are decided by your vote.

Most apathetic citizens will cite their reason for not voting as “my vote won’t count anyway.” Well, it certainly won’t with that kind of attitude.

Georgia has such a long history of voting Republican that voters on both sides of the political coin shy from from voting. Those who would vote Republican don’t cast their ballots because Georgia is going to go red anyway, and those who would vote Democrat don’t go to the polls since they feel like their vote won’t count. I’m sure it’s easier for you to stay home that day, but there is a lot of importance in not only the popular vote, but also in the outcomes of local elections, that determine your immediate surroundings. Be a good citizen and take part in your local elections. And, at least by determining the popular vote we’ll get to see who had the most support, even if they don’t make it into office (I’m looking at you, Al Gore.)

It’s true that this election has polarized the nation politically, and most likely you have already made up your mind about whom you would vote for. So do it.

The fatalistic notion that it doesn’t matter if you vote or not is certainly not the notion that our country was founded on, and you aren’t making it any better. If you don’t vote, George Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and thousands of Civil War soldiers roll in their graves. Also, your local government suffers.

However much you may think you know about the candidates, there is nothing like watching a presidential debate to reveal how these men behave under pressure, an important skill for a politician. It’s important to not just vote for the guy who’s the best at kissing hands and shaking babies, but also the guy who can clearly and succinctly argue his position on the important topics.

Ask yourself what particular aspects of the candidate’s platforms that you like, and the ones that you disagree with. If you can’t even think of any, then you definitely need to watch the debates.

Don’t have your minds made up yet; it’s important to keep developing your opinions on the election right up to Nov. 6. Stay engaged, stay informed and exercise your right to vote. If you don’t, it’s silly to just complain about the state of politics.

KEVIN MALONEY Columnist

Y

WILLIAM MIRACLE | THE SIGNAL

Have a voice, help the Arts

JAMES MCDOUGALD Columnist

W

e need to hold the arts of the Southeast to a higher standard. American Literature and Music are from the South, after all. From roots to blues to jazz to rock-a-billy to rock ‘n’ roll, we also claim Mark Twain and Poe. The Empire State of the South should not forget this. We should hold ourselves up high and push for new work and solid criticism.

The Players of GSU is “the oldest charted student organization on campus, and the oldest produced Theatre Company in Georgia.” That’s something special! Something that shouldn’t be hidden behind a homepage from 1991, and their upcoming season has several intriguing titles.

Have you been to one of their shows? Georgia State releases biannually New South, a collection of short prose, poetry and nonfiction. Have you checked it out? It’s nationally known.

They have a highly competitive contest each year, where you can read the best of Georgia States’ work. The Welch School Galler-

ies are hosting about 14 different, curated events over the course of the year. Their mediums range from sculptures to photography to paint. There is something for everyone.

Go out and explore more than what your athletes are doing. We are in a special time period where our generation is struggling to find its voice, to find it’s vision, and you can help along the way. Support your classmates and Atlanta art and do everyone the service of talking about it. Good or bad, how did it make you feel? Explaining why you don’t like something is far better than any tepid reaction or general like.

Art, regardless of your personal definition, shows our culture. It shows all of our unique voices and justifies our existence of our society. It’s meant to convey the time we live in and the issues and passions of that age. It’s a pity everything looks the same.

It’s a pity the state doesn’t offer more support. But you can help; go out and observe. Go out, dress up nice, drink the gallery’s wine and discuss what you see.

Is this more pretentious than

“

camping in front of a stadium to show your support? It’s cheaper than a game and significantly cheaper than a movie.

Discuss conviction, discuss necessity—the artist is listening.

The artist is learning. Defend local art and stand up for voices that would be silent if not for their personal means of expression.

We live in a city that used to be something special and can be again. New works—works created and presented new— are cropping up all over town.

There’s nothing finer than when it all comes together. When you see that one painting that draws you in. When you feel at shows’ end a compulsion to rise and applaud. When you hear that song for the first and realize the band lives within a mile of you. The Empire State of the South could be something special. Support our arts! Support the people making it. But don’t give them an inch; let them earn your admiration. You’ll know what you’re looking for when you find it, and when you find it you’ll wonder how you’ve made it this long without more.

We are in a special time period where our generation is struggling to find its voice to find it’s vision, and you can help along the way.

ou know those people who hop onto your elevator even though everyone is already crammed in there? Then the weight limit alarm goes off, but that one dude who just got on still won’t get off despite the sour looks everyone is giving him. I try my best to clear people off the elevators sometimes by reminding everyone there’s a chance we’ll all die in this small, crammed metal box, but I can’t be in every elevator at all times. This is why we need a group of short-tempered bouncers to regulate the elevators. Think about it: put a velvet rope outside the elevators and a big dude with a clipboard decides who makes the cut. If anyone even thinks of getting on the elevator just to go up one floor, the bouncer will call them out and not let them get off until they ride the elevator for the two-floor minimum.

This system of selective people riding the elevators will bring much needed traffic to the stairs. Most of the time when I take the stairs, there’s always someone chilling in the middle of the stairs. Really? Is this what we do now? Hang out in the middle of the staircase? Then they always seem upset at me for making them get out of my way as I go down the stairs, like I’m the one who isn’t using the stairs the right way. If we have less people in the elevators and more people on the stairs, we can get rid of all the people taking naps in the staircases.

I understand why most people don’t want to take the stairs; they’re totally empty most of the time. I’ve seen enough episodes of Law and Order SVU, Sopranos, and late-night commercials for attorneys to know that empty staircases are usually where people get sexually assaulted. If the bouncers are discouraging people from going on the elevators, then there’s more foot traffic on the stairs and we all become much safer. Support the safety for your colleges: support bouncers on the elevators.

07

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

Stop walking in the street

MILES KEENLYSIDE Opinions Editor

W

e’ve all seen the hordes of students crossing the streets on Georgia State campus, and whether you’re on a bike, in a car, or walking, chances are that you’ve had to stop dead in your tracks as an army of backpacks and iPods storms its way across streets and parks, traveling wherever it may please.

It’s frustrating, I know. We’ve all had to navigate through it and around it. A veritable mob of students listening to their ear buds and

Lover’s lane:

looking at the back of the heads of the people in front of them. They block roads, stop traffic and trample over grass and flowerbeds just to get to the class they’re probably already late for.

It’s become enough of a problem that students have begun to receive jaywalking tickets. Don’t worry; I’m not arguing about that—they probably deserve it. Too many times have I seen students listening to headphones and literally walk into the street without looking either way at all. They continue to their classes and drivers screech to a halt and throw their hands in the air in frustration.

I don’t understand why students need to use their newfound college freedom to walk in the street. I understand the idea of youthful rebelliousness, but surely some rules are just sensible and don’t need to be broken.

The term “jaywalking” is a play on the 1920’s jazz age slang “jay” which pretty much meant a reckless and oblivious person. I think it still applies pretty well to the situation;

students obliviously and recklessly walk into the street. It’s dumb.

So what is the root of the problem? As campus grows, there needs to be an increasing focus on creating safe pedestrian passageways for students to get around campus. There are some places where these already exist, such as the awesome library bridge, as well as other passages through and under various buildings on campus.

As campus grows, it will be important for student safety for there to be ways for students in large groups to be able to migrate safely from one end of campus to the other. I mean, think about it, wouldn’t it be cool if there was a tunnel between GCB and Aderhold, I know it’s too late for that now, but that’s how we need to start thinking.

A safe pedestrian walkway system on campus has its beginnings; it just needs to be improved upon. But in the meantime, students, will you please take out your ear-buds and look where you are walking for once?

For everyone’s sake.

Ever met that perfect person for you? From the very beginning it seems destined, right? But, suddenly, your lover has to move away, whether it’s college, or simply traveling for work. At first it seems intangible for the relationship to go on. You think,

well how can I love from a distance?

No more quality time, and late-night cuddling is out of the question. It becomes very easy to think the worst.

But just because you or your lover moves away doesn’t mean the death of your love affair! A long distance relationship takes trust and hard work! Don’t think of the newfound space as a sad moment, but instead take advantage of that time and better yourself. Find new goals to set for yourself as well as finding new ways to keep in touch with your lover.

Send letters to each other (yeah, old school, right?).

But you’ll be surprised how happy and closer you’ll feel while reading your mate’s handwriting. You both can spray your signature scents on those letters. And for those physical wants there are ways to make you

feel closer to one another, such as Skype. That way you’ll see the person face-to-face. You could also borrow an item from your lover, like a sweater, t-shirt or even a stuffed animal—anything that they cherish and wouldn’t mind letting you have while you are apart.

Just remember that no relationship will last without communication, trust and hard work. When two people work together in a relationship, it makes life worth living. We all, at some point, want a partner in life; that one person you can talk to about anything and run to when life gets rough. Working together isn’t always easy, but the key to an effective team is communication and compromising. Let go of your pride and let your love fly—it will pay off in the long run.

2. Yes, if I can catch it when it comes on.

4. No, I will never watch a debate.

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Alejandro Aguilar Major: Business

“I think it is important to take foreign languages. I’m a Business major, and in the business field not everybody knows one language... It will be important to be able to talk to them without boundarie.”

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“I believe that language in itself brings people together…If we can understand somebody else’s language, you will be able to understand their points of view and their culture. Which would help improve ourselves in one aspect. It should be a requirement and it would be helpful if they took more.”

Sarah Greenley

Major: Creative writing (Creative writing majors are required to take four years of foreign language.)

“I would say that they should take fewer.

About two years is fine, four years is too much.”

Jason Kirkland Major: Geology

“I think that every student should take at least some foreign language...We’re becoming a worldwide community and there are many different languages...it could help them further their career and their understanding of the field they are working in...”

“I personally think that it should be up to you. I know that I’m looking to get into international marketing so for me I definetly am flirting with the idea of trying to learn one or more other languages...if it’s your future and you need it, you should be able to do it.”

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“...a lot of jobs are looking for people that can translate. I think in a way it should be required…just for the fact that it will open a lot more doors [for students].”

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1. Yes! I never miss them

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long distance relationships

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ARTS & LIVING The LEAH JORDAN

Associate Living Editor

W

hat was once thought to be reserved for criminals and sailors is now for just about anyone who wants one.

The stigma of piercings and tattoos is still prevalent, but according to a survey conducted by Pew Research in 2006, 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 26 and 40 have at least one tattoo. If almost half of the American population has ink, why is body art taboo?

o o b Ta Tattoo

www.gsusignal.com/artsandliving

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated wanted to investigate the issue and created an event, “The Taboo Tattoo”.

“Our purpose in hosting this event was to analyze the history behind tattoos and how they become more accepted in society today and in the workplace. We want to allow attendees to become more aware of the acceptance of tattoos,” chapter president Kyle Walcott explained.

An unbiased, open discussion on body art commenced between a group of people from all walks of life, Eugine “Tatted Up” Martin, a

Georgia State alum, said he doesn’t think fear of the future should be a reason to deter someone from a tattoo.

“I hate the question ‘what are you gonna look like when you’re 80?’ I’m gonna look like you. We’re all gonna look old, I’ll just have tattoos.”

Laser tattoo remover Dustin Novak is an owner of Doctor InkOFF, a laser tattoo removal company in Atlanta. He said the process of removing a tattoo can take up to 12 treatments, and sessions last 20 seconds to a few minutes. Removing ink hurts less than initially getting the tattoo, he ad-

mitted.

“First we numb them up. We blow cold air [-32 degrees F] on the skin to take the mind off the laser,” Novak said.

People visit his business for reasons from young love that didn’t last to inebriated mistakes.

“It’s always interesting listening to people’s stories,” Novak said.

Jordan Walker, managerial sciences major at Georgia State, has seven piercings total: one belly button ring, one nose stud and five on her ears.

“For careers later on, I’m afraid I’ll have to take [some of my pierc-

ings] out. Who knows, I might be sick of them by then,” Walker said.

Walker is one of the many students that think piercings have an obvious advantage over tattoos.

“If you regret a piercing, you can take it out, and you can’t do that with a tattoo.”

Sometimes artists turn people away who desire a tattoo. They have reputations to protect which is worth more than the money.

“I’ve turned down money. I don’t want people walking around with something I’m not proud of,” said Roger Parilla, City of Ink tattoo artist.

What your employers may think of your tattoos:

LEAH JORDAN | THE SIGNAL

AYSHA JOHNSON| THE SIGNAL

The business perspective: Tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the workplace, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“

Hide them in the interview pro-

cess as much as possible. People have perceptions. I haven’t learned about you and you’re giving me a percep-

tion,” Assistant Director of University Career Services Ramona Simien said.

Think about the pros and cons before getting something permanent: location, placement and perspective jobs.

“By getting a tattoo,” Georgia State profes-

“you’re potentially making getting ahead a little harder for yourself.” sor Eric Reber said,

The military Perspective: Rice joined the National Guard at 18 with no anticipation of ever making a switch into the corporate world. She said that she has a crooked “tramp stamp” tattoo and regrets it now that she is a mother.

“

I joined the military and it was a

right of passage to get a tattoo. Six years later I went corporate and

the woman interviewing me

said, ‘will you be able

to cover those up?’ I

just never thought about it until then…

I haven’t gotten a tattoo since.”

The Tattoo Artist Perspective Slam divides her work time between the City of Ink tattoo parlor in Atlanta and a tattoo shop in Queens, N.Y. She hates when people look at her differently because of her many tattoos.

“

“[My tattoos are] something I’ve thought

think I’m a gangster…just all of the about. People

negative.”

When asked what she’ll tell her grandchildren about her tattoos one day, she assures that she won’t be ashamed or regret her decision to pursue body art.

“I’m gonna be the baddest grandma,” she said.

“I’m gonna have a story. It’s

not just a

fad…I’ll tell them the meaning .”

Handwriting LAURA APPERSON Copy Editor

A

t Georgia State, many students are unable to write in cursive, and tend to avoid handwriting in favor of typing.

“You don’t realize how often you’re sitting at a computer,” said Shana Choi, senior English major. “If I try to write a paper by hand it’s not cohesive at all.”

Senior Stuart McDonald said that, for him, cursive writing is very intentional.

“Nine times out of ten, when I’m writing something, I don’t have time to be intentional,” McDonald said. “I write a lot less than I used to.”

Dr. Steven Black, a linguistic anthropologist and professor at Georgia State, believes that we are currently in a technological state of transition, which may affect how much our society values cursive writing.

“For a while, when I was going to college, it was really a transitional period, in the sense that computers were becoming more common. People were using computers a lot more for a lot of things,” Black said. “But I still learned cursive growing up.”

Dr. Eddie Christie, professor of Medieval Literature at Georgia State had a very similar experience in college..

“During graduate school, computers were just emerging, but hardly anybody had one,” Christie said.

Christie talks about the “digital

revolution,” how it affects the way we write and how it has made “profound changes in the structure of society” in the opening paragraph of his essay The Image of the Letter: From the AngloSaxons to the Electronic Beowulf.

“Not least among these changes are the ways we consider communication to occur, ideas to be saved, and writing to be produced,” Christie wrote.

Despite the growing influence of technology, other students think that handwriting and cursive are important.

“Writing does help,” junior Keera Freeman said when asked if writing helps her when studying. “You can retain information more. When I’m typing, I lose focus quickly.”

Though Choi writes academic papers more efficiently when typing, she singularly writes in cursive when she handwrites.

“I only write in cursive. I personally struggle with print,” Choi said. “I love script; it’s aesthetically pleasing. A lot of people don’t know most of the letters— it’s a shame.”

Fighting for cursive In a March 2011 blog on ajc.com in response to the possibility that Georgia may stop teaching children how to write in cursive, Bob Barr expressed his outrage towards the “Common Core Curriculum,” a program in which the state attempts to create a curriculum that is more “relevant” to the times.

This curriculum implies the state thinks in the current age of technology, students do not need cursive as a skill.

“The process of l Barr said, “teaches th think and organize t that flows more easi ly than the stilted an letters one learns in grades.”

Barr’s argument, invalid as students s to typing and compu ing and writing.

Later, In a Huffin Dec. 2011, Tamika S readers how people themselves in the re cursive writing skills erly sign their name write a check.” She u example, claiming th lack of cursive hand is forced to teach he the insertion of chec legal documents in t But if cursive is o sign documents or a you slide your credit cery store, then why be required to exten elementary school? S “there’s nothing wor ing how to properly but if the cultural sta because of technolog “proper” way to sign In his book From English Renaissance berg mentions that i though, the concern specifically was if it w cause of its newfoun

“Writing was really great for thousands so it enabled people to store information an over long distances or over long periods of t the technology is for doing that.”

gevolution

learning cursive,” he young mind to thoughts in a way ily and imaginativend childish block first and second

, though, seems shift more and more uters for note-tak-

ngton Post blog in Sayles asked her would conduct eal world without s, unable to “prope on a contract or uses herself as an hat because of her dwriting skills, she erself the craft “with cks, contracts, and the adult world.” only required to a slip of paper after t card at the groy should students nsively learn it in Sayles claims that rst then not knowsign one’s name,” andard has shifted gy, then what is the n a name? m The Hands of the e, Jonathan Goldin the Renaissance, n for signatures was authentic bend responsibility of

marking official papers, not how pretty the cursive script looked. Based on the comments from both Sayles and Barr, it seems that the accuracy of cursive script is a concern as it disappears from our culture.

Today, many signatures are sloppy and hurried, but, according to Black, that doesn’t necessarily mean people are uneducated.

“If there’s a consensus that good handwriting means that you’re forward, or that you’re doing a good job, then people that don’t measure up to that can be judged according to that,” Black said. “There [seems to be] some sort of moral judgment about not having good handwriting. And I guess I would say that that doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Communication Through Space and Time Sayles’ concern is that students like Choi are becoming harder to find.

Some students cannot read cursive at all.

But it is possible that proficiency in cursive truly isn’t valuable in our culture anymore. Christie briefly explained how writing, which, in Antiquity, was a successive flow of letters that readers were expected to interpret, was an art in which the educated exclusively took part.

“Our techniques of handwriting have changed,” Christie said. In the past, “not everyone could read handwriting.”

Christie explains that in the Middle Ages, not necessarily every literate

person was good at script.

“Some scribes were not great scholars and sometimes they worked on languages they didn’t understand,” Christie said.

According to Black, handwriting is specifically cultural and is a way of communicating through space and time.

“Writing was really great for thousands of years, because there was nothing else, so it enabled people to store information and pass it on to other people, communicate over long distances or over long periods of time,” Black said. “I can read what a philosopher wrote from the 1800s. But, then, all we’re doing is changing what the technology is for doing that.”

In the early 20th century, educators had been teaching cursive for centuries, and, according to Christie, this was the end of a culture that taught and valued cursive.

“Technology is a major force,” Christie said about the change, “but I also think our attitudes about education have changed.”

Though cursive may be a “dying art,” Black believes that handwriting will never completely disappear from society. As it changes as a result of technology and the opinion of our culture, each of us will develop our own reason to continue—or completely stop—using cursive and handwriting.

“Some people see it as an art form; other people see the way that you do it as being significant to who are; other people use it as a tool,” Black said.

of years, because there was nothing else, nd pass it on to other people, communicate time ... all we’re doing is changing what -Dr. Steven Black

12

A&L

Tie-dying for a cause ALEXIS SMITH

Staff Writer

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

! h t on

M r e nc

a

C t s a

re B It’s

Do-It-Yourself: Tie-dying

Although many believe the new generation of young adults are ‘out of touch,’ one Georgia State University student is proving them wrong.

S

andy Mitchell, owner of Tie Dye by Sandy, never imagined her tie-dye tshirts would be so successful.

“This started out as a hobby, and I didn’t know what to expect, but now that it’s going I’m just going to keep pushing,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s tie-dye business has been doing so well, she now has t-shirts targeted to raise money for breast cancer awareness research.

Although the 21-year-old sociology major just started her business a few months ago, her love for tie-dye began years ago.

Two years ago, she was inspired by a group of women who participated in a breast cancer awareness event after receiving positive feedback about the t-shirts.

Now, for every t-shirt purchased in the special section for breast cancer awareness, Mitchell pledges to donate $5 to research.

While the revenue Mitchell makes from her growing business is a plus, she mostly attributes her motivation to the many women in her personal life who have been diagnosed or are affiliated with breast cancer.

“I’ve had relatives who’ve had it; my aunt, her best friend currently has it, [and] a couple of friends that go to my church,” she said.

The statistics don’t paint a pretty picture for women: research shows about 1 in 8 will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer; for men, the risk is about 1 in 1,000, according to breastcancer.org. A diagnosis of invasive breast cancer means the cancer is spreading and possibly damaging otherwise healthy tissue.

Still, not all of the statistics are reason enough to lose hope. As of 2011, more than 2.6 million Americans have survived breast cancer.

It’s the strength of these survivors that inspire Mitchell.

“It’s extremely rewarding every time I get on the computer and see another sell, or another kind note from someone, a stranger, or someone I know…it really makes me happy.”

To purchase items from Mitchell, visit her website at www.etsy. com/shop/TieDyeBySandy.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Make a point in the center of the shirt and twirl it in together tight.

Generousolor in one triangular section. Be generous with the amount of dye.

Step 7:

Now keep tight. Do not let go of the shirt. Wrap the shirt with rubber bands like the picture above.

Now skip a triangular section and color the one next to it.

Throw on gloves and grab a colored dye. (You can use water from boiled red cabbage for some pink dye!)

Repeat step five. The shapes should come out like the picture above.

Candra Umunna | The Signal

Remove the rubber bands, hang the shirt up, and let it dry for 24 hours. Wash out the dye afterwards with cold water. Machine wash and dry. And now...

ENjoy your beautiful art!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

New South brings foreign cultures to Georgia States’s students IMAN NAIM Staff Reporter

F

or many people, opening up a literary magazine is a lot like entering a spoken word coffee shop: there’s a mix of excitement, hesitation, uncertainty and, ultimately, happiness at having done it. Especially in a time when almost anything can be considered “a good book,” a sophisticated, in-depth reading is necessary every once in a while.

Georgia State operates two such literary journals: The Underground, a publication run by undergraduate students, and New South, a biannual publication run by undergraduate and graduate students. What sets New South apart from many other college literary magazines, however, is that it doesn’t accept submissions from Georgia State students. Instead, the international literary community has the privilege of submitting work.

New South broke apart and went its separate way from The Underground after being GSU Review for 35 years. As it coontinues its fifth year of being an individual publication, New South will be seeing some changes.

“We’d like to raise its profile and become more known

in the literary community, not just around campus,” said Matt Sailor, the editor-in-chief of New South for the past two years. “I’d like to see it issued in more collections and grow a reputation.”

The voice of the magazine isn’t static; rather, it changes as the editor-in-chief does. The magazine has been more traditional in the past, but under Sailor, he said it has featured more poetry and fiction—his favorite medium—and is becoming edgier as it develops.

“I like to see strong characters with well-defined personalities and conflicts,” Sailor said, “... something unique, not familiar.”

Gregg Murray, assistant professor of English at Georgia Perimeter College and a contributor to multiple literary magazines, was found and recruited to write for New South. Sailor discovered Murray in another literary magazine, Continent. Inspired by the creative essay Murray wrote, Sailor said he recruited him to contribute to New South. Murray wrote a long poem of ‘translations’ titled, “Some Translations for Arturo de Benedicto.”

“These aren’t translations from, say, Spanish to English.

They translate other languages, languages of love or sorrow or song or image,” Murray said.

Although Georgia State students cannot submit to the magazine, Sailor said New South re-

13

A&L

flects the campus culture with its broad range of voices.

“From different religions and races, it shows viewpoints from everywhere,” Sailor said.

You can subscribe to New South by sending payments and forms to: New South Campus Box 1894 Georgia State University MSC 8R0322 Unit 8 Atlanta, GA 30303-3083

Costs:

Annual (2 issues): $8 Two-year: $14 Current Issues: $5 Sample Back Issue $3

column Does body art in the workplace matter?

ANNA NORRIS Web Managing Editor

T

he time has come when businesses need to move past the archaic assumption that having a tattoo or a piercing makes a person an inadequate worker.

Technically, it’s not illegal for a potential employer to refuse to hire someone because they have visible tattoos and piercings. It’s considered a right of the employer to be selective with his or her employment. And with the current economic climate, the fact is that employers have more potential employees than ever to choose from.

Courts have ruled in favor of corporations that have fired a person because he or she refused to remove or cover a tattoo or piercing for religious reasons.

About ten years ago, in Cloutier v. Costco Wholesale, a district court upheld Costco’s right to fire a woman for refusing to cover or remove her nose ring, which she claimed to be an expression of her faith.

But we all know that times are changing. Tattoos have moved away from simply advertising gang membership. Now, people claim their tattoos have meaning – dedications to lost loved ones, expressions of political views, symbols of love for partners, remembering difficult times in life to keep moving forward. In this way, tattoos show depth of character.

That’s not to say every tattoo necessarily means something. Some people get tattoos because they think they look

cool, because they want to be perceived a certain way, or because they are making a fashion statement. A good chunk of tattoos in the world are simply harmless. Another portion of tattoos simply remain from “other lives” people have long left behind, unable to be removed.

It’s simply a matter of expression, and we all have the right to express ourselves however we please. It doesn’t mean that a person is less hardworking.

Denying someone employment for a tattoo is starting to parallel refusing to hire someone because they wear a cross or the Star of David around his or her neck. Granted, extent of the protected expression as tattoos and piercings would be reasonably restricted in line with unprotected First Amendment speech.

Employers should move away from worrying about what a person looks like and seriously evaluate work ethic. A person with a tattoo is no more likely to slack off than anyone else.

By discouraging tattoos in the workplace, employers take measures to stifle creativity. And this doesn’t just happen in the workplace. For decades, people have been debating whether or not schools should require uniforms versus letting students express themselves. Dress codes in high schools around the country limit anything from political t-shirts to “unnaturally colored” hair.

What purpose does this really serve?

Surely, every school has a reason, usually along the lines of “inappropriateness” and every business stresses “professionalism.” I say it’s time we redefine these concepts, and let the creativity be the overriding factor in evaluating people for their value in the workplace.

YOUR CALLING. THE COUNTRY’S NEED. According to the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME), the US is facing an imminent physician shortage, specifically in primary care. Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is helping to meet this need by training physicians who are entering nearly every area of medicine, including the critical demand in pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine.

• RUSM provides clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals in the US. • RUSM graduates have attained more US residencies annually than those of any other medical school in the world over the last five years.

• RUSM is eligible to participate in the US Federal Direct Loan Program; financial aid is available to those who qualify.

ATTEND OUR INFORMATION SEMINAR Saturday, October 13, 2012 • 10 am Grand Hyatt Buckhead, Atlanta To register, visit RossU.edu or scan this QR code.

For comprehensive consumer information visit www.RossU.edu/med-student-consumer-info 2012 Global Education International. All rights reserved.

RUSM-Print-Georgia State Signal-10.375w.7h.indd 1

9/11/12 12:59 PM

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calendar Featured Events

On Campus Atlanta Exploration Tour: Cyclorama Atlanta

Friday, October 12, 2012 Noon – 5 p.m.

Sinclair Suite, Student Center

The Cyclorama explores a historic review of post-colonial Atlanta. Reserve your space by Friday, October 5 in the Office of Student Activities, Suite 330, Student Center. Lunch will be provided, and Intercultural Relations will provide transportation and cover entry fee to the Cyclorama.

IR Goes 3-D: Dinner, Diversity and Dialogue Diversity through Food: Cooking Latin Style Tuesday, October 2 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Student Recreation Center Lobby

In collaboration with Student Recreation Center and in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, join Intercultural Relations as we cook a healthy meal inspired by Latin culture.

You must reserve your space by Monday, September 24 in the Office of the Student Activities, Suite 330, Student Center. Dinner provided.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

today, October 2

Intercultural Relations Fall 2012 Art Exhibit Celebrate the numberous ways Latino culture has been woven into the American landscape through people, music, food, and tradition.

View the exhibition of Latino artists in the Gallery Lounge on the 3rd floor of the Student Center.

Tuesday, October 2

Dinner Diversity and Dialogue In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, join Intercultural Relations as they cook a healthy meal inspired by Latin culture. Student Rec Center lobby.

Contact Tonya Cook tcook3@ gsu.edu 404-413-1587

Tuesday, October 2

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration!

Come out and learn about Latin American countries, free food and a performance

by Aztec dance, John Jaramillo. 12 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. Veterans Memorial Hall on Dahlberg Hall

Wednesday, October 3

Free Educational Symposium To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, the Rialto will present Caribbean culture, complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and Steelpan music.

6-9 p.m. Rialto Center RSVP: Dr. Harcourt Fuller, Email: history@gsu.edu or Tel: 404-413-5264 *Only the first 250 people will be admitted

Wednesday, October 3

Rawiya [She who tells a story] The Welch School of Art and Design will present a panel discussion on Images, Narrative and Representation in the Middle East. Located at the corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Avenue.

Free parking at the United Way Deck at Auburn Avenue and Courtland Avenue.

10-11:30 a.m. Welch School Galleries. cfarnell@gsu.edu (404)-413-5230

Thursday, October 4

Model Casting Call Male and female attire: Solid white, fitted shirts and jeans.

For females, heels must be at least four inches. 7 p.m Student Center Ballroom

Thursday, October 4

Dancing with the Greeks Join OAASS&P’s Black Sophomore Society and the Black Graduate Student Association as they present the 2nd annual Dancing with the Greeks!

Various Greek Fraternities and Sororities form Georgia State will perform a duo of choreographed dance. We will feature various styles of dance and will serve food on Unity Plaza at their after event social. DOORS WILL OPEN at 6:15 p.m. Program begins @ 6:45 p.m. Bring a canned good or article of clothing as they continue to support Haiti Japan.

Friday, October 5Sunday, October 7

Family Weekend The annual Georgia State Family Weekend will hold many activities such as tailgating and participating in sports at the Student Rec Center with your family. You can spend the weekend enjoying a ‘Day in the City’ at the World of Coke, the Georgia Aquari-

um or attend a lecture given by a distinguished Georgia State faculty member to give your parents the Georgia State experience. Registration is now open on gsu.edu/parentrelations.

Saturday, October 6

Rialto Series Concert Third World This legendary Reggae Ambassadors from Jamaica will bring over three decades of their music to the Rialto stage. The group has released 23 albums, 10 Grammy nominations and was awarded the 1986 United Nations Peace Medal. Pre-show festivities begin at 7 p.m. Show begins at 8 p.m. The Rialto. 404-4139849

Thursday, October 11

Day in the Rec Come challenge yourself to Olympic games including: big wheel competition, shooting Gallery, archery, rowing competition and volleyball.

Pre-registration required for volleyball-contact andyhudgins@gsu.edu. T-shirts to the first 500 participants.

FREE food. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

For more information on this event, contact mbuchheit@ gsu.edu

Saturday, October 20

Homecoming Tailgate There will be music, free food and giveaways including a change to win Sony products.

12 p.m. For deals and discounts visit the Sony Education store at sony.com/gsu.

Friday, October 26

Safe Zone Training Noon – 2 p.m.

Lanier Suite, Student Center Learn more about the LGBTQIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Questioning) community on campus. Explore ways to promote an inclusive and accepting environment for all members of the GSU family. Lunch provided.

Monday, October 29

Nominations Due: Hosea Williams Awards for Community Activism Completed nomination packets should be submitted to the Office of Intercultural Relations located in Suite 330 Student Center via email to Tcook3@gsu.edu.

The Distinguished

Speaker Series

2012-13 Supported by Student Activity Fees

15

reviews

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

MUSIC

Green Day | “¡Uno!”

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

MACKENZIE SEIGLER Staff Reporter

LARGE PROFESSOR

T

PROFESSOR @ LARGE

ODDISEE PEOPLE HEAR WHAT THEY SEE

MASTA ACE & MF DOOM MA DOOM: SON OF YVONNE

THEE OH SEES PUTRIFIERS II

Grade: ABest Track: “Oh Love” Release Date: September 24, 2012

A TRIBE CALLED RED A TRIBE CALLED RED

P VILLA VOLACIOUS

THE CACTUS CHANNEL HAPTICS

LYMBYC SYSTYM

he first in a trilogy of Green Day’s next albums to come (¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré!), ¡Uno! is a welcome return for the band after a three-year hiatus.

In their ninth album, the members of Green Day; Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Drint and Tré Cool; wanted to go back to their roots. They accomplish this with relative ease, despite their older age and absence from the Top 40 radio stations. A band that has been around for more than twenty years, Green Day is a master of making new music that still feels somewhat familiar to their longtime fans. The band gets a lot of criticism for their age but much of the album retains the same exuberant rebellion that has become synonymous with the band.

Anyone who has become attached to the overly theatrical style of the group’s last two albums (American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown) will be disappointed by this album. There are no overarching story lines in this album, no concept to accompany it, and it would be almost blasphemous to call it a rock opera of any sort. However, don’t write this album off yet.

The best songs on the album are the ones that feel the least forced and the most like the older Green Day. The first single, “Oh Love,” is perfect, classic Green Day. “Stay the Night” is the closest Armstrong and crew will probably ever get to a real love song. It’s messy, melodic and endearing. “Carpe Diem” is another stand out on the album, an anthem for anyone of any age.

On Sept. 21 at the iHeartMusic festival in Los Vegas, Armstrong infamously screamed profanities at the

audience when the promoters of the concert told the band they were fifteen minutes over their allotted stage time.

Armstrong, the lead singer, screamed “I am not f***ing Justin Bieber!” He then smashed his guitar on the stage, walking off angry. The next day he checked himself into rehab with the band releasing a statement apologizing for his behavior and any comments that may have offended anyone.

Many have called this outburst childish and unprofessional, speculating about its affect on record sales.

While that seems doubtful, it certainly creates an interesting conversation surrounding the album that could influence their record sales either way.

But the bottom line is that this is a good album. It is solid and uncompromising, filled with nostalgia for their older music and younger selves and most definitely worth your money.

Nelly Furtado | “The Spirit Indestructible ”

SYMBOLYST

POOLSIDE PACIFIC STANDARD TIME

CHATEAUX-CAPRI STOVALL

Arts & Living Editor

GROUNDISLAVA

U

FEEL ME

NOW PLAYING AT

CINEFEST Running time: 96 minutes Rated: UR Grade: 4.8 on IMDB

Grade: C Release Date: Sept. 18, 2012 Best Track: “Bucket List”

nfortunately, the simple and fresh sound of the 2000 song “I’m Like a Bird” is history in Nelly Furtado’s new album “The Spirit Indesctructable.”

Five studio albums later, Nelly Furtado brings a style that some say is perfect for club and techno-influenced productions. The evolution of Furtado and the combination of her unique vocal tone over urban tracks has brought her much national attention. Though her genre is considered to be pop, her songs include futuristic, hip-hop beats.

In the song “Big Hoops,” Furtado said she is “channeling her 14-year-

old-self ” as she talks about her love for hip-hop and R&B. She exudes confidence in these lyrics. Perhaps she means all around confidence in who she is as a person.

There is a more refreshing sound in the lyrics “Bucket List.” She captures life’s little moments and provides encouragement to try anything and everything over and over until you succeed.

She has an assortment of featured artists including Nas, Sara Tavares, Ace Primo and Dylan Murray. On the U.S. Deluxe Version, she has a few additional songs that allow her voice to shine over instrumentation that fits her particular sound.

“Be OK” is one of the songs featuring Murray.

From album to album, Furtado continues to change her style.

Though she does take unique risks, this album seems to be doing too much. Some artists start off or find something that really works for them, then snatch it away from fans to “explore” new territory. It might work for a few musicians, but Furtado is going further and further out in left field. Her voice is gentle, so when she forces it to be powerful on songs with strong bass and drum set, it creates more noise than actually displaying her talents.

Ultimately, most of her beats are better than the lyrics or even her voice. Though unique-sounding, her vocal tone on this album comes off as whiny over the hip-hop beats than pleasant and fresh as in her debut album. Finding a site to preview the album is the smarter initial step before deciding to purchase this record.

try until the future mob comes to get him. But future Joe (played by Bruce Willis) has more to live for. He gets away. So Gordon-Levitt is left reeling from withdrawals while running from both the mob and his future self.

The makeup, by the way, is all to make the actor look more like his future counterpart, Bruce Willis. It does make Gordon-Levitt resemble Willis a little. His brows are always furrowed in that classic Bruce Willis kind of way and his upper lip is almost invisible.

But “Looper” is incredibly complicated. It’s about time travel. People are jumping back and forth through time and riding bikes that fly. The last thing moviegoers are going to question is whether Bruce Willis really looks like Gordon-Levitt. The film should have spent more time focusing on the more complicated aspects of the plot instead of working so hard to make the two characters resemble each other.

We’ve all seen Bruce Willis play a tough guy before, so his character wasn’t hard to believe. But Gordon-

Levitt also plays a hit man surprisingly well. He’s cold and uncaring about most of the outside world. His mother, a vagrant drug addict, gave him up when he was very young. So the mob took advantage of the desperate child, turning him into the youngest assassin they had ever hired. His mob boss jokes with him about how Gordon-Levitt’s weapon was bigger than he was when he started his work. The corruption of innocence is a huge theme in “Looper.” Gordon-Levitt shows it well. He acts tough but you can see a glimmer of vulnerability in his glances at times.

The acting in the film truly makes “Looper” remarkable. Gordon-Levitt is able to pull off playing a character with unending layers of personality and he manages to portray every aspect of that. Willis brings in even more layers as we see how his addictions and personality flaws affect him in the future. It’s natural to wonder what happens to the main character of a movie in the future, and in “Looper,” you actually get to see it all. This science fiction action film is worth the two hours.

MOVIES

Looper

Driller Killer

While painting a masterpiece, trying to pay the rent and living with two New York City punks, a young man turns to killing the derelicts in his neighborhood with a power drill to deal with the stress.

W

Running time: 98 minutes, Rated: UR, Grade: 6.4 on IMDB

Wild Zero

A young punk and his brother’s rock n’ roll band are humanity’s only hope when alienzombies invade the earth in this Japanese cult favorite.

KENDALL HARRIS Staff Reporter

Grade: A Release Date: September 28, 2012 Running time: 118 minutes MPAA rating: R

hen you first see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Looper,” you’ll probably be distracted by the ridiculous amount of makeup he’s wearing. That part won’t get better. But the movie itself is worth watching.

Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a wellpaid assassin for the mob- the future mob. He drives fast cars and dresses in the latest fashions. He’s addicted to some kind of party drug the movie never specifies. Every day, he goes to a field to kill someone for the mob.

He stands ready with his weapon until a person from the future appears. He kills him, collects his pay from his body, and reports back to his mob boss. But a future mob boss decides to “close the loops” of all “Loopers,” which means GordonLevitt is sent to kill the future version of himself.

Joe seems perfectly fine closing his loop. He’s ready to take his pension and move to some exotic coun-

games&such

16

WORD SEARCH

MAZE

LAST WEEK’S SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ASSOCIATION BUSINESS CANCER CARNIVAL CORPORATE CRIME DATA DEMONSTRATION ELECTION EMPLOYERS

SUDOKU

EXPLORATION FIRE FLAGFOOTBALL FOREIGN FUNDING HANDWRITING LANGUAGE LOOPER MILITARY PINK

PREVENTION SAFETY SANDSTORM STUDENT TABOO TATTOO TRANSLATION UNIFORM VIETNAMESE VOLLEYBALL

SPORTS

www.gsusignal.com/sports

Each player poured sand from each of their home state -- California, Alaska, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Georgia.

The sandstorm begins Rhett Lewis Associate Sports Editor

T

he Georgia State sand volleyball team officially has a home, complete with sand from nine different states across the country.

The team held an opening ceremony for their new facility on Sep. 24 in front of athletic department staff and guests. During the ceremony each member of the team doused the court with sand they had brought from their own home courts.

“We’re extremely excited to go from what used to be a parking lot to now a beautiful, tiered, three court sand facility with some of the best sand in the country,” head coach Tami Audia said.

Georgia State is one of only 25 colleges in the nation that features women’s sand volley ball as a varsity sport. The NCAA will fully sanction the

Feline war:

Panthers and New Hampshire Wildcats collide HUNTER BISHOP Staff Reporter

WHEN : SATURDAY OCT. 6 WHERE: THE GEORGIA DOME

Georgia State’s new sand volleyball team celebrates new facility

sport and sponsor a national championship once dia said. “But it’s kind of neat because a lot of 40 or more schools participate. them don’t act like freshmen. They know their The team began individual workouts on sport, their excited about playing their sport, and Aug. 27, and is now practicing as a full unit. they’ve done a really nice job out on the sand.”

“The girls are starting The Panthers may not to adapt to what we are gohave a roster full of college ing to be asking them to do,” veterans, but they do field Audia said. “We’re just lookone of the more skilled playing to see who’s going to be ers in the country: graduate the players that are going to student Lane Carico. fit together well as partners.”

“We’re really lucky to APRIL 6 AND 7, 2013 A sand volleyball match have Lane,” said Audia. “She consists of five matches beis a three-time All-American tween doubles teams. at the University of Miami.

AGAINST FLORIDA STATE The team’s current rosShe’s taken the leadership AND LOUISIANA MONROE ter consists of 12 members, role.” including nine freshmen.

The inaugural seaCoach Audia doesn’t seem son will begin this coming too worried about the team’s perceived lack of March. Coach Audia says the team plans on experience. making a trip to Siesta Key, Fla. and hopes to also “We have several freshmen on the team,” Au- be able to make a trip to the West Coast.

INAUGURAL TOURNAMENT:

(0-5)

(3-2)

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Georgia State will host a two-day tournament at their new facility April 6 and 7 of 2013.

The event will also feature Florida State and future Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana Monroe.

The new facility is located directly behind the Sports Arena located at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Decatur Street and has a seating capacity of 1,250.

“We’re going to have palm trees out here,” Audia said. “We’re going to have people sitting in lawn chairs, bringing blankets to be able to watch the matches. We’re going to make it feel like you’re at a beach.”

Fans can expect the play on the court to be just as nice as the scene around it.

“We’re going to have a very good program,” Audia said. “This is our first year but all of these girls have played sand volleyball for a long time and are very experienced, so they [fans] are going to see some winning right along with having a great atmosphere.”

OUR STRENGTHS

OUR WEAKNESSES

Donald Russell, Terrance Woodard and Albert Wilson have been the strongest pillars for the Panthers. Russell has averaged more than six yards a carry while rushing for 502 yards. His yardage is great, given the fact that he isn’t thrown the ball too often. Wilson is averaging 16 yards a pop catching the ball, with three touchdowns. Often times these two are the only things clicking on offense for the Panthers. Woodard dominates on defense, but is often double-teamed up the middle.

The secondary has been ineffective, giving up 250 yards a game and a five game total of ten touchdowns. The defense as a whole has performed poorly, giving up an average of 38 points per game and 460 yards per game. The offense may be worse, only averaging 10 points per game and 286 yards of offense. So far, the Panthers have been blown out on all five games played.

THEIR STRENGTHS

THEIR WEAKNESSES

The Wildcats have a strong offense; as they have an average of 36.6 points per game and 480 yards of total offense per game. These numbers are thanks to wide receiver’s R. J. Harris’ speed, as he’s been one of their key players this season. On the Wildcats’ last game, Harris scored two touchdowns against Delaware. Also, the Wildcats have nearly identical splits in run and passes, 238 yards through the air and 244 yards on the ground.

Their defensive line has showed many inconsistencies as they have given up 44 points and 64 points to Minnesota and Old Dominion, respectively. Also, the Wildcats have given up an average of 410 yards per game. The Panthers could take advantage on this point by utilizing running back Donald Russell more often.

SPORTS

18

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

PANTHERofOfthe The week Week Player

Carrying the flag

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Vietnamese Student Association flag football team prepares to represent Georgia State at VSA Olympics

Donald Russell

submitted photo The Vietnamese Student Association flag football team’s practice sessions before the Olympics at Georgia Gwinnett College were pretty hectic, according to player Christine Yun. Ismael Suarez Sports Editor

A

nyone who thinks flag football is the light version of tackle football might just be proven wrong by Georgia State’s Vietnamese Student Association (VSA).

“We’ve had a lot of injuries on the team, especially on the defensive side,” player Christine Yun said. “I sprained my knee, but we also had dislocated shoulders.”

Injuries don’t deter the team’s 30 or so players from representing Georgia State at the VSA Olympics this spring.

Every year in April or March, VSA flag football teams from various schools including Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Kennesaw, University of South Carolina and Emory compete in single-elimination tournaments.

Although VSA clubs organize many activities to raise funds, this event is not a fundraiser.

Diana Nguyen, VSA member at University of Georgia said, “It’s more of a bonding event for all the VSA’s in our community to come together.”

Last spring, the event was held at Georgia Gwinnett College, but the next host is yet to be

determined.

“During tournament time you get to network and meet people from all the other schools and see what they’re doing,” Yun said.

Although most of the players are Vietnamese, there are participants from other nationalities such as Korea or Nigeria.

Aside from flag football, the event also offers participants to compete in sports such as soccer, indoor volleyball, and other small group activities.

Yet, Yun said that the flag football VSA players stay loyal to their sport. When asked why, she responded, “Why not?” with a laugh. “It’s so fun.”

Not only is it a “fun” sport to socialize and exercise, but Yun said it also serves as a “stress reliever.”

“You’re with your friends, you have a good time and goof around,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun to get together and play.”

This doesn’t mean that the games cannot get heated up when the spring tournament comes around.

“Because its single elimination, it gets really intense,” Yun said.

The level of competitiveness leads to a lot of trash-talking previous to the games.

Also, in the search for advantage, teams even travel to see the other schools’ practice sessions

to keep track of their rivals’ strategies.

“Gossip occurs naturally,” Yun said with a grin. “Some people will travel to go see UGA play, or see Kennesaw play and see what they’re doing and how they’re practicing.”

During preseason preparation, the team doesn’t take it lightly. They start practicing once a week this month, and as the tournament gets closer, they move to two days per week and add more practice hours.

“There are so many different opinions of how everything should be done,” Yun said. “We get on each other’s nerves a lot during practice.”

Because last semester Georgia State lost in the second round against Emory, they are motivated to place first next spring.

“We’re coming a lot hungrier this tournament because we didn’t get first place last time,” Yun said.

In order to win the tournament, the Panthers must beat UGA and South Carolina, their toughest rivals, Yun said.

However, Yun thinks that Georgia State has what it takes to take the big step.

“I think it’s about the physical aspect and how we do, but it’s also about how much you want it – I think we want it the most,” Yun said. “We’re the loudest and most spirited team.”

Sport: Football Position: Running Back Year: Senior Height: 5’11” Weight: 212 lb.

Amidst a disappointing season for the Panthers, Russell has been one of the most vital players for the team.

So far, he’s third in the Colonial Athletic Association ranking for yards rushed per game, with an average of 95.8 yards.

Despite not getting the ball enough, Russell led the team in rushing in every game so far, passing the 100-yard mark against South Carolina State and Richmond.

On the post-game press conference against Richmond, head coach Bill Curry praised the Fla. native.

“You just see how valuable he is,” Curry said. “We just have to keep giving it to him.”

The senior running back is a sociology major and plans to follow football in the future.

Women’s golf still off course JOHNNY GIPSON Staff Reporter

T

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS Player Laura Sanchez placed 36th at the Golfweek Conference Challenge.

he Panthers had a rough time at the Golfweek Conference Challenge Tournament in Vail, Colo. as they placed 13th out of 18 after the three days of play.

Head coach Cathy Mant associated the team’s low ranking in the competition with their lack of steadiness.

“Our performance this past week in the Golfweek Conference Challenge had its ups and downs,” Mant said.

“Our consistency is lacking but this will come with time.”

During the last day of competition on Wednesday, the team shot one of the lowest overall rounds (295), bumping up a few spots.

“In all honesty, I would have loved to see us place a little higher in the final standings but the great news is that we

shot one of the lowest rounds on the final day,” Mant said.

According to Georgia State Athletics, Junior Laura Sanchez and freshman Julie Lied led the team with the lowest scores. Sanchez placed 36th with the lowest score of the team (228), while Lied came in 49th place with a 231 score.

Mant said Lied has the potential to grow as a player once she adjusts to the new environment. The Norway native came to America to join the Panthers this season.

“She is adjusting to the many challenges of college life and to college golf in the U.S.,” Mant said. “As she becomes more accustomed to everything I believe that she will definitely be someone to watch over the next four years.”

At the previous competition, on the Panthers’ season opener, junior Maria Palacios led the team at Louisville, Ky., as they placed ninth out of 15.

“Everyone on the team has stepped up big time at different times so far this season,” Mant said. “Our success will be based on the team effort of all the girls.”

The team has a lot of time to reach consistency as their season lasts until May 24.

Mant said that coaching a sport with a long season brings advantages to the coaching staff.

“We have a little down time at the end of the fall semester and at the beginning of the spring semester which gives Coach Lorraine Ballerano and I time to rest and then to refocus,” Mant said. “We have set season- long goals and we work on the small goals to reach our goal of bringing home the Sunbelt Conference Championship at the end of the regular season.”

The Panthers’ next competition will be the Lady Pirate Intercollegiate Challenge at East Carolina University, from Oct. eighth through the ninth.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

19

SPORTS

STRIKING GOLD NORA DONNELLY Staff Reporter

I

n June of this year, Georgia State received a number one mid-major recruiting class ranking through TennisRecruiting.net thanks to two new freshman recruits, Natallia Vavulina and Linn Timmermann.

Vavulina, born in Minsk, Belarus, has reached an International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking of 112, and has competed in multiple national and international tournaments.

Timmermann, from Rostock, Germany boasts a national (U.S.) ranking of 54, and has also competed at an international level.

Georgia State women’s tennis team had their first tournament last weekend.

“Our team is very strong this year,” said Vavulina. “We all are trying to do our best and work hard, but at the same time we enjoy being together.”

Timmermann says she is “very excited for our season to start” and to get the team’s ranking up.

Natallia Vavulina Vavulina competed in the main draw in the 2011 Australian Junior Open Championship, which she said is the greatest accomplishment of her career thus far.

“It took a lot of effort to earn a high enough ranking,” Vavulina said. “I played a lot of tournaments every month, but the experience I got in Australia I will never forget. It was one of the best times of my life.”

Vavulina’s career bundles many other accomplishments.

In 2011, she won the Aivaras Balzekas Lithuania Memorial Cup, as well as the 19th international Junior Tournament Citta’ Di Prato in Italy.

In 2010, Vavulina won the Raquette D’Or ITF Tournament in Morrocco, then the 14th Namangan ITF Junior Tournament in Uzbekistan.

Two years earlier, in 2008, Vavulina was victorious at the ITF Tournament in Finland.

Timmermann doesn’t fall behind when it comes to winning cups. Though, the best career of her life so far was in 2009.

“My biggest accomplishment would be reaching the semifinals in singles and doubles at the International Tennis Federation tournament in the Dominican Republic,” Timmermann said.

Vavulina does not come from a tennis family – her father Andrei Vavulina is actually a soccer coach and her mother never played tennis, – but she said her parents have had the greatest impact on her tennis career.

“I have always had and still have the greatest support from them,” Vavulina said. “My parents took the initiative to get me started.”

She played her first national tournament when she was 7 years old, and began playing internationally around the age of ten. Vavulina said her family realized she had a knack for the game very early on.

“In the first week of my practice, my first coach was really impressed,” she said. “At that time, my coach and my parents were sure that my life would be related with tennis.”

Indeed, tennis influenced her life to the point of bringing her to Georgia State.

“I decided to attend Georgia State towards the beginning of 2011. It was an easy decision. I had a lot of options, but I chose Georgia State.”

So far, she doesn’t regret to have become a Panther.

“I like the weather in Atlanta, and I really like the campus. . . With the tennis program, I enjoy every day of practice with my teammates,” she said.

Vavulina is still undecided in her major, but is leaning towards International Business, although she has her mind set on tennis.

“All of my goals for the future [involve] tennis,” she said. “I am going to try and play as long as I can.”

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Linn Timmermann Unlike Vavulina, Timmermann was born into a tennis playing family.

Both of her parents, Sven and Siegrid Timmermann, as well as her twin brother, Rick, play tennis (Rick is currently playing tennis at Stony Brook University in Long Island, N.Y.).

Linn started playing tennis thanks to her father, who is a tennis coach. Timmermann began competing at the age of 9, and first competed internationally when she was about 14 years old.

For high school, both Linn and her brother Rick came to the United States to study and play at Saddlebrook Prepatory School in Wesley Chapel, Fla. In her four years at Saddlebrook, Timmermann was named the 2010 Hardest Worker and the 2010 Performance/ Fitness Award honoree.

She was also dubbed the 2010/2011 Player of The Year, and received the 2010/2011 Leadership, Sportsmanship Award.

On top of these honors bestowed upon Linn by Saddlebrook, she achieved a Florida State ranking of 26 in the 18 year-old age group. There she met her private trainer, Rene Moller, who she said has had the biggest impact on her career thus far.

Timmermann, a psychology major, says she enjoys the tennis program at Georgia State.

“Our coaches have a lot of variety in practice and it is a lot of hard work, but I’m looking forward to getting better and better with every practice.”

As for the finalizing factor for Timmermann to come to Georgia State, she said, “the team and coaches were the biggest factor for me to accept this offer.”

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

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WHATʼS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS!

www.gsu.edu/spotlight

Plaza: Sidewinder

Thursday, October 4, 12:15-1 p.m., Library Plaza

Americaʼs first Sidewinder will be taking place in the Library Plaza at GSU! Five MCs will take the stage and match their lyrics to the DJʼs flow. The Sidewinder is a style from the UK, never before seen in the U.S. until now.

Lyrics galore! You do not want to miss this!

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CAMPUS EVENTS

Good Morning Commuters

Monday, October 8, 8-10 a.m.

Aderhold Learning Center, General Classroom Building & Unity Plaza

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Come grab some breakfast and get information about upcoming events with Spotlight Programs Board!

• www.gsu.edu/studentevents

Horror Movie Night: Insidious

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES

Making a Difference: An Evening with Jane Goodall Monday, October 8, 3 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom Followed by Book Signing

Join us for the first presentation of the 2012-13 Distinguished Speaker Series, delivered by Dr. Jane Goodall, United Nations Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. This event is free, no ticket required, and open to all students, Photo by Michael Neugebauer 2012 faculty, staff and the public. All guests are encouraged to arrive early for seats. Once the ballroom is full, guests will be directed to the Speakerʼs Auditorium for viewing via live feed. See ad in this issue for more information.

Campus Events at Library Plaza

Tuesday, October 9 12:15-1 p.m.

Join Spotlight as we watch the horror film Insidious.

Popcorn and other concessions will be served. This is a promotional event for our upcoming Haunted House “Happily Never After . . . My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy.”

Homecoming 2012 October 15-20

Spotlight presents “On The Edge: Homecoming 2012,” a week full of events and amazing opportunities to celebrate our last Homecoming before the Centennial Celebration of 2013, including:

Good Morning Commuters on Monday, October 15, when students, faculty, staff and alumni can stop by one of our locations and enjoy free breakfast and receive information about the weekʼs events

Panther Nation at Atlantic Station on Wednesday, October 17, 7-9 p.m., which will provide free food, games and a great experience for everyone from age 2 to 92

The Crowning of the Homecoming King, Queen, Prince and Princess on Saturday, October 20, which will take place as we cheer the Panthers on to victory over Villanova

Open Mic Night

Wednesday, October 10, 7-9 p.m.

Courtyard Stage, Student Center, First Floor

Whether itʼs poetry, comedy, playing an instrument or singing your heart out, any and every talent is welcome in our show. Cash prizes will be given for the top three GSU student winners!

If you are interested in performing, stop by the Campus Events office in 370 Student Center or visit our Facebook page at gsucampusevents to apply.

Cinefest Film Theatre

For a complete list of Homecoming events, visit www.gsu.edu/homecoming. For more details about Spotlight Homecoming events, e-mail Spotlighttraditions@gmail.com.

For more information about all Spotlight events, call Spotlight Programs Board at 404/413-1610.

cinefest movie times

http://www.gsu.edu/cinefest

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Tuesday, October 9, 6-9 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom

The 10th Annual Golf Cart Parade on Thursday, October 18, which will be bigger and better than ever as we push on to another 100 years with President Becker and First Lady Laura Voisinet serving as the grand marshals

In honor of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender History Month, we gladly present the LGBT Celebration Plaza featuring Alliance.

Georgia State University uLearn

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All shows free for GSU students, faculty and staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. and $5 at 5 p.m. and after.

For details, visit www.gsu.edu/cinefest.

October 1-7, Predator

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

(No 9 p.m. showing on Thursday or Friday) Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

October 4, My Career as a Jerk Thursday: 9 p.m.

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SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS BOARD

Supported by Student Activity Fees

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October 5, The Driller Killer Friday: 9 p.m.

October 8-14, Elena

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

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