Vol. 82 | No. 1 by The Signal

AUG. 26 - SEPT. 2, 2014

VOL. 82 | NO. 1

Welcome back There’s more to Georgia State than books. Get pumped for these happenings we discovered around the city while you were away.

PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY THE SIGNAL Classes have begun, which means it’s time to get back to the books.

Inside Inside section A

like us! facebook.com/gsusignal

wras changes

Atlanta Artistry Save 1,000 Bucks

What happened to our radio station? How listeners reacted and the future of Album 88

Take a look into one of the most intriguing minds at Georgia State: Artist ChrissythaBlack

Learn how to keep yourself in the green and out of the red with ways to save money this semester

Check out the Panthers’ competition, line-up and strategy before they hit the grid iron Aug. 27

News | Page 3

A&L | Page 7

opinions | Page 10

Sports | section b

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 2A

Arts & Living 6A

Opinions 10A

Gear up, panthers

Sports Section B

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Local

Run or Dye 5k cancelled The Run or Dye 5k, an event where participants celebrate life by running through multi-colored stations while splashed with paint, was scheduled to be held at Turner Field on Sept. 27 but was cancelled due to low ticket sales, according to 11Alive. Hundreds want their money back, but Run or Dyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokeswoman says there is a very strict no refund policy. There will be an additional free running event held in Athens on Aug. 23.

National

Police chief shot during traffic stop Joshua Lopez shot Michael Pimental, police chief, multiple times during a traffic stop in a residential area in San Antonio, Texas Saturday afternoon, according to CNN. Lopez was pulled over by Pi-

mental for an active warrant regarding graffiti. The chief was flown to University Hospital and died the same day. Bexar County Sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office took Lopez into custody and he is now facing capital murder charges.

Global

Holocaust survivors comdemn Palestinian genocide Three hundred Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors issued a public statement of condemnation in regards to the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza, according to BBC news. More than 2,090 Palestinians have been killed in the past two weeks. The statement was given to encourage the world to boycott racist dehuminzation of Palestinians in Israel society, BCC reported. The statement also condemns the U.S. for providing Israel with funds to continue the attacks.

July 29

Aug. 13

Edgewood Avenue Southeast A report was filed for disorderly conduct. Georgia State officers saw a male exposing himself and arrested him. He was processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Woodruff Park An individual was arrested and processed for urinating in public at Woodruff Park. Police released the individual on a copy of charges.

Look away

In plain sight

Aug. 5

Aug. 13

License to Drive

Luckie Street Georgia State Police is investigating the case of a student who stated his bicycle was stolen from a rack on Luckie Street. A report for theft was filed.

Wall Street A report was filed for driving while unlicensed and operating a vehicle without insurance on Wall Street. The driver was arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County jail.

Aug. 11

Aug. 14

Bicycle Thief

Drive under, not through Cone Street A report was filed for Non-Criminal Damage to Property after a vehicle damaged a parking gate on Cone Street near the School of Music.

The other side of the law

College of Law Library A student left his book bag unattended in the Law Library and returned to find it missing. Police are investigating theft.

Aug. 16

Under the influence and disorderly conduct

S Parking Deck A report was filed for disorderly conduct and an individual being under the influence. The person was arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Aug. 18

Down the drain

University Lofts A student left her wallet in the laundry room at the University Lofts. The object was turned in but $60 was missing. The case is under investigation.

Aug. 19

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nobody texted me today!â&#x20AC;?

Student Center A report for theft was filed after a student left her phone unattended at the Petit Science Park and later realized it was stolen. The case is under investigation by Georgia State Police.

Photo of the week PHOTO BY RUTH PANNILL| THE SIGNAL The crowd listened as other protestors shared their stories of police brutality at the peaceful protest held in honor of Michael Brown in front of the CNN Center.

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WHILE YOU WERE AWAY:

THE DAY THAT

changed

WRAS 88.5 FM

ALLYSON BUSCH | THE SIGNAL WRAS managers Alayna Fabricus (right) and Alex Jackson (left) discuss the semester’s reduced schedule due to GPB’s use of the analog station from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

CIARA FRISBIE News Editor

hen members of WRAS 88.5 FM rolled out of bed on May 6, they had no idea the face of the student-run radio station they dedicated their time to would be drastically changed.

Turning back the dials: The history of Album 88 Mid ‘60s: WRAS broadcasts

from a small studio in a former classroom in Sparks Hall using the frequency of 103.3. FM (V103). Georgia State was then known as Georgia State College.

Feb. 1970: FCC grants Geor-

The day WRAS 88.5 FM changed

Student leaders and other members of WRAS gathered for a meeting in the University Center with Georgia State officials at 10:30 a.m. on May 6. Douglass Covey, vice president for Student Affairs, informed the students the university entered a two-year partnership with GPB after signing a contract on May 5. WRAS would be required to free 14 hours of analog air-time (5 a.m. to 7 p.m.) in June to broadcast GPB exclusive content, moving their analog programming to online streaming, according to the GSU-GPB contract. Recently retired operations manager of WRAS, Jeff Walker, was present during the meeting with students according to Assistant Director for Student Media Bryce McNeil, who was also present.

gia State a construction permit to operate at 19,500 watts in Georgia State’s announcetwo small studios in the current University Center (then called the ment of the GSU-GPB Student Center). Georgia State partnership files for the permit on Nov. 12, Georgia State published a uni1969. versity press release the same day the partnership was announced to March 1987: Album 88’s WRAS members. power increases to 100,00 watts “Georgia Public Broadcasting and becomes the analog station (GPB) will make its long-awaited Georgia State students, alumni debut on the Atlanta radio airwaves and Atlanta citizens tune into this June through a programming today. partnership with Georgia State sta-

tion WRAS 88.5 FM. The new alliance was announced today (May 6) at GPB’s Atlanta headquarters by GPB President and CEO Teya Ryan,” the release states. The release also states opportunities offered through the partnership include Georgia State having access to GPB resources though a GPB digitial TV station to show student productions and other university content from 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Students would also have the ability to create a weekly half-hour radio magazine program and university games would continue to be broadcasted live on the station. “The daily public radio programming on WRAS marks the first time in GPB’s 54-year history the network has been able to enter the Atlanta radio market...” the release states.

Details of the GSU-GPB contract

GSU-GPB’s contract states the university would be paid $150,000 during the initial two years of the partnership for station costs by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission (GPTC). Georgia State and GPB were still negotiating terms at the time, delaying the contract signing until May 5 and informing students the next day, according to university attorney Kerry Heyward on May 12.

continued on page 4

Timeline of events and support Aug. 7: Mayor Reed meets with leaders of WRAS. July 30: Athens-based rock band, The Whigs, cancel an in-studio live performance at GPB after #SaveWRAS Facebook page founder, Mikey Johnson, posted a call to action. June 29: GPB begins airing on WRAS; Album 88 supporters and alumni form a peaceful protest in Hurt Park at 2:30 p.m. It ends outside of the station’s office. June 27: Georgia State announces it is pursuing alternative translator frequency for WRAS 88.5 FM. June 25: Album 88 Alumni (A88A) announces alternative proposal to the GSU-GPB partnership to Georgia State administration at 10 a.m. June 19: A coalition of organizations within the music industry and A88A launches advocacy effort for WRAS for musicians to submit testimonials of how the station impacted their careers. June 11: WRAS supporters express concern over Georgia State’s improper FCC filings for WRAS 88.5 FM. June 4: Student Press Law Center (SPLC) attorney, Adam Goldstein, questions the ownership of WRAS 88.5 FM FCC license. June 2: WRAS does not send appeal to the Board of Regents regarding the GSU-GPB partnership. May 30: GPB programming is post

poned to June 29 after Covey meets with leaders of Album 88. May 26: Album 88 hosts WRAStravaganza concert in support of the station. The event raises approximately $2,000 in support of #SaveWRAS. May 24: WRAS wins the 2014 Soundtrap Madness tournament after 18 days of competing. Album 88’s streaming was a total of 88 days, nine hours and 27.13 minutes. May 16: President Becker meets with WRAS 88.5 FM in the Golden Key room in University Center at 9 a.m. to explore options for the station. May 15: #SaveWRAS raises over $2,000 at a benefit concert hosted at The Drunken Unicorn at 8 p.m. Bands included Twin Studies, Imagination Head and The Marrows. The Book of Colors also performed. May 10: Support is shown for WRAS 88.5 FM at Georgia State’s 99th commencement graduation ceremony. More than 1,000 #SaveWRAS stickers were handed out. May 8: President Becker and Andrea Jones sit down in a Q&A session with The Signal about the changes to WRAS 88.5 FM. May 8: Various social media sites create petitions to protest against the GSU-GPB partnership, including the “Stop Georgia Broadcasting’s Takeover of Iconic Radio Station Album 88 (WRAS 88.5 FM).” May 6: GSU-GPB partnership announced after signing the contract on May 5.

TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2014

University ...continued from page 3

The day that changed WRAS GSU-GPB’s partnership would continue two years after the commencement date and automatically renew until April 1, 2020, the same time the university’s FCC license would be renewed, according to Heyward. The university would be paid up to $100,000 for costs each year after the initial agreement, unless either or both parties terminate the agreement.

WRAS students, DJs and leaders react Ana Zimitravich, former general manager of WRAS, said she was one of the student leaders who attended the announcement meeting with Walker, Covey and McNeil. Many of the students were confused, upset and astonished by the university’s decision, according to Zimitravich. “It [the partnership] is taking independence away from independent music,” she said in a May 6 interview with The Signal. Marvin Evangelista, volunteer DJ and former productions director for WRAS, said he is an active member and assists other students with online content and equipment training. “My emotions went from shock to anger. How do you comment on a move like that? I am still without words... I am saddened through the fact that the university can take this approach without actually informing us,” he said in a May 6 interview with The Signal. “This kind of move makes me want to reevaluate the university and my faith in it.” Jenny Nesvetailova is the urban music director and host of Album 88’s Saturday hip-hop pro-

gram “The Message.” Nesvetailova said WRAS was a reason she attended Georgia State and has always loved listening to the station in a May 6 interview with The Signal. She attended the meeting with Walker, Covey and McNeil about the partnership. “...Shock—I couldn’t believe it. When they first said it... I couldn’t believe they did this,” she said. As urban music director, Nesvetailova is in charge of regular analog rotations, music submissions and checking on listener feedback. She said the partnership would make regular WRAS’ rotations obsolete. “We are pretty much going to lose that whole part of our radio station which is like a big part of it so I am really disappointed,” she said. “We all love music and can all get along with regards to that. Like we are all passionate about our shows that we do and just music in general and I feel like this is going to tear us apart obviously because they’re just coming in here and ruining what we’ve had for so long.”

What open records revealed Students and active listeners of WRAS said they scrutinized the university for its decision and for being uninformed of the partnership before the contract was signed May 5. Documents obtained by The Signal through open records requests (ORR) revealed GPB approached Georgia State about the channel in 2008 and Covey, Walker and Heyward discussed the current partnership starting on Oct. 24, 2012.

ORR documentation also revealed Walker spoke with Robert Butler, vice president of engineering services for GPB, via email about the partnership starting on Nov. 26, 2013. This documentation included a detailed table timeline titled “Project Task” and the emails ended on May 8, 2014. President Mark Becker, Covey and Walker responded to ORR documentation in an article published by The Signal on June 5. Covey said given the complexity of the partnership, extended discussions dating back to 2012 and planning beginning in 2013 were required. Walker did not comment.

Becker responds to negative feedback Andrea Jones, associate vice president for university public relations, and President Becker sat down in a Q&A session with The Signal on May 8. Becker said that to his knowledge, GPB had approached Georgia State for many years about a possible partnership. “The real approaches before were not as substantive as what we’ve reached as an agreement. The previous approaches included things like ‘Would you sell us the antenna?’ Literally—‘Would you sell us the license?’ because the license is what controls access to [the] 100,000 watt antenna,” he said. “I’ve probably been approached two or three times before, but what actually materialized and what has now become a realized agreement is a much more substantive partnership than just ‘GPB would like that license.’” Petitions were created and reached over 10,000 signatures. A “Boycott GPB” Facebook page

was also created and individuals asked, “Under what circumstances could the contract be voided?” “It’s not going to happen. This is a signed agreement. The agreement was signed because even though it’s not being recognized by some people right now it creates new opportunities for students,” Becker said. He also said Georgia State entered the partnership because it was good for the university and students. “It raises the university’s profile while it raises WRAS’s profile. Even though they don’t see it that way right now, it is an opportunity. If they seize the opportunity, it will raise their profile,” Becker said.

Don’t touch that dial As soon as the partnership was announced, members within the community spoke out on social media websites and began forming advocacy groups, fundraising events and showing support for Album 88. The #SaveWRAS campaign, made by a community member, officially began after the university’s May 6 announcement and has been ran in cooperation with Album 88 Alumni (A88A) to organize community events. A88A formed as a non-profit organization in June in response to the actions of Georgia State in relation to WRAS. A88A is headed by Zachary Lancaster (the board’s president), Lee Morin (secretary) and Victoria Rey (treasurer). Jez de Wolff, Gail Harris and Reid Laurens are also board members. A88A created a counter-proposal

in June, organized July protests at GPB and facilitated WRAS’s meeting with Mayor Reed in August.

Programming changes: Postponement of GPB airing on Album 88 GPB was set to air content on June 2; however, on May 30 programming was postponed to June 29 after an additional meeting was held by Covey with the WRAS students. “As it now stands, the agreement will go into effect June, the 29th, but it gives us time to look at how we’ll operationalize some of the student’s concerns,” Covey said. DJs flipped the switch on WRAS and GPB began broadcasting at 5 a.m. on June 29. A peaceful protest began in Hurt Park and ended in front of the WRAS office that day.

“You’re listening to Album 88”: The future of WRAS It has been approximately 57 days after GPB began airing on WRAS and advocacy efforts and support continue. “We are going to keep working, diligently and tirelessly, to get them to repeal this disastrous agreement and restore studentcontrolled content to WRAS’s broadcast signal 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Laurens, board member of A88A, said. The next #SaveWRAS rally will be held on Aug. 28 in Hurt Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Georgia State’s capitol, according to #SaveWRAS’s Facebook page.

University

24-hour dining hall access begins this fall LAUREN BOOKER Associate News Editor

atton Hall’s dining facility will begin 24-hour operations Monday-Thursday this fall after the new option was announced last semester, according to Susanne Paltz, assistant director of PantherDining insourced operations. Paltz said 24-hour access is being offered to enhance meal plan experience and provide students with options when they want or need to eat. Overnight hours for Patton Hall will be Mondays from 7 a.m. through Thursday at midnight. Lenore Musick, director of PantherDining said budgeting played a part in the decisions they made. “We analyzed the customer counts this past year on Fridays after 7 p.m. and they dropped off dramatically so it did not seem feasible

to be open on Friday late night,” Musick said. Patton Hall will stop 24-hour access on Friday and close at 8 p.m. London Delks, a freshman psychology major, said the 24-hour access makes her want to purchase a meal plan. “I personally like the idea of a 24 hour dining hall,” Delks said. “We all have that late night craving. Then it’s getting your full money’s worth being able to eat whenever you want.” For late night dining, Delks said she would like to see cereal, pizza and healthy options. Sophomore journalism major, Kieran Beckford, said she is in favor of the extended dining hours. “Somebody who is up late studying for a test or waking up very early for their job can grab a bite to eat,” Beckford said. “When it’s late, I usually crave cereal, pancakes, fruit, pizza and desserts.”

Grilled items such as hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza will be served at FIRED UP GRILL and salad options at Garden Patch will be offered until 2 a.m. After 2 a.m. pancakes, omelets and French toast will be served, according to Musick. Waffles and cereals will also be offered all day. For those seeking employment, PantherDining is currently accepting applications from students even though they are currently at capacity, according to Tiffany Loggins, assistant coordinator of PantherDining. “We always constantly take people on as permanent subs because especially when people change their schedules and towards the end of the semester, people are kind of dropping shifts because they need to study,” she said. “I think right now we are kind of full at capacity. We have about 70 students working at Piedmont North and about 25

“

I personally like the idea of a 24hour dining hall...we all have that late night craving. Then it’s getting your full money’s worth being able to eat whenever you want.”

working at Patton.” Patton Hall and Piedmont North’s meal plan requirements add $1,863 to the dorm’s price per semester, according to Georgia State’s website. But Beckford also said she does not think the meal plan should be mandatory for those staying in Piedmont North and Patton Hall. The seven-day and five-day meal plan price has increased by

-London Delks $34 from the previous school year’s price. Currently the price for a yearlong meal plan is $3,726 for sevenday dining and $3,524 for five-day dining, according to the PantherDining website. Paltz said the 24-hour access will not impact pricing for students at this time. Meal plans are a full year commitment and gives diners unlimited “all you care to eat” access.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

University

Students asked to voice their opinions about mtvU’s proposal FERNANDO MATTOS Associate News Editor

tudents were asked to voice their opinions about mtvU’s proposal to display the college channel on Georgia State campus, according to Boyd Beckwith, Director of the Student*University Center. The Advisory Council will vote in September. “We have not agreed to anything at this point. We want to get student opinion first. That is why I brought the proposal to the Advisory Council,” Beckwith said. David Murkison, Associate Director for the Building of Ad-

ministration, said Georgia State students would have several advantages with the mtvU partnership. “mtvU has music and shows that cater towards the modernday college students. They also have a number of promotions and events that college students can benefit from,” he said. The channel would be displayed on two Samsung LED flat screens to be installed in the Student Center Courtyard area by mtvU, according to David Murkison, Associate Director for the Building of Administration. All services mtvU is looking to provide would be at no cost to

Georgia State, according to Kirsten Mullarkey, mtvU Distribution and Marketing Manager. Mullarkey said in addition to the channel, the televisions can promote Georgia State events and show campus emergency alerts through an on-screen digital messaging system. She also said the content in the channel is created by students for students with adveritsing limited to less than 8 minutes every hour. mtvU’s ads will not feature alcoholic beverages or substances, tobacco or guns. “We want students to know this is a great opportunity to bring something new to campus that

does not cost the university any funds!” she said. Dave Rajkumar, a recent graduate from Georgia State’s film and video program, said the presence of the channel on campus is an opportunity for media students. “Overall I think this partnership will draw more film students to GSU and it would be a huge thing for the film department,” he said. “I feel that this partnership will definitely benefit GSU and the students that are in the entertainment field.” Mullarkey said the channel has programs dedicated to problems students are concerned with. Senior Dean Marais, a business

major, said the channel may not be a positive for Georgia State because of possible exploitation. “I don’t think they care about students at all, and this will be another way for them to exploit students,” Marais said. “The fact that it comes at no cost to the university should be a red flag in my opinion. Nothing is free in this world.” Beckwith said if students feel strongly about the decision they should contact him via email at bbeckwith@gsu.edu before the next meeting in September.

City

TEDxPeachtree offers scholarships to local Atlanta students LAUREN BOOKER Associate News Editor

tlanta-area college students will have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to attend a TEDxPeachtree event on Oct. 17 at the Buckhead Theatre, according to Catherine Smith, a marketing representative. The event’s theme will be ‘Illuminate!’, according to Smith. “We have 12 speakers in the fields of science, technology, art and design who will be speaking to that in 12-18 minute talks. In between,

there will be music and experiences and lots of networking,” she said. The deadline to apply for the scholarship online is Sept. 15. Regular ticket price for the event is $139 until Sept. 21 and $159 afterwards, according to Smith. “There will be over 500 people at the event and it sells out every year,” she said. The speakers of the event include Shannon Zirbel, a mechanical engineering doctoral student and Erico Mattos, an agronomic engineering graduate. Adam Marcus, an associate professor who studies cancers, will also be speaking, accord-

City

Campus Bubble hosting a gathering of Atlanta student leaders FERNANDO MATTOS Associate News Editor

ampus Bubble will host a gathering of student leaders from Atlanta colleges on Sept. 10 near the Georgia State campus, according to Spencer Barkoff, CEO of the company. “The goal of the leadership gathering is to facilitate dialogue between student leaders across the Atlanta area,” Barkoff said. “While many Atlanta colleges are in close proximity of each other, there is a lack of conversation and community.” The company developed an app which allows students and college staff to know what is happening around campus such as events and parties, according to their advertising video. “Campus Bubble was built to

keep students informed about all the great things happening around campus and increase engagement throughout the university community,” Barkoff said. The company presented the app to Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) last spring. However, SGA decided to keep the current system, OrgSync, in place, according to SGA’s president Lanier Henson. Georgia State is currently not using the OrgSync to its fullest potential, according to Henson. “This year’s executive board has plans to fully integrate the current system we have at Georgia State rather than trying to replace it,” he said. Henson also said he does not plan to attend the conference as of Aug. 22.

ing to TEDxPeachtree’s website. Chantell Rytter, the creator of the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade and Ion Popian, an artist with a master’s degree in architecture, will speak. Genna Duberstein, a multimedia producer, will be another speaker, the website states. TEDx is an independently prepared program made to create an experience similar to TED events, according to the website.

“

I feel there will be over 500 people at the event and it sells out every year.” -Catherine Smith

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

The Signal’s 2014

Dragon Con by Sydney Cunningham and Nicole Motahari

PHOTO BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL ARCHIVES Dragon Con comes to downtown Atlanta for the extended weekend of Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 and features panels and programming about science fiction and fantasy.

Why go to Dragon Con?

ver the years, sci-fi conventions have soared in attendance and media attention. The events have escalated from the intimacy of an independent comic store to stadium participation. While Comic-Con is the West Coast’s answer to passionate fans, Dragon Con is the answer for the South. The multi-genre convention is

held at Atlanta’s Downtown district at the Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Marriott Marquis, the Sheraton Atlanta and the Westin Peachtree Plaza. And whether you’re into sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, Brit television or all of the above, Dragon Con offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Founded in 1987, Dragon Con 2014 will run from Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, so it’s time to start planning.

Things to do Cosplay: One of the most beloved pastimes at cons are dedicated fans dressing up as beloved fictional, pop culture and sci-fi characters. Shopping and walking the exhibit and dealer’s rooms where you can purchase art, comics, books and collectibles Sit in to hear celebrities and guests speak on panel stages. Gaming tournaments Writing workshops Late night concerts all nights Film and television screenings While the writing workshops and screenings are always fun, the panels are always a big hit. Oftentimes the line will even reach all the way around the block for a panel with popular actors. Once you block off the panels you’re interested in, make sure you get there early enough to get good seats! The dances are always fun, whether it is the Heroes and Villains Ball or the smaller but cozier Middle Earth Dance Party. Just remember that the MARTA stops running at 1 a.m., so if you don’t want your ride to turn into Cinderella’s pumpkin, you should make plans accordingly.

PHOTO BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL ARCHIVES The audience watched at some of their favorite characters march down the road during the 2013 Dragon Con parade.

The Annual Dragon Con Parade: Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. Dragon Con Burlesque: A Glamour Geek Revue: Saturday, Aug. 30 at 11:55 a.m. Wrestling: On Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. there will be various wrestling matches including a first ever Girls Against Boys 6 way. Night at Georgia Aquarium: Aug. 30, 7-11 p.m. Come celebrate a night of music, dancing, art releases and a costume contest ended by a live dive event in the whale shark tank! DJ parties until dawn: Check out live DJ parties after the last concert of the evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and party until the

Who to See

Amy Acker: popular actress of Joss Whedon, of “Angel” and “The Cabin in the Woods” fame. Colin Baker: played the 6th incarnation of “Doctor Who” Patrick Stewart: celebrated film and theater actor, most known for “Star Trek” as Jean Luc Picard and Charles Xavier of “X-Men.” Tricia Helfer: Cylon Number Six on “Battlestar Galactia” Evanna Lynch: Luna Lovegood in the “Harry Potter” franchise Giancarlo Espostito: Gustavo Fring on “Breaking Bad” Julie Benz: Actress known for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, “Dexter”, “Jawbreaker”, and currently “Defiance”

TIPS For Attendance Pre-Plan: Pre-planning is the best way to keep yourself on track. Go on the website a few days before the convention and take a look at which tracks and panels you’re interested in so you can plan accordingly. The Pocket Program might vary from what actually is going on, so invest in the free apps for the Con that are more up to date. Wear comfortable walking shoes: You’ll be on your feet all day walking from one panel to another and possibly dancing in the evenings, so take care of your means of transportation! Seriously, the app is your best friend: Before the Con starts, the printed program is already out of date, but the app is constantly updating to let you know the latest on panels, guests and concerts. Realize you will not get to see everything: At most, you will make 3-4 panels a day. The trick is to pick your absolute must-sees and then just let the flow of the convention take you where you’re meant to be. Keep your badge safe: If you lose your badge, you will have to purchase a new one, so keep it on a lanyard or clip it your costume and secure it safely. Relax and just have fun. Make new nerdy friends, get photos with your favorite celebrities, dance the night away and enjoy yourself!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL Visual artist Chrissy Brimmage, who goes by the pseudonym “ChrissythaBlack”, experiments with a multitude of painting styles.

Fade to Black

A look into the aesthetics of Chrissy Brimmage JOHNNY AVERY GIPSON Arts & Living Editor

large, black octopus waves back and forth, gently dancing through the air. It moves in rhythm with the slender, pallid arm guiding it; the arm of ChrissythaBlack. To the average viewer, it would seem as if Junior Managerial Science major Chrissy Brimmage were a seasoned expert at the art of painting; but ironically, Brimmage states that in her earliest years, she never imagined becoming a visual artist. “Looking back, I actually wasn’t very good at drawing when I was young,” Brimmage said. “I’ve always been creative, but in different ways. I really liked designing cakes, sewing, interior design, things like that.” Brimmage has been painting for nearly two years now but claims that it wasn’t until her latest high school years that she became interested in visual artistry, specifically drawing and painting. “My senior year of high school I was grounded for a very long time, so I had an endless amount of time to myself,” Brimmage explained. “I decided to practice drawing to keep myself busy and I’ve loved it ever since.” Brimmage also explained how her pseudonym “ChrissythaBlack” also had origins from high school. “The nickname came in a random way,” Brimmage said. “A close friend I met in high school asked me what my name was, and it reminded him of ‘Chrissy the Black’ from ‘Everybody Hates Chris’. Ever since then I adopted it as my artist name.” Although Brimmage started from humble beginnings in the suburbs, she says that her relocation from quiet Kennesaw, Georgia to Georgia State was also a major catalyst for her interest in drawing. “Once I moved to Atlanta, I met amazing artists like PaperFrank and another friend of mine, Lori,”

Brimmage said. “They inspired to take on painting. That’s where it began for me.” Although her artistic voice continues to grow throughout the city of Atlanta, Brimmage still believes that female artists lack the recognition they deserve in the community. “Atlanta has a great music and art scene,” Brimmage said. “That being said, there are still a lot of issues here like the fact that there are no prominent female visual artists in Atlanta. There’s a lot of potential here, but I believe a lot our generation doesn’t really know how to act on its thoughts and use its voice.” Aside from her artistic pursuits, Brimmage is also highly involved with the Georgia State community; formerly an Infinite Appeal model and sister of the Softer Touch program, Brimmage is currently the President of Georgia State’s NSCS chapter and founding member of Georgia State’s ‘Wismaker’s’ program. Brimmage says the whirlwind of activities in her life often conflict with her true passion and impede her artistic growth. “Sometimes it’s very conflicting,” Brimmage said. “I wanted to be an art major when I first enrolled, but everyone told me it was a bad idea. I decided not to, but now I see it as an advantage. Studying business, I’m learning how to manage myself as an artist, better handle my funds and create my own brand. At the end of the day I’m not getting my degree to sit in an office, so ultimately it doesn’t affect me.” Staying true to her unorthodox lifestyle, Brimmage decided to study abroad in Thailand this past June, citing another young female artist as her inspiration to travel to the Far East. “I was really inspired after one of my favorite artists, Stella Blu, went to Thailand,” Brimmage said. “I fell in love with the pictures I saw her posting on Twitter and I had this weird conviction that I needed to go, like something was waiting for me there.” Despite the suspense that was brewing deep within her, Brimmage

states that upon her arrival, there wasn’t a singular event that defined her experience in Thailand. “There wasn’t a specific thing I found or saw when I got there, but I felt like I was gaining the next piece on a scavenger hunt,” Brimmage said. “I was finding the next clue to who I want to be in life and I got to get out my comfort zone; I was exposed to so many new experiences.” Although Brimmage appreciated the totality of her journey to Thailand, she still could point out several things she enjoyed the most. “I loved everything there. The people are nice, the food is spectacular and the landscape is beautiful,” Brimmage said. “My favorite thing was how in tune with their culture the Thai people are. Over there, they fight to the death to preserve their cultural identity. Everything they do in society is engrained with their culture; that’s not so much the case in America.” Despite the comfort Brimmage felt while studying in Thailand, she claims that after returning to America, she feels more lost than ever. “Ever since I came back from Thailand, I haven’t really had any idea of where to go with myself,” Brimmage said. “That kind of applies to everything, but especially artistically. I’m kind of dissatisfied with a lot of my previous work, but I’m not quite sure why.” Brimmage couldn’t identify the source of her apprehension, candidly brushing it off as “being an artist”. “I can’t really say specifically what it is I dislike about them,” Brimmage said. “One thing frustrating me is the fact that I’m not skillfully able to produce many of the concepts that I visualize in my head just yet. My old work feels stale to me, but the Wireframe drawings I’ve been making recently are giving me new hope.” ‘Wireframe’ is a form of drawing that emphasizes precise contour lines and straight-edge geometry. Brimmage said that the inspiration for her new style came to her in a dreamlike state, in the peak hours of

the night. “After I finally settled back home, I tried to paint but nothing was working,” Brimmage said. “I was up really late one night and I was half asleep. I was lucid-dreaming and began to envision the entire world in lines. I drew a piece the next morning and I loved it. I feel like I can speak more through the Wireframe style. It’s my own thing, my own look, completely original.” Among her recently constructed Wireframe pieces is a peculiar drawing of an Octopus, an animal that Brimmage claims to be her “spirit animal.” It is considerably difficult to disbelieve her as an intricate black Octopus tattoo covers the entirety of her right forearm. “I’ve always related to them. Learning about them made me learn a lot about myself, as strange as that

RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL The move from Kennesaw, Georgia to downtown Atlanta helped catapult Brimmage’s interest in painting.

sounds,” Brimmage said. “They’re really shy, they love adventure and they have a strong duality to them just like me. I discovered my interest in them around the same time that I started drawing, so they will be forever entwined with me.” Although Brimmage’s artistic style continues to evolve and develop, she continues to take her time exposing her work. As a conscious young artist, she understands the impact that her artistic expression can have on her surroundings. “I’m not really pressed to have my art displayed anywhere just yet. I’ve done a few shows, but I don’t want to jump the gun,” Brimmage said. “I don’t want my first show to be lukewarm or I put out pieces that I’m not in love with. You don’t get that first impression back and I want to find out what I’m trying to say before I begin speaking artistically.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

event column

BECCA LONG Columnist

Becca is a junior who enjoys indulging the art communities around the city while interacting with fellow Atlantans. Follow her @becclong

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Back to school events you don’t want to miss

5 J

ust in time for class, Atlanta welcomes you back to Georgia State with an overflowing calendar of events. Shake off that summer daze and reacquaint yourself with Atlanta’s music and art culture with these five happenings throughout the city:

Music Midtown

Matching its diverse audience, the lineup for this year’s Music Midtown includes the talents of Lana Del Rey, Run DMC and John Mayer. Set on the green of Piedmont Park, this two-day music festival brings together Atlantians from all ends of the city. With over 22 acts, this year will not disappoint. The experience of dancing to an artist’s live music as the sun goes down over the midtown skyline is dreamlike. Don’t be afraid to go solo because attending this festival means you’ll be making friends at every stage. If you’re dying to bust out your fancy moves with Iggy Azalea or sway to Lana’s haunting croon, check out the Music Midtown website (http://www. musicmidtown.com/) for more information and mark Sept. 19 - 20 on your calendar. Don’t forget to pick up The Signal’s Music Midtown issue on Sept. 16!

First Thursday Downtown Art Walk

Weave in and out of downtown’s innovative art galleries during the first Thursday of the month. From 5 - 8 p.m. a select group of galleries including The Rialto Center for the Arts and Georgia State’s Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Gallery host a free and easy-going way to engage our local art community. This event is a self-guided tour with locations all along the route of downtown. To a first-timer, I would suggest briefly checking out all of the open spaces and taking note of which galleries seem most intriguing to you. Next time you go, spend more time in those locations. Stop at any of the participating galleries to check out the contemporary art, chat with local artists and consume complimentary beverages. For a complete list of galleries, like the event’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DowntownFirstThursdays) and stay up to date.

Sounds from the Underground

Jamming at the Elliott Street

Deli & Pub the second Monday of the month are the jazz musicians of Sounds from the Underground. Throughout the semester, this neighborhood favorite provides listeners with hours of improvisation and solace. The event starts at 9 p.m. with no cover charge. So show up early, buy a drink and settle in. Afterwards, hang out and mingle with Atlanta’s jazz pioneers and lovers. Check out the event’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/soundsfromtheunderground) to see which local musicians will be playing this month.

College Night

Once a semester, The High Museum of Art throws a night of interactive art and music for college students. For a small charge, this event has a lot of different facets. From live performances throughout the galleries to salsa dancing lessons to a DIY DJ Station, The High throws a good party. However, the aesthetic pleasure of hanging out in the galleries is not limited to the paintings on the wall--students from different col-

leges throughout Atlanta dress the part and wear wickedly interesting attires. This is a great opportunity to try out those fashion choices that have otherwise occupied the back of your closet. The date has not yet been released for this semester’s College Night, but I highly encourage you to check their website (https://www.high.org/) and keep an eye out for it.

Parklife

This is the inaugural year for the Parklife music festival which will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7. Advanced tickets start at $25. I’m looking forward to sneaking in this extra festival before I dish out for Music Midtown. Presented by Eddie’s Attic (my favorite Atlanta venue) and Bowe Inc., this new addition to the music scene will be held in Central Park at Atlantic Station. Musicians include Jake Bugg, LP and The Lone Bellow. When else will the opportunity arise to attend the first year of a promisingly legendary festival? If you would like to be a part as well, check out their website (http://parklifefest.com/) and grab a ticket.

Sex column

Summer romance all year long S 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

ummer is the best time of the year to meet new friends or to start a new summer romance. Summer romance is just more exciting to me— the weather is warmer, you feel freer, you wear fewer clothes and you have more confidence. Short-term relationships just seem easier in the summer. But as the season comes to an end, you’re faced with the hard decision of maintaining that relationship, especially if that means starting a long-distance one. If the relationship feels real, there is no reason you shouldn’t try and maintain the summer romance into the fall. The hardest part of a summer romance is realizing that once summer is over and you go back to the real world of classes, your job and a limited amount of social time, the relationship will change. But just because the frame of a relationship changes doesn’t mean that the relationship won’t work. I met an awesome guy. The only problem was that he lived in Sweden and I lived here. We were 4,000 miles away from each other. We had to figure out if we wanted to continue to date, and if we did, how we would do it. The first step for a smooth transition is to be clear with your partner about your expectations of the re-

lationship and listen to theirs. By being completely upfront about these expectations, you can avoid disappointment later in the relationship. Boundaries are a good area to begin the talk. Do you want to be exclusive or keep it casual? Most people enter a summer relationship because it’s casual and fun, and you can keep that fun going once you get back to your regular routine. The Swede and I set strict boundaries—what we wanted from the relationship and that we wouldn’t date other people to give ourselves time to figure out where our relationship was going. The relationship started as a fling but turned into something more serious. The distance wasn’t the hardest part of the relationship with the Swede, thanks to Skype. I never used Skype so much in my life as I did after I started my long-distance relationship. But what about when we wanted to be sexual with one another? Unfortunately the distance made us unable to be together physically, but we learned how to play together with our cameras. We pulled out our toys and had Skype sex, a sort-of technologically advanced type of phone sex. He would tell me what positions he wanted to see me in and I’d tell him where I want-

ed him to finish. We would role-play and I’d dress up to strip for him. It wasn’t as good as the real act of sex, but it was very hot. Honestly, it made us want each other more, both sexually and emotionally. If your partner happens to live in the same city as you, there are always ways to keep the summer love going strong. Plan weekend getaways that give you the feeling of summer freedom in the middle of fall or winter. Go on a date to a museum or a music festival. These dates will give you time out of your busy schedule and relax with your partner. Keep the summer relaxing going in the bedroom too. Turn up the heat and use ice cubes to outline your partner’s body. If you’re a woman, ask your partner to use the ice during oral sex. I like to do this during winter when the heat is cranked in my apartment. Your body naturally heats up when you’re turned on, making the ice extremely intense, especially when it goes inside of you. Summer romance doesn’t have to end when summer does. The real question you and your partner should ask each other is if you want to give the summer romance a chance to become a relationship of all seasons.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

ALBUM REVIEW

Karma to Burn, “Arch Stanton” ALEX KUGACZEWSKI

Associate Arts & Living Editor

Release Date: Aug. 15, 2014 Grade: B Verdict: With “Arch Stanton”, Karma to Burn prove their competency as a meat and potatoes stoner metal band

ollowing up two ponderous, unsuccessful records has to make for an interesting time in the studio. On the one hand, it may be tempting to simply refine the same approach in hopes that yesterday’s failure wasn’t an utter disaster but just a near-missing of the sonic bull’s-eye. More often than not, however, bands return to the comforting familiarity of their roots. For Hicksville, Virginia’s Karma to Burn, that means reconnecting to the primordial urgency and cannabis-infused riffage of their first three records and their youthful vitality. The band’s sixth fulllength album, “Arch Stanton,” finds Karma to Burn doing exactly that. Throughout the record, volcanic riffs, courtesy of axe-man Will Mecum, surge and snap over winding, propulsive bass in sinister, darkened tones. Cymbals crash and fall in a savage dance around the pounding rhythms. Each instrument comes together for smoldering jam after smoldering jam. In its 37-minute run-time, not a single vocal melody is anywhere to be heard. “Arch Stanton” never pretends to be something

other than what it is: A meat and potatoes heavy rock album. That’s certainly not a count against it though, especially when the record jams as hard as it does. Nowhere is the band’s renewed energy more clearly felt than in Arch Stanton’s opening track “Fifty Seven.” Charging straight through the gates of amplifier-worship with commanding authority, the song cements itself as a wall-shaking hit as it barrels forward at breakneck pace. Moreover, it’s a statement of purpose for the band, who for the past few years seemed teetering on the edge of irrelevancy. Elsewhere, “Fifty Five” may just win out as one of the year’s leanest metal cuts, riding along an irresistible groove and one of the year’s meanest guitar licks. If any criticism should be leveled at Karma to Burn’s sixth album, it’s that the record never dares to venture beyond the confines of its predecessors and certainly not from its source material. Listeners harboring even a vague familiarity with the stoner metal genre will undoubtedly feel they have heard this album before – and for all intents and purposes, they probably have. More than twenty years in, Karma to Burn may not run on innovation, but it does run on the power of a distorted guitar. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

MOVIE REVIEW

LET’S BE

COPS

Rating: R Running time: 94 mins. Grade: DVerdict: After all is said and done, let’s NOT be cops! PEDRO ALVARADO Staff Reviewer

o call “Let’s Be Cops” a horrible movie is an insult to the word itself. The film feebly tells the story of Ryan (Jake Johnson) and Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.), two down-and-out college graduates from Ohio trying to make it big in Los Angeles. Most of what makes the movie a disaster is the screenplay written by Luke Greenfield and Nicholas Thomas. For starters, look to its lack of plausibility; during the weeks it takes for the course of events to unfold, these two boneheads—with no criminal or law enforcement experience—get away with impersonating police officers and responding to incidents while driving a police cruiser purchased on Ebay and decorated at Kinko’s. Now the L.A.P.D. has oft been accused of being corrupt, but they’ve never been

accused of being plain old stupid. This is what makes it difficult to believe that these “not cool enough to be frat boys” could get away with this far-fetched, hair-brained scheme. Even if they could fool the police, they’d never get over on the criminals. The next problem with the screenplay is the development of the main characters. Typically, people who move from middleAmerica to Los Angeles do so with dreams of stardom. They want to make it big in music and/or movies. But that’s not the case here. Justin moves to L.A. to pursue video game design and Ryan moves for no apparent reason whatsoever. Justin’s career would probably have been better served by a move to northern California, but at least he’s got a job working in the industry. Ryan, on the other hand, is just there; he’s done one TV commercial that made him the $11,000 he’s been living off of for two years. Screenplay flaws aside, the next greatest contributing factor to this suckfest is the acting. Jake Johnson’s portrayal of Ryan as

an obnoxious, delusional, former college football star is just laughable—and not in a good way. Ryan is supposed to come across as a misunderstood, lovable doofus but instead is played as an insufferable moocher whose entire existence revolves around sucking the life out of his best friend. If this film had been made 10–15 years ago, Vince Vaughn would have been perfect as Ryan. Johnson’s performance wasn’t the only one that was lackluster as Damon Wayans Jr. did not appear to be up to his usual standard. Just about everyone makes the assumption that any person with the last name Wayans is funny, and for good reason, but this particular performance did not honor the family tradition. His delivery read as a “best of ” other Wayans’ performances. Keenan, Damon Sr., Shawn and Marlon were all on the screen, embodied by their nephew/son. Had this movie been written and/or directed by an elder Wayans, Damon Jr. would probably have been brilliant. Alas, it wasn’t.

AMP LIVE Headphone Concerto

2 3

ALBUMIN Celebration

4 5

BISHOP ALLEN Lights Out FALTYDL In The Wild

JIM-E-STACK Tell Me I Belong

7 8

SPIDER BAGS Frozen Letter

10TH LETTER Corpus Animus

ALLISON MAY Loved/Dark

THE ACID Liminal

BEAR IN HEAVEN Time is Over One Day Old

SHONEN KNIFE Overdrive

12 13 14 15

V/A - VOL. III: LA VEM A ONDA. V/A - Vol. III: La Vem A Onda FIELD MOUSE Hold Still Life KODOMO Patterns & Light SOFT AS SNOW Glass Body

V/A - ACOUSTIC DIVISION SAMPLER Acoustic Division Sampler

ALEX G DSU

V/A - PDX POP NOW PDX Pop Now 2014

WRAY WRAY

XENO & OAKLANDER Par Avion

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Free textbooks for all!

Why the university should provide free textbooks for its students

W NICOLE MOTAHARI Opinions 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.

ith the back-to-school hubbub, many students are struggling to pay for tuition and fees, so the biggest go-to as far as cutting corners financially is textbooks. People are turning to used books and e-books as an alternative for spending the supposed amount of $500 (usually more) per semester if they purchased their textbooks new from the bookstore. However, Fulton County public elementary, middle and high schools all have textbooks provided to them by the county at no cost to the students. As a public institution, Georgia State ought to be entitled to the same benefits as grade-level education. Lori Cox, librarian of North Springs Charter High School, explained their textbook distribution process to me. “Students come on Gear-up (open house) days and bring their schedule to the gym where tables are set up with each course’s textbooks,” Cox said. “Each textbook has a barcode in the back and gets assigned to them and checked out like a library book. If they lose the book, they pay full cost of replacing it.” While it is understandable that a university is a much larger scale and that textbook distribution might not be completely practical, there are other alternatives to the university providing physical textbooks for their students. With the tablet costs on the decline as fancier models come out, it shouldn’t be hard for Georgia State to negotiate a deal with a provider to provide tablets to students for the duration of the year and provide textbooks in e-book format for free. Each tablet has a code and is checked out to the student like a library book. If the student loses or breaks the tablet, they must pay full cost for replacing it. While the process would be up to the university

to implement, the current student bookstore could be instead turned into a textbook library and students could retain their jobs, they would just become student librarians instead. The funds for purchasing the tablets may be raised via a mixture of student fees and fundraiser donations. Students pay around $277 per semester for athletic fees, but they might never walk into the Recreation Center or join a sports team over the course of their college career. Instead, I believe that if the athletic fee is cut back slightly and the amount cut is added to the

technology fee, we can afford to make providing textbooks possible. While Athletics are fantastic and I believe them to be an integral part of the university culture, I think that the proposed $300 million renovation of Turner Field could be simplified and excess budget funds could be put toward something that would help all students to succeed academically. The textbook struggle has been a problem for generations, and it’s time for the administration and the government to finally take a hand in helping decrease the fiscal challenges faced by students over the course of their university career.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL AUBREY | THE SIGNAL

Dollars and sense with Mitch

Save $1,000 this semester

This one won’t save you much money, but it will cut out a lot of hassle and annoying fees in your future. Switching to a credit union or online bank, such as Delta Community CU or Capital One 360, with no annual fees and no minimum balance needed is a great way to save. I still wonder why people out there pay fees to Bank of America or Wells Fargo each month when there are so many other banking options that don’t prey on their customers. Savings: $100/year

Carpool or use public transportation. If you’re a commuter from Cobb or Gwinnett county, their respective transit shuttles are a cheap, efficient way to get to Atlanta each day. Inside the perimeter, MARTA is a great alternative and will save you on gas. If you must drive to school, avoid the exorbitant parking fees and try parking at Turner Field for free if you can avoid the peak usage times— otherwise it’s not worth the headache. Savings: $150/semester

AUBREY | THE SIGN AL

Follow him @madmoneyATL

Switch banks.

Unless your goal is to have a bookshelf when you’re retired full of near-mint textbooks, there’s no reason not to buy your books used or rent textbooks. $386 for Principles of Accounting? Hopefully there’s a chapter on bankruptcy in there! Rent books online and save like crazy. Savings: $200-300/semester

ILLU Free stuff at school. STR AT ION Cut back on leisure acBY tivities and do something fun on campus—for free! The recreation center will keep you occupied forever, Cinefest screens free movies to students all semester and there are even great art exhibits and musical performances at the Rialto Center that many students overlook. Savings: $250/ semester (easily)

EL HA IC

Mitch is a senior 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

Don’t be a sucker by buying new textbooks.

MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist

t’s a new semester here at Georgia State. For some, it’s a first semester with new beginnings. Wherever you are in your college career, I want to let you know it’s not too late to get yourself on track to financial success! To prove this, I want everyone to set a financial goal for the semester. If you’re stuck and can’t think of a goal, I’ve got a great one that will shock your savings system and re-train your brain to start thinking in a fiscally responsible way. We’re going to save $1,000 this semester! First things first, let’s knock out the easy ones. Cutting our daily spending habits is a great first step. Oftentimes, seemingly small expenses add up. Simply switching to a cheap alternative can save almost $200 over the semester!

Lastly, you could effectively forget all about this and just apply for a scholarship. If you don’t cringe at the sight of the word ‘scholarship’ that is. Scholarships aren’t just for savants and you don’t have to be a child prodigy to snag one or two. Considering the low time requirements compared to high price rewards of your typical $1,000 scholarship, it should be a goal to apply to at least five scholarships per semester. Savings: $1,000+ !

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Great expectations: What are you looking forward to this year? What are you most looking forward to this school year?

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

Follow her @MiaMore09

o those that are returning to the Georgia State Campus: Welcome back! And to all those new to the Panther family, we welcome you! At the beginning of every semester I set semester goals, aiming to do better than the previous semester. Whether the change is small (like smile more) or something that requires more effort (like spending more hours studying), I set my goals. In true “Mia fashion,” I’m interested in what my peers are doing to prepare for this year. So I asked three people from different years and majors about their goals.

Wanda Louis, junior transfer and psychology major: “I am mostly looking forward to completing my BS in Psychology and to gaining as much experience for my field. I am excited to experience all the great things that I always hear about at GSU. Also, I wouldn’t mind networking with some of the future doctors, lawyers, writers, artists, etc.” Marie Green, senior english major: “Learning more about digital media.” Ke’Amber Moses, sophomore biology major: “I’m looking forward to making changes to my life and really discovering the world around me. I’ve made a lot of goals for this year and the mission is to complete all of them.”

What are some improvements or changes you hope to see? Any concerns or expectations?

Moses: “I hope to see more school spirit at all sporting events and numerous wins from the GSU football team.” Louis: “I’ve had some doubts about whether or not GSU is the right

place for me... I guess after a woman in the advisement office insulted me by ripping a piece of paper for me to wipe off my red lip gloss, I was almost through with GSU. However, I strongly believe in second chances. So my only concern is wondering if choosing to be a Panther was the correct decision to continue my path to success.”

What is your advice to freshmen or any students new to the university?

Green: “Space out core and elective classes. It’ll make it easier to schedule later while still exposing you to different fields along the way.” Moses: “Get involved and see what’s really out there! Georgia State has so much to offer. You just have to take control of all the opportunities placed in front of you.” It seems everyone is looking forward to Georgia State living up to their expectations and advancing their major. I too am looking forward to all these things and I want to wish you all—faculty, staff, and students—a prosperous and successful year! Share your semester expectations on Twitter @SignalOpinions!

Panther Welcome is the official Georgia State University welcome program which introduces and integrates students, faculty, and staff to the campus community and the downtown Atlanta area. Find us on facebook: /PantherWelcome Follow us on twitter: /PantherWelcome

pantherwelcome.gsu.edu

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

try me week: instructional clinics at the rec center Registration starts Monday, Aug. 25 and ends Monday, Sept. 22

Aquatics Classes: Registration Open Aug. 26 - 31 Recreation Center

Instructional Clinics: Registration Open Aug. 26 - 31 Recreation Center

Intramurals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Phase 1: Registration Open Aug. 26 - 31 Recreation Center

Try Me Week

Registration Open Aug. 26 - 31 Recreation Center

Iyengar Yoga

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 9 a.m.

Flow Yoga

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 1 p.m.

Yin Yoga

Hatha Yoga

Power Yoga

Flow Yoga

Belly Dance

Hatha Yoga

Yin Yoga

Evening at the Rec

Beginner Salsa

Ballroom Dance

Vinyasa

Kripalu Yoga

Intermediate Salsa

Hip Hop

Vinyasa

Lotus Self Defense

Hapkido

Intramural Sports Showcase and Dodgeball Tournament

Mixed Martial Arts

Yoga Mix

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 5:30 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 6 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 7 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 25, 2014 Recreation Center 8 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 11:30 a.m.

Boxing

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 3 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 4 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 5:30 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 7 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 26, 2014 Recreation Center 2 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 27, 2014 Recreation Center 9 a.m.

Try me free Aug. 27, 2014 Recreation Center 11 a.m.

Try me free Aug. 27, 2014 Recreation Center 1 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 27, 2014 Recreation Center 2:30 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 27, 2014 Recreation Center 5:30 p.m.

Hapkido

Try me free Aug. 28, 2014 Recreation Center 11:30 a.m.

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Our most coveted back page is up for grabs, darlings. imagine this being shared on a fancy yacht. with mojitos. For more information, visit www.georgiastatesignal.com/advertising If you have any questions, contact our advertising coordinator at signaladvertisingco@gmail.com

cheers!

Try me free Aug. 28, 2014 Recreation Center 3 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 28, 2014 Recreation Center 4 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 28, 2014 Recreation Center 5:30 p.m.

Try me free Aug. 29, 2014 Recreation Center 12 p.m.

www.georgiastatesignal.com/ sports

tailgating the smart way The Signal’s guide to tailgating, from the menu to where to be, plus guidelines and more!

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Large cleats to fill This year’s receiving corps hopes to step up following Albert Wilson’s departure into the NFL

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New competition this year The Panthers’ rivals this year will include three new teams in the Sun Belt Conference

pages 6B-7B Photo:

Shawayne Lawrence, the defensive end for Georgia State’s football team, along with the rest of the team prepares for the upcoming season. PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY THE SIGNAL

GEAR

UP! THE SIGNAL’S

FOOTBALL PREVIEW ISSUE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

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contribution to this historic ritual, The Signal is pleased to bring you this “Tailgating Tutorial.” The first thing you need to know about tailgating is that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to tailgate. Don’t make other people’s tailgating experience your benchmark for success. However, you can look to experienced tailgaters for ideas. Just don’t fixate on duplicating what they do. The main thing is to have fun and to support your team.

ollege football season is upon us and with it comes another time-honored tradition: tailgating. Tailgating began during the Civil War when civilian supporters of the Union army came to the battle field with picnic baskets to cheer by shouting, “Go Big Blue!” And thus the madness began. Obviously, a lot has changed since the Battle of Bull Run, but the spirit of pre-game revelry is alive and well. So, as our

A beginner’s guide to a football tradition older than the game itself

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cheered and yelled as if we were part of the 89,000 fans in attendance. Ohio State beat Purdue 21-3 and it was the best college football game I never saw.

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lot. He told me they were “tailgating.” He discerned the confused look on my face and explained what tailgating is. Then he invited my friends and I to hang out with him and his family. We listened to the game on the radio; WTVN 610-AM. I had listened to games on the radio before, but there was nothing like hearing the play by play being called by the commentators accompanied by the roar of the crowd coming from The Horseshoe. We

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Four days before my 17th birthday, some of my friends and I decided to celebrate early by going to Ohio Stadium to hang out on game day. We didn’t have tickets; we just wanted to be in the atmosphere. As we walked across the stadium parking lot, smoke billowed from grills and the scent of barbeque gnawed at our stomachs. We noticed that a lot of people weren’t going into the game. So, I asked one of the men who was grilling why everyone was hanging out in the parking

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Pedro’s personal tailgating anecdote

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Tailgating is an activity that students can do to meet new friends and get pumped before a big game.

Decide on a menu Your food will have almost as much effect on the mood of your guests as the outcome of the game. Whether your team wins or loses, you’ll celebrate or commiserate with food. The standard fare—hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, etc.—will always be in abundance. However, literally every type of food from every type of plant or animal is acceptable. So if you want goose liver paté, bring it on! There is only one hard and fast tailgating food rule: if you don’t know how to cook on a grill, especially a charcoal grill, don’t do it! Bad barbeque at a tailgating event will make you a social pariah. If you’re the adventurous type, however, remember to use low heat for a long period of time. This will ensure that your food is cooked to the proper internal temperature and the smoke flavor will have plenty of time to permeate your food. Also, be prepared to share with other tailgaters; even the opposing team’s fans.

What about the game? The next consideration is whether or not you’ll actually watch the game. Back in the day, people would tailgate at the venue and listen to the game on the radio from outside. But utilizing today’s technology, we can watch our game as well as any number of other games we want to see while we tailgate. So your options for watching are almost limitless. For those people who are just there for the party and don’t care too much about the game, there is still plenty of fun to be had. For starters, nothing goes more perfectly with tailgating than a good, oldfashioned drinking game. Every time the opposing team scores a field goal; one drink. If they score a touchdown; two drinks. You can assign drinks for every first down, fumble recovery, interception, sack and the list goes on and on.

Even if you’re not watching the game, just listen to the crowd; their cheers or groans will tell you whose turn it is to drink. If drinking isn’t your thing, you can play a card game or just enjoy the comedy brought on by drunk, overly excited football fans. Ever since the Battle of Bull Run, fans of competing teams have shown up to the “battlefield” for pregame celebration and demonstrations of support for their team. The Georgia Dome is our battlefield! The Panthers are our team! Let’s honor those brave tailgating pioneers who literally risked life and limb by showing up in the end zone of the Dome and cheering for our team with the same shouts of “GO BIG BLUE!”

PHOTO BY RUTH PANNILL | THE SIGNAL

Where to tailgate

Georgia State’s tailgating guidelines

Traditionally, tailgating takes place at the venue where the game is being played. The Georgia State Athletics website indicates that you are allowed to tailgate in all of the Dome’s surface lots but not in the parking decks, and you can begin as early as four hours before kickoff and stay until two hours after the game ends. For the full list of Georgia Dome Tailgating Guidelines, please visit www. georgiastatesports.com. If you want to buck tradition, however, you can tailgate just about anywhere you’re allowed to park. For instance, if the Dome is too long a drive, then go to a local park or community recreation center. You can also set up camp in the parking lot of your neighborhood watering hole, especially if it’s a sports bar. The point is that the festivities will happen wherever you are.

Tailgating is not permitted in the Red Deck and Gold Deck. Marked parking spaces are for vehicles only. Parking spaces may not be used for tents, grills, chairs or other items. Each vehicle must have a valid parking permit. to the area directly behind the vehicle or in adjacent landscape areas. Maintain a 14-foot drive aisle between rows of vehicles at all times. Any grass areas beyond the designated tailgating spaces are considered common ground. Tailgating is permitted from the time that lots open four hours before kickoff until two hours following the game. Please dispose of trash in the appropriate receptacles. Please dispose of coals in the designated coal containers located throughout the lots. Propane tanks cannot exceed a cylinder size of 20 pounds.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Life after Albert Wilson Robert Davis and this year’s class of void left by Wilson

Wide receiver Robert Davis lines up for a play as the Panthers practice for the upcoming season. JEREMY JOHNSON Staff Reporter

hen the Georgia State Panthers run out of the tunnel at the Georgia Dome on Aug. 27 to face Abilene Christian, they will be doing so in search of a new number one wide receiver. The previous player to take that role—Albert Wilson—is now off to the NFL attempting to make the Kansas City Chiefs’ final roster. Wilson led the Panthers last season with 71 receptions and 1,177 yards receiving last season. He is Georgia State’s alltime leading receiver in catches with 175 and yards with 3,190. Wilson is also the all-time leading kick returner in the short history of the program. He amassed 2,338 yards with two touchdown returns on 95 kickoffs in his four seasons at Georgia State and also owns the longest run in school history which was 80 yards. Wilson also has the longest reception in school history at 93 yards along with the longest kick return with a return of 100 yards—both of which occurred in 2012 in a home game against Old Dominion. Wilson also owns the all-time mark for longest punt return in Georgia State history with a return of 62 yards. Despite the remarkable numbers and eye-popping electricity that Wilson brought with the ball in his hands to the Panthers, Wilson went undrafted and signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

What does this mean for the 2014 incarnation of Georgia State? It means they have to find someone to make those plays and eat up that production left by the departure of Wilson. A new number one receiver has to step out of the shadows. The new number one may come in the familiar form of the 6-foot-3 inch sophomore Robert Davis who returns from last season after putting up 44 catches and 711 yards receiving along with four touchdowns as a freshman. Davis is an imposing wide receiver with very good hands, good size and speed. His attitude is that it is his job to shoulder the load as wide receiver. “I see myself being the number option. We have a lot of great receivers, so of course everybody’s going to get the ball and contribute, but I see myself as a big part of the offense,” Davis said. Wide Receivers Coach Tim Lappano sees Davis as being the team’s go-to man for big plays through the air this season.

“He’s got to be a big play guy for us,” Lappano said. Davis not only possesses height, but is listed at nearly 200 pounds. He can run a 4.5 flat and has a vertical leap of at least 40 inches. With his size and talents, Lappano thinks Davis has all the tools it takes to take a huge leap and become a breakout star this season.

PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL

receivers as he coached with the Detroit Lions for five seasons and worked with elite talent Calvin Johnson. But even with the very crafty tool kit that Davis possesses, there is still room for improvement. Davis is only a sophomore and may only be scraping the surface of his potential. Davis is the lead candidate to replace Wilson but the rest of the receiving corps is chomping to prove themselves as well. There is depth within the receiving corps and this makes life easier for Davis to make that leap in 2014. “You can’t just give one receiver on our team a whole PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL bunch of attention because all of them “His measurables are the same are so good and can make plays,” that I’ve observed from guys for five Davis said. years while in the National Football The group of receivers with exLeague,” Lappano said. “I would be perience include juniors Donovan very disappointed if he does not have Harden and Avery Sweeting. a breakout year and is that guy that And as the days dwindle into you go to.” single digits, the Panthers are findCoach Lappano has definitely ing out who their new play-makers seen the cream of the crop for wide are. Kickoff on Aug. 27.

Stats on Robert Davis 6’ 3” | 200 pounds Sophomore 44 catches 711 receiving yards 4 touchdowns

Stats on Albert Wilson 5’ 9” | 200 pounds 175 catches 1,177 receiving yards 8 touchdowns

TUESDAY, 26, 2014 TUESDAY,AUGUST DECEMBER 10, 2013

Georgia State hopes its fortunes will turn around with new recruits JEREMY JOHNSON Staff Reporter

he Panthers will be ushering in much change with some new faces in important

places. Georgia State will look to replace Albert Wilson, Kelton Hill, Theo Agnew, Travis Evans and Ulrick John among others. Here are the most looked-upon new players for the 2014 season. Nick Arbuckle The first promising newcomer comes in the most important position in football—quarterback. Junior college transfer Nick Arbuckle appears to have his hands grasped on the starting quarterback job. Arbuckle comes to the Panthers from L.A.-Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California. Arbuckle threw for 3,774 yards as a freshman along with 40 touchdowns. He then followed that up with a 2,852 yard season his sophomore season with 26 touchdown passes.

Arbuckle has a pro-style skill set and is appreciated by his new number-one target, sophomore wide receiver Robert Davis. “He’s real smart, knows the game a lot, he’s a real good all-around football player and can make every throw on the field,” Davis said of the incoming QB. “I’m looking forward to playing with him this year.” Arbuckle will look to take over the starting quarterback job and have a big season for the Panthers. Michael Ivory The team also has a promising player to replace Ulrick John on the offensive line in the form of the 6 foot 5, 340-pound Michael Ivory. Ivory is a Louisville, Kentucky native and attended Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College last season. Ivory has three seasons of eligibility for the Panthers. Ivory was an second-team all-conference player during his freshman season and will look to build on that as he enters the fold at Georgia State. In preseason practices, Ivory has caught the eye of his fellow offensive

Where are they from?

player—sophomore Robert Davis. “He’s a big body, not quite sure how big he is but he’s a real big body,” Davis said. “He sticks on his blocks, he does his assignments and he’s a real coachable player. I’ve really been impressed with him.” Krysten Hammon Georgia State also may rely on a young running back to put some pop into the run game. This will be in the form of freshman 5 foot 9, 180-pounder Krysten Hammon to go along with returners Kyler Neal and Jonathan Jean-Bart. Hammon is from Hitchcock in the football factory state of Texas where he ran for 2,000 yards as a senior at Dickinson High School. Hammon also ran for 1,480 yard and 19 touchdowns in his junior season. Hammon was named First-Team All-District 24, All-County and AllGreater Houston in his senior season. He received interest from schools such as Texas State University, Baylor, Boise State and Colorado.

Hammon may find himself in the middle of a running back competition to replace Travis Evans and be a potential fixture in the Panthers’ backfield rotation. Antreal Allen These next promising newcomers hail from the defensive backfield--including the highly recruited Antreal Allen from Auburn, Alabama. Allen is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback. He played high school football at Auburn High School where he also played basketball and baseball, showing his athleticism and versatility. In his senior season at Auburn High, Allen picked off six passes while adding 42 total tackles. Allen was named First Team All-Alabama by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Allen was widely considered a three-star prospect by most recruiting services and looks to have a role with the Panthers sooner rather than later. He will be a player to watch as he becomes more comfort-

Antreal Allen

These new Panthers were recruited from all over the country.

able with college football, collegiatestyle offenses and the Georgia State playbook. Chandon Sullivan Another promising newcomer to the secondary is 5-foot-11 Winder, Georgia-native Chandon Sullivan. Sullivan played his high school football at Winder-Barrow High School. He was an impressive two-way threat for the Winder-Barrow team as he played running back as well as cornerback. Sullivan was named All-Area by the Athens-Banner Herald. He also played on the basketball team for Winder-Barrow and made second-team All-Region 8-AAAAA. He has turned some of the offensive players’ heads already. “The one that’s stood out to me the most and the one I’ve went against the most is probably Chandon Sullivan,” Davis said. “He’s a real athletic kid. Probably got a 41 or 42 inch vertical. He’s fast; he’s just a real athletic kid that can make whole lot of plays and distract receivers.”

Michael Ivory

Auburn High School

Coffeyville Community College

Check out where they transferred from on this map.

Coffeyville, Kansas

Woodland Hills, California

Winder, Georgia Auburn, Alabama

Hitchcock, Texas

Dickinson High School

L.A.-Pierce College

Winder-Barrow High School

Krysten Hammon

Nick Arbuckle

Chandon Sullivan

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

The Mountaineers are one of four newcomers into the Sun Belt Conference this season. Last year was Head Coach Scott Satterfield’s first season at the helm for Appalachian State after spending 2012 as an offensive coordinator. The team will field an offense that was ranked second in the Southern Conference in pass offense with over 270 yards per game and third in total offense with over 400 yards per game. Returning for the Mountaineers include junior quarterback Ka-

meron Bryant, who took over starting duties midway through last year and running back Marcus Cox, who averaged 104.2 yards a game as a true freshman in 2013. But Appalachian State lost their leading receiver and additionally will need someone on defense to fill the void left by Karl Anderson, who had 113 tackles last season. Satterfield sees junior lineman Ronald Blair, who red-shirted last year as the Mountaineers’ 2014 defensive mainstay.

Georgia State Head Coach Trent Miles enters his second season for the Panthers, whose football program is still building. Georgia State did not win a game last season but it was the final season for wide receiver Albert Wilson, who entered the NFL. Sophomore wideout Robert Davis looks to fill the void left by Wilson as he had a breakout season in 2013 as a true freshman with 44 receptions for 711 yards, this puts him in the top ten in the Sun Belt in both categories.

The Panthers also recruited Nick Arbuckle from L.A.-Pierce College in California to compete with Ronnie Bell, who averaged more than 200 passing yards last season in the starting quarterback position. Arbuckle completed nearly 60 percent of his passes the previous season. Georgia State will rely on junior linebacker Joseph Peterson to anchor a defense that gave up 460 yards a game last season. Peterson put up 103 tackles in 2013.

RECORD FROM 2013: 4-8 | 4-4 (Southern Conference)

RECORD FROM 2013: 0-12 | 0-7 (Sun Belt Conference)

Arkansas State

Idaho

the conference in receptions last season with 81. He also finished third in the conference in all-purpose yards with over 120. On the defensive side, despite the team being in the middle of the pack in total defense, Arkansas State has one of the premier defensive players in the Sun Belt in junior Linebacker Qushaun Lee. He averaged over 10 tackles per game and finished the season with 134 for the top spot in the conference in that category.

Due to a laundry list of departures from the WAC that left only two schools that participated in the conference for football, the Vandals played the 2013 season as an independent. Paul Petrino, brother of former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, will be starting his second season at the helm for Idaho. Vandals quarterback Chad Chalich will be returning for his sophomore season after averaging almost 175 passing yards last season along with a 61 percent completion percentage. He is competing with red-shirt freshman Matt Linehan for the starting job. Petrino is weighing

his options at the wide receiver position after leading receiver Dezmon Epps was dismissed from the team after being convicted for a DUI. Since they failed to meet the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate for the 2009-12 seasons, they are ineligible to compete in a bowl game this year. The defense will see many starters returning from the previous season including junior linebacker Marc Milan, who led the team in tackles with 91. Senior defensive lineman Quayshawne Buckley will also be back after notching seven sacks for 45 yards to lead the team in that category.

RECORD FROM 2013: 8-5 | 5-2 (Sun Belt Conference)

RECORD FROM 2013: 1-11 (Independent)

Georgia Southern

Louisiana-Lafayette

The Eagles enter the Sun Belt Conference with an established tradition of winning at the FCS level. Georgia Southern is another team under the tutelage of a first year head coach in Willie Fritz. He replaces a team previously under Jeff Monken, who finished next to last in the SoCon last year but scored a major upset victory over Florida in Gainesville. The team will need to replace runningback Jerick McKinnon, who graduated and was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota

Head Coach Mark Hudspeth will be entering his fourth season with the Ragin’ Cajuns. He has compiled a record of 2712 over the three years in which his team has won the New Orleans Bowl. Louisiana Lafayette is seen as one of the favorites once again this year to win the conference. This season all eyes will be on rising senior quarterback Terrance Broadway. He was sixth in the conference in yards per game with an average of almost 202 yards per game and has the best passer efficiency of any

Vikings. He averaged the most rushing yards in SoCon with 105. Returning for the Eagles is sophomore quarterback Kevin Ellison, who poses a dual running and passing threat. Defensively, Georgia Southern was ranked near the top of SoCon in total defense as well as scoring defense. The Eagles were also the best team in the conference in defending the run, allowing only 160 yards a game on the ground. They did not have anyone on the defense who had at least 100 tackles in 2013.

RECORD FROM 2013: 7-4 | 4-4 (Southern Conference)

quarterback returning from last year with a rating of 153.3. He’s a dual threat to pass or run, but runningback Alonzo Harris handles the load on the ground for Louisiana Lafayette as he ran for 942 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2013. The Cajuns lost leading tackler Justin Anderson who had 132 tackles on a team ranked third in the Sun Belt in total defense. Also returning for senior year is defensive end Justin Hamilton, who led the team in sacks last year with four for 27 yards.

RECORD FROM 2013: 9-4 | 5- 2 (Sun Belt Conference)

CONFE P

The last time the Red Wolves took the field they defeated Ball State 23-20 at the GoDaddy Bowl in early January. They enter this season with new Head Coach Blake Anderson, who previously spent two seasons as offensive coordinator at North Carolina. The team finished with a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship last year with LouisianaLafayette, finishing only a game behind the Ragin’ Cajuns in the loss column. Red-shirt junior wide receiver J.D. McKissic led

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Appalachian State

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his year’s Sun feature 11 tea from last year, that will be competin seasons in a new c increased competition an exciting season for

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Belt Conference will ams—eight returning and three new teams ng in their inaugural conference. With the n, 2014 is looking to be the Sun Belt.

Last season was the first time since entering the FBS that the Warhawks attained bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons. 2014 will be the fifth season under head coach Todd Berry and their record has been 49-23 during his tenure. Berry will see a change in his offense after starting quarterback from last season, Kolton Browning, graduated. He averaged nearly 220 yards a game the previous year. Junior Brayle Brown has been named the starting QB coming out of Louisiana Monroe’s camp, but senior transfer from North Carolina State, Pete Thomas,

is the number one QB on the team’s depth chart. Junior wide receiver Rashon Ceaser was a major piece in the Warhawks’ sixth ranked offense in the conference from last year as he had 964 receiving yards from last year and five touchdowns. Louisiana Monroe’s top tackler and sack leader Cameron Blakes also graduated in last year’s class along with Browning. defensive lineman Joey Gautney was second on the team to Blakes in sacks with 3 and is returning for his senior season. The team was ranked sixth in total defense in the Sun Belt in 2013.

Texas State During the 1990 and 1991 seasons, Dennis Franchione was the head coach for the Southwest Texas State Bobcats. The university is now Texas State and Franchione is back in charge of his fourth season since his return. In five seasons as head coach, Franchione has compiled a record of 29-29. It will be the first time Texas State will be in the same conference for two consecutive seasons since Franchione returned in 2011. Much of the Bobcats’ offense revolved runningback Robert Lowe who is back for his junior season. He was second in the Sun Belt in average rushing yards last year in 2013 with an average of 78.8 yards on the ground in addition to 9 touchdowns. He was also in the top ten in the con-

ference in all-purpose yards. Franchione also has confidence in his starting quarterback, Tyler Jones, who played last season as a true freshman. Texas State was a team that in 2013 ended up in the top half of the conference in total defense, giving up slightly under 400 yards a game. Among those returning for the Bobcats’ defense includes David Mayo who averaged nearly nine tackles a game last year to place him fourth in the conference in that category. Mayo also had four interceptions. Michael Orakpo (brother of Washington Redskins’ Brian Orakpo) was in the top ten in the Sun Belt in sacks with 4.5 (for 27 yards). He was also tied for second in the conference in forced fumbles with 3.

RECORD FROM 2013: 6-6 | 4-3 (Sun Belt Conference)

RECORD FROM 2013: 6-6 | 2-5(Sun Belt Conference)

New Mexico State

Troy

1960 was the last time the Aggies appeared in a bowl game. In addition to Idaho, they are also entering their first season in the Sun Belt after playing last year as an independent due to a litany of football defections from the WAC. Head Coach Doug Martin will be in his second season with New Mexico State. The team lost Andrew McDonald who graduated as part of the school’s 2014 class. He averaged 208 yards a game last year. Most indications are that Tyler Rogers, a dual threat quarterback who they recruited from Arizona Western Col-

lege, will be the starter. He threw for 14 touchdowns and ran for 10 in his lone season at Arizona Western. Martin also sees his offensive line and receiving corps as strengths. The Aggies struggled defensively last year; collectively, the team gave up roughly twice as many rushing yards as their offense ran for in 2013. Plus, the team lost its leading tackler, Davis Cazares (109) and its sack leader in Trashaun Nixon (3 for 18 yards). Rodney Butler is returning for his sophomore season and recorded 39 tackles as a true freshman in 2013.

Larry Blakeney is, by far, the longest tenured head coach in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans have followed his lead since 1991 and have posted a record of 175-104-1 during his 23 years at the school. Since entering the conference prior to the 2004 season, Blakeney’s teams have won the New Orleans Bowl twice. The Trojans had the best offense in the conference despite their 6-6 record. They were the only team to average at least 300 yards passing in 2013. Much of that was due to quarterback Corey Robinson averaging the most yards of any QB in the Sun Belt. However, he graduated with last year’s class. Three juniors and a redshirt

freshman are all competing for the job. It is expected that Jordan Chunn, who caught 14 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2013, will play a major role at the wide receiver position this year. Its offensive line, led by senior Terrance Jones, allowed only 19 sacks last year for second in the conference. Defensively, the Trojans have to improve after finishing last in the conference in total defense in 2013. Ironically, its defense was also last in pass defense, giving up over 300 yards through the air. Sophomore linebacker Terris Lewis and junior defensive end Tyler Roberts were tied for second in the Sun Belt in forced fumbles with three a piece.

RECORD FROM 2013: 2-10, (Independent)

RECORD FROM 2013: 6-6 | 4-3 (Sun Belt Conference)

South Alabama

Preseason Coaches’ Rankings

While the Jaguars finished in the middle of the pack in the conference in 2013, things ended on a high note in Mobile as South Alabama ended last year’s campaign with a three game winning streak. Joey Jones as head coach of the Jaguars has posted a record of 31-21 and was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year last season. Brandon Bridge will be in his senior year with the Jaguars and has been named the team’s starting quarterback after the graduation of Ross Metheny, who averaged over 200 passing yards per game. South Alabama’s

senior class also includes Shavarez Smith, who set a school record in receiving yards for a season with 940. They also bring back an offensive line that led the conference in sacks allowed with 17 and includes Chris May. The Jaguars are also coming off a season in which they were in the top three in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (25.2 per game), total defense (384.2 yards per game) and pass defense (224.6 yards per game). Among those returning include senior linebacker Maleki Harris who recovered two fumbles for South Alabama last year.

RECORD FROM 2013: 6-6 | 4-3 (Sun Belt Conference)

Louisiana-Lafayette 2. Arkansas State 3. South Alabama 4. Troy 5. Louisiana-Monroe 6. Texas State 7. Appalachian State 8. Georgia Southern 9. Idaho 10. Georgia State 11. New Mexico State

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 8B

AKIEM BAILUM Sports Editor

fter failing to win a game in 2013, Georgia State football hopes it can improve in several areas of its game from last season that led to its winless campaign. On the offensive side, coaches stressed the need to improve on running the football. The Panthers’ rushing attack was ranked last in the Sun Belt Conference last season as they barely averaged over 100 yards on the ground. “We’re going to have some balance. It is essential for us to establish the running game,” Head Coach Trent Miles said in an interview with ESPN’s Drew Fellios and Cole Cubelic at Sun Belt Media Day in New Orleans. “We couldn’t run the ball anymore. We’ll try to spread it around to our receivers and tight ends, but we must establish the running game.” The team certainly fielded a one-dimensional offense last season due to the presence of standout Wide Receiver Albert Wilson who had over 1,100 receiving yards for Georgia State last season. Sophomore wideout Robert Davis hopes to fill the void in Wilson’s stead now that he has graduated and is suiting up in the NFL. “It’s very hard when you’re

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

one-dimensional. Last year we on the offensive line,” Miles said. should have called it ‘Albert Wil- “We’re bigger, and as long as we son-dimensional’,” Miles said at stay healthy, we’ll have more conthe Panthers’ preseason press con- tinuity. I hope our offensive and ference. “We don’t have that luxu- defensive position groups are all ry this year and have to establish a strengths. Right now, I’m counting running game.” on everyone being a strength.” Georgia State must also imThe defensive position groups prove on its offensive line if it hopes for the Panthers hope to contribto win any games in 2014. The ute more this year as well. The team allowed team’s seventh32 sacks for ranked defense a loss of 100 in the conference yards in 2013. gave up an averOur defense is The struggles age of 460 yards. hungry, of the offen“Our defense sive line also is hungry, enenthusiastic translated into thusiastic and and is eager to the woes of the is eager to win win games this games this year,” running game last season. said Defensive year.” “Hearing Coordinator Jes-Jesse Minter, se Minter. “No that aspect defensive coordinator one has higher of what happened last expectations for year from the our defense this coaches everyday can get under year than me and our players.” your skin a little bit,” said Senior Two defensive players Georgia Guard A.J. Kaplan. “But we take State hopes will play a vital role pride in running the ball and as for an improved defense are junior an offensive lineman, you want to Joseph Peterson and sophomore run the ball to open up the passing Shawayne Lawrence. Peterson will lanes.” assume a leadership role for the Overall, the team has expressed defense after leading the team in optimism that this year’s offensive tackles last year with 103. Lawline will be better than the one that rence said at the team’s preseason took the field last season. press conference that he wants “Strength-wise, I think we’re to be the best lineman in the Sun going to be pretty strong upfront Belt.

“

PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL Football coaches and players are making improvements to their techniques in hopes for a better season.

Editorial

Maybe the Panthers suck, sure. But they need you.

ur team went winless last season: 0-12. Not something you want to remember. Twelve chances at a victory and not a single one. We hear the conversations that go on around campus about how horrible our football team is. We know about the semi-serious speculation about whether or not our team could beat the Dacula High’s football team. There are reasons for those conversations. Other than Albert Wilson, who gained over 1,000 receiving yards last season, and Ronnie Bell, who was one of the best passing quarterbacks in the Sun Belt, it was not exactly a banner year for Georgia State football in Trent Miles’ first year as head coach. Miles wasn’t afraid to admit it, either. At a recent press conference, he called last year’s

offense “Albert Wilson-dimensional.” The defense was one of the worst in the conference, the offensive line needed help, and the running game was non-existent last season. With the return of fall, football season is upon us yet again. The mood around campus is familiar: that we are on our way towards yet another losing campaign, eagerly waiting for the tip-off of basketball season. But that being said, nothing lasts forever—not even losing. With some new additions to the roster and endless potential, Georgia State may be able to squeeze out a few wins this year. It has to be proven on the field, but new quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw for nearly 7,000 yards during his two seasons at L.A. Pierce Community College in California. In an interview

with The Signal in March, he confidently confirmed that the Panthers will be winning “a lot of games”. And even though Georgia State went winless last season, they were competitive in many of their games, including an intense battle with Arkansas State with 35-33 defeat. Arkansas State went on to win a share of the Sun Belt championship. With a majority of the key players graduating this past Spring, the Panthers will have to rely upon its youth with a litany of freshmen and sophomores on this squad. Although the players are the ones that actually have to win the games, it’s not just up to them—the student population has to do as much as much as it can to support the football team. Yes. We’re talking about you.

There’s no secret there’s an attendance problem at football games. Go to any Georgia State game at the Dome and you will immediately find that there’s still a lot of red in the stands— seats with no Panthers to fill them. Imagine how excited our football players would be if they constantly saw events around campus to hype up the team as they prepare to do battle on Saturdays? It’d be ten times as exciting if we students were backing our football team the same way we get behind our basketball players. And what better way to garner your support than with a rivalry for the ages? Circle this date on your calendars—Saturday, Oct. 25. That’s the day Georgia Southern travels from States-

boro to play our Panthers at the Dome. It is our duty as Panthers to pack the Georgia Dome to capacity, bodies painted and adrenaline pumping, and to roar with ferocity to represent the REAL GSU. The team should improve from last year’s winless campaign, but it simply won’t do so without an improved presence in the stands. After all, it’s only the team’s fifth year of existence and second at the primeire level of college football. We know the fanbase wants victories, and the players and coaches do, too! So let’s give it to them, and to us. Because in order for the team to develop into winners on the field, we should start scoring victories on campus and in the stands first. Hell, they can’t beat Southern without us.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Football Word Search:

AFL NFL ASTROTURF AUDIBLE BACKFIELD BALL CARRIER BLITZ BLOCK CENTER CLIPPING COIN TOSS COMPLETION DEADBALL DEFENSE DELAY OF GAME DRAW DRIVE END ZONE

EXTRA POINT FACE MASK FALSE START FIRST DOWN FUMBLE GOAL LINE GUARD HANDOFF HALFBACK HEISMAN HOLDING HUDDLE INTERCEPTION KICKOFF MOTION NEUTRAL ZONE OFFENSE OFFSIDE

Sudoku

OVERTIME PASS PENALTY PICK PUNT QUARTERBACK RECEIVER RUSHING ROUTE SACK SAFETY SLANT SPIKE TACKLE TOUCHDOWN TURNOVER UMPIRE UPRIGHTS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 10B

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

THROUGH THE LENS

Moments captured during preseason football practice RAVEN SCHLEY Photography Editor

hen practice started, a tangible shift in the atmosphere from playful to focused could be felt. As the sun beamed down on the field, some players took sips from red Powerade bottles as they lined up into single file rows to do stretches. At the command of their coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voice, each player lowered to ground to stretch out their legs, and with a deep breath, they rose ready to move on to the next activity. After warming up, they broke off into to sections to practice perfecting their techniques through a series of drills. Some worked on receiving passes, while others worked on tackling. Every now and again a coach would stop to offer stern words of advice to the players, but it was never taken as a scolding because there was an underlying tone of endearment. At the end of practice, everyone gathered around for the final group huddle before retiring into their own individual livesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; some lingering behind and others leaving the field.

PHOTOS BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL

23 11B

TUESDAY, 26, 2014 TUESDAY,AUGUST DECEMBER 10, 2013

STAFF PREDICTIONS

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

GUEST PICKS OF THE WEEK GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

NFL Picker

Student Picker

Mackendy Cheridor Football

Mackendy Cheridor is a 6-foot5, 250 pound linebacker in his sophomore year expected to play a major role for the Georgia State defense this season. He committed to the Panthers in 2013 after playing his high school football for Columbia High in DeKalb County. As a true freshman he played in all 12 games last season and was second on the team in tackles with 34. His first start for the defense was midway through the season against Troy where he had a career-high seven tackles as well as a forced fumble and a sack. Cheridor followed up his performance against Troy with four tackles each in the following two games—at Texas State and at Louisiana Monroe. He then had six tackles on Nov. 23 at Arkansas State.

FOOTBALL Aug. 27 Abilene Christian Georgia State Aug. 28 Texas A&M

Louisiana-Lafayette

South Carolina

Christo Bilukidi

Tariq Talley

Sport: Football Team: Cincinnati Bengals College: Georgia State

Class: Senior Major: Mathematics College: Arts & Sciences

Aug. 30 Wisconsin LSU Aug. 30 Southern University

Aug. 30 Clemson

Aug. 30 Appalachian State Michigan Aug. 30 North Carolina State

Georgia

Georgia Southern STAFF:

Jeremy Akiem

GUESTS:

Tariq Christo

BRIEFS us to play Georgia State.” The news was first reported by AKIEM BAILUM the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Sports Editor then announced on the websites for both athletic departments. n Aug. 20 Georgia State anThe Kennesaw State Owls will denounced it will host the but its football program next year at Kennesaw State Owls in a the Football Championship Subdivinon-conference matchup on Aug. 30, sion (FCS) level as a member of the 2018 to start that year’s football sea- Big South Conference. Other sports son. are part of the Atlantic Sun ConferThe year the game is scheduled for ence, whom Georgia State was part of will be two years after Georgia State’s from 1983 to 2005 before it left to join deal to play the Colonial Athfootball at the letic Association. Georgia Dome “It makes expires. Future sense for us to home plans will play teams in be announced at state, especially a later date. with Georgia Head footState making the ball coach Trent transition from Miles, in a press FCS to FBS,” said release, deWilliams. “Plus, scribed it as a with these being “great opportutwo well-known nity” for the two schools throughschools to play out the state of each other and Georgia, this that the Panthers game will have need to be prea packed house pared because of wherever it is.” where Kennesaw Williams disPHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY | State’s football closed that KenTHE SIGNAL program is. nesaw State will Panthers look forward to 2018 for a poGeorgia State tential new rivalry with Kennesaw State. receive $135,000 has an agreein guaranteed ment with the Georgia Dome to play money from Georgia State and that its home games there through 2016, men’s basketball coach Ron Hunter but the university plans to build a new has been in conversations with Ken30,000 seat football stadium as part of nesaw State coach Jimmy Lallathin its proposal to buy the land around about scheduling games against each Turner Field after the Atlanta Braves other. depart for a new stadium and enterIt is the second non-conference tainment complex in Cobb County. opponent Georgia State has sched“I don’t know if the Turner Field uled for 2018. The Panthers will also deal had anything to do with it, but play North Carolina State the folI do know that it made sense for us,” lowing week on Sept. 8 on the road. said Kennesaw State athletic director A year earlier, the team will travel to Vaughn Williams. “Whether it’s in the Penn State on Sept. 27. new Falcons Stadium that will debut Representatives from Georgia in 2017 or in a new stadium at Turner State were unavailable for further Field, we feel it’s the perfect time for comment.

Football

On Saturday, Aug. 23, former Georgia State wide receiver Albert Wilson caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Bray in the fourth quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. It was Wilson’s first touchdown reception of the preseason. The Chiefs lost to the Vikings by a final score of 30-12.

The exhibition schedule concluded for Georgia State on the road with a 1-0 win over Kentucky in Lexington on Aug. 23. Eddie Wilding scored in the 44th minute to win it for the Panthers while goalkeeper C.J. Cochran helped the Georgia State cause with six saves. On Friday, Aug. 15, Georgia State played in the first of two preseason

matchups with the College of Charleston in South Carolina by a score of 1-1. Sarah Cardamone gave the Cougars a 1-0 before Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Nagy tied the match at one. The team’s road trip in the Palmetto State concluded with a 1-0 loss to Furman in Greenville. The match was scoreless for 98 minutes before an overtime penalty kick from Stephanie DeVita to give Furman the victory.

FOOTBALL CALENDAR

*conference games

Abilene Christian 1340 The Fan 3 ESPNU, 1340 The Fan 3, WRAS

TBA 1340 The Fan 3

88.5

1340 The Fan 3 ESPN 3, 1340 The Fan 3, WRAS

Troy, Alabama 1340 The Fan 3

88.5

Clemson TBA 1340 The Fan 3, WRAS 88.5

TBA 1340 The Fan 3

ESPN 3, 1340 The Fan 3, WRAS 88.5

TBA Washington TBA 1340 The Fan 3

1340 The Fan 3, WRAS 88.5 1340 The Fan 3, WRAS 88.5

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