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PANTHERS OF THE YEAR

COVER DESGIN BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY DAYNE FRANCIS & JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL (Left to right) Panther of the Year Gayla Tillman, Faculty of the Year Shawn Athanasios and Athlete of the Year LaPorscha Wells.

Inside Opium Epidemic

FANS UNITING

BILLONAIRE? YES, PLEASE!

COACH champion

USG releases new measures to combat opioid overdoses among college students.

After years of coming up short, Atlanta sports fans have a new reason to cheer.

Check out the 'how to' guide on ways to reach billionaire status with some smart tips and tricks.

Find out how Roger Kincaid went from playing college football to coaching softball.

News | Page 3

Opinion| Page 7

A&L | page 12

Sports | page 18

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinion 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

A RISING EPIDEMIC IN GEORGIA

USG plans to implement an opioid antidote on each campus

Opioids can be consumed in an number of ways. The most common are snorting and injecting the drug.

SYRINA MERILAN Associate News Editor

G

eorgia is exhibiting an epidemic in opioid abuse and overdose, so much so that the University System of Georgia (USG) is whipping up a new security measure to lower the rates of overdose deaths caused by opioids in college students.

According to Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute Professor Dr. Mark Conklin, opioids are classified as drugs derived from the poppy plant, including the natural drugs morphine and codeine, and is not limited to heroine, the synthetic subgroup.

“Opioids is sort of the collective name they call compounds that are derived from the opium poppy. The active ingredient of the opiates, [which are] another name for the natural opioids,” Conklin said. “These are things like morphine and codeine. In the laboratory acetyl groups were added to morphine to produce heroine, so heroine is considered the semi-synthetic opioid.”

THE EPIDEMIC

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recorded that Georgia’s largest leap in overall deaths caused by opioid overdoses was between the years of 2013 and 2014, with a fatal increase of 10.2 percent. Between the years of 2014 and 2015, the percentage increased by another 6.7 percent.

But Georgia is only a single part of a growing epidemic across the United States. A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report from November 2016 stated that “prescription drugs, heroin, and fentanyl as the most significant drugrelated threats to the United States.”

“The misuse of prescription opioids is intertwined with that of illicit opioids; data have demonstrated that nonmedical use of prescription opioids is a significant risk factor for heroin use, underscoring the need for continued prevention

efforts around prescription opioids,” the CDC study found.

According to the CDC, the people who are reportedly more involved in opioid overdose are between the ages of 25 and 34, with a growth of 2,115 in 2014, another 2,327 in 2015 - an 8.2 percent increase.

Gender-wise, men are more likely to suffer from opioid overdose, and although all races have experienced an increase, white ethnicities have experienced the largest jump, with rates climbing from 10,308 to 10,774 of overdose deaths, a 6 percent increase from 2014 to 2015.

The CDC has encouraged all efforts that will make the naloxone shot, the antidote for opioid overdose, readily available to the public in order to increase treatment.

“Intensifying efforts to distribute naloxone, enhancing access to treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, and implementing harm reduction services are urgently needed,” the CDC stated in their study. “It is important to focus efforts on expanding opioid disorder treatment capacity, including medication-assisted treatment and improving linkage into treatment.”

Conklin went through the process of opioid intake which may explain why people are hooked on opioids. She said that although opioids inhibit brain activity, they still release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure.

“It binds to the opioid receptor [in the brain and] causes a decrease in the cavity of the brain and this will then decrease some activity of inhibitory systems, leading to a release of dopamine and this is why we like it,” Conklin said.

“This is why we feel pleasure when you take an opioid.”

THE USG INITIATIVE

As of Feb. 14, the USG has taken notice to the steady incline of opioid deaths in the college population and implemented a security measure which requires each campus under Georgia’s university system to house the opioid antidote,

DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN & PHOTO BY SIGNAL ARCHIVES

naloxone. Under the new measure, campus law enforcement will be instructed to administer the antidote whenever there are suspected incidents of opioid overdoses.

The antidote, naloxone, can work in a couple of ways, according to Conklin. The most common, however, is when it works against the opioid.

“You can have what is called an antagonist, which is a fancy way of saying it blocks the activity of the receptor. Narcan or naloxone, which is the generic name, is called an inverse agonist,” Conklin said. “It does the mirror opposite of the opioid. Instead of it further depressing the cells, it can help stimulate, which is why it can act directly in opposition to the opioid.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, opioid overdoses are associated with several specific symptoms, some of which include being awake but unable to talk, limp posture, blue nails and lips, and a clammy or pale face.

The cause for the new measure was sparked by Gov. Nathan Deal’s initiative to make naloxone readily available to the public, according to USG Chief of Police Bruce Holmes.

“Our effort is in response to Governor Deal’s initiative that makes naloxone available to members of the public, and to further the safety of our campus communities and those communities immediately surrounding our campuses,” Holmes said.

Under the Georgia’s Medical Amnesty Law, which was signed into law in 2014, Deal requested that naloxone “be removed from the dangerous drug list and rescheduled as a Schedule V exempt drug” and “issue[d] a standing order to allow naloxone to be dispensed over-the-counter by pharmacists across the state” to subdue the rising threat.

Some of the campuses already house naloxone, but the measure is still in its early stages as campus police officers are still being trained.

Currently, there is not an official number of

schools which have already started using the antidote out in the field because they are allowing time for ordering, delivery and training.

“Over half of our campuses already have the opioid antagonist, naloxone,” Holmes said.

“The remaining campuses are in the process of making naloxone available to their officers for use in the field.”

Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) Chief of Police Joseph Spillane said that GSUPD currently houses the antidote in the form of an injection but will soon be transferring to a nasal form.

“We just recently received a grant. Part of the grant gave us a dosing of the medication. We [house] about 100 dosages that the supervisors have,” Spillane said. “It’s an epipen deployment system, [but] we are going to have a nasal deployment next year.”

SIGNS OF OPIOID OVERDOSE Don’t be afraid to call for help. If you, or someone you care about are experiencing these symptoms, because of opioid abuse call 911 immediately.

• Awake, but unable to talk • Limp posture • Face is pale or clammy • Blue fingernails and lips • For lighter skinned people, the skin tone turns bluish purple; for darker skinned people, the skin tone turns grayish or ashen • Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic or has stopped • Pulse is slow, erratic or not there at all • Choking sounds or a snore-like gurgling noise (sometimes called the “death-rattle”)

(According to Georgia Department of Public Health )

FA C U LT Y O F T H E Y E A R

Shawn Athanasios C R E ATO R O F T H E J U D G E-F R E E ZO N E CHRISTINA MAXOURIS News Editor

S

hawn Athanasios has been at Georgia State for less than a year. But his classes are already making a reputation for themselves. They’re about letting students express their beliefs, building healthy conversations and creating an environment where each student feels confident in sharing their view, even if it’s different from others.

Although, officially, he’s a professor for human communication and public speaking courses, it’s fair to say that all his students have learned a lot more than just structuring a speech.

WHO'S THE GUY IN THE VELVET JACKET?

Athanasios and his brother were raised by their maternal grandmother, who took them all around the world. From ages two to 17-years-old, they lived in Laos, Ghana, India Egypt, and then landed in California, where Athanasios became the first one in his family to finish college.

Tasting different professions, he took on acting, delivering small roles for a series, and then spent a year in South Korea teaching English to young students while also applying to graduate school. He received a full ride at New York University (NYU), where he completed his Master’s in human communication, studying “conflict management, thinking habits, emotional intelligence” and similar concepts that he likes to sprinkle into the current classes he teaches as well.

From then, Athanasios taught at NYU, Pace University and other institutions in New York before moving to Georgia in 2016 to support his wife, an aspiring actress, and raise his two children.

NOT CLASS, BUT THERAPY

There’s something fundamentally different – and endlessly enjoyable and fulfilling – about the way Athanasios chooses to run his classes. Ask any of his students and it becomes apparent that most don’t ever skip. It’s not a class to dread, and definitely not a class that requires cramming information last minute for an upcoming test – mostly because there are none. In his public speaking course, Athanasios has chosen not to give tests. Why? He said he’s not a fan.

“The reason why I teach public speaking and why I enjoy it so much is it’s an experiential class and as long as they’re up there doing speeches, doing a group presentation on the chapter, [being engaged], creating outlines, I test them,” he said.

Most importantly, he’s taken on an innovative and refreshing practice of ‘doing class’, one where the students actually...talk.

In a time where perhaps it most crucial, Athanasios instills in his students a respect for other’s opinions, through phrases like “you can have your truth, and I can have mine, and they can both be right.”

Nick Marblestone, public speaking student, said that is what makes his class different from all the others.

ATHANASIOS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS First and only person to date to graduate College in his family. (California State University, Northridge).

Full ride to NYU and stipend to pay rent + Rosenberg Scholarship for graduate school (given to one student per academic year). Graduated Magna Cum Laude

“Professor Athanasios has this uncanny ability to get students talking about the most controversial issues, all without stepping on anybody’s toes or offending anyone,” he said. “I have been a part of discussions in his class [that] I wouldn’t imagine going well in any other class I have ever had. But somehow, he pulls it off.”

The ability to create discussions and allow students to talk about their beliefs without a “fear of being called a name or judged by others” is what makes this class different, according to Marblestone.

And that’s what Athanasios wants you to understand before leaving his class. A big part of the conversational style that dominates his class time comes from students posing their different perspectives on real everyday issues they all come face to face with. Some of these issues include inequality, social movements like feminism, war, the current U.S. political climate, and family affairs that students struggle with.

His public speaking class kicked off in the beginning of the semester with introductory speeches, where Athanasios encouraged his students to share what makes them who they are.

And it seemed like no one was hesitant to talk about their dark past, craziest adventures, or the tragedies that shaped them into who they are today.

“He taught us about how we have a voice, and it is unique to us. Since we have a voice, we are entitled to have an opinion,” student Josh Larsen said. “That was kind of mind-blowing to me because I never heard it said like that before.”

Students said it’s that accepting atmosphere that allowed them to grow the comfort they now have around not only their professor, but their peers as well.

“The first assignment we had was a speech on we we are.

The assignment gave me an opportunity to share who I am and some of the struggles I had. People in the classroom were able to talk more freely about topics that seemed to [be] avoided in most of my other classes,” Larsen said. “The conversation came up because people were able to voice their opinions without the feeling of being judged.”

And making those personal life connections is what will help students understand the concepts of the classroom better. “[Students’] voices are shut down –they’re told what to think, how to think. When they come to my class, I want to know what you believe –remember there’s no right, there’s no wrong,” Athanasios said. “Present your argument and your point of view, and I want to hear what you think. Do you know how many students have told me, I’ve never been asked that before?”

Student Sherry Crawford said the class has taught her exactly that: to express her opinion and think outside the box.

“He allows his students to speak freely and express their ideas, and in turn helps them process their ideas in a broader sense,” she said.

Stepping into Athanasios’ class is nothing short of a shift in mindset. Disagreements without aggression, supportive and healthy debates, and an immeasurable satisfaction of an open mind makes it not a class, but an experience.

ATHANASIOS’ MOST USED PHRASE

“Can ya dig?”

Asked to present two papers at the New York Speech Communication Association (NYSCA) while in Graduate school.

Book: Soul Search Before the Job Search (eBook only).

Successful Life & Career Coaching business (J.A.A.S. Coaching - J - Journey, A - Ambition, A - Action, S - Support (www.jaascoaching.com )

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State professor and Faculty of the Year Shawn Athanasios, appreciated by his students, uses methods of teaching that have them leaving class with understanding and sometimes a better way of thinking.

FOTY

2017

NEWS

6

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Last Week

It’s Electric MARTA’s new green initiative MARTA customers will soon be able to board an eco friendly bus called Proterra’s Catalyst Electric.

CAMILLE BOLOS Staff Reporter

T

he Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA) is driving towards green pastures with its new electric bus, Proterra’s Catalyst Electric.

The Catalyst Electric is currently on loan to MARTA from Proterra for the duration of the pilot stage. The ongoing pilot plans to engage the company in a hands-on approach to learn what riders want out of a local transit system.

According to CEO Keith Parker, MARTA has a diverse array of buses ranging from the lowemission Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus, which makes up a majority of their fleet, to the 60-foot articulated “bendy” bus, which gives riders more seating capacity for the busiest routes.

“As we look to secure MARTA as an innovative leader within the transit industry, the progression to electric and even autonomous buses is important in shifting the perception of public transportation as an environmentally beneficial infrastructure

within our society,” Parker said.

The Proterra Catalyst Electric is a 40-foot, battery charged bus. Since there will not be an engine inside the bus, there will be more space for riders without compromising its size. These buses are capable of seating up to 40 riders.

According to Proterra, the absence of an engine makes the electric bus lighter, with a weight of 27,370 pounds, compared to the 38,000 pounds an average transit bus would weigh. This will be an ideal component for roads with conditions that may not be able to handle heavier vehicles.

The battery-charged Proterra will be able to run over three hours on a single charge and will take around 10 minutes to recharge and get the bus back on a full battery.

There are no additional costs that come along with the Proterra bus because it is a pilot program.

However, MARTA does need to outfit the test routes with charging stations for the bus. The test routes for this pilot program are located in both Fulton and DeKalb counties.

Erik Burton, MARTA’s senior director of media relations said, “[The] information from this pilot

Local

Fire caused I-85 to collapse

SIGNAL ARCHIVES program will help steer MARTA in the right direction regarding the integration of electric vehicles to our fleet.”

The goal of the pilot program is to help recognize the benefits and identify any possible changes related to integrating new, cleaner technology into the current system, according to Parker.

“With more MARTA initiatives paving the way for potential expansion projects, we want to ensure that the footprint our buses leave behind supports healthy, sustainable communities,” he said.

MARTA is yet again set to add another type of bus to their fleet. The new 30-foot buses, named ‘Vicinity’ busses, will enable bus operators to navigate some of the narrower streets and neighborhoods that make the city more effective.

“From the double-decker bus to our most recent Catalyst Electric bus, we are always looking for ways to diversify our fleet,” Parker said.

The pilot program for the Proterra bus will determine the size of the fleet of new electric buses for MARTA. The Proterra bus is scheduled to begin service in April in Fulton and DeKalb counties.

A financial savior for graduating students Georgia State’s Panther Retention Grant aims to help cover tuition KRISTEN ROGERS Staff Reporter

T

he Panther Retention Grant, named after Georgia State’s mascot, helps graduating students reach their journey’s end with the aid of a few hundred dollars - and no due debt.

The grant has brought positive attention to the university from multiple news outlets and even the former administration.

In 2014, at the White House College Opportunity Day of Action, former President Barack Obama recognized Georgia State for helping more college students find a pathway to graduation.

The grant was also featured in The New York Times in an article that highlighted Kalif Robinson, Georgia State student, who was a recipient of the grant.

Panther Retention Grants are grants ranging from $100 to $1,500 which are awarded to students who are on track to graduate but unable to cover gaps in their tuition and fees. An application is not required and the grants are not awarded based on GPA. Ariel Cochrane-Brown, retention coordinator of student success at Georgia State, said that graduation rates are up by 8 percent since the grant launched.

“We identify students who are academically on track, are close to graduation, and have unmet

financial need,” Dr. Timothy Renick, vice president for enrollment management and success, said. “We award the grants automatically to students who meet the criteria; there is nothing they need to do to be awarded the funds.”

Students who receive the grant must meet with an academic advisor to continue the shortest path to degree completion and must also complete an online financial literacy training.

More than 60 percent of the grant recipients are seniors who are on track to graduate but are running out of eligibility for HOPE, the Pell Grant and loans. Often, they only need a small amount of additional funding to cover the costs of tuition and fees and to remain enrolled in school.

The grants are designed to be awarded once to any individual and are not meant to support the student throughout their academic career.

According to Cochrane-Brown, the grant was started by Georgia State President Mark Becker and his wife when they made the first $40,000 donation in 2011.

“They wanted it to be used in a way, [or] for a cause that did not already exist,” she said.

Cochrane-Brown said that after conducting research, Dr. Renick concluded that nearly 1,000 students per semester are in good academic standing and on track to graduate, but have an outstanding tuition balance of about $1,500 or less.

The donated money became the seed funding for the grant.

From 2012 to 2016, Georgia State awarded over 7,300 retention grants with an average award

amount of $900. The funding comes from private donors and foundations.

According to Cochrane-Brown, the grant positively affects Georgia State’s finances rather than imbalances them, because it aids in keeping students who would otherwise drop out. The university receives funding based on outcome measures such as enrollment, retention and graduation rates.

In addition, there is revenue generated from the tuition paid by students when they are retained from one year to the next.

According to a PBS Newshour article, the state of Georgia has “harsh” rules set for students who cannot pay their tuition and fees by specified deadlines. A student could be dropped from classes for failing to pay $400; but if their account total is $12,000, Georgia State loses the other $11,600.

“Georgia State is now the only public university in the nation at which Black, Hispanic, firstgeneration and low-income students all graduate at or above the rate to the student body overall,” Dr. Renick said. “There are no achievement gaps at Georgia State. [The Panther Retention Grant] has been critical in us accomplishing this goal.”

“In the face of hard classes and the stress of academics, it is sometimes easy to forget that we are pulling for you,” Dr. Renick said. “Panther Retention Grants are one way of showing that we — and the many donors who support the program — are on your side.”

Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency after part of I-85 collapsed on Thursday, March 30. The affected portion of the highway spans three miles and is expected to take several months until the major interstate is back to normal, according to NPR. However, “hot spots” on the the highway prevent officers from fully assessing all the damages.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection to the massive fire that caused the collapse. Two of the suspects have been let go, but one is currently in custody. The cause of the fire was attributed to plastic pipes burning under the interstate for about an hour, causing it to collapse.

The federal gave $10 million to help pay for the cost of reconstruction, according to 11 Alive.

National

Michael Flynn asks for immunity

Former national security advisor and retired General Michael Flynn asked for immunity from prosecution on March 31. According to CNN, Flynn agreed to testifying before investigators seeking for information on Russian ties to the U.S. elections, only if he is granted immunity. President Donald Trump has supported Flynn, tweeting “Michael Flynn should ask for immunity in that this witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media and Dems, of historic proportion!”

It is still unclear whether Flynn will receive immunity.

Global

Deadly mudslide in Colombia

Over 230 people were killed and over 200 are still missing in a destructive mudslide in Colombia on, April 1. The mudslide was caused by heavy rains, which led a nearby river to overflow and carry mud and debris through the city of Mocoa, according to The New York Times. Many of the residents were asleep, when the incident took place a little after midnight. The city is currently under several feet of mud.

President Juan Manuel Santos declared a state of emergency, as emergency workers search to find missing men, women and children. The Colombian Red Cross is assisting in the search by deploying 24 people.

OPINION

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Atlanta United is vital to city’s sports Fans should continue rallying around new Major League Soccer team

MLS average attendance through season so far: 1

Atlanta United FC 50,610

2

Seattle Sounders

3

Minnesota United 35,043

4

Montreal Impact

34,373

5

Orlando City SC

25,527

45,600

PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATIONS BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

A

WESLEY DUNKIRK Columnist Wesley is a sophomore at Georgia State majoring in English. Outside of his passions for writing and reading, Wesley rows crew with Georgia State and follows the American political scene.

Tweet Wesley @wesleydunkirk

tlanta sports fans need a reason to cheer.

For years, Atlanta’s professional sports teams have carried a tradition of performing within a range of mediocrity and moderate success while continuously falling short on the grandest stages.

The closest that an Atlanta professional sports franchise has come to a championship is the Atlanta Braves’ 1995 World Series title.

While the Braves have experienced bursts of success since winning that championship in the beginning of the Chipper Jones era, they continue to hold an all-time .500 win percentage. The Atlanta Braves offer a glaring illustration of the quality of play that has been presented to Atlanta sports fans since professional sports teams surfaced in the city: great success on a rare occasion, but engulfed in mediocrity.

The Atlanta Falcons’ season this past year gave fans a reason to believe that Atlanta sports may be on its way towards breaking into the success that fans have craved. A highflying regular season led to a post-season that brought dejected Falcons fans out of the woodwork and catalyzed a spirit of unity throughout the city.

The season peaked with a trip to the Super Bowl, a spectacular event for Atlanta with a tragic ending that could have been predicted by almost any dedicated Atlanta sports fan.

After building a 25-point lead, the Falcons fell to the New England Patriots 34-28 in what

can only be described as a mind-numbing blow to the hopes of Atlanta sports fans.

After the loss, many of those who were cheering for the Falcons fell back into complacency, dejected by the results that they have consistently been given over the years and now indifferent to the performance of Atlanta sports. Recently, however, those fans have been struck with a different type of optimism: excitement for the unknown future that has yet to arrive. This excitement was inspired by the beginning of Atlanta United, the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team that recently played their inaugural game.

Atlanta latched onto its new soccer team in full force, selling out home games and avidly wearing team gear to show support. Atlanta United experienced moderate success so far in its introduction to the MLS, but regardless of how well the team plays this year, fans should build on the momentum created by the support shown thus far and continue to embrace the opportunity that Atlanta United has presented to the city.

In a time when it would be easy for Atlanta sports fans to abandon the teams that have disappointed them so many times in the past, Atlanta United provides those fans with an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to build hope from a new foundation. While it is unlikely that an expansion team in its first season active in a professional sports league will experience much success, the support

given to the team should continue to match the intensity that it has held throughout the team’s season so far.

It is entirely possible that Atlanta United could keep with the Atlanta sports trend of raising fans’ hopes and failing to meet expectations and it is more than likely that an elusive championship will not be brought back to the city very soon. Atlanta sports fans have never expected their teams to be dominant forces because Atlanta sports doesn’t have a history of dominance; but the hope of such dominance presented by a new professional franchise is exactly what the Atlanta sports community needs right now.

Following the devastation of this year’s Super Bowl, compiled with the relative stagnancy of the Braves and Hawks in the past few years, the hopeful attitude required to support professional sports franchises could easily begin to fade. Atlanta United provides a unique opportunity to keep that hope alive and an opportunity to not just say “there’s always next year” after a miserable season, but to truly believe that next year could be a championship season.

Keep sporting those red and black stripes, Atlanta, because regardless of how the rest of Atlanta United’s season goes, Atlanta sports need your support if we want to “unite and conquer” anytime soon.

EDITORIAL

8

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

EDITORIAL I-85 is falling down, falling down, falling down

T

he bridge, the bridge, the bridge is on fire! That is what most Atlanta residents were saying March 30, when a stretch of I-85, before getting onto GA400, caught on fire.

The supposed cause of the bridge’s fire was due to the actions of a homeless man, Basil Eleby, smoking crack under the bridge, which also stores construction materials, including PVC and high-density polyethylene pipe, according to myAJC. So the bridge burning, major news clearly, but thankfully no deaths occurred and no one was physically injured, but there were some mental injuries occurring throughout the metropolitan traffic. Everyone was losing their minds.

Listen, traffic in Atlanta generally causes some freakouts in the privacy of commuters’ cars, but that night and all-day on March 31, was a different story. Everyone leaving and entering the city were in traffic for hours, and a number of blockades created most likely caused a few GPS apps to explode when trying to figure out how to leave the giant hot mess.

However, the ones that were most affected by this unfortunate event were our dear commuter students.

They were royally hindered because their commute to our institution was rough enough, but applying this major hiccup has caused some travel re-evaluation.

The problem is, everyone is thinking the same way, or

more appropriately, everyone’s GPS is thinking the same way. The alternative routes are already congested with people just trying to get back on track.

Students are having to email teachers, teachers are emailing students, employers are emailing employees and so on about how late they will be, or whether or not there’s even a point to going to class or work.

It’ll be a rough ride for awhile guys, but don’t drop out or purposely crash your car to avoid the entire thing just yet, just keep positive. There are still some backroads that can lead you to your desired location, even though the travel time is longer. That just means turning off the Netflix a little early at night, in order to get up early as hell in the morning.

Some alternatives

If you live anywhere in Gwinnett, North DeKalb or any other stop off I-85, your route to campus has been severely affected. While taking I-285 around the perimeter to get to your destination might seem like a good idea, it doesn’t help if you need to go somewhere quickly, or if you need to get somewhere that’s an exit after the burnt part of I-85.

Marietta Street to Northside Drive can get you to and from Cobb County. A combination of Northside and Peachtree Road can get you to North Fulton County. Taking Buford Highway is also a good option when traveling

north to Lawrenceville, Suwanee and/or Duluth. Peachtree Industrial is also a good option when traveling North, so keep that in mind.

Most importantly, Waze is your ultimate friend. This app will give you endless options for different routes, and if you want to avoid the highway all together it gives you the option to pick “avoid freeways,” and then it will display clear, traffic-free backroads onto your screen. So make use of this free perk.

Utilize Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Xpress buses. Park your car at your local bus stop and take the bus downtown. In the afternoon take the same bus back to your car. The service operates in Clayton, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties and if you’re on the blue line a round-trip costs $5. If you’re on the green line a round-trip will cost you $7. Visit their website for more information.

I-85 has surely screwed everyone over, but at least they’re trying. We just wished they would try a little harder.

To our student commuters, The Signal would love to hear all about the horror stories endured during the last week on the road. So email us at signalopinions@gmail.com to vent to us about your struggles.

ILLUSTRATOR OF THE WEEK ERIK REID | THE SIGNAL

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ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival Celebrating 81 years of tradition SOPHIA MARCHESE Staff Reporter

O

n the weekend of April 7, Midtown’s Piedmont Park will once again overflow with Atlanta residents celebrating the Spring season. The city greets the blooming of its iconic dogwood trees with the 81st Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival.

This highly-anticipated three-day event began in 1936 as an effort to raise international awareness for Atlanta by establishing a reputation for urbanization balanced with foliage and greenery.

Walter Rich, founder of Rich’s Department Store and president of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, collaborated with community members and local garden clubs to plant trees all around the city, and as a result, the spirit of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival was born.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Over 80 years later and the festival’s essence is still very much alive. Nowadays, the Spring event not only embraces the city’s lush environment, but also welcomes artists and craftsmen from around the United States and Canada to showcase their work.

“The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is the third oldest fine arts festival in the country, and the longest running in Atlanta,” Executive Director Brian Hill said. “We’ll feature fine artists from throughout North America, and each one has been selected through our stringent jury process.”

Hill said that a lot of these artists use the long Winter months to complete new collections for spring. For this reason, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is the first market show of the season for many of the selected artists.

“That means our attendees can have first choice of new pieces [the artists] have created,” Hill said.

Offering a unique and memorable experience for all Atlanta residents, the annual artist market is home to a diverse landscape of creativity.

The 2017 event will feature an abundance of market booths with exhibits from “some of the

PAGE DESIGN BY TAISJAH WILKINS | THE SIGNAL country’s top painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftsmen, glass blowers and more,” according to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival official website.

IT’S ART FOR ART’S SAKE

Lanna Rudeseal, a Georgia State graduate and the artist market coordinator for the festival, said that more than 1,000 artists apply each year.

“Our jury panel of professional artists and art educators selects the top 260 … [applicants] who create and execute original, professional quality work,” Rudeseal said.

All of the selected artists must be present during the festival, meaning that attendees have a chance to meet the creators of the art they may purchase and bring home.

“It adds something special to a painting or piece of jewelry when you have actually spoken with the artist who made it,” Rudeseal said.

Local high school students are given the opportunity to participate. An exciting festival event since the early 70s, the Atlanta High School Art Exhibition (AHSAE) engages young artists in a competitive event with great prizes.

More than 700 students enter their work to compete at the festival exhibit, but only 100 are selected and given a chance at awards contributed by AHSAE donors. Internships,

art supply funds and scholarships are merely a few examples of what’s at stake during the competition which will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 9.

Attendees of the 81st Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival will experience more than just the wide array of artist booths.

“In addition to our Artist Market, the festival features live music, international entertainment, a disc dog competition…the Mimosa 5K, a fireworks display, rides and fun activities for children,” Hill said.

The Coca-Cola Main Stage caters to Atlanta music lovers with an impressive lineup of bands that will fill the sweet, spring air with multiple genres all weekend long.

April 7 will feature a Southern Rock Revival and April 9 will see a performance from Departure, a Journey tribute band.

“Since attendance at the festival is free, the live music is too,” Hill said. “It doesn’t get much better than a free outdoor concert, a cold drink, and gathering under the blooming dogwoods!”

To enhance this relaxing experience - and to satisfy the inevitable hunger that accompanies an all-day outing - festival attendees will have a seemingly endless amount of food vendors to choose from each day. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, onion rings and many other fair-style treats will be found all throughout Piedmont Park.

However, fried foods do more than fill empty tummies at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. The entire weekend is powered by generators that operate through recycled cooking oil from the food vendors.

A FEST TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ATLANTA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL The 81st Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival will take place in Piedmont Park, April 7-9, 2017. The festival will showcase artworks of all kinds, live music, and even a disc dog competition.

These operations, among others, are due to the Green Festival Initiative. The initiative is maintained through a partnership with Live Thrive Atlanta, a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable, healthy environments.

“Since founding this initiative in 2011, we’ve been able to divert more than a ton of trash from landfills,” Hill said. “And [we] have educated hundreds of thousands of attendees about how to make eco-friendly practices a part of their daily lives.”

The sustainable atmosphere is just one festival benefit that makes this seasonal event so cherished by those involved. Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe, executive director of Live Thrive

Festival hours: FRIDAY, APRIL 7 NOON – 11 P.M.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8 10 A.M. – 11 P.M. SUNDAY, APRIL 9 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. *Artist market closes at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday Atlanta, said that it is amazing to be a part of an Atlanta tradition.

“Getting to know the team that makes the festival happen has been the reward,” Ratcliffe said.

Hard work from event coordinators has certainly paid off. Sunshine Artist, a magazine offering reviews of the country’s leading arts festivals, ranked the Atlanta Dogwood Festival as No. 9 out of the top 200 North American artist markets in 2016. The event’s increase from No. 28 in just one year is a prime example of why it is such a beloved Atlanta affair.

Last year’s 80th anniversary unveiled just how near and dear the event is to the city’s heart. Showcasing eight decades of tradition, the festival commissioned an art installation in Piedmont Park. Exhibited near the Charles Allen park entry, the commemorative bronze sculpture displays a massive dogwood branch with blossoming flowers. The festival’s website says that the sculpture has become a “favorite selfie spot” for park visitors.

Another picturesque festival feature will surely be the life-sized Hall of Fame sculptures that the Atlanta Braves have chosen to premiere at the 81st Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival.

Unique displays, talented artists, jumping dogs, inflatable bouncy houses, good tunes, VIP events and, of course, free entry are all expected to bring in over 85,000 attendees at this year’s spring celebration.

With plenty to do for all ages, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is sure to keep Atlanta locals entertained all weekend long.

PA N T H E R O F T H E Y E A R

GAYLA TILLMAN A VOICE FOR BLACK ACTIVISM AND LIBERATION IN THE MODERN AGE

INGA MASIC

Arts & Living Editor

T

he efforts of black activists including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey throughout history have resonated with the following generations, fueling today’s modern movements, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.

There was one millennial, however, who was so immensely molded by the impact these inspirational figures bestowed onto the public that she decided early on in her life black activism was the path for her. And her name is Gayla Tillman.

The African American Studies major devoted her life to the cause early on in life and realized that attending Georgia State would provide a substantial platform for connecting with students and the community, and as Tillman said, “raising the consciousness of students at Georgia State.”

FROM A HOPE TO REALITY It was when Tillman was in high school that her admiration for black awareness began to flourish, and she made sure to be just as involved with the community then as she is currently at Georgia State.

“I was only involved in one organization in high school, it was called Zeta New Beta and it was a community service organization,” Tillman said. “We worked really closely with girl scouts and volunteering whenever they needed help, like they had mother/daughter tees that we would assist with. We would also have Black History Month plays and stuff like that.”

After getting a taste for what the effects her presence in different causes and communities has on her present and her future, when Tillman entered Georgia State, she began to recognize the unique opportunity she had to make a considerable change regarding the injustices placed upon the black community.

“When I was entering college, it was when Black Lives Matter was raising a lot of attention, so I wanted to find my place in the movement and find my place in the back liberation. I found that it was through raising the consciousness of students at Georgia State. So what really inspires me is seeing student activists. Martin Luther King Jr. started of as student activist, and seeing that whole movement and being inspired by that made me want to continue that legacy of sparking change through college students,” Tillman said.

And that’s exactly what she did. Tillman continued the legacy by becoming the president of the Black Student Alliance (BSA). She wanted to reach black liberation by fighting society’s injustices against them. BSA battles oppression by raising discussions that bring up memorable activists from the past and their tactics on obtaining change, and being active through attending and hosting various events to help spread the word.

“Black Student Alliance is an activism and awareness organization, so we have a mix of events,” Tillman said. “There are some cultural events, like we had one called Artists for Change and it was a culmination of singing, dancing, spoken word and a lot of different cultural aspects to highlight either the injustices or the celebration of blackness in America. We also have discussion events, where we talk about things that plague the black population in America and how we can help fight those things, just like right now we currently have the BSA week going on and today [March 29] is Family Roles in the Black Family.”

Tillman didn’t stop there with the level of involvement she aimed for. She has attempted to be present in several other organizations at Georgia State, because for Tillman, she needs to expose herself to various outlets that raise knowledge on the black community. “[I am also] the Program Chair for Sankofa Society. I feel like I’m an honorary member of other stuff, because I am so busy I haven’t had the time to fill out applications, but I constantly go to National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) meetings or our NAACP Chapter or Greatest Minds. I am a honorary member of a lot of the black organizations that we have on campus. Of course, I support the Multicultural Center and Black Student Achievement,” Tillman said.

Being that she’s an African American Studies major, she believes that incorporating history into BSA’s discussions was the best way to develop connections with past activists and invoke inspiration for current ones. She also wanted to expand the knowledge that some students may not have of black history or current events.

NOT JUST A UNIVERSITY When coming to Georgia state, Tillman knew that it was surrounded by waves of racial diversity within the student body, faculty and staff. What she wasn’t anticipating, but became conscious of very quickly, was the amount of diversity present within the black student body.

“Georgia State has a large black population, but

I know that doesn’t mean that all black students at Georgia State are the same,” Tillman said.

“I’ve met people from different socioeconomic status or sexual orientation to different gender pronouns. I think that what Georgia State taught me to appreciate, the diversity and the pluralism that’s here.”

It’s knowledge that she has gained here at this urban institution that Tillman said she can utilize throughout the rest of her life. It was knowledge that spanned across understanding how to become accustomed in certain environments to realizing tactics that benefit her in the job market.

“What I learned from Georgia State is how to deal with different types of people. That seems like a very ambiguous statement, but it’s very distinct to me. I’ve learned to deal with different types of egos here at Georgia State. [I’ve also learned] what it means to be friends with someone on a personal level, but business-wise you can’t really be that. So Georgia State has taught me a lot of professional development that I didn’t know I needed until after I got it,” Tillman said.

Even though Tillman is only in her second year here at Georgia State and has more time to gain both interactive tools to use in her future and tools to use when fighting for the black community, there are some useful tips that she has already picked up on while being a student here.

“My biggest advice I would give to them is if you don’t know something, ask. And if someone has a problem with you asking a question, then you need to find someone that would be comfortable with you asking that question,” Tillaman said. “Because there are a lot of things that first generation students were not taught or were not exposed to, so there should be no shame in your inquiry or your lack of knowledge on certain topics. Also, if a door isn’t open or doesn’t have a knob to it, then it’s up to you to create it.

That’s a sad reality, but it is up to you to pave that way. And, of course, go to people’s office hours.”

Tillman has already gathered an expansive perception on the reality surrounding us, socially and professionally. She knows that she still has the time to learn much more and imagines herself five years from now and sees herself with three degrees and working as a Historic Board Artist in New York or California. Until then, she is honored by the achievements she has currently received.

“I was surprised honestly, because it said Panther of the Year, and I was like, ‘of the year?

Wow!’ It just meant that I was being recognized by the university as a student that either put forth a lot of leadership or put forth a lot of effort into making Georgia State great,” Tillman said.

MORE ON BLACK STUDENT ALLIANCE Students must be enrolled part time with a total of six credit hours Dues are required for new members: $12 Meeting Day: Tuesday Meeting Time: 6:15 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Meeting Location: Classroom South 103 Public organization email: blacksa.gsu@gmail.com

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

Panther of the Year Gayla Tillman is not only president of the Black Student Alliance at Georgia State, she is also involved with other black student organizations to advocate for black communities.

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ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Column

How to (maybe) become a billionaire

ILLUSTRATION & PAGE DESIGN BY PHILIP DURAL | THE SIGNAL SAVANNAH ELDER Staff Reporter

T

his past Christmas, my boyfriend received a series of books written by Richard Branson. One in particular had caught my eye. It said: “Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.” My boyfriend just graduated earlier in December so everyone around him was handing him books like these at pretty much every family gathering.

After reading the brief description on the back of the book, I recall looking up and simply saying, “Who?” (No, not Mike Jones this time). I meant quite literally — who is Richard Branson?

My boyfriend laughed and explained that Branson, a journalist turned entrepreneur, is someone I should be familiar with. Myself, being an aspiring journalist and possible future entrepreneur, I was eager to know who this person was, especially after being teased for not knowing beforehand.

The son of a barrista and flight attendant, Branson began his legendary career with a mail-order record business almost 50 years ago. After successfully creating, running and eventually selling an airline business (Virgin American Airlines) among many other versatile companies, Branson made a whopping $5 billion fortune, according to Forbes. Apparently, that number is in temporary decline, but regardless, even one billion dollars is just that — one billion dollars.

In January, Branson hosted former President Barack Obama on Branson’s private island, Necker Island, following Obama’s first few weeks out of office (we miss you dearly B.O.)! Branson brought Obama along on a kneeboarding run and basically, Richard Branson is the man — and even the former, cool-guy POTUS knows it.

Branson started from a different world than the one he ended up in. Now, he has a story that

feeble young adults, such as myself, look up to with stars in their eyes and hope in their hearts.

MILLIONAIRE-SHMILLIONAIRE

As a kid, I thought $20 was $1,000. As a teenager, $100 felt like $100. Now at 21, $1 is like one cent to me. It’s not only because of the actual dwindling value of the U.S. dollar, but also because being a millionaire has lost its cultural pizzazz since the early 2000s, also known as the memorable era of everything denim, embarrassing puberty stages and rented Ferraris.

By simply showcasing oneself as a millionaire, it became more and more difficult to determine who had what and what it actually meant in terms of wealth. With this blurred line came the development of bigger dreams and goals, all which required more money in the bank.

So how do you make billions of dollars?

Wait, no. How do you make billions of dollars doing things you enjoy and are passionate about? What about making millions and billions through doing something good for the world?

I looked into billionaires and their experts for advice and found financial, spiritual, mental and physical tips to keep one’s self at maximum potential for anything they aspire to do while making billions of dollars doing it.

lot of money.

2. What are billed as “safe” investments may prove to be the riskiest of them all. That’s not to say that bonds have no place in a portfolio. But successful long-term investing requires significant exposure to equities.

3. Every percent matters. Do not let anybody suggest that a 1 percent fee is “reasonable” or insignificant. It is neither.

WHAT BERGER REALLY MEANS

Invest your money in a savings account so that you can build interest on it. Start with a few hundred dollars that will be permanently set into the account and make an agreement with the bank on rates (walk away if you have a bad feeling). That being said, you may not touch it and you might as well not even think about it as to avoid taking money out and messing with those rates. The sooner you can open a savings account, like today if you haven’t already, the better.

Don’t put your money where it doesn’t belong. If you don’t know what the hell

something means, then stay away from it.

Keep your money safe and away from stingy bonds that don’t pay off. When you get a billion dollars, look into bonds.

Basically, don’t let people screw you or screw with your money.

HAVING THE MONEY SIMPLY ISN’T ENOUGH

Becoming a billionaire like Branson is definitely circumstantial to who you were and where you began. But surprisingly enough, most billionaires, Branson included, do follow a similar routine as listed above that’s infused with mental, spiritual and physical remedies sprinkled within to keep things together.

By creating a routine and absolutely sticking to it, people are able to create restrictions on their time and energy throughout the day. In doing so, it becomes easier to balance a million things at once. This goes without saying that this alone will not make you billions, obviously, or else we’d all be rolling in dough.

DISREGARDING THE FINANCIAL ASPECT, THE KEYS TO SUCCESS ARE IN THESE COMPONENTS OF YOUR LIFE:

GOT MONEY IN THE BANK?

By saving money and strictly budgeting finances, people have been able to provide for themselves and their ventures a lot easier while keeping an end-goal in mind. It can be a long or short term goal, but to be successful, there must be something to work towards with a lot of conviction.

Rob Berger, a Forbes contributor and writer, listed three main things you need to do in order to (seriously) become a billionaire.

1. Start investing today. For compounding [money] to work, you must give it time.

Even losing a single year can cost you a

• Mediate to balance your energies in life.

• Drink water to hydrate, nourish and replenish your body.

• Read books to challenge and expand your thinking.

• Eat well and with intentions of sustainability.

• Practice yoga to connect within your roots (Chakras.)

• Open your mind and heart to others in ways that you never have.

• Have faith and trust in yourself and the world.

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ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Movie review

‘Beauty and the Beast’ for a new generation MINH HUYNH Graphic Designer

I

n all honestly, when I heard that Disney was going to do a live action remake of “Beauty and the Beast” I groaned at my desk and said, “You already made a broadway version of this, how much more can you milk this cash cow?”

My expectations went along with how I felt when I left the 2015 live action Cinderella film: The costumes are going to be amazing and marketed to every small child, the technical visuals are going to steal the show, and the storyline is going to suffer and offer nothing particularly noteworthy.

Everyone has seen the animated “Beauty and the Beast,” whether you are a millennial who was once the target demographic for the film in the 90s, a parent, or a child today — almost everyone has seen the original version. Not only that, but you have most likely seen the film multiple times, so with that being said, there has to be an incentive for audiences to spend money for the live action adaptation.

The number one rule of any adaptation is that it has to be transformative in some way, either to keep the audience interested with new material or to stay current to the political and social climate. What makes the live action “Beauty and the Beast” worth seeing is that it fulfills both requirements.

The music has songs that audiences know by heart and fresh original scores that bring new depth to the story and characters. Also, characters that had one dimensional personalities have fresh three dimensional qualities such as LeFou (Josh Gad) and Maurice (Kevin Kline). However, there were some changes that also took away from the story, such as the reimagining of Gaston (Luke Evans).

Evans is a brilliant singer and performer, but the

reimagining of the character and certain scenes took away from him. In his main theme song, “Gaston,” we see the same vigor and energy as the animated version, but in the live action, we see LeFou going around and casually throwing coins at the tavern attendees so they sing along with him.

This is a small act, but greatly takes away from Gaston’s character.

Part of his appeal as a Disney villain and why he is dangerous is because he is unconditionally loved by the people of the village and the town doesn’t see his flaws. People genuinely admired and envied him, so in the animated version, they weren’t coerced into singing along with LeFou on Gaston’s greatness.

Furthermore, in the live action, Gaston’s character is darker and noticeably more sinister.

In the original, he was just a sexist, power-hungry villain, but in this version, he is a full-on murderer who tried to kill Maurice and raves fondly about the war he fought in. This takes his character into a route that is much darker than what I expected.

With the Broadway version and their existing selection of music, I’m happy that the production team and directors of the live action film chose to compose a new selection. Songs such as “Evermore,” sung by the Beast (Dan Stevens), show the deep pain and agony of losing Belle that was missing from the animated film and transformed the Beast into new depths and dimensions.

The audience was moved when Maurice (Kevin Kline) sang in his art workshop, capturing the love that he had for his wife as he was making a music box. These types of decisions make an impactful difference for the audience, because they push the boundaries of the characters to new lengths and give the audience something new to look forward to.

LeFou also had an entire makeover in the live action. He isn’t a disposable joke as he was in

GRADE

A-

VERDICT The music is compelling and original while still staying true to the classic. The characters are re-written with more depth. This remake is well worth the watch for the entire family.

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ODDISEE THE ICEBURG

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DAMAGED BUG BUNKER FUNK

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DUDE YORK SINCERLY

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FROTH OUTSIDE

5

J.I.D THE NEVER STORY

6

JOAKIM SAMURAI

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KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD FLYING MICROTONAL BANANA

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MAX COOPER EMERGENCE

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THE GOLDEN FILTER STILL// ALONE

ILLUSTRATION BY MINH HUYNH | THE SIGNAL the animated feature. On the other hand, he is endearing and Gad brings that same warmth to this character as he did with Olaf in his voice acting role in the Disney film “Frozen.”

There are scenes, such as the Beast’s transformation and Belle’s song, that are so accurate to the original that the only difference is the real humans who are in place of animated characters.

Along with that, there are moments that are fresh and unpredictable and give the audience something new to look forward to.

album review

‘Mystic 100’s’ mystifies with weird rock music JALEN JENKINS Staff Reviewer

M

ilk Music plays a unique brand of music in 2017 with guitar-based rock ‘n’ roll music in a world where the genre is more or less dead in the eyes of the mainstream.

However, Milk Music, with their “Mystic 100’s” LP, lay down some serious grooves and guitar work that is hard to ignore.

Milk Music’s history is a bit mysterious. Starting with a more a punk/grunge sound in 2008, the band released two LPs before disappearing in 2013. four years pass, and they release “Mystic 100s” on a label, Dom America, who is predominantly known for their industrial, experimental and electronic music, with a bit of a different sound, while still tapping into their roots.

“Mystic 100’s” is hard to categorize, and from the sound of these songs, that’s the way they probably like it. Nods to the likes of Dinosaur Jr. and Husker Du are present, but there is also something twisted about the sound. Also in the mix are the influences of the Rolling Stones and the vocal delivery is reminiscent of Tom Petty.

Over great styling and songwriting, the recordings of these songs are glazed with some crust, with distorted and fuzzy guitar tones sounding like they’re coming out of a broken

speaker/ But when it is a little more clean, it is droney and every note is heard. Drums put down the groove tightly and with confidence. This punktinged format really puts the attention on the vocals and guitar work, but Milk Music has no problem with that.

The guitar work goes from screaming, undeniably bluesy solos and backs down to a quiet hum. There are huge chords thrown down while Alex Coxen, vocalist and guitarist, howls. A big element of this album is waiting for the sweet spots.

It is sometimes a journey to get some musical relief on this LP, but it’s a journey that is made easy to take by the trance of Milk Music’s tunes.

The album starts very abrasively on possibly its most punk sounding cut on the album, but then starts to twist, and the sound of someone honking a saxophone comes out of the shadows. By the first chord ring of the second song, Milk Music’s vision is more easily understood: catchy, simple, chord songs with upbeat drums and plenty of room for solos.

Lyric wise, topics such as environmentalism and money, are talked about. The band even dedicated the album on their Bandcamp to “our mother the Earth.”

On “Who’s Been In My Dream,” the singer wails, “No trust for changing times, in my mind / They’d sell the skin off your face / if the money was right.” And on “Pay Me”, Coxen sings his disdain about money being given to people ruining the Earth.

GRADE

A

Mystic 100’s is a psychedelic trip of a rock album. Lots of influences mixed into one, ripping solos, soothing solos and power drums, all thrown through a fuzz pedal and Tom Petty like vocals.

BEST TRACKS “Crying Wand,” “Pay Me” and “Twists & Turns & Headtrips”

one click away!

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VERDICT

10

FIT OF BODY HEALTHCARE

calendar

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TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Campus & Downtown Events Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Nina

JAZZ

Sherlock

Rhythm & Brews

Rub-A-Dub

Eggs on a farm

Easter Glass

The courageous and strengthening story of Nina Simone is going to be told at the Theatrical Outfit.

It will include her soulful, legendary music to emphasis her civil-rights activism throughout her life.

Tickets online starts at $34.

Randy Becker, a Grammy-winning Trumpeter will perform with the Georgia State University jazz band at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets online start at $13.

The game is afoot!

If you are a hardcore Sherlock Holmes fan, then gather at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center for the Sherlock Holmes Convention.

The convention runs from the April 7 to April 9.

Sandy Springs is going to be taken over by local bands and local beer from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will feature all the brewskis that one can drink, so come out for a fun day in the park with some enjoyable music.

Reggae music is going to radiate through Atlanta during this event, which will be located at the WildPitch Music Hall. It will feature DJ sets, ska, rocksteady, Roots, dub and dancehall, so don’t miss out!

Magic Monday: Egg hunt on a Farm is an event that will be great for the kids and young souls!

There will be egg hunts, craft stations and games available at the Atlanta Historic Center.

Join a Easter glass blowing class to learn about glass blowing safety and then create a Easter egg-shaped paperweight! The class is called Glass Easter Egg Class and is located in Decatur.

Registration is $45.

April 6

April 5

April 7

April 8

April 10

April 9

April 11

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com

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American dream If not a baseball player, Ryan Blanton could very well become a doctor D’MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State senior Ryan Blanton is the epitome of a top-notch studentathlete.

As one of the more prominent leaders of the Georgia State Panthers baseball team, Blanton has created an impressive reputation for himself off of the field, particularly in the classroom, where he has garnered many accolades.

But for now, let’s dive into his career as a Panther baseball player.

Since joining the team in 2014, Blanton proved to be a pivotal piece to the Panthers’ organization. He has developed a work ethic that has allowed him to produce at a high level, year in and year out.

According to Blanton, the hard work begins in the offseason. Along with his offseason regimen, Blanton also has a mentality that allows him to excel at what he does.

That mindset includes not even contemplating on the idea of having an AllSun Belt Conference season, like the one he celebrated in 2015.

“Not thinking about the numbers, first off,” Blanton said as to how he’s able to record impressive stats each season. “You really just trust in the work ethic. I mean, results, you can’t get caught up in the results.”

Blanton later said that after his freshman year, he focused on working on being a more consistent player, and realized to do so, he had to work consistently and have a steady and stable mindset.

“When you put in a lot of work off the field, you can trust yourself when you get on the field to do what you do off the field,” Blanton said. “So, working on that – and it’s a lot of mental aspect of baseball, too.”

To help cope with the psychological dimension of the game, Blanton did what other players may not have done; he took the time to read and understand how he could control his thoughts under certain circumstances.

Blanton mentioned that the book he was reading is titled “Mind Gym.”

“It was prescribed by our hitting coach (Adam Pavkovich),” Blanton said.

According to Blanton, Adam Pavkovich, who the team refers to as Coach Pak, talks a lot about the mental aspect of the game.

Blanton’s work ethic and his ability to stay mentally focused throughout the duration of a season has proved to be advantageous to his success.

In fact, Blanton is currently leading the team in slugging percentages (.494), runs scored (16), hits (25), RBI’s (18), triples (2) and home runs (4).

Blanton said there’s no unorthodox preparation for his on-field success.

“There is really no secret; it’s just I’m positive every time I step into the box, and I just try to do my job--that’s really what it comes down to,” Blanton said. “I’m just sitting back waiting on the pitch, and just tryna put a good swing on it and trying to get on base.”

It’s also no secret that Blanton has enjoyed his career as a baseball player at Georgia State.

When asked about his experience as a Panther baseball player, Blanton used the word love very loosely.

“I’m just really glad I got blessed to play division one baseball at such a high level,” Blanton said. “I love the guys. I love the coaches, and I just hope we can turn this season around and change something to get us going in the right direction.”

In regards to Blanton possibly playing baseball in the major leagues, he didn’t hesitate to say he would obviously love the one-ina-million opportunity to play professionally, while also hinting at the fact that dream may

or may not come true.

“I would love to,” Blanton said. “I can’t sit there and worry about my shot. It’s in God’s hands.

It’s whatever he wants. I’m just gonna do my best while I’m out here, be the best college baseball player I can be and hope for the best.”

BLANTON ASPIRING TO BECOME A DOCTOR

Many athletes become so heavily engaged in their dreams of becoming a professional athlete that they fail to formulate a sufficient plan B. For Blanton, it was in high school where he began to consider what would be his backup plan if he wasn’t lucky enough to live out his dream of becoming an MLB player.

“That started in high school, and it really started with how I was raised,” Blanton said.

“Really, just remembering baseball is just a

CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 2016

Sun Belt Commissioner’s List 2013-14, 2015-16

Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll 2014-15

Blanton's academic Honors

President’s List

Spring 2015, Fall 2015

Dean’s List

Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014; Spring 2016; Fall 2016

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHELTICS

Athletic honors

game.

You can’t play the game forever. There’s more to life than just the game of baseball.”

With encouragement from his parents, Blanton is currently pursuing a career in the medical field.

“If the draft doesn’t work out for me, and I have to continue to go to school, I’m gonna try to go to [medical] school to be a doctor,” he said.

However, Blanton doesn’t stop there with his backup plans. He even has a plan C, which he said would be physical therapy or cardiac physiology.

Last summer, Blanton had the unique opportunity to shadow a doctor in Rhode Island. He considered the experience to be very insightful.

“I really appreciated the opportunity, and shadowing the doctor I just realized, that yeah, this is something that I really want to do,” Blanton said as he described his experience. “It gave me an opportunity to see the career, see what they do on a day to day basis.”

It all became evident: whether it’s playing baseball or becoming a doctor, Blanton has a promising future.

All-Sun Belt Conference (first team) 2015 Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week 2015 Sun Belt Player of the Week March 16, 2015

PAGE DESIGN BY TAISJAH WILKINS | THE SIGNAL

AT H L E T E O F T H E Y E A R

LAPORSHA WELLS “ T H E G I R L W H O C A N T H RO W W I T H T H E P R E T T Y E Y E B RO W S A N D L A S H E S ” TOBI ADEYEMI Staff Reporter

C

hoosing The Signal’s Athlete of the Year is no easy task, but certain moments throughout the year make the decision easier. One of those moments includes becoming a Sun Belt Conference champion for the sixth time over. Another one is breaking a Georgia State record, one that she already owned, and breaking it again two more times.

Maybe the biggest moment of all was becoming an USTFCCCA All-American, especially when it’s the first time in university history. These moments are what made LaPorscha Wells the 2016-2017 Athlete of the Year. Her All-American distinction is what sets her apart from the rest of the athletes, but to her, it’s not as big a deal as everyone else makes it.

“I think everybody else hypes it up so much, and I’m just like, thanks,” Wells said.

One would think the receiver of one of the most prestigious athletic accomplishments for a student-athlete would have a bit more of a joyous response, but that doesn’t mean she’s not grateful.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am so blessed, so so blessed,” Wells said. “I just don’t get that excited anymore.”

It is a very casual response to an award most athletes would die for, but a look into Wells’ past shines a light on this mindset.

THE BEGINNING

Wells had her first experience with track and field back in elementary school. She participated in her school’s softball throw in fourth grade, an event that’s for kids or athletes with disabilities and uses similar rules to a javelin throw, but instead involves throwing an actual softball.

It would be six more years before she competed again, beginning her legendary career her sophomore year at T.W. Josey High School.

“I would describe T.W. Josey as like an HBCU on a high school level,” Wells said.

Located in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia, T.W. Josey opened back in 1964. Interestingly enough, the school was opened for only black students back then, as the country was still handling segregation at the time. That is part of the reason the school reminds Wells of an HBCU, but it is also because of the athletic program there.

“Not to knock any HBCUs or take anything away,” Wells said. “Track isn’t really a huge sport. They care more about football and basketball.”

Track wasn’t the biggest thing at T.W. Josey and in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t the most significant thing to her. Outside of track meets and practices, Wells

never thought about track much. She was happy when she won but that was it. She never cared about her margins of victory and the records and accomplishments that came with them.

“Honestly, I don’t even know if Josey had records, as far as track goes,” Wells said.

T.W. Josey has a record book for track and field, and Wells’ name is written all over it. She owns both the school’s shot put and discus records and second place behind her is not even close. Wells set the discus record during the Class AAA Section East when she threw for 112 feet and 11 inches, a record that’s a 20 feet increase than the next in line. She then set the shot put record the following year when she threw for 41 feet and 3 and 1/2 inches in the high school state championship, which also made her a state champion.

Despite all the prep success, when she graduated, it still wasn’t that big of a deal to her. She took pride in her versatility by not just excelling in one sport, but making All-Region in basketball and volleyball. She took most pride in graduating as the valedictorian of her class, which was evidently a huge achievement in itself. Maybe it was because her heart wasn’t fully into it, but that would change a year later.

THE IMPACT OF GOOD COACHING

“I think I started loving track my sophomore year,” Wells said. “Around the time Coach Page first got here.”

Ricardo Page, the assistant coach to throwers and vertical jumpers, began coaching at Georgia State in 2014.

In only three years, he has made more than a lasting impression on Wells.

“Coach Page is like my dad,” Wells said. “I love that man so much. He’s done so much for me.”

Wells’ love for her coach is understandable. It wasn’t until Coach Page got here that Wells’ started breaking not only Georgia State records, but Sun Belt records as well. It was Coach Page that made her believe that she could be a force to be reckoned with. He’s been the biggest advantage to her throwing career, and the tutelage and love extends off the field.

“He’s made so many sacrifices for all of us. He was about to miss his first daughter’s birth for a track meet,” Wells said. “Like anytime I’m going through personal stuff, before I even call my mom, I talk to him. He lets me know if I’m right or even when I’m wrong. I trust in everything he says.”

Coach Page has been so influential to Wells’ life, he even has her thinking about coaching after graduation, and she knows precisely who she wants to coach under too.

“I want his job. I want Coach Page to teach me how to coach,” Wells said. “I want to learn his coaching technique.

I was throwing 50 meters in hammer, and within a year I was throwing 59, that’s a whole lot. Plus for him to be

coaching all girls is stressful, and if you can deal with a whole bunch of women, you can be the best coach in the world.”

THE FINAL CHAPTER

Before Wells can even entertain her coaching aspirations, she’s focused on more pressing matters. This outdoor season will be her last. Her tremendous career is nearly at its end, and the thought of it makes her almost tear up.

“I’m trying not to cry thinking about it,” Wells admitted.

“But honestly, I’ve already done all the crying and tears thing.”

It is a sad reality. Wells’ career is in its final chapter. It’s bittersweet for Wells, but she’s very proud of everything she has done so far. However, there is one glaring absence in her resume that has all her focus this go around.

“My last throw will be in Oregon at Nationals,” Wells said. “I’m claiming it now. Nationals is all I’m worried about. That’s when I need everything to be on perfect, and hopefully become a two-time All-American.”

A high school championship, numerous Sun Belt Conference championships, broken records on both levels, All-American distinction, and hopefully a national championship to top it all off; that’s how Wells wants to leave Georgia State. Concerning Georgia State history, Wells wants to be remembered in her own special way.

“I want to be remembered as the girl who could throw with the pretty eyebrows and lashes,” Wells said.

If you ever watched Wells throw it would make sense.

She always throws in a full face of makeup, and it’s become sort of a ritual. She started wearing lashes the summer before her sophomore year, and she says it just grew on her.

It’s so synonymous with her that even opposing schools know her by this look.

“I literally can’t compete without them,” Wells said.

“Before the indoor conference championship, I made my coach get up, early in the morning, by the way, just to take me to the beauty supply store. And he took me because he knows I can’t throw without my lashes.”

LaPorscha Wells will go down in Georgia State folklore.

She’s a success story of the highest order. She’s a six-time Sun Belt Conference champion, the highest number in Georgia State history, and still has one full season to go.

She’s a ten-time All-Sun Belt honoree, also topping Georgia State’s record. She was named an All-American, becoming the first one in Georgia State’s track and field history. She is the 2017 Panther of the Year, holding the title of the best athlete. She is the girl who can throw with the pretty eyebrows and lashes. She is also one last thing: the greatest track and field student-athlete in Georgia State history.

She’s the “G.O.A.T.” And that has the best ring to it.

WELLS REGARDED

2013 GHSA 2A shot put champion 2014 Breaks first school record in the hammer throw with a distance of 50.72m 2015 Outdoor Sun Belt Conference Track & Field Most Outstanding Field Performer 2016 Indoor Sun Belt Conference Track & Field Most Outstanding Field Performer 2017 Indoor Track & Field All-American in the weight throw

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State track & field star LaPorscha Wells wants to be ”remembered as the girl who could throw with the pretty eyebrows and lashes.” The USTFCCCA All-American and Georgia State record breaker is also in her final year and hopes to become a two-time All-American athlete when she competes at the Oregon Nationals.

AO

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SPORTS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Head Coach Roger Kincaid: The man of many trades CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

R

oger Kincaid, Georgia State softball head coach, started at Georgia State as an assistant before taking over as the head coach 10 games into the 2011 season. That season, Coach Kincaid lead Georgia State to a CAA Championship. Since then, he has won over 200 games, including 30 or more in each of his first six seasons. Kincaid had an interesting life before Georgia State; he played college football at the University of Georgia, where he also won a National Championship.

You played football at the University of Georgia and won a National Championship, so how did you get involved with softball?

Kincaid: My daughter was playing softball, and I was just a dad sitting in the stands and realized the guys that were coaching didn’t really know what they were doing. So I told my daughter, I said, ‘You know what? I think I’m going to start coaching.’ That’s how I got my start, strictly by accident, strictly because I had a daughter, but it’s been a blessing for me and my family.

Since you’ve taken over here at Georgia State, you’ve had several 30 win seasons. What do you think are some of the reasons behind that?

Kincaid: Well, I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with some good coaches who share the same philosophies that I do, who share the same work ethic that I do, and have the same belief system that I do, as far as what we want

to get accomplished. We try to create a family atmosphere and make sure that everybody feels like they belong. At the end of the day, I tell my coaches that I insist we care more about people than we do players, and I think they feel that.

I think that’s one of the things that makes us different than a lot of the teams that we play against, because I think our kids know that we do care about them and we want them to be successful not just in softball, but academically and after they leave here.

You went from a high school coach to college assistant and then a college head coach. What was that adjustment like?

Kincaid: It was different because I had always been working a full time job, plus doing the high school coach, plus doing the travel ball coach, so I was never able to spend the entire day on my passion, which was coaching. As a high school coach and a travel ball coach, you are judged by your results, but your way of making a living isn’t based on wins and losses.

The other thing that you have to know as a college coach is that you have to produce and you have to make sure that your kids are doing the right thing, and you have to win.

Who is the best athlete that you’ve been around?

Kincaid: I played with Herschel Walker at the University of Georgia, absolutely phenomenal.

I’ve never seen, heard or witnessed anybody that was in his class. The thing that was amazing to me is as good of an athlete that he was, he was probably an even better person and you don’t usually get that combination. As far as a softball player is concerned, the obvious answer is Ivie Drake. She’s the only All-American that

PHOTO BY TARILYN JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State’s Head softball Coach Robert Kincaid huddles with the team during practice.

we’ve ever had. She was an All-American her freshman year and I would compare her the same way that I said about Herschel. She’s a great athlete, but she’s probably a better person than she ever will be an athlete.

What’s it like to be able to coach at home?

Kincaid: Amazing! I was a high school coach, travel coach college coach and never had to move. It’s a pretty unbelievable story. I’ve been blessed beyond belief. My family gets to see the games. I was born in Georgia, raised in Georgia [and] went to college in Georgia. I have no desire to go anywhere but be here and it’s

awesome.

Tell me something about yourself that a lot of people don’t know?

Kincaid: I would say probably a lot of people don’t know that I did play college football. I also played baseball. I played baseball right after I got out of college up until my knees wouldn’t allow me to do that. I wanted to play baseball in college and my coaches were going to allow me to do it, but every spring it didn’t work out. The other thing people don’t know about me is that in my immediate family, I probably have 135 people. And all of them live in Metro Atlanta except for two.

Panthers take care of business at home RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor

N

o. 10 Georgia State ended this year’s Diggin’ Duals tournament with little to no imperfections. The Panthers swept Lincoln Memorial and Jacksonville State, defeating UAB 4-1 but losing the sole match of the weekend to No. 7 LSU, 3-2.

Fans of all participating schools packed the Georgia State Beach Volleyball Complex throughout the tournament, observing and cheering during sets from the three courts filled with action. Pop music, from Chris Brown to Earth, Wind & Fire played through the speakers for all in attendance to enjoy. One group of fans that stood out throughout the weekend was senior Delaney Rohan’s family, who travelled all the way from Minnesota and Pennsylvania to support one half of the team’s top duo.

“To have the Rohan Clan show up like they did for us … Each of them have a shirt on with her number and a nickname on the back and it’s just so great to see how well loved all of our athletes are and how supported they are by their families,” Georgia State Beach Volleyball Head Coach Beth Van Fleet said.

The family started chants and waves starting from the beaming sunrise on the sand courts all the way until evening shadows overtook the complex in the tournament’s later matches.

Rohan herself, however, became the story of the weekend when she ended Diggin’ Duals by

breaking the Georgia State record for career wins, as No. 79 in the match clincher against Jacksonville State.

“I still can’t believe it,” Joe Rohan, Rohan’s father, said of his daughter’s milestone. “The fact that she did it at a home tournament? So cool. In front of us. All of her fans, here at home. It was just so neat to see all of the hard work she’s done and it just came down to this.

It was just so much fun for her.”

Rohan shared her father’s excitement as well.

“I never would’ve imagined it,” she said with a growing smile with the thought of breaking the record previously held by All-Americans Sara Olivova and Jansen Button. “And I don’t want to hear it from them, they’re probably mad at me [laughs].”

In the last home matches of the season, the Panthers also honored seniors and graduate students Amie Held, Chelsea Ross, Natalie Wilson, Jessica Fourspring, and Sarah Angew during the last day of the tournament.

“It’s interesting, because our tournament is in the very first weekend of April, so we have a lot of season left. We talk a lot about how this is more of a ‘thank-you’ and an opportunity to express our gratitude for everything they’ve given to this program, but by no means is it a ‘congratulations’ or a ‘goodbye’ because we have so much more work to do,” Coach Van Fleet said.

Georgia State gets back to work April 7-8 in Tallahassee, Florida in the Florida State University invite. The last tournament of the regular season concludes with a rematch with LSU at the Battle on the Bayou April 14-15.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

SPORTS CALENDAR *CONFERENCE GAME

SPORTS EDITOR’S NBA PREDICTIONS RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

Cavs

Celtics vs. Cavs WOMEN’S TENNIS Saturday April 8 GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Appalachian State*

Morgan Brown Softball

at Mobile, Alabama 8 a.m.

Brown led the Panthers to a series win last weekend at Texas State. During the series, she batted .462 with an RBI and a run scored. The series win pushed Georgia State into the second place spot in the Sun Belt Conference. The senior outfielder majors in marketing and has made an honor roll in all but semester at Georgia State.

MEN’S TENNIS Saturday April 8 Old Dominion

at Norfolk, Virginia Noon

at Macon, georgia 6 p.m.

SOFTBALL Wednesday April 5

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BASEBALL Wednesday April 5 Mercer

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1st

Louisiana 8-0 | Overall: 25-5

Coastal Carolina 6-2 | Overall: 18-10

South Alabama 0-0 | Overall: 19-5

ULM 0-0 | Overall: 10-1

2nd

Georgia State 9-3 | Overall: 24-12

South Alabama 6-2 | Overall: 16-11

Georgia State 0-0 | Overall: 13-6

South Alabama 0-0 | Overall: 15-4

3rd

Texas State 8-3 | Overall: 25-8

Georgia Southern 4-4 | Overall: 16-11

UTA 0-0 | Overall: 13-7

Coastal Carolina 0-0 | Overall: 13-4

4th

Coastal Carolina 5-5 | Overall: 26-10

Troy 4-5 | Overall: 14-12

Appalachian State 0-0 | Overall: 10-6

Georgia State 0-0 | Overall: 10-7

5th

ULM 5-6 | Overall: 20-14

Appalchain State 3-6 | Overall: 12-16

Georgia Southern 0-0 | Overall: 16-11

Georgia Southern 0-0 | Overall: 10-8

6th

Georgia Southern 5-6 | Overall: 15-18

Georgia State 1-7 | Overall: 11-16

Coastal Carolina 0-0 | Overall: 9-7

UTA 0-0 | Overall: 8-7

7th

South Alabama 5-7 | Overall: 22-12

Texas State 6-3 | Overall: 17-11

Louisiana 0-0 | Overall: 11-9

Louisiana 0-0 | Overall: 8-8

UTA 4-7 | Overall: 18-17

Louisiana 5-3 | Overall: 15-12

Troy 0-0 | Overall: 10-9

Texas State 0-0 | Overall: 4-9

Troy 4-8 | Overall: 16-21

UTA 5-4 | Overall: 14-15

Troy 0-0 | Overall: 5-12

Appalachian State 0-8 | Overall: 12-20

ULM 4-4 | Overall: 9-19

Appalachian State 0-0 | Overall: 4-16

Arkansas State 4-5 | Overall: 14-13

Arkansas State 0-0 | Overall: 1-12

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