Vol. 79 No. 14

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THE SIGNAL THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY SERVING THE STUDENTS SINCE 1933

GSUSIGNAL.COM

VOLUME 79 | ISSUE 14

Academic teams’ funds to be slashed next year The Student Activity Fee Committee cut funding from academic teams, despite their growth and international recognition

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

College media demand apology from mayor teRah BOYd Staff Writer

Following the arrests of two student journalists last Saturday while covering Occupy Atlanta protests, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta Police Chief have yet to respond to letters calling for the city to drop its charges. The two arrested persons discussed in the letter, Judith Kim of Georgia State’s The Signal and Alisen Redmond of Kennesaw State University’s The Sentinel, were jailed for approximately 14 hours for “obstruction of traffic.”

The Student Press Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy group for the rights of student media, sent a letter to Mayor Kasim Reed responding to last Saturday’s arrests. SPLC Executive Director Frank LoMonte recognized the difficult task of crowd control in volatile situations but believed poor decision making led to the arrests of members of student press. “The officers had ample time to make a distinction between a person causing a disturbance and a person peacefully recoding police and protester activity as part of a bona fide news organization,” LoMonte said in the letter.

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INSIDE THIS EDITION

JOCelYN CRaWleY Staff Writer Although Academic Team Fee Council leaders stressed the importance of having adequate funds to compete in scholastic competitions, the Student Activity Fee Committee voted to cut their funding for the 2013 fiscal year during their last meeting. While the ATFC was granted $149,507 last year, they will receive nearly $13,000 less next year to pay for international trips and competitions. The Council lobbies on behalf of the Model United Nations, Model Arab League, Model African Union and Mock Trial teams. The group petitioned for a 44 percent increase, translating into about $70,000 more, during the Oct. 28 SAFC meeting. In emphasizing the importance of an increase in funding for the upcoming year, ATFC Secretary Gregory Goll explained the potential educational and economic benefits of supporting academic teams. “The Mock Trial isn’t a business model. Kids learn. They apply what they learn and get into law school. They meet and make references. Then many times they use [them] to land jobs, which obviously encourage alumni donations,” Goll said. James Dutton, Student Government Association president and SAFC member, supported ensuring the Academic Team Fee Council retained funding based on the prestige its organizations bring to the university. “They have been on the AJC. They have been mentioned in the national sections of the USA Today,” Dutton said. “This is a big deal.” “If you don’t think that they’re garnering enough prestige, then I urge you to look at the legislative actions taken this year by both the House and Senate passing bills recognizing the amazing contributions to education and to student life at Georgia State given by these teams and their faculty advisor. The state has paid attention,” he continued. Yet, Dr. Eric Blacknall, SGA Advisor and SAFC member, questioned the validity of granting the Academic Team Fee Council an increase in funding on grounds that much of the money would be used for an international trip that only benefited a small number of students.

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HORDE OF SUPER MARIOS INVADE THE STREETS OF ATLANTA JuDy kiM | the signAl

SPOTLIGHT: JAMES VINCENT

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STUDENTS SUPPORT NEW BILL ALLOWING SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES, DESPITE MAJOR OPPOSITION

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PR POWERHOUSE INTERN AT CNN SETS THE STANDARD FOR THE COMPETITION page 17

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CENTER JAMES VINCENT EXPRESSES HIS EXCITEMENT FOR NEW COACH RON HUNTER AND TALKS ABOUT HIS UPTEMPO COACHING STYLE. HE SAYS THEY’RE READY TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME THIS YEAR AND READY TO TAKE ON ANY OPPONENT.

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PAul ABell | ABell iMAges

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Redmond had a press pass with photo identification distinguishing her as a member of the media, while Kim wore a shirt that identified herself as an employee of The Signal. Although LoMonte said the pass did not excuse flagrant violation of the law, he also said additional circumstances around the cases should have been taken in consideration. “While having a press pass is not a license to violate the law, the ‘violation’ for

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