Vol.80 No. 22

Student Government Association: No to guns on campus, yes to green fee news| 5 ACCOUNTANT, SOCIAL WORKER, DIRECTOR, NURSE, PHYSICIAN, LAWYER, PARALEGAL, PHOTOGRAPHER, like us! facebook.com/gsusignal JOURNALIST, ACTOR, REAL ESTATE AGENT, follow us!

PROGRAMMER, ARCHITECT, GAME DESIGNER, PAINTER, twitter.com/gsusignal WRITER, DENTIST, WEB DEVELOPER, PSYCHOLOGIST, inside | FEB. 26 - MARCH 4, 2013 VOL. 80 NO.22 TEACHER, MECHANICAL ENGINEER,, SECRETARY, Big, fit SPECIAL REPORT: PHARMACIST, CONSTRUCTION Brains LIBRARIAN, COUNSELOR, WORKER, PARAMEDIC, AUTO MECHANIC, RECEPTIONIST, Brain fitness exercises ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, COACH, TELEMARKETER, may prevent degenerative SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, LOBBYIST, SENATOR, diseases and brain REPRESENTATIVE, JUDGE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, increase function—if can BANKER, SONG WRITER, SIGNER, BARTENDER, PHONE students find the time.

SEX OPERATOR COMPUTER TECHNICIAN, BIOLOGIST, news | 4 STRIPPER, PHYSICIST, ASTRONAUT, ASTRONOMER, Athletics PILOT, AEROSPACE ENGINEER, REPORTER, DISC JOCKEY, 1010 WAITER, COOK, JANITOR, MASCOT, CHEERLEADER, Student -athletes compete in the ATHLETE, InTRANSLATOR, ENTREPRENEUR, GRAPHIC classroom and this new economic environment, college-age on the field at DESIGNER,students FASHION DESIGNER, SCULPTOR, Georgia State. face a double threat: a higher rate of UNDERTAKER, GRAVE DIGGER, Sports |17 unemployment than the national averageMORTICIAN, and having to SURGEON, take jobs outsideDIETICIAN, their field of study.

NEUROLOGIST, PHYSICAL return THERAPIST, OPTOMETRIST, COSMETOLOGIST, CAB NEWS | PAGE 3 of rap DRIVER, SANITATION WORKER, GROOMER, FARMER, culture CASHIER, COOK, PRESIDENT, PRINCIPAL, TEACHER, The Soul Food brings PROFESSOR, RESEARCHER, WIG MAKER, ODOR TESTER, Cypher together local artists and MATHEMATICIAN, FIREFIGHTER, LAWYER, POLICE rap growing sense community OFFICER, MODEL, BIOLOGIST, SINGER, COUNSELOR, of within Atlanta.

ORTHODONTIST, COPY EDITOR, WRITER, GYMNIST, A&L | 9 FIGURE SKATER, CAREGIVER, GARDENER, SERVER, online ELECTRICIAN, SECURITY GUARD, BOUNCER, MEDICAL exclusive ASSISTANT, RECEPTIONIST, SECRETARY, CARTOONIST, photo gallery VOICE ACTOR, LANDSCAPER, MAYOR, GOVERNOR, Students Prepare POLITICIAN, FISHERMAN, OLYMPIAN, PRINTMAKER, for z-day Student ADVERTISER, MARKETER, PORN STAR, WAXER, FITNESS The Recreation UNEMPLOYMENT RATE Approximately 3-4% Approximately 7-8% Center hosted a INSTRUCTOR, CHIROPRACTOR, PLASTIC SURGEON, IN THE UNITED STATES zombie training (IN 2012, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) course. Who Approximately 9-10% Approximately 5-6% MASSAGE THERAPIST, ACUPUNTURIST, MECHANIC, outran the FLIGHT ATTENDANT, JUDGE, TAXIDERMIST, TRUCK undead?

Daily news at www.georgiastatesignal.com News 3 SOLDIER, Opinions 7PLUMBER, Arts & Living 9 Sports 17 DRIVE, WEDDING PLANNER, MAID

NOw

HIRING

SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

2

NEWS

blotter

last week...

Local

65-year-old Raymond Wilson of southeast Georgia has received a life sentence in prison after being convicted of molesting numerous children at his wife’s in-home day care center. Judge Jeffrey Kight gave Wilson three life sentences in addition to 43 more years in prison. The molestations ranged over five years until November 2011, when a young girl told her family of the actions.

A Stone Mountain man was killed in an accident on I-285 in southwest Atlanta between Cascade Road and Mount Gilead early Saturday. The victim has been identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as Gerald Askew, 34.

National

A NASCAR race accident resulting in rookie driver Kyle Larson’s car flying into the fence at Daytona International Speedway injured at least 33 fans on Saturday. The entire front of Larson’s car was severely damaged and his engine split a gaping hole into the fence. Larson pulled out of the event following the accident.

Ammar Harris, 26, has been named the prime suspect of last week’s night club shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that killed three people and injured several others. Harris has been arrested on pandering, kidnapping, sexual assault and coercion charges. Police are currently seeking the suspect’s location.

“Can’t Touch This” rapper MC Hammer was arrested Thursday for obstructing an officer and resisting arrest. However, the rapper, whose real name is Stanley Kirk Burrell, claims he was a victim of racial profiling.

Burrell was released and police has not released details yet.

Global

The threat of domestic terrorism of some French citizens of black African ancestry has increased with the recent intervention of the French military in Mali. These citizens are becoming more willing to fight under the banner of jihad. In addition, the intervention in Mali has raised stakes where French citizens and tourists are more susceptible to kidnapping.

Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro made a rare guest appearance at the opening session of the National Assembly on Sunday with his brother Raul Castro. Since his 2006 illness, Fidel Castro, 86, has only once attended the assembly chambers in 2010. Castro has given up all of his official positions except his position as deputy. Castro has still maintained public presence with writings, meetings with visitors and rare appearances.

February 11

Arts & Humanities

A Georgia State faculty member stated that an art DVD was stolen from the DVD player. She said that the last time she saw the DVD was on Feb. 7 and when she returned on Feb. 10 it had been stolen. There was no entry. This case is being handled by investigations.

February 15

Petit Science Park

A report was filed for theft from a vehicle. A staff member stated that when a Georgia State Bio Bus was parked unsecured in a secured gate, a gas card, a bin, mounts, echinoderm ben, briefcase with arthropods and $5 were stolen. This case is being handled by investigations.

February 16

Weather WED 57/37

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

source: weather.com THURS 47/32

FRI 49/32

SUN 47/33

SAT 47/29

Landmark Diner

A non-Georgia State individual was arrested at Landmark Diner for refusing to pay for a meal

he consumed. Management pursued charges and the individual was processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Decatur Street

Officers arrested a nonGeorgia State individual for driving with a suspended license and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Officers made a traffic stop and performed a criminal history check. It was confirmed that the individual had suspended license. After a search, a small bag of marijuana was found in the individual’s shoe. He was arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Freshman Dormitory

A report was filed for harassing phone calls.

A student stated that she has been receiving threatening text messages from an unknown individual. This case is being handled by investigations.

February 18

Fort Street and John Weasely Dobbs

A non-Georgia State individual was arrested for an active warrant from Forest Park, Ga. The individual was stopped on a traffic violation and a criminal history check confirmed a warrant. The individual was arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

February 19

Petit Science Center

A student said that she left her Apple Mac Book in a room at noon and when she returned at 8 p.m., the computer was no longer there. This case is being handled by investigations.

Student Center

Recreation

A report was filed for theft when a student stated that he put his Jordan sneakers in a locker on Feb. 12, and when he returned on Feb. 19 his property had been stolen. This case is being handled by investigations.

Photo of the week

MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL Student prays before grabbing a meal at the Fast-a-thon hosted by the Muslim Student Association.

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Preparing for the real world

National Unemployment and underemploymenT 56%

Unemployment rate for millennials is higher than national average

“

At this point, a Master’s [degree] is the new undergrad.”

-John Stanford, career counselor ASHIA GALLO

Staff Reporter

U

nemployment spikes for millennials, young adults between the ages of 18 and 29, have caused Georgia State students to get more serious about their futures.

A recent release by the United States Department of Labor showed unemployment rate rose significantly for millennials last month, leaving many students wondering how to attain job security after graduation.

While the millennial unemployment rate rose to 13 percent last month, the overall national rate rose to 8 percent in comparison.

This significant gap has Georgia State students concerned if they will be graduating with jobs.

“It is discouraging for the students who just ordered their cap and gown, as well for the [freshmen] about to enter college,” said Vante Robinson, a human resources staff recruitment and retention intern.

Robinson, a junior and marketing major, said statistics showing the spike in unemployment among millennials should “have a drastic affect on the majors people select” for both incoming college freshmen and students who are still undecided.

“We are no longer picking our majors based on what we love,” Robinson said. “We’re making our decisions based on what will make money.”

Dr. Kevin Gaw, director for University Career Services, recognized that unemployment wasn’t the only problem.

“I think that [college students] need to know the difference between being unemployed and being underemployed,” Gaw said.

The sharp increase in unemployment last month could be

credited to a “yearly trend in the ending of seasonal jobs nationally around that time,” Gaw said.

Underemployment, or college student graduates attaining jobs that do not pertain to their degree or represent their education level, is the main problem to be assessed.

“Students need to do more research,” Gaw said. “It is hard to get the perfect job, but this is why students need to use their resources.”

These resources, found at the Career Services center, range from resume preparation to career counseling can help students decide their majors as well as what careers can and should be pursued with their degrees.

“You can get a job, but you will have to work to get a job you like,” said John Stanford, one of the career counselors at Career Services.

Stanford said hands on experience, volunteering and networking are what will help students combat the need to settle for job positions they are not interested in.

“At this point, a Master’s [degree] is the new undergrad,” Stanford said.

Stanford attributes the millenial struggle for jobs to the student’s lack of job experience and civilian skills to impress employers.

“Four years are not enough,” Stanford said. “Students need to prepare in advance.”

Senior Natalie Gutierrez said student preparation was a major problem as well.

“The millennials need a liaison between old and new,” Gutierrez said. “The older generation will be doing the hiring, after all.”

The Robinson College of Business goes one step further in making sure their students are aware of employment realities of graduates by providing yearly reports on alumni who found jobs after graduation and even their average salaries.

Based on statistics from the Robinson College of Business web-

site, the majority of its students go on to have job security.

In 2011, out of the 68 percent of graduates who provided feedback on employment information, 50 percent reported they obtained new, full-time employment by graduation.

Another 32 percent received their first job offers within three months of graduation.

Jason Aldrich, Executive Director for Career Management at the Robinson College of Business, said the 2012 results are expected sometime in March.

He also said the number of graduates who have found employment are much stronger than 2011.

Aldrich said there has been a 10 to 20 percent increase across the board and credits the success of graduates with preparedness and taking advantage of campus resources.

“There are solutions for students who do not want to be a part of [the unemployment rate],” Aldrich said.

Aldrich advises upperclassmen approaching graduation to get started early.

“Students should use the career service access systems, find quality internships and spend their last semesters looking for employment,” Aldrich said.

Aldrich equated this job search during a student’s final undergrad years to a “three credit class,” adding that students should view looking for a job as a class that should be a three to six month process.

“It is a mistake to wait,” he said.

Gaw agreed job security can only be obtained through job experience and said students who participate in internships develop skill sets, are more career ready and experience less barriers.

“I have much confidence in Georgia State students. Employers come [to our job fairs] because they genuinely like our student body.”

10%

in 2010

20%

33% 9%

High School Graduate Unemployment

19%

HS Graduate Underemployment

54%

College Grad Unemployment

in 2011 31%

College Graduate Underemployment

SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.EPI.ORG/PUBLICATION/BP340-LABOR-MARKET-YOUNG-GRADUATES/

Unemployment last month

13% 8%

Nationally

for ages between 18-29

Employment for Georgia State Graduates in 2011

50%

got jobs after graduation

“

32%

got jobs within 3 months of graduation

Students should use the career service access systems, find quality internships, and spend their last semesters looking for employment.”

-Jason Aldrich, Executive Director for Career Management at the Robinson College of Business,

4

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Ready, Set, Think!

Studies examine the effectiveness of brain fitness exercises in preventing degenerative neurological diseases DOMINIQUE MOSES

Staff Reporter

N

euroscientists look toward brain fitness as treatment for neurological diseases.

However, these brain fitness exercises may also benefit healthy individuals, though students may sometimes feel too busy to do them.

According to a study by Dr. Skye McDonald and doctoral student Maurice Finn of the University of New South Wales, until recently, treatment options for degenerative neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, have been limited to medication and memory strategies.

These memory strategies are based on the concept of neuroplasticity, which McDonald and her collaborators simplify in their article as “the brain’s ability to change in response to stimulation throughout its lifespan.”

“The processes involved are not fully understood but likely involve the growth of new brain cells, the strengthening of neural networks and the update of neurotransmitter systems,” McDonald and Finn said.

“We don’t have all the answers on neuroplasticity and its role in preventing some neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Michael Black of Georgia State’s Neuroscience Department.

With regard to college students, few are concerned with the likelihood of contracting such diseases.

“It might happen in say, 80 years, but I’m not really concerned about it at the moment,” student Ron Shanderson said. “I’m pretty

top 10 majors that

“

“We have seen some evidence that younger adults gain more longlasting benefits from training their memory and attention skills...”

SOURCE: LUMOSITY.COM

-Erica Perng, Senior Public Relations Manager at Lumosity

sure we don’t understand all the causes of Alzheimer’s disease either.”

The study yielded that “medications and memory strategies are not effective at improving cognitive function or preventing neurological diseases.”

These memory strategies, however, are applicable to improving general brain fitness.

“There is evidence that mentally challenging yourself improves your brain function, but in many ways this isn’t a new idea,” Black said.

Recently, these memory strategies have become available to the public through Lumosity.com, a website dedicated to helping normal individuals improve everyday brain function.

“There are dozens of peer reviewed journal articles that have demonstrated that brain training programs like Lumosity are effective in improving real-world abilities like memory, speed of processing, task switching, problem solving and more,” said Erica Perng, Senior Public Relations Manager at Lumosity.

“Lumosity is aimed at those who are interested in self improvement and seeking to live their best

lives. Our user base demographic runs the gamut from kids to parents to grandparents, and is similar to the demographic of the Internet,” Perng said.

Many students pointed out they are too busy for additional activities requiring daily persistence.

“I’d be willing to invest some time into doing brain fitness exercises,” student Julie Smith said.

“But I really don’t have the time.”

Others seemed more willing and able.

“If there are definite results saying that, yes, my brain function will improve from participating, then I’d actually play the games if they are entertaining as well,” student Sammy Vyas said.

Younger individuals account for a significant portion of Lumosity users. According to Perng, about 25 percent of Lumosity’s users are under the age of 21.

“We have seen some evidence that younger adults gain more long-lasting benefits from training their memory and attention skills,” Perng said. “We’ve also found that intelligence tasks show the most improvement in adults in their early-20s. Regardless of age or task, people’s performance significantly improved [by using Lumosity.]”

10) Ties:

Nursing ranked as most rewarding major

change the world

Public health

1) Nursing

Elementary education

2) Special education

Petroleum engineering

3) Medical

Health care

technology

administration

4) Biomedical engineering

Other rankings

5) Ties:

28) Biology

Athletic training

80) Anthropology

Social work

88) Computer

Child and family

engineering

studies

112) Philosophy

8) Dietetics

128) Fashion design

9) Biblical studies

131) Film Productions

SOURCE: PAYSCALE.COM

Neuroplasticity

PAUL DEMERRITT

Staff Reporter

D

espite the fact that the greatest number of bachelor degrees are in business, payscale.com recently released a study which found that nursing students believe their major to be the most rewarding.

Out of the 1,058 schools studied, 86 percent of all nursing students pursuing bachelor’s degrees claimed that their major contributed the most positive change to the world.

“Changing the world is a tall order,” said Dr. Patricia Clark, a professor in Georgia State’s nursing program. “But I think most of the time, people think of nursing as such meaningful work because often their experience is when nursing changes their world.”

Even though the validity of nursing has been widely accepted,

Your brain is flexible enough to face many challenges.

It reshapes neural pathways formed by neurons throughout your whole lifetime.

It’s like taking a new path to work or class every day. The more you do it, the more comfortable and familiar you get with the area. And it stays in your knowledge for as long as you practice it.

the full scope of a nurse’s duty is frequently underappreciated.

Nursing involves a nuanced set of skills that combine the scientific discipline of medical precision with the incomparable warmth of human compassion.

“What people experience is the caring. The nurse uses her intelligence, assessment skills, problem solving and decision making for a plan of care that is often invisible to the person and [their] family,” Clark said.

Nursing is also one of the few majors that have actually seen an increase in job prospects since the economic recession.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.”

As more baby-boomers are seeking hospice and geriatric healthcare services, there is an in-

creasing demand for future populations of registered nurses to care for them.

Recent advents in medicinal technologies have also created new and emerging fields for nursing majors.

Hospice care is one way, in particular, nurses can offer some of the most rewarding expertise in medicine.

“Nurses care for people often when they are most vulnerable and I’ve seen nurses be amazing when caring for people,” Clark said.

The notion that money doesn’t buy happiness is often seen as trite or naïve, but this study gives new credence to the claim.

Computer engineering, the highest paid career of 2012, was ranked at number 88 on the list of most rewarding careers.

Changing the world is indeed a tall order, but it appears that nurses are more than happy to take on the challenge.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

NEWS

5

Campus Briefs Homelessness in Atlanta, an event exploring the epidemic homelessness in our community, will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. in room 460 of the University Center. Dinner will be provided.

Art Education major Ryan Carey knows about the ban but doesn’t feel any pressure to adhere to it.

Photo major Amanda Villarimo said she respects who she smokes around, but she doesn’t let the ban affect her that much.

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL Art major Pamela Fernandez reFilm major Christopher Cox said he spects the designated smoking arwasn’t even aware of the ban made by eas on campus but is indifferent to Georgia State and that any restricGeorgia State’s ban tions made were not noticeable.

Smoking ban sees minor change DARRIS POPE

G

Staff Reporter

eorgia State’s community, students and faculty are experiencing the transitional phase of making Georgia State a smoke-free campus, with the university still figuring out how to enforce the new policy.

Students are still seen smoking in most of the areas they did before and little changes have been observed. Georgia State police have been handing out warnings to students, mostly in the initial phases of the tobacco ban. Campus police and the Student Government Association (SGA) are still trying to figure out the path for the ban.

“Unfortunately, the recently passed GSU Tobacco Ban has not been incredibly effective. As is the case with many new policies. Implementation is sometimes more difficult than the passing of the policy,”

said Jason Plemmons, SGA senator in the Institute of Public Health. “A newly formed GSU Tobacco Task Force [is] working diligently on the finer details. Be on the lookout for new signage around campus in late March, 2013.”

The Georgia State Senate approved the ban on smoking and tobacco use on Oct. 18 “to promote health for students, faculty, staff and the public,” according to the school’s original press release.

The ban makes it illegal for students to smoke within 25 feet of all Georgia State building entrances and exits, garages, parking lots or Georgia State-owned or leased vehicles.

Many students are confused as to what makes this different from the policy that was already in place prior to the ban, or are not aware of it.

“There’s a smoking ban?” said Harley Staniforth, Managerial Sciences major. “Wow, if there is one

it’s been highly ineffective.”

Sport Psychology major, Eric Dunn, also agrees the ban has been ineffective.

“It hasn’t dissuaded me from smoking and probably won’t stop me,” Dunn said.

In terms of enforcement of the policy, there is little that collegiate authorities can do.

“The smoking ban has been effective in keeping people from congregating outside classroom entrances smoking. For entrances and [close perimeters] of state buildings, it has been effective. Students no longer have to talk through a ‘wall’ of smoke when they go to or get out of class,” said Sgt. Sharon Ware of the Crime Prevention Unit of GSU P.D. “We are not in the business of arresting people for cigarette use, nor is it a crime. However, it is Georgia State’s policy and within their rights to have and enforce [the policy]. Officers will give out warnings

if people smoke too close to campus buildings and for more extreme cases they will be referred to faculty, such as the Dean, for infractions of the policy,” Ware said.

Students seem to agree that the university has not yet made a very proactive attempt to let the ban be known. Its announcement was solely posted on Georgia State’s website and currently there are no new signs or posters calling attention to the ban.

“They’ve simply removed all the ashtrays from the courtyard. As far as I can tell there are more [cigarette] butts on the ground now. We need better communication from the university, signage. They should be pro-active and if it’s something they want to do they should enforce it,” Staniforth said.

At the SGA meeting on Feb. 21, several senators noted that upcoming signage is on the way, however the association cannot enforce the ban.

Student Government Association Round-Up

SGA: No to guns on campus (for now), yes to green fee ISMAEL SUAREZ

T

Staff Reporter

he Student Government Association will not support guns on campus—at least for now.

House Bill 29, introduced in the Georgia General Assembly last month, would allow individuals to carry firearms at public colleges and universities.

In the Feb. 12 issue of The Signal, SGA President Marcus Kernizan said the majority of the organization supported the current law banning weapons on campus.

Danielle Kleinman, vice president of Public Relations, instructed senators at last week’s senate meeting to avoid commenting on behalf of SGA regarding gun control and H.B. 29.

Kleinman said senators could give their opinions as students, but not as SGA members.

Kernizan has since maintained that this was SGA’s position on the matter.

Kleinman also said while this is the organization’s current stance, their position may change depending on the feedback they receive from students.

SGA is expected to give a definitive stance at Wednesday’s executive meeting.

In support of the Green Fee

The SGA passed Resolution 12.2, a recommendation supporting the creation of a green mandatory fee, which will be submitted to the Mandatory Fee Committee for consideration in the fall.

“The purpose of the resolution is just to state SGA’s thoughts and position, it has no power in the university community but ideally it would make a strong statement to the school,” said Taylor Briggs, executive vice president.

According to the SGA senators’ feedback from their constituents, the student body would support the fee as long as overall fees are not raised.

Peter Imhoff, senator of the College of Arts and Sciences, said overall fees might not have to increase because of a sustainability fee since the Library Fee will expire in 2014.

The Library Fee currently costs students $14 per semester.

As the board listed the amount of money students pay for mandatory sustainability fees in other colleges, they decided a number as low as $3 might be sufficient for a green fee.

“The idea is that we decrease fees and make the green fee, and that makes everyone happy,” said James Dutton, senator of the College of Law.

However, Jason Plemmons, senator for the Institute of Public Health, said a three-dollar fee could be too low.

“We have 30,000 students at just $3. This is a green fee, which goes towards changing things, right? $90,000 is nothing is this city,” Plemmons said. “Even $14 is $420,000, which is not that much money.”

Imhoff recommended they avoid placing a cap on the amount that would be allocated to the fee.

Last December, the Student Activity Fee Committee approved funding for a green fee, though it was noted that there would be limitations in the way the fees would be spent.

There have been efforts in the past four years by green organizations to create a new mandatory fee, but the Mandatory Fee Committee turned them down each time. Last semester’s talks fell flat after President Mark Becker refused mandatory fees increases this academic year.

The effect of the recommendation by the SGA may be nullified if Becker takes the same position again next year.

New senators voted in

The topic of ecological awareness remained on the table as the board elected three new senators,

two of which are involved in green organizations.

Haley Ugwuibe, Kelli Craig and Justin Brightharp won by an overwhelming margin, save a couple of opposing votes.

Craig and Brightharp’s involvement as executives in the Sustainability Tribe led Dutton to raise concerns about possible bias that could impede them from operating with objectivity.

“I think that there’s going to be a bias towards these groups,” Dutton said. “As young senators and as members of two executive boards for green issues . . . I think it’s going to be really hard for them to separate their loyalty for that organization from the loyalty to the 1,000 students that they will begin to represent.”

Imhoff and Briggs immediately disagreed with Dutton’s opinion. Briggs argued that the senators would bring diversity to the board.

“When we think of ourselves as a diverse organization, we all have our biases in our certain areas that bring diversity,” Briggs said. “Here we have two senators who are involved with sustainability and right now we don’t have that. So I would say that adding those biases to our big group of biases is changing all our opinion because that’s how we interact with each other.”

The third installment of the Paper Trail: Art of Taking Dynamic Lecture Notes series will take place on Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. in rooms 480 and 485 of the University Center.

The event will help students distinguish useful information in lectures and discuss effective note-taking skills.

The next installment will be held on April 17.

Georgia State alum Will Dove will screen his first feature film, entitled No Soliciting, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. in the DAEL Theater of One Park Place. After the screening, Dove will discuss how technology has changed production, distribution and building a fan base.

Brown University’s Nomy Arpaly will speak on “Strong Will” at noon on March 1.

The event will take place in the 11th floor conference room of the 34 Peachtree Street Building.

According to the Georgia State School of Music, the University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Palmer, on March 3 at 3 p.m. has been cancelled.

A renaming ceremony will be held at the Freshman Hall.

The dormitories will be renamed Paton Hall in honor of former Georgia State president, Carl V. Patton.

Toni Miles, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Georgia, will speak about her new book, “Health Care Reform and Disparities: History, Hype and Hope” at noon on Wednesday at the Gerontology Institute Conference Room in 1 Park Place, Suite 605.

Georgia State faculty is invited to attend a live viewing of “NIH Career Development Awards: Which mechanism is Right For You?” webinar.

The URSA-sponsored event will show attendees how NIH Career Development Awards provides time for research development and career development for investigators in the biomedical, behavioral or clinical services.

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Hurry up and wait B DAVID SCHICK Columnist David Schick is the former editor-in-chief of The Collegian of the Georgia Perimeter College and an intern at Creative Loafing.

He is currently studying print journalism at Georgia State.

Follow him @reportschick

eing told “wait” is worse than being told “no.”

I overheard this from a coffee shop conversation about being on the hunt for employment.

The frustrated man, a recent graduate from Georgia Tech with a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, explained the slim job market in his chosen field of study.

There’s nothing more fearful for students than spending four years (or more) of time and money on a degree that won’t start your career.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 13.1 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds (millennials) are unemployed – well above the national average of 7.8 percent. Research from the Economic Policy Institute reported that Georgia’s 2011 unemployment rate for “workers under 25” was at 18.6 percent. Compared to Georgia’s current 8.6 percent for overall unemployment, it’s probably not a far stretch to say the majority of the underemployed consists of millennials.

Welcome to the wonderful world of being an adult. No one said this was going to be easy. Sure, you can eat Girl Scout Cookies for dinner (at $3.50 a box), but that’s all you’ll be eating as a college student.

As a journalist, I hear I’m going into a “dying field” almost every time I tell someone my major. And believe me, it gets old.

Given few exceptions, the job market is bad for everyone. Based on some of my recent friends who have graduated, I think a major contributing factor to this millennial unemployment rate has to do with this generation of students who are just getting a degree without any forethought on what they actually want to do after college.

Then they’re stuck with a degree they don’t want in a field they don’t like.

“

From the Editorial Board

Take a stand, SGA There’s nothing more fearful for students than spending four years (or more) of time and money on a degree that won’t start your career.

But the truth is, your chances of employment drastically increase with a degree. How much harder do you think it is for someone who has no education, has a disability and no means to go back to school?

Let’s compare that stat to the millennials and see who comes out ahead.

To put things into perspective: according to a study by Georgetown University, the unemployment rate of recent college graduates was 6.8 percent and 4.5 percent for all graduates.

“Hurry up and wait” was a key theme when I served on active duty in the Army. Basically, you were told to go do something and had to wait on the system logistics to catch up with your orders.

Well, this unemployment issue is no different. I’ll agree that it’s not the most pleasant of circumstances, but the millennial generation just needs to toughen up.

The future is for those who are willing to put in more and get less. That’s how it’s always been.

You will often find that persistence pays off.

Debt: The best investment?

L

MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitchell Oliver is an Eagle Scout studying Finance at GSU to be a top financial consultant or financial adviser His influences for writing include Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics fame.

Follow him @madmoneyATL.

et’s face it, a vast majority of you out there can’t afford college. A harsh reality, yes. Yet, college attendance numbers are climbing each year.

The reason? Student loan debt.

Both the government and essentially every bank has realized the prospective gold mine that is college students and are capitalizing on it via student loans.

Many view this as a bad thing, saying this is taking advantage of younger, less educated people’s finances.

However, I feel student loan debt shouldn’t be frowned upon. Besides, more than half of us will graduate with some.

I could sit here and tell of horror stories from student debt or the bankruptcies of college-aged people.

I could even go all Dave Ramsey and chastise you on being debt-free. But at the end of the day, student loans will still be taken out en masse.

So instead, I’d like to ask you to think of loans from another perspective.

Say you take out $40,000 over the course of your degree. So now all you have to do is think: “was my degree worth $40,000?” That’s an easy answer and the math will make it clear as to why. Let’s do two scenarios.

Say you don’t attend college and don’t get a degree.

Hey, you’re already $40,000 richer and 4 years ahead of your college graduate self! And you just landed a

full-time job making $30,000 a year (the average salary of a high school graduate)!

So you work from age 18 to 65 at $30,000 per year.

That’s more than $1.4 million you’ve made.

Now let’s take a look at your college graduate path.

You land a job starting at $45,000 (average salary of college graduates) and, by your 10th year working, you’re making $55,000.

This isn’t a rare thing to see for anyone with a college degree. So from the age of 22 to 65 you’ll earn roughly $2.26 million. Subtract about $50,000 for the student debt with interest that you paid off and the difference comes out to about $800,000.

Now you can ask yourself again like this: “is going $40,000 into debt worth gaining $800,000 later?” At a 2,000 percent return on your money, I think college is one of the best investments there is.

So all I ask is that, for a moment, we all stop placing the blame on student loan programs. Besides, were it not for student loans, millions of students, myself included, would not be given the opportunity to attend college and possibly better ourselves.

Student loans give the average person a chance they might not otherwise ever get again, and for that I say “thank you.” I feel the hate and anger towards student loans is misguided.

If people are smart and responsible, student loans can really make a difference.

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columnists

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 application from georgiastatesignal.com/employment and turn it in to Dr. Bryce McNeil at 330 Student Center

T

he gun control debate raging across the country is not new. Since Columbine, the argument has swung back and forth with little to no results.

With the Price Middle School shooting, the debate has now reached our backyard. The Georgia General Assembly has introduced legislation that would allow guns on campus.

With gun violence surging throughout the US, one would think the better idea would be to keep guns out of our campus, instead of bringing it in.

For this reason, The Signal is against House Bill 29.

But that’s not really the point of this editorial.

At last week’s Student Government Association meeting, members of the executive board said the SGA would not be taking a position on HB 29. It was a strange development, considering President Marcus Kernizan came out in support of the current gun ban on campus just a few weeks ago. (See news story on page 5) But since the meeting, the SGA’s official position is that they are indeed against HB 29, though it’s a temporary position until they receive more feedback from students.

The topic of guns on campus may seem like a divisive political situation for many of our SGA representatives, but by definition, these are exactly the kinds of situations student politicians should be dealing with.

If anything could influence policy up at the Capitol over guns on campus, it could be a single unified message from the student government representing the majority opinion of Georgia State students—the largest university in Atlanta.

Second-guessing yourself in a situation like this could only cause others to do the same; when the time comes to take real action, the protests could end up falling on deaf ears.

Besides, nobody likes a flip-flopping politician.

Ask Mitt Romney.

It’s apparent the SGA is taking steps to better represent the student body, evident in their recent election of two senators who are also executive members of the Sustainable Energy Tribe.

As Executive Vice President Taylor Briggs said, students have different beliefs and special interests, and to be a part of a group of varying beliefs promotes diversity. The role of the SGA is to represent all students; bringing in students who only share the same interests is not only clique-ish, but treads dangerous ground that could lead to corruption and cronyism.

In addition, we applaud the SGA for passing Resolution 12.2, which calls for the creation of the green fee. The Signal has written extensive editorials about this in the past, so we won’t go into the importance of the green fee, but we hope the resolution will at least place some kind of bug in President Becker’s ear. It would be a shame if he lets this one slip again.

With SGA elections around the corner, we hope the current and incoming administration will be more mindful of the students’ positions on issues in the future. Don’t be afraid to take a stand, because you’d be surprised how many will listen.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Blow the whistle R

AMI DUDLEY Columnist Ami Dudley is a junior English major and one of The Signal’s premier staff critics. She was recently published in “The Underground” literary journal.

Follow her @amidudley

aise your hand if you’ve ever heard of a rape whistle. Raise your hand if you’ve ever owned one or know anyone who does. These whistles are designed to ward of a rapist, like warding off a bear in the woods and, according to Democratic Colorado Lawmaker Joe Salazar, female college students should rely on these instead of guns to protect themselves in the event of an attack.

The Colorado House passed a bill on Monday that bans concealed weapons on campus.

While I’m on the fence about the “guns on campus” debate, I find it absolutely preposterous and blatantly idiotic that anyone would suggest a whistle over a gun for protection.

Taking away students’ guns and throwing them a whistle isn’t a fair exchange, Mr. Salazar. That’s like taking my Xbox 360 and offering me a Gameboy. It’s not as effective, Mr. Salazar. What’s even more disturbing is that there are no overtly distinguishable differences between the rape whistle and other whistles.

Websites selling the whistles claim they’re very loud so other people will hear it and come to your rescue.There a few problems with this disclaimer.

First, on a campus like Georgia State, surrounded by busy streets and traffic cops, I doubt you’ll think a rape is taking place if

you hear a whistle blow. Second, if you’re in a parking lot alone and it’s 1 a.m., the whistle is merely music at this point. Some websites are claiming the whistles will startle the attacker. These attackers aren’t aliens from another planet who haven’t heard such a noise so I doubt they’d be too startled. So what do you do next?

A public safety “What To DO IF You’re Attacked” list was put out and “peeing and vomiting” was among other suggestions on the list.

I’m not a psychologist or have any knowledge on the mental state of rapists but I’m going to guess if someone is willing to rape you, then they’re probably willing to put up with a little extra bodily fluid. Once again, no effective resolutions are being offered. But there are solutions.

What I didn’t find on the list were taser guns, pepper spray or any other kind of non-lethal but effective weapons. Have you ever seen a person get tasered? After convulsing on the floor in a fetal position, they don’t usually get up and continue their predatory actions. You see, there’s a medium we can come to folks. We can both have our slices of cakeshere. So, while we’re still tirelessly debating on the “guns on campus” issue, there are still effective protection against crimes for students.

just for laughs

Dry hump, anyone?

C

JABARI KIONGOZI Resident Humorist Jabari hails from outside the 285 perimeter. He’s thought of as short, kind of cute and theoretically rich.

He’s a comedian, so go to his shows.

Follow him @JoeBraxton

o-loco, la-li-qua…” (Beat Drops) “Now do the Harlem Shake!”

What’s up world. Now, if you’re oblivious to what I just referenced, next time you’re in class “taking notes” on your MacBook, visit your user-submitted video site of choice. Either YouTube, for good wholesome family TV dinner fun or WorldStar for your daily dose of ratchetness. Type in the words “Harlem Shake” and watch people as they jump around, gyrate or hunch a stuffed animal. You may not find it to be the most amusing thing out right now, but I can assure you it’s better than watching “Identity Thief.” That movie was so horrible, the producers should do like Carnival and re-reimburse everyone for paying to sleep through a bunch of crap.

Anyway, Harlem Shake video uploads are the new epidemic. One of the controversies behind them is that none of the persons in the videos are actually doing the Harlem Shake. You remember it, right? That seizure-looking-like wobble you probably didn’t do at your middle school dance because you saw how stupid the person doing it looked. Wait, did I just describe the original dance or the videos? It’s kind of hard to tell, but there’s a huge gray area.

Let’s do a video breakdown (shouts out to “Tosh.O”). First, you’ll notice a single individual doing what looks like a rendition of Jason Bigg’s notorious strip tease in American pie. Baauer’s club mix will be playing as a few individuals sit

7

OPINIONS

YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS How do you think the campus smoking ban is working at Georgia State and how do you think it has affected student life on campus?

Name: Jeff Fernandez Major: Public policy

“To be honest, since I’m only here twice a week I wouldn’t know what is going on for the rest of the days. I have noticed there is a cut down in people smoking out in the quads and all that. But there is no one really enforcing that among the other students. You don’t have someone out there saying, ‘you can’t have chewing tobacco or smoke your Black and Mild,’ so you don’t really have someone reinforcing that. It is a little bit lax, but at the same time some of the students do respect the ban”

Name: Mike nunes Major: film and sociology

around pretending to not notice. For the first fifteen seconds, the mix will sound like something you might imagine being played at a parade. Then, after a quick video cut, the bass will come in and a ton of people will each showcase their head-banging capabilities. This is the wildest part. In most videos, people are dressed up in funny costumes. It looks like the revival of Studio 54.

So, how do we feel about these videos? Well, I keep my ear to the streets and a lot of people expressed their disapproval. One individual said, “It’s just a pandemic. A sorry representation of our fun, youthful generation.” And people actually from Harlem, NY, are livid about these videos. But is it really that bad? I mean, we just got past Tebowing and Planking. And it’s only a matter of time before the Dirty South invents a new two-step. Why not embrace the movement?

Some of my friends have enjoyed watching the videos and want to make their own version.

I don’t know how much more creative you can get. Someone’s already beat you to making a cat edition. But go have fun anyway. Television news stations have even participated in this.

Maybe the Harlem Shake isn’t so bad. Or maybe we’re to blame it for asteroids hailing out the sky. The only thing left to amaze me is if Christina Tetrick, who’s expected to give birth to quadruplets, uploaded a video of her sonogram and her two sets of twins did the Harlem Shake.

“It’s given us something to whine about.

But I don’t see any smokers, including myself, not smoking. What it’s really caused is more cigarette butts on the floor and all over the ground. I walked past a cop with a cigarette and he didn’t say anything to me. I’ve heard that some of the cops are getting on people, but I haven’t experienced that yet. It’s kind of stupid. It’s kicking the horse for a broken wheel on the wagon. You’re not really solving any issue, you’re just giving us another pain in the butt.”

Name: Michelle feinberg Major: film “I personally don’t think that it is very effective. People are going to smoke regardless and you are in the city so people that don’t even go to Georgia State are going to be smoking because they are just walking through the city casually. I haven’t actually seen any effects of it here on campus. No one really seems to do anything with it.”

Name: melissa reed Major: anthropology “I don’t know how well it’s worked because I still see some students smoking outside the buildings and in public areas. I mean, I have noticed that it has decreased and I really like it because I am really sensitive to smoke.

I think it’s a good thing because it takes other students into consideration.”

Name: william ruffin Major: history

“I transferred here this semester so I can’t really tell you how it was last semester prior to the smoking ban. But just looking around, it’s not working out that well. It’s probably making the campus a little dirtier, because I have to imaging they had ashtrays that people could put their cigarettes in, and clearly those don’t exist. It looks like it’s dirtied the campus.”

Name: Daricka Jones Major: psychology

“I don’t think that its effective because it isn’t being enforced. I don’t think it affecting student life at all because people are smoking whenever and wherever they want. Also I feel like smoking is a personal choice, but at the same time don’t make it everybody else’s choice to breathe in your smoke. That’s why I think they created [the ban] but what good is a law if it’s not enforced? I have asthma, and when I come out of a building I’m holding my breath because I can’t breathe.”

The Society of Professional Journalist regional convention Georgia State University March 15 - 17

Cost: $120 for all three days

MA 1 3 CONFERENCE The SIGNAL and South Florida SPJ present

THE 2013

Including guest speakers from the Atlanta JournalConstitution, Creative Loafing, Student Press Law Center and many more!

What you get: -One-on-one sessions with the pros -Networking with peers -Mock interviews and resume reviews -Personalized critiques of your work

FREE workshops on Friday, March 15!

For more information, visit mediatlanta.com or contact Bryce McNeil at 404-413-1617 or email at bmcneil1@gsu.edu

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

ARTS & LIVING

www.gsusignal.com/artsandliving

Reconstructing Rap Culture

A

JOHNNY GIPSON Staff Reporter

n excited buzz fills the air as a swarm of apprehensive students enter a room in the University Center. A slight tension can be felt as a disc jockey warms up on stage, scratching a vinyl record while several cameramen shrewdly inspect their lenses.

A smile of anticipation is daubed over the face of a bespectacled man wearing a thick outercoat as he watches several Panthers playfully bounce rhymes off of one another.

The edges of a circle slowly form as everyone turns towards the room’s center.

As the cypher begins, there is a clear symbolism of the cultural changes occurring

within the city.

At Soul Food Cypher, Atlanta freestyle rappers congregate to network and express themselves lyrically. At first glance, the Soul Food Cypher may seem like the typical underground battle rap scene, but with a closer look, it becomes apparent the cypher is different. Dissociating from the typical backand-forth braggadocio of battle rap, the Soul Food Cypher features several format based freestyle rounds in which no topic is off limits, ranging from personal anecdotes to prominent social issues, such as the controversial Christopher Dorner case.

Continued on next page

PHOTOS BY TERAH BOYD | THE SIGNAL

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A&L

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Reconstructing Rap Culture:

Soul Food Cypher looks to revitalize rap heritage and Atlanta community Continued from previous page Where It All Began Founded at Wonderroot Arts Center, the cypher infuses artistic expression and philanthropic efforts to elevate the morale of the greater Atlanta community.

“The Soul Food Cypher is an organization whose purpose is to reverse the negative stigma associated with rap,” said founder and Executive Director Alex Acosta. “We feel that speech has the power to transform individuals and culture, as our emcees act as spokespeople for their communities, influencing the lexicon of America.”

Acosta’s passion for art can be traced back to his roots in photography, which is how he conceptualized the cypher in the first place.

“I wanted to continue developing my photography skills, and that’s when somebody told me about Wonderroot I started going there on a weekly basis, and one night I attended a party there where I noticed people freestyling,” he said. “I realized then that I wanted to create a place where it’s an open forum for emcees to meet and rap.”

Acosta could recall his earliest memories of rap to his childhood, when he witnessed his first cypher.

“I was about 5 years old and my friend Sam was rapping with his friends in the garage over NWA beats,” he said. “He placed me right next to the boom box, and at the time I couldn’t comprehend what they were doing. But now that I look back, my first memory of hip-hop was a cypher.”

The root meaning of “cypher” also has special connotations, as well as the purpose behind its organization.

“The term ‘cypher’ means ‘circle’, as well as its Arabic meanings, which are ‘calculation’ and ‘problem solving,” Acosta said. “We have discussions and equal levels for communication throughout the circle that we rap in. We make it a necessity that there are no stages or microphones used because we want all of our lyricists on a level ground. Everyone speaks democratically and there’s equality amongst all artists.”

The Rap Pack Georgia State’s first Soul Food Cypher was held this month. The event featured several rap communities from around Atlanta as well as local rappers from Georgia State, including “Conscious Collective”, a spoken word assembly.

Shalom Little, a member of “Conscious Collective”, said he noticed many similarities between Georgia State’s cypher and Wonderroot’s cyphers.

“It was very similar to what we witness regularly at Wonderroot,” Little said. “Wonderroot runs a little smoother just because of experience, but the spaciousness of the venue at Georgia State definitely made it more comfortable” Little has been rapping for 14 years and was impressed by the energy Georgia State showed at the cypher.

“It was very reassuring to see people I didn’t know out there spitting genuine raps,” Little said.

“I loved the effort and it’s great to see that Georgia State’s student body embraces hip-hop culture and has a love of music.”

Although Acosta is the visionary behind the Soul Food Cypher, the movement would never have reached Georgia State’s campus if not for Karon Franklin, Concert Director of the Spotlight Program Board.

Franklin organized the event after attending a cypher at Wonderroot five months ago.

“It was an amazing concept. I just wanted to be a part of it. I attend Wonderroot every second and fourth Sunday, and I really wanted to bring it to Georgia State,” Franklin said. “Luckily, I’m in a position at this school to bring it to our students.

We also have two more planned on March 13 and April 17, and by next academic year, hopefully it will be an established monthly event.”

Franklin was surprised about the turnout at

“

I feel like there is a pay for play system with the local radio...People need to pay more attention to the local artists who are putting out quality music, but aren’t getting recognition.”

-Karon Franklin, Concert Director, Spotlight Program Board

Georgia State’s first cypher.

“It was a seamless transition,” Franklin said.

“There was great attendance, and there were no hassles at all. It helped give a lot of exposure and networking opportunities to up and coming rappers, and for a first time event, it went very smooth.

The cypher really helped to promote artistry”.

Franklin’s interest in music supersedes attending and organizing cyphers. He is also an up and coming artist, known as “Kingsy.”

“I’ve always had an interest in the music industry,” Franklin said. “My goal is to work various parts of the industry into one. I’m very interested in production and management. I definitely see myself subtly monopolizing the music industry, for example owning a venue and a record label together.”

The Southern Renaissance Although Acosta and Franklin have differing ambitions and personal goals, they both share an interest in quality rap music. They were also very vocal about their opinions regarding the current state of Atlanta’s rap, and had a plethora of insight about the culture of rap music.

“I feel like there is a pay for play system with the local radio,” Franklin said. “People need to pay more attention to the local artists who are putting out quality music, but aren’t getting recognition.

A majority of people are chasing the same sound.

The scale of experimentation has definitely decreased.”

Rap’s lack of recognition by mainstream musical forums (the Grammys for example) doesn’t move Acosta much.

“I could care less about the national representation of rap. It doesn’t matter if it’s mainstream. Rap is a live culture that is better as an underground forum,” Acosta said. “You can see the evolution of rap in Atlanta… Atlanta’s music is constantly reconstructing itself and has become a melting pot of culture” Acosta said he can see history repeating itself in Atlanta’s new wave of musical culture.

“Atlanta’s culture has become an enigma that represents a 21st century Southern Renaissance,” Acosta said. “Atlanta is the new Hollywood, and there’s a reverse migration coming back to Atlanta

TERAH BOYD | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State students and members of Atlanta’s rap community participated in the Soul Food Cypher. Artists joined in rap battles, rap debates and special performaces last weekend at WonderRoot. Left: Kenny Golden beat boxes a rap debate. Top: Majorca Murphy played MC for the event at WonderRoot. Bottom: A group of Georgia State student rappers, Subconscious, gave a guest performance. because of our post-industrial society. Atlanta is the new ‘chocolate city’. Soul Food Cypher sees itself as a part of this cultural wave, and the migration to Atlanta provides a diverse array of rap styles at our cyphers.”

Franklin, however, has a different view on the evolution of rap music.

“Rap doesn’t face the same discrimination that it once did upon its conception, but it doesn’t get much respect as a genuine art form,” Franklin said. “There is far less discrimination in rap than in previous years, a prime example being Drake, a Jewish-Canadian rapper who’s winning Grammys now. That might not have been possible a few years ago. People automatically assume a rap album fits a certain criteria when they hear the genre. There’s no discrimination, but there’s no appreciation either.”

Little said cyphers help break the stereotypes that many Atlanta rappers face, and said Georgia State’s expansive network is the catalyst for change.

“Georgia State’s size as a university draws a lot of attention from the music industry,” Little said.

“The genuine rap style that we’re creating reaches a lot of people, and I think it’s great for the culture.”

Little, Acosta and Franklin all agree cyphers

bring a certain standard of lyricism back to Atlanta rap, because the unpredictable format of the battles prevents pre-conceived rhyme making.

Franklin intends to organize an individual Soul Food Cypher chapter at Georgia State, while Acosta plans to spread his movement to every major city in the United States.

Little also feels the future of Atlanta rap has a variety of directions it can go as a result of everyone’s collective efforts.

As bass bangs through gritty instrumental, passion and distinction can be seen in the faces of emcees as they release their innermost thoughts.

Amongst the head bobbing and aggressive hand movements, a rugged image of innovative artistry can be seen within Atlanta’s most promising lyricists.

“Atlanta has been the Motown of music for quite some time now,” Little said. “A lot of the style that has been unique to Atlanta can now be heard nationally. As a result of this, if our community continues to promote sincere musical production, Atlanta will continue to prosper. However, if the mainstream stays at the level it’s at right now, our identity will lose its appeal and a new region will be the source of musical inspiration.”

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Preview: Down the Yellow Brick Road Actor James Franco and Director Sam Raimi talk ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ SAMANTHA REARDON Columnist

I

t has been almost 100 years since the legend of Oz was manifested into literature by author L. Frank Baum. Like any great mythology, Oz has been adapted in many ways, and “Oz the Great and Powerful” is the newest undertaking by director Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Spider-Man) and actor James Franco (Pineapple Express, 127 Hours).

Director Sam Raimi said he drew inspiration for his unique adaptation of Oz from L. Frank Baum’s first book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and its illustrations by W.W. Denslow, as well as the well-known 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” “More than the visuals, what inspired me about ‘The Wizard of Oz’ movie was the characters sense of love that they had for each other,” Raimi said. “How friends come together. And that very soulful, sweet message at the end of the picture when we learn from the wizard that all of us are complete – we have the things within us to make us complete if we only recognize it. And that gave me a great source of inspiration.”

Given that friendship is a theme Raimi found inspiration in for “Oz the Great and Powerful”, his casting of James Franco as the lead character seemed very fitting.

Franco played Harry Osburn in the Spider-Man trilogy, re-uniting with Raimi for “Oz”. Franco said when the two worked on “SpiderMan”, he was a supporting character, and ultimately Raimi identifies with his lead characters more closely.

“I got a little less love than Tobey Macguire on those films, just because of what my character was doing,” Franco said. “Now that I’m the protagonist in Oz, Sam is identifying with my character.”

Franco read Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” book series as a boy, and was immediately interested in the new film adaptation. Though “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a family-friendly movie different from any other in his repertoire, Franco felt he could embody Oz. “I saw the role as something I could have a lot of fun with,” Franco said. “Oz is a comedic character within this fantastical world. I found that combination to be fairly unusual.”

Franco explained that his role as Oz is very different from one such as Dorothy, who happily navigates her way from Kansas to the yellow brick road and beyond. Franco’s character is a “con-man, stumbling his way through Oz.” “This character starts off as a flawed man,” Franco said. “He’s selfish, he’s a bit of a womanizer and he thinks that happiness will come from

financial success and fame. It blinds him to the love of the people around him.” For Oz, the movie is more than just a journey through a mystical land – it’s an evolution of a misguided man into a better one.

Like Franco, Raimi has a varied body of work – he has directed horror and action films, and “Oz” is his foray into the family-adventure genre. But Raimi prefers not to look at his body of

ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN BROWN work in the traditional sense.

“I just am a filmmaker,” Raimi said. “I’m a storyteller; an entertainer. I don’t know where Oz the Great and Powerful fits in the body of work. I try to make it as entertaining as possible – put as much thrills and chills into the film as possible… all I can say is that I hope the audience enjoys it.”

Raimi and Franco are both more than entertainers. Franco, for example, is currently teaching a film course at University of Southern California and has attended several different schools in the past seven years.

“I got a little addicted to school,” Franco said. “Now I’m doing a lot more teaching than I am studying, and it’s a great new chapter in my life.

I love teaching.”

Raimi was once a college student too, but left Michigan State University to pursue his passion directing films. He then began busing tables and legally soliciting investors for his first “cheesy horror film,” the cult classic “The Evil Dead” (1981).

“I wanted to become a film-maker, and [Evil Dead] was the movie I made,” Raimi said. “It wasn’t that Evil Dead helped me with my career – that was my call. I wanted to be-

come a feature filmmaker and that was the fruit of my labors.”

For aspiring filmmakers attending college, Raimi gave some advice: start directing now.

“Every day, you should be writing: a script or a scene,” Raimi said.

“Every weekend you should be shooting a scene from the script you’ve been writing, on Sundays you should be cutting the thing, and on Mondays you should be showing it to a university audience. And they won’t like your damn little picture.”

** “Oz the Great and Powerful” hits theaters March 8. **

columns

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FASHION FORECAST

Student style profile: John David McLean I interviewed Georgia State junior John David McLean about his “preppy old man” style. Enjoy!

S: How do you describe your personal style?

SAMANTHA REARDON Columnist

Tweet Samantha and share your thoughts on fashion, inspiration and Ryan Gosling, of course.

Follow Samantha @ pinsandplats

J: I kind of like to blur the line between formal and casual a lot, which means I tend to wear a lot of collared shirts. I don’t like tshirts very much. But I guess [my style] is kind of preppy. That’s usually the way I describe my style to people. Kind of “preppy old man.”

J: GQ does street style and they take hundreds of photos of Fashion Week…what everyone’s wearing. I’ve been going through that slideshow over and over again, finding new stuff. I love seeing what designers wear. Seeing what they bring out on the runway is kind of cool, but seeing what they actually wear is usually where I find a lot of inspiration.

J: The greatest store in the world is Club Monaco. I love Club Monaco. Other than that, J. Crew…H&M - it’s pretty cheap there. Oh, and the tie bar: If you’re a dude and you want to buy ties, just buy them all from thetiebar.com. Like bowties, narrow ties, anything.

W

RAVEN SCHLEY Columnist

Raven Schley is a pop culture fanatic. To read more about what is going on in the world of music, movies and T.V. follow her blog: thevintagebellee. blogspot.com.

Follow Raven Schley @honeybeerave

COURTESY OF LAURA APPERSON

LAURA APPERSON Columnist

Laura Apperson is an English major studying abroad in Paris. Laura, a lover of all things literature, art and culture, will be keeping us up-to-date on her adventures overseas.

S: What kind of advice do you have for anyone trying to define their own personal style?

Follow Laura @LCatAp

J: Don’t worry about breaking the rules.

Tweet me with who you think should be March’s student style profile.

SAMANTHA REARDON | THE SIGNAL John David McLean’s “preppy old man” style.

Oh, I got time for that atching Youtube videos is probably one of my favorite things to do whenever I’m not studying for a test, doing homework or hanging out with friends. It is honestly one of the best inventions ever because it has so many uses.

You can watch music videos, movies, product reviews and, not to mention, all of the ratchet foolery that people upload on a daily basis It’s great!

Recently, Youtube has been buzzing with new music video premiers, dance crazes and Youtube sensations. Let’s talk about some of them.

Sweet Brown, girl you famous now!

The story and evolution of Sweet Brown blesses my soul every time.

Who knew that a woman battling bronchitis, searching of a “cold pop” and trying to escape a fire, would be so important to American pop culture today? I surely did not.

Brown, most known for her “ain’t nobody got time for that” quote, has become quite the little star. Since her newscast debut back in 2012, the Oklahoma native has been on television shows like Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen”, Comdey Central’s “Tosh.O” and a commercial.

All I can say is: “good for her!”

When that video of her on the news went viral, everyone was laughing at her, but now she is getting the last laugh.

Paris after dark

J: I know something that’s already getting really big. I don’t have the courage to start doing it yet but…camo. Camo is going to be huge.

S: So where do you generally shop for your clothes?

J: Well, I like everything Thom Browne designs. If I had enough money I would wear all of his clothes. Mick Wooster’s also pretty cool. I think he’s like, the most stylish person in the world. I fol-

PANTHER AT LARGE

S: What do you think will be trending come spring?

S: I like that description. So do you keep up with trends?

S: Do you have a particular designer you follow?

POP CULTURE

low a lot of designers on Twitter, see what they’re looking at.

Four-pins.com is pretty good.

And there’s this Tumblr: howtotalktogirlsatparties? It’s awesome.

I think I just like the name the most.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

She’s laughing all the way to the bank, and I’m not even mad at her.

Get that money, honey!

Do the Harlem Shake!

A new dance craze is taking over the virtual world. Hundreds of people and even celebrities like “Mindless Behavior” have been uploading these “Harlem Shake” videos to Youtube.

If you are clueless as to what this is, don’t be ashamed because I was too. Basically, this guy named Baauer made a song called “Harlem Shake,” and people just started making videos to it.

The videos are funny because they start off with one person dancing and then as the beat of the song builds it erupts into a mass of people dancing and going crazy all over the place.

I guess this dance craze is the new “Gangnam Style,” but I’m sure there will be some new craze that comes along after this one. There always is.

Rihanna wants you to “Stay” On Feb. 12, Rihanna released her music video for “Stay.” Honestly, I was a little disappointed. The heartfelt ballad is one of my favorite songs on her “Unapologetic” album and I really wish that she would have done more with the video for it.

From the beginning of the video all the way until the end, all Rih Rih does is sit in a bath tub and stare

“

She could have frolicked in the fields somewhere, or at least sung the lyrics to the song. Maybe I’m just disappointed because I had envisioned what I thought the video would look like, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

uncomfortably at the camera. Then, towards the very end, she mumbles half of a sentence from the song and works up one tear to fall down her face. Then, it’s over.

I mean I guess you can argue that she was trying to be vulnerable, but I wasn’t here for it. She could have frolicked in the fields somewhere, or at least sung the lyrics to the song. Maybe I’m just disappointed because I had envisioned what I thought the video would look like, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

At any rate I still have love for Princess Rih, and everyone else seems to like this video. It’s gained over 23 million views on youtube since it was released.

It’s crazy how rapidly Youtube and the internet in general is becoming the base for all entertainment. I wonder what new craze or sensation is going to pop up next.

I’ve never been a huge fan of clubs; the loud, pounding music and excessive crowds leave me void of a good conversation and uncomfortable from all the excessive groping I’ve experienced throughout the night. Unfortunately, Paris clubs aren’t dramatically different than clubs found in the U.S. What I’ve discovered in the two months that I’ve been in Paris is that the small, local bars are the best kind of nightlife you can find—it’s even better when there’s (good) live music and maybe a small dance floor in front of the stage.

It sounds so simple, but it’s the best place to find Parisians with their best friends, laughing obnoxiously loud, drinking too much and being themselves in their own neighborhood. It’s where you meet all kinds of new people from all over the world. Several times I’ve gone out with my American friends, and, while speaking English at the bar, started a conversation with a French guy who commented to his friends, «Il y a beaucoup d’anglais...j’ai rien compris» after turning to them and saying, «J’ai compris ça.»

And while celebrating a friend’s birthday at a bar in Le Marais, (we were the most culturally diverse crowd there—two people from China, one from Madagascar, one from France, and two from the U.S., including me, speaking approximately three languages at any given time) we made friends with a crowd of French people, who glanced over at us every time they heard the sound of roaring laughter. We ended up having a really amazing conversation with them.

I have yet to have a poor experience at a Paris bar. And while I’m sure I’ve gotten lucky choosing the right location (I’ve passed by the most extraordinarily sketchy bars and avoided them like the plague), I so look forward to the weekend nights at a new Paris bar. There’s nothing more satisfying than having a truly amazing conversation over one (or more than one) beer with someone from a completely different walk of life.

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REVIEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

NOW PLAYING AT

Cinefest

COURTESY OF AMY PRICE

Nic Sanders (right) and Kenny Sanders (left) of Graham’s Number

ATL Rock Of Ages: making a music festival MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reporter

‘City of God’ Synopsis: Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.

Showtimes: Mon. - Fri: 11:00 am, 1:30pm, 4:00pm, 7:00pm Weekend: 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm Running time: 130 minutes Rated: R

T

he Bronx are primarily known for two distinctive sounding kinds of albums, which in itself is something of a feet in punk rock; a genre notorious for being pretty easy to phone it in. The Bronx (IV) should technically count as an album for their aggressive punk rock side as opposed to their Mariachi experiments(Mariachi el Bronx).

And while there is no Mariachi to be found here, it would be mislabeling to classify this as a typical punk rock album. The Bronx bring it in ways they never have before on their 4th outing and mix up the aggressive with a healthy dose of finesse to create an emotionally charged sounding album.

The staples are all here as expected; the crunchy guitar riffs, the machine-gun fire drumming and the attitude. The album opener “Unholy Hand” sets the tone of the album by being an unflinch-

ing, punch in the mouth. The energy never drops from there but the ballsy aggression of the album is so up front, it’s not till after the fact that you appreciate the creative touches. The band flirts with some more melodic sounds that were virtually unheard of on their last albums and a few of the tracks (“Along For The Ride”, “Youth Wasted” and “Pilot Light”) sound like outright skate punk.

Post-hardcore song structures and emocore influences come through can be heard on one of the standout tracks of the album “Torches.” But they never forsake they’re aggressive energy and for even gorgeous sounding melodic line and unique guitar tone, there’s a monster of a backbeat and a wall of guitar furry right behind it. That juxtaposition of charged punk rock energy meets softer melody is trend that’s also present on Matt Caughthran’s vocals. He sound as good barking death threats as he does letting his voice crack with real emotion.

If there was one word you could use to describe the sound

COURTESY OF AMY PRICE

Rhythem guitarist Kenny Sanders performing at ‘Rock of Ages’. of The Bronx IV it would be mature. Even the lyrics reflect a subtle mood shift that’s displays a surprising growth “There was a time when the world was under our control/But that hour has died/And now we’re just along for the ride,” ain’t exactly “Anarchy In The U.K”. Though that’s not to say The Bronx completely forsake youthful anger for introspection as they are quick to remind in “Style Over Everything” “I shoot

to kill/I don’t [expletive] around!”

The Bronx keep it balanced with tight punk rock hooks paired with creative songwriting and marked maturity. At no moment does The Bronx IV ever get stale and with the exception of one track, “The Less Ordinary” (which is the only moment when the album truly feels like it loses momentum), there are no throw away tracks and each one packs as much as wallop as the one before.

Movie review: Beautiful Creatures AMI DUDLEY Staff Reviewer

The film is a Southern “Romeo and Juliet” with a magical twist. Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), our “Romeo,” is a boy in a small Southern town who loves to read and dreams of attending a university far, far away from his town (that has annual civil-war re-enactments and holds town gatherings at church to discuss the banning of devil-worshipers). We can see why he wants to leave. He falls pretty quickly for a mysterious newcomer to the town, Lena (Alice Englert), who everyone Grade: D

quickly learns is a witch, or as her family and she prefer, “caster.”

With the soap-opera like story line and some pretty cool magic tricks, this film could’ve been a nice fix for “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” fans who are currently experiencing the shakes, sweats and other withdrawal symptoms from the ending of those series. But apparently, you can’t have enough Southern hospitality for one person. The heavy-laced Southern accents in the film are about as overbearing as an entire bottle of maple syrup and one pancake.

The actors and actresses (none of which are from the South) sounded like Running Time: 1 hr. 58 min.

they watched an episode of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” minutes before the scenes were filmed. While the film is set in South Carolina, it’s also set in present-day and the overuse of “Mama says” before every sentence gives the film a 19th century Antebellum feel. It’s painful and quite sad to watch acclaimed British actress Emma Thompson force an 1850’s summer-heated Southern accent.

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder because the film was nothing short of an ugly mesh of ear-bleeding Southern draw and blatantly stereotypical performances. Until next time fantasy-romance feigns!

MPAA Rating: PG-13

REVIEWS

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VA - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO BY CASTLE FACE & FRIENDS The Velvet Underground & Nico by Castle Face & Friends UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA II

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Wreaking Bar Brew Pub TERAH BOYD Arts & Living Editor

NUCULAR AMINALS Start from an End

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NOSAJ THING Home

5 4 3 2

FALTYDL Hardcourage

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FOXYGEN We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic

GLISS Langsom Dans

JACCO GARDNER Cabinet of Curiosities DJ SUN One Hundred DUCKTAILS The Flower Lane

aybe a little fancy for some college beer and food seekers, but The Wrecking Bar Brew Pub is worth the extra change.

Located just off the strip in Little Five Points, it is similar to Brickstore and The Porter—except they’re brewing their own beer.

The inside is like an old tavern, or even a castle. Weekdays bring a good-sized crowd and many were bellying up to the bar. For in-house brews, the beer was reasonably priced. The two I tried, the American stout and the kolquittsch, were good beers but pretty traditional flavors.

The cocktail menu was full of fun takes on old classics. What was really nice was the bartender’s name is located next to the cocktail (and the beers labeled who came up with the recipe). This kind of ownership and pride really enhanced the dining experience, especially when the bartenders have their names on their shirts.

The menu was chef driven and was full of obviously seasonal choices. Most dishes incorporated some version of a root vegetable, which was very nice on a cold evening. They list their local venders (Hurray!) on the menu and boast that even the bread comes from Holman and Fitch and the cheese is from Thomasville, Ga. There were also specials featured so you can come back more often and still try something new.

TERAH BOYD | THE SIGNAL

Not just bar food: Wreaking Bar’s yummy focus is on local products.

The steak tartare was on special and it was possibly one of the best ones I had ever had. It was standard issue as far as the capers and quail egg yolk is concerned. The way the meat was cut was exceptional with special attention paid to textures. It was served on a warm slate slab with whole grain mustard (which was delicious, but not necessary) and spent grain bread.

There was nothing unique or particularly special about the tartare, except that it was executed perfectly and tasted delicious. If you don’t know if cow sushi is your thing, Wrecking Bar might change your mind. The calamari was a similar story, nothing you have never seen before, but done very well: a crispy tempura breading, Asian spice and herbs with a little punch. The bar patrons raved about the generous helping of fries served at the bar.

Entrees were also very nice. The portion sizes were great for the quality and cost of the food.

The short rib was tender and was served with a really great squash puree. The trout dish could have stood a pinch more salt, but was moist and tender. The accompanying brussel and squash hash was crispy, buttery and perfectly seasoned.

If you are looking for more traditional (albeit well-done) bar fare there are a number of burgers

and sandwiches on the menu.

Another treat was almost everything on the menu included one of Wrecking Bar’s homebrewed beers and even the deserts. Chocolate stout crème brulee and stout Sundays were in great style with the rest of the menu.

Overall, the service and food made for a great dinner. They didn’t reinvent the wheel, but they did cook a really good one.

Wrecking Bar Brewpub 292 Moreland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307 404.221.2600

Student Activity Fee Funding for Fiscal Year 2014 The Student Activity Fee Committee (SAFC) has released the budget request form for the Diversity Fee Council for Fiscal Year 2014 (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014) and the Student Activity Fee Overview document. The documents are currently available on the OrgSync website: http://gsu.orgsync.com/Forms This allocation process applies only to the allocation of Student Activity Fee funds assigned to the Diversity Fee Council, which fund a wide range of chartered student organizations and services not served by other Fee Councils. This is not the process used by the various colleges to allocate funds to chartered student organizations whose mission or membership is closely related to their degree programs i.e., Chemistry Club, History Society, Social Work Club, etc. Please visit your college Dean’s Office for further information about their funding process. This process is not associated with other fees for Athletics, Transportation, Health, Recreation, International Education, and the Student Center. If you are unsure as to which funding process applies to your organization, please contact Shantavia Reid-Stroud, Business Manager III, at 404.413.1522. Shantavia is located in the Office of the Dean of Students (Suite 300 Student Center). The Office of the Dean of Students is the official source for information regarding this allocation process.

To assist those applying for funding, there will be a Pre-Proposal workshop on Friday, March 8, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. in Lanier Suite (Student Center). This workshop will explain the process in detail for applying for Student Activity Fee funding and provide guidance in completing the budget request form. Attendance is not mandatory, but will be helpful.

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 5:15pm to the Office of the Dean of Students, Suite 300 Student Center. Late applications will not be accepted.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

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Campus Events Taking action towards Eradicating Poverty

Sunday, March 2 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

College of Education The College of Education has partnered with the Committee on Teaching about the United Nations to host this event. The daylong conference aimed at promoting the discussion of eradicating poverty supported through a collaboration of higher education institutions including Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Emory University, Spellman College and Clark Atlanta. Registration costs $10 for students and $35 for the general public.

McIntosh County Shouters

Friday, March 1 8 pm Florence Kopleff Recital Hall Robert J. Ambrose and Andrea Strauss conduct the GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble and one of the Southeast’s premiere adult symphonic bands— Tara Winds—in this performance. Featuring works

by Bernstein, Bryant, Rodrigo, Grainger and Stravinsky. This event is free and open to the general public. Contact (404) 413-5901 with any questions.

Red Baraat with special guest, Rua 6 Funk Party: Brazil to Bollyfunk

Saturday, March 2 8 pm Rialto Brooklyn nine-piece Red Baraat takes the sounds of Indian bhangra, New Orleans brass, hard funk – and the party – with them wherever they go. Their debut album Chaal Baby combines Bollywood hijinks with funk groove and attitude. Described as “completely riotous” (Village Voice NYC) and a “crazy blast of fun” (NPR’s All Things

Considered), Red Baraat’s live show has garnered attention and accolades the world over. Tickets are $34; visit http://www.facebook. com/events/377437495644272/ for more information.

GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Tara Winds

Thursday, March 7 8 pm Rialto Robert J. Ambrose and Andrea Strauss conduct the GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble and one of the Southeast’s premiere adult symphonic bands— Tara Winds—in this performance. Featuring works by Bernstein, Bryant, Rodrigo, Grainger and Stravinsky. This event is free and open to the general public. Contact (404) 413-5901 with any questions.

First Thursday Downtown Arts Walk

Thursday, March 7 5 - 8 pm Rialto Come join us on the First Thursday of each month on a self-guided tour and experience the magnificent art being featured at various venues in historic Downtown Atlanta.The Rialto Visual Art Series transforms the Rialto lobby and mezzanine into an exhibition space for projects organized by Karen Comer Lowe. Exhibitions relate to Rialto presentations or city-wide arts initiatives including the NBAF and Atlanta Celebrates Photography.

Ayanah Moor Welch Artist in Residence and Printmaker; Artist Lecture of Current Work Thursday, March 7 4 - 5 pm Welch School of Art and Design, Art Galleries Ayanah Moor’s work addresses contemporary popular culture through an interrogation of vernacular aesthetics and gender identity. Recent

print, performance, and video exhibitions include, Forja Arte Contemporáneo, Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, The Pittsburgh Passion Women’s Football Project, Wexner Center for the Arts, and The Print Center. She is currently Associate Professor at School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University. Moor will be the Welch School of Art and Design’s Artist in Residence in the spring of 2013.

Plummer Lecture: Benjamin D. Santer

Tuesday, March 12 4 pm Speakers Auditorium, Student Center Benjamin D. Santer, a senior climate researcher at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, will speak on “The Search for Human ‘Fingerprints’ in Observed Records of Climate Change.” Santer, who has been a recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” grant, was one of the authors of the groundbreaking 1995 intergovernmental report that indicated a “discernible human influence” on global warming. We are expecting a capacity crowd; please reserve your seat at 2013plummerlecture.eventbrite.com.

Upcoming Club Sports Events Boxing: Golden Gloves in Macon, GA-March 2 & 3 Cycling: 9-10

Cumberland-March 2-3Georgia Tech-March

Equestrian: March 23 & 24

Berry College-March 2, Morehead, Ky-

Grapppling: Lutador Open in Marietta-March 2 Men’s Lacrosse: The Citadel-March 10,

Downtown Events The Waffle Palace: Smothered, Covered & Scattered 24/7/365 Friday, Jan. 25 - Sunday, March 17 Times Vary Horizon Theatre Company From births to marriages, to police chases and lottery wins, anything can (and will) happen at 3 AM in the Waffle Palace. The show is inspired by real life events at Waffle House restaurants. The Waffle Palace: where everyone is welcome and the only unforgivable sins are throwing waffles and under-tipping. Tickets are $20-$55. Call (404) 584-7450.

Showtime/Not So Amateur Open Mic

Thursday, Feb. 21 9 pm Apache Cafe Are you a singer, poet, emcee, comedian, DJ, musician or magician? Want a chance to win $200? This is the event for you. Registration is $20, all artists are allowed three and a half minutes on stage, and along with the $200, the winner will also receive a Featured Performance Spot at an upcoming “It’s SHOWtime” Event. Tickets are $7 in advance (and until 10pm the day of the show) and $10 after that. (404) 876-5436

The Puckin’ Fuppet Show

Saturday, Feb. 23 11 pm Fabrefaction Theatre Company Come for the leftover V-Day candy and stay for the graphic puppet sex, won’t you? The Puckin’ Fuppet Show is Atlanta’s premiere competitive Puppet Slam with CASH prizes for first, second and third place as voted for by the audience. Tickets are $10 cash at the door and beer/wine will be available for purchase. Must be 18 and older.

2013 Atlanta Chef’s Expo

Sunday, Feb. 24 1:30 - 5:30 pm Georgia World Congress Center (Georgia Ballroom) Tickets are now on sale for the second annual expo which is Atlanta’s ultimate taste test event. The event will include menu tastings from local chefs, cooking demonstrations from Scott Serpas and Joe Arvin and much more. The expo will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Greater Atlanta organization. Tickets are $35.

Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race

Sunday, March 10 8 am - 11 pm Atlantic Station Come hang out for a good cause with The Junior League of Atlanta’s 9th Annual Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race present-

ed by Belk and Verizon Wireless. This is a stroller and dog friendly event that is fun for all ages. The Leprechaun Dash for Gold Tot-Trot starts at 8am; the 5k starts at 8:15am and the 10k race starts at 8:30am. Tickets/registration fees are $30 now until March 6th and $35 the day of the race.

Lepre*Con 2013 Irish Fest

Saturday, March 16 2 pm Park Tavern Ever wondered what Atlanta’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration is? Come party with 5,000 other people and find out! Use the promo code “CAV” to get tickets for $5 from https://www.xorbia.com/e/asocialmess/leprecon13. Must be 21 and over to attend. For more information go to http:// asoicalmess.com.

Harlem Globetrotters

Saturday, March 16 1 pm Phillips Arena The “Ambassadors of Goodwill”® have dunked their way into the hearts of basketball fans both young and old. The Harlem Globetrotters is an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism and comedy and they will be performing in Atlanta. Tickets are $26-$166 on StubHub and $30 on Razorgator.

Concerts/Shows The Gaslight Anthem & Matrimony Thursday, March 7 7 pm Masquerade Tickets are $29.85 on Ticketmaster.

Orgy with Vampires Everywhere & Davey Suicide Wednesday, March 13 7 pm Masquerade Tickets are $19.40 on Ticketmaster.

A Day to Remember with Of Mice and Men, Chunk!

No, Captain Chunk!

Wednesday, March 20 7:30 pm The Tabernacle $42 with ticket fees on LiveNation.

The Rocket Summer with Royal Teeth, Joe Brooks & Tidewater Thursday, March 21 6 pm

Masquerade Tickets are $17.35 on Ticketmaster.

The Black Keys with the Flaming Lips

Thursday, May 2 8 pm Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood Tickets range from $50.35 to $63.85 on Livenation.

games&such

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Sudoku

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.72) Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.72)

Puzzle 2 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.37) Puzzle 2 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.37)

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Horoscope The Astrology technique I will be using in doing these weekly Astro-readings will be of the discipline called “Vedic” Astrology. Vedic astrology is translated with the “sidereal” time of the Zodiac; this is using the “real” time of the Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52) rotation of the planets.

The Western Astrology Puzzle 3 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52) system is 37 degrees (37 days) off from the real time of the planets.

What this means is most people in the Western countries are really a different sign than what they are told. I have put the sidereal dates next to the astrology signs so you can accurately see your true sign. This Vedic astrology specializes in predicting everyday occurrences that may affect us in our movements upon this planet in this life-time and beyond.

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Aries Horoscope: (April 13 – May 14) The Moon will be moving into Leo early next week and this will bring a much needed coolness to your intense “hot” mind. The Sun is scorching you at this time and Mercury is having communication problems, this would be a good time to flex your independent nature and get your duties done on your own. Normal people will not be able to keep up with all your revolutionary energy and you do not have the patience for them. So go it alone for a while, things will get done much better this way. Keep a cool head, especially towards the mothers in your life.

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to just cozy up in their beds and hibernate in the dream world. They want to be served hand and foot; food brought to them in bed, back massages, praises, worship “All glories to the Moon Goddess!” Of-course in reality our little Cancers are going to have to make do with what little pleasures they can squeeze out of it. It may not be everything they want, but I am sure they can find someone out there to pamper them this weekend.

Leo Horoscope: (Aug 14 – Sept 13) With the Moon cruising through Cancer and eventually ending up in Leo by the middle of next week, this will give our Leos some help with the relationship department.

There will still be fiery arguments, but the Moon will help them come to some calm solutions. For our married Leos, who can’t get away from their mates at the moment, this will shed a cool light within all the heat and fire. Until the Sun and Mars exit Aquarius which should be in the middle of March, relationships will be going through the ringer. Be patient, and if you can get things done on your own, this would best for your “peace-of-mind”.

Virgo Horoscope: (Sept 14 – Oct 13) Similar to Gemini, our Virgo natives will have to deal with their ruler planet Mercury going retrograde in Aquarius.

This makes communications hard on everyone, especially Taurus Horoscope: (May 15 – June 13) Virgos, who just love to express themselves. Radical ideals, This week Mercury goes “retrograde”, which means com- misunderstandings, arguments are usually the charactermunication problems. You have had the need to really istics of having Mercury acting up in Aquarius. Try to save express yourself at school and at work. You have been in your far-out ideals for the end of March, when people will Generated by by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on on SatSat Feb 23 18:48:45 Enjoy!

Generated http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ 23Now 18:48:45 GMT. Enjoy! “blabber-mouth” mode for the last two weeks and it has be more opened to Feb them. is 2013 not2013 a GMT. good time and you been to your benefit. Unfortunately, you still have a great will get resistance. It is best to write them down in your perneed to express yourself, but with Mercury acting up, com- sonal diary and nourish them through your own thoughts. munications will be “going south”. We cannot shut you up, Females will still play a key role in some of your successes, so just prepare to explain yourself more often. You will still because of Venus in your house of love affairs. She will add be successful in getting what you need to get done, it will some sweetness to your life, even if the communications just take longer. Be patient. are little off. Enjoy her while you can, she will be leaving this house by the beginning of March.

Gemini Horoscope: (June 14 – July 13) Your ruler Mercury will bring your attention to the fine de- Libra Horoscope: (Oct 14 – Nov 13) tails of dealing with fathers, teachers, Gurus, and any other Things may go reversal on you this period; Saturn has just male authorities in your life. Either these relationships are gone retrograde in your sign, which means that things that disturbed by strife and arguments, or the father is sickly. were giving you problems may finally work themselves Whichever, you will have to exhibit some patience in the out. Kids are really under attack in your chart with Mars, matter, at-least for the next two weeks while Mercury gets Mercury, and the Sun in your “house of children”, however through his weird communication phase. This may be a Saturn will bring some relief or give you sound solutions very philosophical period in your life, making you attracted in handling the crisis. Relationships will have communicato spiritual or religious subjects. There will be a feeling to tion problems for the next two weeks; try to keep your dewant to travel long distance and see different parts of the mands to a bare minimum. Motherly people will be a source world. Of-course, if you are tied down in everyday move- of pleasure during these hard times, take shelter of them ments, it is probably best to just watch the National Geo- when you can. And as usual, stay away from hard drugs, vigraphic Channel. But, if you can get away for a week or olent and depressive images and negative people, at-least two, this would be a great educational experience for our for the next 16 months.

Gemini natives.

Scorpio Horoscope: (Nov 14 – Dec 15) Cancer Horoscope: (July 14 – Aug 13) Scorpions are very busy with looking out for the mothers You will be feeling an extra crabby this week with your rul- and sisters in their lives. Being an attentive son, brother, er the Moon going home to her own sign of Cancer. This will daughter, or sister, they are very good at taking care what is make it hard for you to get out of the house, especially the needed to protect their love ones. Nevertheless, the Moon bedroom. The Moon in her own sign makes Cancers want is presently transiting your house of partners and you do

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wish to spend some time with your significant other. But, time is very tight and you are very busy. You may have to wait deep into the weekend to get a little break for some pleasure.

Sagittarius Horoscope: (Dec 16 – Jan 12) Even though Sagittarians are full of communication this month, Mercury is going to be throwing a wrench into it for the next two weeks. You have a great need to let everyone know how you feel, but you thoughts will be way ahead of your mouth. Slow down a bit and let your words caught-up to reduce misunderstandings. This is still a good time for career moves in school and at work. Letting people know about your unique ideals will get you noticed for a promotion or good grades. The Moon will be going into Gemini soon, which will help in getting others to see things your way.

Capricorn Horoscope: (Jan 13 – Feb 15) Capricorns are being sought after by the lovelies, they either want your love and money, or just your money! Watch your finances around the “pretty” people. You should spruce up your wardrobe, get a new hair-do, hair-cut and get all “cute” on us. You are looking and feeling good with Venus encouraging you on. This should be a fun month, even with Mercury and Saturn clowning on everybody.

While you can, enjoy your little rendezvous with Venus.

She will be headed to “wild-butt” Aquarius by next week to fight it out with all those planets in there, so have your fun!

Aquarius Horoscope: (Feb 16 – March 14) With our ruler Saturn and Mercury going retrograde on us, things just went from bad to worse. We Aquarians must chill-out; leave all communications to the other signs . . . literally go crawl up into a cave until the end of March. Ofcourse, this is not feasible, but you get the ideal. Don’t argue. If someone gets in your face wanting to fight, tell them “next month”, because there is a good chance you will lose the fight and get a serious head injury in the process. Try some spiritual meditation, drink relaxing herbal teas, get a deep muscle massage, or exercise your butt off! The best thing is to stay away from controversies. Good luck!

Pisces Horoscope: (March 13 – April 12) The Piscean folks are feeling a lot of energy coming from Mercury who is presently retrograde, bed-time pleasures are on the menu. This should a very sexually experimental time for you. Doing things you might never have thought of doing. Just the same, Mercury in Aquarius brings in wild and crazy ideals to the bedroom, and Mars gives you the power to execute them. You may have a need to escape the humdrum cycles of material life and dive deeper into the mysteries of life. You could read books like the “Kama-Sutra”, “Tibetan Book of the Dead”, or have a spiritual reading done about your place in life. Whatever it may be you are diving deeper into the meaning of why you are here on this planet. Enjoy!

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com

ATHLETICS 101: A study of the modern student-athlete FALL 2012 REPORT CARD *Per Georgia State Athletics press release

3.01

GPA of the Georgia State studentathlete population

3.30

GPA of men’s soccer, the highest of any men’s team

3.64

GPA of women’s cross-country, the highest of any team

5 GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Lucas Santa Ana

Tennis • Senior, Journalism major • Brasilia, Brazil • President’s List (spring 2010, fall 2010, fall 2012) GSU All-Academic Team (spring 2012)

Michael Davis

Football- offensive lineman • Redshirt senior, graduated in May 2012 with his undergraduate Business degree in Real Estate and began work toward his MBA in the fall of 2012.

• Chamblee (Lithonia, Ga.) • Capital One Academic AllDistrict first team (2012) • President’s List (spring 2010 and spring 2011) • Dean’s List (fall 2009, fall 2010, fall 2011, spring 2012 and fall 2012)

TAYLOR SCARPANTONIO

Softball- catcher • Sophomore, intends to major in Biological Science • Kell HS (Kennesaw, Ga.) • President’s List (fall 2011 and spring 2012) • Received Academic Athlete Award at Kell HS • Member of Spanish and National Honor Societies

teams with multiple members on the President’s List (men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s cross country)

6

countries represented among the President’s List recipients (Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Jamaica, Slovenia and United States)

9

consecutive semesters the Georgia State athletics department has posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher

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fall graduates

14 AKIEM BAILUM Senior Reporter

A

s Lucas Santa Ana crushes another forehand winner down the line, Taylor Scarpantonio erases another would-be base stealer and Michael Davis completes another imposing pancake block, it’s easy to forget that Georgia State’s athletic standouts are students just like the rest of us.

Being a student at Georgia State can be a daily grind, as balancing class schedules and study time with your personal life becomes a challenge.

Now imagine adding several hours of practice and travel time, along with representing your school on the field of competition to the mix.

Exhausting, right?

Men’s tennis player Lucas Santa Ana believes that balancing sports and studies can be a laborious task.

“It’s way more challenging because you not only have to worry about school, but also about your team,” Santa Ana said. “So, our time here is strictly limited. We go to class in the morning, practice in the afternoon, and check homework at night. Sometimes when we wake up, we lift weights and work on conditioning. Sometimes we travel and miss class and have to tell the professor later about what we’ve missed, so it’s a really hard routine.”

Offensive lineman Michael Davis understands the added challenges of fulfilling the college athlete role, as well as the challenges

“

teams that posted a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Less than one percent of college athletes go pro...it is imperative that we get as much out of our educational experience as we can.”

- Michael Davis, offensive lineman

that many other students face.

“The biggest challenge is probably time management,” Davis said. “Football and school take up such a huge amount of time, so we all have to make sure that we prioritize our time. But most students have to prioritize their time because of their commitments, whether it’s football or maybe a job.”

Some onlookers have an image of studentathletes only pursuing sports for the fame or as means to an end in professional sports, rendering academics to the backburner.

Many student athletes themselves, however, have differing views and acknowledge that being gifted athletically has put them in a position to succeed in the classroom.

“Less than one percent of college athletes go pro,” Davis said. “So, it is imperative that we get as much out of our educational experience as we can.”

Santa Ana agreed with the sentiment.

“I know a lot of student-athletes that really work hard and do better in school than regular students,” Santa Ana said. “There are student-athletes that only care about their sport, but those are the ones that don’t go really far.”

The reason those players may not go far

is because NCAA rules regarding GPA credit hours per semester and credits per semester towards major.

Athletes at Georgia State are very aware of these regulations and some coaching staffs encourage their players to go beyond the minimum.

“I know our coach [Roger Kincaid] always says at least 3.0 and to do our best to stay above that,” Scarpantonio said. “When there’s a big test coming up, I’m hitting the books and studying and going to the library and trying to get in as much as I can before practice.

So, it’s definitely a challenge.”

The student-athletes at Georgia State seems to have their heads in the right places as they succeed on the field and in the classroom.

Davis, one of the most academically decorated Panthers in the young football program’s history, had a message for all future athletes at Georgia State.

“Make sure you come in ready to commit to both academics and athletics,” Davis said.

“Overall, just let your competitive nature carry over from athletics to the classroom and you’ll be fine.”

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athletes on the President’s List (4.0 or high GPA with at least nine credit hours)

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athletic teams

31

members of the football team that earned academic honors

69

athletes recognized on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (3.2 or higher GPA)

71

athletes on the Dean’s List (3.5 or higher GPA)

157

athletes that received academic honor recognition.

350

approximate numbers of studentathletes

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Basketball

Dance floor still in sight HUNTER BISHOP Associate Sports Editor

T

he men’s basketball team boasts a 15-15 record (as of Feb. 26) and has only one more game on its schedule.

Following a 22-win campaign last season, it might be easy to assume that this year has been a bit of a disappointment.

Head coach Ron Hunter doesn’t see it that way.

“I am really proud of how far this team has come,” Hunter said. “Just looking at the freshmen, they are playing so much better than when the season started. I have joked in the past that I did not like to have more than two freshmen on the court at one time, but on multiple occasions this year I had four because I trusted him to give us good minutes.”

There is still a possibility the Panthers will qualify for postseason play, but they will need to win their last game of the season versus Northeastern Wednesday night, if they hope to stay alive.

Even if postseason basketball was not in the horizon for the Panthers, a strong finish would mean things are looking up for the program.

“We really want to finish strong in our last few games,” junior guard Devonta White said. “It would mean a lot for us to finish above .500 for the second year in a row and use that as momentum moving into next season.”

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL

Things are looking up for Georgia State and Manny Atkins (pictured) as the regular season comes to an end.

Redshirts ready to bleed blue

DAVID NORWOOD II Staff Writer

Washington, Andrews offer support from the sidelines

Acquiring the redshirt Andrews

“CAA and Wilmington didn’t want to me play,” Andrews said. “I understand it happens to the best of us. I’ll just come back stronger next year.”

Washington

“It hit me hard when they denied my hardship waiver to play right away”, Washington said. “I thought I was going to get it no problem for my grandfather because of how close I am to him. It didn’t work out. Everything happens for a reason.”

Bench life Andrews

“It has it downfalls. When you want to cry because you see your team playing and you can’t”, she said. “All you can be is a positive support system on the bench.”

Washington

“It’s really hard when you’re sitting out,” Washington said. “You can really get down on yourself. You just have to stay positive. You’re going to be alright.”

Coaches weigh in SUMMER JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL Alisha Andrews at Sunday’s home game against George Mason.

P

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL Curtis Washington (in street clothes) jokes with teammates during a game.

layers who are redshirted go to class, practice and attend home games. But they are not allowed to compete during games, and that’s the toughest part of their season.

Curtis Washington and Alisha Andrews both transferred to Georgia State from Division 1 schools last May and, per NCAA transfer rules, had to redshirt the 2012-13 basketball season.

The following is a brief look at the life of a college athlete serving a redshirt season.

Georgia State Arrival Andrews

Despite being ranked Georgia’s second-best high school point guard in 2010 by ESPN.com, not too many colleges gave Andrews a look.

After two years at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she was ranked in the top 50 in assists and steals in the NCAA, Andrews, a Stone Mountain, Ga. native, transferred to Georgia State in May 2012 to be closer to her family.

Washington

Washington was named MVP of the Rick Bolus Blue Chip Camp and was ranked the No. 1 prospect in Kentucky, according to the Rick Bolus Scouting Report during high school.

He enrolled at the University of Southern California and played sparingly his freshman season and sat out the 2011-12 season to repair a torn left labrum. Washington transferred to Georgia State in May 2012, in part to be closer to his ailing grandfather.

Andrews

“I think Alisha had a hard time at the beginning of the year when she thought she was going to be able to play this season and then was not able to,” women’s basketball head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “Our team has struggled with leadership all year and I think that is where Alisha could have helped us this season and played a major role. She is a fierce competitor and makes everyone around her better with her style of play, so we have missed that. She was an All-CAA player on both offense and defense, so she definitely makes a difference to our team. But, she has gained quality practice time with us.”

Washington

“Since Curtis has had to sit out this year due to NCAA transfer rules, he has not been able to directly affect our play in games on the court, but when he practices with us, he brings a lot of energy and energy is contagious on the basketball court”, men’s basketball head coach Ron Hunter said. “Off the court, I feel as though he is a role model for other players to look up to which is important since Curtis has been around the game for a long time and seen the highest level playing at USC in the Pac-12 for two years.”

What does next season hold?

Andrews

“I’m working on my game to make myself better,” Andrews said. “Hopefully I win MVP, go undefeated in the conference, win the whole thing.”

Washington

“I want get a double-double every game, in points and rebounds, average three blocks a game and limit my turnovers,” Washington said. “I want to give my best to the team, honor God out there and give it all I have.”

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

PANTHER Of The Week

Sports Calendar Tue., Feb. 26 BSB Georgia GSU Baseball Complex 4:00 P.M.

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

ABIGAIL TERE-APISAH Junior Abigail TereApisah, ranked No. 28 in the ITA National Singles rankings, defeated No. 62 Elizabeth Kilborn of Georgia Tech in singles action on Thursday, Feb. 21.

Tere-Apisah won the match 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) and now has a 7-6 record this season versus nationally ranked opponents.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, Tere-Apisah helped the Panthers secure a 4-2 victory over Eastern Kentucky as she easily defeated Amandine Faouzi in the No. 1 singles position, 6-1, 6-0.

Tere-Apisah has a 15-7 singles record this year and a 12-4 doubles record with teammate Masa Grgan. The duo is currently ranked No. 32 in the ITA National Doubles rankings. *rankings as of Feb. 12

Five qs with... *CONFERENCE GAMES

Thu., Feb. 28 WBB Drexel* GSU Sports Arena 7:00 P.M.

Tue., Feb. 26 WBB William & Mary* Williamsburg, Va. 7:00 P.M.

Fri.-Sun., March 1-3 SB USF Under Armour Tournament Tampa, Fla. Five games total

Wed., Feb. 27 SB Mercer Macon, Ga. 4:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M.

Fri., March 1 WTEN Kennesaw State Atlanta, Ga. 2:00 P.M.

Wed., Feb. 27 MBB Northeastern* GSU Sports Arena 7:00 P.M.

Fri.-Sun., March 1-3 BSB Boston College St. Petersburg, Fla. Three games total

Thu., Feb. 28 MTEN Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Tech) 4:00 P.M.

Sat., March 2 WTF & MTR Last Chance Meet TBD All Day

Sat., March 2 MTEN Kennesaw State and Jackson State Blackburn Tennis Center 10:00 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. Sat., March 2 WSOC Mississippi State GSU Soccer Complex 11:00 A.M. Sun., March 3 WTEN Tulane Blackburn Tennis Center 9:00 A.M. Sun., March 3 MTEN Winthrop Blackburn tennis Center 1:00 P.M.

Gabrielle Brooks Year: Senior Major: Psychology Hometown: Athens, GA Sport: Track & Field

RHETT LEWIS | THE SIGNAL

Favorite track and field event

“I have two: long and triple. Those are my absolute favorites.

I’ve been doing long jump since my freshman year in high school. Triple jump I just took up last year at conference and it’s just a fun event.”

Favorite athlete

“I don’t really have a favorite athlete. But I do look at Brittney Reese [2012 Olympic gold medalist] some for long jump technique.”

President for one day

“There’s a lot of thing I’d probably do. I think I’d go to Africa and do something with the kids there.”

Farthest place you’ve been from home

“Australia. I went my junior year in high school. It was like a study abroad and we were there for three weeks, traveling to different cities and experiencing their culture. It was awesome.”

Summer or winter

“I love summer. I hate being cold. I’d rather shed clothes than have to put on tons of clothes. And then trying to warm up just takes too long.” *Please visit www.georgiastatesignal.com to find out about Gabrielle’s favorite television shows, pizza toppings and to see who she said is her most talkative teammate.

Courtyard Music Series.jpg

Cinefest Film Theatre

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February 25-March 3

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City of God

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m.

March 4-10

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Skyfall

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m.

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

Supported by Student Activity Fees

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

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SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS BOARD www.gsu.edu/spotlight

Amateur Night

Wednesday, February 27 Doors open at 6 p.m.; Show starts at 7 p.m.

Rialto Center for the Arts

Come enjoy singing, dancing and MORE as we showcase some of the best talent GSU has to offer!

Watch your fellow Panthers compete for prizes and bragging rights! Limited to GSU students and one guest only. GSU students are free and non-student guests are $3.

As always, there is a one-guest-per-student policy.

CAMPUS EVENTS

www.gsu.edu/studentevents

Congratulations to Miss GSU 2013, Emily Diamond!

Thank you to all of the women who competed in this yearʼs pageant; each of you were truly outstanding! Emily will go on to compete in the Miss Georgia Pageant, which will be held June 19-22, 2013, in Columbus, Ga.

Good Morning Commuters Monday, March 4, 8-10 a.m.

Aderhold Learning Center and General Classroom Building

Stop by the Spotlight Programs Board table in Aderhold or the General Classroom Building for some free breakfast and to find out details about upcoming Spotlight events.

Moulin Bleu: Centennial Ball

Thursday, March 7, 8 p.m.-Midnight Student Center Ballroom

Celebrate GSUʼs 100-Year Anniversary at Moulin Bleu, a night of class, sophistication and memories featuring keepsakes, Parisian food by the bite, live entertainment and so much more. Tickets are required for entry and are available at Campus Tickets in the University Center. Tickets are free for students and $5 for the one non-student guest. Dress code is Cosmopolitan.

Panther Mania

Friday, March 8, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Student Recreation Center Come out and relive some of your favorite childhood memories at Panther Mania, including all of your favorite ʼ90s treats, games, activities and more. The Boulder Cave, Rock Climbing Wall, Aquatic Center and Game Room will be open. There will be a Throwback ʼ90s Bash at midnight with prizes for the best ʼ90s hair and outfit, and ʼ90s costumes and attire are highly encouraged. Limited to GSU students and one guest only. Non-student guests are $3.

For more information, call Spotlight at 404-413-1610.

Campus MovieFest Red Carpet Finale

Thursday, February 28; Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Rialto Center for the Arts

GSU students had five days to write, direct, shoot and edit a short film. Now we reveal the best of the best. Come to this red-carpet finale event, dressed in your best style.

Top winners will be announced from Georgia State University, and they will advance to the CMF Grand Finale in Hollywood, California, in June 2013. Soundtrack provided by DJ Peter Parker. Admission is FREE for GSU students and their two invited guests. This event is a collaborative effort between Campus Events, Spotlight Programs Board, GSTV, the Student Government Association, the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Campus Events in Library Plaza

Tuesday, March 5, Noon-1 p.m., Library Plaza Womenʼs History Month Celebration

Get Ready for GSU Night at Six Flags!

Save the Date: Friday, April 19, 6 p.m.-Midnight PantherPalooza Styles

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www.gsu.edu/spotlight

PANTHERPALOOZA featuring

KENDRICK LAMAR and ELLE VARNER Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena

SOLD OUT!