The Signal Vol. 89 No. 2

VOL. 89 | NO. 02

WELCOME BACK! THE SIGNAL IN A MINUTE IS HERE TO STAY!

IN OPINIONS: STUDENTS IT’S TIME TO GET ORGANIZED PG. 06

GEORGIA STATE EXPECTS A SELLOUT CROWD SATURDAY AFTERNOON PG. 12

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AUG. 26

Hey bro wanna slap box?

At 7:36 a.m, a non-Georgia State person was arrested for aggravated assault.

Hey you don’t belong here, man.

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested for criminal trespass on the new green space

NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Siciliano-Salazar signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Kenneth Lockett III signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Ruth Mang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

BRO, it’s the first week!

At some point in the early evening, a student was robbed at University Commons. The case is still active.

Hey did you park at this deck?

Four non-Georgia State offenders were arrested at G-Deck for criminal trespassing

I can’t believe you hit me.

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested at the intersections of Trinity St and Central Ave for simple battery.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Suspect in DeKalb homicide was arrested.

Hurricane Ida makes landfall as a Cat. 4 storm

Jacques Rogge, Olympic Committee president, dies at 79

Ida slammed onto the Louisiana coast on Sunday as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S. arriving near the island of Grand Isle. The powerful Category 4 storm made landfall on the same date Hurricane Katrina did 16 years earlier.

Jacques Rogge, who oversaw an era of stability in the IOC after its worst scandal in recent memory has died, the Olympic organization said Sunday. The organization gave no further details on his death, though his health has been in decline in recent years.

20-year-old Tremayne Latner, who lives in Decatur, was charged with malice murder in the shooting death of Naeem James the DeKalb Sheriffs Department said. Latner ​​ had been on the run since the July 9 shooting.

NEWS

August 31, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

A former political science major and current Georgia State law Student, Ira Livnat has had a lengthy and impressive resume at Georgia State.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IRA LIVNAT

Student Government’s guardian nears his end Ira Livnat reflects on his time at Georgia State DEENA KAYYALI Arts & Living Editor

A

former political science major and current Georgia State law Student, Ira Livnat has had a lengthy and impressive resume at Georgia State. As the former captain of Georgia State’s mock trial team, past CEO of the Panther Hacker’s and the current Speaker of the Atlanta Senate at Student Government Association at Georgia State, Livnat is more involved with student life than most.

As Speaker of the Senate, Livnant’s responsibilities are lengthy. Some of his tasks include overseeing the senate, advising senators and committee chairs, working with liaisons and being a member of the campus executive committee.

“In a word, I am a guardian of the Senate and the SGA,” Livnat said. “It’s my job to make sure everything is being done appropriately and to shield the SGA from any external threats or influence.”

Livnat’s time in student leadership began when he was invited to meet with former Student Government President Franklin Patterson after the two met at the university’s president brunch. When their talk had ended, Patterson convinced Livnat to run for student body president.

“A meeting that was supposed to last thirty minutes ended up happening for three hours,” said Livnat. “After that meeting, I had decided that I was going to run for student government.

After a brutal campaign his freshman year, Livnat was not elected to a spot in the SGA. Rather than giving up his hope, Livnat used the loss as motivation. He saw it as his unfinished business, promising himself he would come back and claim his spot.

His time in student government did not end, however.

After seeing the work he did for his own political run, Kaelen Thomas asked Livnat to head his campaign. And thanks to his work, Thomas became the 91st Student Government President.

Livnat then took a three-year-long hiatus from student

government. He continued with his education and personal life, but his promise to come back and claim a position within SGA was still on his mind.

So in April of 2021, he ran for and was elected into the position of senator. And only two months later, Livnat was elected to be the Speaker of the House.

Livnat got straight to work. He created a plan focused on giving power back to the students. His main goal is to make it clear to students that they have more power in influencing the university than they think.

“I want to give as much power back to the student body as possible,” he said. “I want to remind the University that their bureaucracy and corporate world is of little to no importance to us. I think they forget that they are here because we are here.

There should be more power shifted to the students.”

Some of his main goals in this cycle include handling low enrollment in student programs, addressing sexual misconduct, informing students on their actual amount of power with the university and making sure the SGA’s focus is on the benefit of the university.

Another one of Livnat’s main focuses is to move as much money back into the hands of students as possible. Whether it be physically in their hands or whether student-led committees are in charge of and can allocate the funds, he feels as though since students pay tuition dollars, they should have a good amount of control over cash flow.

“I believe that we are making sufficient progress in that direction, and It’s one of the things that I am most proud of doing,” he said.

Over the years, Livnat met many people that motivated him to be the person he is today. Many of his friends have introduced him to student government and how to never back down from a challenge. He also spoke highly of his parents and

how watching them over the years made him the person he is today.

“I could truly go on and on about the people that inspire me,” he said. My parents, who sacrificed everything they had and ever knew to give my brother and me a better life, and turned me into someone who wasn’t afraid to question a narrative, to challenge assumptions, and defend their ideas.”

He also spoke of former student government senator Terry Fye. He described his and Fye’s friendship and advice as invaluable and something he would always be grateful for.

“If there was ever an example of a senator that everyone should aspire to be like, it was Terry Fye. He was relentless in his pursuit of the truth and unwavering in his moral composition. I aspire to follow his leadership and morality in my work.”

Livnat stated that he believes he has grown up most at Georgia State when looking over his life. From the people he had met, the programs he was a part of, and the challenges he faced, he compared his past three years at state to what some people go through over forty years.

However, the most challenging part for Livnat was not the real challenges he faced but the goodbyes he had to say. With many of his colleagues and mentors being older than him, he was tasked with seeing them leave and make the necessary transition to the next point of his life.

“This year is one long goodbye for me,” said Livnant. “It’s a long goodbye where I, in a way, get to tie everything neatly with the bow; I get to finish all those things I said I was gonna do and keep the promises I kept. I get to deliver my promise to the students and I’m looking forward to doing that.”

And as the year begins, who knows what those things might be.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

NEWS

4

Perimeter College lab coordinator terminated.

She refused to teach maskless students. Georgia State terminated her within a week.

KENNETH LOCKETT III Managing Editor

A

s thousands of students return to classes in person, there is a serious concern over the ongoing pandemic and the increasingly troublesome delta variant. On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for urgently increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and recommended that people in high transmission areas wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Even with the new guidance and the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the University System of Georgia decided to go full steam ahead on in-person classes for the fall 2021 semester.

The lack of mask enforcement has become concerning for many, especially the faculty and staff who interact with hundreds of students daily.

The lack of enforcement proved too much for Cody Mullins Luedtke, who, until August 20, was a lab coordinator at the Dunwoody Campus. She decided on August 16 to write a letter explaining her concerns about the lack of mask-wearing among her students.

After only a few days of discussion, Georgia State asked Luedtke to resign. When she declined, Georgia State told her that they would terminate her if she did not teach her classes in person despite the mask policy.

When asked how it got to this point, Luedtke explained that “The board of regents has encouraged a mask policy,” Luedtke said. “employees were given [harsh] guidelines. We aren’t allowed to ask about vaccination statuses or ask students to wear a mask.”

According to Georgia State, this is to help ensure the fair treatment of all students. Georgia State’s official COVID-19 information page gave both facility and staff

precise guidance.

On the website’s FAQ page, the university states, “Yes, [it is] permissible [to ask others to put on a mask].

However, masks are not required on campus outside the University Health Center. Because mask usage is voluntary, you may not require anyone to wear a mask or impose consequences for not doing so. It is important to treat all individuals in our campus community with respect regardless of their mask usage.”

However, the university gives faculty and staff the ability to telecommute if their position allows it.

Georgia State did not offer Luedtke this privilege. A Georgia State official with knowledge of the situation and policy explained that telecommute is authorized by the employee’s supervisor.

“It’s important that we understand that not every employee can telecommute. [Since Luedtke’s] labs were in person, it wouldn’t be possible for her to do that. We have a duty to the students, and she couldn’t serve the students via telecommuting.”

Andrea Jones, a spokesperson for the university, iterated the same point. “Telework should not be considered an employee right or entitlement. Telework requests and designations are based upon management discretion and in accordance with the determination of what best serves the university and its students.”

Georgia State failed to convince Luedtke that the policy will change as concerns over the Delta variant grow. “When the university sent everyone home for two weeks and then transitioned everything to online, I think that was an excellent decision,” Luedtke explained.

“It was a shock for a lot of the staff, but as time went on, the board of regents continued to reduce

Cody Mullins Luedtke, lab coordinator at the Dunwoody Campus, was asked to resign after she decided to write a letter explaining her concerns about the lack of mask-wearing among her students.

restrictions.” A Georgia State official made it clear that the institution of Georgia State itself has nothing to do with the policy.

“The university system sets the vaccination and mask policy for all the schools in the system. We are just abiding by the guideline,” they explained. “But [we have seen] a high rate of mask-wearing on campus, so that is an encouraging sign.”

Luedtke explained that she is happy with her decision.

“This story is gaining national attention. Hopefully, it leads to some change in policy.” She said.

She went on to give a final message to students, “I’m doing this for the students. It was very meaningful to forge relationships with my students, but it is also my responsibility to protect them. That is what I believe I am doing. Also, I encourage everyone to ask the people around them to put on a mask if they so choose. They might say no, and that is okay. But you have the right to feel safe.”

Andrea Jones said, “The university has a remote work policy and [an] American Disabilities Act accommodation process when asked about the situation.

This employee was not eligible under the university’s guidelines for remote work and did not participate in the ADA process.”

We reached out to the University System of Georgia for comment but have not received a response. If you want to learn more about Georgia State’s or University System of Georgia’s COVID policy, you can do so at https://covidinfo.gsu.edu/ and https://usg.edu/ coronavirus.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CODY MULLINS LUEDTKE

5

THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

An image of COVID-19, commonly known as Coronavirus, provided by the CDC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CDC

We aren’t out of the woods just yet.

Georgia could see 20,000 daily COVID-19 cases by September KENNETH LOCKETT III Managing Editor

T

he Mayo Clinic predicts that the state of Georgia could see upwards of 20,000 daily new COVID-19 cases by early September. These predictions would make Georgia the number-one state for new COVID-19 cases in the nation.

The Mayo Clinic released its report just days before the FDA announced its full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Though it is unknown how this announcement will affect The Mayo Clinic’s prediction, students have been unimpressed by the report itself.

“That’s both unsurprising and shocking at the same time, and Georgia State is doing nothing to protect students,” Kate Holms, a current freshman, said. “We were promised a normal and safe college experience this year, and clearly, that won’t be happening.”

Presently, only 40% of the state’s population has received a vaccination, raising concerns about the lack of masks around campus. I interviewed Holms in

the typically long line at the parking office in Student Center West. Only two people in that line were wearing a mask, Holms and myself.

“I mean, look around you. We are the only two people in this entire hallway wearing a mask,” Holms added.

“I took a year off last year because I was too scared to come to campus. This year only seems to be worse than [the] last. I don’t know what to do.”

It is not just students who are concerned; faculty members have also expressed concern about another sweeping closure of the university.

“They brought us back far too quickly and with too little protection. When I walk around, I’m shocked by the number of people not wearing masks. The city of Atlanta has been a hotbed for the virus, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we get shut down again.” a professor from the College of Arts and Sciences said. The Signal is protecting their identity due to a credible fear of

termination.

“Someone at [Perimeter College] was just fired for refusing to teach a maskless class. the University System [of Georgia] and the state is putting baseless fears above the safety of its students and professors, and that’s concerning,” the professor continued.

When asked about Georgia State’s plan if USG decides to close schools again, Georgia State staff directed us to the Georgia State Ahead webpage. This website does not provide any detailed plan in the event of another mass closing.

The reality is already quickly approaching. According to Georgia State data, there were six self-reported cases and five positive test results during the week of August 7. COVID-19 is a real threat. The pandemic is a real threat that will ensnare Georgia State if it is not careful.

For future updates on the pandemic, visit The Signal’s website or the Georgia State COVID-19 website.

Average Positive Test Rate In the State of Georgia 30 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5% 7/5/21

8/01/21

8/29/21

OPINIONS

August 31, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

Save our city from itself

How Atlanta is specifically affected by climate change

G ALYSSIA HARDGE

Staff Columnist

rowing up, I was never the kid who willingly went outside to play. I always preferred to stay inside and read. However, one summer, I loved riding my bike. I used to think I was the coolest kid on the block with my purple bike that still had training wheels.

As I got older, my bike started to just hang out in the garage because it was too hot to go outside. So I picked up other interests that involved being inside.

Every summer after that, the temperature just kept increasing. Kids stopped going outside and started to stay inside to fight the heat. As we get older, Atlanta becomes our new playground. Finding new areas to hang out, driving around the city at night and sometimes going to cookout at 3 A.M is like riding that bicycle.

Having fun in the city is so cool until you step outside and instantly regret your decision, as the heat bears down on you.

According to stateatrisk.org, Georgia averages almost 20 threateningheat days a year. You know how hot it gets if you have ever been outside after it rained during the summer in Atlanta.

The climate during these months is hot and humid, and climate change has not helped cool it down. While our original climate is not something we can control, we control how bad the climate gets.

Society tells you to be eco-friendly, then promotes corporate companies who profit from the use of harmful plastics. One example is Starbucks; they have strawless lids and sell reusable straws. Yet, by default, they give every customer a single-use straw and tell them to have a good day.

If we are going to push people to care about the environment, shouldn’t we take the first step? Everyone is so quick to praise large companies for taking steps towards a better world, only for that progress to grind to a halt when the new scandal comes out.

We all see people repost things like “Save the turtles” or “Become Eco-friendly” on social media.” Back in March, The Signal published an article about how people will say they support social groups.

“I see people post things saying they support or disagree with an idea, then do something that just goes against everything they say.” the article stated.

Sooner or later, our planet will not be able to be repaired. Being a fake environmentalist because metal straws are trendy has to stop.

Back in elementary school, the school districts emphasized, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” As children, we didn’t know any better. It was all just picking up after yourself and sorting trash.

If only we would have stuck with it, we might not be where we are now.

However, we can still come together and save our planet. There are many simple ways to help stop global warming, like taking shorter showers, unplugging your devices when they are not in use and rethinking your

transportation use.

Living in the city, Georgia State students can get all around town without using an automobile. Walking, using MARTA or even carpooling can help reduce your carbon footprint and make this world a semi-better place to live.

I grew up just outside the city limits, where at night if you looked up at the sky, you could see an abundance of stars. Wanting to be an astronaut when I was younger, I’ve always loved looking up at the stars and the moon. Now going to school in the city, I believe I have seen stars about six times, and one of the times was on the Atlanta Beltline at 2 a.m.

The disappearance of these stars is a result of light pollution. If you go to Cleardarksky.com, you can see how light pollution affects different parts of the city.

Stargazing is something that helps many people find peace. I am one of them. Saving the environment could help so many people rediscover that peace.

While many scientists are saying that it’s too late to fix global warming, we might just be able to save our planet if we come together. As I have said before, silence is our greatest enemy. This time, our silence is not just evil but deadly, and we are all its victims.

PHOTOS BY F11PHOTO AND LEXAARTS | DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Environmental issues of the Chattahoochee River The Pollution of the Chattahoochee River

GABBY MILLER Staff Columnist

I

f you have lived in the Metro Atlanta area for a long time, you are probably aware of the various activities that have to do with the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee River is a large river that comes from Georgia and goes through Alabama and Florida. The Atlanta area has a strong love for the river due to the various hiking trails around it.

The Chattahoochee River is a magnificent sight. However, due to the various hiking trails surrounding it, many of us only see the beauty of this river. Many do not know how the river suffers from various environmental issues and that the river is combating every type of pollution. Many more do not realize that the root of this serious environmental threat is our city’s constant construction and land development sites.

Construction and land development are everlasting parts of living in a city.

Everything always has to be new. It is a result of how we live in the moment.

In Atlanta, there is always a different type of project to be done, and whether it is renovations or new buildings, the city is always trying to grow. Sometimes that construction is not even needed. Some roads on the highways need more support than the more recent buildings of Metro Atlanta.

Construction is not the only issue harming the river. There are also issues with run-offs.

After raining, some water is a run-off on impervious surfaces like roads or parking lots. These run-offs wash oil, tire dust, and other pollutants into the river. Rainwater mixed with excess from the roadways is the root of a lot of the

pollution in the river.

The roadways also contribute to the worst type of pollution for the Chattahoochee River, thermal pollution. Thermal pollution can be caused by other roads and paved surfaces heating the rainwater that flows into the river.

This causes a lot of the organisms and fish in the river to die. These pollutants are dangerous, and the Metro Atlanta community needs to do something.

There are various ways to clean up the Chattahoochee River, according to VOX ATL. The most obvious way is to not litter in or around the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries.

Littering in any place is never good. The trash you litter can go anywhere.

Most litter is practically weightless, and the wind can blow the garbage into different areas in the world. This litter can cause different types of pollution that can cause harmful effects on the precious river ecosystem.

Another thing you could do is join or volunteer at a River Cleaning Group.

These kinds of groups help clean up rivers around the world. Lastly, plant vegetation right beside the river if you live near a creek, stream or river, as these plants can act as a barrier to pollution.

This is an excellent thing to do because we experience different types of pollution in waterways year-round. These simple activities could help prevent more deaths to the living beings from the river. By doing our part to help clean the river, we can avoid more pollution from happening within our favorite river.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

OPINIONS

7

The 99% is too big to fail

Student unions are yet to win – but we must fail until we do.

A

TREVOR KOSLOSKI

Staff Columnist

handmade sign reads “THE 99% IS TOO BIG TO FAIL.” Occupy Georgia State was a potent moment. A messy wave of anti-capitalist slogans and student politics standing outside the Atlanta Federal Reserve. It was a moment that promised that Georgia State and other universities would build something better, with young radicals as architects.

However, a decade later, that potent moment only seems to have marked the possibility of new magazines. The more intrepid activists quickly leveraged their sign-making days as credentials.

The naively earnest merely wondered when the high tide had come and gone. We’re left to idly wonder if it might come again. We failed. Where is student politics?

“Nothing happens, you know,” a Georgia State alum said in a recent interview. He had received his master’s some ten years ago. He worked for 40 hours at a program-mandated unpaid internship, and another 20 at Kroger.

“It’s definitely what the school wants – they want the students to feel like … this is what they have to do.”

These testimonials, combined with the anniversary, prompted me to ask: where is student politics?

“The school doesn’t really give you the space to reflect on what’s being asked of you. Talking to professors, there’s this sort of tacit understanding … this shared guilt about working inside of this system that depends on indebting students for life,” he explained. “But then you open your books and talk about Arthur Miller or whatever.”

The high tide comes and goes, but the conditions remain. Our idle wondering has yet to bring it back.

“I mean, it’s always kind of a ‘what are you going to do about it?’ type thing,” he continued. “You only have anyone’s attention for four years at a time.” “… And that’s how they’ll win.”

Last year’s wildcat strike at the University of California Santa Cruz fought for a cost-of-living adjustment. The strike came after it was revealed that upwards of 80% of their graduate students’ income was taken by rent.

Similar protests emerged at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Two strikes, both failed. Some 42% of college students are at or below the poverty line, and nothing is changing. That is where modern student politics sit.

Georgia State has no student politics. Our student

body has no organizational coherence or solidarity. We are part of the university’s institutions only so far as we accept their restraints.

Students have no institutions that solely support them. We take our lot and wonder about that high tide. We have failed at everything else.

However, we must fail again. The possibility of something better sits before us every day for eternity. What are we going to do about it?

We need to form that messy wave again. We need to organize, following those radicals before us. We’re going to fail again, but we’re going to build again. We must have solidarity. We must have student politics. Otherwise, we have nothing.

The future waits forever to be built. I would rather have countless failures than nothing.

PHOTO BY TYRIK WYNN - THE SIGNAL

A letter to the unsatisfied

How to balance your past, present, and future

T CALLIE MCNORTON

Opinions Editor

o my fellow Unsatisfied, We are an insatiable species.

If we have blonde hair, we want brown. If we have a house, we want a nicer one. If we travel to Florida, we wish we could go to Europe.

Many nuanced moments throughout our lifetimes display our unwillingness to be content. It feels as if we are all striving for the next best thing, even if we do not know what it is.

The American Dream has been our default since we were children. A culture of hard work that, hopefully, one day it pays off. This mindset of working for the next best thing has seeped into the zeitgeist and affects how we live day by day.

Struggling with living in the present and being satisfied with it can be linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The disassociation and overthinking that happens is wildly alarming and almost unavoidable.

We also have a fear of being alone. As human beings, our brains are designed to form connections. The unsatisfied, however, struggle with this fundamental truth.

If we connect with others, it’s incredible. When we miss social cues, it’s demoralizing. When these connections fail, we place our actual connective needs with connections made on a device.

We think the social media aspect of our lives fills the void, but we find ourselves anything but fulfilled. Whether with our image, friendships or social skills, social media never seems to be what we are after. If anything,

it makes you feel more lonely.

As students, we are in so many different stages. Some are in the best years of their lives, while others take their first step towards the future.

Many of us are going through the wringer. There are so many external factors that play a role in our “satisfaction” or quality of life.

Understanding that there is balance in focusing on the past, present and future is vital in satiating what we feel is missing. We can not change the past.

We can only reflect on it. We are constantly learning and growing away from it. Holding ourselves to who we were ten years ago, five years ago or even last month is not plausible.

Focusing on the future is so easy to do. We are students who are leaning into our careers, relationships and first tastes of real adult life. Planning every step of the way can create ease for a moment until the anxiety sets in.

“Can I live up to it?” The answer is, a lot of times, no. So many external factors can come into play that affects the path we take. Remember to trust the journey.

It’s called the present because it is a gift. The present is everything. It is self-discovery that comes through trial, error, self-love, friendship, falling and getting back up. That’s life.

Wreak havoc. Get mad. Be unsatisfied with unjust things. But also, take deep breaths. Look around you. Laugh. Be present. Be content.

This Week’s Spread: ARTS & LIVIN WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

Dónde está DONDA? The road to Kanye West’s 10th studio album is paved with missed dates, incredible production and religious imagery.

DESMOND LEAKE Associate Arts & Living Editor

M

ore than a year after its initial release date, Kanye West’s tenth studio album, “DONDA,” was released on August 29, 2021. Kanye West is no stranger to missing deadlines or working on his albums up until the very last minute, but “DONDA” takes the cake. With three listening parties under his belt before the album came out, Kanye’s tribute album to his mother is one of the most exciting album rollouts in recent memory.

The story of “DONDA’s” release mirrors several of West’s previous projects. “DONDA” was initially supposed to release on July 24, 2020. The tracklist in the tweet contained 19 songs, although this tweet was quickly deleted. Then, a few days later, West made another tweet alluding to the album dropping on the upcoming Friday, albeit with a new tracklist. This tweet contained a tracklist showing 12 tracks, with several alterations from the previous tracklist.

August 24 came and went with the album remaining unreleased. The day after the album was supposed to release, West tweeted a photo of the cover art for the album, before the album took a backseat to his bid for the presidential election.

Kanye West working on albums at the very last minute and missing deadlines is not out of the ordinary for him. He worked on the mixing and mastering of his album “The Life of Pablo” well after its release. The most well-known of these alterations is with the track “Wolves,” in which West tweeted out “Ima fix Wolves” before reinstating Vic Mensa and Sia’s contributions and altering the mix of the song.

Of course, with the near radio silence about DONDA from West’s camp, many fans began to fear that “DONDA” would go the route of several other West projects and never see the light of day. The most recent of these scrapped projects was “Yandhi.” Supposedly to release on September 19, 2018, “Yandhi” in its original form would never see the light of day, with much of the album being reworked into his gospel album “Jesus is King.”

“Jesus is King” is still a polarizing album. Fans who listened to the leaks of “Yandhi” desired tracks like “Hurricane,” those who wanted more rapping from Kanye were put off by the sudden change of genre and Kanye’s support of Donald Trump still put off his others. The lack of cursing became a rallying cry for certain fans, with release threads of his post JIK singles lamenting the lack of explicit songs. The phrase ‘I miss the old Kanye” from West’s skit “I Love Kanye” became a familiar feeling among a portion of his fanbase.

On July 19, Pusha T posted on his Instagram a text post revealing a “DONDA” listening party taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 22. Around this time, a new cover for the album surfaced. Said cover was inspired by the work of Louise Bourgeois, whose art often touched on her relationship with her mother, which mirrors one of the central themes of “DONDA.” On July 20, 2021, West previewed a snippet of the song “No Child Left Behind” in an advertisement, which revealed the album’s supposed release date to be July 23. The listening party featured a seemingly unfinished version of “DONDA,” with listeners noting how rough the album’s edges sounded. A top comment on a Reddit thread in r/ hiphopheads read, “Kim took all the drums in the divorce,” in reference to the recent divorce of West and Kim Kardashian.

Joshua Kish, who attended the listening party, has mixed feelings about the experience.

“The music was interesting, even if the sound quality wasn’t great,” he said. “The songs sounded unmastered like he finished it an hour before the show.”

On July 23, ”DONDA” was nowhere to be found. A tweet from social media personality Justin Laboy gives fans a new release date of August 6. Around this time, Kanye West and producer Mike Dean move into the Mercedes Benz Stadium, presumably to finish the album. Another listening party was held in the stadium on August 5, with an accompanying live-stream hosted by Apple Music.

This second listening party upped the ante quite a bit compared to the first one. In addition to the music sounding more finished, the production of the entire event was taken up a notch, with help from Demna Gvasila, one of the creative directors

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for Balenciaga. The production differences were striking, with the highlight being the finale of the event where West levitates hundreds of feet in the air while the ethereal chorus of the song “No Child Left Behind” plays in the background.

Junior Ryan Tran attended the second release party and was impressed with what West had to offer.

“The visuals were sick, and the album sounded amazing,” said Tran. “You could hear the bass and the 808s. “ Now, with a second listening party under his belt and a relatively finished-sounding album, one might make the mistake of assuming that the album came out on August 6. August 6 came and went, and the album was still left unreleased. Apple Music set the release date to August 15, but this date also came and went. Rumors also began surfacing that producer Mike Dean had quit working on the album; Dean himself swiftly debunked those rumors on Twitter.

On August 18, West announces the third listening party, which would take place in his hometown of Chicago.

Around this time, Kanye returned to his Instagram to post a picture of his childhood home and then seemingly reignited his longstanding beef with Drake by adding him to a group chat and sending the image of Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker alongside a threatening message.

Kanye’s third listening party occurred on August 26. Before this, West announced the Donda Stem Player, a device that will allow users to customize what versions of the album’s songs they want to hear, essentially allowing the audience the ability to fix “Wolves.”

The third listening party featured a reconstruction of West’s childhood home, West setting himself on fire and apparently remarrying Kim Kardashian at the end. With the third listening party just as striking visually as the second, expectations were higher than ever. The music also featured some changes from the Atlanta version, with JAY-Z and Kid Cudi features removed and a DaBaby feature added.

“DONDA” was finally released to the public on August 29. Featuring an all-black album art and a 24-song tracklist, “DONDA” is West’s sonic tribute to his late mother. Across the 24 tracks, West demonstrates that his versatility has not diminished and that he still is, in fact, Kanye West. The features across the album are similarly varied, from industry legends such as JAY-Z to up and comers such as Fivio Foreign and Baby Keem.

“DONDA” seems to be a reconciliation between pre “Jesus is King” West and his older material, with an increased focus on rapping compared to JIK, while also wearing his Christian faith on his sleeve. The album also lacks explicit lyrics, with curses being cut out whenever a feature would use them. This reconciliation also comes with the fans of “Yandhi” finally being thrown a bone in the form of an officially finished version of the song “Hurricane” on the album. The songs on “DONDA” are somewhat varied in comparison to “Jesus is King.” “Off the Grid,” for example, features guest verses from Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign rapping aggressively over a drill-inspired beat. In contrast, the aforementioned “No Child Left Behind” features an epic organ performance while Kanye reaffirms his Christian faith.

West is no stranger to controversy, and “DONDA” would not be a Kanye album without its release also being dragged into the said controversy. Kanye took to Instagram earlier this morning and made a post claiming that Universal released the album without his permission and blocked the song “Jail Pt. 2” from being on the album. “Jail Pt.2” features verses from rapper DaBaby, fresh off the heels of his homophobic controversy, and Marilyn Manson, who recently was subject to a sexual assault scandal.

Why “DONDA” took as long as it did to release is anyone’s guess at this point. Many speculated that Kanye was simply waiting for Drake to drop his long-awaited album “Certified Lover Boy” so he could drop at the same time just to spite Drake. Ultimately, Kanye’s tribute to his mother being delayed as many times as it was not out of the normal for the rapper. Instead, with his listening parties, we got a closer look at the chaotic inner workings of a West album dropping, and that in of itself is going to be a defining aspect of the “DONDA” era.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW SICILIANO-SALAZAR & ILLUSTRATION AND LAYOUT BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

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Titanic II, a planned functional replica of the Titanic, has plans to follow the Titanic’s route, but hopefully not its fate.

August 31, 2021

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Titanic II might sink before it sails

An Australian politician wishes to create replica of the sunken ship, but controversy surrounds his mission COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

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fter colliding with an iceberg, the “unsinkable Titanic” met its fate on April 14, 1912. It took over 1,500 lives with it to the ocean floor.

After almost 110 years, it rests primarily undisturbed in its watery grave 12,600 feet beneath the North Atlantic Ocean.

Titanic II, a planned functional replica of the Titanic, has plans to follow the Titanic’s route, but hopefully not its fate. The project owes its existence to Clive Palmer, an Australian politician, and multi-billionaire.

He announced his plans to build the replica in 2012 after finding inspiration in the “romance and spirit of adventure” of the movie “Titanic.” He sought to recreate the wonder of a “[shared journey] bringing people of all nations together” and promote “. . .chivalry and English school attitude.”

Palmer claims that the new ship’s guests’ experience will be as similar to the original Titanic as possible - minus the sinking. The new boat will look nearly identical to the original, including first, second, and third-class cabins and opportunities for guests to wear period costumes.

The ship’s design takes some liberties on the Titanic’s original design, adding modern additions like a casino and theater. “[Titanic II] will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic, but of course, it will have state-of-theart 21st-century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Palmer said in a statement.

While the Titanic II seeks to imitate the Titanic’s “luxuries” - as Palmer put it - the ship was less than luxurious for the hundreds of immigrants aboard. They invested the little money they had into tickets, crammed their belongings into tiny cabins toward the bottom of the boat, and hoped desperately for acceptance in America.

Only a few of them would make it there.

Despite the politician’s confidence about his controversial pet project, many people question

whether the boat will reach completion, much less make the journey from Southampton to New York.

This background of tragedy has not helped sway public opinion.

Palmer’s company, Blue Star Line, initially announced that the ship would embark on its maiden voyage in 2016. The company worked with a designer, created models of the boat, and conducted safety tests.

Everything was in place for construction to begin that year in China.

However, it did not. Financial disputes surrounding Palmer’s mining endeavors set back construction again, and the completion date shifted to 2018.

Construction on the ship, which could cost over $1 billion, still had not begun. Again, the 2018 launch date passed with little word from Blue Star Line.

Despite years of setbacks, many media outlets reported that Titanic II would finally sail in 2022. In a 2020 interview, Palmer stated that Blue Star Line had yet to select a launch date.

Still, he insisted that Blue Star Line continues to work on the project. “The response has been incredible,” he said, with the company receiving over 30,000 expressions of interest. One hopeful guest, he added, offered over $1 million for a first-class cabin.

Helen Benziger, the great-granddaughter of Margaret “The Unsinkable Molly” Brown, offered one of those expressions of interest. Brown, who survived the sinking before passing away in 1932, is famous for turning her lifeboat around to help survivors.

“I will be on the maiden voyage of Titanic II,” Benziger said in an interview with Irish Examiner. “I am hoping for the same cabin as my great-grandmother. It would be amazing to finish the voyage for her.”

While some are eager to board Palmer’s ship, others are wary of boarding a replica of a boat infamous for sinking. “Of course, it will sink if you put a hole in it,” Palmer said in response to the press’s concerns about the ship sinking.

To prevent a repeat of the original disaster, the Titanic II will sport design changes addressing issues that led to the Titanic’s sinking. Unforeseen visibility issues caused the Titanic’s watchmen to spot the iceberg too late, preventing the ship from turning on time. When the iceberg ripped the ship’s steel hull, a process called brittle fracture caused the boat to fill with water 24 times faster than builders anticipated.

The blueprints for Titanic II showcase a new safety deck, adequate lifeboats for its 2,400 passengers, a welded hull instead of a riveted one, and a higher bridge relative to the bow for better visibility. Even with updates to the boat’s safety, others cite concerns about the replica’s appropriateness. “[It is] a matter of sensitivity, respect, and thoughtfulness,” Charles Haas, president of the Titanic International Society, said. “We commemorate tragedies and those lost in them, not duplicate them.”

Palmer rarely references death or loss when discussing the tragedy. “It is the ship of love,” he said of the Titanic, whose sinking ended the lives of almost two-thirds of its 2,200 passengers.

Many of the dead were immigrants stuck in lower third-class cabins. Fear likely overwhelmed them more than love, romance and peace - all words Palmer used to describe his idea of passengers’ journeys.

“Millions have dreamt of sailing on her, seeing her in port and experiencing her unique majesty,” Palmer said in a 2018 press release. “Titanic II will be the ship where those dreams come true.”

Many of Titanic’s passengers were dreamers, too some dreaming of a brave new life in a new country, others dreaming of reconnecting with family or landing the perfect business deal. Their dreams went down with the ship into the freezing ocean.

While Titanic II will mirror Titanic in nearly every aspect of its design, countless people hope it will not reflect its fate.

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

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Simply Signal recipes: National Bacon Day edition A simple how-to guide on some tasty and easy bacon recipes KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

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elebrated on September 4th, National Bacon Day is recognized nationally by many Americans each year. It’s a day for those who love to get creative with how they eat their food or for those who simply enjoy bacon.

Bacon recipes range from a savory breakfast dish to a sweet treat perfect for dessert.

With endless combinations and recipes to choose from, here are five simple bacon recipes to try out.

1. Bagel Breakfast Sliders: These bagel sliders are a great way to start the morning on a good note without making a mess.

With just a few simple ingredients, this can be made in less than an hour.

Cook time: 10 minutes Prep: 15 minutes Total cook time: 40 minutes Yields: 8 to 10 servings Ingredients: • Eight eggs • ¼ cup of milk • Eight strips of bacon • Salt and pepper • Two tbsp. of chopped chives • Ten mini bagels, sliced • 1 ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese • Three tbsp of melted butter • Four tbsp of softened cream cheese Steps: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a large baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, add

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eggs and milk and whisk until light and fluffy.

In a large pan, cook bacon on mediumlow heat until the bacon is crispy.

Remove bacon from the pan and place on a paper towel to absorb excess grease.

Discard the leftover bacon fat from the pan, leaving about a tablespoon left in the pan to cook the egg mixture.

Pour the egg mixture into the pan with the heat still on mediumlow heat. With a spatula, pull eggs from the edge of the pan inward until eggs and firm.

Season with salt and pepper and fold in chopped chives.

Spread cream cheese onto the bottom half of the bagels, then place in the greased baking dish side by side. Layer a portion of eggs and bacon on top of the bagel. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese over the bacon and place the other half of the bagel on top.

Brush the tops of the bagels with the melted butter and season to taste.

Place bagels in the oven and bake until the top is toasted and the cheese is melted for about 10 minutes, then serve.

Billie Eilish’s Sophomore album details her newfound struggles with fame across its 56-minute run time.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” and the costs of fame.

Popstar trades bass-heavy production for a somber affair DESMOND LEAKE Associate Arts & Living Editor

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ame is dangerous. That is the theme of Billie Eilish’s sophomore album, “Happier Than Ever.” Eilish knows the struggles of being thrust into stardom before hitting their 20s better than most.

Across the album’s 56-minute runtime, Eilish comes to terms with every part of her newfound fame, both good and bad. While “Happier Than Ever” does tackle a much more intimate subject matter than her debut album, it suffers in terms of cohesion as a result.

Eilish and her brother Finneas are no strangers to pushing the boundaries of mainstream pop.

Their signature style blends electropop and hip-hop influences, complemented by introspective lyrics.

In contrast to her debut album’s opening track, “bad guy,” her sophomore album opens with “Getting Older,” a low-key and soft song in which Eilish cynically addresses her previous passion getting turned into a job.

The cynical side of fame is a recurring motif of the album. The track “Billie Bossa Nova” sees Eilish sing about needing her desire for privacy with the line “Some information’s not for sharing,” referencing her attempt to hide her relationships.

Eilish is no stranger to her private life being out in the open,

with her relationship with Matthew Tyler Vorce making the news for months after the two were spotted together. A brief reprieve from the cynicism comes in the song “my future.”

In contrast to most of the album,”my future” is an idealistic song in which Eilish glides effortlessly over a minimalistic drum beat to address her hope for her future. It is the antithesis of “Getting Older” and works well in the album’s context.

“Oxytocin” is a stylistic return to the hard-hitting, industrialinfluenced bangers of her debut album. “We had all these songs, and I was like, the only thing we’re missing is a song that’s going to be insane live,” said Eilish, about “Oxytocin.”

The contrast is evident, and while the song sticks out relative to the rest of the project, Eilish’s high-pitched delivery alongside the hard-hitting bassline justifies its existence.

“Your Power” is easily one of the hardest-hitting pop tracks of the year. A raw, emotional track with a stripped-back guitar instrumental in which Eilish sings about an abusive relationship is incredibly heartbreaking. Amidst the #MeToo movement, it hits incredibly close to home for many.

This harshness makes it confusing that she follows this

song up with “NDA,” whose instrumentals sound like they came from an underground level in a “Super Mario Brothers.” It is a somewhat jarring contrast sonically.

“Therefore I Am” sees Eilish refute the notion of people using her name for clout and an apparent disregard for the world’s perception of her. This song also leads into the title track, “Happier Than Ever,” which starts with a single, minimalistic guitar instrumental before giving way to a cacophony of guitars as the song progresses.

Eilish directs her righteous fury towards her abuser, and it is wildly satisfying. Billie telling her abuser to “Leave her the f*ck alone” is the final lyric that satisfyingly ends the album.

At least it would if it was the closing song instead of “Male Fantasy.” The song sees Eilish address a recent heartbreak while crooning over an acoustic guitar melody. It is a fine song in a vacuum, but it is underwhelming after the epic title track.

“Happier Than Ever” is not as cohesive of a listen as “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO,” but it still demonstrates Eilish’s mastery of pop music as a 19-year-old up and comer in the industry.

SPORTS

August 31, 2021

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Georgia State’s stands are full again

Mike Holmes on the current state of Panthers athletics MALIKAI COLLINS Staff Reporter

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Panthers face Army in week one of the season, putting the team to the test.

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

Countdown to Saturday afternoon Panthers host Army Saturday night in season opener

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JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

ith the playoffs potentially expanding, victories for groups of five schools against tough non-conference opponents are more crucial than ever. For Georgia State to even get close to a chance at playoff selection or a New Years Six bowl appearance, they will have to have the best season in the program’s history.

In particular, the Panthers will have to play the best football in their short history, starting with a home opener with the Army Black Knights. Though we do not know what the future will hold, The Signal has some pretty strong predictions about this year. Firstly, the Panthers have numerous returning veterans.

The Panthers are returning with the same team that finished 6-4 overall and 4-4 in the conference last season. The Panthers have nine returning starters on defense, including safety Antavious Lane, defensive end Hardrick Willis, linebacker Blake Carroll and cornerback Quavian White.

Georgia State led the Sun Belt Conference in sacks (35) and finished second in third-down defense and against the run. Georgia State also brought in talented transfers to bolster the defense.

The most notable of these transfers is Wake Forest linebacker Shamar McCollum, a former three-star recruit from South Carolina. The experienced defense is invaluable against a loaded non-conference schedule and formidable conference foes.

The Panthers’ starting quarterback Cornelious “Quad” Brown is also excited about the Panthers’ talent going into the season.

“The thing that excites me the most is the potential and talent that we have,” Brown said. “I feel like that talent, and that

continuity is going to make us special.”

The Panthers also have the benefit of a loaded passing attack.

In 2020, the Panthers were essentially a Big-12 team on a budget. The passing attack led by Brown guided the Panthers to average 33.3 points per game to victory in the LendingTree Bowl against Western Kentucky.

Georgia State is deep at wide receiver lead by All-Sun Belt Second Team receiver Sam Pinckney. The redshirt junior led the team with 47 catches for 815 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2020 campaign.

The Panthers also added to their core with the former Central Florida receiver Ja’Cyais Credle. Finally, the most significant advantage that the Panthers have: the aforementioned Quad Brown.

Following the exit of former quarterback Dan Ellington, fans debated who would emerge to take his place. Since winning the job, Brown hasn’t looked back and was solid in the first season as signal-caller.

Behind a veteran offensive line, the redshirt freshman threw 17 touchdowns and finished second in the conference, throwing 227 yards per game.

After capping last season with an MVP performance in the LendingTree Bowl, the redshirt sophomore quarterback is ready to take the next step. However, for all of the advantages of the Panthers, Army has some incredible strengths.

If there is one constant, it is the Army’s offense. The Black Knight offense grinds its opponents, holding the ball for 35 minutes even on non-scoring drives.

Army can quickly grind the game to a halt and prevent the Panther offense from taking the field. Ben Moore of 247Sports would not be surprised if it is the Panthers’

shortest game of the season.

“I could see Army holding onto the ball on offense and making the game a slog for the Panthers,” Moore said. “Don’t be shocked if this is the shortest game that the [Panthers] play this season.”

The Panthers’ shaky secondary might also turn into a massive advantage for the Army. While the Panthers had no issue getting to the quarterback, allowing big plays certainly plagued the team.

The Army offense, while not the most lethal, can take advantage of big-play opportunities.

One of the games where Georgia State gave up one of its biggest plays was its 59-52 shootout loss against Arkansas State. If the Black Knights can expose the secondary, it might be a long afternoon for the Panthers in their home opener.

However, Army’s most significant advantage is their most prominent, their defense.

Army’s defense was ranked number one in the nation regarding yards allowed, giving up 275 yards and 27 points per game. There might be several missed starters, but many of the top tacklers are back.

Army Linebacker Arik Smith will be a force on defense, and he led the team with 78 stops playing at middle linebacker. The secondary also returns many starters, and the Black Knights could indeed halt the Panthers’ high-powered offense.

Army, traditionally, is an opponent that prides itself in eating clock with long drives that stall the game and keep opponents off the field. While the Panthers’ defense will get to the quarterback, the Army defense will stave off a hot Panther offense.

ith Georgia State athletics starting to host sporting events at total capacity, the university tasked the athletics department with devising a plan where the safety of players and staff are at the forefront while also maximizing the best experience for every fan.

The announcement for max capacity events came over the summer when the CDC loosened the COVID-19 restrictions. The athletics department plans to continue monitoring the pandemic and will act accordingly if the CDC or any higher-ups enforce any guidelines to slow the spread of the virus. The approach for these events is to take aspects from both the 2019 and 2020 models.

“We kind of went back to our approach back in 2019 before any of this was in [a] place where we were trying to sell out football stadiums and basketball stadiums,” Associate Athletic Director Mike Holmes said. “Pushing season tickets, pushing individual game tickets, answering people’s questions because there are still some concerns out there to make sure folks are safe.”

The main focus behind the athletic department’s plan is the safety of the athletes, coaches and staff members. The athletic department requires players to wear a mask for everyone’s protection on the field or court. In the stands, fans are allowed to choose whether they want to wear masks or not.

The athletic department wants spectators to educate themselves on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep themselves and everyone else around them out of harm’s way.

“We’ll encourage wearing masks, and that’s kind of going back to governor guidelines, mayoral guidelines and USG

guidelines,” Holmes said.

“You almost kind of see two different environments created, kind of stands and a fans environment and an onfield environment,” Holmes said.

The transition back to full capacity games hasn’t been much of a challenge for the athletics department. They’re sticking to the script and going back to the routine.

However, the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 has been both the easiest and most challenging part of this adjustment.

“In June and July of last year, we were still planning on full capacity for games, and people would ask, ‘How are you doing that?’” Holmes said. “It’s easy to plan for full capacity and then scale back, whereas it’s much harder to all of the sudden a week before an event, we’re planning for 5,000 people.”

Holmes and the rest of the athletics staff are confident in their abilities to deliver fans the safest events in the most entertaining way. The focus is to sell out games and prevent any outbreak on and off the playing field.

The only and most obvious concern is the sudden rise in cases due to the Delta variant. The athletics department acknowledged that this might worry more than a few fans and expressed understanding and respect for each fan’s decision.

“It’s a factor that some fans aren’t comfortable with yet, and that’s understandable,” Holmes said. “It’s a serious concern.”

Times are changing, and life seems to be going back to the way it’s been for over a century; these times are unprecedented, and things can change at any moment. To ensure Georgia State athletics can host full capacity games year-round, fans must continue to do their part and respect others’ decisions in today’s climate.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

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Each day a grind for the women’s soccer team

Captains Burke, Howell and Zavala leading the charge early MARQUIS CHAMBERS Staff Reporter

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ith an early record of 2-2, Georgia State’s Women’s Soccer team is fighting towards the competitive Sun Belt Conference.

They opened with a home loss before losing to the Mercer Bears on the road before picking up a 1-0 victory over the TennesseeChatanooga Mocs. Georgia State’s last two games saw them lose in Athens to the Georgia Bulldogs, but they shut out the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday 2-0 at home.

Georgia State Women’s Soccer head coach Ed Joyce continues to emphasize development when they face off against great competition on their journey to winning the Sun Belt.

make this the best season possible. Conference play won’t begin until September 16th, which gives the Panthers time to grow together.

“We are focused on doing things the right way and executing our game plans,” Joyce said. “Conference season is right around the corner, and we want to make sure [that] we improve every day and every game.”

Iron sharpening is how teammates get better.

Practicing on the field and having exemplary leadership in the locker room will lead to successful results on the pitch when it’s time for the Panthers to take the field.

“We thrive [in a] competition [setting]. Our players push each other to be better, and depth is a good thing to have,” Joyce said. “It’s important that we continue to grow together as a team.”

Growing as a team builds a winning culture among players and coaches that lead to a successful season.

With faith, the players select their team’s captains and then rely on them extensively. They can trust one another and go through ups and downs as a team.

“The players selected their captains this season and chose Emily Burke, Maria Howell and Brisa Zavala.” Ed Joyce said.

“We’re excited to go up against our non-conference opponents as we prepare for the Sun Belt schedule... we just need to focus on playing our style and — ED JOYCE executing well.”

With the Panthers, this Georgia State week, coming off a hardWomen’s Soccer Head fought 2-0 win over the Coach Davidson Wildcats, they are looking to continue “We have lots of building as a team and competition around the through stiff competition field, which is great for outside of the Sun Belt. development,” Joyce said.

The Panthers have four “We want to get better in more games, including training every day and push three at home and on each other to reach our the road, before opening potential.” conference play on As the Panthers’ season September 16th when they is already underway, the travel to Louisiana to face team is working hard to the Ragin’ Cajuns.

“

We thrive [in a] competition [setting]. Our players push each other to be better, and depth is a good thing to have...

”

The team is bringing in the best-recruited class in the program’s history and is bringing back 22 starters from last year.

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

Five questions Georgia State football will need to answer

What the Panthers need to do to see continued success in 2021-22 JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

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he start of the regular season for the Georgia State football team is only weeks away. Last year, the Panthers went 6-4 and capped off their season with a 39-21 win against Western Kentucky in the Lending Tree Bowl.

This year, the Panthers face the most challenging schedule in the team’s history, including non-conference opponents in North Carolina, Auburn, Army and Charlotte. Also, the team will have to face ranked conference foes such as (23) Louisiana and last year’s conference champs (22) Coastal Carolina.

With the new season being only weeks away, the Panthers face many questions heading into the season. The most pressing question from many fans is whether the Panthers’ offense can outperform last year.

All 11 starters from the offensive unit are returning this year from a team that ranked 32nd in points per game last year.

They scored at least 30 points in 8 out of 10 games and averaged 33.3 on the year.

The Panthers had three running-backs who averaged four yards per carrying in Destin Coates, Tucker Gregg and Jamyest Williams.

Sam Pinckney had 815 passing yards with seven touchdowns, Cornelius McCoy had 447 yards in seven games and Roger Carter had 285 yards with four touchdowns.

However, can the offense repeat that same success?

Success could be hampered this upcoming season when facing the likes of Auburn, who only allowed 24.7 points, North Carolina, who allowed 29.7 and

Army, whose 14.8 points allowed, ranked second in the nation last season. Many fans are also curious about the rise of Cornelious “Quad” Brown.

Brown’s well-rounded redshirt freshman year saw him put up throw for 2,278 yards and 17 touchdowns to ten interceptions, which was top-10 in the NCAA. The former redshirt sophomore has a chance to improve his totals from last year and lead the Panthers to its first Sun Belt Conference championship in program history.

Transfers have also become a subject of serious debate. This past spring, the Panthers added three transfers in linebacker Shamar McCollum, wide receiver Ja’Cyais Credle and quarterback Darren Grainger.

With Brown IV named the starting quarterback, it is hard to see Granger playing a massive role as quarterback himself, but that does not mean we won’t see him on the field this upcoming season. Credle, a former all-state receiver at Carver-Columbus high school, only caught eight passes for 76 yards in his one season at Central Florida.

“Credle is a big-time talent. He’s going to fit in there and has an opportunity to help us immediately. His ball skills are off the chart, similar to Pinckney,” Elliott told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

McCollum, a transfer from Wake Forest, has a chance to contribute immediately for the Panthers. He will be joining a pass rush that had 32 total sacks last year.

“He’s going to come in and put pressure on the quarterback immediately,” Elliott said.

Many fans have also wondered about

the status of the team’s defense. Last year the Panthers defense gave up an average of 31.7 points per game, 79th best in the country.

The team allowed 1,368 rushing yards on 3.9 yards per carry with 18 rushing touchdowns. The team also allowed 2,743 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns.

The number one problem with the Panther’s defense last year was the number of penalties they accumulated throughout the season. Last year the team had 55 penalties, including 10 in a 52-59 loss against Arkansas State.

The team will look for the defense to step up, lead the way and clean up the sloppy play from last year. Still, one question looms over everything, is the team good enough to win the Sun Belt Championship?

The Panthers enter this season looking as strong as ever. The team is bringing in the best-recruited class in the program’s history and is bringing back 22 starters from last year.

Still, will that be enough? The Panthers have a 5% chance of winning the Sun Belt conference due to its demanding schedule and how good the other Sun Belt Conference teams look.

During Sun Belt Conference Media Day, Elliott made his intentions for this season clear.

“Let’s go push for a Sun Belt Championship,” Elliott said. “We feel like we have the talent, we feel like we have the players, I think our coaching staff is phenomenal, and I think we have the ability to go out and compete.”

August 31, 2021

GAMES SUDOKU

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Auditions for Xanadu 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Dahlberg Hall Theatre

REC on the Lawn with PAC 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Decatur Lawn, Panthersville Rd

Panhellenic Meet the Greeks 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Speakers Auditorium

Debate Union Interest Meeting 11:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Online

IFC Meet the Greeks 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Speakers Auditorium

Pop Talks 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Student Center East

Atlanta Senate Meeting 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Student Center West

SEP 03

THURSDAY SEP 02

WEDNESDAY SEP 01

TUESDAY

PIN Training for RSO Officers and Departments 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Online

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Panthers Football vs. Army 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Center Parc Credit Union Stadium

Marc Anthony 7:00 p.m.

State Farm Arena

Peaceful Place Meditation 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Online

SEP 06

SATURDAY SEP 05

SEP 04

AUG 31

THE KICKBACK

Live Journaling with BeWellPanthers 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Online