Vol 81 No 30 | April 29- May 6

The Reader’s

Issue

The final issue of the year is all about you.

Inside, find the stories you asked to read!

PAGE DESIGN BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY ALLYSON BUSCH | THE SIGNAL

Inside

APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2014

like us! facebook.com/gsusignal

follow us! twitter.com/gsusignal

ILLUSTRATION BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

Shuttle Service

VOL. 81 | NO. 30

Some are satisfied, some are not.

Students rate campus escort shuttle service

We’re here for you

Our columnists answer your questions about streetcars, money, schooling and more

fuel for finals

Need some place quiet to study? Check out the best coffee shops near campus

Men’s basketball team welcomes transfer Kevin Ware with open arms and high hopes

News | Page 5

opinions| Pages 6-7

A&L | Pages 12-13

Sports | Page 20

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 6

Part of the Family

Arts & Living 9

Sports 20

2

NEWS

last week...

Local MARTA looks to military bases for police officers

MARTA is looking to Detroit military bases in North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia to recruit new police officers, according to CBS News. Recruitment trips to Fort Benning Army Base and Detroit are planned for June.

Last month, recruitment trips were in Fort Lee, Va. and Lejune, NC., according to CBS. MARTA will offer $3,000 signing bonuses for the new officers as soon as they are hired.

National

Medical waste used as electricity for local communities

An emergency meeting was held

by Oregon’s politicians on April 24 after discovering the Covanta Marion Inc. plant in Brooks was using medical waste (including aborted fetuses) for electricity in local communities, according to the Washington Times.

Stericycle is the private company

TUESDAY APRIL 29, 2014

blotter

that bags and boxes medical waste to transport it from Washington State and British Columbia to Oregon.

Washington Times also reported that Jill Stueck, vice president of marketing and communications at the plant said the company is shocked by the allegations and is working with the county on suspension of its medical waste program pending further review.

Global

Bombing at political rally in Baghdad

After 31 people were killed and 56 wounded at a political rally in eastern Baghdad on April 25, the Al Qaeda splinter group, Islamic State of Iraq, and Syria claimed responsibility, according to CNN. A car bomb hit the gathering first, which was followed by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest. Officials told CNN 200 people attended the event which was sponsored by a Shiite political group. people attended the event, which was sponsored by a Shiite political group.

April 21

gations is handling the case.

Georgia State Police responded to and investigated an odor of marijuana. No drugs were found and a report was filed for marijuana odor.

A report was filed for theft. A Georgia State student stated she left her book bag in an unsecured cubby. She returned to discover her Georgia State ID and access card were missing. The case was turned over to investigations.

University Lofts

April 23

University Center

A Georgia State faculty member stated he last had his briefcase while using an ATM at 8:15 p.m. At 8:45 p.m. he realized he longer had his briefcase, which contained his Apple iPad. A report was filed for theft and the case is being handled by investigations.

Langdale Hall

A student stated she left her Samsung Note 3 in the restroom at 1:20 p.m.

When she returned at 2:15 p.m., she discovered the phone had been stolen.

A report was filed for theft and investi-

Natural Science Center

25 Park Place

At 6:58 a.m. police officers responded to an individual masturbating in front of 25 Park Place. A criminal history check produced negative results. The individual was arrested and transported to Fulton County Jail. A report was filed for public indecency and a criminal trespassing warning was issued.

april 24

Student Center

A report was filed for simple battery

this week’s Issue

after three former Georgia State students approached a Georgia State student and pushed her in the back of her head. After being told that police were in route, the aggressors fled the area.

The case is being handled by investigations.

M Parking Deck

A non-Georgia State affiliate stated she parked her vehicle at 11:15 a.m. When she returned at 11:15 p.m. she discovered a shattered window and her laptop had been stolen from the rear seat.

A report was filed for theft and the case is being handled by investigations.

April 25

University Commons

Officers discovered an individual under the age of 21 intoxicated. After she was arrested, she was transported to Grady Hospital and issued a copy of her charges.

Photo of the week

The Signal staff asked for story ideas from our readers to see if we missed any coverage you wanted this year.

PHOTO BY CANDRA UMUNNA| THE SIGNAL OutKast performs with special guest Killer Mike to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album at Counter.Point Music & Arts Festival this past weekend.

We also asked for students to riff on our 2013-2014 t-shirt design for our front page. As a special gift to our readers, here’s a chance to win one of our t-shirts.

The first five readers to tweet @gsusignal about their favorite story this week with the hashtag #signalreaders will win a t-shirt. (Shirt sizes available are small, medium, large and extra-large.)

Good luck and happy reading!

THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Residents voice concerns with University Housing visitation policies

Anyone who is not a resident of student housing must go through an extensive check in process before they can enter the building.

LAUREN BOOKER & LATAVIA UPTON

Associate News Editor & Staff Reporter

R

esidents have been voicing their opinions about University Housing residence hall visitation policies concerning the surrender of IDs during check in, the visitation limitations and the process as a whole.

The current guest policy at Georgia State says residents can have overnight guests three nights in a row but no more than six nights in a calendar month.

Once checked in, the guest must leave a government-issued photo ID and wear a wristband at all times while in the building. The guest must also be with the resident that checked them in at all times.

Randy Brown, assistant director for residence life for Edgewood and Ellis Communities, said University Housing has received feedback from students about the visitation policies via the comment boxes on the front desk of every residence hall.

“The Residence Hall Association (RHA) has been responsible for checking the boxes and providing recommendations,” Brown said.

He said University Housing has addressed student concerns about the visitation policies through facilitating town hall meetings, doing an interview with GSTV, writing responses to RHA representatives

and adding signage to the back of apartment/room dorms.

Students express the inconvenience of surrendering their ID during visitor check in Tavia Harris, a University Commons resident, said she wants to see a change in the amount of consecutive overnights allowed and the types of IDs accepted for check in.

“I would like the overnights to be longer than three days,” Harris said.

“The ID is a bit much. They should be able to take college IDs. A college is not going to lie about their students.”

She also said the University Commons is stricter than the other residence halls because of the “prison” turnstiles.

Susanna Sin, a Greek housing resident, said she doesn’t like it when both person’s IDs have to be taken during check in.

“My friend actually got in trouble because the person she checked in got her ID without her, and now they have to go the Dean’s office. And I think that is ridiculous because sometimes you can’t be together to get your ID, but now she is in trouble,” Sin said.

Madlina Jonassaint, nursing major Patton Hall resident, said she sees the visitation policy as a good idea because Patton Hall is a big building and experiences a heavy traffic of people.

Residents said the visitation policy affects family visits Brianna Adams, sophomore Lofts resident, said the process is annoying for when her family comes to visit.

“I guess I get part of it is for safety, but I couldn’t even have my brothers come in with me without this huge hassle because he wasn’t 16,” Adams said. “I want to be able to have my family come up sometimes without having to check them in; without a 5 minute process.”

Candace Lane, journalism major and Lofts resident, said she has experienced issues with the underage visitation policy.

“There was an incident where I almost couldn’t bring my nieces in because I didn’t give them notification 24 hours prior,” Lane said.

Nikki Wilbanks, junior Greek housing resident, said she thinks parents should be treated differently in terms of the visitation policy.

“I think for parents it should be a little different, because I don’t think parents are going to like come in and mess stuff up. But I understand if you are checking in other students or a boyfriend or something,” Wilbanks said.

How residents feel about the policy’s safety procedures Madlina Jonassaint, nursing major and Patton Hall resident, said she sees the visitation policy

PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL

as a good idea because Patton Hall is a big building and experiences a heavy traffic of people.

Tierra Slaughter, exercise science major Piedmont resident, said the visitation policy makes her feel safe.

“Just in case there is an emergency in the building we would know exactly how many people are in the building because of the checkout policy,” Slaughter said.

Maggie Basso, art education major Patton Hall resident, also said she understands why there is a visitation policy. But she said it goes overboard at times.

“I think the housing system we have in place right now is uncomfortable, and I’ve chosen to live off campus because of that,” Basso said. “I feel like there needs to be a way for us to have visitors without feeling uncomfortable and without there being so many limitations to the amount of days they can visit and what times they are allowed to visit.”

Residents react to the visitation policy’s process Psychology major and University Commons resident India Kelly said the processes can be redundant and chaotic.

“I understand why it’s there, but at the same time it can be a little annoying,” Kelly said.

Lake Dowling, English major and Piedmont North resident, said

she feels like the check in and out process is unnecessary and evil.

“I feel like it’s a long process. I would like to have more overnights and extends more time,” Dowling said.

Alexis Inman, another Piedmont North resident, said the front desks need faster computer systems.

“I do not mind the checkout system. I just wish that it didn’t take so long,” Inman said.

University Housing’s response to residents’ distresses Randy Brown said University Housing is hoping to make the residence halls safe and secure. He added that residence hall visitation polices are determined through a collaborative effort.

“The Director of University Housing and her senior leadership team discuss and develop policies and procedures related to safety and security in the residence halls, which includes the guest visitation,” Brown said.

“University Housing also works closely with University partners, such as GSUPD, the Residence Hall Association, and the Office of Emergency Management to determine safety and security policies and procedures for the residence halls,” he said.

This story was pitched by University Housing students.

4

NEWS

TUESDAY APRIL 29, 2014

NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

5

Georgia State students rate campus escort shuttle service CHRIS JOINER & JASMIN FIELDS Staff Reporters

G

eorgia State students rated the Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC) golf cart shuttle service above average in a random student survey on campus Monday.

The students who were given the survey voiced some suggestions to keep the program a success.

The Signal conducted a random survey of 100 Georgia State students.

Of the 100 students, 10 percent of the students said their experience on the CSC golf cart shuttle was “very poor,” five percent of the students said their experience was “poor,” and 22 percent of the students surveyed said their experience was “average.”

Another 38 percent of the students said their experience was “above average” and 25 percent of the students said their experience was “very good.”

Most students who rated their experience above average said the drivers were friendly, fun and talkative. The students who rated their experience below average said the drivers pass them up or were too flirtatious and unavailable when they needed rides the most.

The Panther Ambassador program places security guards at nine posts around campus including routes from the Aderhold Learning Center to the

University Commons and from Petit Science Center to the Piedmont North housing complex. Nine ambassadors and one supervisor work Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. while two officers monitor the routes on the weekend according to the Georgia State website.

Jasmine Quarteman, a sophomore and managerial science major who lives on campus, said she enjoys riding the CSC shuttle whenever she has the opportunity because of the convenience it offers students who need a ride from one point to the next. She said there are times when the drivers act like they don’t want to pick them up.

“When I get the opportunity to ride it I enjoy it, but they have a tendency to pass a lot of students especially when they can stop and let people on when the light is red or there isn’t any ongoing traffic,” Quarteman said.

Quivanna Waddles, a freshman who lives on campus, said she is concerned there aren’t enough carts available to the students. She said students have no idea how to reach the CSC drivers for a ride and there are times when they can’t find the shuttles.

“I think they should have a better calling system or have more guys standing around. You have to actually find one of the guys,” Waddles said.

McKenzie Bell, a business major who lives on campus, said the shuttles service experience is good but there

Gov. Deal signs gun bill into legislation KIMBERLY CLUNIS Staff Reporter

G

ov. Deal signed House Bill 60 (HB 60) into legislation on April 23. The law defines specific public places where guns may be carried in Georgia, including government buildings and bars.

HB 60, also known as the “Safe Carry Protection Act,” allows individuals the ability to carry weapons into designated public places.

The bill states guns may be carried to places of worship if permitted by authority of the church. They will also be allowed in airport common areas and unsecured government buildings without security checkpoints or metal detectors, according to the act’s specifications.

Additionally, the new law states that school officials at universities have the ability to vote on whether or not they will allow faculty and staff members to bring weapons on campus. Prior to this bill, licensed gun owners could bring weapons to school if they received permission from authorized officials, according to NBC reports.

The “Campus Carry” provi-

sion, which would have legalized carrying guns onto campus, was rejected from HB 60, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC). The bill states campus police and school security are the only individuals currently authorized to carry weapons on campus.

Gregory Williams, a freshman at Georgia State, said it was unfair for faculty to have the ability to carry guns on campus while students were not. He also said neither should have the ability at all.

“It puts undue responsibility in the hands of citizens,” Williams said. “I feel that only enforcement should have [guns] on public grounds.”

First year Ph.D student Helene Goarzin said she would not feel reassured if she saw people carrying guns around her, especially on campus.

Sophomore Sofia Saldivarcano said she would prefer weapons kept off campus unless it was security.

Despite Gov. Deal receiving support from organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), critics have called HB 60 the “Guns Everywhere” bill, according to the AJC. HB 60 will officially go into effect on July 1, the AJC stated.

are times when the drivers seem to be very impatient with the students. She said there are often times when the shuttle is late picking them up.

“I feel that the drivers are not patient when it comes to waiting for every student to load the shuttle,” Bell said. “They also have long delays which cause us to miss our classes.”

According to Noel Rivera, the Panther Ambassador Manager, the CSC golf cart shuttle service is available seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The CSC has about four carts that run every night. Each cart can accommodate up to five students at a time.

“Students can call for a ride whenever they need one,” Rivera Said.

“Sometimes we are out and the S Deck is not always monitored. If we are unavailable a student should call the campus police non-emergency number, 404-213-2100, to ask for shuttle service.”

Rivera said the Panther Ambassadors assist the resident assistants with evacuating the building if there is an emergency like a fire or event where students need to move quickly for safety.

“If we are responding to an incident like that, yeah I am going straight to wherever that incident is,” Rivera said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s going to be housing so we will go there.”

Rivera said there are times when the shuttle drivers just don’t hear a stu-

dent asking for a ride. They also just aren’t able to cut across traffic because they are two lanes over. He said most of the time the driver has to respond to an incident that is already in progress because they are closest to the incident. Rivera said that’s the only reason a driver would pass a student.

“If the closest incident commander is on a shuttle, they are going to respond to that incident. It’s not intentional that we’re trying to leave someone behind,” Rivera said.

Rivera said the CSC shuttle service is available for students, staff, faculty, alumni and the families of students

while they are visiting the campus. He said they provide students with a vehicle jump if their battery dies while on campus as well.

“We take people to the Georgia State train station, Peachtree Center train station and the Five Points train station,” Rivera said.

Rivera said students who have problems with the service or a particular shuttle driver should contact him at 404-803-3460 to report their concern.

This story was pitched by University Housing students.

PHOTO BY AFI CAKPO | THE SIGNAL The shuttle golf carts give rides to students all around campus.

APRIL IS STD AWARENESS MONTH

Medical Network for Education & Research is conducting FREE screenings for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia You should be screened if you: 1. Are at least 18 years of age; 2. Have had a positive test for Gonorrhea iGonorrhea or Chlamydia and have not received any antibiotic treatment; 3. Have had unprotected genital contact with someone known to be positive for Gonorrhea or Chlamydia and have not received any antibiotic treatment.

If you suspect you have Gonorrhea or Chlamydia and have not been tested, free screenings will be conducted at our office in April and May by appointment only.

Treatment options will be provided.

Please contact the study coordinator for more information: Loretta Patrick, R.N. 404 292-1144 or mednetstudyteam@gmail.com

IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW:  Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. CDC estimates that, annually, 820,000 people in the United States get new gonorrheal infections.  It is especially common among young people ages 15-24 years.  Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

OPINIONS

U O Y

s n o i t s e u q e h t ! d e d k e r as e sw

n a E

W

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

s r e t i r w The MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a junior finance major and student financial advisor. “My goal is to have more college students financially literate.” Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

“How will the streetcar benefit or affect the student population next semester?” -Eric Mason

Mitch: As you know, Eric,

the streetcar has already affected the student population over the past few semesters. There has been a weekly barrage of headache-inducing detours and roadwork, road closings and the seemingly perpetual lane closing on Edgewood. But alas! The streetcar is nearing completion and the world will be a better place for it, right?

Unfortunately, as far as actual Georgia State benefits, the streetcar will not offer much for

students. The way the route is laid out, it might make sense to ride it from Auburn Ave to the Aderhold area, but the time it takes you to wait for it just to go a few blocks isn’t worth the trouble.

The good news is it will be free for the first three months.

After that, estimates place the cost to ride at $1, which is pretty reasonable.

The real benefit the streetcar will bring will be to businesses in downtown and students after hours and after class. The bars

and restaurants on Edgewood will see huge spikes in sales, and students will be able to get to them quickly, cheaply and without having to worry about parking or designated drivers. From the Edgewood bar area you can ride it to its other end in the heart of downtown and visit the multitude of dining and shopping.

The streetcar is going to be great for the city. I just hope it runs smoothly and doesn’t suffer from overcrowding.

Follow him @madmoneyATL

NICOLE MOTAHARI Associate Web Editor Nicole is a double major in biology and English.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys listening to musical theater and watching British TV with her family.

“Why is transportation a part of our student fees, but transportation is limited (i.e. no transportation to grocery stores, malls, shopping centers, etc.)?” -Dawana Owens Mitch: Great question,

busses to being able to use the Turner Field lot. Even the salaDawana! This is something ries for drivers and city ambasthat many students who live on sadors is factored into this figure campus have an issue with, as some do not own a car and don’t somewhat.

While it may not currently really have a way to get around. be in the budget for the school, if For the average student taking there was a large enough move12 credit hours, however, the transportation fee is only $46 per ment to raise the transportation semester. That $46 has to stretch fee it could include more bus routes that take students to difa long way, from paying for the new fleet of Georgia State shuttle ferent areas of Atlanta. Currently, however, the demand just isn’t

MIA MCDONALD Columnist Mia does amateur photoshoots, maintains the title of bookworm and hands out with friends and family.

there to warrant a need for this kind of service. I urge you to get involved in the student government if this is something you’re interested in.

Until then, I recommend using MARTA to get around in the city as there is a convenient location on campus. What’s more is your transportation fee also helps the school partner with MARTA to offer discounted monthly passes for students!

Follow her @MiaMore09 CHRISTIAN WILKINS Columnist

“Are core credits really necessary for a quality college education?” -Simon Phillips Mitch: Simon, this is a ques-

tion that is hotly debated in the world of academia today. My short answer is a resounding ‘NO’.

Many in the business world will tell you that specialization is becoming key to getting ahead these days. No matter what you major in, it is my belief that your learning should be focused on

that notion alone. While it is good to build a solid foundation for learning, I think we can safely say that’s called “high school.”

Instead, students across the country are paying exorbitant tuitions to take glorified high school classes. The solution is simple though. The colleges can keep their precious core classes, but can we please have them tailored to specific majors? So

maybe you’re an economics major like me. For English 1101 and 1102, have it focused on business writing and reading books pertaining to business.

Trust me, as someone who had to read FOUR romantic novels about vampires and werewolves for my 1102 course, I am not a huge fan of the current core system.

Christian is a freshman jouralism major. “The train is my writing/art studio.”

“Why does it seem like Arts and Humanities have the most students or majors, but have the least number of scholarship opportunities?” -A'Sheana White

Christian: Thanks for your

question, A’Sheana. Everyone wants to live their dream. The arts and humanities are all about expression and unfortunately many a business major don’t believe it to be something someone can devote their life to. And people who amass their fortune through the corporate sphere may also share this misconception. This, in result, makes scholarships a little difficult. ​A philantrophist is less likely to take a chance on a promising artist rather than a promising businessman. This is because the promising businessman more readily guarantees a monetary gain and professional success while the artist’s craft, no matter how excellent it may be, is not certain to become wellrespected and/or famous. Van Gogh was not a rich man, yet his paintings could be sold today for millions of dollars.

Another reason why scholarships may be in short supply for many majors in the arts and humanities is because the same pursuits could be learned on one’s own. To master them, instruction is usually required along with a mammoth amount of time and effort, of course.

Many scholarships that want to see sure progress, notoriety and maybe even endorsements in return of their recipients may not take this into account.

You might say, “I already speak English. Why would I become an English major?” or “I can draw, but I’m not going to be an art major.” But you aren’t taking into account is that students may be uncontrollably compelled to study a skill that many have in order to perfect it and because they simply love to express themselves. There are many like this, yet too few to respect them. One in the creative community can only hope to help and provide for themselves.

“What is the future of Cinesfest and why isn't it more popular?” -Carmen Cunningham Mia: Carmen, this is a con-

cern that many of us have. We did address this issue in an earlier issue, but not many changes have been made since then.

Cinefest has reported that they will cut back on their number of showings a week. This will make the space move available for other uses and cut back on the expectations of day to day visitors. However, if more students, faculty, staff, etc. don’t attend Cinefest, it could eventually shut down.

To address the popularity of Cinefest I’m actually not sure why it isn’t more popular. I personally visit Cinefest every semester. Cinefest is where I saw “The Dark Knight Rises” for the first time amongst other films!

Cinesfest is one of the most affordable places to go and things to do around and on campus and it’s free! The low number of attendees might be because some people are unfamiliar with Cinefest. Unless you have a friend that frequents or you just so happen to stumble upon it randomly walking on thesecond floor of the University Center, it is hard to miss.

My recommendation to boost the number attendees is to have film classes in the theater and to host themed movie nights. Also, for new students or those who are still trying to get to know the campus they should include Cinefest in on a Georgia State scavenger hunt.

“Why isn't there more coverage for other student organizations other than SGA or sports teams?”-Quyen Chau Nicole: There are a few

reasons behind the way student organization coverage works.

The Signal strives to represent the student population as whole and that often ends up meaning that we have to cater to the greatest common factor. While occasionally we do go more in depth into other student organizations, there are four hundred and sixteen student organizations total. If we wanted to do specific coverage of every individual group, it would take us years. Instead, we choose the more major ones that affect all students on campus—sports and the Student Government Association.

7

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Decisions SGA makes affects all student campus-wide and it is the duty of the paper to let our readers know so they are informed enough to make a stand on the subjects. As far as the reason sports receives attention: 40 percent of student fees go towards the athletics program at Georgia State meaning that the bulk of fees go towards sports.

This is student money, and most students want to know what goes on with their tuition and fees payments. Sports also has a relatively large following in the general college community and is generally a large part of the college experience.

“Why are all the TA's in the biology department foreign? There's nothing wrong with that, but many students can't understand them or develop relationships with them.” -Scott Mayott Mia: Scott, you wouldn’t

believe how many people have experienced this same issue. I think the problem comes with the student-to-professor ratio.

There’s such a great necessity for the TA position that the focus isn’t on student needs over filling the TA position. This is an issue because where the TA might have had time to adjust and train, they’re now being thrown into a position they’re

not equipped for beyond their degree. TAs need more experience before they’re thrown into a classroom. Furthermore, in regards to not being able to understand their speech or accent, this too has been brought up. I think being fluent in english should be a part of the job description; just like when we apply to certain jobs we have to be fluent in other languages. I think English should be a part of that list.

“Does racism exist in the Arts & Humanities section amongst faculty?”

-Darnell Christian:

That’s an excellent question, Darnell. The answer is: probably. Even though there is a black president, mayor and police chief governing millions in this city of Atlanta, many of its residents are still racist. Life today is still far from post racial.

The arts are no exception, often pigeonholing non-white creatives as people only capable of graffiti or cultural scholars. And then at times judge even those pursuits as less than expression.

In this heavily populated campus, it makes sense that many of the faculty members in charge of instructing the students are working professionals in their fields. Thus they have been thoroughly exposed to the subjective and often prejudiced environment that is the business of art, language, and culture.

Also, the faculty members are just people, like the students,

and just like the students, may seem to gravitate to their own cliques and clubs. Everyone wants friends whether they’re 4 or 100 years old, and the need to be liked and accepted permeates from birth into various facets of society. It is no surprise, that minds like to be coddled in this way too, to discuss not only what is being done in their field of study but of their particular faction of their field of study.

Artists expressing things in a certain way can be fine, with other like artists, however it can close one’s mind to others that may express in a different form. And these different forms can often be subconsciously tacked on to a particular race by a prejudiced mind, and the creative people of that race secondly disregarded.

“Why aren't the smoking bans on campus being enforced on any level whatsoever?” -Nikki Stewart Nicole:

Hello Nikki. I love your question, since smoking is a pet peeve of mine! As you might know, in October of last year, smoking was banned from Georgia college campuses. The biggest issue I can see is the lack of specified ‘smoking areas’ on campus, so people have no other choice than to smoke wherever they are. When everyone is smoking everywhere, it’s a little difficult for authorities to stop people from smoking. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to find authorities who are actually willing to stop people from smoking on campus.

Also, Georgia State is an open campus, so it’s very difficult to put specific boundaries on where smoking is and is not allowed. For example, walking between Aderhold and the main campus, you

walk through Woodruff Park.

Would that be considered part of campus and are you allowed to smoke there? Or is it part of the city? So, as long as you’re not breaking any laws, are you free to do whatever you wish?

People have been smoking on campus for years, so it’s slightly problematic to just change rules and expect and immediate reaction. Currently, the best thing to do is to work on creating specific smoking areas for smokers, and be able to direct people to the designated area. Only then can we really focus on making people stop smoking all around campus.

8

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Letter from the Editor

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CHRIS SHATTUCK Editor-in-Chief

fter four years at the paper, it’s somewhat difficult for me to imagine life beyond The Signal’s news-

room.

When I joined the staff in 2010, I had no clue what to expect after first walking through the doors to sit through my first new writer’s workshop. But looking back, it’s impossible for me to separate my time at the newspaper from my time at Georgia State.

After years of countless nights and weekends spent making sure the paper was perfect each week, I realize now that The Signal has taught me more than just how to write a news story or op-ed.

Certainly, it’s proved invaluable in teaching me life lessons that I’ll not soon forget about taking responsibility, what it means to be a leader, why it’s important to cultivate diversity of personality, how to deal with people and why clear communication is critical.

Beyond that, however, it’s helped facilitate lifelong friendships that have profoundly expanded and reshaped my worldview. For that and more, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so unique and special.

But with that said, a lot has changed since 2010.

For starters, we completely rebooted the paper two years ago. What began with a few design changes turned into a culture change that has forever transformed how

The Signal operates—or at least I hope so.

With the goals of creating a more recognizable brand on campus, improving the overall look and design of the paper, expanding our web presence and increasing communication between staff members, we ended up rethinking the entire philosophy behind The Signal and have been rewarded for our efforts.

For example, our circulation is nearly double what it was two years ago, our social media following has more than quadrupled, our web traffic has never been higher, and we’re producing more daily stories for online and print to cover a wider variety of topics than we’ve ever attempted before.

Plus, in that same timespan, we’ve taken home some of the country’s top collegiate journalism awards.

But it’s never been about awards or circulation for that matter.

For me, it’s mostly about a promise that I made to each of you – the readers – almost one year ago in my first issue as Editor-InChief.

In that letter, I said that under my watch The Signal would not become a branch of the University’s PR office, nor would we forsake our mission of providing fair and earnest news in the interest of the University community and acting as a training ground for new staff members.

That’s a responsibility I’ve taken very seriously, and I like to think we’ve succeeded in many ways in that regard.

Sure, we’ve had a few bumps in the road along the way, but we’ve also churned out some great work that any college paper would be proud to claim. And I think that’s a direct reflection of the staff as we’ve matured and learned to work well with each other.

Just as I’ve grown a lot since 2010, this year I’ve witnessed some pretty substantial personal transformations at every level.

Indeed, I’ve seen people come to this job with practically no experience and leave as seasoned reporters and editors with huge potential.

To me, that’s the beauty of college media: It allows you to try something out and – succeed or fail – come out the better for it.

In that sense, The Signal is Georgia State at its very best. It’s intelligent, it’s hardworking, it’s resourceful and it’s diverse.

But it’s also a place where people can find themselves and become a part of something that’s bigger than they are, if they just try.

Like all good things, however, I can’t hold on to it forever.

It’s been an amazing ride these past four years, and I want to again thank those that have helped me – pushed me, even – to become a bigger part of it.

Seriously, you guys mean the world.

Editorial

Readers, we only exist because of you

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s the year winds down, we’d like to take a moment to thank you, our readers, not only for your contributions to this paper, but also for reading The Signal all year long.

Media has always held a sacred relationship with the people who look to all forms of it as a means of information, entertainment and news. The first newspaper was published in Rome in 59 B.C.E., making newspaper one of the oldest forms of media. Society has traveled a long way since stone tablets, and as it transitions to electronic ones, we’d like to take a closer look at the role of a newspaper in the college experience and the relationship between the paper and its readers.

The average college student wakes up, goes to class, studies, writes papers and then spends the weekend relaxing with friends. It’s often difficult to stay aware of news and events happening every day on campus. That’s where the paper steps in—we provide knowledge to the masses.

We have articles published online daily, making it easy for people to access us via Facebook, Twitter, or our website.

We’re constantly reaching out to discover new stories that students will benefit from and be interested in. Many people requested the Kevin Ware story published in this week’s issue, so we sent out reporters to cover it. Whether it’s researching the usage of student fees or covering Stu-

dent Government Elections, The Signal tries to report on stories that are relevant to student lives.

On a campus as diverse and widespread as Georgia State, a newspaper is the glue of the college. It holds together our community by providing a common space for students to read about everything going on. The newspaper is really the voice of the students, bringing together the biggest events of the week together in a conducive, easy to read format. With a simple glance over the different articles, readers are able to gain a sense of what’s going on.

Students rely on the paper much more than they realize. “Sure,” you think, “I pick up the paper, just take a look at it and toss it, or I just catch a glimpse of what’s on my Twitter feed.”

However, when we have the news, you help us spread it. When we wrote our April Fool’s issue, we had no idea our joke article regarding an NCAA Basketball fiasco that would result in the Georgia State basketball team being awarded the lost Sun Belt Conference would go so viral, but were pleasantly surprised when we had over 900 views within the first few hours of its online posting. Students rely on us to get them the information they want and need.

We also strive to make the paper as accessible as pos-

sible for Panthers. Every week, we distribute the paper to multiple locations on campus, making it easy for students passing by to catch a glimpse of our cover and pick up and issue, and recently we’ve gone virtual, posting a digital copy online.

Currently, in efforts to further connect with our readers, The Signal is even coming out with an INCEPT issue in magazine format, all to better accommodate our current readers as well as new incoming students. We’re looking to draw on our own personal experiences and also from students like you. We’ll discuss places to park, the new Atlanta Streetcar, as well as local neighborhoods and fun things to do in the city, among various other pieces.

However, in short, the paper revolves around its readers. We want to hear from you. Send us your story ideas, your letters to the editor, come into our office and talk with our editors and our writers about the pieces you’ve read, or you’d like to read about.

A newspaper is the link between the University and the students. It takes both sides to make a successful newspaper; we can’t do it without you. Your fees and participation makes it possible for us to publish the paper and spread the word to fellow Panthers. So next time you stop to pick up a paper, take a moment to thank yourself for making it happen.

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

It takes the Center to raise a child Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center provides a constructive environment for children Written by Leah Jordan

Illustration by Anna N. Yang

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handful of toddlers walk out of the Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center near Dahlberg Hall on Georgia State’s campus. They are holding hands, being instructed to lean against the glass until all of the 1-year-olds get outside for their first outdoor ‘nature walk’ of the spring semester.

Contrasting with the sound of children’s laughter is the chatter of Georgia State’s Student Center courtyard—100 yards away—at noon on a Tuesday.

Rap music is blasting, sub woofers are bumping and college student-passerby’s are staring at their cellphones as they walk.

The children don’t pay a speck of attention to them.

Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center, Georgia State’s day care, is open for enrollment to Georgia State student, staff and faculty’s children only.

The average wait list is 12 to 18 months long, and is available to children 12 weeks to 5 years old.

The Child Development Program is a part of the College of Education.

The Development Center is not an average day care: The instructors all have at least a bachelor’s degree in education, there

“

I don’t think the centers outside here have the insight as to the developmental part of the child... You have to make sure your curriculum fits your kids, and your kids fit your curriculum.”

- Bonita Mathis-Porter, teacher

is a low teacher turnover and the teachers follow individualized lesson plans for the kids.

After the children are finished with their nature walk, they all line up again. It’s now time for lunch: grilled cheese, mixed fruit, green beans (or snakes, as the kids called them) and miniature, plastic cups of milk.

THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT

As the children pick through their food, teachers Bonita Mathis-Porter and Kim Benns watch to make sure they are grasping their forks correctly and

are up to speed with their handeye coordination skills.

“I don’t think the Centers outside here have the insight as to the developmental part of the child. I think some of them use the curriculum, but I don’t know if they look at the whole child. You have to make sure your curriculum fits your kids, and your kids fit your curriculum,” Mathis-Porter said.

One child started crying uncontrollably, seemingly out of nowhere.

Mathis-Porter walked around him as if she couldn’t hear the screaming—she said it was most effective to encourage him to use his words and not give into crying.

A notable difference between Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center and another day care center: The Development Center boasts that the teacherchild ratio is one of the lowest in Georgia.

“The state says I can take care of 10 of these kids by myself…but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to give them everything they need, taking care of 10 1-yearolds by myself,” Mathis-Porter said.

The children wash their hands after lunch and one is still crying, now for his mom. He is wailing— but Mathis-Porter doesn’t pay any attention to him.

“When you finish crying, use your words and talk,” she said.

And eventually he did.

A COLLECTIVE EFFORT

The children who encompass the Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center not only have their parents and teachers, but they get loving people dropping in often, as well.

“People come in to visit the kids all the time. Volunteers, old student assistants. Parents want to come read stories to kids and we’ve even had parent firefighters come in and share. The larger community contributes,” Benns said.

When walking in the brightly-colored 2-year-old room, the first thing seen is a white board with yesterday’s accomplishments neatly written on it.

“3-31-14: Today we used our fine motor skills to peel the backs from animal stickers, explored paint using sponges and went on our first nature walk. We also read the book The Underpants Zoo.” Benns and student assistant Maya Jones begin the clean up process, doing daily laundry and picking up toys. To keep the children entertained for the remaining hour, they turn on Disney’s Frozen soundtrack and play “Let It Go,” the children’s favorite, on repeat four times.

continued on page 14 (Day care)

ARTS & LIVING

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TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Drinks on me: Students tend bar at college hangout Hole in the Wall KAYLYN HINZ

Associate Arts & Living Editor

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eer pong, Bud Light and screaming sorority girls: This is Welfare Wednesday at the local bar, Hole in the Wall.

But for the bartenders who work here, it is just that––work, but with a casual vibe.

Senior business major Omar Mustaffa has been a bartender at Hole in the Wall since 2011.

Mustaffa said his job interview was not a regular, formal one. He interviewed with one of the managers while drunk--and a week later he got the job.

Hole in the Wall is known for being a college hangout bar. Just like the ambiance of the bar, the bartenders have a causal mentality.

“Hole in the wall is just one of the few true dance clubs in Buckhead. The drink specials are also some of the best in the area. That really brings in the

college crowd,” Mustaffa explained.

Before people get wild on busy nights, the bartenders hang out beforehand, talking and playing beer pong or pool. The lack of a particular dress-code also emphasizes the relaxed demeanor at the bar.

Mustaffa said he is typically wearing a fraternity t-shirt, shorts and blue and white tie-dyed socks to work.

From performing a drink trick to customers bumping into him, he is changing shirts through out the night.

“Drinks being spilled is a common thing; I usually bring an extra shirt to change into. Sometimes if it’s busy I’ll just work though it. It’s not that bad when it’s hot out,” Mustaffa said.

Although working at Hole in the Wall is generally a laid back experience, there are moments when things get out of hand.

It is the crazy, busy nights when being a bartender can get tricky. At any one time, several people want to be served, and bartender Alyssa Warren admits that it is difficult to handle everyone.

“You only have two hands,” Warren said. “I try to mentally see who comes to me first to be fair, but it’s hard. I don’t know if you have ever been here on a Wednesday night, but it can get wild.”

Just like with any bar, fights break out. When that happens, it is up to every bartender to take action if security does not handle it right away.

The same goes for when someone has been drinking too much; legally the bartender has to call a cab for anyone who is excessively drunk, so they do not drive under any circumstance.

“Legally you’re suppose to tell them no. At the same time you don’t want them throwing up everywhere,” Mustaffa said.

Mustaffa explained the craziest groups of people that come through Hole in the Wall are the ones celebrating a twenty-first birthday.

“It’s just showing that kid the best time on their first night out in Buckhead. It’s cool being the first legal bartender they have had,” Mustaffa said.

Working as a bartender in col-

PHOTO BY ALLYSON BUSCH | THE SIGNAL Omar Mustaffa bartends several nights a week at Hole in the Wall, a bar in Buckhead. lege has its benefits and its downfalls.

Yes, there is the opportunity for good money, but then there is also school work to worry about.

On Wednesday nights, Mustaffa works until 4 a.m. and then has an 11 a.m. class the next morning. If Mustaffa has a test that Thursday, he forgoes sleeping for studying.

Without any sleep from that previous night, he will then go out with his friends and party that evening. It is not until Friday night when he passes out.

Hole in the Wall manager Patrick Anvaripour has been managing this bar for 15 years. “[The hardest thing is] managing all of these folks and making sure everyone gets along. It’s like a little family

in here,” said Anvaripour.

The family environment is one of the reasons why Warren loves working here.

“The managers are like your dads.

It’s so casual. That’s why I haven’t left,” Warren said.

As far as Mustaffa is concerned at Hole in the Wall, Anvaripour could not be happier with his employment.

“He’s not the follower, he’s the leader. He’s a really cool kid and works really hard for us. I can’t say enough good about him. He’s definitely a good guy.”

This story was pitched by Omar Mustafa, senior, business management major

Close to home: Affordable Georgia vacation spots ENDIA MATTHEWS Staff Reporter

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s the spring school semester comes to an end, some students are finalizing summer classes, internships and jobs, while other students might not have anything planned just yet.

For those who still don’t know exactly what to do, Georgia offers some of the best vacation spots in the country that are both cheap and enjoyable.

The plus is that these spots are outside of Atlanta, ensuring that you will get the breakaway from the city life that you wanted.

Georgia is surrounded by a lot of nature; many of these vacation spots allow for a serene, relaxed break.

North by Northwest

The Northern parts of Georgia are filled with a substantial amount

of natural scenery that has not been altered by man, which makes it a perfect area for nature explorers.

Set up a tent at one of the state parks in the area or rent a cabin for as low as $100 a night and begin planning your nature adventure.

The Appalachian Trail, Pigeon Mountain and Lookout Mountain (a historical mountain which also sits along the borders of Alabama and Tennessee) are good for hiking, canoeing and observing.

For hikers, Pigeon Mountain is home to Ellison’s Cave, the 12th deepest cave in the U.S. If you’re not into hiking, you can spend a weekend getaway near the Chattahoochee River. Take some friends or family and go whitewater rafting, kayaking or paddling.

If northwest Georgia isn’t your cup of tea, you can move on over to the east and join many others in sliding down Sliding Rock, a natural water slide at Tallulah Gorge Park.

Closer to home

If you’re staying in Atlanta and can only find free time for a couple of days, there are many fun areas just minutes outside Atlanta.

Instead of being a tourist for a day by hitting up the most popular spots like the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN Center and the World of CocaCola, why not try something a little bit more daring?

Located just one hour outside of Atlanta, in Thomaston, GA, you can take a course on skydiving and take the big jump with the help of trained skydivers at SkyDive Atlanta. With prices starting at $120, you’ll be able to make a day out of it, but only if you’re up for the challenge.

If you prefer to jump on things instead of out of them, be sure to make your way to Suwanee, GA and visit SkyZone. For $14 you can jump on an indoor trampoline for an hour.

If you prefer some more relaxed outdoor fun you can always take a hike up Stone Mountain or for about

$25 go to one of its many other attractions like a 4-D movie or a hike at SkyHike located in Stone Mountain Park’s Crossroads area.

For an outdoor weekend getaway, renting a cabin at the Lake Lanier Island Resorts in Buford, GA would be ideal. Along with the array of water activities that the lake provides, you can also purchase a $26 ticket to go to the LanierWorld Water Park.

Ending on the Coast

If you prefer beaches over water parks, Georgia has 12 islands off of its southeast coast.

The great thing about Georgia beaches is that they’re all family friendly, making it the perfect spot for a good break from work or other life stresses.

Tybee Island is one of Georgia’s most popular islands for collegeaged students, and activities on the island range from simply relaxing on the beach to dolphin tours that will cost about $15.

Best of all, Atlanta home-awayfrom-home, Savannah, is a short drive away.

River Street is the best area for a bar crawl. Best bars include Pinkie Master’s Lounge, the Warehouse and the Rail Pub where you can get a pitcher for about $5.

Good eateries in Savannah cost no more than $20 with B. Matthew’s Eatery, Leopold’s Ice Cream and Vic’s being some of the standout places.

Although the other Georgia islands such as St. Simon’s Island and Jekyll Island are great vacation spots, they don’t really have the same nightlife as Savannah.

Whether it’s the beaches of southeast Georgia, the mountains of North Georgia or the miscellaneous wonders somewhere in between, you’ll be able to find something to do closer to home this summer.

This story was pitched by Nia Cruver

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

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Matters of the heart Singer Alexis Glenn uses a scary medical diagnosis as fuel to go after her dreams SUBMITTED PHOTO Alexis Glenn is a singer and song writer whose music explores themes like heartbreak, healing and love.

JEWEL WICKER

Associate Arts & Living Editor

I

t was hard to see singer Alexis Glenn’s sparkly red mini dress and black boots from behind the wall as she sang at the ISOSCELES fashion show, but her signature blonde afro stood out, just as it does on the flyers and cards she passes out to promote her latest EP. For four songs, Glenn held the attention of the audience during the fashion show’s intermission on April 19, singing about love and the hardships of life.

“Back up give me head space, honey. My heart broke, ain’t got no money,” she sang, while waving her hand back and forth during a performance of “Be Wary.”

Glenn said it took her two years

to complete her first solo EP, titled “Irrational Illustrations At Heart.”

The project features eight tracks, including the songs she performed at the show. She has been recording hooks and working with other local artists like FKI and MoneyMakinNique for about five years, but the release of her EP earlier this year was her first time stepping out alone.

The title “Irrational Illustrations At Heart” has a dual meaning. First, Glenn said, it represents her habit of making emotional and, sometimes illogical, decisions. She contributes this to being a Scorpio and hormonal. The second meaning is a bit more literal.

Prior to completing her album, Glenn was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is where t-cells attack an organ in the body. For Glenn, this meant her heart, which

she had issues with in the past, was under attack. She explained that in addition to sarcoidosis, her top valve was not pumping to her bottom one, and there was a cell cluster block.

Glenn said she had to get implanted with a pacemaker defibrillator about a year ago.

But she channeled the fear of dying young, using it as motivation to get serious about school and her art.

“It’s not a disease, it’s a blessing.

It just made life taste better for me and it just made me appreciate every day and it led me to just want to do what I love all the time,” she said.

Following the diagnosis, Glenn went on to complete and release her EP, and hopes to graduate from Georgia State with a degree in sociology this December.

Glenn is admittedly shy for a performer. She said she enjoys “hiding” and often hopes people don’t

recognize her while she’s handing out her flyers, even referring to herself in third person in an attempt to distance herself from the caricature on the promotional handouts.

Glenn explained that though she felt nervous prior to the show, all those feeling fade away when she hits the stage.

“I’m really in my element performing. I’m afraid of everything, but that one thing is just like home.”

She says she wants to focus more on creating new material, not performing old music in the near future.

Glenn has been working with a live band to rerecord all of the songs from “Irrational Illustrations At Heart” for a live EP that she hopes to release around September.

Prior to the show, she was in the studio working on one of the songs with a band. She admits she’d like

to have them at every performance, too, but at $100 a member, it can get expensive.

Glenn said her dreams span far beyond her talents as a singer and songwriter.

“I want to be a musician, but I feel like being a musician gives you a bigger net to cast and I just want to be an influence. People are asking for somebody to say something for them, and I feel like I can achieve both dreams by doing my music and using that platform to educate and help people get their voice heard.”

Though she said she’s still finding her voice and admits it will take time, Glenn does not mind much.

“I’m great with the journey.

That’s the best part.”

This story was pitched by Jamorye Allen, junior, business marketing major

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ARTS & L

Coffee Shop guide

Go caffeinate yourself: The unofficial finals week coffee shop guide Written by Alex Kugaczewski, Staff Reporter Design by Anna N. Yang, Production Design Editor

C

ertain things are guaranteed when the end of the semester finally rears its ugly head: numerous exams and projects requiring long, exhausting hours of work and study.

Whether students are struggling to cram in that last textbook chapter or put the final touches on an essay, caffeine is likely to play a critical role in the grueling days and nights ahead.

Coffee has always been a beverage of choice for college students, and with the end times rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time for students to take a trip to some of Georgia State’s best local coffee shops.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR BUSH | THE SIGNAL Magnolia Bistro, located in the United Way Building on Edgewood, is a perfect place for students to take in the peaceful ambiance while studying.

Magnolia Bistro (Secret Starbucks) Located: 100 Edgewood Ave. The fact that Starbucks coffee is served at the United Way building may come as a surprise. While students typically walk to Aderhold for their Starbucks fix, or the lesser-known Kell Hall coffee bunker, now is the perfect time to take a walk down Edgewood Avenue and give Magnolia’s a try.

The bistro itself is spacious with plenty of tables and seats available for students to sit down and study. Natural lighting illuminates the entire room, making notebooks and papers easy to read. Noise isn’t an issue, either. The room is nearly

dead-silent with ambient noises and relatively quiet conversation coloring the background.

Executive Chef Tzvi Weinreich said that Magnolia separates itself from other shops with the strength of its food.

“All food is made fresh every day.

This is an actual bistro. We make everything from scratch, and our coffee is Starbucks brand,” Weinreich said.

Starbucks coffee needs no introduction, of course. While somewhat more expensive than your local neighborhood shop, the price is justified by the strength of the blend and the variety drinks available.

Magnolia’s Bistro is the perfect space for students, whether its to put the finishing touches on a project or to prepare for final exams.

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LIVING

PHOTO BY TAYLOR BUSH | THE SIGNAL Ebrik Coffee Room offers students a relaxed, friendly environment for socializing and studying.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR BUSH | THE SIGNAL While they haven’t been in business for long, Brothers Ibrahim and Abbas Arman have earned the adoration of their customers.

Ebrik Coffee Room Located: 16 Park Place

Marlee’s Coffe & Tea House Located: 349 Decatur St SE

While Ebrik Coffee Room has only been in business for two months, the shop has already left a lasting impression thanks to its personable owners. Throughout the day, brothers Abbas and Ibrahim Arman serve coffee, salads and fruit while socializing with their customers.

Ebrik offers students a friendly, welcoming environment. Behind the business front is an elongated lounge area with couches, electrical outlets and tables. Replicas of Banksy’s

street art adorn the walls, and the storefront’s massive windows provide a clear view of the street.

The coffee, bought from Atlanta Coffee Roasters, offers students an affordable, flavorful alternative to many of the areas larger chain shops and restaurants.

Shannon Kroll, a junior public policy major, is a regular customer at Ebrik. She said that not only are Abbas and Ibrahim Arman incredibly personable and friendly, but also that their store has the best product.

“You don’t have to look any further for the best coffee shop on campus,” Kroll said.

While Marlee’s Coffee & Tea House may not be on Georgia State’s campus, it’s certainly close enough to serve as a viable coffee stop for students. The shop, just a quick walk past Grady Hospital, isn’t your standard coffee shop.

Marlee’s hosts a number of night-time events, including music and open mic poetry readings on Tuesdays and Jazz music on the

third Wednesday of every month.

Additionally, Marlee’s menu offers a significant variety of choices, including coffees, specialty drinks, paninis, tapas, cakes and pies.

Yasmeen Sandefur, one of Marlee’s employees, said that the shop’s live events and workshops set it apart from the competition and that customers can always rely on the shop’s consistency.

“The events liven the place up.

Change isn’t an issue [at Marlee’s],” Sandefur said.

PHOTO BY ALEX KUGACZEWSKI | THE SIGNAL One Caffe Coffee has a variety of unique specialty drinks available, such a banana split and peanut brandy.

PHOTO BY ALEX KUGACZEWSKI | THE SIGNAL Saxby’s Coffee, located inside Library North, provides students a convenient, inexpensive coffee alternative.

One Caffe Coffee Located: 84 Peachtree St.

Saxby’s Coffee Located: Library North, first floor

Located between Aderhold Learning Center and Woodruff Park at 84 Peachtree St., the shop is a convenient spot for students to pick up caffeine between classes. In addition to the traditional coffee shop flavors and varieties, One Caffe Coffee has a number of unique specialties, including Banana Split, Peanut Brandy and Candy Latte drinks.

Although One Caffe Coffee doesn’t have much indoor space for students

to study or work, it doesn’t lack for an attractive, practical exterior. Trees, tables and chairs line the street as groups of students, businessmen and downtown residents pass by, lending the shop a particular downtown charm.

Tina Nguyen, a senior business econ major, has been working at One Caffe Coffee since last October and says she loves getting to meet the students, professors and businessmen who come inside for a quick cup.

“It doesn’t feel like a job. I always wanted to work at a cafe, and I always loved their drinks,” Nguyen said.

While Saxby’s Coffee can quickly become overcrowded and noisy during the late morning and mid-day hours, it’s difficult to find a more convenient coffee shop for students. Located on the first floor of Library North, the shop is surrounded by dozens of computers, study rooms and couches. The store,

open from 7 a.m. to midnight, gives students plenty of time to put the finishing touches on projects and get in an extra cram session.

Umi Abdul, a freshman economics major, said that she loves that the shop is closer and less expensive than other shops on campus, especially Starbucks.

“Their food is fresh to serve, and there is a variety on the menu. I really like the egg, cheese & turkey bacon croissant.” Abdul said.

ARTS & LIVING

14

Day care (continued from page 9) THE COLLEGE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

The clock strikes three—it’s now nap time for the children.

This is one thing Olushola Nadine Cole, a senior nursing major at Georgia State, has observed before at the Center. Nadine observed these children for her pediatrics rotation last year.

According to the development center’s website, the Center plays a large part in Georgia State’s research efforts by learning about young children through observation, interaction and research.

“I went one time in my rotation and some nursing students went all the time. It depends on your teacher,” Cole said.

She said it helped her draw connections to what she was learning about in the classroom by seeing first-hand when kids started to roll and walk.

Cole said the development center is strict on rules to protect the children too. If a student is sick, he or she can’t interact with the other children and outside sources can’t go into the development center—only Georgia Stateaffiliated people can.

Maya Jones is a hospitality major who has worked at the Center as a student assistant since January of 2014. She restocks wipes and bags, tends to the front desk and helps keep the children entertained.

“I was worried to even work with kids because I lack patience sometimes,” Jones said. “But I enjoy kids. They teach me patience and how to enjoy life.”

A STUDENT PARENT’S EXPERIENCE

Chelsea Mann is a 21-yearold math major at Georgia State whose 3-year-old child Grayson is enrolled in the Development Center, and has been since he was 5 months old. She says her son learned through the Center to use his words instead of crying, along with dressing himself and washing his hands regularly.

“In the 1-year-old classroom, one teacher would make the kids sit down on the floor with their jackets behind them. She taught them how to put their jackets on! At 1 years old, it’s like, ‘Wow, they’re putting on their coats by themselves,’” Mann said.

Mann said she keeps Grayson at the Development Center because of the convenience and education quality. In February, the children were learning about dinosaurs. They dug for bones in the sand during school hours, and

“

I enjoy kids. They teach me patience and how to enjoy life.”

-Maya Jones, student assistant at the center

the 2-year-olds took a field trip to Fernbank on April 5, so they could see the different bones.

Another aspect of the Center that’s different from other places is the fact that, because it’s a part of the University, students can come in and observe the children.

Mann says she is never concerned.

“If it’s very tedious, I know they’re going to get you to sign off on it. If you’re just going in and interacting with the kids, that would be no different from me hiring a babysitter. It’s not like they’re probing them or sticking them with needles or anything like that,” she said.

Because Mann did a Georgia State work study at the Center, she feels like she knows and understands the observation portion.

“A lot of parents would look at me and say, ‘What’s going on?’ Or, ‘Who’s that?’ And I worked alongside [the observers and interns]. I think it helps that I worked there and I know the supervisors…I know I can go in their office and talk to them, if I don’t like something I’ll tell them,” she said.

Final performance: Theater students take the stage PEDRO ALVARADO Staff Reporter

T

here is a group of students whose final entails something different than performing well on a test. For the students of Acting Styles, they also have to perform well onstage--literally.

Students who major in theater performance studies, as well as some who minor in theater, are required to take an advanced acting class called Acting Styles. According to the Undergraduate Catalog, this course teaches “advanced acting techniques for the creation and performance of various dramatic forms.”

But because there are so many dramatic forms, the acting style covered in the class changes from semester to semester so that students can be exposed to as many of these forms as possible.

Instructor Dr. Shirlene Holmes explained that students have been studying solo performance this semester, studying and practicing to perform alone. She said they have also been reading about and viewing the performances of professional solo dramatists.

“The hope is that students, by the time they do their final performances, will have more confidence, knowledge, and proficiency in preparing solo performance and engaging and entertaining an audience alone,” Holmes said.

Brandon McKinnie, a senior film and video major and theater minor said that solo performance brings its own set of challenges.

“It’s hard to try and play a character, but it’s even harder playing your-

The children spin around the bright classroom with their arms spread wide, repeating the chorus of “Let It Go”—the only part of the song they can remember. At 5:05 p.m. the first child’s mother arrives. When the child sees her mom, a smile spreads across the otherwise straight-faced girl and she sprints for the door. She runs into her kneeling mom’s open arms.

They gather the child’s belongings and venture into the unusual, 30-degree April weather. As the door opens, a reminder of outside reality hits: The smell of cigarette smoke from a passing college student wafts in, and the sound of a car alarm blares outside the cheerful doors of the Center.

The last of the 1 and 2-yearold’s parents arrive before 6 p.m., and the children transition from this controlled environment to their separate home life.

And at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, it will all start again at the Center.

PHOTO BY PEDRO ALVARADO | THE SIGNAL Theater students explore different advanced acting techniques in the Acting Styles course offered at Georgia State. self,” McKinnie said. “The character in my piece is me, and I’m telling everyone what I really think. And that’s hard because I usually don’t talk about my own life experiences until now.”

Student Luis Mayoral-Cortes, senior film and video major minoring in theater, is a stand-up comedian. He said he uses his comedy in the classroom.

“I use the material I have been surrounded by in my own routines,” Mayoral-Cortes said. “I really enjoy making people laugh in everyday situations. Some of my friends wanted to know if I’d try stand-up, so I decided to try it out during our final performance.”

Not all of the performances provid-

ed a hearty laugh, however. Seth Loeb, a senior theater performance studies major,performed a piece called, “Lecter Is…,” a spin-off of Hannibal Lecter.

“It takes place in a psychologist’s office where we see Fester Lecter, son of Hannibal Lecter, justify his actions of killing rats and dissecting them in his orphanage dormitory,” Loeb explained. “This is a self-written piece and was bred out of sheer interest for the Lecter [franchise].”

Anthony Cali, a junior theater performance studies major, performed a piece called “Carpetbagger’s Breakfast” and took a different route than his classmates.

“My piece is a young man delivering a soliloquy about his seemingly banal existence, but the core issues he explores are about his cultural origins as a child of northerners raised in the south, his theories about regionalism told through jokes about breakfast, and his own insecurities due to a lack of identity,” Cali said.

Each student was also required to write their own performance piece.

“Each of the students have been going through the process of preparing and doing solo performances for 15 weeks,” Holmes said.

Nevertheless, this twist on the standard acting class has not increased the students’ levels of performance anxiety.

“I learned to take on this daunting task at full momentum and without hesitation,” Loeb said.

This story was pitched by Rachel Ponder, Junior, managerial science major/film minor

Georgia State’s art and design professor Robert Gilbert experiences the world through his sketchbook BECCA LONG

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Staff Reporter

B

efore we start the phone interview, Ralph Gilbert’s welcoming voice asks me to wait just a moment as he grabs his earphones so he can continue to paint. He returns with a friendly “I’m ready for ya” and throughout our conversation I can hear his brush stroke against the canvas.

As a young child Gilbert frequently drew, but was more interested in music as he played the saxophone, clarinet and flute.

He began to focus on drawing and painting because he enjoyed the freedom of being solely responsible for the outcome of his work.

“The solitude of picture making was deeply satisfying. I just fell in love with it,” he said.

Gilbert received a Masters in fine arts from the University of California in Santa Barbara and upon graduation worked for Disney Studios in special effects animation. During this time he worked on the 1977 film “The Rescuers”, specifically on elements like wind and rain, exploding pipes and water splashes.

He became a professor at the Ernest G. Welch School of Art and De-

sign of Georgia State in 1986.

“I just felt ready to go back to the academic world because I had established my own identity as an artist and what my mission is as a painter. It was important for me to find fulfillment with my own artwork in order to be comfortable enough to teach others,” Gilbert said.

He went from being the newest faculty member on the staff to the most senior and throughout this time has witnessed Georgia State’s maturity.

“I have noticed four main things that have contributed to this development. One is the size; Georgia State has grown immensely over the years. There was also the change from being a commuter campus to a residential campus.

There is also an increased emphasis on quality research. And the city itself increasingly offers great opportunities for creative people,” he said.

Gilbert would often ask himself if there was a better place to create and frequently the answer was no. The creative opportunities in Atlanta continue to make Georgia State attractive to him.

“My feelings about GSU have only gotten better as the institution has grown and developed,” he said.

Some of Gilbert’s own artistic highlights in Atlanta have been painting murals in the Piedmont Park Conser-

vancy’s Visitor’s Center and in the Helene S. Mills Senior Center of Fulton County. He is currently working on six murals for the Saint Paul Union Depot in Minnesota.

As Gilbert travels he brings his sketchbook instead of his camera and has significantly added to his portfolio this way. He said that by doing so he not only has a tangible record of his travels, but also of how his saw and experienced it.

“One of my favorite pieces of advice that he gave our class was that when he goes on vacation he brings his sketchbook rather than a camera because he feels like he can experience the perspective and the atmosphere more when he captures it in a drawing,” Cindy Rowe, art education major said.

“I definitely take this advice to heart. I went to the beach and carried my sketchbook with me everywhere.

After his class I definitely feel more confident in my own drawing,” For Gilbert, art is more than just a job, it is a way he experiences life.

“Being an artist is not a job that you leave at the desk. I experience the world that I occupy through drawing and painting,” Gilbert said.

This story was pitched by Cindy Rowe, sophmore, art education major

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

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Lolita Kyla Robinson embraces fashion choice

PHOTO BY AFI CAKPO | THE SIGNAL Kyla Robinson, a senior anthropology major, is involved in Lolita fashion, a subculture that originated in 1980s Japan.

SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Staff Reporter

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yla Robinson, a senior anthropology major, became interested in Lolita while being a member of the anime club and reading manga in high school.

Learning about Japanese culture through her hobbies led Robinson to Lolita. A friend of hers was a part of the community at the time, which also inspired Robinson to research.

Lolita is a fashion subculture that originated in Japan in the 80s that is dedicated to Victorian-era clothing.

The subculture, which has gained popularity in the U.S. since the 90s, consists of petticoats, bloomers, cupcake shaped skirt silhouettes, frills, intricately made patterned fabric, high collars, bonnets and parasols.

“I just saw them and thought to myself, ‘I want to be like them.’ And in August of 2010, I put together my first outfit,” Robinson said.

Some Lolitas come together at anime conventions, which is where Robinson had her first meet-up.

Robinson said that Lolita is closely associated with Cosplay, a hobby or form of artistic expression where the participant creates and wears costumes of specific characters. But there is a distinction between Cosplayers and Lolitas.

“A thing to be stressed is that Lolita is not Cosplay,” Robinson said.

“A lot of people think it is. Lolita is an actual fashion where Cosplay is a well-crafted costume for an event.”

Cosplayers emulate a very specific character, while Lolitas focus more on personal style.

Robinson said that one of the reasons people participate in Lolita

is for escapism. But getting the attention of passerby is something she has to deal with when participating in Lolita.

“I’ve gotten lots of comments,” Robinson said. “I’ve gotten everything from ‘oh, Little Bo Peep.’ I’ve gotten stares.”

“When I’m wearing Lolita, I’m a lot more conscience of what I’m doing. I’ll actively tell myself not to trip, because I’m already being looked at.”

Robinson explained that she used to wear Lolita fashion casually to work, but due to hot Georgia weather, she has stopped.

There are different types of Lolita styles, but three of the most popular include Sweet Lolita, Classic Lolita and Gothic Lolita. Men also participate, and that style is generally referred to as Ōji Lolita, or Boystyle.

Robinson puts a lot of thought into her appearance as a Lolita, taking time to focus on each element of her style.

“I take the time to do my makeup, I pick out my clothes weeks in advance, figure out what colors go best, how to do my hair, you know stuff like that.”

But one of the most rewarding things about being a part of Lolita for Robinson is being aligned with a community that shares something special.

“We all go out together in this, and it’s having the sisterhood aspect that is the best,” Robinson said. “My friend has a phrase, ‘porcelain cup in a paper cup world.’ I feel like that.

The fun of getting ready and embracing dressing up isn’t celebrated enough in today’s society.”

This story was pitched by Delaney Rodgers, freshman, journalism major

reviews

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TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

ALBUM REVIEW

Pop Psychology: “Neon Trees”

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Release Date: April 22, 2014 Grade: D+ Verdict: Pop Psychology does not have a lot to say unless you are under the age of 15 and love being compared to roller coasters, drugs or magnets.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

op psychology: an unraveling of the messages that are broadcasted by this amusing, disposable, swirling mess of highs and lows that we call pop culture. Coincidentally, that is exactly how the album “Pop Psychology” sounds (zing!).

All jokes aside though, if there’s something interesting to say about the shallow elements of young twenty-somethings going clubbing while they dance along that fine line between ironically detached and frustratingly without selfawareness, Neon Trees fails to take any initiative.

“Pop Psychology” does not have a lot to say unless you are under the age of 15 and comparing love to roller coasters, drugs or magnets still seems like a novel idea to you.

From a lyrical standpoint, you don’t get any more lazy. “Love in the 21st Century” finds Neon Trees dipping firmly into the hookfriendly formula of synth-rock that’s worked for them in the past.

But unlike past singles, it does very little to rise above the surface of the hum-drum and predictable. Tyler Glenn wailing sentiments like “I’m sick of wondering if you would ever call me back/I check my four different accounts just to end up being mad” would be interesting if explored, but this band lacks the chops to ever say anything beyond simple descriptions of vapid elements of the most shallow of romances.

And that’s before you get to “Text Me In The Morning.” Here’s a sample of the lyrics: “text me in the morning/tell me you still love me/I don’t believe a single word.” Pair that chorus with Tyler Glenn’s shrill-as-hell voice, and you have the album’s lowest point.

Some ground is thankfully salvaged by the time “Sleeping With A Friend” starts up with an effectively catchy chorus dominated by “oohs.”

Say what you will, Neon Trees know how to hook the hell out of a good chorus when they get one.

But then the march of inoffensive, clicheridden pop continues on. While the album never reaches the annoying depths of “Text Me In The Morning” again, the rest of the songs suffer from being all but crushed by the same lazy, jangly pop hooks ad nauseum.

The results are promising the few times Neon Trees dares to break form. “I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)” has a very cool, summery disco-vibe to it, mixed in with an intriguing, funky post-punk intro before the bland chorus kicks in doing its best to make you forget it.

“Foolish Behavior” is a great tune that sounds enjoyably close to being a Prince B-side transported into the mid-90s. The Neon Trees even manage to resist the urge to hit the “chorus-goes-here” button for “Voices In The Hall.”

The usual bombastic chorus lines are nixed for a more moody, pretty atmospheric sound complete with strings. It actually sounds pretty good once you forget that it’s simply the sounds of Neon Trees in ballad mode.

“Pop Psychology” is a shallow record that never offers anything substantial and is only rarely enjoyable. When you’re incapable of saying anything deep you can at the very least make a record that sounds fun. And by fun I mean not something that could be mistaken for a lazy commercial jingle.

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ESTA. Paradise WHEN 5AM HYSE EP

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JEF BARBARA Soft To The Touch

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FACES ON FILM Elite Lines OVERLAKE Sighs

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KIDKANEVIL My Little Ghost

ADANOWSKY Ada

MOVIE REVIEW

Heaven is For Real Rating: PG-13 Running time: 100 mins.

Grade: A Verdict: An unapologetically Christian film with tons of charm.

PEDRO ALVARADO Staff Reviewer

A

dapted from the novel “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back,” this film tells the story of Colton Burpo’s trip to heaven and how the telling of his story affects his church and community.

“Heaven is for Real” is an unapologetically Christian film that does an excellent of job of displaying the Christian faith without alienating other belief systems or brazenly attempting to proselytize the audience.

At its core, the movie displays how people of faith react to evidence suggesting that what they believe about an after-life is actually true. Some people embrace it, some people reject it and some others make fun of it. But regardless of where on this spectrum they fall, they all had to examine their beliefs and deal with the results.

Part of what helps make this movie so wonderful is the script and direction

by Randall Wallace (co-written by Chris Parker). While he is best known for films like “Braveheart,” “We Were Soldiers,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Man in the Iron Mask,” and “Secretariat,” he brings to this project the same passion of his previous works—but that passion is packaged in a different box.

It’s a family friendly film with a message of faith, hope and love.

Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo brings a simplicity to his character that makes him humble and complex simultaneously. Todd is the kind of pastor who refuses to be called by a title, preferring his parishioners to use only his first name. But because of his virtuous character, he is not treated

commonly; people still show him deference.

As Sonja Burpo, Kelly Reilly plays the wife of Todd and mother of children Colton and Cassie with unbelievable grace and elegance. She is able to display vulnerability and strength in the dual role of wife and mother.

The secret weapon in the film, however, is Connor Corum as Colton Burpo. This little boy is absolutely adorable, and on top of it, he’s a tremendous actor. For this role to be played successfully, it was necessary to have a cute kid in the role. But Corum was also able to take the innocence of childhood and make it angelic (no pun intended). He showed an acting maturity well beyond his

years.

And as Colton’s big sister Cassie, Lane Styles was remarkable. She was the mischievous sister who refused to let anyone make fun of her baby brother.

When all is said and done, whether or not you are a religious person, “Heaven is for Real” is a worthwhile movie that will cause you to, at least, consider what happens after you die.

Study abroad column

Travel in style; travel with a local

Music column

A call to positivity

D

PAUL DEMERRITT Columnist

CALEB ROBERTSON Columnist

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

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

Follow him @PaulDeMerritt

Follow him @CJRobertson10

J

ust because you pick a country to study abroad in doesn’t mean you have to stay exclusively in that country. Being in Germany--the center of Western Europe--affords me many opportunities to explore the continent.

Recently, I got the opportunity to visit Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

While I went to Amsterdam purely as a tourist with a group of German guys, my visit to Denmark was with my Danish friend Katrine. Traveling to a new country with a local is the absolute best way to travel.

For starters, it’s cheaper--we stayed with Katrine’s mom in Copenhagen and one of her friends when we went out to the mainland to visit Legoland.

But most importantly, traveling with someone who grew up in the city allows you to experience aspects of the culture most tourists would never be able to see.

Katrine’s friend that we stayed with those first and second nights in Copenhagen lives in a very small town with a population of 2,000 people. One of my favorite nights of the trip consisted of going to the town pub and getting to know the local Danes, many of whom wanted to practice their English by talking to me.

Back in Copenhagen, Katrine was like my own personal tour guide. She gave me information on the buildings around the city that otherwise would’ve been completely unknown to me, and she knew the city enough that I didn’t have to consult a map at every corner, like we did in Amsterdam.

I enjoyed my Copenhagen experience much more than my Amsterdam one, because I got to experience more of the local culture and daily life of the people. If you have friends from other countries, try to convince them to take you along with them next time they pay a visit to their parents.

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columns

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

o you remember your first concert?

I don’t just mean the first time you saw live music. I mean the first time you saw a performer live and the music hit so hard that the world outside of that venue ceased to exist—when the strangers around you became brethren, forever tied to that special, inimitable concert experience.

I remember mine.

It happened on a particularly stormy night in 2009, when the rain fell like megaton bombs and the oncoming thunderstorm gave an exciting, apocalyptic quality to the performance.

I traveled to the deliciously macabre halls of the Masquerade to see electronic guru Dan Deacon and his eclectic 14-piece ensemble during the tour for his glitchy opus “Bromst.”

For those uninitiated with Deacon’s live reputation, he is famous for inciting dance contests, human tunnels, and various audience participation activities that force attendees to drop any pretensions and unlock their goofiest, most childlike selves.

There was one particular moment when I locked both my hands with complete strangers as we let our limbs loose in body spasms, which vaguely resembled dance moves.

There was no fear of judgment, no self-consciousness and no anxiety about opening the most vulnerable, zany side of myself to these individuals, who I had never met before and would probably never meet again.

In that moment, as the thunder was pounding the venue, I thought to myself, “this is it. This is how powerful music can really be. If I was ever to get fried by lightning, I would want it to happen here.”

That frenzied union is not limited to oddball electronic shows. Music has been the glue that has connected disparate groups of people for hundreds of thousands of years.

Atlanta, especially, is a melting pot of genres— from niche, avant-garde stylings to the most allinclusive, mainstream sounds.

But I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in our city:

“

Above all, remember to spread that positivity among all those who like you, and like me, have a reverent love of music.”

fans using musical self-identification as a means to create divisions between people.

Obviously, music is subjective. Everyone knows artists that sound like daggers to their eardrums; but that doesn’t give justification for shaming others for their music tastes. Someone discovering themself through a clever combination of pleasing tones and frequencies is a beautiful moment that should be celebrated—no matter the artist.

Ultimately, the genre through which someone finds themself is unimportant.

I’ve been in mosh pits where I’ve been punched in the face and knocked down to the ground, only to have my attacker reach out a hand to further the harmonious violence.

I’ve been in hushed concert halls where the only way the audience could relate their satisfactions was through the display of stupid grins plastered on their faces. The sounds are different, but the feeling is the same.

Music is not a tool for breeding discord, manufacturing self-doubt and making someone feel insecure about their vehicle for self-discovery.

As you find yourself branching out to meet more and more Atlanta music nerds that display their pride through a variety of different bands, remember your first concert experience. Remember those strange faces that suddenly became familiar, merely by sharing that brief concert experience.

Above all, remember to spread that positivity among all those who like you—and like me—have a reverent love of music.

Sex column

The double standard with sex toys

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RACHEL KINGSLEY Columnist

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

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

Follow her @rachelkingsley

If you’ve ever been in a sex shop, you probably noticed that more sex toys are aimed at women than men. Female sex toys are completely accepted in our society—in fact, they’re more than accepted. In most porn, a women either plays with a toy herself or has her partner use a toy on her.

According to a 2004 survey in Cosmo, over 50 percent of female readers said they regularly use sex toys, with most women using a sex toy while they were in a relationship. The toy was not used as a substitute for their partner; rather, it was added to sex for variety. According to the same survey, 90 percent of those sex toy users said they were honest about it with their partners.

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a huge stigma attached to men who use sex toys, like the “Flesh Light.” As a society, we see men that have and use male sex toys as weird or creepy, and that they should rather go out and “actually get laid.”

I don’t feel that way. I think toys can be a fun addition when you’re getting down to business by yourself or with a partner—whether you’re male or female.

Are these reactions caused by the idea that there is only a small amount of men who use sex toys? That may not be true. More and more men are purchasing maletargeted sex toys. But despite the rise in sales of male sex toys, there’s still a prejudice towards the men who use them.

I think a huge reason we have such a problem with male sex toys is because the way they look. Let’s be honest—they look awful. They literally look like vaginas.

They don’t come in fun shapes and an array of colors like women’s sex toys do.

However, there is a new breed of male sex toys that don’t look like the traditional “Flesh Light” ones. They’re called Tenga Eggs, and they look like eggs. I got a sixpack of the eggs for my male friends to try out (I think this makes me an awesome friend). To use the egg, you unwrap it, take out the lubricant, unwrap the silicone sex toy and go to town.

All my male friends said they enjoyed it, but that nothing is as good as the real thing, and that they enjoyed that it didn’t look like a traditional male sex toy.

It was small enough to hide and disposable. There’s no awkward washout like there is with a Flesh Light.

Then I asked them to try the eggs with their partners.

I wanted to see if there would be a stigma against using the male sex toys as opposed to the female ones.

Only one friend said his girlfriend was weirded out by the thought of using the egg. The other three friends said their partners thought the egg was “cute” and “fun.”

When they guys asked their partners if they would be willing to use a Flesh Light, none of their partners said they would.

I think if the male sex toy marketplace makes more sex toys that aren’t as obvious as a vagina, male sex toys will be more accepted. I also think that we need to be more open-minded and accepting of male sex toys.

There’s nothing weird or bad about men who choose to use a toy instead of their hand. Everyone should be able to enjoy sex toys.

calendar&games

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Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.36) Sudoku

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w/ Wild Things” Tours Fox Theatre Saturdays through 5/17 The Fox Theatre is allowing visitors to fully embrace the Arabian-themed venue with the help of a few animals from Zoo Atlanta.

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Atlanta Botanical Gardens Through April 30 The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is welcoming spring with Atlanta Blooms, featuring over a quartermillion bulbs, including new tulips, daffodils and more.

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Stars Fall on Atlanta:

The Premiere of Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell House & Museum Through April 30 This exhibit highlights Atlanta happenings surrounding the premiere of the film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. Attendees can also tour the apartment that Mitchell lived in when she wrote the classic novel.

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With the semesters coming to an end, learn how to craft the perfect introduction that can help you connect with potential contacts and employers.

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Fox Theatre Welcomes 2 7 Zoo Atlanta “Spring Fling

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meet recruiters from several different school districts. This event is open to all Georgia State students and alumni.

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Apr 29 12-1 p.m.

For those of you who are graduating this semester, this is your chance to learn job search tactics and strategies. This event is to help you connect with employment opportunities.

Contact Robert Maxson for more information at rmaxson@gsu.edu.

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Going Guerrilla... Job Education Career Fair Going Up? Developing Apr 30 2 4 9 Search Strategies and 2-7 p.m.

An Elevator Speech May 1 Dahlberg Hall Tactics Off The Beaten 1-2 p.m.

3 5 4Are you an education 6 major? If so, 245 University Center Path this event is perfect for you. Come

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Sat Apr 19 19:36:57 2014 GMT. Enjoy!

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NAUTIX LIFEGUARDS & MAINTENANCE, LLC. IS NOW HIRING FOR SUMMER 2014

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SCAN TO APPLY! 6FDQ WR $SSO\

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• Flexible Schedules • Full and Part Time • Competitive Pay • Bonuses Available • Employee Events • Cobb, Cherokee, & other area locations

Get a Sizzlin’ Summer Job New postings daily on

Panther Career Net Panther Career Net Log in

Use your campus ID and password to create your Panther Career Net account Visit career.gsu.edu and start hunting for HOT jobs TODAY!

Contact Robert Maxson at 404-413-1831 for more information

career.gsu.edu | 404-413-1820

To request disability accomodations at this event, please contact the University Events Management at: 404-413-1377/ events@gsu.edu.

Please provide your name, event name, date, and sponsor when making your request.

SPORTS ALEC MCQUADE Sports Editor

R

on Hunter was on his second day of the job as the head coach of Georgia State. He went on the road to do some early recruiting in Rockdale County in east Georgia.

While he was there to specifically see someone, another player by the name of Kevin Ware instantly caught his attention.

Hunter said he thought to himself “Man, I want to get a guy like that,” as he glared over the 6-2, 175-pound high school senior. However, Ware was already committed to Louisville University in Kentucky, and the player Hunter was there to see ended up committing to Florida Golf Coast.

It ended up not being a successful trip. Well, that’s what Hunter thought at the time.

Over the years, the Louisville guard became a star and was a part of the 2012-13 team that battled its way to a national championship title. Yet, after two injuries and growing weary for home, he was ready for a change. He remembered Hunter at Georgia State who was impressed at just the mere sight of him.

After wavering between Georgia State and Auburn, Ware decided to become part of Hunters’ family and play for an emerging mid-major school.

Ware committed to Georgia State quickly during his visit to the University on April 12 and is currently petitioning to the NCAA for immediate eligibility.

Ware arrives at Georgia State a junior who played three seasons with Louisville. However, Ware was ready to be closer to home after suffering from two lasting injuries, one which made him a medical redshirt in his third season.

In the 2012-13 season, Ware averaged 4.5 points per game and shot more than 40 percent from the field and on threes.

Ware is healthy now, and Hunter said he has no doubt he fits the mold at Georgia State.

“He’s a basketball player,” Hunter said, explaining that he hates limiting guys to just one position or role.

“I want basketball players, guys who are going to play three, four different positions, and that’s what he can do,” Hunter said.

Senior Ryan Harrow transferred last season from Kentucky and said he was in the same boat last year that Ware was in wanting to play closer to home to be near family. “[Ware] has so many friends and family around here,” Harrow said. “He was able to see his friends, his mom and dad, [and] everybody like that [during his visit].”

Harrow said he thinks that is why Ware was able to decide quickly.

Harrow and Ware have been friends since Harrow’s junior year of high school where the two played on the same Amateur Athletic Union basketball team, the Nashville Celtics.

Harrow said he did not pressure Ware on coming to Georgia State, but when he heard he was thinking about transferring, he was almost certain Ware would be joining the team.

“I think he saw how I did it coming from Kentucky and doing so well this year,” Harrow said. “He feels like he can come in and help us out any way.”

Senior Forward, Curtis Washington said Ware will fit perfectly into the Panthers’ defensive system and help fill a scoring gap created by Devonta White and Manny Atkins graduating.

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Ware to fit in

The men’s basketball team sees transfer Kevin Ware as a perfect fit

KEVIN WARE’S SEASON TOTALS:

2011-12 20 POINTS 14 REBOUNDS 9 ASSISTS 4 BLOCKS 7 STEALS 105 minutes played

2012-13: 167 points 66 rebounds 31 assists 4 blocks 39 steals PHOTO COURTESY: LOUISVILLE ATHLETICS Harrow said Ware is a “slasher, real athletic, and he’s able to create his own shot.” “[Ware] is gong to be able to keep his opponent on the perimeter and lock them down so it will decrease penetration, and it will work good with our two defense,” Washington said.

“I don’t think the scoring... from last year leaving, I don’t think that’s gong to be a problem. We have pieces to make up for it,” he said, adding he’s going to do his part to fill the scoring gap.

Washington was also well acquainted with Ware before he visited Georgia State. He said the two met a couple of years ago, following Ware’s championship season in Kentucky.

Washington is native of Elizabethtown, Ky. which is just outside Louisville.

Washington described Ware as a fun and goofy guy who’s always smiling.

“He’s going to be a real joy to have around on the team and on campus,” Washington said.

Ware became an inspiration across the country after a terrible injury he sustained in the 2013 men’s basketball tournament where he broke his leg on a 3-point shot. He only missed the last few games of Louisville’s National Championship run in Atlanta, but then only played nine games of the 2013-14 season

after sustaining another injury.

Hunter said he has no doubt that Ware is healthy, and if he had any doubts, he would not have pursued him.

“If I had 10 things I had to worry about, that would be number 10,” Hunter said on Ware’s health. “I’m not worried about at all.”

The men’s basketball team also picked up transfer Jeremy Hollowell last week from Indiana. Hollowell is friends with Hunter and his son R.J. Hunter as the two played together.

Washington said Hollowell is a little quiet, but not standoffish. He said the team will be able to stretch the floor with Hollowell that will lead to some big points.

Hollowell likely will not play next season as he will sit out per NCAA transfer rules.

Harrow said last year’s team that won the outright Sun Belt title and made it to the NIT Postseason tournament was good, but now Ware and Hollowell will take them to a new level in the next few years.

“I thought we did pretty good this last year, but add in two guys like that, it can never hurt you.”

616 minutes played

2013-14* 15 points 5 rebounds 3 assists 1 block PHOTO COURTESY: INDIANA ATHLETICS

7 steals

Hollowell committed to Georgia State last week, but will likely sit for a year per NCAA transfer rules.

53 minutes played

This story was pitched by multiple Signal sports readers.

*Ware played nine games this season

SPORTS

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

21

Baseball fights for spot in Sun Belt AKIEM BAILUM Staff Reporter

T

he Georgia State baseball team entered the regular season with a nationally ranked offense and high expectations. But as the 2014 season enters its final month, the team is near the bottom of the Sun Belt standings and pushing to earn one of the final bids in the conference tournament.

The Panthers are ninth in the conference standings with a record of 19-23, 5-13 in the conference, thus bringing Georgia State to the outside looking in on the tournament.

“It would be a disappointment if we failed to reach the tournament, but I would not be disappointed in my players,” Head Coach Greg Frady said.

“We have encountered a lot of things this year that are simply beyond our control, such as injuries, as well as the challenge of adjusting to a new conference.

But they give it their all every time they go out on the field,” Frady continued.

The team needs to clinch one of the top eight seeds in the conference to reach the tournament. This year, the tournament is at Stanky Field at

PHOTO BY: CHRIS SHATTUCK | THE SIGNAL the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. May 21-25.

“It would be a disappointment if we failed to make the tournament,” catcher Joey Roach said. “We had a goal this year of making the Sun Belt tournament, so if we were not to achieve that this year, it would be a letdown.”

Even with the team sitting near the bottom of the standings, the mindset among the players has remained one of optimism instead of panic.

The Panthers recently picked

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up victories over Oglethorpe and Savannah State, scoring a combined 30 runs to begin a ninegame home stand.

“It was really good for us to get those two wins,” Roach said. “Those are going to be real confidence boosters for us.”

Frady said he has become particularly impressed with the performances of a couple of his players that have emerged as national standouts.

“Two of our players that have really stood out offensively were

Nic Wilson and Chase Raffield,” Frady said. “They have put up some of the nation’s top numbers.”

Wilson is tied for third in the nation with 12 home runs and is in the top ten in the country in slugging percentage (.689). He is also in the top 100 for on-base percentage (.459), the top 50 for runs scored (41) and RBIs (39).

Raffield is tied for seventh in the nation with 10 home runs and is ninth in the country for slugging percentage (.658). He is also tied for ninth in RBIs with 46 and is in

the top 100 in on-base percentage (.458).

“Wilson and Raffield have been unreal this season,” Roach said. “They have really worked hard. I cannot think of two more guys more deserving of all of the accomplishments they have earned this year.”

But, Wilson and Raffield are seniors, and their careers at Georgia State may or may not conclude with an opportunity to lead the Panthers into this year’s conference tournament.

As the month of May approaches, Frady said being able to lock up one of the final spots in the Sun Belt tournament is as simple as getting into the win column.

“Simply put, we need to win games,” Frady said.

“One thing we also need to avoid doing is scoreboardwatching. Instead of focusing on what other teams in our conference are doing in the hopes that they can help us, we need to help ourselves by winning. To do that, it’s going to take consistent play,” he continued.

This story was pitched by Trystan Drummend. School of Nursing student.

22 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014 23 19

SPORTS

Barthel: “I would be speechless” if Stephenson is cleared ALEC MCQUADE Sports Editor

F

ormer men’s tennis head coach Joerg Barthel said he witnessed nearly all of the alleged violations made against Interim Tennis Director Robin Stephenson while discussing his own dismissal from Georgia State.

Barthel told The Signal via email that he witnessed nearly all the accused NCAA and Georgia State violations that include numerous recruiting violations, taking personal trips on university money and giving extra benefits to a student athlete while traveling with Stephenson. “[Stephenson] is a young and eager coach, very much interested in her own benefits,” Barthel said. “I am not even sure if she realized some of [the violations] as she was new to coaching at this level as a full-time coach.”

Multiple sources told The Signal that Barthel was the one who made the allegations against Stephenson, but Barthel declined to comment when asked if it was him.

Barthel said he witnessed many of the violations during trips the two made together to Europe and Canada throughout July and August of 2013, during a period in which Barthel said the two were a couple.

The allegations claim that Stephenson went on personal trips to France and Germany while using university money, even though she did not recruit on the trip. “[O]ne recruit was visited by

Miha Lisac [former women’s head coach] at the time, and [Stephenson] was supposed to see her the day before but canceled due to our personal time,” Barthel said.

Barthel said he did not turn in the receipts for these trips, but was not sure what Stephenson did with her recipts. He also said Stephenson bought presents for her family and turned in the receipts to the University for reimbursement.

The Signal is awaiting the records from the investigation to verify the contents of the receipts.

In a separate investigation that led to his dismissal earlier this month, Barthel was also accused of using University money on these and other personal trips with Stephenson.

“The idea of us misusing University funds is incorrect in my eyes,” Barthel said. “I recruit[ed] in Europe for years, and we traveled to tournaments. However, yes we did stay in places maybe a night longer than we needed to in order to enjoy some free time. These receipts were not turned in.”

However, in other stops throughout Europe, Stephenson did make phone calls, visit with recruits’ parents, speak with recruits during a tournament and pay for a recruit’s lunch, according to the list of allegations.

“The phone used was my German prepaid phone,”Barthel said, a native of Germany. “I witnessed calls and made them for her in order to speak German to parents or coaches.”

More accusations against

Stephenson include offering extra benefits to a student athlete based on her performance in a tournament last December. Barthel said he did not witness this, but Stephenson had told him her shoes were a benefit for her performance in the tournament.

“She knew this was a violation,” he said.

When asked if he was helping Stephenson cover up the violations while he will still a coach, Barthel said “covering up” is not the right phrase, but said it was her statements said in the investigation against him that led him to opening up about what she did. “[T]o read what she said about me was very painful as I believe she had her own interest in mind to be save,” he said.

Stephenson, in statements to Athletics during the investigation against Barthel, said he made comments about betting on collegiate and professional sports, and said she had witnessed Barthel drinking beer at a team meal.

“I had personal issues, such as health and personal issues, during my second season at Georgia State and missed certain practices in the fall of 2013,” he said.

Barthel said Stephenson played a very important role in his life, but if the allegations against her do not lead to any consequences he “would be speechless.”

Barthel is currently traveling in Spain. He will then will work in Germany as a player development coach in an academy starting May 2014.

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ENROLLMENT.GSU.EDU

MLS could push Panther football attendance up

DAVID A. NORWOOD II Staff Reporter David A. Norwood II is a senior speech major who is addicted to basketball, football, WWE and Mexican food.

Follow him @dnorwood90

F

or the “thousands” who showed up on weekends to watch the Georgia State football team in action, don’t fret. Atlanta’s upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) team won’t force the Panthers out of the Georgia Dome, but it may force you to watch the team play on another day.

For the past four years, the Atlanta Falcons shared its home, the Georgia Dome, with Georgia State. Three years from now, there will be another team playing in the Georgia Dome: Atlanta’s new MLS team that has yet to be named.

This season, MLS plays its games on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from March to October. If MLS’ scheduling remains the same in 2017, it could present a scheduling issue for Georgia State in the Georgia Dome.

The Panthers may have to find another day to play their games such as Thursday or Friday, days when they usually play their first game of the season.

However, Georgia State is already dealing with scheduling issues at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers had to get a special waiver from the NCAA to play their first game of the season against Abilene Christian on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The college football season officially starts on Aug. 28, however.

Georgia State has to take a backseat to the marquee college football teams that will be played in the Georgia Dome that week in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff games.

There will be two ChickFil-A Kickoff games, Ole Miss vs. Boise State on Thurs. Aug. 28 and Alabama vs. West Virginia on Sat. Aug. 30. Ole Miss’, Boise State’s, Alabama’s and West Virginia’s home stadium is not the Georgia Dome, yet they have been given priority over Georgia State.

It would not be surprising to see the new soccer team get priority over the Panthers either since it’s owned by Arthur Blank, the owner of The Atlanta Falcons.

When the Falcons have their

final preseason game, which is on the same week of Georgia State’s first game, the Falcons would get priority.

Last year, when the Falcons played their final preseason game on the road, the Panthers played their first game on a Friday. However, in 2012, the Falcons played their final preseason game at home on a Friday pushing Georgia State up to Thursday.

Blank’s MLS team will surely get this kind of priority over Georgia State.

Fortunately, the imminent scheduling move may be a blessing in disguise for the Panthers.

Attendance has been an issue for Georgia State since the program’s inception.

When Georgia State played its season finale on Nov. 30 against South Alabama, the total attendance was 13,697.

Meanwhile, Georgia State’s most attended football games have been home openers - 30,237 against Samford (Thurs. Sept.

2, 2010), 26,273 against ClarkAtlanta (Fri. Sept. 2, 2011), 18,921 against South Carolina State (Thurs. Aug. 30, 2012) and 17,606 against Samford (Fri. Aug. 30, 2013).

For Georgia State’s sake, if it wants to grow as a program, the possible game day change may be for the better. Players have said repeatedly that if they have a crowd behind them, they play better. What would be better than playing on the days where you have the best turnout?

The move would also be more convenient for students since Georgia State is a commuter school. Students would not have to make that Saturday afternoon commute for the game since they would already be on campus.

History shows students aren’t taking the time out to make the extra commute downtown in addition to their school and/or work obligations.

During the week is a better time for Georgia State to have football games when most of its 32,000-plus population is all in one spot during the week.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

PANTHER Of The Week Guest pick of the week

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

DAMON STEPHENSON GOLF

Damon Stephenson secured the men’s golf team’s 2014 Sun Belt championship in a dramatic fashion, hitting a birdie on the 18th-hole in the final round Sunday.

Stephenson shot 3-under par in the final round to finish in second place among all the golfers in the tournament. He made three birdies on the back nine on Sunday.

He was named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team after finishing 5-under for the tournament.

The Panthers finished 1-under 287 for the tournament, winning its third-consecutive event-a new school record. It was the team’s fourth tournament win this season.

Georgia State will compete in the NCAA Regional May 15-17.

Stephenson is a junior real estate major and is a native of Gold Coast, Australia.

23 19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, 22, 2014 TUESDAY,APRIL DECEMBER 10, 2013

Taylor Matthews Taylor Matthews is a reader of The Signal and a junior majoring in managerial sciences.

On picking Georgia State baseball: “I feel that this will be a close contest but that Nic Wilson or Chase [Raffield] will make a big play to sure us a win.”

On picking Florida: “Florida has beat a lot of good teams this season and seem to be hitting their stride late in the season, so i am going with Florida.

Alabama has been very inconsistent this season.”

STAFF:

The Scoreboard Softball

Georgia State upset No.13--UGA-Tuesday in Athens, Ga. Freshman infielder/catcher Mandy Blackwell scored two home runs.

The Panthers played a weekend series against conference-foe Louisiana-Monroe in Monroe, La. winning the first game 3-1 and the second 14-

√

David

√

Jeremy

4. Junior first baseman Lauren Coleman finished the second game with four RBI.

Baseball

On Tuesday, Georgia State defeated Oglethorpe 18-2 at home. Senior infielder Chad Prain and Freshman pitcher/outfielder Austin Parrish drove in three runs each.

National

BASEBALL May 2 (3-game series) Florida (14) √ √ √ vs.

Alabama (17) √ 3 game series Virginia (18) √ √ √ vs.

Florida State (5) √

√

Akiem

√

Georgia State BASEBALL May 2-4 (3-game series) South Alabama vs.

GSU √ √ √ √

Sun Belt

BASEBALL April 29 Texas State √ vs.

Texas A&M √ 1 game series Troy √ √ vs.

UAB √ √

SOFTBALL May 3 (2-game series) Troy √ vs.

South Alabama (19) √ √ 2-game series UT Arlington √ √ √ √ vs.

Texas State

√√

SOFTBALL May 2-4 (3-game series) GSU √ √ √ vs.

Western Kentucky √

GUEST: √ Taylor Matthews

Wednesday the Panthers defeated Savannah State 12-6 at home, and they continued the streak the next day by defeating conference-foe Arkansas State 5-1 at home. The win snapped Arkansas State’s five game winning streak.

On Saturday, Georgia State played a second game against Arkansas State at home winning 7-6. The win marked the Panthers’ fourth straight win.

Sun Belt Standings STANDING

BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

1st

UL Lafayette 17-2 | Overall:38-5

UL Lafayette 13-1 | Overall: 35-7-1

2nd

Arkansas State 13-6 | Overall: 24-18

South Alabama 11-5 | Overall: 34-10

3rd

Texas State 11-8 | Overall: 23-19

WKU 10-5 | Overall: 31-17-1

4th

WKU 10-9 | Overall: 22-20

Georgia State 8-7 | Overall: 26-23

5th

UT Arlington 10-9 | Overall: 19-23

UL Monroe 5-9 | | Overall: 21-20

6th

South Alabama 8-10 | Overall: 18-23

Texas State 5-10 | Overall: 22-27

7th

Troy 7-11 | Overall: 20-23

UT Arlington 2-11 | Overall: 20-26

8th

UL Monroe 7-12 | Overall: 17-27

Troy 2-11 | Overall: 19-27-2

9th

Georgia State 6-13 | Overall: 20-23

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10th

UALR 5-14 | Overall: 17-23

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Men’s Golf

Georgia State won the Sun Belt Championship on Wednesday. Damon Stephenson birdied on the 18thhole in the final round to clinch the tournament win. Stephenson and teammate J.J. Grey were each named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament team.

Visit georgiastatesignal.com for more briefs

What’s

Happening 014

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

May 2

REMINDER

It’s time to clean out your locker!

The deadline to remove all items and locks from lockers rented through the Student*University Center is Wednesday, May 7. Any items remaining in lockers after this date will be discarded.

NO EXCEPTIONS

Summer locker rentals will begin on Monday, May 12.

Student*University Center Job Openings The Student*University Center is comprised of two buildings, the Student Center and the University Center.

The combined facility is a focal point for the social, recreational and cultural life of the diverse Georgia State University community.

Known as the campus meeting place, the center is a convenient spot for students, faculty and staff to study, socialize, eat, shop, bank, enjoy performances and events, watch movies and television, view art exhibits, attend meetings and learn about campus life. It offers more than 28,000 square feet of meeting and event space — including a 425-seat auditorium and spacious ballroom — that may be reserved for seminars, conferences, lectures, receptions, banquets, concerts and other functions.

We have many exciting employment opportunities for Georgia State University students. Current openings include: 360 Administrative Office Assistant Serve as the Receptionist for the Administrative offices and assist the Associate to the Director with daily tasks and projects.

Accounting Assistant Reconcile, document and deliver daily deposits to the University Cashier.

AV Technician Provide support for set-up, inventory and client orientation for audiovisual equipment.

Graphic Artist Design print and multimedia promotional materials for Student*University Center programs and events.

Information Center Assistant Assist students, faculty, staff and guests in acquiring information and counter sales operations.

Setup Technician Conduct set-up and turnover of equipment and furniture in the reservable space in the Student*University Center.

Please visit Panther Career Net at career.gsu.edu/home/ about-us/panther-career-net/ to apply for a position.

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

Cinefest

Closed for May Reopening date TBD

Film Theater

CONGRATULATIONS Chance Howard

2013-2014 Recipient of the Tommy Young Award The Tommy Young Award is awarded annually to a student staff member who demonstrates the following: outstanding committment to the success of the Student*University Center, tireless devotion to “making things happen,” regularly going above and beyond the call of duty, a high level of accountability, and a devotion to providing excellent customer service.

STUDENT MEDIA

The Georgia State University Committee on Student Communication congratulates the Student Media Heads for 2014-15: GSTV Managing Director: Warren Turner New South Editor-in-Chief: Jenny Brown The Signal Editor-in-Chief: Anna Yang WRAS General Manager: Alayna Fabricius Students who are interested in getting involved in Student Media next year are encouraged to call 404-413-1592 for more information or visit studentmedia.gsu.edu/contact.

CAMPUS EVENTS Campus Events would like to welcome the 2014-15 Directors! Please congratulate them in person or via social media.

THANK YOU to the outgoing Campus Events Directors: Anna Boswell, Gabbie Eusery, Avien Gober, Patrick MaGee and James Supreme, for an outstanding year!

Your hard work is greatly appreciated, and you all have left a positive impact at Georgia State. And a BIG thank you to our graduate assistants La’Conya Cobb and Michael Bartone; you both have brought so much to the team.

Around Atlanta Director Justin McLeod Arts Director De’Andre Nunez Distinguished Speaker Series Director Mary O’Richards Ideas & Issues Director Gabbie Eusery Membership Director Joanne Tercy Panthers at Woodruff Director Brianna Adams Public Relations & Social Media Director Azhia Brown

SPOTLIGHT

Please visit our office in 380 Student Center for volunteer applications and opportunities!

STAY CONNECTED: @GSUspotlight

GOOD LUCK WITH FINALS!