Vol. 81| No. 22 Feb 25 - March 3 2014

FEB. 25 - MARCH 3, 2014

VOL. 81 | NO. 22

Neighborhood Guide Part II

Little Five Points Journey out to Atlanta’s most eclectic neighborhood for a variety of adventures at six unique local establishments

pageS 10 - 11

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA AND MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

Inside like us! facebook.com/gsusignal

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movie woes

Incentive-less

The “F” Word

Clinched

Spotlight reveals plans for major changes and programming cuts to Cinefest

With no perks, Panther Cash is essentially useless when students already have debit cards

Student Ashley Newton shares how she became a successful fashion blogger

The men’s basketball team have secured a spot in the Sun Belt tournament in March

News | Page 4

opinions | Page 8

A&L | Page 12

Sports | Page 17

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

2

NEWS

last week...

Local

Police step up Emory patrols after rape near campus

Emory University has seen an increase in police presence on campus due to several recent sexual assaults being reported in areas surrounding the University, according to WSB-TV. DeKalb County police department believes three of the recent sexual assaults could be tied to a rape that happened last Tuesday after listening to the descriptions of the crimes–– which were between Clairmont and Decatur roads––and seeing a sketch of the suspect.

National

Licence plate tracking program canceled

Jeh Johnson, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, ordered for a cancellation of the plan to develop a national license-plate tracking system. Johnson ordered

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

blotter

the cancellation of the database plan due to rising concern that citizens without criminal suspicion would face scrutiny. Officials told The Washington Post that readers would scan the tags of every vehicle passing but would only would be accessed for criminal investigations and locating wanted peoples.

Feb. 14

Global

M Parking Deck

Dangerous H2O

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said in a statement that an estimated 100 metric tons of radioactive water was discovered on Wednesday in a holding tank at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan. CNN reported that the contaminated water flowed over a barrier established around the tank and is now being absorbed into the ground.

The company does not believe that any of the radioactive water made it to the Pacific Ocean. Fukushima has shut off inflow of water into the tank, and the leaking has stopped.

G Parking Deck

A Georgia State student told police that her front passenger window had been shattered. A report was filed for the damage.

Feb. 11

The M Parking deck continued to be a popular drug resort when a Georgia State police officer noticed two men loitering, and after approaching, discovered that the men were in possession of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Both men were cited and escorted off the property.

Piedmont Ave.

Officers observed a man driving in the wrong direction on a one way, and stopped the offending vehicle. Following a criminal

history check, the officer at the scene discovered that the driver was unlicensed. The man was then arrested and taken to Fulton County Jail.

secured his bicycle to a bike rack, only to return later that day and find that it was stolen.

University Commons

University Lofts

A Georgia State student told police that his wallet had been stolen after he left it unattended on a table. Officers are investigating the matter.

Feb. 17

Barbra Asher Square

Georgia State police noticed two men engaged in an argument.

Moments later, one of the men began choking the other. The attacker was arrested on charges of battery and taken to Fulton county jail.

Feb. 18

Georgia State police responded to a sick or injured persons report and discovered that the individual in question was in possession of marijuana. The student was cited a Copy of Charges, which was later delivered to the Dean’s office.

Feb. 19

University Commons

Officers responded to a report of marijuana odor emanating from the University Commons, but their search came up negative.

University Commons

A student reported that he had

Photo of the week PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL

Student Raven Moore poses for Signal photographer Candra Umunna for a winter to spring fashion shoot in the Atlanta neighborhood of Little 5 Points.

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

J. Mack Robinson’s generosity and philanthropy reached far beyond his involvement with the College of Business.

PHOTO FROM ROBINSON.GSU.EDU

The legacy of J. Mack Robinson, a humble philanthropist BECCA LONG Staff Reporter

W

hen deceased philanthropist and Atlanta businessman J. Mack Robinson worked in the Candler Building across the street from the current College of Business, he used to look out the window of his office and think about the potential within the property.

“I don’t think you could have a better location than near the Candler building. I thought, ‘I would love it to become part of Georgia State,’” Robinson said in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Robinson briefly attended Georgia State, then called the Georgia Evening College, before he served in the U.S. military.

After Robinson gave Georgia State’s business school a $10 million grant in 1998, the school was named after him as the J. Mack Robinson College of Business—which is now

located right where he believed it should be.

“It’s very humbling for Mack to have his name on one of the most important buildings downtown. I think Mack is prouder of [his involvement with the Georgia State business school] than anything he’s ever done,” Nita Robinson, wife of J. Mack Robinson, said in an interview with SaportaReport.

Robinson started his business career at the age of 10 when he got his first job with the AJC as a “helper.”

After he returned from serving in WWII, he started to open up used car lots in Atlanta. This investment spread throughout Georgia to towns like Columbus and Macon.

Selling cars was just the beginning of Robinson’s business ventures as he moved away from used cars and into finance and insurance.

His businesses grew and he was soon able to help other businesses get their start.

One of the most noteworthy experiences was when Robinson wrote fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent a check from his personal bank ac-

count, which helped the designer launch his fashion company.

Robinson valued education and he continued to show his support by donating large amounts to the Westminster School and Oglethorpe University.

Not only did Robinson give generously to businesses and schools, but he also supported individual students at Georgia State.

Winifred Akande, an intern with the College of Business in 2009, personally experienced Robinson’s generosity.

According to the GSU Magazine, the Robinsons helped fund Akande’s study abroad trip to South Africa.

“How can I put into words how much their gift meant? These people are so lofty and high up. What do I have in common with them?” Akande said.

“His personality has remained unchanged as he built an empire in the intangibles people needed, like credit and insurance. Even as his business ramped up internationally, his gentle nature and easy Southern drawl did not waver,” the GSU

Magazine said in their summer 2011 feature of Mr. Robinson.

Current students at the College of Business accredit him for his generous support of Georgia State.

“He is giving us the opportunity to learn about business,” junior business major Melvin Contreras said.

The Georgia Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives also recognized Robinson’s philanthropy work, and in 1994, they honored the Robinsons with the title Philanthropist of the Year.

“When you name a college or building after someone, you hope that person will inspire others toward philanthropy,” former Georgia State President Carl S. Patton said in an interview with GSU Magazine, regarding the decision to name the college of business after Robinson.

His spirit of philanthropy is still alive among the current students of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

“If I am lucky enough to be successful, I definitely want to give back to Georgia State as well,” junior business major Chris Kuhstoss said.

Nicole Williams, a junior business major, said she has heard countless stories of the College of Business’s alum giving back to Georgia State.

“A lot of graduate students that are successful in the area, when they come back, they always try to give back and help us out,” she said.

President Mark Becker acknowledged Robinson’s contributions to Georgia State.

“J. Mack Robinson’s legacy can be seen across the business school and beyond. Georgia State is a better institution for its connection to J. Mack. His dedication to his family and philanthropy should serve as a model to us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Robinson family,” President Becker said.

Robinson’s life has inspired many others, and through it all, he continued to have a humble character.

“I didn’t do anything big or important. I’m just a hard-working person from Georgia,” Robinson told President Mark Becker at a lunch, according to the GSU Magazine in 2011.

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

campus news

Steep cuts, programming changes planned for Cinefest CAMERON WASHINGTON Associate News Editor

C

inefest will soon see its budget cut by around 50 percent and its weekly hours substantially reduced by May if new plans the Spotlight Programs Board are implemented.

Representatives of Spotlight and the University Center verbally informed Cinefest staff members of these planned changes in January, though a final decision has been pushed back to March after opposition from the student-run movie theater.

“The board is making radical decisions about how the organization should be run,” said a Cinefest employee who requested to remain anonymous. “Cinefest has been run sufficiently for over 20 years now, so it seems like these decisions aren’t being made by students, but by people who don’t have a vested interest in it.”

Since 1991, Cinefest has been a part of the University Center at Georgia State. The theater screens a variety of films, including documentaries, foreign films, independent films and Atlanta-exclusive premieres. Some students have also created films that were shown in Cinefest.

According to the staff, the proposed $70,000 cuts from the annual budget will severely affect the quality of entertainment and service.

“We’re at wit’s end,” the same Cinefest employee said. “Our staff is going to be very, very limited. Our programming is going to be very, very limited. In fact, Cinefest may have to be run by students from the Student Center who have no knowledge on how to operate a film theater.”

According to Cinefest faculty members, Spotlight is also trying to remove concession sales. According to those same employees, these sales (i.e. popcorn, soda, etc.) are the biggest revenue generators for the theater.

“They’re not educated on how we function,” another Cinefest employee said, who also requested to remain anonymous. “It’s not that they simply don’t care, but they just don’t understand, and it’s been really hard.”

As the official programming board for the University, Spotlight puts on events for students such as Panther Prowl and Blue at the Zoo. One of Spotlight’s subsidiaries, Spotlight has funded programming for the theater since Cinefest’s founding in 1991.

Phillip Smith, the assistant director of the University Center and Spotlight advisor, says the changes to Cinefest’s operational schedule are necessary due to low attendance.

“Over the last five semesters, Spotlight has been observing the attendance rates of Cinefest and the statistics don’t justify having the theater open seven days a week,” Smith said. During certain weeks, the the-

ater sometimes only hosts five customers during the week, and 10-12 customers during the weekend.”

According to Smith, one way to maximize attendance would be limiting programming to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The limited availability could lead to larger attendance numbers while the theater is in operation.

Smith said that although movies will no longer be screened during the week, Cinefest would still be in operation. Possible alternatives to movie screenings include the use of the theater for events such as “poetry night” and “open mic night.”

“The goal of these changes is not to cut Cinefest’s programming or funding but rather optimize attendance rates in the theater. It can cost us between $700-900 dollars to run a movie for an entire week that will only be seen by five students,” Smith said.

Smith also said that these weekly events will allow Cinefest to keep the same number of employees staffed.

However, Cinefest representatives dispute those numbers and argue attenance is closer to 50 to 60 people a day depending on the movie and not counting weekends.

“We average around 10-15 customers per showing during the week, averaging out to 60 participants at the day, and that’s just the average,” Kim Ruiz, the assistant manager of Cinefest says.

Ruiz went on to mention that while showing blockbuster films can get more expensive, the average ex-

PHOTO BY CAMERON WASHINGTON | THE SIGNAL Marvin Evangelista hands popcorn to a customer. Cinefest faces huge operational cuts, including getting rid of concessions. pense for the rights to show a movie during the week ranged between 200-500 dollars.

Moreover, these expenses are paid for at a weekly flat rate, so if the theater was only open for three days throughout the week, Cinefest would still be forced to pay the same amount of money to show the films in their theater.

Cinefest employees fear that this reduction in operational hours would force management to limit the number of students they can afford to employ.

Furthermore, these reductions in staff could shift the organization toward a committee style that could shift a complete change in culture for the theater.

SGA

SGA town hall meeting sparks discussion on potential 24-hour library

THE SIGNAL ARCHIVES SGA reallocates funding in hopes of creating a 24-hour library.

JASMIN FIELDS Staff Reporter

I

n an effort to provide more service to students without raising expenses, senators decided to reallocate funding from current fees into the library fee. The funding created by this new fee will help the Student Government Association (SGA) in its hopes of opening a 24-hour library on campus.

During the meeting, members of the executive board also said they wanted to encourage students to become more involved in SGA.

Ways that students can do this is becoming an active member on the board, on a committee or giving feedback and having their voices heard.

SGA feedback forms are available online or outside of the SGA office.

Timothy Smith, SGA’s Vice-President of Student Life, said that students can give feedback on SGA as whole such as the things that the organization is doing well, what they can improve on and so forth.

“The service of the month is the Digital Aquarium. Students can pick up surveys and feedback forms at the SGA office to give SGA feedback on the service they provide,” Smith said.

SGA encourages greater student participation CAMERON WASHINGTON Associate News Editor

A

pplications for positions in SGA were made available to Georgia State students at the SGA office in the University Center, Suite 400 on Feb. 10. While some positions will inevitably be filled by incumbents, a handful of new faces will also be seated at the SGA meetings in the fall semester.

At the Feb. 19 SGA Townhall meeting, President Andrew Whyte made it clear that one of his biggest goals during his tenure in office was to find ways to give back to students without raising fees.

“We created the green fee and the library fee,” Whyte said. “These fees were created from the reallocation of other mandatory fees. The goal of the library fee is to create enough funding to increase the hours of operation at the libraries on campus.”

According to Whyte, the ultimate goal is to see a 24-hour library created at Georgia State. He also noted that the implementation of such a library would require consideration in aspects of transportation and security.

PHOTO BY ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN | THE SIGNAL ARCHIVES Applying for a position at SGA and giving feedback to current representatives are two ways students can get more involved.

This is not the first time members of the SGA Executive Branch have expressed interest in the creation of a 24-hour library however.

Talks of such a library have been in the works since former Vice President Ashley Epperson was in office last semester, when the library fee was created.

During the meeting, members of the executive board also said they wanted to encourage students to become more involved in SGA. President Whyte noted that, with the upcoming elections, the SGA is promoting as much as they can to fill

vacancies left by soon-to-be former members.

“We have dramatically increased our visibility from last year,” Camryn Bradley, the VP for public relations, said. “We’re tweeting, and we’re on Instagram.”

Any student can apply to become an active member on the board or on one of the many SGA legislative committees. Students can also have their voices heard by simply giving feedback to their current SGA representatives. SGA feedback forms are available online or outside of the SGA office.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

NEWS

5

university

New fraternity works to break gender stereotypes JASMIN FIELDS Staff Reporter

A

fraternity in the process of becoming chartered at Georgia State is opening its doors to males of all sexual orientations.

Ontario Smith, a junior and president of Delta Lambda Phi (DLP), said he wants to build the presence of DLP on campus by creating somewhere where male students can come together to make friends, get involved in community service and form a community on campus.

According to Smith, the mission of Georgia State’s DLP is to build a brotherhood for all men, regardless of their orientation.

“I want people to be able to be themselves and it’s an opportunity to add diversity to this school, because this school is known for its diversity,” Smith said.

Members of DLP also want to break stereotypes and stigmas that are associated with men who are not straight.

“I want people to see that gay people and bisexual people are more than just our sexuality. We are doctors, aspiring lawyers, journalists, or musicians. We are more than that, and we are decent,” Smith said.

Smith said that the fraternity, which currently has 22 members, has been approved as a colony

Delta Lamda Phi’s mission is to “build a brotherhood for all men, regardless of orientation.” through Delta Lambda Phi’s national headquarters but are now trying to get recognized by the school through their petition in order to become affiliated with Georgia State.

DLP’s petition is under review and they are waiting to here back from the Greek Council.

“There are two sides to it. Getting chartered here at school is a different process,” Smith said.

According to DLP’s website, the fraternity was founded in 1986 in Washington D.C. by Vernon L. Strickland III. Today, there are over 30 different chapters throughout the United States and one in Quebec, Canada.

Ontario got the idea of creating a fraternity before he transferred to Georgia State in fall 2013 because he wanted to join a fraternity, but he

didn’t know how he would be able to connect with the fraternities already established.

“I feel like I would be able to relate to guys that kind of have the same situation or who have went through some of the same things that I’ve gone through or are gay like me, so I thought this would be good.

I [said], ‘why don’t I just start one myself?’” Ontario said.

To begin the process, Ontario researched gay fraternities online.

He saw Delta Lambda Phi. He then contacted the chapter interest group coordinator via the DLP website.

Ontario was then sent the colonization and standards information with all the steps that were going to have to be carried out. From there, Ontario started looking for potential group members who were interested in joining DLP.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS | DELTA LAMBDA PHI

Daquan Craven, a member and peer-mentor of DLP, heard about it when Ontario told him about it in class.

He said he joined DLP because he wanted to create a ripple effect through education in school, DLP’s mission and helping others.

“It makes me proud to be a part of this organization,” Craven said.

Craven also said that he wants to inspire people to become better as well as better himself.

“It’s easier to inspire when you are with an organization than on your own,” Craven said.

Charles Chakkalapadavil, a member of DLP, found out about the fraternity when he went to an interest meeting and met Vice President Patrick Faerber.

“I wanted to be a part of DLP, because I want to be a part of a

brotherhood, to be with people that share the same experiences as me,” Chakkalapadavil said.

Through DLP, Chakkalapadavil hopes to make a statement in Atlanta and show that the fraternity is there to represent their community.

He also hopes to be respected by everyone else and break stereotypes.

“I’m excited for everyone to see who we are and to make our voice heard in the city,” he said.

Patrick Faerber found out about DLP through Ontario at one of Georgia State’s LGBT events and later joined.

“It really reaches out to the niche group of gay, bisexual and progressive men and it is a great place for them to come together and make new friends where they might have felt like they didn’t fit in in a more traditional fraternity,” Faerber said.

Social Media

Issues still faced with Facebook’s new gender options ZOYA HASNAIN News Editor

W

hen Facebook added 50 new pronoun options for users to choose from, supporters of gender diversity were thrilled. However, many non-binary identifying individuals are still facing issues with the change.

“Many of my trans friends are worried that the new option will be abused by cis gender folk as a joke,” Andres Novoa, a sophomore, said.

Taylor Alexander, president of the Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity at Georgia State, said Facebook friends use the new options for fun instead of for identifying their true gender identities irritating.

“Trans people don’t have the privilege of making up their own identity like cis people. We can barely be our own identity,” they said.

One of the individuals on Alexander’s Facebook identified himself as a gender-fluid cisgender man.

This would be an oxymoron, according to Taylor, because to be gender fluid and cisgender are opposites. A gender-fluid person does not always identify their gender with their biological one, while a cisgender person does.

Alexander changed their identity to agender when the new options were made available. They previously identified as two-spirit, an identity used solely by Native Americans for individuals who have two spirits with different genders within them.

Alexander said that involving more transgender individuals in conversations about gender diversity is an important step in bringing common respect for people and their pronouns and identities in society.

While people still refer to them by ‘he’ on accident at times, Alexander said it’s okay to slip up.

“It will take a bunch of respect and practice,” they said.

Alexander also explained that the identity “neutrois” is different from “agender” because an agender person can still identify as masculine or feminine while a neutrois person has no gender at all and identifies as neither masculine nor feminine.

Individuals who identify with more than one identity faced issues as well. Facebook currently has no option to choose both male and female as an option. Instead, users are given the option to choose one of 50 gender options. When changing one’s preferred gender, users select from the options male, female or custom. When one chooses custom,

the option appears to type in one’s preferred identity.

One can also choose their preferred pronouns. The options are her, his, or them. Options such as “xe” or “zhe,” pronouns often used for gender-neutral individuals, are currently unavailable.

Some students felt Facebook’s new gender options would help inform the public about gender diversity.

“I think a lot of people don’t even know there’s more than two genders.

Adding those gender options sends awareness,” freshman Blair LeBlanc said. “It’s certainly a step in the right direction.”

Other students felt this was an example of the current generation’s movement to acceptance.

“Though stereotypes would consider them self-entitled and narcissistic, Generation Y are the impetus of the subsidence of gender roles in society. We, the millennials, should congratulate ourselves for the progressive action taking place simply as a result of one of our most complimentary traits that is so often looked over by our elders: acceptance,” Camille Stoner, a junior, said.

Yet other students felt Facebook was simply seeking attention.

“I think Facebook is just trying

to cause controversy. They just want their name out there. They’re kind of just trying to draw attention to themselves so they can get more users,” Javiar Gee, a graduate student, said.

Alexander said that while Facebook has added multiple gender options, the process of people using them and respecting them in real life is still far off.

“We have the utensils to do something but it’s the application that’s the issue,” they said.

Facebook compared to other social networking sites When signing up for Twitter, another popular social networking site, gender is not an option. However, unlike Facebook, Twitter does not utilize gender for notifications such as “Wish him/her/them a happy birthday.”

Instagram, an application smart phone users upload pictures to, has only two gender options: male and female. However, like Twitter, gender is not utilized for notifications.

Instead, usernames are used to tell users what their followers are liking and uploading.

Out of all the popular social networking sites, Alexander felt that Tumblr was the most lgbtqiq friend-

ly. Tumblr is a blogging website that, like Twitter, does not ask for a gender preference when users sign up. Alexander said that they learned about the lgbtqiq community a great deal from using Tumblr when trying to identify themselves.

Some genders added on Facebook •

•

•

•

•

Non-Binary Genders: gender identities that don’t fit within the accepted binary of male and female Bigender: a person who feels that their gender is fully male and fully female, or any pair of genders, generally by switching between the two.

Neutrois: a word taken to mean “non-gendered class.”

It refers to a gender identity which is also called null-gendered on occasion Two-Spirit: describes Indigenous North Americans who fulfill one of many mixed gender roles found traditionally among many Native Americans and Canadian First Nations indigenous groups.

Androgyne: may possess traits that are simultaneouslyfeminine and masculine, or neither.

NEWS

6 National

Students weigh in on the Internet privacy debate ALEX KUGACZEWSKI Senior Reporter

W

hen Edward Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents to The Guardian, he single-handedly reignited the debate over the individual’s right to privacy in the digital age. Discussions regarding the issue dominated national media coverage for weeks and continued well into later months.

However, the privacy debate isn’t reserved just for the federal government and squabbling politicians. Students, too, are affected by internet privacy concerns on a daily basis.

By virtue of being connected to the internet, students are exposed to a variety of forms of data collection from varying sources.

Google monitors searches to generate targeted advertisements. Dating websites are monitored by dozens of advertisers who collect the most specific of details. The U.S. federal government can see an individual’s online presence.

In a survey conducted by The Signal, 100 GSU attendees including students and faculty were asked how important their electronic privacy is.

Answers were contributed on a fixed scale from one to five, with five being the most important.

75 percent of the respondents selected option 5, deciding that their

electronic privacy is “very important.”

Some students, however, are far more than just worried about their privacy. Some are actively fighting to protect it.

Corey Briley, Senior, English Major, believes that his personal information isn’t for sale or for the government to collect.

“My concern for online privacy started when the banking industry went digital,” Briley said, “I wanted to protect my credit card numbers.”

Briley said that over time he began to believe that if his credit cards could be compromised online, so could all of his online activity.

To protect his privacy, Briley began using an IP Blocker, a program that scrambles or otherwise conceals the user’s internet protocol address - a numerical representation of the user’s geographic location.

“If there are tools available to prevent my information from being compromised, I’m going to use them to protect myself,” Briley said.

According to a PewResearch report, 86% of internet users have at some point made an attempt to conceal their online activity. These attempts have included clearing stored cookies, refusing to provide factual personal information, and even masking their IP address.

Though he doesn’t use software to try and conceal his online footprint, Dylan Casbon, a senior international

economics and Spanish major, also said that his privacy is of critical importance.

“It’s scary to think that anything I’ve ever said could be found and held by someone else or even used against me as blackmail,” Casbon said.

Casbon also said that he doesn’t believe enough is being done to protect individual privacy and that there needs to be more serious legislation that places restrictions on the amount and types of information collected by third parties and the government.

While Corey and Dylan are both seriously concerned about the security of their personal information, some students aren’t concerned at all.

Gage Williams, sophomore Biology major, said that the prospect of government internet surveillance doesn’t concern him.

“I feel like it’s not an issue for me because I don’t have anything to hide.

If you do have something to hide, maybe you shouldn’t be on the internet in the first place,” Williams said.

According to Williams, privacy is far from being one of the biggest issues in the digital age and that using an online service and the internet in general creates an unspoken, invisible contract wherein the user forfeits the right to his or her personal information.

“I can see some concern for third party collections of information but I think the risk of fraud in that scenario is pretty small,” Williams said.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

National

CBO’s prediction for U.S. economy CIARA FRISBIE

Associate News Editor

O

n Feb. 4, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that although deficits in the economy are expected to drop through 2015, they will rise shortly after, increasing the federal debt in the U.S. The CBO reports that under current law, the economy’s deficit would total to $514 billion in fiscal 2014. In fiscal year 2009, the deficit totaled to $1.4 trillion.

“Assuming no legislative action that would significantly affect revenues or spending, CBO projects that the federal budget deficit will fall from 4.1 percent of GDP last year to 2.6 percent in 2015—and then rise again, equaling about 4 percent of GDP between 2022 and 2024,” the CBO’s “Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014-2024” says.

After 2017, the CBO expects economic growth will be well below the average recognized in the last couple of decades. The CBO growth projections for the potential GDP for the next 10 years is much slower than the average in the 1950s.

“That projected slowdown mainly reflects long-term trends—particularly, slower growth in the labor force because of the aging of the population,” the CBO says.

In the next 10 years, deficits will total to $7.9 trillion, and public debt will rise from $13 trillion in 2014 to $21 trillion in 2024.

“That difference stems primarily from demographic trends that have significantly reduced the growth of the labor force. In addition, changes in

people’s economic incentives caused by federal tax and spending policies set in current law are expected to keep hours worked and potential output during the next 10 years lower than they would be otherwise,” the CBO says.

The first generation of “babyboomers” turned 65 in 2011, becoming eligible for Social Security benefits and Medicare, according to The Peter G. Peterson Foundation (PGPF).

“As the baby boomers continue to age and retire, the number of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries will grow, placing increasing pressure on the federal budget,” PGPF says.

The PGPF also says that between 2014 and 2025, the amount of Social Security beneficiaries will grow three times faster than the number of workers that pay taxes to support the program.

Justin Hayden, a Georgia State freshman expected to graduate in 2017, said that the CBO’s economic predictions can be seen either in a positive or negative light.

“The fact that there would be more people moving into retirement, there may be more opportunities for people to get a job,” Hayden said. “However, the way that the economy is going down like it is already, there will be no way to support everyone in the retirement category.”

As an exercise science major, Hayden believes that future employment will remain the same or solidify due to demand.

“In jobs such as exercise science and physical therapy there may be a greater demand for those positions if there was a larger amount of retirees present and life-spans continuing longer,” he said.

OPINIONS Gender Menu

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Try these new options!

- Male - Female

We can’t create our own?

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AMI DUDLEY AND ANNA YANG | THE SIGNAL

Why we should applaud but question Facebook’s 50 new gender options

F AMI DUDLEY Opinions Editor

Ami is a senior English major and published flash fiction writer.

“I’ve constructed my premier works on coffee napkins.”

Follow her @amidudley

acebook users now have the option of providing a gender other than male or female on their profile. In an effort to cater to those users who do not identify as either male or female, Facebook has added a custom gender tab containing a whopping 50 gender options.

With the growing embrace of the concept of gender fluidity, this “checkmate” move by one of the world’s premiere social networks has been largely received as progressive and innovative by users. While we should applaud this move, we should do so with a critical eye.

I took a moment to explore this new custom gender tab and immediately found a seemingly subtle, but grave, flaw. The “custom” option has predictive text. While this may seem minuscule, it reflects the initial issue of categorizing gender identities. Instead of users being able to provide what they identify as, they are forced to CHOOSE, once again reinforcing the concept of restricting categories.

“But there are 50 new options. 50!” Yes, there are, but that will never be enough. Why? Because

Now hiring

columnists

there are seven billion people in the world, unlocking the door to the possibility of endless gender identities. So, users should not be bound to yet another list of options. The solution to this would’ve been simple: Let users supply whatever gender identity they want.

When discovering this flaw, I found another.

The “interested in” tab of the “about me” section is restricted to the options of male and female. While gender and sexuality are not interchangeable, we still use the socially constructed concept of gender to identify sexuality, so customizing this tab is necessary. Not doing so would imply that the only genders users are interested in are male, female or both, and this is not true.

If a user is interested in someone who identifies as male-to-female, for example, they don’t have the option of sharing this. For many users, this omits their chance of finding a love interest. Just like we have the option of identifying ourselves, we should have the same freedom in identifying who we are interested in. And like the gender tab, users should be able to supply whatever gender they want, not

“

Instead of users being able to provide what they identify with, they are forced to CHOOSE...”

restricted to predictive text.

Again, these added options should be applauded. Many users can now feel more included in one of the world’s largest online social networks.

“We want you to feel comfortable being your true, authentic self,” a statement from Facebook read.

But the presence of a gap between more inclusive and all-inclusive in social media demands the need for a critical eye.

You’ve got the opinion.

We’ve got the soapbox.

To be a guest columnist, send in your thoughts to signalopinions@gmail.com. To be a (paid) staff columnist, download an application from georgiastatesignal.com/employment and turn it in to Dr. Bryce McNeil at 405 University Center

8

OPINIONS

Dollars and sense with Mitch

Panther Cash: You’re doing it wrong

P

MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a junior finance major and student financial advisor.

“My goal is to have more college students financially literate.”

Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

Follow him @madmoneyATL

anther Cash is, as the school website calls it, a “record of pre-deposited funds.” It’s essentially a debit card that is tied to your personal school account. You can put funds into it and use it like any debit card. Colleges around the country use them as a means to streamline the student’s spending and campus ID all in one convenient card. But how convenient is it? And is there really any point in having one?

In short- No. The basic rules of monetary policy make it pretty clear that creating a currency and trying to regulate it is a very arduous task. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just..I don’t know...use the already existing currency we have in America? Or those nifty plastic cards students already have through their banks? Colleges have this idea that they need their own cute currency to set themselves apart from other institutions, yet there is no method to the madness. In my three years at Georgia State I have yet to encounter an item that I could not buy with my own debit card or with cash anywhere on campus.

The school website says that you can open a Panther Cash account using a pre-existing

“

...what the school offers through Panther Cash just isn’t unique enough to warrant a second look.”

MasterCard, American Express or Visa card. Here’s a novel tip from me: Keep your debit card the way it is! I promise you there’s no budgeting or money management skills that can’t be exercised using any old debit card you have. There’s no point in opening some convoluted line of credit with little to no benefits. When I say little to no, I mean it.

There’s no incentive in carrying a Panther Cash card. A quick search on the school website comes up empty with reasons why having Panther Cash card is beneficial to you. The best thing I could find was a banner touting eight percent off vending beverages when you use your Panther Cash. Guys, eight percent!!! That’s almost 20 whole cents you could save on your $2 bottle of Coke.

Maybe if the school were to

revamp the Panther Cash system more, students would be lining up to pump cash into their accounts. Higher incentives such as discounts on school sporting events, local tourist attractions, or even freebies like five percent cash back on anything you buy on campus.

One silver lining to this is that the marketing of Panther Cash seems to be pretty null and void lately. Perhaps the school is figuring out that the students at Georgia State already have established bank accounts and debit cards and don’t need to add one more piece of plastic to their wallets. So do yourself a favor and stick to your tried and true method of spending money. Debit cards are safe and efficient, and what the school offers through Panther Cash just isn’t unique enough to warrant a second look.

From the Editorial Board

Cuts to Cinefest would be a short-sighted mistake

I

f administrators with the Spotlight Programming Board succeed, Cinefest will soon see sweeping changes that could substantially hinder the way the student-run movie theater operates.

For more than 20 years, students have enjoyed the opportunity to view everything from recent box office hits to cult classics at the small but cozy theater tucked away in the University Center.

Well regarded among the local film community, Cinefest also frequently attracts premiers of international hits and film festivals not commonly seen outside specialty art house theaters.

But the top-down proposals brought forth earlier this year by Spotlight, which oversees Cinefest, could threaten that.

In fact, staff at Cinefest warn the theater may be forced to lay off employees, reduce operational hours by more than half and completely close the theater’s concession stand as early as May, when the changes are set to go into effect.

Administrators say these proposed changes are to save costs due to low attendance and sales, but Cinefest employees say the decisions aren’t being made by students but by people who don’t have a vested interest in the future of the theater (see page three).

To increase weekday attendance,

Spotlight has suggested replacing film screenings during the week with possible events like a “poetry night” or “open mic night” – as though students would rather hear readings from a Robert Frost book than watch a blockbuster flick like The Avengers.

To commuters, however, limiting Cinefest’s hours during the week would be the equivalent of shuttering the theater altogether since many students live hours away from school and are unlikely to make the drive just for a movie.

Further, closing the concessions stand for the movie would remove one of the student-run theaters primary revenue sources, a short-sided move that could further limit Cinefest’s functionality down the road.

If attendance is as bad as Spotlight claims, something does need to be done, however. But the solution rests with better promotion and exposure and not draconian measures designed to limit days of operation and fundamentally alter Cinefest’s mission.

Sure, Cinefest already promotes itself online and posts its showtimes via social media, but outside of certain groups like film majors it’s not exactly well known on campus – perhaps due in part to its lack of a signage or a major

marquee, staples of the commercial film industry.

It’s not that the neon sign facing Decatur St. looks bad, but that it’s small to see and easy to miss. In fact, it’s not difficult to imagine students walking directly below the sign for years and never knowing what’s above them. Another part of the problem is that the current sign is not descriptive of the movies currently playing or large enough to display showtimes for potential moviegoers.

A replacement sign (or two) seems like an obvious move here. Additional locations besides Decatur St. could include inside the Student Center or outside the University Center where hundreds of students walk across the bridge every day, greatly increasing student exposure even if it requires an up-front investment.

Because at the end of the day, closing down Cinefest during the week, except for special occasions that no one will attend anyway, is short sighted and misses the overall problem the theater faces: a lack of awareness among the student body.

Let’s hope Spotlight comes to their senses before it’s too late and we lose a treasured campus institution.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Black History Month deserves respect, not exploitation MIA MCDONALD Columnist

T

he month of February is supposed to be a month of celebration and honor of African-American history. Unfortunately, the month has been outshined by the actions of Nicki Minaj, an intensive rapper who refers to herself as “Barbie.”

The grammy-nominated rapper is known for her sexually provocative and aggressive lyrics. Since her 2008 debut, she has continuously attempted to make every other female rapper irrelevant with her music and fashion. However, her music has taken a backseat and been upstaged by the new single cover for her single called “Lookin’ Ass Nigga.”

Minaj used a picture of Malcolm X peeking out of his window standing guard to protect his family to Klansmen setting fire to his home. The big shocker is that she associated him with the word “nigga,” a controversial word that the African-American community (and other communities) have deemed degrading.

After all, the African-American community is still trying to battle discrimination from society. Take the Michael Dunn case, for example. Dunn, a middle aged Caucasian male, killed 17-year-old African American Jordan Davis; it was suggested that Dunn killed Jordan over loud music. Dunn’s defense is the stand-your-ground law. If you ask me, that ground is a bit shaky.

He was found guilty of three counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of firing into the vehicle.

What surprised everyone is fifth count Dunn wasn’t found guilty of which was first degree murder. For those of you questioning, “Why does this seem so familiar,” you’re definitely experiencing déjà vu. This case almost mirrors the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case.

So, Nicki Minaj should have never felt comfortable enough to reduce a forerunner to a derogatory term. Yet she does so for selfish gain to market her single. This selfish gain is evident in this statement she provided after receiving backlash for the image, according to Mesfin Fekdu of hitfix.com: “It was never the official artwork [it was for promotional use].”

She does a great job at grabbing everyone’s attention, but her tactic was downright deplorable. Not only did she offend members of the African American race but she also added insult to injury by releasing the cover and single on Wednesday, Feb. 12. For those who aren’t aware, that is the founding day of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

My intent is not to offend fans of Nicki Minaj or demean all other races.

The solution is not to stop supporting Nicki Minaj. My hope is that we can get back to the initial goal of Black History Month: to celebrate our race and not demean it by any means necessary.

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

Transition your winter wardrobe NAJA MCGOWAN

Winter A

Staff Writer

fter the rough winter it’s understandable to be eager to shed layers and replace them with dresses and

short shorts, but its not always that simple. With the winter occasionally creeping back into the picture, spring transitional outfits are all about balancing the two seasons. At the core of every great transitional outfit is a piece you probably already own.

Spring

Make a Statement cream sweater Fringed circle scarf Acid wash jeans Brown riding boots red beanie sonic youth cut off tank green anorak Acid wash jeans dr. marten 1460’s boots

black bowler hat navy waffle knit sweater blazer boyfriend jeans cutout ankle boots MODEL: RAVEN MOORE

If your’re looking for cheaper way to change up your closet, add a spring accessory for a simple inexpensive outfit revamp. Swap your old black purse for a neon, nude or brightly

colored shoulder bag for a subtle pop of color. You can also try some colorful statement necklaces to add the finishing touch to any seasonallyquestionable outfit.

Sweater Weather Just because the temperature is rising does not mean it is time to pack up that sweater collection you have carefully curated over the last few months. Transition to one of your favorite cream sweaters to the spring by ditching the outerwear and

binding denim tucked in boot combination for a patterned skater skirt and ankle boots.

This combination will lighten up the heavy knit of the sweater and provide that flirty carefree vibe that is synonymous with spring fashion.

Lighten up your Layers Layering is necessary for survival in the winter months, but it is also the key to a perfect spring transition outfit. Band tees/graphic tees are a wardrobe essential.

In the winter you have to cover these glorious pieces with scarves and chunky outwear but to transition the piece into spring lighten up

those layers. Swap your bulky winter coat for a lightweight floral kimono or sleek leather jacket, denim shorts and some ankle booties. This combination will give your tee a pop of color and let those legs get some much needed sun, while still providing warmth for those unpredictable mornings.

Boyfriends never die Boyfriend jeans are not only insanely comfortable, but they are effortlessly chic and perfect transition pieces. In the winter you can rock these jeans with a chunky waffle knit sweater and pile on the layers and to transition it to spring trade in the sweater for

a loose fitting t-shirt.

The most important part about transitioning boyfriend jeans is the footwear. Dress them up with some strappy heels for that casual chic look, or dress them down with some white converse for a relaxed spring look.

Black bowler hat cream sweater floral skater dress cut-outankle boots Grafitti Snapback sonic youth cut off tank Long Cream Cardigan High wasted shorts dr. marten 1460’s boots

Lightweight printed scarf loose tan shirt BROWN LEATHER JACKET boyfriend jeans cutout ankle boots PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL DESIGN BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL

Eu d cli A

d cli Eu E N ve

E N ve A

Elmyr According to co-owner/manager/”fixit dude” Jim Shelly, Elmyr (pronounced Elmeer) is both a party bar and a restaurant.

Elmyr started as one of his favorite local bars, then became his workplace. Since he began, he’s worked aside some of Altanta’s prominent artists and musicians. Shelly explained how that’s part of Elmyr’s goal to support local creative people.

“Bill from Mastadon worked here for years when he first moved to Atlanta.”

Shelly said Elmyr is also the hangout of bands like the Coathangers, who will be premiering their new music video at Elmyr on March 5.

“It’s a really fun bar you can go to and party and you know you’re going to see somebody you’re friends with here for sure.”

The Latin inspired cuisine is prepared fresh every day, and things on the menu have stayed relatively the same, with the exception of everyday specials.

Go for: Pulled pork, cheap beer, and one of the most local bars in the city

Moreland Ave NE

Little 5 Soul

Go for: occasional live performances (Algebra Blessett last month, for example), Record Store Day events, a cozy and lush environment perfect for a midday chill.

Wax and McLendon Ave NE

Little 5 Soul doesn’t stand out from the other businesses on Euclid. But the music playing on the inside filters into the street, and that, explains manager Dave Soul, is what draws customers in.

“When you walk in, there’s a certain vibe to it, and the music is always good.”

This is what initially drew Dave to the store, which was originally located across the street at an open-market bazaar. He said that the original location reminded him of a cross between Magazine Street and the French market in New Orleans, his hometown.

Eventually, Dave became more than a customer, and enjoys his job helping people find the music they’re looking for.

“Our niche has been to offer the public things that you don’t really find at Best Buy or Target, and different stuff that you don’t find on mainstream radio.”

The store carries a variety of genres, including R&B, jazz, broken beats, house and rap. They also offer t-shirts, locally designed jewelry, sunglasses and beverages.

Dave explained the importance of the store to promote a niche market that caters its customers, unlike department stores.

“It’s the pop and pop shops that maintain that personal touch—that interaction with the people, and a lot of the department stores don’t have that.”

Where Criminal Records brims with colors and sells everything from records to comic books, Wax n’ Facts appears less commercial, its tables filled with wooden crates of new and used records, CDs, tapes and DVDs. Posters of artists, including everyone from Jimi Hendrix to The Notorious B.I.G., line the walls.

According to retail manager Sean Bourne, Wax n’ Facts has been selling music to the community for 37 years, well before many of the trendy stores and boutiques became L5P staples.

“Different businesses come and go, but there are a few of us that have been around a really long time.”

Over the years, the store has expanded, taking over a bar and motorcycle repair store. Occasionally, bands plug in their instruments and play live music in the aisles as customers shop.

Bourne said celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Lauryn Hill have shopped at Wax n’ Facts. Nowadays they ask their high-profile clients to post about their experience on social media to drive traffic to the store.

Young Guru, an audio engineer and producer who has worked on a majority of rapper Jay Z’s albums, recently visited the store and gave a shout out on social media.

“In atl @waxnfacts. I just destroyed the 45

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Neighborhood Gu ide: Little 5 Points Variety Playhouse Steven Harris, owner of Variety Playhouse, said some of Wax n’ Facts’ musician clients learn about the store while in the area for a show at Variety Playhouse. Even when they’ve outgrown the venue, they still come back to the community.

Musicians from every genre play at the venue, which sells general admission tickets and offers both standing and seating options on a first-come, first-served basis.

Harris said Variety Playhouse has been the community’s music venue for nearly 24 years.

Before then, it was a movie theater, a church, an art house and a place where toxic chemicals were stored. He took over the venue in 1990 and says his experience as a show promoter gave him a better understanding of the market than than the previous owner.

He said the small community benefits from the fact that everything is within walking distance.

“I think one thing that’s a plus for Little Five Points is that it’s a walking neighborhood. So you can come here, you can drop your car for the night, get a meal before the show, come see a show, go get some drinks afterwards, or food afterwards, and do all of that in a neighborhood.”

Go for: New, local music and the theatrical atmosphere

facts

ction!!!!! They have great stuff for 25 cents,” e captioned an Instagram post that featured a cture of the store and received over 700 likes.

Bourne said their cheap prices and muc knowledge is what has kept people coming ack to Wax n’ Facts, even as the music industry olves.

Go for: Cheap but quality used records and a nique, laid-back vibe

By Samantha Reardon and jewel wic ker

Start here

L

ittle 5 Points is— arguably—the Atlanta neighborhood with the most character. On any given day, locals and tourists alike can hear live music flooding the streets, shop for handmade and vintage goods and grab a beer with friends. For part II of the neighborhood guide series, we want to highlight the diverse array of businesses that most embody the spirit of this eclectic district.

Savage Pizza What was first inspired by Southern Californian pizza boutiques is now a restaurant staple in Little 5 Points.

Savage originally opened its doors in 1990 at a Virginia Highlands location. Co-owner Field Cox said the move came because Little 5 garnered more buzz and foot traffic.

“There is a lot of neighborhood stuff around here: Inman Park, Candler Park—all the people living in those neighborhoods are a great draw.”

Cox said that one of the most important roles he plays at Savage is to draw customers in and keep them coming back.

“You have to treat people well and take an interest in them personally.”

Savage--with its brightly decorated walls and comic book references--has a very personal atmosphere and welcoming service. The wall art started with

Cox’s partner Myron’s paintings that originally hung in a new wave club in the late 70’s.

“It just kind of took on a life of its own after that,” Cox said of the decor.

Go for: Greek pizza, outdoor patio, the coolest bathrooms in the city

Although it’s the oldest running tattoo shop in Atlanta, a banner sign stating the word “Tattoo” is Sacred Heart’s only marker from the street. Once you enter the brick building and find your way up its stairs, you’ll be greeted at the door by the buzz of tattoo needles and cadence of hip hop beats.

Manager and artist Loki Shane has been tattooing for 16 years, in his own hometown of Little 5 Points. He first got interested in the industry while getting his first tattoo.

“The minute the girl started on my skin, I knew this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life.”

Shane has been an artist since childhood, painting and drawing in his sketchbooks. He described his work as mostly large-scale, vibrantly colored tattoos.

His favorite tattoos to do comes are coverup pieces, which he said gives people a second chance.

“It gives people new life. When you have a lot of bad tattoos, people regret, because of bad memories or bad things connected to them, or they we’re horribly done so they’re embarrassed to show them. To be able to give someone a new piece of art that they’re going to enjoy showing off, make them happy about showing they’re body again—it means a lot.”

Working at a shop that has been around for 20 years has given Shane the chance to watch the local businesses grow and evolve.

“There is never a dull moment in this neighborhood.”

Go for: Engaging conversation with talented artists

DESIGN BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

Sacred Heart

12

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Living by “The F Word:” A fashion blogger’s story

ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL ENDIA MATHEWS Staff Writer

F

ashion blogger Ashley Newton is an experienced fashion blogger; the Georgia State senior has worked as an assistant stylist for VH1’s Single Ladies and with celebrities like Future and Kelly Rowland.

With experience as a stylist and journalist already on her resume, Newton’s blog “The F Word” is the next page in her career as a fashion journalist.

Although she started “The F Word” (“F” for “fashion) on Feb. 18 of this year, she has already published 12 posts. As a journalism major, she wants to set her blog apart from other blogs and actually report and investigate things in the fashion world, something she said other fashion bloggers fail to do.

“Most fashion bloggers now just post a picture of their outfit of the day. To me that’s not blogging, that’s just putting a caption and then posting it. That’s something for Instagram,” Newton said.

“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just posting pictures. I wanted to make sure I was educated. All my experience is fashion but all my schooling is journalism.”

Although she has had a love

for fashion since she was little, Newton was initially unsure if she wanted to pursue a career in the industry. When she began her sophomore year at Georgia State, she set the goal of getting experience in the fashion industry.

“I already liked fashion but I wasn’t necessarily sure I wanted to go into that specifically and so when I came home [from one year at Howard University] I wanted to have a plan. So I started working at Zara.”

It was at Zara that she met her mentor Kenya Ware who helped her get one of her biggest jobs as a wardrobe assistant for the VH1 show “Single Ladies.” For about six months, Newton dedicated at least 12 hours a day helping in the wardrobe department and styling for the show. Although her work was tedious, this was the job that helped her solidify her career plans.

“I was in charge of the clothing archive. I had to take snapshots of literally everything they wore from a ring to an earring. I had to know exactly where it was and go grab those. I feel like it was at that point where I was like ‘Okay, I’m liking this and I could do this as a career.’”

Along with working for VH1’s Single Ladies, Newton’s resume includes volunteering at New York Fashion Week, interning at Cre-

ative Loafing and styling celebrities like Kelly Rowland and Ludacris. Still, she says finishing school is her top priority.

“There have been so many opportunities to go and do things. I used to apply for jobs in NY just to see if I could get them. I got calls from Carolina Herrera, Complex Magazine, The Fader and more but school has been in my way and there’s no way I’m not going to graduate from school. That’s not an option,” she said.

After graduating college in May, Newton is determined to find a job in New York. Meanwhile, she is continuing to improve her portfolio with a job as a sales associate at Saks Fifth Avenue, freelance jobs and now her new blog.

With this blog, Newton is hoping to make a stamp for herself in the fashion and journalism industries.

Newton referred to “The F Word” as her “baby” and said the name of the blog is “simple yet attention grabbing.” She said she hopes to carry that simplicity over into other aspects of the website as well.

“I would like to have all of these different components to it, but mostly I want to update people. If [you] want to know what’s going on in fashion, this is where you go.”

“

I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just posting pictures...All my experience is fashion but all my schooling is journalism.” -Ashley Newton

Visit www.thefword-blog.com for Newton’s latest posts.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

ARTS & LIVING

13

Q&A with Scott Terry from Red Wanting Blue TERRY:

The art usually imitates the life and the life of... this band is a traveling band. So I would definitely say there are a lot of those elements that have become elements of “Red Wanting Blue” and our story and what we do. I would say that...and I think on one hand [the] music definitely picks up where the last record left off. However, this record, I think it’s a bit more introspective and it sort of casts a different light on some of those topics, being far away from your loved ones, the pursuit of a career, always trying to overcome adversity. To some degree, I always feel like we like to carry the title of underdogs. It’s sort of a cause, so to speak.

JEWEL WICKER

Associate Arts & Living Editor

L

ife on the road can be pretty tiresome, but that has not stopped “Red Wanting Blue” from putting on over 200 shows each year. The Ohio band, formed in 1996, is currently preparing for the release of their 10th studio album while juggling another hectic tour.

On Wednesday (Feb. 19) the band arrived in Atlanta from Jacksonville for a show at The Earl. By the time I spoke with them the next day, they had arrived in St. Petersburgh, Fl. and completed a series of radio appearances. While driving his band mates to the venue for their next show, frontman Scott Terry answered a few questions about the band’s forthcoming album, life on the road and how they juggled college and music in their early days.

Q: Tell me a little bit about the new album and how that process is going.

TERRY:

We’re pretty much done with it at this point. Now we’re kind of playing the waiting game and waiting for the record to release. I know our management and our label are about to announce a release date and then at that point we’ll be able to announce the record and...right now, we can’t really announce the title of the record yet. We’re still not al-

lowed to do that. It’s probably too soon, but I would imagine people can expect to get the record from us by late spring.

Q: Did “Red Wanting Blue” set a goal to do over 200 shows a year or did it just happen?

TERRY:

If you’re a band, especially these days, you really only survive by playing, when you’re traveling like a touring band. It’s where you make your money, so for

us that’s what we like to do. We like to be on the road and play in front of people and we get a chance to spread our music around that way.

So it’s not something that was...we didn’t fall into it...it slowly started building over the years and got to a point where we were playing about a 150 shows for however many years and we’re now trying to build our tours a little more carefully... [trying] to have a beginning and an end and then take a little time off for ourselves and then go back out there. Touring is something that historically we...we used to refer to it as circuiting because we just never...we never really went home.

We never unpacked our suitcase

or pulled off the road for anything more than a week. At this point in time, we’ve been doing this so long that if I stay anywhere for more than five days I start to get heart palpitations and feel like I’m supposed to be somewhere else.

Q: Do you think the new album reflects the fact that the band was able to take a break from touring and focus on recording?

Q: How did you juggle being in school and being in a band when you started “Red Wanting Blue” in 1996?

TERRY: It was not easy. I lost

a lot of sleep. I actually look at it now and think to myself sometimes “I don’t know how...” Obviously we were able to pull it off, but if I had to do it again, I don’t think I could’ve done it. It was a juggling act for years and years, but that’s what you do when you’re drawn to something. You make the time. You find a way to make [time] and you cut something else out to give yourself that time. I wouldn’t want to go back and do it again, but I’m glad that we are where we are now.

Students speak up about the latest fashion trends SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Staff Reporter

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ersonal opinions and style of fashion are just that: personal.

A few students at Georgia State weighed in on some trends people are divided on.

Dark lips/Smokey Makeup Inga Masic (Freshman, Journalism Major): “I personally don’t know if I can work them, but I think they look good on certain people that it fits well on.”

Delany Rodgers (Freshman, Marketing Major): “Dark Lips are nice. I like the smokey eye, too. They work really well for making a fashion statement. Be careful, not all people make this look work.”

Jennie Dunnett (Junior, History Major): “Have you ever wanted to feel Morticia Addams sexy? Put on some dark lipstick and you are good to go. Smokey makeup makes you look a bit dark and edgy.”

Acid Wash denim Inga Masic: “I really like this

look, if it’s done tastefully. If it looks gaudy, which it can, I wouldn’t want to wear it.”

Delany Rodgers: “It’s painfully 90’s, I love it.”

Peplum Inga Masic: “I would like them, but I’m not a huge fan of the flare on the hip.”

Delany Rodgers: “Peplum is really hard to style. If worn well, it’s the bomb. If not, it can make the person wearing it look really uncomfortable.”

Wedge sneakers Ashley Cole (Freshman, Jour-

nalism Major): “Wedge sneakers are [kind of] tacky in my opinion.”

Inga Masic: “I think they look their best when you wear them with skinny jeans.”

Jarrett Goodly (Freshman, Philosophy Major): “I think that the look that people who wear these are going for never looks right.”

Harem pants Inga Masic: “I am not a huge

fan of these. They look really awkward and, to be honest, it looks like you had an accident.”

Ed Hardy Ashley Cole: “Ed Hardy reminds me of Jersey Shore and it’s incredibly ugly.”

Delany Rodgers: “I HATE this trend, it needs to die. Douches up anyone the second its worn.”

Jennie Dunnett: “Not really a fan at all, but hey, if you like it go for it.”

Gladiator sandals Inga Masic: “I really enjoy this trend during spring and summer, especially with high waisted shorts and skirts.”

Delany Rodgers: “Gladiator Sandals give a boost to any everyday outfit. They are extra chill, yet super trendy.”

Ashley Cole: “They are my favorite summer shoe, they are effortlessly fashionable.

“Boyfriend” style jackets

or pants

Inga Masic: “I like both boyfriend style jackets and pants. The loose jacket is basically a blazer which I’m a fan of with a chill look to go with it, and boyfriend jeans are great to wear during the summer.

Delany Rodgers: “Boyfriend jackets and pants don’t look good on me. They also remind me of how alone I truly am.”

Jennie Dunnett: “Do you know why guys wear loose fitting clothing Because it’s incredibly comfortable. I’m a big fan of being comfortable.”

What is a trend you personally hate and what is one that you personally love?

Jarrett Goodly: “I really like the skinny sweat pants. I hate loud colors that don’t match, cheetah print, and the pharaoh shirts. I don’t like how people put these tacky things together and call it style.”

Inga Masic: “I really like maxi skirts and dresses, they are really easy to match with other things and are really nice to wear during the summer. I hate when people wear rain boots with regular outfits. If it’s not raining or snowing outside, you shouldn’t be wearing them.”

Delany Rodgers: “Flare jeans, Hollister shirts, and Sperry’s are a combination that is truly heinous. It reminds me of middle school, which was a dark time. When I see people wearing these fashion items in the time period we currently reside [in], I question the existence of the human race. However, crop tops are one trend I can really dig. They are perfect for summer and make me feel free.”

Jennie Dunnett: “I think trends (of any kind) are pretty cool, because it’s a way to be a bit daring and edgy, while still having the backing of people out there. What the trend of your choice may be, I say if it makes you feel confident and sexy, or even just comfortable, then do it.”

columns

14

Study abroad column

Don’t be initiated just to go home

Music column

Shut up and put in those damn earplugs: the dangers of tinnitus

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CALEB ROBERTSON Columnist

Caleb Robertson is an English major at Georgia State. His golf cart’s name is Roxanne. Caleb spends his free time rock climbing and playing video games and is a strong supporter of Batman’s war on crime. He is currently studying abroad at Mainz University in Mainz, Germany.

PAUL DEMERRITT Columnist

Paul DeMerritt is a freelance journalist and musician with extensive experience reporting on the music and culture of Atlanta and the globe.

Follow him @PaulDeMerritt

Follow him @CJRobertson10

I

t’s the semester break for students here at University of Mainz, but it’s a bittersweet relief because many of our new friends who are students from other European countries will be returning to their homes after only one semester abroad. For those of us who are staying two semesters, the next semester presents us with a new opportunity to use what we’ve learned over the first four months here.

When I first arrived in Mainz, I was like a babe in the woods. I spoke hardly a word of German. I got lost in the city every other day. I got lost in the university buildings, too. Now, after four months of trial and error, I feel like the kung fu student who has finally learned enough to take on the Yakuza, or whatever they fight in those movies.

I don’t get lost in the city anymore. I can ride the buses with the competence of a local. I know the good bars and clubs to go to. I know when happy hour is at each of these. I can speak German well enough to get around confidently.

To go back now would be like quitting the game right after the tutorial.

I know 10 months to a year sounds like a long time to study abroad. At first, I was intimidated by the length of time I’d be spending in this new and unfamiliar place, but now that I am more comfortable and at ease here, I look forward to truly immersing myself in the culture of Germany.

So don’t be afraid to study abroad for a longer period. The initiation phase passes by quickly, and what’s the point of being initiated just to go home?

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

he first time I ever experienced the beautiful catharsis of unrelenting noise was seeing the excellent post-hardcore band Cursive. That initial encounter with the glory of triple digit decibels was unforgettable.

As I glided out of the concert in deafened bliss, a shrill pinging began to pierce my ears. The ring was distinct and distressing—it was as if the world’s largest housefly was violently thrashing against my eardrums. In my adolescent glee, I actually was proud to have that incessant static in my ears; it seemed like some sort of initiation into the world of live music.

What I didn’t realize was that I was celebrating the demise of sensitive, in-ear hair cells that are crucial to sending auditory impulses to the brain. Even though the ringing was gone after a few hours, roughly 50 million Americans must endure that screaming static for the rest of their lives due to a chronic, incurable condition known as tinnitus.

The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) defines tinnitus as “the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present.” There are numerous causes of tinnitus, ranging from multiple sclerosis to emotional stress, but prolonged exposure to loud music is the primary cause.

But exactly how loud is too loud?

The ATA suggests that hearing loss starts at exposure to roughly 85 decibels or more. For some perspective, rainfall is about 50 decibels, average traffic is about 85 decibels, a hairdryer around 100 decibels, and a rock concert averages 120 decibels—well above the threshold for hearing damage.

The terrifying truth of tinnitus is that a lifetime of hearing damage can start with just one concert.

One 52-year-old music fan experienced tinnitus after

seeing Them Crooked Vultures at London’s Brixton Academy, and the ringing became so overwhelming that he experienced sleeplessness for days, causing him to commit suicide due to his debilitating condition.

While his story is certainly an extreme one, milder forms of tinnitus run rampant among concertgoers and musicians. Numerous artists have spoken up about about their tinnitus struggles with musicians from Thom Yorke to Barbara Streisand to Grimes to Ozzy Osbourne—all lamenting the physical and psychological impacts of tinnitus.

The good news is that a lifetime of healthy hearing and the ability to enjoy pure silence is easily insured through a pair of half decent earplugs. Sure, having two foam extensions protruding from your ears makes you resemble an alien, and your more hardcore friends may chide you for “giving in.” But what’s more important? Briefly looking ridiculous, or ensuring that maddening static isn’t constantly assaulting your eardrums?

I used to believe that wearing earplugs hindered the “authentic” concert experience, and there is a little bit of truth to that assertion. Low quality earplugs tend to muffle the frequencies of a concert unevenly, so one may hear the bass louder then the vocals or vice-versa. However, companies like Etymotic provide high-end earplugs for only $12.95 that evenly reduce frequencies so fans can still enjoy the cacophony of ear-splitting noise without the hearing loss.

Through just a teensy bit of foresight, anyone can avoid a lifetime of hearing loss and ringing pain.

Next time your favorite black-death-viking-metalband comes into town, do your ears a massive favor by simply sucking it up and putting in those damn earplugs.

Sex column

Swinger clubs in Atlanta

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RACHEL KINGSLEY Columnist

Rachel believes even though society has become more open about sex, it’s still a highly taboo subject.

To become more open and accepting, she believes we need to start with education. Rachel shares her experiences.

Follow her @rachelkingsley

tlanta is one of the best cities in the U.S. I’ve lived here my whole life. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized that Atlanta had another side to it—a swinging side. Atlanta is home to some awesome swinger’s clubs.

Swinging is a sexual practice in which a couple, usually in a committed relationship, engages in sexual activities with others, usually at parties or clubs. It’s a taboo practice because we have this ideal image in our minds that a couple in a committed relationship should be sexually exclusive. We have been taught this since we were kids. However, once you’ve been in a long-term relationship, you realize that the sex can become boring and predictable. Many couples try swinging and find that it brings the spark back into their relationship.

Here are a few clubs in Atlanta where you can explore your swinger’s side.

1. Trapeze—4470 Commerce Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30336

Trapeze is the highest rated and longest standing swinger’s club in Atlanta. The club has a dance floor and a DJ, and once you feel comfortable, you can move into the open or private intimate areas and get the party started. There are five star dining areas and a BYOB policy. There is a strict dress policy for both men and

women; even though your clothes will most likely come off, you’re still expected to impress. Membership is more expensive for men than women. A single male membership is $100 for one month, while a woman’s three-month membership is $50.

2. Manifest4U—2103 Faulkner Rd NE, Atlanta GA 30324

According to their website, “Manifest4U is a Georgia Non-Profit, a member’s only fraternal studio for gay and bisexual men. We provide an alternative, off line and in person event space for men who embrace an open lifestyle seeking diverse camaraderie with other men.”

The club boasts about letting their patrons embrace their most primal natures. Membership is $25 for six months and is open Thursday through Sunday nights.

3. Club Venus—1405 Dutch Valley Place, Atlanta GA 30324

Club Venus is a sexy club that’s geared more towards the kink-minded individual and couples. It has a dungeon and shower room, and sponsors kinkthemed nights such as Rope Night. The dress code is more flexible than Trapeze, and usually there are more risqué outfits. Annual membership for men is $80 and $20 for women.

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reviews

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

ALBUM REVIEW

Cheetahs Cheetahs Release Date: Feb. 17, 2014 Grade: B Verdict: For a “Best of The 90’s In Alternative Rock,” it’s an enjoyable ride, and you’re perfectly capable of turning off your brain and cruising along to it.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

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will openly admit to having a certain sonic weakness for British guitar bands, noisy guitar bands and bands that can safely be accused of drawing comparisons to Dinosaur Jr. I’m well aware of my blatant bias towards that lovely period of rock music that was the early 90s, spearheaded by the tragically underrated forerunners of the shoegaze and noise rock scene (if guitar music didn’t involve flannel and Seattle, then odds are it wasn’t doing nearly as well commercially).

And I’m more than a little predisposed to give Cheetahs the seal of approval for tapping into all of those influences, not screwing any of them up and managing to put together a serviceable album that’s awash with swirling walls of guitars on every track. But I’d be lying if I said that the fact that they fail to do anything original isn’t blatantly obvious, dragging the whole experience substantially.

It’s hard to be rough on Cheetahs, as this is their first full length debut since signing with Witchita. And on Cheetahs, they do what any of us would do if we were jettisoned from the position of music fans to actual musicians and

given full creative control over our debut. They took the sounds of all of the bands they liked, dutifully replicated every note and reworked them them together to make something that could pass for quasi-original. In this case, Cheetahs plays a little like a slower Swerdriver, a more melodic My Bloody Valentine, a more mellow Dinosaur Jr. and a less punkish Superchunk, all blended together.

That’s not to say they don’t handle being a “best of 90’s Alternative Rock tribute band” well.

Band frontman/songwriter/lead guitar Nathan Hewitt clearly knows what he’s doing and for being an in-house produced project by a gang of newbies, the album sounds very well. Never does the mix get too heavy or obnoxious, burying the songs. There’s a very controlled sense of chaos here and for all the walls of guitars, crunchy guitars, reverb-soaked guitars, and guitars on top of guitars, the lads show an ear for a lot more variety than you’d expect.

After the brief intro, “Geographic” sets the mood for being a hazy, swirling mix of fuzzy noise backed by solid drumming and bass lines, only to switch things up on “Northern Exposure” by borrowing a couple of notes form Dinosaur Jr.’s “Feel The Pain.” Cheetahs harmonize their noisier influences with an ear for melody and gnashed their way through the first six tracks, sounding like pure, unadulterated fun,

capping off with the “could’ve passed for a Superchunk song,” “The Swan.”

The final half of the album slows things down considerably, with the band opting instead to tap into their wellspring of knowledge of every My Bloody Valentine and Ride song recorded. ”Keenworth” grooves along to a melodic, thumping bass line, while “Fall,” features some prominent, sweeping guitar melodies that manage to poke out above the reverb-soaked mix.

Cheetahs make good use of all the space and tools they have and make sure every track is carved out to fit a perfect mold, leaving nothing on the cutting room floor. It is so perfect that it starts to sound more than a little formulaic at times, especially on the album’s weaker moments (“Get Tight” is all but a rehash of the three notes in every grunge song ever).

And really, that’s the only damning thing about Cheetahs. The young band wears their influences so blatantly on their sleeves as security blankets, they sound too afraid to really take chances. For a “Best of The 90’s In Alternative Rock,” it’s an enjoyable ride, and you’re perfectly capable of turning off your brain and cruising along to it. But if their debut LP proves anything, it is that they are a band of talented lads with lots of potential to make something so much more.

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WUN TWO Rio FORÊT “Forêt”

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MOUSE ON MARS Spezmodia

V/A - THANK YOU V/A - Thank You

MOVIE REVIEW

NOW PLAYING AT

The Lego Movie

Cinefest

Rating: PG-13 Running time: 100 mins.

Grade: AVerdict: Suck it Hasbro. THIS is how you do a toy franchise movie.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

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xpectations could not have been any lower for something like “The Lego Movie” to succeed. The execution could have simply been a matter of pumping out something that was serviceable enough to reasonably make back its minimal allocated budget and then some through the strength of putting a bunch of kids in a dark room for $10 a pop. To say nothing of the toy sales that are pretty much guaranteed to be massive even without considering the fact “Lego” already has the leg up over other film adaptations by already being a giant toy company. In a way that’s oddly meta, the company already has “Lego Movie” Lego sets out.

Instead, directors and writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs), along with Robot Chicken director Chris Mckay put their heads together to create something so much more than a simple kid fair.

Rest assured. For those who are simply looking to take in a beautiful, delightfully charming adventure, you’ve got your movie and can leave the postmodernist analysis at the door. The script flows great with plenty of lighthearted moments and snappy dialogue (a super-extended cameo by Will Arnett’s Batman all but steals the show).

The creative team manages to create a unique

world of Legos that’s all its own. But what begins as a simple adventure movie with a relatively runof-the-mill plot radically evolves into something so much more by the final half of the movie, turning everything on its head in the best way possible. “The Lego Movie” goes from being a simple story about the importance of creativity and believing in oneself to being something much meatier than the plot would suggest.

Emmet is a simple construction worker lego who lives in the simple, oblivious happiness that is Lego City, filled with citizens who are also perfectly content to follow their instructions for each day. These orders are handed down by the seemingly beloved, impossibly positive, “No, I’m totally not hiding something,” President Business (Will Ferrell). Emmet’s blissful existence comes crashing down around him when he accidentally stumbles upon the prophesied “Piece Of Resistance” and the mysterious girl Wildstyle.

Before he knows it, he’s roped into the center of a conspiracy involving a bygone race called the Master Builders, revolutionaries, a doomsday weapon, the nefarious plot of President/Lord Buisness, and the coming of an event only known as “Taco Tuesday.”

On the surface, it’s a zany, seat-of-your-pants

adventure helped by the stunning visuals. The addition of Chris Mckay to the directorial team shows as EVERY SINGLE THING, from water to smoke to explosions, is lovingly rendered in CGI-aided, pesdo-stop motion with actual lego pieces.

The frantic pace the film manages to keep and the way the characters interact with their world manages to fully capture the childhood (and occasionally expensive adult) experience of what it’s like to play with Legos. And that would be a victory enough. But, without wanting to spoiling anything, a twist by the middle of the movie to set up the final act goes for the unexpected victory lap by forcing you to temporarily yank your head out of the enjoyably mad world and ponder its heavy implications. Not in a dark way that brings down the enjoyment of the movie, but in way that only enhances it.

From a relatively simple place with a relatively simple premise, “The Lego Movie” decides to go above and beyond, managing to thread the line between enjoyable, uplifting, entertaining and thought provoking all once. The fact that it may also feature one of the catchiest songs ever written playing prominently throughout the course of the movie is just the icing on the cake.

Synopsis: In honor of Black History Month, we will celebrate William Greaves, a pioneering black director with over 300 films to his credit. This complex film explores question of race in the 60s, while also aiming to capture true reality on film.

Showtimes: Weekdays: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Weekend: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Rated: Not rated Running Time: 75 minutes

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Downtown Events

calendar&games Campus Events

Showin Out

Georgia On My Mind: UniverSoul Circus 12 - March 2 Celebrating Ray Charles Feb. Turner Field (Green Lot) Feb. 26 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center Take six, The Clark Atlanta University Band, the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir and more will pay homage to the late Ray Charles at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Come out and enjoy a night full of music in honor of the Georgia native!

Alton Brown

The UniverSoul Circus is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. The circus features performers from all around the world and totes an interactive show that everyone can participate in and enjoy.

Turning point: The American Civil War Through May 3 Atlanta History Center

Come enjoy this Civil War exhibition and view over 1,500 Union and Confederate artifacts!

Feb. 28 Fox Theater

Food Network star Alton Brown will appear at the Fox Theatre as a part of his Edible Inevitable Tour. Brown, who currently lives in Marietta with his family, will provide a night full of comedy and “food experimentation.”

Feb. 22 - March 16 Alliance Theatre

The Alliance Theatre will put on a one-act musical adaptation of Shrek starting Feb. 22. Kids will love watching the story of Dreamwork’s lovable ogre come to life right before their eyes!

Feb. 27 7-10 p.m.

Student Center Langdale Hall Laugh out loud at Georgia State University’s first comedy improve show. Wild N’ Outs Emmanuel Hudson will lead a team to compete with your fellow classmates. The two teams will show out and battle against each other using props, trending topics and personality.

Diplomatic Patterns: A Sampling of White House China

Animals As Leaders

Juicy J

Imagine Dragons

Feb. 27 at 7 7 p.m.

The Tabernacle

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Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.51)

Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.51) To qualify, advertisers must offer a discount for Georgia State students.

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Student Center Ballroom Watch six different dance crews battle it out for a grand prize and bragging rights of being GSU’s Best Dance Crew. The event will be hosted by comedian Jay Dukes.

Emblem3

Austin MaHone

Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

Phillips Area

BLACK & WHITE COUPON SPECIAL 1

GSU’s Best Dance Crew

March 7 8-11 p.m.

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty Feb. 26 at 7p.m.

Mar. 1 rating at 6 p.m.0.76) The Masquerade (Heaven) The Tabernacle

Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.

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Feb. 24-March 3 All Day Cinefest

Come out and listen to the talented Andrea Davidson.

Preforming since she was in high

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The Asian Studies Program will host Professor TV. Paul as he talks about his new book. The book discusses geopolitical importance, nuclear-armed regime and more.

Paul is a professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm

Professor T.V. PaulThe Warrior State: Pakistan in the

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The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is sampling china used for important White House events based on the private collections of President and Mrs. Carter and Mr. & Mrs. Set Momjian.

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Contemporary World

Cinefest Film Theater:

Courtyard Series: Andrea Davidson

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.76)

THE SIGNAL

school, her music influences range from The Beatles to Patty Griffin.

Being a humanitarian, she looks for ways to merge her music and global betterment into one.

In honor of Black History Month, Cinefest will be celebrating William Greaves, a pioneer black director with over 300 films to his credit. Symbiopsychotaxiplasm is Greaves best-known film as it questions race in the 60s.

Feb. 25 12-1 p.m.

Courtyard Stage, First Floor

Through March 2 Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

Shrek The Musical

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

The Panthers won 80-77 in a close game on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. against University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

PHOTO BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL

Panthers go marching in ALEC MCQUADE Sports Editor

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he men’s basketball team clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference tournament with its win over Texas State last week.

However, clinching a spot in the single-elimination tournament held in New Orleans is not nearly enough security for Head Coach Ron Hunter’s team.

The way the conference tournament is set up is eight of the ten conference teams play in a bracket.

The bottom four teams play in the first round to try and advance to the quarter-finals.

The No. 3 and 4 seeds get an automatic bye and don’t play until the quarterfinals, and the No. 1 and 2 seeds get two byes and don’t play until the semifinals. In other words, the top two seeds only need to win two games to be crowned Sun Belt Champions.

Georgia State’s magic number from claiming one of the top two seeds is one. They either need to win

one more game or rely on Western Kentucky (No. 2 in the Sun Belt) to lose putting the Panthers straight into the semi-finals.

“The season is a long season, and you’ve got to have short goals,” Hunter said. “We’re at the end, and we feel like we’ve got two seasons to go. We’ve got to clinch this season... and then we have postseason.”

“We want to be able to hang a banner in our first year of the Sun Belt,” Hunter said, explaining how it’s been a goal of the team all season.

The Panthers have four games remaining in the regular season: three on the road followed by one final home game against Western Kentucky to end the regular season.

Three games on the road are tough for any team of any caliber of talent, but Hunter said the road games are nothing new.

“We’ve been great on the road,” Hunter said. “We’ve actually played better on the road,” Hunter said saying his team just needs time off to rest after a full week of games.

“We’ve been doing it for so long, this is nothing new for us,” Manny Atkins said on the upcoming road

trip, calling it the team’s business.

The Panthers have been busy with four games crammed into eight days. After losing to Troy 85-81 on the road ending the longest winning streak in school history, Georgia State defeated Texas State last Monday 68-41 clinching the conference tournament.

They then defeated LouisianaMonroe and Louisiana-Lafayette to continue to rebuild the momentum they had going during the streak.

“Four games in eight days is tough; it’s a hard thing to do,” Hunter said, adding he was proud of his team for their effort.

In three of those games, one of Georgia State’s starters were able to reach 1,000 career points.

R.J. Hunter reached 1,000 on the road versus Troy doing it in just 54 games and becoming the secondfastest player to reach 1,000 at Georgia State, only behind Phillip Luckydo who did it in 49 games in 1992.

Ryan Harrow and Manny Atkins were able to reach the milestone at home, and both happened to be made on a free-throw causing chants of “That’s 1,000” roar through the Arena.

PHOTO BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL The Panthers huddled and discussed strategy to win the game against University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“When they said that when I was at the free-throw line, I thought I was going to miss my next freethrow,” Harrow said. “You have four guys who have scored 1,000 points, but none of us are selfish players.”

“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know if I’ll ever coach that again,

and not many guys can say that you’re coaching four 1,000-point scorers in the same year,” Hunter said.

Georgia State is currently one of three teams with four starters with 1,000 career points. The other schools are Elon and North Dakota State.

SPORTS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Alumni return to GSU Sports Arena

BY THE NUMBERS WEEKLY

RHETT LEWIS Staff Reporter

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Seconds remaining in Saturday’s game versus UL-Laffayette when Manny Atkins hit a game winning three pointer from the wing, giving GSU an 80-77 victory.

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PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS “It’s exciting to see these guys and their success that they’re having,” Jihad Ali said on this year’s basketball team at Alumni Day. DAVID A. NORWOOD II Staff Reporter

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aturday’s Alumni Day at the Georgia State Sports Arena bridged the past and the present of Georgia State basketball.

Receptions were held for the men’s and women’s basketball team alumni and some alum were honored throughout the doubleheader against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Among the men’s players honored at half time of the men’s game were Steve Richardson, former starting shooting guard and member of the original Georgia State Sun Belt Conference team.

“We have season tickets this year so I come back. My wife and I come to all the games and everything,” Richardson said. “Coach Hunter does a great job; it makes us proud to be a

Georgia State Panther.”

Richardson said his team and the current Georgia State Sun Belt team contrast in playing styles.

“They shoot well from the 3-point line,” Richardson said. “When we played, [we] tried to go inside a lot more and didn’t shoot as many jumpers.”

Richardson said the current era of basketball is different from how it was when he played.

“The game is so much quicker now than it was 30-plus years ago,” Richardson said. “It’s a combination - they’re bigger, stronger and I don’t think there’s any comparison of what it used to be.”

The Sun Belt is all what Richardson knew during his time at Georgia State (1976-1978), and he’s happy to see the University come full circle and return to the conference.

Richardson said the conference talks brought back a lot of memories and was very nostalgic to come back in the conference.

“The first year of the Sun Belt we played a team [UNC Charlotte] that went to the Final Four, and Marquette beat them in the semifinals on a last second shot or they would have played for the championship,” Richardson said. “They were easily the best team in the Sun Belt.”

Meanwhile, more recent alumni returned to Georgia State for Alumni Day such as former guard Jihad Ali. Ali played for former head coach Rod Barnes (2007-2011) and current Head Coach Ron Hunter (2011-12).

In addition to playing under Hunter, Ali has some familiarity with some of the players on the team now.

“Rashaad Richardson, me and R.J. are pretty cool,” Ali said adding

Devonta White’s name to the list.

“I still hang out with those guys sometimes.”

Ali said if he could compare himself to somebody on the team now, he would pick R.J. Hunter.

Ali said Hunter is a smart player who has a high basketball IQ. “I’d like to think I was somewhat of a good IQ player,” Ali said.

Ali did not get to compete in the Sun Belt like Richardson since the University was still apart of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

“I wish I could have played in the Sun Belt,” Ali said. “Night in and night out, CAA was pretty tough.”

“Not to discount these guys on what they’re doing, because it’s also amazing, pretty much handle their business on the road, at home, so it’s exciting to see these guys and their success that they’re having.”

Panthers sneak by Ragin’ Cajuns at home ALEC MCQUADE Sports Editor

G

eorgia State worked its magic as it has all season long as Manny Atkins hit a game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds remaining to defeat the University of Louisiana-Lafayette 80-77 Saturday night at the GSU Sports Arena.

A crowd of 2,890, the largest this season and 12th-largest in school history, witnessed yet again another Georgia State come from behind game ending with a buzzerbeater.

Georgia State had a nine-point lead with 1:45 left in the game, but the Ragin’ Cajuns went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 77 with 30 seconds left.

Senior Ryan Harrow took the ball down court running the clock down before passing it to an open Atkins who made the 3-pointer stopping the clock with less than a second left and winning the game.

“I knew they [were] going to help out,” Atkins said on LouisianaLafayette’s defense on the play explaining how one of the guards was drawn to Harrow. “The rim opened up so much I was like, ‘I gotta make it,’ and it was a tough shot, and I knocked it down.” “[Harrow’s] got shooters all around him,” Head Coach Ron Hunter said on the play, “If they stay on the shooters, [Harrow] lay it up. If somebody cheats, he finds the shooter, and he finds the right guys.”

“We ran that same play earlier in the year…against FIU,” Hunter said adding that Harrow forced the shot in that game. “It just is showing how much we’ve grown because [Harrow] trusted his teammate [Atkins].”

Hunter said while Atkins made the shot, his bench-player Marcus Crider was “the man” of the night.

Marcus Crider put the life in the crowd after Georgia State was trailing by as many as 12 in the game.

Crider had three-consecutive

put-backs early in the second half including a dunk to tie the game at 77 and two more shots to put the Panthers ahead.

Crider, a sophomore forward from the bench, has scored careerhigh points in his last two games finishing with 12 points Saturday.

He also had six rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Crider said that nothing has changed for him in the past few nights except “more opportunities to do what I know what to do,” he said.

“Just go out there and play basketball with a chip on you shoulder like every possession is your last,” Crider added.

Louisiana-Lafayette opened the game with two 3-pointers from Bryant Mbamala followed by a three from Long to put the Ragin’ Cajuns on a game-opening run.

“That was the first time we’ve ever played him with him shooting jump shots like that,” Crider said.

“Nobody could ever expect him to come out and make 3-for-3…I want

to call that shooters luck because he will never do that again to us.”

Georgia State scored 50 points in the second half starting it with a 24-4 run after trailing by eight at halftime.

After only grabbing 10 rebounds in the first half, three of which were offensive, Georgia State finished with 30 rebounds getting seven offensive rebounds in the second half limiting the Ragin’ Cajuns second chance points. Louisiana-Lafayette had 35 rebounds int he game.

Harrow finished with 18 points for the Panthers with Devonta White garnering 17 and R.J. Hunter 14.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s Shawn Long scored 22 points in the game with 15 of them coming from the first half.

Georgia State has won 17 of its last 18 games, the longest streak in school history.

The Panthers go on the road for three-consecutive games before their final home game of the season March 4.

Men’s golf team’s final round score during the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate in Moblie, Ala. last week. The 1-over par round helped the Panthers finish the tournament in fourth place.

2-3

Softball team’s record in the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational over the weekend.

GSU defeated Stony Brook on Friday and Saturday before dropping there next three games to Kennesaw State, Tulsa and Georgia Tech.

11

Days, as of Feb. 25, until the sand volley ball team opens their season at the UNF Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla..

4:54.47

New school record in the mile, set by Niamh Kearny at the Southern Mississippi Cupid Classic in Birmingham, Ala. on Feb. 14.

PANTHER Of The Week

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

MANNY ATKINS BASKETBALL

Manny Atkins reached 1,000 career points Thursday, becoming the forth starter on the men’s basketball team to reach the milestone.

Going into the game versus Louisiana-Monroe, Atkins needed seven points to reach 1,000.

He came out of the gate quickly, hitting two free 3-pointers early and then drawing a foul to get a chance to hit 1,000 at the free-throw line.

Atkins made the shot reaching the mark and making Georgia State one of three schools currently with four starters with 1,000-plus career points.

He joined Ryan Harrow, R.J. Hunter and Devonta White in the 1,000-point club.

Saturday, Atkins was the hero again, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left in the game to come from behind and defeat Louisiana-Lafayette 80-77.

The redshirt senior played two seasons with Virginia Tech and transferred after his sophomore season.

Atkins is from Tucker, Ga. and graduated from Tucker High School.

23 19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY DECEMBER25, 10,2014 2013

The Scoreboard (continued)

Staff Predictions NATIONAL

CONFERENCE

UNIVERSITY

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Baseball

Feb. 26, 9 p.m.

Feb. 26, 8 p.m.

Feb. 26, 5 p.m.

Arizona √√√ √ vs.

California

Texas State √ vs.

Georgia State √√ √ vs.

Western Kentucky √√√

Georgia √

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

March 1, 8:30 p.m.

Western Kentucky √√√√ vs.

Texas-Arlington STAFF: √ Rhett

√ David

√ Jeremy

Feb. 27, 8:30 p.m.

Georgia State √√√ √ vs.

Texas-Arlington

GUEST: √ Blue Man

The Scoreboard Softball

Georgia State competed in the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational this past weekend.

On Friday, they defeated Stony Brook University, 3-2, at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field in Atlanta, Ga. Junior catcher/third baseman Callie Alford, sophomore infielder Taylor Anderson and junior first baseman Lauren Coleman each fin-

ished with one RBI. On Saturday, the Panthers defeated Stony Brook again 7-5 this time at Bailey Park in Kennesaw, Ga. Freshman outfielder Morgan Brown finished with two RBI. For their final game on Saturday, Kennesaw State defeated the Panthers 6-7.

Anderson and junior outfielder Ashley Christy both finished with two RBI.

Baseball

On Tuesday, the Panthers defeated Savannah State 7-6 in Savannah, Ga. Relievers Tyler McClure and Kevin Burgee both threw the final six outs to close out the game.

This past weekend, Georgia State played Ole Miss in a series in Oxford, Miss.

In the first game, they suffered a 0-3 shut out loss. In the second game, they lost 1-9.

Women’s Basketball

The Panthers defeated Texas State 82-69 last Monday, and Kendra Long scored a career-high 27 points in the game.

The Panthers pulled off a nailbiter Wednesday against Louisiana-Monroe that featured eight lead changes and seven ties. The Panthers were able to pull ahead in the end and win 85-77.

The Panthers fell on Saturday falling to Louisiana-Lafayette 67-63 to end their home stand.

Women’s Tennis

Women’s tennis defeated Kennesaw State 6-1 Friday to end its four-game losing streak. The Panthers won five of their six singles matches.

The next day, the Panthers maintained their dominance at home defating Columbia 4-3. Abigail TereApisah improved to 9-0 at No. 1 singles this season.

Football

On Sunday at the NFL combine, former Panther WR Albert Wilson ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

He tied for the 7th fastest in the position.

Sun Belt Standings STANDING

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

1st

Georgia State 13-1 | Overall: 20-7

Arkansas State 12-3 | Overall: 18-9

2nd

WKU 10-4 | Overall: 18-9

WKU 9-5 | Overall: 17-8

3rd

Arkansas State 9-5 | Overall: 16-9

UALR 9-5 | Overall: 14-10

4th

UL Lafayette 9-6 | Overall: 18-10

Texas State 9-5 | Overall: 12-13

5th

UT Arlington 7-7 | Overall: 12-14

Georgia State 9-5 | Overall: 12-14

6th

UALR 7-8 | Overall: 12-15

Troy 8-6 | | Overall: 10-15

7th

UL Monroe 5-9 | Overall: 8-14

UL Lafayette 6-8 | Overall: 13-13

8th

Troy 4-10 | Overall: 9-17

UL Monroe 5-9| | Overall: 9-17

9th

Texas State 4-10 | Overall: 8-19

South Alabama 5-9 | Overall: 7-17

10th

South Alabama 3-11 | Overall: 9-18

UT Arlington 2-12 | Overall: 3-22

What’s

Supported by Student Activity Fees

Happening

To request disability accommodations at this event, please contact the University Events Management at 404-413-1377 / events@gsu.edu. Please provide your name, event name, date and sponsor when making your request.

arch M – . b Fe 2014 Monday Tuesday Ron Hunter (Men’s Basketball) Radio Show

24 12-1 p.m.

Live from Courtyard Stage, Student Center

Spotlight Committee Applications Available

Wednesday

Courtyard Music Series: Andrea Davidson

12-1 p.m.

Courtyard Stage Student Center

25

Water Cooler Series: Olivia Pope 5-7 p.m., Lanier Suite, Student Center See details below.

Campus Events Applications Available

Courtyard Music Series: Joshua Drew

3

12-1 p.m.

Courtyard Stage Student Center

7-10 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom See details below.

26

27

5

SGA Election Applications Due by 5 p.m.

March

1&2

400 University Center

28

Spotlight Committee Director Applications Due by 4 p.m.

380 Student Center See details below.

Campus MovieFest Finale

4

Sat-Sun

Friday

Show’n Out Improv Comedy Show

380 Student Center See details below.

370 Student Center See details below.

Thursday

7-10 p.m.

Speaker’s Auditorium See details below.

6

GSU Best Dance Crew 8-11 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom See details below.

7

8&9

Spotlight Plaza 12:30-1 p.m.

Library Plaza

For event details, visit our websites: Campus Events studentevents.gsu.edu

Cinefest Film Theater spotlight.gsu.edu/cinefest

Spotlight Programs Board spotlight.gsu.edu

Student Government Association sga.gsu.edu

Student Media studentmedia.gsu.edu

Student*University Center studentcenter.gsu.edu

Cinefest Film Theater

FREE for GSU students, faculty & staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. & $5 at 5 p.m. & after.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One, Feb. 24-March 2 M-F: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

S-S: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Gravity, March 3-9

M-F: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

S-S: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Campus Events Presents the First Water Cooler Series Conversation

Olivia Pope:

Leader of the Side Chick Movement or an Empowered Black Woman?

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 5-7 p.m., Lanier Suite, Student Center Join us for a participantgenerated conversation about the portrayal of Olivia Pope.

7-10 p.m.

Campus Events Director Applications CMF

FINALE

COME AND SEE

THE TOP FILMS FROM

GEORGIA STATE

Applications Posted: March 3

WATCH GSU’S BEST FILMMAKERS PRESENT THEIR MOVIES ON THE BIG SCREEN

Thursday March 6 7 p.m.

Speaker’s Auditorium Student Center

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Applications Due: April 7 Interviews: April 17 & 18 Applications Available at studentevents.gsu.edu Director Positions Available:

8-11 p.m.

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Apply for a job!

The Student*University Center offers many exciting employment opportunities for Georgia State University students. Current openings include: AV Technician: Provide support for set-up, inventory and client orientation for audiovisual equipment.

To apply for a position, please visit Panther Career Net at gsu-csm.symplicity.com/students.

All applicants must meet with Career Services (404-413-1820) and provide a résumé to apply through Panther Career Net.