The Signal Vol. 83 No.20

FEB. 16 - FEB. 23, 2016

VOL. 83 | NO. 20

The signal at georgia State University

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trying to become a

Panther

Some GPC athletes found that becoming a Panther takes much more than school spirit and promised scholarship letters.

News | Page 3

Inside GPA Booster bill

House reps push legislation to bump up the grade point average for science and tech classes.

News | Page 5

Just keep swimming

Hostile home support

Our columnist gives his take on why the recent campus robberies were done by a student.

The future of robots is happening 36,000 feet blow the ocean surface. The robot fish is making its way here!

Take a look at the student section whose reputation is growing similar to the Cameron Crazies at Duke.

Opinions| Page 7

A&L | page 9

Sports | pages 16

the Laptop bandit

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NEWS

blotter

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Feb. 11

Feb. 9

Found ya

ALC Theft

University police report that more than $1,500 worth of school property was stolen from Aderhold Learning Center.

Feb. 10

Ooh, flashy

Someone was exposing himself at the University Lofts at noon on Wednesday, according to GSUPD. Police are still looking for the alleged flasher.

Georgia State campus police arrested a person on Auburn Avenue around 3:30 p.m. who was wanted for snatching a purse. Upon picking up the perp, GSUPD noticed the person was holding cannabis and charged him for that too.

Feb. 10

Fool me once

A Georgia State student reported that someone had stolen more than $500 worth of his or her belongings through tactics of deception.

Feb. 12

Panther cub on the sauce

A young Georgia State student was arrested for possessing alcohol while underage around 2 a.m. in Patton Hall.

ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Participants strip down to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation at the Cupid’s Undie Run on Feb. 13.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS Panther Status Denied www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Former GPC athletes left hanging from unfulfilled scholarship promises DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter

B

roken promises left some former Georgia Perimeter College (GPC) athletes without an athletics program or an education. A letter from then-Interim President Rob Watts promising to pay tuition, books and fees for student athletes was never honored after the Georgia State-GPC consolidation.

Last January, news of the GSUGPC consolidation reached Perimeter’s campuses. The college’s athletics programs were suspended and eventually shut down at the end of the Spring 2015 semester.

Days later, on Jan. 14, student athletes received a letter signed

by Watts offering to cover school expenses “for any freshman athlete who wishes to return during the 2015-2016 academic year.”

A LAST EFFORT When it came time to register for classes, many students were told they were ineligible to receive the benefits promised in Watts’ letter.

These students ended up transferring, paying out of pocket or dropping out.

Watts has since retired and GPC’s office of marketing and communications was unable to provide his contact information.

Peter Lyons, current Vice Provost and Dean of Perimeter College, said the students were taken care of prior

to the consolidation.

“Students who have contacted us have all had arrangements made before the consolidation happened,” Lyons said. “Some students were not able to avail themselves of the offer immediately, but for confidentiality purposes I cannot reveal which students those were specifically.”

However, many students remained ineligible for the letter’s benefits including Rafael DeJesus, a former GPC student and men’s soccer player.

“I was relieved when I first got the letter because they promised to pay for both fall and spring semesters,” he told The Signal. “But now I’m stuck here and there’s no way for me to go back to school.”

After finishing his freshman year, DeJesus took classes during the summer 2015 term. Those classes were paid for with leftover money from the then disassembled Perimeter soccer team’s budget.

Former head coach, Marc Zagara, said the team’s funds regularly pay for his players’ summer semesters for recruitment purposes. Perimeter had paid for DeJesus’ fall semester.

TEAM BUDGET FUNDS EDUCATION Just before the spring 2016 semester, DeJesus received an email from Perimeter’s former athletic director, Alfred Barney, saying his two semesters had already been covered because he took summer classes.

DeJesus said he was then dropped from his courses for “non-payment.”

Barney did not respond to The Signal’s requests for information. And as of last week, his position as athletic director has been terminated.

Some of DeJesus’ teammates also thought their classes were paid for by the college until a couple days before classes began when they realized they were at risk of being dropped for non-payment as well, according to DeJesus.

“We had to keep calling the registration office and fight to get this taken care of,” DeJesus said. “A lot of times they wouldn’t answer or help us. It was like they were hoping we wouldn’t call.”

Zagara said he was upset that paying for his ex-players’ summer classes had backfired on them.

“I took care of a half dozen of my players’ summer school. It was a normal function of an athletic budget,” Zagara said. “And now that’s going against them.”

When Zagara and some of his former players complained about this, Barney told them the letter only applied to scholarship athletes so the walk-ons were ineligible. However, Watts’ letter was given to all student athletes and does not mention a scholarship-only exclusion.

Zagara and DeJesus hired Attorney Andrew Conway to press the issue further. They were then told that other factors prevented DeJesus from enrolling for the spring 2016

President Mark Becker unveils the new Georgia State University sign on Clarkston campus.

semester. Conway was not reached by press time.

An email from Georgia State Attorney Kerry Heyward to Attorney Andrew Conway, said the student’s academic history affects his enrollment and eligibility to receive the letter’s benefits.

“Mr. DeJesus’ ability to enroll for this semester and have his tuition and fees provided is determined by more than just the letter he received from Dr. Watts,” Heyward’s email said. “For example, relevant to our discussion are classes he has taken, withdrawals, GPA, etc.”

DROPPING OUT Watts’ letter makes no mention of any prerequisites needed to access its benefits and the athletes were not given any additional information about potential requirements.

Georgia State’s legal affairs office was unwilling to speak about the letter, saying it is not involved in the dispute.

“They were digging for excuses,” Zagara claimed. “This is a statement on the character of some of the administrators and bureaucrats wielding power. It’s embarrassing as an institution to behave that way.”

A few students, including DeJesus’ roommate, were able to access the letter’s benefits because they did not attend summer school.

According to Zagara, a majority of his athletes went to Perimeter specifically to play soccer. With

no athletic department or tuition benefits, the students had no incentive to stay at the now two-year Georgia State.

“A third of my team were able to get scholarships at other schools and transferred, and some are still in school here,” Zagara said. “About a third of them just disappeared.”

DeJesus was unable to register for this spring term. He is currently not in school and works to pay rent for his apartment.

“If I can come back, I’ll finish here at Perimeter then transfer and be able to play soccer somewhere else,” DeJesus said. “If there’s no way for me to go back, I’ll have to go home after my apartment lease is up.”

The day after The Signal spoke with DeJesus, he received a call instructing him to create a schedule for the upcoming semester and it would be paid for by the college. Zagara said this happened because they got a lawyer involved.

Anel Ramic, one of DeJesus’ former teammates said he and many other ex-soccer players still attend GPC, but pay out of pocket with the help of financial aid.

“I thought the tuition coverage would be a compromise for taking the athletics program,” Ramic said. “I play for an amateur league now and still go to school using financial aid, but it sucks not having my team and not getting tuition taken care of like they promised. Do I need to get a lawyer involved?”

PHOTO BY LAURYN SETZER | THE COLLEGIAN

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

University

Problematic Internet Use

Georgia State professor leads research into extended internet use CHARLES BAILEY

A

Internet Overuse

College students are the most at risk because they have unlimited access to internet on college campuses, freedom from parents, and more class information available online, according to The Study of the Effects of U.S. University Students’ Problematic Internet Use on Family Relationships.

Campbell said she hasn’t had contact with her immediate family since she started college two years ago. She also said she used the internet as a way to escape the family dysfunction she had to leave.

Campbell spent her time online chatting with friends and playing video games to cope.

“I would stay up late at night, and I’d fall asleep all the time in high school,” she said. “The only times I have trouble staying awake now are in my chemistry classes.”

The study consisted of about 27 students who self-identified as internet “over-users” from The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, they were split into four groups and were asked a series of questions about their experiences with PIU, according to the study.

“The participants shared both

Local

Police officer dies after Riverdale gun battle

A Riverdale police officer, Maj. Greg Barney died following surgery, after being shot in the mid-torso and arm, on Feb 11 during a gun battle. The alleged gunman was wounded during a shootout with law enforcement which took place as Riverdale police officers were assisting Clayton County police with an operation at an apartment complex in Riverdale, according to Associated Press.

Staff Reporter

lexis Campbell, Georgia State English major, uses the internet for school about 10 hours a week. She texts her best friend throughout the day, does her homework online and used to seek shelter online to escape her family problems.

“I’m used to using my computer as a leisure device,” she said. “But there are so many ways to get distracted on the internet, since you have everything at your fingertips.”

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a behavioral addiction that claims college students as the most at-risk demographic. The study, led by Georgia State Professor of Social Work Susan Snyder, examines the positive and negative effects of PIU on students and their family relationships, according to a Jan. 21 press release.

“We wanted to understand those who reported spending more than 25 hours a week on the Internet on nonschool or non-work-related activities, and who experienced internetassociated health or psychosocial problems,” she said.

Still, Aaron Baird, professor of health information systems at Georgia State, said the internet is becoming more of a requirement in the world, and it has several benefits and disadvantages.

“The internet and technology have many benefits including convenience, information transparency and increased productivity,” he said.

“However, downsides obviously occur if overuse results in not paying enough attention to other aspects of your life.”

Last Week

National

Parents get $2.3M compensation for death of their son

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JASON LUONG | THE SIGNAL

An internet addict vigorously browses the internet late at night.

their personal experiences and their perspectives with PIU. We did not go in with preconceived notions of what the students would say, but allowed them to share their thoughts,” Snyder said.

The study also suggested that the internet could spark positive and negative family issues, such as reconnecting with long lost family, or disagreements about posts on Facebook.

Campbell said she watches Netflix and Amazon Prime on average for over 7 hours on weekends. She said she only accesses her Facebook page once a day, for at least an hour.

“Sometimes what you say online could be misconstrued,” she said.

“And on Facebook, anyone can be publicly searched for.”

Snyder’s team used the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ) and Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) to measure PIU, according to the study. The students were asked questions about their internet activities and average internet time length. Snyder said the participants were of different majors.

“Our sample was too small for us to know what the results mean on a national level, but we were pleased because this helped us to see that this problem is not necessarily limited to one particular major,” she said.

The study reported that all of the participants had PIU, 48 percent were considered to be “Internet addicts” and over 95 percent of the participants said they spent more time on the internet than they thought.

Campbell said she spends over ten hours a day on the internet but is not allowed to use the media for her job.

She said she spends at least 5 hours a day on the internet for leisure. She also said her online assignments

only take an average of 15 minutes to complete.

“My school day starts at 9:30[a.m.] and it ends at 6:45[p.m.]” she said.

“I’m constantly checking my phone for updates, and at least two of my classes’ assignments are online.”

Snyder said the study participants in the class were given $20 for their time, and requested they not be allowed to use media resources during class.

“The participants in our study recommended that professors should require that students not have access to the Internet during class, in order to ensure that students with PIU could focus,” she said.

Baird said his students are required to use Brightspace, and he places most coursework information online, including tests and assignments.

“My students would have a hard time keeping up with class without Brightspace access,” he said.

Snyder also said that the participants in one focus group described being in class when the news of an athlete returning to UNC broke on Twitter. The students explained that no one had paid attention to what the professor was saying for the entire class.

“If a student can’t focus, then that student may not be able to reach his or her potential. It is critical that educators start to recognize PIU in order to provide students with every opportunity for success,” she said.

Campbell also thinks preoccupation with technology can be a problem. She said she’s fallen asleep on her phone before, yet not on her computer lately. She also said she has been known to work on her computer till at least 2 am, and only averaged about 5 hours of sleep a night.

“Before I got a smartphone, I used

to fall asleep at my computer, but after I got a phone, I fell asleep on it more because I’d be in a comfortable place, like my bed,” she said.

Family Conflict

The study found that the three main themes to come up most often were family connectedness, family conflict and disconnectedness, and family internet overuse. It also suggested that college students may be physically present but not psychologically present because of technology.

Campbell thinks older family members react worse to younger people who overuse the internet.

“They didn’t really grow up with technology like younger people do,” she said. “They think it’s rude.”

The study also suggests students with PIU may use the internet as a means to escape as well as a way to vent after an argument with family.

“Students would use the internet to escape anxiety, boredom, depression—moods that were uncomfortable,” Snyder said.

The study also suggests PIU can can lead to a variety of issues, such as depression, nightmares, difficulty staying awake and agoraphobia. A college student may begin to miss classes and witness a drop in grades, according to the study.

Campbell said her friends, as well as Georgia State faculty and staff, have made her issues bearable, despite her reticence to reunite with her family.

She also said she’s stopped using the internet as an escape by the spring semester of 2014.

“The friends that I’ve made, the faculty and staff I’ve come in contact with helped me pull myself back together,” she said.

The parents of 5-monthold Conor will be compensated $2.3 million by the providers of the day care in which their son died. Indy Star wrote, the parents sued Stacey Cox and her daughter, the unlicensed daycare owners, after their son passed away in his sleep, unmonitored and in a broken crib. The two women were convicted, and the parents stated the main objective of the case was to raise awareness on Indiana’s weak day care laws.

Global

England government reports point towards collapsed psychiatric programs

A leaked British government report shows suicide rates have risen, psychiatric patients are not receiving proper treatment, and patients are sent to scattered treatment facilities. According to The Guardian, the study was released right before David Cameron, prime minister of England, was due to announce reforms in the mental health system, and new funding initiatives. The study found lack in appropriate psychiatric treatment, as there has been a 10% increase in the people under the Mental Health Act.

Corrections 2.9 - The Sex issue Marcus Crider’s story, written by Leah Cotton not Devone Slappy

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

5

NEWS

Georgia

House reps HOPE to hike GPAs Some Georgia lawmakers want a GPA bump to boost the state’s tech workforce

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

A student is severely stressed out while working on math homework.

SEAN KEENAN News Editor

H

alf a dozen Republican Georgia House reps are pushing legislation this session to boost students’ GPAs. The proposed hike in grades from House Bill 801 (HB 801), however, would only be applied to STEM courses, classes which focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

HB 801 swept through a House vote on Feb. 3 with 167-0 count in favor of the grade-booster bill, which would tack on an additional 0.5 points to each B, C, or D in STEM classes on the 4.0 GPA scale.

The bill’s author, House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, said this legislation was crafted with aspirations of broadening the state’s technology workforce, which could help mend Georgia’s struggling healthcare system by keeping more students in medical and technical studies.

“Of the top 15 fields that we have a workforce shortage in Georgia that require a four-year post graduate degree, 10 are in healthcare. and 5 are in engineering and computer science,” she said.

And although Jones said this legislation was not authored to appeal specifically to Georgia Tech students, if passed, HB 801 could curb some complaints from Yellow Jacket students that are leaving STEM majors because they couldn’t uphold grades to HOPE scholarship specs.

“Contrary to what’s been reported in the AJC, this is not a Georgia Tech bill,” she said. “I specifically fashioned it so that students attending all 29 state public colleges and 25 private colleges would have the opportunity to benefit from this.”

One Georgia State researcher’s recent findings suggest that the introduction of the HOPE scholarship offerings -- and those of other meritbased aid -- have contributed to the decrease in Georgia’s STEM field graduates.

“We find significant evidence that HOPE reduced the likelihood that a young person earned a degree in a STEM field,” said Professor David

Sjoquist in his study on HOPE’s impact on student futures. “It’s at the time of graduation, that’s when you see the big decline [in STEM focus].”

Georgia State Dean of Students Darryl Holloman told The Signal he hasn’t noticed a pattern of science and tech students leaving their majors due to academic issues, but he’s witnessed a few students succumb to the pressure of those “rigorous” courses.

“I remember years ago when I was an academic advisor, and I was advising a student who could not pass biology,” he said. “She’d taken it like six or seven times, not passing and sometimes having to withdraw.”

No gamble with HB 677

Meanwhile, Georgia politicos have also been battling over the fate of HB 677, legislation which seeks to welcome six casino resorts to the state while broadening gambling laws. Sponsors claim, if enacted, the Georgia Lottery Corporation -which funds the HOPE scholarship -could rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in state education funding.

But Jones said there’s no relationship between the two. There could be a change in the amount of HOPE recipients, she told The Signal, but HB 801’s success is not contingent upon a funding bump from casino taxes.

“There will be a slight shift in maybe who keeps HOPE, but that’s theoretical because there will be students who weren’t going to take a [STEM courses] without the GPA boost.

“What [HB 801] is doing is refining and targeting our lottery dollars to areas that will best benefit the state because we have workforce shortages, which could be a modest factor in helping us attract more high-tech companies to locate and expand in the state if we can increase our workforce pipeline,” she said.

However, the bill contains no language to incentivize STEM grads to stay in-state. Jones said ‘no problem.’

“The vast majority of in-state students do stay in Georgia,” she said. “If you’re at Valdosta State as a chemistry major or a nursing major, some of your courses qualify for this, and students who go to college there

oftentimes settle there.”

Plus, Holloman said, the metro Atlanta culture of Georgia State gives students a competitive advantage against other job hunters, which could prompt them to stick around town after graduation.

“Our institution gives our students a leg up because they are immersed in such a diverse college experience,” he said.

Julie Yoon, a Georgia State math major, lost her HOPE funding during her second semester when her GPA fell victim to the rigors of her course

load. She said she believes that the bill could pull some students from STEM-induced academic ruts.

“I think [the potential changes in HOPE] are positive,” she said. “I think the reason a lot of people drop out of harder classes is because they don’t want to lose HOPE because college is really expensive in the first place.”

Chewy Rupani, a Georgia State econ major, previously majored in Computer Science. Although he’s been able to maintain the grades requirements, he’s been subject to watch his friends flunk out of STEM

studies.

“A lot of my friends dropped out after the first semester because they made F’s in the first CS class,” Rupani stated.

Rupani said that he thinks this bill could help his computer science friends.

“I think it is positive because it will help people pass the class and probably encourage more people to take STEM classes,” he said.

Staff Reporter Alyssa Davis contributed reporting for this article.

NEWS

6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

UNIVERSITY

A new kind of senioritis

Georgia State offers free schooling for students over 62 CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Associate News Editor

T

imes have changed, and the new fad of retirement is no longer a beach-front apartment in Florida. It’s morning classes, over-sized book-bags, and overpriced textbooks…all over again. But this time, it’s free.

The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents has effected an ‘over-62’ policy, which grants all university applicants over the age of 62 a four-year college education, or class auditing, entirely tuition free.

As GSU-62, the corresponding program at Georgia State, applicants must meet the

ILLUSTRATION BY TINA PHAM | THE SIGNAL

institution’s admission requirements, provide state residency proof, and wait until late registration to sign up for classes, based on a space-available procedure.

For Damian Whitaker, 67-yearold Georgia State student, going to class is not about a degree.

“I don’t see that I have any use for a second Masters, or a PhD,” he said, explaining he is not following a degree program.

Another GSU-62 student Joseph Crews, 81, said he felt now was the time to conquer the courses he had always yearned for, yet could never before pursue.

“It was like finding a bunch of money on a snow pile,” said Crews.

Crews started his college career in 1953, wanting to become a teacher, and then a doctor. Two extensive cancer treatments, military service, a marriage and a daughter later, in 1996 Crews obtained a degree in business from Miami-Dade College.

Retiring at 77, he moved to Georgia to be close to his daughter, and joked around the dinner table about going back to college.

“I applied online, and my first day on campus, I walked into Sparks Hall and got lost,” Crews said with a chuckle. “I got lost in the first building I entered.”

Ameedah Abdullah, 63, said after she found out the program was free, “it was almost sinful not to go.”

Abdullah is studying social work, for nothing short of a

A PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS| THE SIGNAL

Older student Christina Clomon takes a break before heading to bio lab

major cause for her community.

“I have dealt with mental health problems in the past, and I want to get this degree to be able to start a nonprofit rehabilitation center,” she said. “I have written a book on mental challenges, faith, and selfmedication, and now I feel it’s time to help get rid of the social stigma around it.”

Abdulla said she plans to pursue a Master’s degree, reminding the lost and confused that it’s never too late to do what you love. She said it was a reoccurring dream that convinced her it was time to go back. That dream had her running all around campus, wondering where her degree was.

“That’s when I realized I had to come get that degree,” she said.

Getting an education, however, is no walk in the park for some senior

citizens.

Damian Whitaker, a homeless GSU-62 student, said he often takes flak from campus police.

“They stop me just to ask me to show them my Panther ID, and when I do, they call in to check my registration status,” he said.

But being questioned by authority doesn’t stop Whitaker’s roaming around. He just wishes he could have a community of other students his age to share their experiences.

“I know there’s the Nontraditional Students Association which would include GSU-62 students, but I think the older students deserve an organization of their own, to share the common interests and concerns,” he said.

TAG plans new digital security initiatives for Atlanta Staff Reporter

T

he Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) has assembled a new team to crack down on backdoors in metro Atlanta’s digital network.

According to Government Technology, Atlanta is home to 25 percent of the world’s global security revenue market and the state’s massive amounts of information in its post-secondary schools.

The TAG is forming the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC), based in Atlanta, to push for further legislation of promoting cyber awareness and security. This decision is a movement to protect individuals, companies, and government bodies in the converging age of media and

Sebastian Parra yields his seat to pursue a career in politics News Editor

Tech group installs cyber walls online security, according to NTSC. Georgia State, as a part of TAG, holds a massive database of personal, financial, and academic information that is potentially vulnerable to cyber threats. Ren Flot, chief information security officer at Georgia State University, said that TAG’s decision will benefit the university.

“With this membership, all Georgia State students are eligible to participate in TAG. We’re excited to be a member of an organization that is taking a leading role in addressing issues of cyber security,” Flot said.

Flot also also said cyber threats are a very real and growing issue in today’s society.

“Cyber security threats continue to increase as computers become increasingly involved in all aspects of our lives, and anyone can become a target, whether using computers for school, business or social tasks,”

SGA President resigns

SEAN KEENAN

LOCAL

OLIVIA NELSON

SGA

he said. “The key is staying one step ahead of security vulnerabilities with protective measures like protecting personal information and avoiding email phishing.”

According to Flot, phishing is when “cyber criminals send fraudulent emails that seem to come from legitimate sources in order to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information”, a phenomenon that Georgia State dealt with as recently as Jan. 28.

Students received a campus broadcast stating Instructional Innovation and Technology had been alerted to fraudulent emails claiming to be from “University Administrator” or “Mail Service Team.” Students were advised to avoid clicking the link in the body, and delete the email all together.

Luis Ferrer-Labarca, Chief Innovation officer of student

organization Panther Hackers, defined hacking by the organization’s standards, rather than the clandestine description seen in spy movies.

“To us, hacking is synonymous with critical thinking and clever problem-solving,” he said.

Ferrer-Labarca also told The Signal why cyber security can pose part of the threat.

“Security in itself is a bit tedious,” he said. “People often don’t want to deal with that.”

When discussing potential legislation in Georgia, Panther Hackers CEO Caleb Lewis, said they have some concerns about censorship.

“Whenever people talk about passing legislation on the internet isn’t good,” he said. “Any kind of law that restricts the internet will be detrimental. You can’t limit the information out there.”

fter more than three years serving the Georgia State student body, Student Government Association (SGA) President Sebastian Parra has stepped down from office.

On Feb. 11, after about a year’s tenure in the presidential seat, Parra announced to the SGA Senate he has resigned from the position to further his realworld political aspirations.

“I have decided to focus on my professional career and the completion of my undergraduate degree,” he said. “I will continue working at the administrative office at the courts at the Capitol; just focusing on getting a job once I graduate in May.” Parra told The Signal that he’s more than faithful in the leadership he’s passing the torch to.

“It’s a great team, as you saw at the State of the Student Body last week,” he said. “Most of the accomplishments have come from the vice presidents, and they’re going to continue doing great work.”

The presidency will be handed off to SGA Executive Vice President Teara Mayfield, whose speaker of the senate role will be filled by SGA President Pro Tem Nick Smith in the interim.

Having introduced legislative framework and other installations to “improve the functionality” of SGA, Parra said, he feels satisfied with the work completed by his cabinet and senate while in office. But an overriding sense of dedication to SGA is still biting at Parra.

“I’m proud and grateful,” he said. “This year was very crazy for student government.

We’ve had so many changes with the university, and I was lucky to be in the middle of it.

I feel accomplished, but there’s still that lingering feeling that there’s so much more to do.”

When asked if he knew about the surprise resignation announced Thursday, SGA VP of Public Relations Anthony Nguyen told The Signal, “We had talked about it.”

OPINION Plundering the Library

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Why the thief is probably a student

December 15.

The first of the series of recent library robberies occurred on and following that was the arrest of suspect Daniel Duplessy, which didn’t stop the robberies, according to AJC.

January 12 There was a snatching.

January 14 January 28 JOHN MILLER Columnist

Tweet John!

This time two robberies within 5 minutes of each other—according to those same records.

Another armed robbery on the Jan. 14, according to Georgia State’s police records.

@johnmillerdavi1

I

urge Georgia State Police Department (GSUPD), President Becker, and everyone else to consider the probability the perpetrator (or perpetrators) of the library robberies of the past month is a student.

A student would have the easiest time getting past security because they would be in possession of a Panther ID and wouldn’t look suspicious among the crowd. A student would also have intimate knowledge of the library’s layout and would be able to use it to his advantage.

A student would be the least deterred by the increase in security, as he or she would have received the same e-mail the rest of the campus did outlining the new security provisions and would take steps to avoid them.

A student would have reason to be in the library multiple times in one month. The robbery could be a calculated move, falling on select days of the month at times that seem most advantageous—like very early in the morning.

Assuming they are students, checking everyone’s IDs as security guards have been doing wouldn’t deter larceny at all. Instead, security would be best utilized as the eyes and ears on floors that don’t have security cameras.

Of course, there are some weak spots to the argument the culprit could be a student. One is that a student thief runs the risk of being recognized on campus by other students, and now especially by GSUPD now that they have a drawing.

Another is that motivation-wise, a student robbing other students isn’t a very smart idea. If caught, he or she would be expelled and arrested, which is quite a risk to take for a few laptops. But then again, thieves risk-assessment has never been that good, and they always think they can get away with it, or else they wouldn’t try.

I’m not detective, I admit. These are all just suspicions based on the information I have.

Timeline

It’s important to keep in mind the context of these robberies. Theft in the library happens all the time, just look at Georgia State’s police records.

What makes these robberies unique is witness reports of the perpetrator(s) being armed.

The first of the series of recent library robberies occurred on Dec. 15, and following that was the arrest of suspect Daniel Duplessy, which didn’t stop the robberies, according to AJC. On Jan. 12, there was a snatching, and another armed robbery on the 14th, according to Georgia State’s police records.

Yet another robbery was reported on Jan. 28—

this time two robberies within 5 minutes of each other--according to those same records.

Around this time, Georgia State President Becker enacted new security precautions. Among these included “temporarily closing the library,” “doubling the number of police officers,” “taking steps to secure all exits,” and “installing additional security cameras,” according to AJC. Following this [why not call it a] crimewave, Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) Senate met to talk about student safety, according to The Signal.

At the meeting, a few ideas were thrown around.

One of them was “a ‘see something say something’ campaign,” and another was former SGA president Sebastian Parra’s resistance to the idea of “legislators [who] are pushing for ‘campus carry’ laws to allow firearms or stun guns on school grounds,” according to The Signal. Whether or not that is an inclusive “or” remains unclear.

Otherwise, the ball seems to be in Becker’s court—so to speak—for now. Of course, he’s answered for the Jan. 28 robbery: “Well immediately when we had the first couple of incidents, we increased our police presence in the library and now we are looking at that again, and raising to even higher [levels],” Deputy Chief Carlton Mullis told 11 Alive.

The key change, however, is in “having uniformed officers at each entrance checking the Panther IDs of all faculty, staff and students,” as Becker said in his e-mail address to the Georgia State community on Jan. 28.

If there is another robbery-knock on wood--I think this change will all but prove whether or not the culprit is a student.

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ARTS & LIVING

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The future of underwater robotics Dismantling the interior of the robotic fish CHANTE FOSTER Staff Reporter

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ixing technology and water has evolved. A group of researchers at Georgia State and New York University are designing an underwater robotic fish that has the the potential to influence actual schools of fish.

Fish of the Future This research is funded by a U.S Army Research Grant. The size of the robotic fish ranges from three inches to 10 inches, big fish are an important part of this network. With larger fish the school can feel protected.

“We are in the very beginning, so this is the first year of this grant and my research is also part of it, the robot has evolved, it exist in different sizes,” Belykh said.

When a sufficient model of the robotic fish is created, the team would like to demonstrate its potential to the public. In the not so distant future Belykh and his team is thinking of setting up a displaying by partnering with the Georgia Aquarium. The school of robotic fish could be used an an education tool to teach high school and STEM students about the tangible use of applied mathematics.

Dr. Belykh welcomes students who are interested in helping with the project.

Contact information: ibelykh@gsu.edu

Diving into mathematics Igor Belykh, is an associate professor for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

By combining research and mathematics, his team hopes to create a solution for some of the major challenges of the robotic fish project.

In order for the robotic fish to be successful it must mimic the behavior of a real fish. If researchers are able to create a convincing mechanical fish, they can use it to save marine life from oil spill disasters.

“The final product should be the school of robotic fish that we can effectively control, that can move all together and never break the formation, this is the technological part, the biological part is to sell this to real fish,” Belykh said.

One of the challenges is creating a network that will allow the school of mechanical fish to communicate with one another. Once a connection is made, the robots can be controlled and told where to move.

Dismantling the Interior of the Robotic fish: Q&A What are some challenges that you have to take into consideration with your research?

Belykh:There are two problems,

The Evolution of Robotics Cheetah Its no surprise that technology and research has led to the evolution of robotics. Other popular robotic animal like Cheetah, created by Boston Dynamics, has the ability to sprint about 29 mph, according to organization’s website.

one is the biological problem and other is the roboticss, the biological problem is to make sure that the robot you’re creating will be good enough to attract real fish. When it comes to the small school of fish one robot is enough. It depends on the color, the size of the robot and the frequency of it’s tail. It’s very tricky, like following the leader, you really need to sell it to the fish first.

How will the programed fish mimic a real school of fish?

Belykh:The second problem, if we need to guide the real school of fish we need multiple robots. The fish feel safe when they’re closer to a big crowd. We need multiple robotic fish to swim together forming our crowd. There is lots of technology problems, they need to swim in the formation and this formation must turn needs in sync. Under water, the communication is much weaker, and there’s lots of the things that prevent reliable communication.

Will the robotic fish be able to record information?

Belykh: The Robotic fish must exchange the information of it’s location and speed, so it’s done through the chip, but the problem is that is exchange of information should not be too frequent, to save the battery life. There is a trade off between the ability to swim

Drones Flying machines, have gotten smaller and more durable. Drones come in various shapes and sizes, some are used by hobbyist and military personnel, and for the right price they can be purchased online.

The use of drones are endless.

Some of them have camera that can capture or record aerial footage.

Researchers are using applied mathematics to create programs that make drones more durable. Future concepts have gone so far to include drones that can deliver food, or provide quicker life saving assistance.

information and the frequency of information exchange.

How will the school of fish know where to go?

Belykh:They need to keep formation, and then they need to follow the trajectory the we want.

We’re telling the leader that it must swim that way and all the other robotic fish needs to be in sync with the other.

Can the robotic fish communicate with each other?

Belykh:Here comes the concept of network, it’s pretty much a network which changes its structure. If you think of the social network we’re all connected among each other. So these guys also connect when they send signals, when they change the information they need to get closer to each other.

What does the mathematical research accomplish?

Belykh:It’s fundamental mathematical problem, the algorithm, and so that’s what we work on as applied mathematician.

We’re tying to develop the technique that mold the fish in the fish in the way of controlling the robots.

By using what is called dynamical systems, it’s mathematical molds, differential equations which get implemented into the chip. What

da Vinci The da Vinci, is a robotic system designed to aid doctors in delicate procedures. The small hand-like instrument can get into tighter places compared to the human hand. The surgical robot uses a camera magnify parts of the body, which allows doctors to perform less invasive surgeries.

to implement is a big deal. This is what we call the theory of evolving dynamical networks, because it’s effectively evolving network because it changes the structure.

What are you currently working on?

Belykh: At this point we are developing a theory, we’re actually writing a paper with my research.

We discuss solving the consensus problem, because the consensus problem in control theory.We’re all following the same paths, we’re all swimming in the formation, we’re all doing the the same thing and so we’re all having the consensus of doing the same thing. We’re solving the consensus problem among the moving agents in those robots, and the control theory are called agents.

There moving and then they get together and form the connection within the specific neighborhood.

Why are the connections important to the success of the robotic fish?

Belykh:These connections are switching on and off, and the frequency of the information exchange, trying to find an optimal switching range which gives the tradeoff between the recession of the consensus movement and the battery life.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Associate Professor Igor Belykh, who is helping with solving problems the robotic fish project faces, poses in front of a board of his own equations.

PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

The Grassroot Fighting the law, indifference and much more

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL Asma Elhuni, a recent MLK Humanitarian Award nominee, and who recently stood with others in protest of racial profiling, poses for a powerful picture.

SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Associate Arts & Living Editor

A

sma Elhuni had no idea what the MLK Humanitarian Award was until she checked her email inbox with the nomination.

The political science major has since made it a goal and a mission to not take the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lightly.

For the year of 2016, Asma Elhuni was crowned a humanitarian in the eyes of Georgia State in accordance with the principles Dr. King spoke and died for.

Once a year, Georgia State’s Multicultural Center holds the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration. Here, the life and legacy of Dr. King is remembered and reimagined. Two awards are given, the Humanitarian Award and the Community Service award.

With that humanitarian title, Asma finds responsibility and a pressure.

“I am under pressure to Honor Dr. King’s legacy of promoting equality and justice which also includes economic justice,” Elhuni said.

By being considered a humanitarian, Elhuni has made it her mission to feel adequate of being uttered in the same sentence as the renowned champion of civil rights.

“I actually did not know anything about it until I was nominated by my wonderful teacher,” Elhuni said.

Dr. Peter Cava, professor of Gender Studies, nominated the 38-year-old when they witnessed the lengths Elhuni went to.

Elhuni was anointed the humanitarian due to, “trying to promote inclusion and understanding of Muslims and for supporting causes for all

minorities,” Elhuni said.

That became clear when Elhuni approached Mayor Johnny Crist of Lilburn, Georgia, in August of 2015 and discussed the police force.

Reaching out allowed Elhuni to be put in the position of training the officers.

“He allowed me to come in and train all his officers on cultural sensitivity training,” Elhuni said. “So you know when you meet a muslim and she’s covered what that means and different practices that muslims do so that they’re more sensitive when they meet muslims.”

Elhuni originally requested the help of the Islamic Speakers Bureau to do the training, but Crist preferred that town citizens Elhuni and others who brought up the issue be the ones who do it. So, the Bureau trained them to do it themselves.

Elhuni also has protested alongside the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and the presence of the confederate flag at Stone Mountain.

“I was invited to Emory, the Theology Center, to speak on a

panel for Islam and Islamophobia,” Elhuni said. “I’ve spoke at Georgia State with the Muslim Student Alliance on themes like Islamic feminism.”

While only being in her second semester at Georgia State, Elhuni has found specific causes that rally her as well as other activists on Georgia State campus. She stands behind groups such as ATL Raise UP, the collective of workers who are in the global movement for raising the minimum wage and the right to unionize without retaliation, and Islamic Speaker Bureau, which works to collaborate the Islam faith with community and inclusion. She is also an identifying Islamic feminist, minoring in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Elhuni is in the works helping out with a fundraiser for the town of Flint, Michigan. Georgia State has been contacted and student body organizations have been tapped in, and an email will be being sent asking for interested parties to help.

In Recent News

Reported both by The Signal and other Atlanta publications, eight students were arrested after hosting a sit-in inside the Georgia State’s Honors College in protest of the state’s prohibition on undocumented students being allowed to attend the top five universities, where Georgia State qualifies.

In response to the arrest, Elhuni and various others bombarded the safety forum hosted by President Mark Becker to address students’ safety concerns about the recent stream of robberies in the library.

The night before the safety forum, Elhuni, members of Freedom University and other activists congregated to plan a

“I am nobody special. Anyone can do this. I’m not anyone influential, and I am not anyone powerful. I’m just a normal nobody.”

-Asama Elhuni,

MLK Humanitarian award winner demonstration. That morning, as the safety panel opened the floor for questions, Elhuni and company stood and demanded the room’s attention for answers regarding the arrest, the barring of the undocumented and concerns regarding racial profiling by the university police.

Due to the fact that the safety forum was not in reaction to those controversies, the topics originally planned were sheltered and the forum ended early.

When asked if the interruption was more distracting than impactful, Elhuni disagrees. In her description of Georgia State’s fouls, the university hasn’t properly addressed issues of race and gentrification in recent news of Georgia State expanding into Turner Field’s soon to be abandoned territory.

“The forum was on security.

Where is the security of brown and black students who have been racially profiled? The security of undocumented students, many of which have been here most of their lives and contribute taxes to help pay for a school that keeps them out?” Elhuni said. “Where is the security of those who keep being moved from one place to another because Georgia State buys land and offers no solutions to the displaced populations?”

The goal of the recent rally was to have a direct one on one with Becker.

“We wanted the President to address the arrests of the eight people, racial profiling and the gentrification Georgia State partakes in without offering solutions,” Elhuni said. “We would love to sit and meet with the President so that he can address these issues that he continuously ignores.”

Elhani in collaboration with other groups and activists are in plans to discuss the issue with the university.

“One of the things that I think is important is that those people we are fighting for, we shouldn’t drown out their voices,” Elhani said. “They need to be in the forefront and we are their allies.”

Using this type of privilege can be used as a tool rather than a shameful position to find yourself.

“A lot of time, privilege is looked as a bad thing, but it’s not,” Elhani said. “Privilege can be used for good, used on behalf of those who don’t have it.”

Since then, Georgia State has announced that they have approved the notion of undocumented students attending the university, making them the only one so far in the top

five universities.

Drive found in Faith

When not in a desk or pumped up on an injustice, Elhani babysits and commutes from Lilburn, Georgia.

She is a part of a running club and pens her own byline at atlantamuslim. com where she has written about her comlicated relationship with her religion.

It was Islam itself that fueled and fuels Elhani to put herself behind causes, with her favorite line from the Quran in Verse 135 of Surah Al Nisa, “O you who believe stand out firmly for justice.”

She was married in the past and after divorcing, remarrying and attending school, Elhani finds empowerment in her new role she has selected for herself.

“I feel like I have a new beginning,” Elhani said. “I can do what I want now and it’s one of the reasons I’m a feminist. I am now able to go out and do what it is that I feel like I need to do in the world.”

The feminist critiques of organized religion and Islam is something Elhani is aware of and active in having a dialogue about. She remains critical of institutional religion, which she notes is manmade.

“Faith gets left out of the narrative.

Faith gets a bad rap and for good reason,” Elhani said. “The people that use faith to do bad are put in the spotlight. A lot of times, faith causes people to do good.”

Within Islam specifically, she juggles resisting Islamophobia and also looking into her own community.

“I’m always battling within it. I don’t agree with some things the Islamic community does,” Elhani said.

“It’s important to call out our own community and say, ‘this is what we do wrong’.”

No One Special

Activism that is awareness based such as protests has been viewed as essentially shouting into the void, with no concrete results. Elhani disagrees wholeheartedly.

“History has proven so, from the results of protests in the civil rights era to the protests against police brutality towards the black population that has resulted in police body cams,” Elhani said. “It’s a waste of life if our focus is to just be making money and eating, there is such a greater purpose.”

Instead of having people in power or people as leaders, activism and social change is the one place where none of that matters. Simply caring and willing to fight are the qualifiers.

“You see something you don’t like? Get up and say, ‘what can i do?’ and go out and do it,” Elhani said. “I am nobody special. Anyone can do this. I’m not anyone influential, and I am not anyone powerful. I’m just a normal nobody.”

View more photos of Asama Elhani’s activism on our Youtube Channel

PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

12

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Needing your personal space A granola side

NICHOLE PLACE

Arts & Living Associate Editor

W

hat a person has in their bedroom is basically a glimpse at who they really are. Bedroom décor is personal, it is where you sleep, hang out and usually where you do the unmentionable. Anything less than perfection in a bedroom décor is unacceptable. So to kick off the bedroom décor mini-series, enjoy a few tips and tricks on creating a boho chic/laid back room.

Creating a space that you feel comfortable is important. So craft it up and make your space as fun and relaxed as you.

Stores: Not all stores embody the right feel that you may want to create in your room, but luckily for you and your style you are not limited to shopping only at the mall. You have the advantage of adding consignment shops to your list of stores.

Boho DIYs Smiling Pot An easy way to make something cute for your plants.

Materials: Ceramic plant pot, white and black paint, paint brushes.

Step one: Paint your ceramic pot white and let it dry.

Step two: Use the black paint to create a face on the front of the pot. You can also line the top rim with the black paint and let it dry.

Step three: Lastly, put a plant inside and you’re good to go.

The Higher End . . . .

Anthropology Urban Outfitter Earth Bound Free People

The Cheaper Option

. Desperate Housewares (241 Blvd NE Atlanta, GA 30312) . Kaboodle (485 Flat Shoals Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30316) . Scarlett Loves Rhettro (436 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30308)

Multi-colored Yarn Tassels A cute decoration to hang on your walls by using tacks or hang over your door knob.

Materials: Different colored yarn Step one: Wrap yarn around your hands several times. Repeat wrapping the different colored yarns and create layers.

Step two: Take the yarn off of your hand and use a string to tie it around the top of the yarn circle. Tie the string about half an inch from the top that should create a small loop at the top.*You can repeat this as many times to create however many tassels you want.

Step three: Take a longer string of yarn and tie it through the top of two tassels, one on each end. If you want a more layered look them you make two or three to layer them up.

Step four: Hang them on your door knob.

You also want to make sure that they are not even. You want the tassels to be at different hanging lengths.

Wall String Hanger A great way to bring teture to your walls Materials: Different colored yarn, stick or skewer Step one: Tie a long strand of string connecting on each end of the stick. This is what you will use to hang this decoration onto the wall with.

Step two: Cut several different strands of yarn in all different colors and lengths.

Step three: Take a strand of yarn and pinch it in the middle creating a small loop.

Step four: Fold it over the stick so that the loop is on one side of the stick and the two loose end are at the other.

Step five: Pull the two loose ends through the loop and pull it tight. This will secure each strand onto the stick. *Tip: You can make this decoration have different kinds of looks 1. You can make it completely random.

2. The colors can ombre from one side to the other or from the outside to the middle.

3. The strand can be shorter on the outside and then get longer towards the center to create a point.

Bedroom Essentials

Here are some items that can really help give your room that laid back feel. *Price range can vary depending on where you purchase the items. The ones listed are just the averages.

Tapestry A tapestry is basically a large piece of fabric that is decorated in a colorful pattern. They are a perfect way to cover a large wall cheaply and easily. (Price range: $30-$50) Falsa Blanket These are great blankets that add color and texture to a room. They look great at the draped over the end of a bed or back of chair. (Price range: $18-$40) Persian Rug Pillows Not the pillows that you want to lay down on texture-wise, but they add a nice vintage and worn in feel. (Price range: $30-$80) Rag Rug These rugs are made out of different types of colorful rags that are woven together. They are a bit more whimsical but look great over carpet or wooden floors.

(Price range: $30-$40) Woven Baskets Woven baskets are a great place to store blankets, pillows or an easy way to hide things rather than clean them up.

They also help a room by adding storage that looks like you’re not trying all that hard, but you are. (Price range: $25-$50, depending on how large you need)

Decorate With What You Have

A cheap and easy way to add decoration to your room is to use items you already have and store them in ways that double as décor. . Hang up your scarves and hats on the wall using tacks and hooks. . Tape up photos or old postcards onto your walls. . String old Christmas lights across your ceiling to create a false starry night. . You can do the same thing with old sheets as the lights by creating billows across the ceiling. . Hang your book bag or purse over chairs. . Use woven baskets to hold plants instead of a pot.

DIY Tutorial on on our YouTube channel Feb. 17, 2016

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL

Columns left to right: 1. Smiling Pot 2. Multicolored Yarn Tassels 3. Wall String Hanger

PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

reviews

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

13

FILM REVIEW

‘Hail, Caesar!’ The bros deliver again FERNANDO MATTOS Staff Reviewer

T

he film and trailer both open with the following line, “Hail, Caesar!” shorter than what it is. This is misleading, but it isn’t entirely a bad thing at the end of the day.

The trailer proposes essentially a film set in 1950s Hollywood about a heist, the kidnapping of a big Hollywood star, played by George Clooney, and a studio that can’t finish its main movie of the year. “ Hail, Caesar!” really is a day and a night in the life of a man who “fixes” all problems of a studio. Where one of the problems he faces happens to be said kidnapping, even though it isn’t the main plot point like the trailer leads us to believe.

It is a great thing that “Hail, Caesar!” isn’t just about a heist.

Without having to focus exclusively on the crime, the Coen Brothers are free to paint the whole 1950s movie studio atmosphere.

Our main character, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), must deal with incredible brush strokes of comedy, satire and mystery. In fact, Eddie seems to be constantly weaving in and out of film genres: noir, musical, melodrama; it’s all here.

The second scene of the movie, for instance, shows Eddie in his car, rain falling in the night, and his voice over, describing to us he’s the man who “fixes things.” He walks out of

the car and goes inside a house to rescue a woman who is drunk and about to throw her career away. The scene isn’t just a perfect introduction to Eddie, but also an incredible homage to the noir genre.

The Coen Brothers have assembled a star cast in “Hail, Caesar!.”

Performance highlights include Channing Tatum as an actor in a musical, where in a rather long, but spectacular dance scene, Tatum shows off all his dancing skills.

The scene is fantastic and a rare opportunity to see these directors who are famous for their crime stories give us such a well-performed and classic musical scene.

Another highlight comes when Clooney’s character, Baird Whitlock, tries to explain Marx to Eddie. Eddie outright rejects all of it and sends Whitlock back to the set, because, of course, nobody is the least interested in communism around this place where millions are spent every day.

Because of the openness of the plot, the film does a great job of transporting us to the fictional studios of Capital Pictures. Many scenes aren’t about moving the story forward, but rather concerned with showing us a complete world, and giving us time to explore and savor it.

At first, these scenes may throw you off-balance, as if a train had suddenly stopped moving, but the Coen Brothers are doing something most directors don’t know how to do: they are inviting you to look around.

The earlier you accept this invitation, the more enjoyable “Hail, Caesar!” is.

Of course, these choices to suspend the plot won’t make you stay on the edge of your seat like “Fargo.” The structure here is different than most films you’ll see this year, or even in the Coens’ filmography, but it’s a change that’s very welcome in an age where most films feel the same.

On the other hand, it’s hard to say “Hail Caesar!” surpasses “Fargo” and “Barton Fink,” Coens’ first film about moviemaking itself. “Fargo” is an extremely well-told, dark, pessimistic crime story, while “Barton Fink” is one of the best, yet most symbolic, films about a writer’s worst nightmare: writer’s block.

“Hail Caesar!” doesn’t power you forward through the story with suspense like “Fargo,” nor attempts to tackle any great existential truth as “Barton Fink,” and may not make you laugh as hard as in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Why then does “Hail Caesar!” deserve an A and your attention? Because average directors may make many average films before making a great one. Great directors may, once in awhile, make a film that isn’t their new masterpiece. However, it’s different and fantastic enough to make it worth every admission price out there, along with a DVD purchase.

The Coen Brothers are simply this: two of the greatest filmmakers our generation is lucky to see their work in theaters, not just in a DVD decades later on a small TV screen.

SYNOPSIS:

In the early 1950s, Eddie Mannix is busy at work trying to solve all the problems of the actors and filmmakers at Capitol Pictures. He faces his biggest challenge when Baird Whitlock gets kidnapped while in costume for the swordsand-sandals epic “Hail, Caesar!”

RATED: PG-13 GRADE: A VERDICT: The Coen

Brothers go exploring 1950s Hollywood, and they deliver the best film of 2016 so far.

ALBUM REVIEW

Kanye West: ‘T.L.O.P.’ or Flop?

CATRINA DYGERT Staff Reviewer

Kanye is famous for hogging the headlines, though not always in a positive light. Between a presidential campaign announcement at the last Video Music Awards and a Twitter feud with ex Amber Rose, it’s a wonder Kanye’s had time to work on an album at all.

For those fans that have been following the progress on Yeezy’s new album have had their work cut out for them just trying to figure out what album Kanye’s talking about.

Originally called “So Help Me God,” ‘Ye’s seventh album was also called “SWISH” and “Waves,” before the rapper cryptically tweeted a final album title, “T.L.O.P.” on Feb. 9. At the time, Kanye offered a free pair of Yeezys and tickets to his sold out show in Madison Square Garden to anyone who could guess the album title. It’s unclear if anyone guessed correctly, but Kanye later tweeted that the album stood for “The Life of Pablo.”

The track list on “T.L.O.P.” has been shuffled around almost as much as

the album title, but “Real Friends,” featuring Ty Dolla $igns, is one that stuck around. The song starts off with a piano melody mixed with a soft static hum, as if it’s being played from an old record, which sets the track up with a mellow, introspective vibe. It also features beats sampled from “Friends,” by hip-hop group Whodini. Lyrically, the track reflects on Kanye’s personal life, offering listeners a piece of his mind (if he hasn’t done that enough already). The beat is a little slow, but it works well with the introspective mood of the song.

“Wolves,” featuring and Vic Mensa, also starts off slow, but gets kind of creepy real quick. While Sia’s vocalizations at the beginning are calming, Kanye comes in with a scratchy autotune that shifts the song to a creepy robotic track. Mensa’s smooth vocals really stand out as the highlight of this track. All in all, the total effect of this track is a little chilling, and certainly an odd way to end an album. However, it is a song that will haunt listeners, though maybe not in the way Kanye intended. Frank Ocean replaced Sia and Vic Mensa on the album version

of the track.

Ty Dolla $igns pops up again to provide backing vocals, along with Post Malone, on “Fade.” The houseinspired track was originally teased during at New York Fashion Week and sampled heavily from Rare Earth’s cover of the Temptations’ song “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Lyrically, the track isn’t as emotional or revealing as other tracks, which works well in this case. The repetition allows the listener to get lost in the beat of the track, which makes it work great as a dance song.

Several other popular tracks, notably “FourFiveSeconds,” featuring Rihanna and Sir Paul McCartney and “Only One,” the song Kanye wrote for his daughter, North West, were cut from the final tracklist. Kanye’s collab with Kendrick Lamar, “No More Parties in L.A.,” was initially dropped but later added to the final track list revealed on Kanye’s Twitter on Feb. 12.

Even though Kanye’s ever-changing tracklist and album title certainly made fans impatient for the album release, the mystery around the album created a hype that the album couldn’t quite live up to.

TOP TRACKS:

1

TY SEGALL EMOTIONAL MUGGER

2

EARTHGANG STRAYS WITH RABIES

3

BROTHERS IN LAW RAISE

4

KILCOOL UPPER WEST EP

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NIGHT BEATS WHO SOLD MY GENERATION

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ELAQUENT LESS IS MORE (LO DEFINITION)

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E1SBAR TELEVISUAL

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V/A - HUSH HUSH HUSH HUSH PRESENTS, VOL. 2

9

LITTLE SIMZ AGE 101: DROP X

“Real Friends” and “Fade”

GRADE: BVERDICT: In an

interview with Big Boy on Real 92.3, Kanye described his album as a “sonic painting.” After listening to the final product, it still feels more like a sketch. It’s rough around some edges, and, despite the fact that the beats sound good, they’re not as exciting as the hype around “T.L.O.P.” promised.

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RINGO DEATHSTARR PURE MOOD

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Feb. 17 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Feb. 16 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Civic Engagement is holding community service for a campus cleanup. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

Contact the Civic Engagement.

Puzzle 2 (Medium,

Georgia State is hosting a showcase for students in a friendly competition. There are three separate categories: artistic talent, musical talent and performing arts.

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Spotlight Programs Board will be holding a show by hypnotist Steven Stone. The show will be in the Speakers Auditorium in 0.45)Student Center East.

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CIRCUS XTREME!

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Winter fest

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by Atlanta Mission to help the homeless Race entry is $30.

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Pandas and Parkas

Feb. 21 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium

Feb. 22 Zoo Atlanta

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Zoo Atlanta is offering an exlusive limitedtime discount for admission.

Visit the zoo to get inroduction to the sights and experiences.

Winter Fest also includes daily activities. Guests can enjoy new offerings for Cafe Aquaria with s’mores and a do-it-yourself hot chocolate bar.

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com

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Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times

“P A U L D A L I O ’ S S C R I P T A N D D I R E C T I O N , A N D T H E

M A R V E6 L O U S LY E V O C AT I V E3 S C O R E H E C O M P O S E D

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O N D M O V I E - O F - T H E - W E E K T E R R I T O R Y. Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Jan 30 17:33:39 G O S E E F O R Y O U R S E L F.” Puzzle 4 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.30) -Ben Dickinson, ELLE

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PRESENTS

PAUL DALIO

I N T H E AT E R S F E B R U A R Y 1 9

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

MOTION PICTURE ARTWORK © 2016 ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

TJ Shipes shoots a free throw during the win against Georgia Southern on Jan. 19 in the GSU Sports Arena.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

Shipes’ final season winds down

After four dedicated years, Tj Shipes strives to take Panther basketball to a new level LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter

C

oming from a long line of basketball players, senior power forward T.J. Shipes is finishing up his own legacy at Georgia State. Standing at 6-foot-7 , Shipes has played basketball since as far back into his childhood as he can remember.

Shipes Midnight Train to Georgia

Finishing his career at Buford with 1,423 points and

1,005 career rebounds, Shipes performed well defensively and offensively. Making him a prime recruit for college teams. However, even though Shipes accomplished these honors, he had other hobbies.

“I still am, and was a skateboarder and biker all the way up until high school when I moved to Buford for sports,” Shipes said. “I was the skater kid and it wasn’t until I started getting looked at by colleges and then I decided I should actually take basketball seriously.”

Shipes received an offer from in state university, Georgia State. After going on an official visit with former guard R.J. Hunter, Shipes made his college decision.

First recruiting class

The final season Shipes still considers the victory over Baylor in

the NCAA Tournament to be the most memorable game in his eyes.

Having come into the basketball program with teammate and friend R.J., who made the game winning shot, made the experience unforgettable.

“Definitely last year in the tournament beating Baylor,” Shipes said. “Last year we lost R.J., Ryan Harrow, Ryann Green, Curtis Washington. It was just a fun team to play with and obviously

winning the game in the tournament.

Being apart of the shot R.J. hit, it’s still on ESPN as a shining moment. To be apart of that year was awesome.”

Making goals of his own this season, Shipes plans to help lead the team to another conference championship as well as make it further in the NCAA Tournament than last season. Shipes and Crider are in the running to be the most winningest players in Georgia State history, which pushes both players to make their final season impossible to forget.

“I love those guys,” Coach Hunter said. “That was my first recruiting class and I’m always going to remember them. T.J. is very special to me.”

Currently majoring in economics, Shipes plans to graduate and get a master’s degree in accounting. Shipes then hopes to play football again if he gets the opportunity, but if not he will pursue investment banking.

AL

Shipes was apart of head coach Ron Hunter’s first recruiting class at Georgia State. Having a good relationship with fellow recruits, Shipes decided to commit to Georgia State.

“Originally there was me, R.J. Hunter, LaRon Smith, Markus Crider and David Travers,” Shipes said. “Me and R.J. committed together and we had this thing that there would be us, five freshman, who would all play together and our senior year all five of us would still be there.

Me and Markus are the only ones left, but that aspect and R.J of course. He was my roommate.

As long as he was at Georgia State and Coach Hunter, it reminded me of Buford. “ Shipes recorded his first career start during his sophomore year, 2013-14, against Canisius.

Resulting in six points and three rebounds during this career highlight, Shipes continued on to total 28 appearances during his sophomore season.

Following this season, Shipes recorded the first start of his junior season, 2014-15, against Green Bay where he earned his first double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Shipes finished his junior season with a career high of 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Shooting 57.4 percent from the field, totaling 17 blocked shots and 22 steals, Shipes achieved a breakthrough season.

“T.J. has been terrific for us,” Coach Hunter said. “He’s one of those guys that was one of our recruits in our first recruiting class.

He took a chance on coming to Georgia State with the class of R.J. and Markus, and has done nothing but win a ton of games since he’s been here.”

N B Y S IG ON E TI TH RA | ST E I D LU R IL RIK E

Born in Downers Grove, Illinois, Shipes began playing basketball in kindergarten for an Upward Bound team in connection with his church.

Both of Shipes’ parents played basketball collegiately, which is how he was first introduced to the sport.

“Both of my parents,” Shipes said.

“My mom played for The University of Kentucky and my dad played for The Master's College out in California, so it’s kind of just been a family thing. My mom’s dad coached, so it’s just been in our family.”

After living in Illinois, the family moved to Suwanee, Georgia located in Forsyth County. Set to attend Lambert High School, the family moved to Buford for their third and final move. Shipes attended Buford High School where he played basketball and football. Only playing football his freshman and sophomore years in high school, Shipes lead the team in touchdown receptions during his sophomore year.

Shipes focused on basketball where he made great strides within his time at Buford High. During his senior year, Shipes led the Wolves to a 22-8 record. Averaging 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, as well as shooting 60 percent from the floor, Shipes accomplished several individual honors and assisted his team in executing on the court.

Some individual honors included Shipes being named Class AA Region 6 Player of the Year and earning Gwinnett Tip-Off Club All-County honors three years in a row.

Panther Family SPORTS

16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Georgia State athletes elaborate on how much the fans mean to them

PHOT O BY DAYN E

PHOT O BY DAYN E

NA L FR AN CIS | TH E SIG

n’s Ba ske tball team Fans cheer on the Me . uthern game Jan. 19 during the Ge orgia So

PHOT O BY DAYN E

Marku s Cr ide r shoots Sp or ts Arena.

hile Georgia State athletes are competing against opponents on their respective playing grounds, they are surrounded by some of their biggest motivators, which are the fans.

during the games, the fans. I know during the Georgia Southern game the fans were so into it, which just made me that more into the game. I could be hurt, but it doesn't matter because I'm going out there to give my all. I’m going to do my best every time because I want to please the fans because they show their support for us, so we want to give back something to them.”

All blue all in

Fan Motivation

LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter

W

Similar to Duke University’s Cameron Crazies or the 12th man for the Seattle Seahawks, the Panther Family creates a supportive vibe for all athletics. This support stimulates an exhilarating feeling for sophomore receiver Penny Hart.

“It's electric,” Hart said. “When you make plays and hear the crowd scream it eggs you on to just want to do more. You want to win for the people that are there and you don't want to disappoint them.”

One Panther fan in particular understands that fan support is a major key to success as well as creates tradition. Junior Jack Brinson has been featured in Georgia State’s media, and zoomed in on by various sports networks, but some fans may describe him as the guy who paints his face blue and sits in the front row. After attending Westlake High School in Atlanta, Brinson enrolled at Georgia State and undoubtedly brought his school spirit along with him.

“Georgia State sports mean a lot to me,” Brinson said. “I literally watch all sports and put all of my loyalties to various teams within these sports.

I would have to rank my loyalty to Georgia State at No. 2, only behind NASCAR because I’ve watched that my entire life. Going to games just brings me a lot of joy whether the team(s) win or lose.”

Brinson is not the only person who finds joy in the atmosphere and watching the games, but the athletes find joy in seeing the fans come out.

Knowing they have the ability to make the fans proud while feeding off of the energy, provides athletes with the extra push they need to cross the finish line.

Senior forward Markus Crider singled out the fans as one aspect that drives him to become a better player and stay focused “One thing that drives me is my family,” Crider said. “Especially

FR AN CIS

| TH E SIG NA L Fans are unable to con trol the ir exc ite me nt after Ge org ia State wins ag ain st Ge org ia South ern.

While the athletes draw part of their motivation from the fans, the fans gain inspiration from their school spirit. The willingness to show up to most home games, participate in chants and scream for the team stems from a sense of pride. The fans are proud to call Georgia State their university or team of choice.

“My biggest motivation would actually be the environment of the school. I’ve always wanted to be a part of a huge group of fans,” Brinson said. “I just enjoy those loud and crazy environments where the majority of the stadium is into the games. In Atlanta, Georgia State is really the only place that is into every single game, although I will say that the Hawk’s sixth man section has done a pretty decent job in trying to create a similar atmosphere at those games.”

Gaining Panthers

Hart appreciates the fans and wants the numbers to grow over the next two years.

“More fans, more energy, more excitement, more tradition and more culture,” Hart said. “I appreciate them and we love them. I encourage them to continue to support us during each and every game that we play, whether in season or offseason. As well as supporting everyone in other sports.”

From a fan’s perspective, Brinson suggested several ways in which Georgia State athletics could assist the fan base in expanding. This growth is crucial in order for athletes to feel supported by their university and peers.

“I think we could probably do more promotions for games and giveaways at games to attract bigger crowds. I remember in the past years I would see more posters advertising upcoming games around campus as well as the big banner over the bridge between the sports arena and unity

NA L FR AN CIS | TH E SIG

a fre e throw in the GS

U

plaza that stated when the next game was,” Brinson said. “We also had some pretty dope giveaways in the past years such as shooting sleeves, t-shirts, gloves, and scarfs for the first 500 fans or so. We would always have a great crowd when doing that. The bobblehead night this year was a step in the right direction.”

A message from the fans

The fans recognize the hard work and dedication athletes put into practices and games. However, along with being an athlete they are also students which contributes to an already hectic schedule. Trying to

PHOT O BY DAYN E

Ke vin Ware go es up State Feb 4.

stay on top of classes and perform at a high level at games is not an easy task.

The fans admire the commitment of all athletes.

“Just continue to strive to do good both on and off the field/court,” Brinson said. “All of our teams are getting better and bringing us more attention on a national scale, so it’s important that the athletes make a good impression for themselves as well as the university.”

A message from the athletes Redshirt senior guard Kevin Ware considers the fans to be apart of his extended family. From hearing the chants, to seeing funny distractions

NA L FR AN CIS | TH E SIG

for a lay up ag ain st Te

xa s

to throw off the other team, Ware is grateful for the Panther Family.

Whether win or lose the team still feels the support from the fans, which helps stay optimistic and produce on the court.

“I’ve had the most fun playing here than I’ve had at any other school,” Ware said. “We really appreciate the fans. It’s been a rocky season and we have to get back to the way Panther basketball is played, but we’re thankful for everything the fans do for us.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

17

SPORTS

COLUMN

Men’s basketball follows football streak Mid season slump hits team after lofty preseason expectations

Coach Hunter and Assistant Coach Pardue motivates the team during a game. They’ve won 3 of their last 10 games.

DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

March Madness approaches.

The Georgia State Men’s basketball team is no longer guaranteed an opportunity to create the magic that last year placed coach Ron Hunter, R.J. Hunter and the university in the national consciousness.

The Panthers are tied for seventh in the conference, but have lost six of seven. Only the top eight teams are eligible to play in New Orleans.

Winning it for the second consecutive year is the only way Georgia State will make it back to the NCAA tournament.

To make that happen, the basketball team needs to do what the football team did: go on a winning streak. Trent Miles’ team won its last four games to clinch its first bowl berth.

The Panthers’ final six games will be difficult because they include league leaders Arkansas-Little Rock, second-place Louisiana-Lafayette and rival Georgia Southern Here are three keys to stopping the losing streak and earning a higher seed in the tournament that the team can use to try to make it back to the NCAA tournament..

1. Rebound the ball

The Panthers’ defense gives up 64.6 points and creates 14 turnovers a game. They force opponents to shoot 31 percent from the 3-point line and are third in the conference in scoring defense.

The only thing the Panthers need to fix on defense is their rebounding.

The team is last in the conference in rebounding margin with a margin of

negative four. Because they are not rebounding well, their opponents are getting second and third chances to score. For instance the team is last in the conference in offensive rebounds with 8.4.

If the defense can improve its rebounding, it should improve its chances of winning.

2. Get shooting confidence back

The Panthers are near the bottom in the conference in several offensive categories: (easier to just make a list of these) Points (65.5) 3-point field goals made (109) second to last now with updated stats 3-point shooting percentage (32.8) 7th now and assists (265) (9th) Additionally, the team is shooting an awful 68 percent from the freethrow line compared to last season’s 72 percent.

The Panthers have a winning record despite being outscored this season 818-775. This says a lot about how good their defense is and how the offense must match. The Panthers have to get their confidence back and it can start by making free throws.

Making free throws can offset the team’s poor 3-point shooting. One of the reasons the team has lost five of its last seven games is because its has made 25 3-pointers while its opponents have made 63.

If the Panthers can get their shooting confidence back and start making even three more 3-pointers it can go along way into getting a winning streak like the football team.

The team must realize that their defense is keeping them in the game, and that they just have to play on

offense with the same confidence and intensity as their defense does.

3. Finish strong and win on the road

The Panthers have always started out better in the first half of their games, as they have outscored opponents 378-362. However the team has to finish strong, as they have been outscored by their opponents 427-371. This is just another factor that has contributed to the team losing eight out of its last nine. If they can finish the game with the same play as they begin, they should have no problem getting ahead in the conference.

Playing on the road in any conference isn’t easy. The Panthers are just 1-6 in those games. The Panthers must find a way to steal at least two of their last three road games in order to get a good seed in the conference tournament. The Panthers football team was able to finish on the road and finish strong in the fall going on a four game winning streak and winning two road games.

The Panthers are capable of winning those road games as three of the five games are against opponents that are below .500. In addition the team has already beat four of the five teams they are facing on the road earlier in the season. They continue to dominate those teams one more time and they’ll have a comfortable spot in the conference tournament.

This recipe for success is by no means easy, as talking and doing are two completely different things.

The Panthers just need to believe in themselves, as the football team did on their streak, that they are a great team and have the motivation to shock the world once again.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | SIGNAL ARCHIVES

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

• Record against teams in remaining eight games of the season: 2-6 • Outrebounded 811-719 • 3-point shot attempts vs opponents 332-494 • 5-3 at home, 1-8 on road in conference play • 41% shooting from the field, 34% from 3-point line • Defense Playing Great: Only giving up 68 points a game, 14 turnovers a game, second in field 3-pt field goal defense. Opponents only shooting 32% from 3.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SPORTS CALENDAR *CONFERENCE GAME

Chiara Volejnicek Women’s Tennis The 5-foot-5 freshman from Menzingen, Switzerland capped off the team’s huge comeback win over No. 29 South Carolina on Feb. 13 in Columbia, South Carolina.

The win was the tennis program’s largest over the highest ranked opponent.

After losing her first set and being down 5-3 in the second set, Volejnicek won the clinching match 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. She is ranked No. 25 player in Switzerland also a six-time finalist at the Switzerland junior championships. Volejnicek was a Swiss Interclubs National League B Swiss Champion in 2013.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 18 Little Rock*

at GSU Sports Arena 5 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20 Arkansas State*

at GSU Sports Arena 12 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 18 Little Rock*

at GSU Sports Arena 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20

1st

Sun Belt Standings

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th

Oklahoma State

at Stillwater, Oklahoma TBA

THE WEEK

Texas

Providence v.

Xavier

Xavier

Duke v. UNC

UNC

at Atlanta, Georgia 4 p.m.

Miami v. UNC

UNC

Sunday, Feb. 21

Baylor v. Texas

Texas

at Atlanta, Georgia Noon

Ark. State v.

Georgia State

Ark. State

Oklahoma v.

West Virginia

Oklahoma

Saturday, Feb. 20

Alabama vs. Mercer at Heck Softball Complex 10 a.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Friday, Feb. 19 FIU

George Washington

at GSU Sports Arena 2:30 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Arkansas State

Little Rock

14-0 | Overall: 20-3

11-1 | Overall: 22-3

Little Rock

UL Lafayette

10-4 | Overall: 12-11

9-3 | Overall: 14-9

UL Lafayette

UL Monroe

9-5 | Overall: 16-7

7-5 | Overall: 13-12

UT Arlington

UT Arlington

7-6 | Overall: 12-11

7-5 | Overall: 17-7

Troy

Georgia Southern

7-7 | Overall: 12-11

6-5 | Overall: 11-13

South Alabama

Arkansas State

7-7 | Overall: 11-12

6-6 | Overall: 11-14

Texas State 6-7 | Overall: 11-12

Georgia State

Appalachian State

Iowa State PANTHER OF Baylor v. Baylor West Virginia v.

Texas

Arkansas State*

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SPORTS EDITOR’S NCAAM PREDICTIONS RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

MEN’S TENNIS Saturday, Feb. 19

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

6-6 | Overall: 13-10 Southern Alabama

5-9 | Overall: 8-15

4-8 | Overall: 11-14

Georgia State

Texas State

4-10 | Overall: 9-14

4-8 | Overall: 10-12

Kentucky v.

Texas A&M

Kentucky

Virginia v.

Miami

Virginia

Iowa State v.

West Virginia

West Virginia

THE FINAL SCORE Coach “Lefty” Driesell nominated for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Former Georgia State men’s basketball Head Coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell was named a 2016 finalist for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. While at Georgia State, Driesell won 103 games and three conference championships in just over five years at the program. This is the third time Driesell has been nominated and he is the only coach in NCAA history to win 100 or more games at four different programs.

Women’s tennis upset No. 29, remain undefeated

With a home win against Texas State, head coach Ron Hunter earned the 100th win of his career. Hunter was surprised about the feat because he had no idea until shortly after the game. Coach Hunter was very appreciative of the congratulations he received and went on to thank senior Markus Crider, who scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Panthers to victory that night.

Women’s basketball growing pains remain relevant

On Feb. 13, the women’s basketball team was outrebounded 52-37 at Troy. Newby contributed 12 points and 14 assists to only 3 turnovers.

Junior frontcourt player Haley Gerrin had 21 points and 4 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half. Freshman guard Astaja Tyghter came off the bench with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a balanced effort. The team is currently one game out of making the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the eighth and final seed.

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