The Signal Vol. 85 No. 4

SEPT. 12 - SEPT. 19, 2017

VOL. 85 | NO. 4

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A STAND FOR DACA

A Georgia State alumna expresses her support for DACA students at a rally on September 4, 2017.

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

THE NEW ATLANTA

HURRICANE IRMA

'BE EXCELLENT' OPENS DOORS

REPLACING DAVIS

There are big plans in motion for the Downtown area near Georgia State.

Are the post-hurricane consequences worth getting mad over?

This resume app with video capability gives students a leg up in the working world.

The football team is tasked with replacing their one-of-akind receiver, Robert Davis.

NEWS | PAGE 6 WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

OPINION | PAGE 8

News 3

ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 12

OPINION 7

SPORTS | PAGE 16

Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

NEWS

2

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

BLOTTER SEPT. 5

Mind your business

A non-Georgia State affiliate was arrested at the Suntrust building for failure to leave the facility.

Where’s my stuff?

A Georgia State student reported larceny at the Suntrust building. The case is currently active.

Can I hold this for a second?

A Georgia State student reported a purse snatching without force. The case is currently active.

signaleditor@gmail.com

executive editor (atlanta) Open executive editor (perimeter) Open

SEPT. 7

Editorial NEWS EDITOR Syrina Merilan

A hundred percent discount

SEPT. 6

A non-Georgia State affiliate was arrested for shoplifting an item over $100 on Edgewood Ave.

A Georgia State student was arrested in Student Center West for possession of marijuana.

A threatening and harassing person was reported by a non-Georgia State affiliate on the Clarkston campus.

Blaze it

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Christina Maxouris

signalnewseditor@gmail.com ASSociate NEWS EDITOR Open signalassociatenews3@gmail.com OPINIONS EDITOR Open signalopinions@gmail.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Camille Bolos signalliving@gmail.com

I’m sensing a lot of negative energy

ASSociate ARTS & Living EDITOr Sophia Marchese signalassociateliving2@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Open signalsport1@gmail.com ASSociate SPORTS EDITOR Open signalassociatesports1@gmail.com copy editor Alaa Elassar, Sydnie Cobb signalcopyeditor@gmail.com

Production design editor Khoa Tran

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIK REID | THE SIGNAL

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Associate design editor Salinna Phon signalprod2@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY photo EDITOr (atlanta) Vanessa Johnson signalphoto1@gmail.com

photo EDITOr (perimeter) Open signalphoto2@gmail.com

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signalmanaging@gmail.com ASSociate Online Editor Open PODCAST EDITORS Caleb P. Smith, Charles Wright

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THE SIGNAL BUREAUS BUREAU CHIEF (CLARKSTON) Open BUREAU CHIEF (ALPHARETTA) Open BUREAU CHIEF (NEWTON) Open BUREAU CHIEF (DUNWOODY) Open BUREAU CHIEF (DECATUR) Open advertising ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Open signaladvertisingco@gmail.com

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business coordinator Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOr (perimeter) Alice Murray amurray25@gsu.edu MISSION STATEMENT The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State University community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State University community.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Bottled water supplies run low at the Piedmont Ave. Publix as Hurricane Irma speeds toward Atlanta.

ADVERTISING

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

DACA repeal has caused an uproar across the nation Atlanta government and residents have taken a stand to defend DREAMers

Protesters in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program stand in unison in front of the Atlanta Detention Center on September 4, 2017.

SYRINA MERILAN News Editor

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n Sept. 5, President Donald Trump announced the possible end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but before he could get his announcement out, DACA recipients and their supporters had already begun protesting.

The DACA program is an Obama-era executive order that allowed illegal immigrants, who entered the country as children, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation with eligibility for a work permit and driver's licenses. The program currently caters to approximately 800,000 recipients, who are referred to as DREAMers.

DISCORD IN THE GOVERNMENT

Congress has six months to find a way to legalize the program or Trump will “revisit the issue”, according to his Sept. 5 tweet. Within this time, Trump’s administration will not accept any new DACA applications and two-year DACA permits expiring after March 5, 2018, will not be renewed.

However, the Democratic party is not willing to take this sitting down. Sixteen Democratic and nonpartisan state attorneys generals filed a lawsuit following the announcement, claiming that repealing this program is discriminatory towards people of Mexican descent. They have pulled on previous statements the President has made that shows his biases toward this ethnic group and feel that they have justified claims.

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON & PAGE DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY KAREN KOSASI | THE SIGNAL

“As President Trump's statements about Mexico and those with Mexican roots show, the President has demonstrated a willingness to disparage Mexicans in a misguided attempt to secure support from his constituency, even when such impulses are impermissible motives for directing governmental policy," the lawsuit states.

The day following the decision, the Atlanta City Council took a stance on the issue through passing an emergency resolution 9-1 that was proposed by Council member Kwanza Hall. The resolution calls for limited cooperation with the U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in order to show that Atlanta opposes the decision to end DACA. “These young people are students and entrepreneurs, they are our neighbors and our colleagues,” Hall said in a following press release. “Atlanta is a welcoming city, home to two Nobel Peace Prizes. Our strength is in our diversity and our commitment to civil and human rights. It is incumbent upon us as the City of Atlanta to use all available tools to uphold and protect the rights of our residents as established by the U.S. Constitution.”

Naretsi Ronsas, a DACA supporter, said she understands that the children were brought here illegally, but believes that the parents were only trying to do what was best and children should not pay for the indiscretions of their parents.

“It’s very unfair that they are being punished for the actions of their parents, actions that were carried with the best intentions because the family wanted a better life with a better education for their children,” she said. “Nevertheless, they brought them here illegally and I don’t necessary believe that children should pay for the decision of their parents.”

The Refuse Fascist organization also came to show support in an attempt to undermine the Trump administration, according to member Charlie Abrams.

“We’re out here supporting the undocumented youth, whose lives are threatened by Trump’s impending decision on DACA. We’re here with refusefacism.org and we’re building a movement to drive out the Trump-Pence regime,” Abrams said.

The University System of Georgia (USG) has not taken a stance on the subject and has not made available the possible university changes that might come with this decision.

ATLANTA FIGHTS BACK

DACA's impact on the economy

While others were enjoying their Labor Day weekend, protesters stormed onto Ted Turner Drive early Sept. 4 to defend the program. Hundreds of people attended carrying signs with phrases that said “Education not deportation,” and “No human being is illegal.”

Berenice Rosas, a DACA recipient and recent high school graduate with plans to attend Gwinnett Tech to study phenology, said that the program helped to get common necessities in her life.

“I’m here to defend DACA, because I am a DACA student and this program helps me get a driver's license, helps me get employed and helps me continue my studies,” she said.

Phi Nguyen, a fellow protester, said despite not being a recipient she attended because the repeal of DACA, she said, would be inhumane.

“I am marching for DACA because it is a great program and the kids that we’re marching to protect came here, when they we young and they deserve to be here,” Nguyen said. “They came out of the shadows with a promise that they would be protected and it would be inhumane to deport them now.”

The protest was an effort to show that U.S. citizens support the DACA program and the undocumented population as a whole.

“I hope to show that we stand with people of DACA and I hope to put pressure on the people in power to let them know that we all do stand with the undocumented population and we want congress to act,” Nguyen said.

In the 2017 National DACA study, DACA recipients were asked questions on how they contributed to the U.S. economy here are their responses: • The rate of starting a business is 3.1 percent, meaning that DACA recipients are outpacing the general population in terms of business creation.

• 16 percent of recipients purchased their first home after receiving DACA. • 72 percent of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA recipients.

These companies account for $2.8 trillion in annual revenue.

• 65 percent, reported purchasing their first car.

• 45 percent of recipients are currently in school. Among those currently in school, 72 percent are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ACCORDING TO THE 2017 NATIONAL DACA STUDY

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Affordable living at Georgia State Colleges are now spending less on high-end amenities

Georgia gas prices are through the roof The raise may continue for at least a month STAFF REPORTER

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PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Gawon Bae, Georgia State junior, said despite the smaller space, she enjoyed living in Piedmont North as it was less expensive and easy to make friends in.

KOFI STILES Staff Reporter

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niversities have often used the construction of grand, new facilities to attract potential students to attend their schools, but this trend has been steadily shifting to simpler housing.

A study by Sightlines stated that 2015 saw the lowest amount of space made available for new student dorms and student services facilities since 2000. Only 6.6 million square feet of land was dedicated to the construction dorms and student services in 2015 as compared to the 11 million square feet in 2004.

However, colleges haven’t entirely stopped using new buildings to draw in students. In fact, in 2007 Georgia State spent $168 million on the construction of the University Commons, the most expensive student-housing project in the U.S. With rising student tuition, rather than blowing budgets on lavish housing facilities, Thomas Carlson-Reddig, Partner and Community Global Practice Leader for the architectural firm Little, said traditional styles of housing - smaller, shared rooms - have come back full circle with colleges.

“The rising cost of education has been a topic that has been discussed quite a bit,” CarlsonReddig said. “Some folks are looking at it seriously and looking at ways to address it and one way is to build more simply.”

Carlson-Reddig pointed out that simpler designs are not necessarily inadequate designs and that using simpler templates make housing more affordable for students.

“If you look at people that are attending higher education, a very high percentage of them come from middle class or lower-middle class backgrounds,” Carlson-Reddig said. ”They can’t afford luxury housing, they’re looking for options. Universities and colleges are trying to offer options to address their increasing costs of education.”

Georgia State attempted this with its fairly small Patton Hall. The housing facility holds 325 resident with suites that can accommodate up to three students. One bedroom per suite is a double occupancy room, with one bedroom being a single occupancy room. Unlike the Commons, dorms in Patton Hall lack kitchens and living rooms.

Georgia State’s Vice President of Finance and Administration Jerry Rackliffe said Patton Hall’s simpler design was built as a cost effective option for student housing.

“Patton Hall was to provide students with the opportunity to secure a bed and meal plan for the same price as a bedroom and a kitchen in the Commons,” Rackliffe said.

Both Piedmont North and Piedmont Central were built with the same basic design as Patton Hall. Journalism major Gawon Bae lived at Piedmont North during her freshman year and has been living at the Commons for the past two years.

“I actually liked Piedmont North,” Bae said. “I had a room for three so I had to share a pretty small room with two roommates who I didn’t know at that time when I moved in, but because Piedmont North requires a meal plan, I got to meet and make friends at the dining hall.”

Bae said that the housing at Piedmont North was cheaper compared to the Commons but due to the fact that the meal plan was mandatory, the price for Piedmont North rooms are slightly raised.

“The Piedmont North room itself was around $1,800 and the [seven day] meal plan was $1,600 and the Commons right now is $4,000,” Bae said.

“Piedmont North’s cheaper, even with the meal plan to be honest.”

Bae said the biggest problem with the Commons as of late has been the overflow of student residents on campus. At the beginning of the fall semester, Georgia State overbooked students to live in campus housing.

According to Georgia State, 500 of the 5,300 residential students were affected by the overbooking. The school anticipated that the higher-than-usual housing applications would be

PROS AND CONS OF ONCAMPUS HOUSING PROS • • •

Socialization Gender inclusive housing Free laundry machines in the Commons

CONS • • •

Current overflow of residents High rates in the Commons Smaller spaces in Piedmont North and Central

balanced out by cancelations, but by the start of the fall semester, 400 students had to stay at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta from Aug. 21 to Aug. 31.

Students living at the Commons were asked to share their rooms with the remaining 100 overflow residents voluntarily; those who did would receive a $1,400 room reduction rate for the semester. According to University Housing Director Randy Brown, the university is making moves to correct the issue.

“All students who were residing in the Sheraton were provided a bed in University Housing as of August 31,” Brown said. “All housing residents have their own housing assignment and we are being diligent with processing cancellations daily so that we can reassign students currently in overflow rooms. We are encouraging any student who needs assistance to come by the University Housing office.”

Brown said that a total of 50 students at the Commons are currently sharing their rooms with overflow residents.

ncreased gas prices have been putting students in a frenzy, after Hurricane Harvey. Georgia State Economics Professor Banzhaf said the cause of the rise in prices lies behind the decrease in gas supply.

“Often when gas prices go up, it’s because oil prices have gone up. That’s not the case. Instead, it’s the result of disruptions further down the supply chain,” Banzhaf said. “The Colonial pipeline through which fuels travel from the Gulf Coast to the entire Eastern United States has reduced the amount of fuel it’s carrying or, on some days, shut down completely.”

According to Banzhaf, in the wake of the storm, the refineries in Texas and Louisiana closed down and this is what caused the shortage.

“Some of the refineries in Texas and Louisiana that convert oil to gasoline and other fuels shut down for a while to prepare for the storm.

They had no way to transport their product anyway,” Banzhaf said.

The remaining of September will experience an increase in prices and this trend will continue into October.

“Future prices for gasoline are up 13 percent for September and 6 percent for October. I would expect the highest prices in the next two weeks, and [then a] decline over the following four weeks, unless another storm comes,” Banzhaf said.

Georgia State student Jessyca Nelson feels the gas prices are unreasonable. She drives back and forth from school to work five times a week. When she bought gas this week she was shocked.

“I bought gas the other day and it was $3.00 a gallon. I looked at like three different gas stations and it was all about the same. I can usually put $20 in my tank and it fills my car up, but I put $25 yesterday and it was barely over a half a tank,” Nelson said.

Georgia State student LaShonda Welch agreed that unreasonable gas prices have altered her spending habits.

“Right now I live 30-45 minutes south of Atlanta. I come to campus three times a week and the other two days I go to clinicals in Atlanta,” Welch said. “I usually fill up my tank one to two times a week to get to school and work. With the increase in gas prices I really have to watch how much I spend so I can make sure I have enough gas to make it throughout the school week.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

ARTS & LIVING

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Chick-fil-A is one of many changes

Dining explains the need for a new eateries around campus

LOCAL

SYRINA MERILAN News Editor

Hurricane Irma has delayed flights in Atlanta

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he long awaited Chick-fil-A expansion is underway, after the a large demand from the Georgia State student population.

According to the Executive Director of Dining and Stainability Lenore Musick, the main concern for students was the lack of space that Chick-fil-A Express provided.

“Chick-fil-A has always been a very popular eatery with students, and we’ve heard lots of feedback over the years about expanding the size of Chick-fil-A,” Musick said. “With its current location in the Panther’s Club, the back-of-house space and equipment are very limited – as is the menu – so it functions more as a Chick-fil-A Express.”

The new Chick-fil-A, which will be finished Sept. 18, offers a larger variety of food items as compared to the express, because it will act as a standard Chick-fil-A would. The new location was in planning for years, but they were waiting for the contract with the previous vender to end.

“We’ve known for the past few years that we wanted to expand its location and offerings. We just needed to shift a few moving pieces around,” Musick said. “Everything came together once we insourced The Courtyard and Panther’s Club as a space opened (Ray’s Pizza) that would be large enough to accommodate a full-service facility.”

Georgia State, like University of Georgia and Georgia Southern, has a contract with Chickfil-A, which is why it is the only outside company available on campus. One of the main reasons this partnership is supported is because majority of the profits that are made from the Chick-fil-A are funneled back into the university.

“One of the reasons we chose Chick-fil-A is not only because they have roots in Georgia, but they serve a very unique product and most of the money from GSU sales stays with the university – which is extremely important to us,” Musick said.

The Chick-fil-A Express will be turned into Trattoria 1913, a pasta and pizza station, once the

According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, several Atlanta flights will will delayed as a result of Hurricane Irma. Some airlines will waive certain change fees for passengers that will be traveling to or through Atlanta, who are booked through Sept.

17. Seventeen flights have been added in Florida and the Caribbean for evaculees that are leaving those areas. They’ve added more than 10,000 seats since Sept. 6.

NATIONAL The full size Chick-fil-A is under construction on the first floor of Student Center West.

new Chick-fil-A is up and running. The expected date for Trattoria is mid-October. While the new Chick-fil-A is under construction, the old one is closed to the public.

Along with this expansion, Panther Dining has a few more projects up their sleeves. In Panther’s Club located in Student Center West, the old Wild Wingman Joes was replaced by the Southern Market. In the Courtyard located in Student Center, East Freshens was replaced by The Roasted Beanery and Panther Passports replaced Burrito Bowl.

Panther Dining also grows its own greens.

“Along with our new insourced retail locations, we’re continuing to utilize our hydroponic farm to

PHOTO BY SYRINA MERILAN | THE SIGNAL

produce a variety of leafy greens (lettuce, wasabi arugula – just to name two), which are then served in our dining halls and retail locations,” Musick said.

It was inevitable to expand Chick-fil-A with the growing population at Georgia State, but Panther Dining is not slowing it’s strides.

“With the tremendous growth Georgia State is currently experiencing, we’re so excited to open the university’s first full-service Chick-fil-A,” Musick said. “We pride ourselves on using fresh, quality ingredients in all our dining, retail and catering operations, and [I] know Chick-fil-A is very much in line with these beliefs, which makes them the perfect partner.”

STEM majors are a dwindling population

Perimeter students will participate in research with NASA professionals KOFI STILES Staff Reporter

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wo Perimeter College students were chosen to participate in NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program. The program will allow the STEM students to gain experience in fields that aren’t populated enough.

In 2007 the University System of Georgia (USG) set up the USG STEM Initiative to increase student access and success in STEM fields. Chair of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering and Coordinator of STEM Initiatives for Perimeter College Cynthia Lester said that limited support and resources has played a significant role in the diversion of students from STEM fields.

“According to the National Math and Science Initiative, it is the declining number of students who are prepared to take rigorous college courses in science and math and who are trained for careers in those fields that has fueled the STEM crisis,” Lester said.

Lester said the report noted that between 10 to 25 percent of high schools do not offer more than one of the core courses in the typical sequence of

LAST WEEK

high school math and science education such as algebra, geometry, biology, and chemistry.

“For black, Latino, American Indian, and Alaska Native students there is even less access where only a quarter of high schools with the highest percentage of black and Latino students do not offer Algebra II and a third of these schools do not offer chemistry,” Lester said.

Lester said that programs, such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, and the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) make a significant impact in the retention of STEM field college graduates.

“These experiences have been shown to impact student retention as well as influence students’ decision to persist in and pursue STEM careers,” Lester said. “Therefore, co-curricular programs, internships and research experiences, especially in STEM disciplines, are essential instruments for developing the next generation of STEM professionals.”

From Oct. 23 to 26, Perimeter students Alana Burrell and Zachary Palmtree will work with NASA engineers on research at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and take part in a Mars model rover building competition. Participants in program must be U.S. citizens studying science, mathematics,

engineering or computer science—STEM. The two STEM majors competed with other students in the U.S. in a five-week online version of the program. Burrell, who is a computer science engineer major, admitted that the online trial was initially intimidating.

“I was very discouraged starting this course because I didn't understand anything but I believe any course is like that,” Burrell said. “You may know one or two things but you never know enough to suffice starting out. After I got into the articles, the questions on the quiz became easier for me.”

Burrell said she looks forward to learning more about how NASA functions as a company and sees the her participation in the program as an opportunity to network. Palmtree said the program is an “amazing opportunity” for STEM students wanting to make a positive impact on people’s lives through science.

“I think the program is an amazing opportunity for students interested in engineering or space to gain insight from NASA on how different engineering and science fields come together to create some amazing works that help us all to learn to more about the universe and to help improve the lives of those around us,” Palmtree said.

Joe Biden may be running for president.

Ashley Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden's daughter, speculated that her father may be running for the 2020 presidential election. However she is not certain if he will be running. "He'll make a decision when that time comes," she told CNN. "A lot can happen in four years and we know this as a family. If he is in good health, knock on wood, and seeing what the landscape is at the time, yeah, I think he is considering it."

GLOBAL Caribbean Islands prepare for another hurricane

The Caribbean Islands are still trying to get their barring after Hurricane Irma, but they won’t have time to rest with Jose on its way. According to Global News, Jose has weakened to a Category 4 storm, with wind speeds that are 145 mph (230 kph), and is estimated to hit the northern Leeward Islands on Sept. 16.

Islands of Antigua and Barbuda will will probably be missed by Jose, but Barbuda is in the direct path. After Irma, 95 percent of buildings in the region were damaged. Jose is expected to raise water levels by over two feet.

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

City of Atlanta is in dire need of a makeover After 14 years, Downtown is getting a new master plan to cater to its residents CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

DOWNTOWN

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SYRINA MERILAN News Editor

Atlanta is due for a renovation and Central Atlanta Progress Incorporated has already drafted a plan on what it needs. The Downtown Master Plan (DMP) encompasses four square miles of Downtown, ranging from North Ave. down to I-20 and Northside over to Boulevard and in the middle of that lies Georgia State.

The last plan took place in 2003 and the majority of those projects have since been completed. This sparked the need for a new plan to create a cohesive picture of Downtown, according to DMP Project Manager Audrey Leous.

“A major reason for doing this work is recognizing how can we make sure that the infrastructure investments that are going to be made are done so in a way that support the type of development we want to see in Downtown,” Leous said. “To make sure things that are happening in Downtown are knitted together in a cohesive identity for Downtown.”

EXPECTED FOR GEORGIA STATE

The DMP, which is based off of the concerns of residents that live in surrounding areas, hopes to propose reasonable solutions to tackle those issues. Around Georgia State, a prominent issue seems to be housing.

“Some of the things we’ve been hearing specifically in that part of Downtown is that there’s a need for a variety of housing options and we’ve been hearing that throughout Downtown, but [there’s] a lot of sensitivity around housing in Atlanta getting really pricey,” Leous said.

Some of the other issues brought to Leous’ attention are safer connections to the rest of Downtown, including a more green atmosphere and traffic calming. Georgia State will also be experiencing many changes in

infrastructure along several streets that run through the campus. Streetscaping will be done on Edgewood Ave. and bicycle infrastructure improvement will we incorporated on Courtland ST. and Piedmont Ave. The DMP is also making efforts to give the students more access to job opportunities in businesses around Downtown with the goal of retaining a workforce in Atlanta while also putting what was learned to use.

“Another idea is expanding active engagement programs with universities, including a range of internships and Co-Ops to increase access to entry level jobs and support the retention in Downtown,” Leous said. “Then fostering that so then students can transfer to full time jobs here, rather than they’re here for a couple of years go to school then have to find a job somewhere else.”

The plan has not been fully flushed out yet, but Leous said that this may be achieved by making a targeted effort to create a relationship with Georgia State affiliates and local businesses that surround the university.

“A concerted effort to build relationships between folk at Georgia State--professors, people who work in the advisement role-- [to] really try and make the connection between those people and the local businesses here that may have job opportunities,” Leous said.

THE PARKING DILEMMA

One of the major complaints made from the city as a whole is the lack of parking, but according to Leous there are a lot of parking spaces available but they may be difficult to find.

“In Downtown, we have tons and tons of parking. We also hear from people that it’s not enough, but when you actually look at the number of spaces there is a lot of capacity but it could difficult to find or people want free parking,” Leous said.

However, the DMP team is still thinking of a way to solve this, although free parking is not one them. Instead, Leous is proposing

a policy that will create a parking authority which would manage the parking supply in Downtown.

“One idea that we have is [to] create a fund to obtain for some of these service parking lots and then over time have a program where they manage all of these different parking assets to provide parking for Downtown businesses, residents, as well as set some of those service parking lots up for future development,” Leous said.

THE STAKEHOLDERS

The fate of this policy, however, is not in the hands of the DMP management team.

They must appeal to the Atlanta City Council (ACC) and their stakeholders to get a program like this approved.

“With any type of policy there’s never a guarantee that we can absolutely get it done, because if it’s a city policy it’s out of our hands in a way,” Leous said. “We can only try to work with different stakeholders, whether its subject matter experts or elected officials on our board, and provide them with the right type of information to help them understand the need for it and the type of benefits it could have.”

Along with that is the fact that newly elected officials will soon be taking their seat in the city council and the DMP team will have to work from the ground up once again.

“We have the election coming up so we’ll have a new mayor and we’ll have almost a whole new City Council, so it also comes down to working with the elected officials to get to a point where we can actually make this work,” Leous said. “Those are things that are always sort of unknown but we’ll try our best and work as hard as we can to make it happen.

The plan is scheduled for its first revision this fall and the DMP is expected to be approved by the city council in December.

Implementing the plan varies because of the amount of renovations it hopes to achieve.

However, the trajectory for all the plans to be implemented are within the next 15 years.

KEY THEMES AND GOALS OF THE DMP • Grow Downtown neighborhoods tailored to meet the needs of residents • Reinforce Downtown's role as the entrepreneurial and economic center of the region • Restore the forest in the center of the city to improve air and water quality, create shade and add beauty to Downtown • Offer real choices in transportation to reduce traffic congestion and reliance on automobiles and create space for increase activity • Uncover, celebrate and preserve Downtown’s heritage to ensure that new growth does not overwrite history • Go big with the small stuff to humanize Downtown ACCORDING TO THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

EDITORIAL

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

editorial

Be gracious, Atlanta

Hurricane hospitality in the wake of Irma

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s it just us, or does it feel like we’re nearing the end of the world? Back-to-back hurricanes, mega-earthquakes, relentless wildfires—is there something you’re trying to tell us, Mama Earth?

An estimated 50 million people felt the wrath of Mexico’s magnitude 8.1 earthquake, the most intense to impact the country in the last century. Over 60 active wildfires are suffocating the western United States, leaving ash and life-threatening smoke in their paths.

People are flocking to refuge as they leave their drowning cities behind. Texas residents are trying to recover from Harvey, as one-fourth of Florida’s population flees from the destructive grips of Irma.

Atlanta has become a haven for scared citizens.

People have made the difficult decision to leave their homes in the rearview mirror, taking an unexpected road trip in attempt at saving their lives. Taking a whopping 23 hours to get to Atlanta from Miami, traffic has become a horrendous inevitability.

Irma has gifted our urban sanctuary with its first ever tropical storm warning. And because of this, everyone is losing their marbles. On top of locals

ravaging for supplies, out-of-towners are getting their hands on anything they may need before the storm catches up with them. Grocery stores look like the aftermath of an apocalypse, with aisles left empty and unstocked.

High winds and heavy rain led to the closing of many schools and businesses across the state. Hotels remain open, though availability is next to nothing and normal hospitality protocol is out the window.

Animals are walking through the lobbies and room capacities are overlooked, causing frustration among many Atlanta residents. People are legitimately angry that they are being inconvenienced in the comfort of their own city.

Airbnb’s are filling up fast as families from Florida and the coast find homes to hunker down in and wait out the storm. Thus, leaving scarce options for those in Atlanta who were planning a weekend getaway or family staycation.

Yes, the undesirable circumstances are causing non-Atlanta natives to take over our vacation homes, our interstates and our venues, but can we really be

upset about it?

People have been complaining about the postconsequential events of the two hurricanes in Atlanta. Whether it’s the traffic, the empty grocery stores or the overcrowdedness of the city and suburbs in general.

But wouldn’t we want the same open-arm kindness if a natural disaster tore through our beloved city?

Wouldn’t we want to have the option to overflow a baseball venue or a motor speedway? Wouldn’t we want the understanding of people who let us shove our families of five with pets into a one-bed hotel room?

The answer, no matter who you are or where you live, is yes. Although the temporary inconvenience may put a damper on our day to day life, the key word is temporary. And the key to being a human is kindness.

Remember this over the next few weeks as people continue to sprawl over our city. Be gracious, be kind, don’t be selfish, don’t be self-centered. Put yourself in their shoes. Treat our visitors as you would want to be treated if you had to unexpectedly uproot your life and watch from afar as nature runs its destructive course.

ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

City vs.

Artist SCAD student and Atlanta native gives a look into the Atlanta street art community SAVANNAH ELDER Staff Reporter

Muralist Daniel Byrd, a student of Savannah College of Art & Design, creates vibrant street art on the walls of Atlanta.

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ach day, people observe, admire and take pictures of street art findings in Atlanta’s neighborhoods.

Little Five Points and Krog Street Tunnel are no longer the only places for raw art, with their neighbor Inman Park gaining murals with every new building that appears. Meanwhile, Castleberry Hill, Downtown and Edgewood have held their own treasures for decades.

Murals have been painted along underpasses in Candler Park, Buckhead, and on the entire side of the train bridge in Cabbagetown.

With every mural that pops up, the pressure builds on local artists from the city of Atlanta who are seeking to enforce regulations on property owners over the artwork placed on their buildings.

FREE EXPRESSION Back in May, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that a group of local artists were suing the city of Atlanta over a discrepancy between public murals and private property.

In accordance with a 35-year-old public art ordinance, the murals in question were said to be illegal, because they are publicly displayed without going through a layered approval process conducted at the city’s leisure.

The city continued to note the rigorous system for prospective projects, and the AJC reported that “they must now go through a multi-step application process for art that already exists or face possible prosecution — plus destruction of the art on their own property.”

In June, the AJC said the case was settled in favor of the plaintiffs: Fabian Williams (Occasional Superstar), Benito Ferro (Yoyo Ferro), Peter Ferrari (PLF), and Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room owner, Grant Henry.

Not only were the murals in question ordered to be left alone, but the ordinance was ruled unconstitutional altogether and the city had to pay $500 in damages to each of the local artists.

For now, it seems as if Atlanta will only gain more art installations and exhibits throughout its streets and neighborhoods. But Daniel Byrd, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and Atlanta native, said that although the fight ended in victory, there's still a lot to come in terms of public art displays in Atlanta.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN ARTIST?

BYRD: It will be 10 years this March. My parents took me to New York in middle school and after my first subway ride, I got a sketchbook. I began with letters and characters, just sort of letting things come into my mind and I just had to get them down onto the page.

HOW HAS YOUR ART PROGRESSED?

BYRD: With the sketchbooks. Graffiti was

something I’d always looked out for and it completely changed the way I looked at the environment made for us [through art]. It made my mindset go from wanting to paint and get recognized to wanting to study the artistic process. All these people going out with different backgrounds putting out their work in the streets, hopefully without riding off anyone else’s style, is dope. Seeing all those styles on one wall is even better because each person’s spin strives to be original and stick out from the rest. That’s what I try to accomplish with my own.

WHEN DID YOU START PARTICIPATING IN STREET ART? BYRD: I made stickers in middle school and I had a Flickr account. There was a sort of sticker scene on the site where a group of us [artists] sent out stickers and packages all over the world to one another. After middle school, I started going out to drop stickers and eventually started painting. That’s when I met the people who laid down the ins and outs of the street art community. In 2010, I participated in Miami Art Basel which was my first real mural experience. I’ve helped other artists do murals ever since, along with creating my own.

WHAT’S THE TAKE ON GRAFFITI AND MURALS FROM THE LOCAL ART COMMUNITY? BYRD: There’s a combined opinion, but the sides are very different. The street artists that you see creating the murals you speak of are the ones who are going into the contemporary art world. And they’re killing it — painting as if they had formal art training but in reality, they’re just thinking differently. I’d say people who live in the Eastside and Westside [neighborhoods] are either in favor of it or don’t get involved. However, street art and graffiti is not the same thing. Street art has

PHOTOS BY SAVANNAH ELDER | THE SIGNAL

something behind it, it's intentional. To me, graffiti is always vandalism because it’s trying to get fame from it.

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE MURALS AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA NOWADAYS? BYRD: It goes back to the 80’s and 90’s when Atlanta enacted the Public Art Ordinance (the five-step approval process doctrined by the city). Present day, the city is trying to open it back up, because so many private property owners are inviting artists to decorate their buildings. With the ordinance, they're not trying to sue the artists, but the building owner if they don't cover up the work when requested.

So, it's like evading the freedom of expression.

IF THE ISSUE IS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, WHAT SAY DOES ATL HAVE TOWARDS ART WITHIN/ON PRIVATE PROPERTY? BYRD: Well, right, it doesn’t make sense. The city shouldn’t be able to regulate it through all the steps they want to mandate. The city gets to choose what they want or what looks best, and the artists who get to dominate the scene.

It takes away from the diversity and it’s like putting a muzzle on everyone else.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE FOR MURALS IN THE CITY, OR IS IT TOO SOON TO TELL? BYRD: Too soon to tell. I think we’re always going to be fighting, or fighting back, but the artists that did win that lawsuit said the city is back onto them. Some other artists are even talking about leaving [the city] because of it.

And we need to prevent that. Atlanta is the next meca-art hub.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR OWN WORK? BYRD: It hasn’t yet, but it’s affecting the way I think about the future because I used to do murals, then got into the studio to do a lot of canvas and now I’m getting back onto walls.

So, I have to take into account what’s going on.

IS ART A FORM OF FREE SPEECH IF SPEECH IS DEFINED BY EXPRESSION? BYRD: Yeah. Whether it’s good or bad. Bad feelings or not, they can be expressed. No one should be able to stop that from that happening.

THE LANTERN PARADE Atlanta gets lit on the BeltLine CAMILLE BOLOS & SOPHIA MARCHESE

Arts & Living Editor and Associate Arts & Living Editor

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tlanta’s BeltLine illuminated with color and ingenuity on Sept. 9, as thousands of people marched in the Lantern Parade with their homemade creations.

Hosted by The Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, the Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade has been celebrated annually on the Saturday following Labor Day since its inception in 2010.

“About two or three years ago, we came down to ride our bikes and happened upon the parade—it was a big surprise— and it’s really cool so we’ve been coming ever since,” Georgia State alumni David Haskins said.

The Lantern Parade attracts residents from all over the Greater Atlanta area. From modest handheld lanterns to giant interactive innovations, the celebration is an opportunity for people of all ages to have fun and get lit.

FACES BEHIND THE LANTERNS The festivity kicks off the annual temporary exhibition known as Art on the BeltLine, which is the biggest of its kind here in the South. In its eighth year, the public exhibit embodies local artists as well as those from around the world.

With many different artistic mediums, the event series is a platform for a wide variety of talent.

“Art pieces seek to enhance the [BeltLine] visitor’s sense of discovery and adventure,” the official website said. The Lantern Parade is just the beginning, marking nearly three months of “street-style performances, art-making along the trails, interactive art, and works that embody navigating urban space as an experience as well as a place.”

While some people attend the parade to support this mission, others go with a mission of their own. They go to support a cause or promote whatever it is they believe in, doing so in a unique and vibrant way.

For example, many people that paraded along the trail held signs and wore t-shirts endorsing local government officials.

Whereas these participants created lanterns for a specific purpose, others showed up purely to get in the spirit—using random household items to throw together last-minute lanterns.

“My inspiration, quite frankly, was to do something very quickly,” Atlanta resident Tony Rushin said.

Rushin laughed as he explained his lantern, which he decided to give an identity.

“I don’t know why, but I was just inspired to name him Zot,” Rushin said. “And he’s a monster, but he’s a benevolent monster. People mistake him… They’re scared of him. And that makes Zot sad.”

HOW TO GET LIT For those that need a bit of “lit-spo,” there are many lantern making workshops that lead up to parade day.

Parade prodigy, Chantelle Rytter, teaches these helpful howto classes and encourages people to create something special that can be proudly paraded.

“We went to a workshop and we all made [lantern] hats,” attendee Kim Hatcher said. “It was surprisingly easy, we just needed someone to tell us how to do it. You can be as creative as you want.”

Lantern hats, giant glowing butterflies, illuminated parasols—Rytter and her Krewe foster “creative playtime” no matter what lantern workshop attendees choose.

“What I love about it is that it’s good for all ages. It’s something families and friends can do together,” Hatcher said.

SPECTACLE SPECTATORS While thousands of people enjoy marching in the parade, there are many that come simply for the show itself.

Bridge overpasses that overlook the Atlanta BeltLine were packed with spectators watching as the lanterns floated below them.

Residents of apartments and houses in surrounding neighborhoods and along the path watched gleefully from the comfort of their own homes. People cheered from their balconies as they watched the parade make its way past. Talk about a front-row show!

Those who wanted to beat traffic and get a parking spot in the crowded nearby neighborhoods—or a good sideline spot to watch the spectacle—got there very early on Saturday.

Blankets and lawn chairs were scattered along the trail.

Onlookers sipped on drinks and giggled with their children as they waited all day for the parade.

Michaela Foronda from Lithonia, Georgia said that she and her friends arrived many hours before the Lantern Parade was set to begin.

“My friend lives in Inman Park so I decided to come,” Foronda said. “We brought some food, some drinks. We’re postin’ up.”

Foronda watched as hundreds of people filled in empty spaces around her, excited for the main event to begin. From emojis to unicorns, Foronda said that she was very impressed with what she saw.

“I’m excited now that it’s getting dark,” Foronda said.

A GLOWING HISTORY Glowing spectacles of different shapes and sizes bob along streets and cities all over the world, at all different times during

Atlanta residents bring creative homemade lanterns to the BeltLine for the annual Lantern Parade.

the year. These lantern parades have dated back over 2,000 years and have taken place in dozens of different countries from Asia to the UK and Australia. These parades are meant to be a celebration and a coming together of family and community.

The first lantern festival known took place in China in the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Emperor, Hanmingdi, was a big advocate of the Buddhism religion. It is said that monks would light lanterns in the temples to show their respect for Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so the Emperor ordered every single person to light lanterns on that evening as well.

Each culture has their version of lantern festivals and parades and their own beliefs behind what it symbolizes to them.

Some are celebrations of the end of a 15-day New Year holiday, some are to celebrate the birth of Buddha, some use lanterns to celebrate the kindness of a monk for St. Martin Day’s, or to celebrate the end of the rainy season.

A majority of the symbolism behind the festivals is to light up the night sky, warding off bad luck and bringing good fortune. These festivals bring together families and loved ones to reign in goodness and joy.

Regardless of the reason, each culture that participates in these various types of lantern festivals celebrate each year—and the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Festival is no exception. Our city’s parade continues to grow and become a place where people come together to celebrate the coming of fall season.

PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCHESE | THE SIGNAL

Parade responsibly

As with any good time, there must be guidelines to keep the chaos at bay. Provided by the Art on the BeltLine website, here are 10 rules to follow: You need a lantern to walk in the parade.

No passing.

No stopping. If you need to stop, please step off to the side.

Please do not walk against the flow of the parade.

Yield generous space to bands and large lanterns.

Leave your pets at home.

Please walk your bike.

No flying lanterns.

Take your trash with you.

Have a blast!

ARTS & LIVING

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Georgia State student creates new resume app, Be Excellent STAFF REPORTER

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he Be Excellent app intends to revitalize how students craft their resumes and push for career success. It is set to launch at Georgia State this month. By integrating video components into student resumes, the app aims to communicate the candidates’ intangible characteristics to employers, including personality traits, mannerisms and appearances.

REVOLUTIONIZING RESUMES WITH VIDEO CONTENT

“The resume is supposed to reflect everything about who you are, and while doing my research, I found most people don’t even feel like their resume reflects those intangibles; those special ‘it’ factors,” said Be Excellent founder and student McKenzie Bell said.

When facing substantial amounts of resumes, job recruiters will often use a student’s experience and grade point average (GPA) to determine if they are eligible for the position, but there are problems with this.

“I even talked to recruiters and they explained to me what they go through when they sort out which resumes they want and honestly it’s a bad and fickle process,” Bell said.

He believes it is easier to have a high GPA if a student is only taking classes, but students who have to support themselves with multiple jobs would have trouble translating their discipline and focusing on their resume.

Once Be Excellent goes live, students will be able to create an account and use the brand-new app to create resumes, but these resumes will be different than the ones you see on LinkedIn. They will be composed almost entirely of video, allowing job candidates to better connect with employers. This will also give the employers more insight on the individual than they would receive from a traditional resume.

If the employer is interested in a candidate’s resume, Be Excellent will support video interviews between the two parties, producing a much smoother and efficient hiring process. The app will also include job boards and can host group interviews.

“I believe video content or video streamlining is the new way to do things,” Bell said.

By incorporating video into the resume process, employers can tap into a larger, more diverse audience of candidates. The diversity of students and potential candidates would eliminate an education bias that exists in the eyes of many corporations.

“The idea is: ‘Hey, you go to Stanford or Georgia Tech,’ and the automatic association is that you're going to be successful because of the school you go to,” Bell said. “But what I'm saying is that you can find half of those people at Georgia State University and other schools that are just as good, if not better.”

THE THOUGHT BEHIND THE APP

With that idea in mind, the young New York native plans to expand Be Excellent and eventually make it available to other schools in the area. Directors of Career Services at other schools have already seen the tremendous value of Bell’s program and have expanded Bell’s list of business contacts.

“It didn’t make sense to me…Atlanta [has] Fortune 500 companies all over the area and half of them don’t even come to career services,” Bell said. “It made me upset and mad because we are just as good, if not more competitive, to work in those companies.”

Bell was discouraged and then later inspired by his unsuccessful attempts to obtain different internship and job opportunities in the past. The Georgia State senior and his team built Be Excellent around the goal of helping students that struggle to show potential employers their unique value through a mere, one-paged document.

“It's more about telling the journey that the individual student goes through to get to the end goal, which is being successful,” Bell said.

About two years ago, Bell’s roommate mentioned a business

McKenzie Bell, founder of the Be Excellent app, and Maximillian Naza, the app’s co-founder.

competition held on campus and convinced him to attend.

Soon after, Bell began writing up his first business model.

Unfortunately, he started too late and was unable to participate in the competition that year, but Bell continued to lay the groundwork for Be Excellent nonetheless.

This is when Bell started to write and make decisions about what kind of business he could create—one that actually tells the student’s story and personality in relation to a potential job. He took all of his hardships and the struggles he endured and used them to find a way to build them into something that allows everyone to create and share their own values. Bell found a way to show job recruiters what they have not been able to see in the past.

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Be Excellent illustrates the student perspective and provides a deeper look at the undergrad decision-making process. The app facilitates the student’s success with innovative features.

RESOURCES USED

The ambitious and hard-working Be Excellent creator gives a lot of credit to his friends and the J. Mack Robinson College of Business department leaders for their honest feedback.

Bell said the criticism was especially helpful when he finished his executive summary. He wanted a trustworthy assessment of his work before he continued with the rest of his business plan. He took his executive summary to his teachers and certain department leaders and asked for their opinions during his creative process.

“Is this good? Is this idea good?” Bell said to them. “Don’t hold back, let me know, because I don’t want to do anything I’m unsure of.”

Bell said that an institution at Georgia Tech was also incredibly helpful to his success. The Advanced Technology Development Center holds lessons that teach students how to build start-ups, taught by people who run various successful companies.

“I walked up there from the Commons every Tuesday and Thursday when they had sessions, and did my thing,” Bell said.

He also said that Google and YouTube were vital to his success thus far and that many people take these resources for granted.

“You can get a lot done on Google and YouTube. Most of the time [they have] everything you need,” Bell said. “You really have to utilize every resource you have.”

Personalization of a resume through video

Easy set- up

Direct access to the recruiter

Transparency

The challenge of identifying a career path and having the fundamental skillset for that career is crucial for success. Be Excellent strives to show students the beauty of that challenging process: the success that follows thereafter.

PAGE DESIGN BY CHRISTOPHER WINLEY | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

ARTS & LIVING

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MOVIE REVIEW

After 27 years, 'It' happened again TYLER BATES Staff Reporter

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fter 27 years, “It” has happened again.

If you are an avid classic pop literature reader or a movie buff in your own right, you’ll notice a little coincidence with the time period between the release of the original film in 1990 and the remake in 2017.

According to the book and film, It (also known as the character Pennywise the clown) apparently comes out of hibernation every 27 years to “feast on children and their fears.” It has been exactly 27 years since the original 1990 release... creepy, right?

So now, dim the lights, kick back, relax and let Pennywise the clown take you to your happy place of subtle frights and thrills. I know I did. The remake of this Stephen King horror/thriller classic just had its opening weekend and is already the talk of the town with box offices everywhere sold out.

According to Variety magazine, the film's first two preview nights grossed over $50 million. $13.5 million of those earnings came from Thursday’s preview night, which gave “It” the third largest preview number for 2017.

“It” isn’t just centered around the clown, it also follows a group of seven young, bullied kids (Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Mike, Eddie, and Stanley) who live in the small town of Derry, Maine. They are on a mission to find out who the clown is and why he has chosen to terrorize their town's children.

The entire epidemic starts out in the opening scenes of the film. It’s pouring rain and Bill and little Georgie are bonding over a toy boat in their parent’s home while their

mother awkwardly plays the piano in a melancholic minor tone. After spending some quality time together, the brothers decide it’s a great idea for Georgie to go play with his boat outside... by himself.

The rain is getting worse and then poor Georgie begins to fall behind the water currents, pulling his boat downstream. He slips and hits his head on a construction piece in the street before shortly realizing his trusty boat fell down the sewer. Then comes Pennywise popping out of the sewer drain.

He holds a full-blown conversation with little Georgie about cheering up his brother Bill and getting treats like balloons, popcorn and cotton candy. The two share moments of uncontrollable laughter until Georgie suddenly stops and realizes something isn’t quite right.

Pennywise is obviously trying to get Georgie to come down drain to get his boat—don’t do it Georgie! But alas, Pennywise gets his way and they go down that darn drain together.

And that’s the tragedy that sparked this movement of seven friends trying to put an end to It's shenanigans before he puts an end to them. Although the diabolic clown truly sets the dark tone of the film, the wit, charisma and potty-mouth humor from the kids had myself and the entire audience filling the auditorium with laughter, which is not the first thing you would expect when thinking of a horror film. The adolescent cast also played off the nostalgic vibe well, with the style, music selection and their witty reference to the Molly Ringwald look-alike.

Big take away from the film: don’t conversate with random clowns in the sewer. Also, if the films “The Goonies” and “It” merged and had a baby this is definitely what it would look like, and I’m okay with that.

GRADE

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VERDICT Coming from someone who is typically antihorror, this film is amazing and really strays away from your typical horror film. I was so busy laughing I forgot to get terrified at times, but when I did, I could not leave the theatre because the performance was so well played I was afraid I’d miss what would happen next. This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat with just the right balance of fear and humor.

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ction Bronson has put out the third installment of the 'Blue Chips' series with Blue Chips 7000. This album has a 70’s funk vibe thanks to the production efforts of some A-List producers. Bronson, who put his signature Queen’s drawl over it, delivered funny, confident lines.

A former high class chef, Bronson started rapping after he broke his leg in the kitchen.

Taking notes from classic New York rappers, like Wu Tang Clan & Kool G Rap, Bronson crafted his own rapping style after leaving the kitchen. His raps are filled with things that he loves. Food references, as well as talks of fancy cars, obscure sports stars, his smoking habits, and New York references can be found on any Action Bronson project. Blue Chips 7000 is no different.

The production by Party Supplies brings this project together. Right off the bat is “Wolfpack,” the first song on the project; a funky, drum set based beat with funky bass lines lays a perfect valley for Bronson to disturb the peace with his relaxed but articulate flow. Songs produced by Party Supplies take the tape, but a vibe is maintained throughout the tape regardless of the producer. Longtime collaborator “The Alchemist” and Daringer have some beats on

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Flash Trading

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'Blue Chips 7000' goes all in Staff Reporter

Dent May

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ALBUM REVIEW

JALEN JENKINS

1 3 GRADE

this tape that work well, too.

A low point of this project is “9-247000.” Produced by Harry Fraud, a polished production style that does not seem to fit at all leaves the feeling that it was set earlier in the project. The song sounds like an attempt to create a club banger, but even in that realm it does not really hold up on its own. The song might be making fun of itself a little bit and may possibly just be a commentary on these type of “serious” songs made by other rappers. The song is not bad, but its existence on this tape is confusing to say the least.

Bronson can rap, there is no denying that. His style is attractive because it does not take itself seriously. A mainstay in Action Bronson’s rapping is the amount of comedy he brings to the table in his raps. For example, “My Right Lung” has a hook about Bronson’s dying wish to dunk a basketball: “I’d give my right lung if I could dunk a basketball just one time.” To put some context on the line, Bronson is a heavy set man with a broken leg in his history.

Another song, “The Chairman’s Intent,” a single released in promotion for Blue Chips 7000, shows Bronson in prime form, rapping over an epic, turn away from explosion in a movie type beat: “Two pumps from the inhaler got me feeling like Lawrence Taylor / Two kisses on the cheek for my tailor (Mwah!) / I got the soul of an Amazon healer / Better be sure to put them cameras on.”

12 13 14 15 GRADE

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BEST SONGS 1. “The Chairman’s Intent” 2. “Hot Pepper” 3. "Wolfpack”

VERDICT

Bronson is not much of a technical rapper. He is not a fast rapper or a metaphorical puzzle laying rapper such as peers like Kendrick Lamar or MF Doom. However, Bronson does have style, and a lot of it. He knows the pace at which he thrives, and he knows what production he needs to bring a song to the next level. Thanks to the all-star cast of producers and most importantly, Action’s sense of humor and flow, Blue Chips 7000 is a highlight for Bronson.

ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE

16 17 18 19 20

THE GOLDEN MILE

RIPE & MAJESTIC TOBACCO

FIVE YEARS OF LOVING NOTES V/A - Antinote

A SAFE PLACE TO BE NAKED S. Fidelity

EUCALYPTUS Avey Tare

MELLOW WAVES Cornelius

SUMMERSET (SIDE B) V/A - Lush Selects

FRENCH KIWI JUICE FKJ

ARTIFICIAL BEACH EP Shimano Moki

NOTHING IS EASY, EVERYTHING IS (...)

Futility Music

SOFT SOUNDS FROM ANOTHER PLANET Japanese Breakfast

MURDER OF THE UNIVERSE King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

ART SCHOOL JOCKS Art School Jocks

DADA B Boys

SHADOW EXPERT Palm

DE MIM, PRA VOCÊ Sango

ZONEZ V.3: THE WORLD UWINDS ME BUT (...)

Suzi Analogue

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX Cigarettes After Sex

SOMERSAULT Beach Fossils

CALENDAR & GAMES

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

things you don’t want to miss Wednesday

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Uptown Comedy Corner

Pianos for Peace

Cirque Du Soleil: Luzia

Music Midtown

Japanese Festival

Burger and Brew

Singfest

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

Haven’t had a hearty belly laugh in a while? Give yourself a break this humpday and go do some karaoke and see some comedy with host Vanessa Fraction! Doors open at 8 p.m. and show starts at 9 p.m.

Over 50 beautifully painted pianos have been placed around the Atlanta area as public art displays for all to enjoy until the 9/18. Go on a scavenger hunt with friends and see who can find the most!

It’s back and it brought with it a beautiful walking dream of Mexico!

Embrace the beauty and wonder of the performance while letting your imagination soar.

Tickets start at $25, the show runs until 11/5.

Who else wants to get down with Bruno Mars, Weezer and Atlanta native Russ?

Check out the lineup on their website and grab your wristband, it’s that time of year again and Piedmont Park is getting groovy.

Enjoy some Japanese culture at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth this weekend. Loaded with guest speakers (Sailor Moon’s voice!), dancing, vendors, food, kimonos and more!

Tickets are only $10!

Recover from the weekend with this $10 deal at Torched Hop Brewing Company. You get a classic double cheeseburger and your choice of a house brew. Located right off Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E.

The Rialto Center for the Arts hosts a one-day musical fest where students from schools all over Atlanta come together to perform as one choir alongside Georgia State Singers!

Tickets start at $35.

games

SuD0KU

easy

medium

WORD SEARCH

Word List: Beltline Lanterns Festival Murals Artists Bell

BeExcellent BlueChips Bronson It StephenKing DACA NASA STEM

Bookstore Polhamus Masterplan Interface CAP Resume RecCenter Renovation

HARD

SPORTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

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big things for Georgia State football

Georgia State Panthers playing Tennessee State at the first home game on the semester, August 31, 2017.

D'MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

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ell over 24,000 eager, electrified fans and students were in attendance to witness history as Georgia State hosted the Tennessee State Tigers on Aug. 31. Included in that number were two prominent Georgia residents: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who participated in the coin toss, and Governor Nathan Deal.

While the sight of the stadium was overwhelmingly impressive to the fans in attendance, the final score of 17-10, in favor of the Tigers, was truly a disappointment— especially since the Panthers were favored by many to win this game. But this is only the first game, and there is plenty of time for the Panthers to turn their season around.

Head coach Shawn Elliott said in the press conference after the game, “we’ll go back and regroup. We’ve got 17 days to prepare, got an open date ahead and we’ll see what we can do.”

Elliott is right. The Panthers’ next game isn’t until Sept. 16 when they face a Penn State team that won the Big Ten Championship last season and has one of the top running backs in the nation in Saquon Barkley.

In case you missed the Panthers’ game against the Tigers, here are some points that stood out to me and which the Panthers can hopefully learn from.

INCONVENIENCES OF THE STADIUM

As mentioned earlier, the Georgia State Stadium was obviously the main attraction

of the evening due to the 24,000 plus fans in attendance. The turf field also seemed to hold up well as there was a terrible thunderstorm earlier in the day. However, there was some displeasure from fans about the parking, ticketing booths, and concession stands. Being that this was the first home game, these issues should be resolved for the next Panthers’ home game (Sept. 30 against Memphis). The biggest question is whether students will be willing to attend further home games due to the dispiriting loss to a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school.

OFFENSIVE WOES

After running back Kyler Neal fumbled on the Panthers’ first possession to give Tennessee State an opportunity to strike first, the Panthers simply failed to get into any rhythm during the first half of the game – and for the rest of the game, for that matter.

Coach Elliott said that during his first game as head coach, running a hurry-up (no huddle) style offense is going to be the Panthers’ forte.

He mentioned that he wants his team to “start fast and finish strong.” Unfortunately for the Panthers, the offense seemed quite lethargic. The offense attempted to convert for a first down on fourth down four times but were only successful once. But it all starts up front with the big heavies. Coach Elliott chose to start two freshmen offensive guards (Shamarious Gilmore and Pat Bartlett), and it didn’t do the Panthers any justice. It is also worth noting that the Panthers failed to secure the lead at any point during the game.

LET’S GO DEFENSE?

With multiple players seen with signs of

Here are five things we learned from Georgia State’s loss to Tennessee State

PHOTO BY HANNAH GRECO & PAGE DESIGN BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

fatigue, their hands on their hips quite early in the game, the Panthers’ defense seemed unable to stop the rush of attack by Tennessee State. The Tigers wasted no time in giving the Panthers a heavy dose of Treon Harris, their athletic transfer quarterback from Florida.

Harris showed his elusiveness as he carried the ball 11 times for 91 yards. He then rushed for a touchdown late in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 17-3 lead. However, Harris wasn’t the only runner on display for the Tigers.

Running backs Seth Rowland and Sabree Curtis combined for 26 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown. At the end of regulation, it was a total of 238 rushing yards for the Tigers’ offense. However, with key-departures on the defensive side of the ball (Alonzo McGee, Shawanye Lawrence and Bobby Baker), this was somewhat expected.

There were some positive takeaways from the game defensively, though. The lockdownplay of cornerback tandem Chandon Sullivan and Jerome Smith was on display. The corners made it difficult for Harris to throw the deepbomb and it ultimately led to the quarterback not being able to add a throwing touchdown to his stat sheet.

LACK OF BIG PLAYS FROM THE WIDEOUTS

While the Panthers lost Robert Davis, a key contributor in former wideout, they still have weapons on the outside. One problem, though. They went AWOL against the Tigers’ secondary. The starting receivers for the Panthers include Penny Hart and Todd Boyd, who can both do critical damage to an opposing defense’s secondary. Unfortunately, Hart only had five catches for 36 yards, and

Boyd had two catches for 36 yards. The Panthers need both these receivers to play a significant part moving forward. In retrospect, tight end Ari Werts was the security blanket for Conner Manning, and we should see more of the same going forward. Werts had the longest gain for the Panthers of 59 yards.

If it weren’t for a shoestring tackle made in the open field, Werts would have had his first touchdown of the year. Flex-receiver Glenn Smith and Devin Gentry also need to be more active in the Panthers’ pass-game for this offense to reach its full potential.

DEVELOP A RUN GAME

“We gotta develop a better run-game—and when I say better, we gotta develop a rungame,” said Coach Elliott during the press conference after the game. Once again, he hit it on the head. The Panthers’ running-game was lethargic for four quarters. After his fumble in the first quarter, Elliott immediately pulled Neal out of the game and inserted running back Taz Bateman in the backfield. Bateman seemed to be the only positive aspect of the night for the Panthers’ offense. Not only did he lead the team in rushing (36 yards) and receiving (76 yards), he also scored the only touchdown for the team. The Panthers tried different run-schemes to develop a run-game they so desperately needed, but failed to generate any push up front. Ultimately for the Panthers, there is a solid one-two-punch in the backfield with Neal and Bateman, but they will only go as far as the offensive line takes them. Not to mention, when the Panthers did have significant gains on the ground, they were negated by holding penalties by both, the offensive linemen and the wide receivers.

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

The Panthers look to replace Robert Davis

Team looks towards Penny Hart and receivers to make up for loss

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS & PAGE DEISGN BY TYPHANIE HALL | THE SIGNAL

TOBI ADEYEMI Staff Reporter

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he 2017-2018 football season is a lot of firsts for Georgia State. It’s not only the first year in the new Georgia State Stadium and the first year with a new head coach, Shawn Elliott, but it’s also a different kind of first for the Panthers. This season will be Georgia State’s first without Robert Davis in FBS play.

Robert Davis graduated last year, leaving behind a tremendous legacy and a whole lot of production for the Panthers to make up. In his four years with the program, he built a resume so strong that he can make a claim as not only Georgia State’s best wide receiver in Georgia State history, but also possibly the best player ever. During his freshman year, Davis was Georgia State’s second leading receiver with 44 catches for 711 yards, including two-100 yard games and four touchdowns.

He was named Preseason All Sun-Belt Conference Third Team as a sophomore and would only build on his excellence. As a sophomore, he pulled in 50 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns, earning him an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection. During Davis’ junior season, he really took off, racking up 61 receptions for 980 yards, good enough for third best season totals in Georgia State history. He would also add in six touchdowns which earned him his first Firstteam All-Sun Belt selection. Ending his career with another First-team All-Sun Belt selection his senior season, Davis led the entire Sun-Belt in receiving yards per game.

By the time Davis played his last snap for the Panthers, he had become their all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. He would also finish second in Georgia State history for touchdown receptions and second in Sun Belt history in career receiving yards, building quite a resume for an athlete who only had one scholarship offer. Capping his career by achieving his life-long goal of making it to the NFL, Davis got drafted

by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round. To celebrate, Davis threw a private draft party with his family and a few close friends by his side, one of them being Georgia State wide receiver, Penny Hart.

“It was unreal seeing that,” said Hart. “I’m so happy and excited to see him continue to live out his dream. I’m so proud of everything he’s doing for him, his family and everyone looking up to him.”

Davis will continue to live out his dream, but Hart and the rest of the Panthers will now have to figure out how to live without him. They’ll be tasked with the difficulty of replacing his 77 yards per game but wide receiver’s coach, Trent McKnight, thinks they have the right group of guys to do so.

“We have a young group of receivers this year, very young, but they come out every day and try to get better,” McKnight said. “They’re hungry, they’re ready to work, they want success and have a great attitude. That’s what I love seeing as a coach.”

“I’m the best at what I do, regardless of size, height, speed or power.”

— PENNY HART Wide receiver

The receiver group might be young, but McKnight sees some of the youngest players show potential flashes of what could be.

“Tamir Jones is a true freshman who did very well in camp, and I think he has a chance to make some plays down the line as the season goes on,” said McKnight. “Also Jonathan Ifedi who’s a redshirt freshman. He’ll definitely have an impact for us this season.”

Coach McKnight knows replacing Davis won’t be a one man

job, but he does have faith in one player who he believes has the talent to rewrite history.

“We always think it’s going to be a committee thing, we expect whoever’s number is called to step up,” said McKnight.

“But obviously Penny Hart is a guy we have a lot of trust in. He works hard, competes every day, and he’s special with the ball in his hands. He’s the one that I can see definitely stepping up to role Davis had.”

It’s no surprise this team has a lot of faith in Hart; he came in 2015 and put up better numbers than Davis. During his rookie season, he led the entire Sun Belt in receptions and receiving yards, which earned him First-team All-Sun Belt and Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. It only took one year for the entire conference to find out how dangerous of a weapon Hart is, something he always knew, but a fact many doubted because of his size.

“What makes me dangerous is my attitude and my ability to make plays with the ball in my hand,” said Hart. “I’m the best at what I do, regardless of size, height, speed or power.”

While 2016 was supposed to be his breakout year, Hart missed the entire season due to a broken foot. Now he’s fully back, both healthy and aware of all the expectations placed on him. He’s aware of all the pressure, but it does not faze him one bit.

“I expect myself to be the best I can be, and that’s more than any pressure anyone can put on me,” said Hart.

But the pressure doesn’t all have to fall on Hart’s shoulders.

As Coach McKnight said, they’ll be expecting multiple players to step up. Todd Boyd, Glenn Smith, and Ari Werts are all receiving threats who can have a significant impact this season alongside Hart.

Replacing Davis will be hard, but the Panthers’ aren’t scared of this challenge, to them, it’s just another task to check off this season. They believe they have the bodies and talent to do it, so now it’s about executing it on the field. With Hart back in his full health and spirit and the rest of the receiver corps are getting better by practice, replacing the Georgia State legend doesn’t look as daunting.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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Preview of Georgia State VS. Penn State

Panthers must contain Heisman Trophy candidate Saquon Barkley D'MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

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avid versus Goliath. That’s the comparison of Georgia State's next game as the Panthers head north to face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday.

The Panthers found themselves under similar circumstances last year when they nearly managed to secure what would have been the most noteworthy win in program history against Wisconsin, who was ranked No. 9 in the nation.

For the Panthers, this game serves as another chance to shock the football world. But it won't be an easy task. Penn State proved that they are truly a force to be reckoned with after shutting out Akron 52-0 in their first game of the season.

If Georgia State plans on knocking off the reigning Big Ten champions on Saturday, Sept. 16, they will need to play with incredible intensity and discipline on both ends of the football.

GEORGIA STATE'S OFFENSE VERSUS PENN STATE'S DEFENSE

Conner Manning and company must find a way to score points on a Penn State defense that only allowed 159 passing yards and just 79 rushing yards in their first game. Penn State's senior cornerback, Amani Oruwairiye, was also able to intercept the opposing quarterback. Manning will have to remain cautious when passing against this defense, given that last year he threw his fair share of interceptions. The Nittany lions also accumulated three sacks and 14 tackles for losses.

The Panthers will have their work cut out for them, especially since their offense was only able to gain 49

yards on the ground and 224 yards through the air against Tennessee State.

Head coach Shawn Elliott will need to develop a game plan to strategically get his key players, such as wide receiver Penny Hart and tight end Ari Werts, involved early in the game. Hart had just five catches for 36 yards; Werts had two catches for 62 yards.

Collectively, the offensive unit must find a way to put points on the board and put limitless pressure on Penn State's defense.

GEORGIA STATE'S RUN DEFENSE AGAINST SAQUON BARKLEY

Georgia State's defense looked extremely sluggish early on against Tennessee State in their first non-conference game of the season. The no huddle offense that Elliott prefers his offense to run may have put his defense on the field a lot quicker than he anticipated. Against Tennessee State, the Panthers allowed 238 yards on the ground. Barkley had 226 total yards himself to go along with two touchdowns.

It's also worth noting that Penn State had four rushing touchdowns against Akron. The Panthers are sure to get a healthy dose of their run game, which will ultimately wear the defense down if the they are unable to prevent Barkley and his counterparts from running wild.

The Panthers need defensive end Mackendy Cheridor, safeties DeAndre Applin and Bryan Williams and linebackers Trey Payne and Chase Middleton to lay the hat on the opposing running backs. Physicality is a must for this Panthers' defense.

THE OFFENSE LINE MUST CREATE HOLES FOR THE RUNNING BACKS

One that is knowledgeable of the game of football knows that

the game is controlled by which team wins the battle on the line of scrimmage. In order for the Panthers to be successful offensively, it must start in the trenches. Against Tennessee State, the Panthers’ offensive line consistently got beat up front.

What I mean by this is the opposing defensive line was able to penetrate and cause havoc in the Panthers' backfield. The running backs were unable to find running lanes and honestly, there were no lanes to run through due to the ineffective run blocking by the Panthers’ offensive linemen.

The Panthers ran the ball a total of 29 times and only gained 49 yards with zero touchdowns. The leading rusher of that game for the Panthers was Taz Bateman. Bateman only averaged a measly 2.2 yards that game. It's quite impractical to win a football game when you're unable to run the ball.

THE KEYS FOR GEORGIA STATE TO PULL OFF AN UPSET

While it seems unimaginable, any team can lose on Saturday.

For Georgia State to pull off an improbable upset, they will need to take care of the football while forcing turnovers of their own, run the ball effectively, allow Hart to get into the open field where he is most dangerous and most importantly, contain Penn State's running game.

THE KEY TO PENN STATE PREVENTING A MASSIVE UPSET

For Penn State, the goal is simple: get the ball into Barkley's hands by any means necessary. Barkley is a dual-threat, and the Panthers aren't stout up front. As long as they take care of the football and create running lanes for Barkley, it will be a long day for the Panthers defensively and the Nittany Lions will coast to victory.

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Q&A with volleyball coach Sally Polhamus Being a student-athlete is an all too familiar struggle for the coach level and to take everyday and make the most out of it.

CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

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omen’s volleyball coach Sally Polhamus has been around volleyball her entire life. She played collegiately at Xavier University and then began her coaching career at Dayton.

Polhamus has coached at Indiana, Georgia Tech, Winthrop and Florida before coming to Georgia State.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT COACHING?

POLHAMUS: Working with our athletes everyday, just growing in their games, growing as people, growing academically.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT COACHING?

POLHAMUS: Probably dealing with student-

athletes that have a full day and then teaching them how to leave that at the door to come in the gym and really enjoy the game and enjoy the time they have together. For some people this is it, they’re done playing at the highest

HOW HARD IS IT BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE, SINCE YOU’VE SEEN IT FROM BOTH SIDES?

POLHAMUS: It’s very difficult, you have a 40hour a week job with athletics plus academics and you want to strive to be the best in the classroom, plus all of the other things you have socially going on, and family. So it's very time consuming, emotionally [and] mentally tough, and so our players have a half-hour to leave class, eat and get here to prepare for practice and that's very challenging.

WHO IS THE BEST ATHLETE THAT YOU’VE EVER COACHED OR BEEN AROUND?

POLHAMUS: Kelly Murphy played in the

Olympics this past Olympic [year] so she's a good one to start with. But I’ve had the privilege of coaching probably 30 AllAmericans and professional athletes. A lot of of our players have the ability to go play overseas, and [become] professionals after this. So we definitely have the athletes and volleyball players to do that.

WHERE HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO COACH?

POLHAMUS: That's difficult to answer because every one of my coaching stops has taught me a ton. I’ve grown as a coach and as a person. I think they’ve all presented different challenges, and I've gotten a lot of fulfillment out of all the places. I know that my husband and I love being here in Atlanta, so we couldn't be more happy about Georgia State.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MORE, PLAYING OR COACHING?

POLHAMUS: I loved as a player that I was in control, and as a coach it's all about assisting and preparing and motivating but at the end of the day they have to be the ones that play, and so I love both aspects of it but I wish I had my four years back again.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ATHLETE?

POLHAMUS: I loved Cal Ripken Jr. when I

was in college and Dirk Nowitzki, he is one of my favorite players because he just been doing it for so many years and has worked so hard. Jerry Rice, there's a ton of female athletes that I look up to and aspire to be. So

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

I think anyone that's passionate in their craft is inspiring to me.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE?

POLHAMUS: It's not what's behind you, it's not

what's ahead of you, it's what's within you that drives you.

Georgia State men's soccer is off to a torrid start The men's and women's teams are both off to completely different seasons CHRISTAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

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he men’s and women’s soccer teams have gotten off to entirely different starts this season. The men's are currently (3-1) while the women are (1-3-1).

The men’s team has been off to a torrid start this season, with their only loss being to No.11 Louisville by a score of 1-0 in regulation. The only goal in the match came from a penalty kick in the 46th minute, scored by Louisville defenseman, Tim Kubel. The Panthers were only able to manage two shots on goal for the game.

The Panthers started off their season with a 2-0 win over in-state foe, Mercer. Junior Hannes Burmeister led the Panthers with two goals in the match. Both of his goals came during the second half. The Panthers managed to get 14 shots on the game, with Burmeister having three shots on the goal and sinking two of them.

Goalkeeper Yannic Horn saved three shots on the game.

In the Panthers four wins, two of them have come via shutout.

The second one came against USC Upstate, with a smothering defense from the Panthers only allowing four shots for the entire game. Junior Max Hemmings and senior Rashid Alapare provided the scoring for the Panthers as they won 2-0.

The Panthers defeated their highest-ranked opponent in program history, the No.2 Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 2-1 in overtime. Both teams remained scoreless after the first half. In the second half, Burmeister

got the scoring going into the 60th minute. However, Wake Forest tied it up with a penalty kick in the 65th minute. Neither team was able to gain an advantage until extra time when Alarape scored the game-winner.

Horn had five saves going into halftime, and finished the game with nine; he has 13 for the season.

Burmeister leads the team in goals with three, Alapere is second with two, and Hemmings has one.

The women have had a different start to the season, with only three games where they were able to score a goal, two of those resulting in a loss and one of them remaining a tie that ended in double overtime.

The Panthers’ lone win during the season came against Southeast Louisiana. Freshman Alex Addington scored the first goal of the game, and redshirt senior Suzanne Afara scored the other two in the team's 3-0 victory.

Goalkeepers Brie Haynes and Olivia Mitrovich combined to save four shots in the game, with Southeast Louisiana managing only eight shots the entire game.

Afara and Addington both have two goals a piece. Caitlin Ray and Ashley Thomas have both scored one goal a piece. Afara leads the team with five total points, and she also has one assist. Haynes has allowed six goals this season, and she has saved 22 on the season.

She has a .786 save percentage.

Mitrovich has two saves on the season and hasn't allowed one yet.

The women’s team will play two more games before it kicks off conference play against Texas State.

The men’s team has six more nonconference games before it starts Sun Belt Conference play.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

JHA’MEISHEIA GRIFFIN

Volleyball

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

D’MITRI CHIN

The freshman middle hitter made an impression in one of the early games of the season against Jackson State. Hitting her own career highlight of 12 kills, the highest number of kills, along with fellow teammate Sydney Stroud who also had 12. The newly-made Panther from Columbus has an impressively high school sports resume, partaking in the Senior All-Star volleyball match last year, and named First Team AllState and PLayer of the Year for Area 1-4A. Griffin was the leading force behind her team’s 44-12 record and their Final Four appearance in 2016. But Griffin is keeping it real outside the classroom as a member of Beta Club and the National Honors Society.

Staff Reporter

Georgia State vs. Penn State

PENN STATE

Louisiana vs. Texas A&M

TEXAS A&M

C. Carolina vs. UAB

C. CAROLINA

Southern Miss vs. UL Monroe

SOUTHERN MISS

App State vs. Texas State

APP STATE

AR-Pine Bluff vs. Arkansas State

ARKANSAS STATE

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SPORTS BRIEFS tennis

— The Panthers’s tennis team came out on top at the Southern Intercollegiate Champions last Friday, with 8-3 in

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Women’s Soccer

­— Georgia State’s women’s soccer team lost to Mercer, 1-0, fallin to 1-4-1.

singles play and 4-0 in doubles play.

Volleyball

— The Georgia State vollleyball team defeated Jackson State, three sets to one, bringing the team’s overall record to 3-5.

SPORTS CALENDAR SOCCER

SOCCER

Sept. 12

Sept. 19

GSU Soccer Complex

7 P.M.

SEPT. 15 GSU Soccer Complex

5 P.M.

7 P.M.

DAVIDSON

1:30 P.M.

WOFFORD

7 P.M.

Atlanta Atlanta

GSU Soccer Complex

Sept. 17 women'S SOCCER APPALACHIAN STATE

Sept. 16 Atlanta

WINTHROP

GSU Soccer Complex

Clinton, S.C.

7 P.M.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 11 A.M.

Sept. 16 men'S SOCCER

PRESBYTERIAN

VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN'S SOCCER TEXAS STATE

SEPT. 16

men'S SOCCER

men'S SOCCER BELMONT

FOOTBALL

7 P.M.

PENN STATE

State College, Pa

7:30 P.M.

CROSS COUNTRY SEPT. 16 WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY APPALACHIAN STATE INVITATIONAL

Boone, N.C.

9:30 A.M

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