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HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH?
“
Women do it to have fun and face the same risks as everyone else when they drink alcohol. Damage to the liver, pancreas can happen and also they can be sexually assaulted,” Milagros Marshall, registered nurse at Grady Emergency Room
PAGE 3A
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL
inside
audit report brings changes
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
New brew in town
One mistake found in the 2012 audit report leads to new withdrawal procedures for students
The future is now. Georgia State hopes to land several of the area’s top-flight recruits.
Bible study group turned brewers opens their Atlanta brewery
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NEWS
last week... Local
Clark Atlanta University student Amir Obafemi, 21, was arrested on Saturday in the shooting over a pickup basketball game inside the Morehouse College’s campus gym that wounded Morehouse student Cornileus Savage. Savage was shot in the forearm and was hospitalized in stable condition. Obafemi faces charges of felony aggravated assault and carrying a conceiled weapon. The Saturday night basketball game between Morehouse and Clark Atlanta was cancelled and a rally to decrease violence has been planned instead. A 15-year-old male student shot fellow student Telvis Douglas, 14, in the back of the neck in a courtyard outside of Price Middle School in Southeast Atlanta Thursday afternoon. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and Douglas was taken to Grady Hospital. His injuries have been reported as non-life threatening. Officials and Mayor Kasim Reed have confirmed that the shooting stemmed after an altercation between two gangs. The metal detectors were not working on the day of the shooting. Atlanta school officials say they plan to immediately test all school metal detectors and review the procedures for student entrance and exit.
National
On Friday, the Obama administration proposed new rules that will guarantee access to contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act. The regulation also allows religious nonprofit organizations that object to not offer the benefits for their employers. However, the workers could receive a stand-alone private insur-
blotter
ance policy that would provide them with birth control at no charge.
January 28
60 to 70 Harvard University students were forced to withdraw after being caught in a cheating scandal in an easy class. Recently, the course began to offer more rigorous coursework, and 125 students were caught cheating on a take-home final exam. At Harvard, “withdrawing” orders students to take a forced break that can only be cleared after the undergraduate student has held a paid, non-academic full-time job for at least six months. In addition to the students that were forced to withdraw, a quarter of the involved students were given a stern warning and a note on their student record. The rest of the students were not punished.
Freshman Housing
Georgia staff members notified officers of an odor of marijuana. When officers made contact with the suspected residence, no marijuana was located.
University center
A Georgia State student was issued a Criminal Trespass Warning after attempting to steal a food product. The establishment called the police who escorted him out.
Global
10 Turkish officers are reportedly working to investigate what Turkish authorities believe to be the body of New Yorker Sari Sierra, who was reported missing on Jan. 21 while vacationing alone in Istanbul. The body was found near the ruins of the old city wall Saturday. Police told the daily Hurriyet that the victim may have been stabbed to death; however the state-run Anatolia news agency said the body was found with a head wound. No official cause of death has been released.
T Parking Deck
A report was filed for Theft from Auto. A staff member said that she parked her car on Jan. 16 and returned on Jan. 18 and discovered someone stole her parking decal. The case is being handled by investigations.
Egypt’s Interior Minister has apologized for and vowed to investigate the public beating of a naked man by riot police under his command that has threatened to ensue into increased public anger. The Associated Press caught the beating on camera, and as protests raged in the streets the video was broadcasted live on Egyptian television late Friday evening.
Weather WED 64/47
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Broad Street
A Georgia State student stated that her iPhone was stolen after she left it on a countertop restaurant. The case is being handled by investigations.
source: weather.com THURS 63/48
FRI 64/47
SUN 60/52
SAT 60/46
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January 29 Unity Plaza
A suspended Georgia State student was escorted off campus. The Georgia State police questioned the individual and informed him, until the proper documents informing the police department that the Criminal Trespass Warning was suspended, it would remain effective.
Urban Life
Officers responded to a suspicious male sleeping in the lobby. When the officers questioned the individual they
January 30
Student Recreation Center
A report was filed for theft. A non-Georgia State affiliate said he left his iPhone and a white case in a black book bag, under a bleacher unattended and when he returned an hour later, he discovered it had been stolen. The case is being handled by investigations.
January 31 Broad Street NW
An officer responded to an illegally parked car. During an exterior inspection of the car, the officer observed marijuana on the floor. The drugs were taken as evidence and the vehicle was towed. The case is being handled by investigations.
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Editorial Department EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A Samsonite travel bag was stolen after a student left it unattended in a stairwell. The bag contained a cell phone, cellphone case, social security cards for the students children and himself, credit cards, a Panther Card and a fire arms license. The case is being handled by investigations.
found that he was not associated with Georgia State and was issued a Criminal Trespass Warning and escorted off campus.
TERAH BOYD | THE SIGNAL Monday Night Brewery opened to the public for tours and tastings. See A&L 6B for more information.
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Binge Drinking Stats: Binge drinking is falling among men and boys and slowly increasing among women and girls.
1 in 6 Americans binge drink. More than 38 million US adults. 1 in 8 American women binged drink. Nearly 14 million US women. Age group with most binge drinkers: PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL Twenty-five percent of college-age women binge drink, according to a recent study from the Center for Disease Control.
Pour up, drink
College women on average drink
drinks per binging episode.
College aged women are the largest binge drinkers in America DARRIS POPE
Staff Reporter
Y
oung women are increasingly turning to alcohol and booze-filled nights for recreation and stress relief, according to a recent Center for Disease Control study. Drinking among females, particularly young females aged 18-34 is on the rise and is a major health risk. According to the CDC study in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption results in about 23,000 deaths of women per year. Binge drinking is most common among the Caucasian and Hispanic demographic and women with household incomes above $75,000. Twenty percent of high-school aged girls and 24 percent of women aged 18-24 participate in binge drinking, according to the CDC study. This type of drinking also entails very dangerous risks to women and girls, including unintended pregnancies, sexual assault, homicide, suicide and falls. Alcohol also increases the risk for breast, liver, mouth and throat cancer. “Women do it to have fun and face the same risks as everyone else when they drink alcohol. Damage to the liver, pancreas can happen and also they can be sexually assaulted,” said Milagros Marshall, registered nurse at the Grady Emergency Room. “It is very common to see cases of excessive alcohol abuse [here at the Emergency Room].” The study showed one in eight women, age 18-24, binge drink at least three times a month, and one in five high school girls binge drink at least once a month. The CDC defines binge drinking for women as having more than four drinks in a short period of time. Women of college age were shown to drink an average of six “standard-size” drinks in one sitting. This can be attributed to “non-standard”
amounts of alcohol being consumed, such as oversized beer cups, mixed drinks, and extralarge shot and wine glasses. This occurs frequently in college settings. According to another study the CDC published three days prior to the study on women, binge drinking has also increased among Americans in general. “Excessive alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, accounts for 80,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, making it the third leading preventable cause of death,” said Ursula Bauer, director of the national center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the study. Those deaths are typically the result of vehicle-related incidents or violence against others while under the influence. “The long term effects of binge drinking are also very damaging. There is deterioration of the teeth, people also suffer problems with the liver and pancreas as well as mental problems. Seizures and conditions such as delirium tremens can be fatal,” Marshall said. Alcohol has always been a drug of high abuse among college students. The increase of binge drinking, when alcohol is consumed, is particularly troubling and harmful for young women. Although binge drinking is more common in men it is an important and underrecognized health issue for women, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC Director in the study, according to CNN’s blog. In the study, concerns were expressed for the health of women who binge drink due to the fact that women get drunk more easily than men, as they are often smaller. . Georgia State student and sophomore, Sara Shahgholami said stress and pressures on women can turn them to binge drink. “Life is stressful, in terms of the pressures of life, of the media and society, and work,” Shahgholami said. Sophomore Jessica Baxter believes that as the expectations and responsibilities of women increase they are more prone to binge drink.
years old
“Honestly I think a lot of people drink just to have fun. People do it to, I guess, to ‘turn up’ or whatever. It’s easy [for students] to get,” Leena Manzoor, Georgia State sophomore said. “I don’t know that there’s an exact amount for ‘binge drinking’ because everyone is different. If they start getting loud or dancing they might have been binge drinking” The perception of binge-drinking at Georgia State is also mixed among students. “I live on campus and sometimes I feel the RA’s don’t always pay attention to it…it happens all the time. If the school really wanted to do something about it they could. [They were] stricter about it at the Commons than the Lofts,” Baxter said. “It depends on who’s on duty. Not all of the employees are equally strict.” Greater enforcement of alcohol policies and possibly requiring first year students to live on campus could help curb the problem. “One way that could possibly stop it, or slow it down, is forcing freshmen to live on campus. I know UGA and Tech do that and they can monitor the students,” Manzoor said. Both the CDC and Georgia State students agree one of the things that can be done about the issue is greater education. The CDC recommends women avoid binge drinking and follow the U.S. Dietary Guidelines (one drink for women, two for men). Women should choose not to drink if there is any chance they could be pregnant and be cautious of consuming drinks where the alcohol content is unknown. The CDC says federal agencies and national partners are working with states and communities to support actions to reduce binge drinking. Agencies will also help states and communities report binge drinking statistics and whether health care providers screen and counsel for excessive alcohol use. States and communities can increase enforcement of the laws on sale and consumption of alcohol and also develop partnerships with groups, including schools.
18-34
6
25% of American women age 18-24 binge drink. 20% of women age 25-34 binge drink. 15% of women age 35-44 binge. Most likely to drink are women (and men) with household incomes above
$75,000
80,000 deaths in the US each year (total), 23,000 of Binge drinking causes
those deaths are women and girls. In 2006 it cost the economy
$223.5 billion.
Among women who binge drink the average about of episodes per month was
3.2. The in-
5.7 drinks per episode. Women 18-24 on average had 6.1 drinks tensity was per episode.
62% of high school students in 12th grade binge drink. 1 in 5 of those students are high school girls.
NEWS
4A
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Georgia State Marching Band turns down Dragon*Con ASHIA GALLO
Pea cht ree
eorgia State’s marching band has turned down the request to participate in the Dragon*Con festival once again. The marching band was invited to perform in the 2013 annual Dragon*Con festival in Atlanta this year but decided not to participate. Georgia Tech’s marching band is now scheduled to perform instead. Dragon*Con is a convention that takes place in Atlanta every year and draws tens of thousands of guests to the downtown area. Fans of science fiction, comic books, and fantasy series come together, usually in costume, to attend demonstrations and the parade. Associate Band Director, Dr. Chester Phillips, makes the decisions on which events the band accepts and denies. Phillips says that many band members’ schedules will already be “full with [football] games and parades” during the weekend of the Dragon*Con festival, which also overlaps with Labor Day weekend. “The students’ time is valuable to us and we will always view our band members as students first,” Phillips said. Phillips said that band members are also expected to “have a lot of events around that time” and that he did not want for the students to be overwhelmed with such a booked schedule at the start of the semester. Band members, however, were unaware of the invitation to Dragon*Con as well as Phillips’ reasoning for turning the invitation down.
Woodruff Park
Par ade Rou te
Westin
... we Since the inauguration, we have wanted to have more of a professional public image ... (Dragon*Con) not be the crowd we’re going for.”
—Eric Vogel, sousaphone section leader and threeyear veteran
Hyatt
Piedmont Ave
Hilton baker st
Harris St
Marriott
Andrew Young Int.
Courtland St
ellis st
to Parade starting point
Peachtree CTR Ave
john Wes. Dobbs
G
“
St
Auburn Ave
Staff Reporter
SOURCE: HTTP://DRAGONCON.LIVEJOURNAL.COM/2930131.HTML The route for the 2013 Dragon*Con parade, which the Georgia State marching band turned down. Eric Vogel, the sousaphone section leader and three-year veteran, suggested the band’s participation in the Presidential Inauguration weeks ago might have played a role in Phillips’ declination of Dragon*Con. “Since the inauguration, we have wanted to have more of a professional public image,” Vogel said.
Vogel said that Dragon*Con participants might “not be the crowd we’re going for.” “We now have more credibility as a university band system,” Vogel said. As a result of this, he said he thinks the band can look beyond solely Atlanta-born events, such as Dragon*Con.
Sousaphone player and threeyear marching band veteran Bishop Herrington also credited the inauguration with playing a possible role in the band’s increased selectivity with event invitations. “There’s definitely a bigger buzz about us ever since we gained national attention,” Herrington said. “The Georgia State marching band
has become a priority for high school band students looking for a college band that will possibly take them to the next level. We now have the credentials to be that band, which makes us look great in terms of recruitment.” Herrington also said that Phillips has always been selective about the types of events in which the marching band participates. Color guard member Adriona Isom had no idea about the Dragon*Con parade inquiry either. “I hadn’t heard anything about it, but I guess you have to pick and choose the kinds of events that are right for the band,” Isom said. She also addressed the recent influx of publicity the marching band has received both locally and nationally. Isom said that the coverage of the band has had a positive effect. According to Isom, they have received “very good publicity” and as a result, the demand for the band has increased. “I’m sure the events and football games going on at that time are the main reason why Dragon*Con cannot happen,” said color guard member Rachel Wahaus.
DARRIS POPE
Staff Reporter
Audit report finds financial aid inaccuracies
SPRING 2013
TEST PREP ACADEMY
2012 report shows Georgia State did not have adequate controls on financial aid refunds ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN
Associate News Editor
A
mistake found in an audit report of Georgia State’s fiscal year 2012 has led to several changes in the way the university recognizes unofficial withdrawals. The report, conducted by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, found a case where a student received all Ws and Fs. It was estimated that this student received $1,375 in financial aid and Title V funds that, if the student withdrew, had to be returned. That one mistake showed that the university did not have adequate internal control procedures to identify students who officially withdrew during an academic semester, causing financial aid inaccuracies. “The $1,375 is the amount of federal financial aid that the auditors are saying should have been returned to the Federal government because of the one student they found that was an unidentified unofficial withdrawal,” said Sterling Roth, chief audit officer and director of University Auditing and Advisory Services. The failure to provide documentation of these unofficial withdrawals caused the university to fall out of compliance with federal regulations. The report recommended that Georgia State should “improve established monitoring processes in place to ensure that unofficial withdrawals are identified and the required Return of Title IV Funds calculation
5A
NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
is performed. The university should also contact the U.S. Department of Education regarding the resolution of this finding.” According to Bruce Spratt, comptroller and associate vice president for Finance and Administration, the university has implemented procedures that ensure that unofficial withdraws are identified. “The procedures the University has implemented will ensure that all students who receive all W’s and F’s will be notified at the end of the semester and required to submit proof that they earned the grade of F,” Spratt said. According to Spratt, the university will notify the students, who then must respond within two weeks of the notification date. If the students do not respond during that period they lose their Title IV financial aid and Georgia State must refund the aid money in accordance with Title IV requirements. Students who receive financial aid and then withdraw or fail all of their courses will also be put through a vetting process. They will have to prove that they actually attempted to complete the work. “By federal law, we need to ensure that they were not just trying to benefit from the receipt of federal funds without any intent to complete the courses,” Spratt said. The university will also contact the students’ professors to verify that each student was making an effort to complete work. If it cannot be confirmed, then the university will reverse the funds. “I have no doubt that the Recommendation will be implemented. In fact, there will be follow-up later to ensure that it is. There was only that one error in a sample of 25,” Dr. Sterling Roth said.
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OPINIONS From the Editorial Board
Know your limits, Georgia State
Why not Dragon*Con?
E
verything we learn about college from popular culture tells us that universities are simultaneously places of higher education and betterment, as well as places where it’s okay to cut loose and get drunk. When a student leaves high school and enters into university, it is an important time of development. Many times, this is a student’s first experience living outside of their childhood home, and the first time they are free to roam without the supervision of their parents. Naturally with this new discovered freedom, many students are able to drink alcohol and experiment with other drugs more than they ever were previously able. Binge drinking is a problem on university campuses worldwide. You may have heard the term “know your limits” when it comes to alcohol, but most new drinkers don’t. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, around 1.825 college students die every year due to unintentional injuries related to alcohol consumption. There are an estimated 696,000 students yearly who are assaulted by another student under the influence of alcohol. The numbers don’t stop there either: yearly thousands of students are sexually assaulted by students under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol contributes to many crimes on campus, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t preventable. There is nothing wrong with having a beer or a glass of wine to unwind, but it is up to students to learn their limits and drink responsibly. You are still responsible for your actions when you are intoxicated; alcohol consumption is never a viable excuse. It is important for students at Georgia State who are legally allowed to drink to not contribute to a culture of binge drinking. Not only does excessive alcohol consumption contribute to physical injury, but it can also has a real negative effect on your ability to keep up your grades and stay in school. Keep it classy Georgia State; nobody likes to have to be told about the embarrassing things they did because they can’t remember. Nobody likes hearing stories about themselves throwing up out a car window, or waking up without your cell phone or keys. Be careful not to get drawn into a peer group where binge drinking is seen as normal behavior. Alcohol consumption may be part of the college experience, but trips to the hospital shouldn’t be. Please enjoy alcohol responsibly, because you aren’t just creating a negative environment for yourself, but you are also contributing to a culture of binge drinking that we don’t need here at Georgia State.
To be the best in the world One week before the start of the spring semester, we invited David Simpson, former Associated Press and Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor, to do a workshop with The Signal staff. Part of the theme was to understand how we could be the best in the world in regards to Georgia State. We learned to better understand our audience and to engage them with stories they care about. We may have won first place in national competitions and a record-breaking 10 first place awards from the Georgia State, but it is our readers’ recognition that makes us the proudest. From the staff of The Signal, we would like to thank you for your readership. This school year, through our rebooting efforts, everything we have done has been to serve you. You made this happen, Georgia State. In return, we will vigorously continue to be the best in the world in bringing you Georgia State and Downtown Atlanta stories.
www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions
JAIRA BURKE Columnist
H
ave you ever wanted to be able to experience life as one of your favorite characters for a day? Dragon*Con gives thousands of people this opportunity every year. Created in 1987, Dragon*Con “offer[s] over 3,500 hours of non-stop programming, concerts, a film festival, the South’s largest costume contest, and the largest Art Show in all of fandom” (dragoncon.org) to the city of Atlanta. On top of celebrating the worlds of Anime and gaming on this day, Dragon*Con helps to raise funds for charities and foundations. Dragon*Con is one of the most popular and highly celebrated cultural events in the city of Atlanta. Unfortunately, Georgia State’s band has turned down the opportunity to play at this event for 2013. Why? Well, according to their calendar of events from Aug. 30, 2013 to Sept. 2, 2013, the event days for Dragon*Con 2013, the Georgia State band will be participating in IMP 2013: Atlanta at Georgia State. What’s IMP you may ask? IMP Atlanta is an annual conference whose primary objective is “Building and Managing Relationships in a Global Network: Challenges and Necessary Capabilities” (robinson. gsu.edu). Yes, slightly –well more than slightly, less fun than Dragon*Con 2013, but nonetheless still important. Since Georgia State’s band won’t be able to
participate in this historic event this year, can Georgia State students look forward to Georgia State’s Band playing in Dragon*Con 2014? More than likely no, this isn’t the Georgia State band’s first time turning down the opportunity to play at this event. For Georgia State to be a school that throws around the word “diversity” much as it does, one would believe that Georgia State, being in the heart of Downtown, would make its presence known in the majority of cultural events taking place in the city of Atlanta. But nonetheless, we see Georgia State band’s inherent lack of desire to participate in an event as unique as Dragon*Con. What does this say about not only the Georgia State band (or should we place more emphasis on the band directors, W. Dwight Coleman, Robert J. Ambrose, and Steven Harper?) but about Georgia State as a whole, because the Georgia State band is of course reflective of Georgia State itself? Georgia State thrusts the notion of an acceptance and admiration of diversity, yet, it turns down the opportunity to have a notable presence in one of Atlanta’s most diverse cultural events more than once! These repeated refusals reflect a lack of appreciation for different subcultures in Atlanta. When asked about this issue Khalid Abdullahi, a junior at Georgia State said, “As a GSU student, I am shocked that the band would turn down such an opportunity. Having been a Dragon Con attendee in the past, I can assure that GSU students were in heavy attendance. With thousands of people traveling from all around the US to Atlanta, it makes no sense that the college in the heart of Atlanta would not show support, and ultimately gain more national exposure through Dragon Con.” So this year, Georgia Tech will be playing at Dragon*Con 2013. Oh the irony! Jaira is an international economics and modern languages major with a concentration in Spanish. Jaira is a member of the InterVarsity Campus Ministry as well as the International Justice Mission. Follow her @JairaTheIcon
A fresh breath of smog
AMI DUDLEY Columnist
T
hey’re selling canned air in China right now. Yes, air. That free stuff, all about you, that you’re breathing in right now as you read this. Chinese entrepreneur Chen Guangbiao is selling fresh air in soda cans; each being 5 RMB, for 80 cents to the people of Beijing. So, why is Guangbia able to get away with selling cases of “free” air? Short answer: For now, it’s the only breathable air available. Beijing and the rest of Northern China are snuggled up in a blanket of smog. The unwanted toxic “visitor” has descended for the fourth time this year and it’s only been a month. Medical mask have become the new fashion for citizens–a number experiencing respiratory illnesses-with 100,000 masks being sold daily over the past month. It’s so bad, citizens were warned to stay indoors and keep cars off the road as visibility is a mere 300 ft. (not even a quarter of a mile). So what’s an enormous soot-filled pillow thousands of miles away have to do with students here at Georgia State? Like Beijing, Atlanta is a rapidly growing metropolis. While
we don’t have a quarter of Beijing’s population, there’s something to be learned, if not warned, from their unwelcomed guest. You don’t have to be an environmentalist to know that cars release highly toxic gas into the air, i.e. carbon monoxide. With the removal of a third of its vehicles of the streets, Beijing is already taking major steps towards cleaner air and ultimately a healthier environment. With the majority of students commuting to campus we might want to consider the consequences of driving. I’m not asking you to go sell your 1994 Honda Civic and pick up a bike. I, myself, drive to campus and understand that Marta or cycling is not possible for every student’s punctuality. Less cars result in less toxic gas releases. So carpooling is a great way to start! And you save gas as well! Can’t carpool? Driving your own car is fine but you have to keep the car maintenance up-–oil checks, tire rotations, fluid checks. I can’t count on my fingers how many oil leaks I’ve found on parking lot floors around campus. Poorly maintained cars result in sick cars and they end up puking through their exhaust pipes. (I hope the personification of the cars helped get the point across.) While these steps you can take may seem minuscule, they are significant. The pollution buildup did not happen overnight for China but when the pot reached its boiling point it finally spilled over into the burners. What you need to extract from all of this if you cannot consume the whole is that the events taking place in Beijing right now can happen in Atlanta. Somewhere now, Dr. Seuss’ head hangs low, saying “I told them so.” It may not happen in a year, or even five but it can and will happen unless we plant the seed of care in our minds now. 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
Throwing the baby out with the Bath Water
KAUSHALYA CHARAN DE Guest Columnist
“
... we may not be able to bring the murdered person back to life, but we sure as hell can resurrect the $20,600 a year we are spending to keep these murderous clowns alive.
E
ven though I am living in an AfricanAmerican female body, I have found very economical standards from the “Old” South that could save this “New” South hundreds of millions of dollars every year and restore some piece of mind to many of our under-sieged communities. Like the Old South laws dealing with murderers and deadbeat-dads. When we threw out all of the customs of the Old South around fifty years ago we threw the baby out with the bath water. According to the U.S. Census Bureau of criminal statistics, Georgia’s tax-payers are paying over 130 million dollars annually to keep their sentenced-to-life murderers and death roll inmates in prison (Census). These prisoners get three meals a day, free medical and dental attention, work-out rooms, and a little “bootyhole” business if a poor soul has the bad luck of getting left behind in shower with one of them. In the Old South, when a man or woman was convicted of killing someone beyond selfdefense, they were executed within six months of their convictions. This law would release 130 million dollars back into our economy and have many wilding folks leave Georgia. Of course the arguments against this would be: “the wrong person is executed,” “many more minorities would end up on death roll” and “killing criminals is not going to bring the murdered person back.” However, with the state-of-the-arts forensic, that should bring the mistakes of identifying the killer to a bare minimum. At present, there are more Caucasians serving life sentences. And we may not be able to bring the murdered person back to life, but we sure as hell can resurrect the $20,600 a year we are spending to keep these murderous clowns alive. The Old South had a very successful way of getting the men of their communities to be very responsible for the children. That’s right, good old fashion castration. AfricanAmerican males were not the only ones castrated in the Old South. They went after irresponsible, violent Caucasian males as well. In 1915, there were 100 castrations in Georgia and more than half of them were Caucasian males. Many were over the men either raping some one’s daughter or leaving children. If we had laws like this, men would be around to help take care of their children and tax-payers would save millions from welfare payments, food-stamps and WIC vouchers. I have found through the laws from the Old South at-least $200 million in savings, a way to keep families together and a powerful crime deterrent. And, there are other customs that could enhance the quality of life. So let us swallow our pride, pick up the poor baby in the street and bring it back in the house. Kaushalya Charan De is a non-traditional Georgia State student. A San Francisco native who has lived in different parts of the world, she has also been a Vedic astrologer for the last 29 years.
8A
OPINIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Letters to the editor According to the article in The Signal, dated January 22, 2013, “Panther Express Shuttle service causes tension and worries”, several complaints were filed against bus drivers contracted out by Georgia State. However true, or untrue, these accusations may be, I feel that these bus drivers are being unfairly scapegoated. Furthermore I feel that these complaints are a complete distraction from the real problems facing our university. Now, I come from a hard working union family, which means I don’t complain. No matter how sweltering the heat or how long the walk, we persevere with our heads high. That being said, it gives me no great pride these words that follow. First of all, I’d like to complain about how our university is literally bursting at the seams with students, yet our tuition is being hiked. Secondly, there’s no available computer at the library, yet our student fees are on the rise. Let’s not stop there; I’d like to complain about the fact that my diploma will not be worth the paper it is printed on when I graduate. I’d like to complain that when I bring up these issues, I get told by the wisest among us to “get a job” even though I already work two jobs to make ends meet. Or how about my supervisor at GSU who was just laid off (with no advance notice) due to the excuse of “budget cuts”? According to the last issue of The Signal, our highest paid professor
makes close to $1 million. Our lowest paid professors are forced to give us meaningless assignments for their department mandated evaluation that they do not even have the time to grade because our classes are filled to the brim. We have such a diverse university, yet I hear so many racist and sexist comments from my peers. The chances are high that the young woman who sits next to me in my History class will be sexually assaulted or raped before she graduates, if she hasn’t been already. The chances are high just as high that the young black man who sits in front of me will be arrested on false charges. Imagine a university where we all felt safe, where we were all respected for our talents and qualities as human beings rather than the paycheck we represented to our university. Where we were respected by our faculty, staff, and contracted employees, and where we respected them in turn. I know that is the university we all want. Right now, students from Quebec to Chile are fighting for that type of university. It is that type of university we should fight for too.
On January 22, The Signal published a front-page article titled “Panther bus conflicts” which purported to expose various complaints and safety concerns with FirstTransit, the company contracted to run the Panther bus service. Unfortunately, this article was severely misguided. The article not only failed to objectively evaluate the criticisms raised against FirstTransit, but it also failed to take seriously the perspectives of the workers who were the subjects of the criticism—not even one worker was interviewed for the piece. While we doubt The Signal intended this as a malicious attack on Panther bus drivers, we would like to briefly raise a few concerns that were mistakenly left out of the article. Unfortunately, seemingly inconsequential articles such as these can have very detrimental impacts on our campus community. First, we’d like to draw attention to the fact that the entire article highlights only five complaints. Given that these drivers transport thousands of students every single day, it is extremely hard to see how five written complaints constitutes a massive failure on behalf of the drivers. Most importantly, however, we must insist on placing the criticisms of Panther bus drivers within the larger context of attacks on workers’ rights and struggles for fair contracts. You might not realize this, but the bus drivers who get you to and from your classes, parking, and dorms are union bus drivers who belong to Teamsters Local 728. This union and others like it have increasingly come under attack in recent years. In fact, a few years ago, Georgia Tech
used the pre-text of a few complaints about its bus service to effectively force out FirstTransit and its unionized drivers. Sound familiar? As Panther bus drivers face contract negotiations during the coming year, it is important that we refuse to let a few complaints publicized by The Signal serve the same purpose: to strip workers of their most fundamental right to organize. And, (just in case you are asking) why is it important that our bus drivers have this right? The bus drivers who work for FirstTransit at Georgia State are predominantly low-income women-of-color. These women are hyper-exploited in the labor market and rarely have union representation or protection. The job stability and higher wages which unionization affords these women allows them to dream of putting their children through college, to feel secure in their ability to feed their family, and to feel some semblance of control in their work. As students, we must always stand with workers in their efforts to make their voices heard and never be the ones actively silencing them. We should demand a union campus with representation for all workers, not contribute to the administration’s strategy of breaking unions. The International Socialist Organization stands squarely behind Local 728. Workers’ power
YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS 1. Why do you think binge drinking is becoming such a problem among women? 2. Do you think there is a problem with binge drinking at Georgia State? 3. How do you think binge drinking should, or could be handled? Do you have knowledge of how other schools handle drinking?
Thomas Gagne French Literature 2014
Sean Philips The International Socialist Organization
submit letters to the editor to signalopinions@gmail.com.
more details on page 2A
The Weakly Comic by william miracle
Name: Tymira Jones Major: Applied Linguistics 1) Yeah, I think it’s an emotional thing. Women, we let our emotions rule us, and we sometimes, we don’t think logically. That’s because of our emotions and because we don’t know how to handle it in the proper way, some women will drink. 2) From what I’ve seen I would say so, dealing with the stress of grades. Especially when finals come around, you would think that wouldn’t be the time people do it, but a lot of people do it around that time. 3) I think GSU should have a program that will educate people, I’m not sure if they do right now. Even if it was out here in the courtyard that would work, especially since there’s a lot of people around at that time. They should do something.
Name: Athina Aguirre Major: Biology and French 1) I think they think it would be better if they did at one moment, sort of to excuse themselves so that they’re not [drinking] habitually. If they’re really drunk at once they could be like “Oh it was a party,” or something. 2) Um, maybe. I think, like I said, most people don’t want to do it in a habitual manner, so they would rather kind of “do it all the way” and get drunk. I think a lot of people drink at the end of finals or the end of the semester as a celebratory [event]. 3) It could be possible, but some people are going to do whatever they’re going to do. Because even when people smoke and they know all the side effects and they have to worry about getting caught it entices some people to do it more. It’s all up to the person, they’re going to make their choice.
Name: Yelissa Navarro Major: Undecided 1) It’s obviously bad for your health, and you’re not in control of your actions. That’s a serious problem, not just for women, but for anyone who binge drinks. (Do you have any insight why someone would drink like that?) I think they do it as a social or cultural thing. 2) I don’t think, not as much as I’ve heard of other places. I think the residence halls here are a little stricter, because at places like Tech and UGA it’s pretty much out in the open. They have one campus that’s enclosed while ours is very open. 3) I wouldn’t know how to start with the problem.
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SPORTS
www.georgiastatesignal.com
Football
Talent search wraps up
Panthers close in on first recruiting class of Trent Miles era LB- Kight Dallas
RHETT LEWIS Sports Editor
N
ational signing day, the college football equivalent of ground-breaking on a brand new sky scrapper, is Wednesday, Feb. 6. Students, alumni and fans will finally be able to see the fruits of new head coach Trent Miles and his staff ’s labor on the recruiting trail and will get their first glimpses at the future of Georgia State football. Ben Moore, editor of panthertalk.com, believes coach Miles and his staff have been well received during the recruiting process, especially in the metro Atlanta area. “Recruits have responded very well to the new staff and Georgia State as a whole,” Moore said. “[Miles] quickly assembled a top notch staff with excellent recruiters and they attacked metro Atlanta, resulting in 15 commits from the greater Atlanta area.” Several of Georgia State’s verbal commitments enrolled in school this January and will most likely have immediate impact on the field this coming fall. “The Georgia State coaching staff was able to enroll three players early from the junior college ranks in quarterback Clay Chastain, running back Gerald Howse and defensive tackle George Rogers,” Moore said. “I believe all three will play significantly at their respective positions and I believe that Chastain and Howse will start.” One of the position groups that Georgia State appears to have concentrated on during the recruiting process is the defensive line. “Looking at the numbers it’s easy to see the staff was focused on adding depth to the defensive line,” Moore said. “Stopping the run has been a consistent problem for the Panthers in the last few years and new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has promised an attacking style. If the current commits hold, the Panthers will have 19 scholarship players on the defensive line. That’s excellent depth.” Signing day is the finale of the recruiting season production, yet it can also be the most stressinducing day as coaches wait for letters of intent to roll into their fax machines. That stress is caused by the fact that coaches realize the mind and decision making process of a high school senior can be a very fickle thing. “Most coaches, if honest, don’t feel 100 percent about any prospect until they sign their National Letters of Intent,” Moore said. “These are 17-yearold young men we are talking about making the most important decision of their life to this point. Georgia State has several commitments that have taken other visits to bigger schools in the Big East, Big Ten, ACC, and SEC. They are very likely hearing from those coaches up until they sign their Letters of Intent.” The entire coaching staff hopes that on Wednesday, all of Georgia State’s commitments, from the greater Atlanta area all the way down to south Florida, will decide to become part of this new Panthers family.
“As for the true freshman, I’d look for LB Kight Dallas to make an immediate impact,” Moore said. “He is a tremendous player who was committed to South Carolina from April to December [2012]. Kight also held offers from Purdue, Cal, South Carolina and Southern Miss. “
Lithonia, Ga.
Hampton, Ga.
Norcross, Ga.
DE- Tevin Jones “He’s an under the radar guy, but at 6’5, 250lbs he is physically ready to contribute right now,” Moore said. “Jones played at Luella HS in Hampton, GA and was a dominant player, drawing scholarship offers from UCONN, Florida International and had interest from Georgia Tech, UCF, Duke and other FBS schools.” 2012 stats- 72 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries
Milledgeville, Ga.
CB- Shon Akins “I’d keep an eye on CB Shon Akins who visited January 18 but is being courted by BCS schools,” Moore said. The 5’9”, 164 lbs. senior from Norcross HS in Norcross, Ga. also has offers from California, Florida Atlantic, Fresno State, and Troy and is considered to be a long shot as far as Georgia State is concerned. 2012 stats- 91 tackles, 1 INT, 10 passes defensed
QB- Clay Chastain Moore believes Chastain is the front-runner for the starting quarterback position in the fall. He has already enrolled at Georgia State. Chastain will have three years of eligibility at Georgia State and choose the Panthers after garnering interest from both Auburn and Mississippi State. 2012 stats- 1,907 yards passing, 20 TD, 7 INT
National signing day coverage The Signal will be providing all day, up to the minute coverage of national signing day on Wednesday, Feb. 6. We will be posting updates on signings on our website, www.georgiastatesignal.com, and you can follow us on Twitter @GSUSignalSports. The Athletics Department will also be hosting their Annual Signing Day Show on Wednesday evening in the Georgia State University Student Center State Ballroom. During the show, head coach Trent Miles and his staff will answer questions and introduce Georgia State’s 2013 football signees. There will also be video presentations.
Light refreshments will be provided during the show and admission is free. We would like for you to send questions for coach Miles and his staff in regards to signing day and Georgia State football in general. We will select several questions and do our best to have them answered and post the responses on our website and twitter feeds. Be sure to check back throughout the weeks to come as The Signal will try to contact the 2013 signees and continue to bring you the best Georgia State football coverage possible.
Georgia State Football Verbal Commitments QB- Clay Chastain- 6’4” 220 Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, Ga.)
TE- Keith Rucker- 6’4” 225 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
DE- Mackendry Cheridor- 6’6” 245 Columbia HS (Decatur, Ga.)
LB- Jameel Spencer- 6’0” 210 Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
RB- Gerald Howse- 6’1” 220 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Okla.)
TE- Bill Teknipp- 6’5” 295 Eagle’s Landing HS (McDonugh, Ga.)
DE- Kingsley Ejike- 6’3” 220 Newton County HS (Covington, Ga.)
DB- Deonte Davis- 5’11” 170 South Gwinnett HS (Snellville, Ga.)
DT- George Rogers- 6’3” 300 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Okla.)
OT- Daniel Ziegler 6’4” 250 South Gwinnett HS (Snellville, Ga.)
DE- Carnell Hopson- 6’2” 245 South Paulding HS (Douglasville, Ga.)
DB- Trenton Hill- 6’0” 195 Martin Luther King HS (Atlanta, Ga.)
QB- Oshay Carter- 6’3” 230 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.)
OT- Brandon Pertile- 6’5” 295 Countryside HS (Clearwater, Fla.)
DE- Tevin Jones- 6’4” 250 Luella HS (Hampton, Ga.)
DB- Robert Dowling- 5’11” 185 Lassiter HS (Marietta, Ga.)
RB- Kyler Neal- 6’1” 210 East Paulding HS (Dallas, Ga.)
OL- Davis Moore- 6’5” 290 Loganville HS (Loganville, Ga.)
DT- Jalen Lawrence- 6’0” 265 Westside-Macon HS (Macon, Ga.)
ATH- Tyshaun Clemons- 6’1” 190 Gordon Central HS (Calhoun, Ga.)
TE- River Bryant- 6’4” 235 Jackson County HS (Jefferson, Ga.)
OG- Alex Stoehr- 6’1” 285 North Gwinnett HS (Suwanee, Ga.)
LB- Kight Dallas- 6’2” 220 Stephenson HS (Lithonia, Ga.)
ATH- B.J. Clay- 6’0” 175 Dacula HS (Dacula, Ga.)
TE- Sebastian Willer 6’6” 265 Calhoun HS (Calhoun, Ga.)
DT- Will Cunningham- 6’2” 255 Ida Baker HS (Cape Coral, Fla.)
LB- Trey Payne- 6’0” 230 Northside HS (Warner Robbins, Ga.)
*Chastain, Howse, and Rogers enrolled at Georgia State in January 2013.
SOURCE: BEN MOORE
SPORTS
10A
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
athlete profiles basketball
Senior leadership on display TIFFANIE SMITH Staff Reporter
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any would think being the only senior and biggest player on the team would satisfy anyone’s college career. James Vincent, however, remains humble about his goals. Vincent said nobody really inspired him to play basketball, but like many players he had a family member who used to play the game. “I can’t say anything inspires me to play basketball, I just play because it’s fun,” Vincent said.. “My father played at SC State when he was in college and I wanted to beat my father’s records as far as blocks.” Speaking of records, Vincent is closing in on several school records. He’s already achieved a lot at Georgia State including averaging 2.8 points following 2.4 rebounds per game in just three seasons. “I am very proud of these goals because I never expected to be how it is now,” Vincent said. “I just broke a record for most blocks and I am ranked in the nation for blocks now. I never thought I could get to something like that.” Vincent is the only senior on the team. Playing with a young team is not a problem for him. With five freshmen and six sophomores, Vincent said he has never seen a
young team so determined. “It’s very fun playing with this team and they are all very funny guys,” Vincent said. “They keep me laughing and they are really determined, to be such young guys. That keeps me motivated, to see them that way and they play like it is their last year playing.” Off the court, Vincent said he clicks the most with players David Travers and TJ Shipes, the biggest jokers on the team. Head coach Ron Hunter can be hard on Vincent, but only for his own good. “I think he is a great coach because he knows what he is doing,” Vincent said. “He yells and actually speaks his mind more than most coaches. I think he actually understand me more than any other coach that I have had.” Music is associated with many athletes’ pregame routines, but not Vincent. “I’m actually a backwards ball player,” Vincent said. “I like to take a nap before the games and I don’t listen to music because I fear that is kind of distracting. It gets me crunk, but at the same time the lyrics are in my mind the whole game.” Vincent, a studio art major, is that he wants to be a graphic designer after graduation and would like to own his own business. Vincent, always a team player, feels like his last season could be the start of something good for Georgia State. “I feel it’s more about them than it is for me,” Vincent said. “It’s my last year and I need to set a platform for them to build upon.”
James Vincent slams against William & Mary
TENNIS
One man welcoming committee GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS DAVID NORWOOD II Staff Reporter
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efore Thomas Cook started his collegiate career, he was billed as a four star recruit and the number one ranked tennis player in Georgia. While in high school, he accomplished several feats such as defeating the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked players in Louisiana and posting a record of 31-11 at the conclusion of his prep career. An Atlanta native, he didn’t venture too far home as he continued his post-prep tennis career by committing to Georgia State. With his prep career in the books, it brought forth new opportunities and new challenges by continuing on playing collegiately as Cook would be playing against more talented players from around the world, not just United States. One new challenge was brought forth as soon he set foot on campus. He was the only Americanborn athlete on Georgia State’s men’s tennis team. “Communication can be difficult sometimes but I think I’m getting used to the language barrier,” Cook said. “Learning firsthand about different cultures has been a huge plus.” While the roster may consist of talented athletes from around the world, adjusting to playing and living in America could be a quite challenge
for the foreign athletes. Coach Barthel looked at Cook being American-born as a positive for the team. “He’s a team leader,” Barthel said. “He’s from Atlanta. He’s always played in Atlanta. He leads the freshmen by example. He helps freshmen from the other parts of the world to adjust (to playing in America).” Despite not sharing the same cultures, Cook still managed to bond with his teammates on and off the tennis court. One thing they all bond over is video games, with the FIFA occer series being their game of choice. “I’m a big FIFA soccer fan,” Cook said. “A lot of the guys on the tennis team play, but they’re not quite on my level.” Cook’s favorite tennis player is Roger Federer and he even sees a little of himself in the Swiss tennis champion. “Federer, in my opinion, is the most amazing player to watch,” Cook said. “He hits some of the most unbelievable shots and makes them look easy. I think I might play with his aggressive style, but it’s extremely tough to compare with the greatest in the world.” Aside from playing tennis at Georgia State, Cook values his education and recently changed his major from exercise science to managerial science. Cook, a junior, made the switch to prepare himself for a possibly like in the family-owned business currently ran by his father, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing tennis after his time at Georgia State is up. “I would like to try the early stages of the ATP tour to see how I do and possibly teach tennis here and there later on in my life,” Cook said. “Definitely will continue in some way throughout my life.” After his experiences at Georgia State, you can bet Cook will be suited for a life in business or tennis, and should feel comfortable anywhere in the world. For Cook’s bio and career accomplishments please visit www.georgiastatesignal.com
ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN| THE SIGNAL
11A
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
PANTHER Of The Week
Sports Calendar Tue, Feb. 5 MGLF SeaBest Seafood Invitational (final round) at Ponte Vedra, Fla. All Day
GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
R.J. HUNTER Freshman R.J. Hunter and the men’s basketball team defeated two of their Colonial Athletic Association rivals this past week– downing league-leading Northeastern by a score of 78-73 on Jan. 30 and routing Old Dominion on Feb. 2 by a score of 83-63. Hunter tied a career high with 27 points versus Northeastern. He also contributed four rebounds, five assists, and one very timely block with less than 20 seconds to play to help preserve the Panthers victory. On Saturday night Hunter dazzled the Georgia State faithful inside the Sports Arena with a career best 38 points, including a school and CAA record 10 three pointers. Hunter is the fifth most prolific scorer in the CAA so far this season, averaging 17.3 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds per contest (as of Feb. 3).
Wed, Feb. 6 MBB UNCW* at Wilmington, N.C. 7:00 P.M.
Sat, Feb. 9 MTR and WTF at Birmingham, Ala. All Day
Sat, Feb .9 MTEN Georgia Southern Blackburn Tennis Center 1:00 P.M.
Thu, Feb. 7 WBB William & Mary* GSU Sports Arena 7:00 P.M.
Sat, Feb .9 MBB Towson* GSU Sports Arena 2:00 P.M.
Fri, Feb. 8 SB Bulldog Kickoff Classic at Starkville, Miss. 11:00 A.M. and 1:30 P.M.
Sat, Feb. 9 WTEN Auburn at Auburn, Ala. 2:00 P.M.
Five qs with...
Eliza Zachary YEAR: Freshman Major: Biology From: Bloomington, Minn. Sport: VolleyBall
Sat, Feb. 9 SB Bulldog Kickoff Classic at Starkville, Miss. 6:30 P.M. and 8:30 P.M. GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Sun-Tue, Feb. 10-12 WGLF UCF Challenge at Sorrento, Fla. All Day Sun, Feb. 10 MTEN Nicholls State Blackburn Tennis Center 9:00 A.M.
On making the CAA All-Rookie team
My initial thoughts were confusion. I could have never received the honor of being named on the All-Rookie team without such an amazing team that supports each other and pushes each other to do their best on and off the court.
Offseason conditioning
Right now with my foot injury I can only do upper body workouts and core workouts. My team and I work out with our strength and conditioning coach Mel Schmitz five days a week; weights three days a week and conditioning three days a week.
Sweet home Minnesota
I know it sounds silly but when you grow up where you can’t even go a mile with out a body of water you get used to playing games out on the ice in the winter, or ice skating, or swimming and fishing in the summer.
Volleyball slang Sun, Feb. 10 WBB Hofstra* GSU Sports Arena 12:00 P.M.
Shag. It means to go pick up the balls in the gym. I don’t necessarily like doing it, but it’s a fun word.
Favorite athlete
Danielle Scott-Arruda. She plays on the USA Women’s National Volleyball team. She recently played in the 2012 Olympics and she is 40 years old. *To find out who Eliza says is her smartest teammate and to read the full interview transcript, please visit our website at www.georgiastatesignal.com.
CONSIDERING AN MBA OR MARKETING GRADUATE DEGREE? Please join us for a graduate Information Session Medill, Northwestern University Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications WHEN: Wednesday, February 6th at 5 p.m. WHERE: Omni CNN Center, Pecan Room, 100 CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 PRESENTERS: Medill Dean Brad Hamm and IMC Chair Frank Mulhern, Ph.D. SPACE IS LIMITED, SO PLEASE RSVP TO: http://tinyurl.com/imcinatlanta Admission is free. Attendees are also welcome to join Medill’s dean and Medill alumni in Atlanta for a dean’s reception at Latitudes Lounge in the Omni immediately following the information session.
MEDILL
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Journalism • Media • Integrated Marketing Communications
Campus Events
http://www.gsu.edu/studentcenter Styles
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WHATʼS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS! Cinefest Film Theatre
Georgia State University uLearn
cinefest movie times
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CAMPUS EVENTS
www.gsu.edu/studentevents
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES: Dr. Drew Pinsky Thursday, February 14, 3 p.m. Student Center Ballroom • FREE
Supported by Student Activity Fees
http://www.gsu.edu/cinefest
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Campus Eventsʼ 2012-13 Distinguished Speaker Series will feature Dr. Drew Pinsky, aka Dr. Drew. Pinksy stars in Celebrity Rehab and hosts the popular radio show Loveline and the hit HLN TV show Dr. Drew on Call. He is currently working on a new book, Recovering Intimacy. The event will take place in the Student Center Ballroom (overflow seating will be in the Speakerʼs Auditorium). The Distinguished Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Campus Events at 404-413-1857.
EARLY BIRD TICKET DEADLINE EXTENDED GSU Night at the Aquarium
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.
February 4-10
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Argo
Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. For details, visit www.gsu.edu/cinefest. Courtyard Music Series.jpg
Friday, February 15, 6-11 p.m., Georgia Aquarium
All Georgia State University students, faculty, staff, alumni and their families and friends are invited to GSU Night at the Aquarium on Friday, February 15. An entry ticket to the Georgia Aquarium will include access to Deepoʼs Undersea 3D Wondershow Theater and Frogs, A Chorus of Colors; no additional ticket purchase is required. Also, there will be one viewing of the AT&T Dolphin Tales show, with seating beginning at 7 p.m. and the show beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. (additional ticket purchase is required and only 1,600 tickets are available). Ticket prices are the same for students and non-students and are as follows: Until 7 p.m. on February 7: $13 – Aquarium entry only
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$21 – Aquarium entry with Dolphin Tales ticket
February 8 until 4 p.m., February 15 (or until sold out, whichever comes first): $16 – Aquarium entry only
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$26 – Aquarium entry with Dolphin Tales ticket
Ticket sales are not restricted to persons affiliated with GSU. Tickets can only be purchased in person at Campus Tickets (open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday) in the University Center. More information about this event can be found at the Campus Events website at www.gsu.edu/studentevents or by contacting Campus Events Special Events Director Jeunice Owens-Walton at cespecialevents@gmail.com.
Campus Events in Library Plaza
Tuesday, February 5, Noon-1 p.m., Library Plaza Featuring DJ Peter Parker
Campus MovieFest (CMF)
Spotlight Styles
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SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS BOARD www.gsu.edu/spotlight
GSU Storytellers
Thursday, February 7, 7-9:30 p.m. Speakerʼs Auditorium, Student Center
This event is a rendition of VH1 Storytellers. We will feature three performances: Subconscious, Ari'Jo and Will Hill. You cannot afford to miss this event!
Soul Food Cypher
Thursday, February 7, 7-9 p.m., 470 University Center
Wednesday, February 6 MUST REGISTER by TODAY to compete in the worldʼs largest student film festival Noon-5:30 p.m., 480/485 University Center After registering, get everything you need to make a 5-minute film in a week: an Apple MacBook Pro with editing software, a Panasonic HD camcorder and 24/7 tech support all for free! Sign up now at www.campusmoviefest.com/GSU and join the Facebook event page to stay updated on event info and for special prize opportunities! You may sign up on the day of the event in 480/485 University Center.
The top 16 GSU films will be shown and compete for prizes at an on-campus red carpet finale at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 28, at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The winners will have a chance to screen at the Campus MovieFest Hollywood Finale, where they will be eligible to win even larger prizes and national exposure. Just last year, CMF had over 75,000 participants who earned $400,000 in prizes. Sponsored by Spotlight Programs Board, Campus Events, GSTV, the Residence Hall Association and the Student Government Association.
Miss Georgia State University Scholarship Pageant
Saturday, February 9 7 p.m. • Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University
The Soul Food Cypher is an open freestyle cypher event. The event is already established and occurs at WonderRoot every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. GSU is simply branching the event to its first college campus. This event is young, and we will one day see that we were its first step out of its “home” at WonderRoot into the world.
Spotlight Programs Board in Unity Plaza Thursday, February 14, Noon-1 p.m., Unity Plaza Celebrate Valentineʼs Day with Spotlight Programs Board.
For more information, call Spotlight at 404-413-1610.
Tickets on Sale Now!
Join us at the Rialto Center for the Arts as 24 hopeful young women bring their best to compete for the crown at our 18th Miss Georgia State University Scholarship Pageant. As part of the Miss America program, Miss GSU will go on to compete in the Miss Georgia pageant this June. Miss Georgia will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant next January.
GSU Students: $12 • Faculty, Staff and Non-GSU Students: $20
Program book included in price. For more information: 404-413-1610 or missgsu@gsu.edu