Vol. 89, No. 15

EST. 1933

Independent, Impactful & Impartial

CO VE R BY OL IV IA M AD RZ YK |T HE SI GN AL

PHOTOS BY GEORGIA STATE

ATHLETICS AND VADIM SADOVSKI

ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

IN THIS ISSUE : In Sports: Brooklyn Fugel: Georgia State's electrifying freshman forward on Pg. 08 In Opinions: Why we think "Don’t Look Up" hits too close to home on Pg. 07

& THE UNSEEN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS georgiastatesignal.com @gsusignal

Editor’s Note Thank you so much to all of our readers and supporters, please enjoy the second issue of the semester!

-Deena

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THE BLOTTER

February 01, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

CRIME BLOTTER JAN 24TH

“Like Candy From a Baby”

An act of larceny was committed against a GSU affiliated victim Monday afternoon. The case is still active.

“I hope it was worth it” A robbery was reported involving a GSU affiliated victim. This was reported Monday evening near the Walgreens at 25 Peachtree St. The case is still active.

“SHH! Class is in session!”

of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct at the Petit Science Center on Monday afternoon. An arrest has been made.

JAN 25TH

“I’m a college student, there’s nothing valuable in there.”

JAN 26TH

“Worst way to end the work day!”

A GSU affiliated victim was involved in a case of simple battery on Thursday afternoon. This occurred outside of 25 Park Place, the case is still active.

On Tuesday afternoon, a GSU affiliated victim was involved in a case of entering auto. This occurred at the GSU Green Lot, the case is still active.

A non-GSU offender was involved in a case

NEWS BRIEFS

LOCAL

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

World's Oldest Gorilla dies in ATL Zoo.

Americans go without Child Tax Credit in February.

North Korea back in the headlines.

WWith Build Back Better still being held up in Congress, the expanded Child Tax Credit will likely not extend into February.

Thousands of parents have come out in support for the expansion, stating that the extra income has helped their families tremendously. With inflation rates at an all time high and personal savings at a historic low, many families are unsure how they will make ends meet without some form of support from the government.

North Korea tested its longest-range missile since 2017 this week. The isolated dictatorship has been relatively out of the news since they closed their borders in January of 2020. Health concerns plaguing leader Kim-Jong Un and an alleged “shoot-to-kill” order on any would-be trespassers has kept the country out of the international spotlight. The country is currently embroiled in an even worse humanitarian crisis than they have been in recent years. 90% of North Korea’s trade is done with China, which has decreased 80% due to sanctions, lockdowns and the supply chain crisis. This has led to the country’s economy shrinking nearly 5%, a burden which will surely fall on the starving masses of that nation.

The oldest gorilla in the world has died at the Atlanta Zoo. Ozoum “Ozzie” was a 61 year old gorilla born sometime around 1961.

Ozzie was a Western Lowland gorilla who came to the zoo in 1988. During his tenure at Zoo Atlanta, Ozzie fathered 12 gorillas. His contributions were crucial to the longevity of his endangered species.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Photo by Owais Khan

Photo by Owais Khan (@muscatphotographer in collaboration with @basilvisions)

NEWS

February 01, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

Many of the millions of people affected by the 2008 crash still have not returned to a better financial standing than before the recession, and we may be heading into a new market crash.

PHOTO BY BLUE PLANET STUDIO ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Top news stories of the week

Economy on the Verge, a Ray of Hope for Domestic Manufacturing ADAM DUFFY News Editor

T

he U.S. economy is about to burst:

When someone says there is an economic “bubble,” it means there is an overinflation of value in a specific sector of the economy. The stock market has seen similar bubbles in the late 1920s, the ‘90s and during the mid-2000s.

Like a real bubble, these sectors snowball and can become quite large, but the slightest mistake can make the whole thing burst.

The ramifications of these bursts can be seen throughout our history and all around us today. The Great Depression was the single worst economic period in modern American history.

The dot-com bubble caused thousands of people to lose their jobs, and the effects of the Great Recession of 2008 are still being felt by millions of Americans today.

Over the past couple of years, bubbles have been growing all over the American economy. In March of 2020, the federal reserve drastically decreased its interest rates to entice individuals and companies back to the market in an attempt to save what was then an economy in freefall.

This decision helped the economy in the short term, allowing people to borrow money interest-free and for the stock market to reach its highest values eve.

However, in an attempt to curb the highest inflation rates in over 30 years, the FED will now be increasing their interest rates to recoup the money they were bleeding due to their low-interest rates.

The announcement of these changes caused a bucking in the market, causing the DOW to drop a thousand points before ticking back up into the green.

More speculative assets like cryptocurrency are typically the first to crash before more traditional sectors. After the FED’s

announcement, Bitcoin lost $130 billion in value.

People will feel many tangible effects in their lives due to this change.

The process of taking out federal loans will now be more expensive, and mortgage payments will also increase. Both of these things happened during the recession of 2008, which led to around ten million Americans losing their homes.

While it is difficult to estimate to what degree these changes will replicate prior crashes, we know the devastating result they can have on long-term growth.

Many of the millions of people affected by the 2008 crash still have not returned to a better financial standing than before the recession, and a new one would affect them the worst.

In the wake of our most recent economic crises, we have seen a marked increase in levels of depression, drug overdoses and suicides. Much of our current political climate, the divisiveness and partisanship, can also be traced to the most recent financial crash.

The economic policies and factors that lead us into these situations are complex and challenging to understand.

However, having a basic knowledge of the entities involved is very helpful for staving off any confusion that might arise. When the bubble bursts, we will know who was holding the needle.

Thousands of jobs will return to the Midwest:

If you have been shopping for a car, you may have noticed that new cars have disappeared, and used cars are going to cost you an arm and a leg. This phenomenon is due in no small part to the current global supply chain crisis.

Not only are the raw material required for our vehicles in short order, but the microchips that control the computers in our cars

are in even shorter supply.

These chips, called semiconductors, are one of the most critical pieces of technology in the world right now. Scientists use these versatile tiny chips in a plethora of electronic systems, including but not exclusive to cars, healthcare machinery, household appliances and so much more.

Most semiconductors are currently being made and used in China. While this may have larger geopolitical implications for the future, currently, other countries do not have broad access to these products. This lack of access is causing a real strain on the American consumer.

Two large technology companies have invested in domestic efforts to give more access to semiconductors and other necessary technological products to curb this shortage.

Intel is investing $20 billion into a new facility in Ohio after the state offered them two billion dollars in incentives.

Similarly, General Motors is investing seven billion dollars into multiple facilities in Michigan. These facilities will employ 3000 Ohioans and 4000 Michiganders.

On top of that, new jobs such as these have a ripple effect in their communities, creating an estimated three jobs elsewhere for every one factory job.

The tens of thousands of predominantly union jobs will be a big boon to their communities and should slightly ease the market strain in years to come.

Both Ohio and Michigan were two states hit hardest by the exodus of manufacturing jobs to other parts of the world.

While these thousands of new jobs are a drop in the bucket compared to the millions lost over the past 30 years, it is a significant first step in returning work lost to these regions.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2022

5

THE SIGNAL

Omicron puts pressure on Metro Atlanta schools Learning loss and staff shortages among issues MATTHEW MONROE Staff Reporter

A

In 2019, Atlanta was in the top 10 most-surveilled cities globally

PHOTO BY NICK LOGGIE ON UNSPLASH

The APD aims to have eyes everywhere Atlanta Police asks citizens, businesses to join camera network.

TARA WOODIN Staff Reporter

T

he Atlanta Police Department asks citizens, businesses to join security camera network:

Atlanta is struggling with an over 50% spike in crimes since the beginning of the pandemic, due to the pandemic’s strain on at-risk populations. Atlanta Police Department has started a program called Connect Atlanta. This program will allow concerned residents and businesses to connect their security feed directly to the police department.

This security system isn’t new.

Atlanta’s camera network started in 2010, and by 2019, Atlanta was in the top 10 most-surveilled cities globally.

The difference now is the way they are using the cameras.

The new system will change the feed from video integration to real-time streaming. It will allow any high-tech or primary home security camera to connect its feed directly to APD’s network. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant calls it a game-changer.

The scope of surveillance:

Some private citizens say they are concerned with what this added access to personal cameras will mean for their privacy. When a citizen signs up for the program, individual and corporate clients decide how much access to give authorities.

They can provide no access, full access or some variant in the middle.

Atlanta-based attorney Jason Duncan

said he wants to know how private citizens will know when the government uses their property.

“They’re the customer. They own the cameras.” Garrett Langley, one of the Georgia Tech graduates who helped develop and manufacture many of the privately-owned devices available to officers In Atlanta, said in an interview he gave Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2019.

“An officer couldn’t just pull up the camera and say, ‘Oh, wonder what’s happening in that neighborhood?”

As an attorney and a concerned citizen who sees how officers have repeatedly overreached beyond the scope of what is allowed of them, Duncan said he’s not convinced.

“If it’s just an open book for the Atlanta PD to come in and use it whenever they see fit,” he said, “the snowball effect of where this is naturally going to go is that what happens if they just start getting broad descriptions of people and then just start using it to spy on anyone that they think might fit that description? Isn’t that a stretch too far?

The [founding fathers wrote the] fourth amendment to protect from illegal searches and seizures, and this would qualify as an illegal search.”

One Georgia State student said it sounds too “Big Brother” meets “Black Mirror.”

Potential for real-time results: With the rise in violent crimes in

Atlanta, some still believe the added security outweigh the possible removal of some privacy.

“It does give me a sense of security,” says local elementary school music teacher Eliel Sullivan. “I guess I feel better knowing that there are more eyes around me. It’s also comforting knowing someone’s thinking of safety in innovative ways.”

APD said the new surveillance technology has already helped lead to an arrest in the killing of Grayson Fleming. The 6-month-old baby was shot during a shootout outside a store in Northwest Atlanta last Monday morning. Bryant said this program would save officers precious time when it comes to gathering evidence and ultimately making arrests.

“This system will allow our investigators to get that information at the forefront,” said Chief Bryant in a press conference this week.

“So, it’s telling our investigators, there are videos in this area, and these are the homes you need to go and check that are willing to share that information.”

APD has had a video monitoring system in place for upwards of 10 years now, and we have still seen a significant rise in crime each year.

There are two questions now. One, would crime worsen without the camera system? Secondly, if the cameras are helping, will the surveillance help the APD enough to justify the encroachment on the fundamental rights of Atlanta’s citizens?

lready, the omicron variant has severely affected schools across Georgia.

The variant has ravaged Metro Atlanta schools as tens of thousands of students have missed school within the past month.

The rising number of absences has created havoc for teachers. Learning loss and overwhelming staff shortages have derailed learning across Georgia.

While schools struggled to close the gap on much of the learning students missed in the pandemic, this issue has only gotten worse.

As a result of the pandemic, Georgia students had lower test scores last year.

A loss in proficiency in critical areas such as math and reading was more prevalent in the case of younger students.

While Atlanta and Gwinnett County only saw third-grade ELA failure rates in the single digits, those rates skyrocketed into the double digits for Cobb and DeKalb county.

Georgia’s overall test scores took a significant blow from the last school year. The percentage of failing students leaped from two to nine points.

After a spike in COVID-19 cases for the Fall, many hoped to return to normal in January. However, that hope has crumbled in the past few weeks. .

Cobb and Gwinnett County were especially hit hard in this regard, as they saw 12,000 and 28,000 students miss the first day of school in January, respectively.

Clayton County, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb County, and Fulton County went virtual for the first week of the January semester to combat the variant’s spread.

Linda Boyd, principal of Gwinnett County’s Twin Rivers Middle School, said that 9% of her students were absent during January's first week of classes. This number has more than doubled, as 4% of students are typically absent on an average day.

Teaching students has become increasingly complex, as state assessments are just around the corner in Spring.

The staff shortages have stretched schools thin and forced staff members to take on multiple roles.

Administrators have had to teach, bus drivers have had to take on more than one route, and some schools have closed briefly.

Earlier this month, Renfroe Middle School in Decatur closed on short notice after there simply were not enough substitute teachers to fill in for missing staff.

While moving learning to a remote environment could help ease these issues, many believe that students learn better in a classroom setting. Moving school back to a virtual environment could further hinder their learning.

The Georgia Department of Public Health introduced new rules to help with staffing issues in late December. These measures included shorter quarantine times for staff.

Governor Brian Kemp and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen issued a letter eliminating contact tracing requirements earlier this month.

Quarantines were also made no longer mandatory after exposure to COVID-19.

Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale was one of the first to act as he said he would not require his staff to follow previous requirements.

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring has recently asked for more help from retired staff and former parents to help with the shortages.

“Parents or retired employees who believe they have an opportunity to help us in this space … this is the time,” she said.

While it is uncertain how the Omicron variant will continue to affect Metro Atlanta schools, it’s only a matter of time before cases rise again.

OPINIONS

February 01, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

PHOTO BY NAR STUDIO ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

There is verifiable proof that paid leave after having a child relieves stress and is very beneficial for those having children.

Why we don't have maternity real leave Why doesn’t the U.S. have maternity leave, and why is it so important?

T TERRANCE DAVIS

Staff Columnist

he United States, despite its success, regularly demonstrates how archaic it is.

One of America’s many shortcomings is the lack of mandated paid maternity leave, which like healthcare, is commonplace in the rest of the developed world and even countries like Cuba and China.

In the US currently, the policy regarding maternity leave, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, only offers people 12 weeks of unpaid leave without any penalty to their pay or work position.

This timeframe is a cruelly short amount of time and the lack of pay during what may be the most financially difficult time in someone's life is unacceptable.

There is no point in allowing time off from work when the conditions of that time would only compel one to go back to work sooner.

The benefits of paid maternity leave, especially when given to both parents, are numerous.

Paid leave allows families to spend more time with their children.

It massively relieves the financial burdens a family will experience during that time. It can even increase employee retention as much of the stresses from work can also be worked out during paid leave, where finances aren’t as much of a concern for a family who is already more than stressed.

The process of having a child is inevitably going to be difficult for anybody, especially the individual who needs to carry the child and deliver it.

Once the child is born, parents must cover various expenses for their survival. These include food, clothing, furniture and overwhelming medical bills.

The expenses required to care for a newborn child can cost over $2,000 a month. Factoring in other costs that one must pay to survive can make this time particularly stressful for many people who simply do not have the money to buy the things they and their children need.

Many Americans can barely afford to make it through their own lives on a steady income. There is simply no reason to abandon people during a time when they will undoubtedly be facing even more significant financial problems than they would normally.

Over 80% of American citizens support some form of paid maternity leave. Despite this, lawmakers have made no effort to provide maternity leave at the government level.

A big reason for this is our general policy of favoring employers and

entrepreneurs over the needs and rights of workers. This fact is evident in our crippling unionization rates compared to much of the world.

The urge of politicians to side with business owners is nothing new.

The interest of most of our politicians is, primarily, to uphold the role of capitalism in our society.

The fact is that paying employees for their time off is directly adversarial to the company’s goals, which want to pay employees as little as possible for the most amount of work.

“

Over 80% of American citizens support some form of paid maternity leave. Despite this, lawmakers have made no effort to provide maternity leave at the government level.

— TERRANCE DAVIS Staff Columnist

”

There is no way to balance these interests without favoring one side as they are fundamentally opposed to one another.

Employers are more than comfortable with not paying employees for time off. The lack of funds only incentivizes a return to the workplace, creating more stress and estranging them from their families.

This treatment of workers sends the message that their most significant utility and value in life is not their personal lives, relationships, or even their families, but simply their work and how much they can produce.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2022

OPINIONS

7

Atlanta’s snow freakout

The snowy weather is wreaking havoc in Atlanta

T GABBY MILLER Staff Columnist

he recent snowfall in Atlanta has proved one thing. Many people living here did not know how to deal with it.

People raided any store they could get into just to stock up on food, power outage supplies, and much more because they feared the unknown during this time.

Due to Atlanta being part of the south, we barely experience snow during the winter months. If anything, we only get one snow day a year, but we do not even get that most of the time.

If the stores were not chaotic enough, the roads were also experiencing traffic. As if the highways in Atlanta were not chaotic enough, the snow made it ten times worse than it usually is during rush hour.

So many Atlantan citizens feared being on the roads when it snowed, most likely because they did not know how to drive in the snow. Such an overreaction is typical since we barely experience snow in Atlanta. If it snows at all, the roads are at a slushed-state if it sticks.

When the first weather report went out earlier last week, many Atlantan citizens went into a panic mode. People started rushing to stores to stock up on supplies like the end times.

It became worse than it was during 2020 when quarantining first started. Many people in the grocery stores began raiding the meat and toilet paper aisles, taking as much stuff as possible because of their fear of the unknown.

Atlanta usually snows once a year, if it snows at all. Since we live in the south, it rarely snows. If anything, Atlanta does not snow, but things ice over during the colder winter months.

Black ice is expected around this time of the year, usually when it just rained and the climate is below freezing. So, when it snows every once in a blue moon, people seem to freak out because of the occasion.

People do not know they have to deal with snow because it is so rare for it to happen in Atlanta. Most people here do not even know how to drive because it usually never happens.

It causes a lot of people to overreact over this occasion.

When people overreact, they lose control of the situation.

With snow being so rare in Atlanta, everyone expects every snowfall to be the worst. They expect to lose power because of the strong winds and ice.

However, these things are to be expected under the circumstances.

No one knows what to expect, so they try to over-prepare because they do not control the situation.

Even if it is overkill, as long as the people of Atlanta stay rational, it is not a bad idea to take safety measures.

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

Why you should look up Don’t Look Up hits close to home

T CALLIE MCNORTON

Opinions Editor

his article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Don’t Look Up

Adam McKay, widely known for his direction in The Big Short, Anchorman and Step Brothers, recently tackled a Netflix satirical comedy released on Dec.5th.

While it has cult-classic potential, overall, the film fell flat. However, “Don’t Look Up” may be a mixed bag, but it also has a powerful parallel to our current reality the past two years.

It took me a month from the release to finally click on the film, but I regret not seeing it sooner. Immediately, I saw a similarity in the fear over a comet and the COVID-19 crisis.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play astronomers discovering an extinction-level comet heading straight towards Earth.

As they hurry to spread the word and get the government involved, the President, played by Meryl Streep, immediately derails their plan and makes the crisis political.

It felt exceedingly eerie to see people question the validity of an inevitable, scientifically proven external threat. Throughout the film, politicians dedicate campaigns to causing distrust in science and trust in politicians.

After the world finally gets a clue, a big tech company funds and heads a mission to break up the comet and deflect it from Earth.

Social media and sound bites also play a part in spreading disinformation surrounding the comet, in addition to political and celebrity influence.

Unfortunately, all the missions fail, and we are left with a heartfelt last supper between our characters as the film ends.

This comedy mirrors our lives in deeply unsettling ways. In our reality, we have seen politicians, news anchors and scientists scuffle as they try to wrangle the public into believing what they each want us to think. “[Don’t Look Up] is a bummer of a movie...in a GOOD way. Eyeopening look into our inevitable demise unless something changes,” Twitter user Clayton Davis writes.

Like the comet, the media made COVID-19 a political scandal instead of a crisis.

During the pandemic, information consumed by the public has felt mostly sensationalized, hard to digest or just plain wrong.

It should have been short and sweet: listen to health professionals.

Scientists told us the gravity of the situation long before we were in the depths of the pandemic.

We did not listen.

While a pandemic should be cut and dry when it comes to the global response, it does not surprise me that Americans were quick to make sure that was not the case. “Don’t Look Up” explores these themes in a comically-dark way McKay’s satire will have audiences come wondering what was going on in the world at the time of the release, thank God for history books.

Then again, I would not believe those.

Spread: Sports WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Coming off a stellar season Brooklyn Fugel has her eyes set on a title Fugel was named 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast 2nd team All-Region and ranked by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the #34 ranked Freshman in the entire nation.

Written By: Adebanji Bamidele - Staff Reporter

GEORGIA STATE'S WOMEN'S SOCCER

T

he Georgia State Women's Soccer Team was on a bit of a rollercoaster during the 2021-22 season as the team finished with a 9-4-7 record and a semi-final appearance in the Sunbelt Tournament.

The season was chaotic, but stellar performances from young stars are setting up what looks to be a bright future. These standout games came from veteran players and the electrifying freshman forward Brooklyn Fugel.

Ever since she was a little kid, Fugel has been interested in all kinds of sports, but at the age of seven, she picked up the sport of soccer and has had a love for it ever since.

"I started playing soccer when I was seven, like when I was young, but it was not until my Freshman year of High school that something flipped, and I wanted to play soccer in college and knew that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my career," Fugel said.

Fugel's path to Georgia State was uncertain as her final high school soccer happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic made it difficult to train, and when we would get the chance to play, many of our games got canceled. I played for the GSA, and we had six or seven games that were canceled and had to be played in the summer, which would be our offseason." Fugel said.

Even though the pandemic placed a massive halt on Fugel's dream of playing soccer in college, it gave her time to think about where exactly she wanted to play for the next four years.

"The recruiting process was kind of tough because of COVID-19. There was a dead period when coaches were not allowed to watch us in person. And we could not come and visit schools."

Fugel initially was set on attending and playing for a big-time SEC or ACC program but always had the conflicting idea of staying in-state and being close to home.

"The biggest deciding factor was being close to family and having the ability for them to come to my games."

With her mindset on staying in-state, Fugel's visit to Georgia State and a sit-down with head women’s soccer coach Ed Joyce excited her. With it being so close to home and with the program growing more every day, she knew it was the best fit for her.

"Coach Ed and all the coaching staff were welcoming, and also Georgia State being in the city and 45 minutes from where I lived was perfect for me because I am a city girl can not do the country."

Head Coach Ed Joyce has taken over the helm for the Georgia State Women's soccer team since 2016 and has had consecutive years of playing deep into the Sunbelt Tournament. The program's success is a significant part of its attractiveness to high-level high school prospects.

The life of a student-athlete is not easy as many may think. Many assume that athletes get it easy as they take easier courses and that schools offer them extended deadlines unavailable to the average student.

While in reality, athletes face daunting academic schedules while also performing to the best of their ability day in and day out.

"On a typical day, I wake up and go to training, then go to class, and have another training session, and then have my last class."

The hard work is paying off for Fugel both in the classroom and on the field as the Georgia State Women's Soccer had 29

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS AND PAGE DESIGN BY NATNAEL ABRAHA | THE SIGNAL

A

S

Brooklyn Fugel members of the team earn academic honors. The team also had an overall 3.5 GPA. Along with the academic recognition, Fugel was named 2021 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Southeast Region second team and ranked by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the #34 ranked Freshman in the country.

"The honors mean a lot to me and are important to me because it shows that my hard work has paid off."

Fugel first saw the ball hit the back of the net in her fifth collegiate game against Kennesaw State, which eventually saw her take off, ending the season with seven goals, which is sixth in the entire conference and tied first for most goals by a true freshman.

"Coming into the year as a Freshman, I was a little nervous and scared, but everyone is welcoming," Fugel said.

"Here at Georgia State, you're not given anything; you have to earn everything. Even if at practice you have an off day, you have to make sure the next day you have an even better practice."

Team culture is essential for any successful team. Having consistency and high team chemistry on and off the field is just a tiny part of what makes this work.

"The team's culture is good; we all have fun together and enjoy our time together. I love seeing them and saying hi to everyone every morning."

The Georgia State Women's soccer team season ended in heartbreak as they were shut out 0-1 against South Alabama in the Sunbelt Championship Tournament.

"In the Sunbelt Tournament, we lost to South Alabama. They were a team that after 90 minutes we knew we should have beaten them, so we want to see them again."

After having a stellar Freshman campaign, Brooklyn Fugel has her sights and ambitions set for a title.

"I scored seven goals last year, so one of my personal goals is to score more and possibly get Offensive Player of the year, and to make first-team All-Conference. As far as team goals go, we all want to win the Sunbelt Championship."

Fugel and the Georgia State Women's Soccer team believe they have everything they need to make a deep run in the Sunbelt Tournament and a potential NCAA Tournament selection with complete faith in herself and her teammates.

ARTS & LIVING

February 01, 2022

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The Basics : NFT stands for

Non Fungible Tokin "Non-fungible tokens are essentially a unique image or file on the blockchain that anyone can verify and cannot replicate."

Non-fungible tokens, also known as NFTs, offer new opportunities for artists to share their art online and make more money than ever before.

PHOTOS BY SIMUL2 ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

What’s the deal with NFTs?

Non-fungible tokens are sweeping the internet, but they come with some environmental concerns COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

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wenty years ago, art collectors may have scoffed at the idea of buying an art piece that they could never touch, see or experience in person.

Many blockchain enthusiasts and artists believe the rising popularity of non-fungible tokens, also known as NFTs, may soon prove this mentality outdated.

While NFTs allow artists a platform to sell their art digitally, many argue that digital artworks cause more harm than good.

Hosting so many files on the blockchain requires a great deal of energy resulting in a broad negative environmental impact.

What are NFTs?

Non-fungible tokens are essentially a unique image or file on the blockchain that anyone can verify and cannot replicate. Like cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, creators and owners of NFTs usually store their tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.

According to PCMag, “the blockchain is a record that anyone can add to, that nobody can change, and that isn’t controlled by any one person or "entity.”

For example, members of the Bored Ape Yacht Club – owners of one of 10,000 ape avatar NFTs

– purchased an ape avatar with unique customization items, and only they have access to that ape avatar.

While another user could view or screenshot the avatar and reuse it, anyone could verify on the blockchain that the “original” avatar belongs to, say, Jimmy Fallon or Eminem.

What are the problems with NFTs?

Though NFTs’ exclusive, verifiable nature may draw in many celebrities and those interested in trading, hosting NFTs on the blockchain comes with a hefty environmental price in a time when climate change is a bigger threat than ever.

When creators upload their creations to the blockchain, computers start mining data. As the computers mine, they enact thousands of intricate processes, requiring incredible energy.

According to independent researchers, “[a given] single NFT’s footprint is equivalent to an EU resident’s total electric power consumption for more than a month, with emissions equivalent to driving for 1000 kilometers or flying for two hours.”

NFTs’ carbon footprint tends to be incredibly high because most

creators host their NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. While the Ethereum blockchain hosts more than just NFTs, the blockchain emits as much carbon as the nation of Sweden annually.

These environmental considerations have caused many artists to avoid posting their art on the Ethereum blockchain, even though the blockchain tends to summon wider recognition and carry more value than posting on the broader internet.

Joan Lemecier, a French visual artist, is one of those creators that avoids Ethereum.

“With no travel involved, and a mostly digital distribution, this new [NFT] model looks like it has the potential to become a sustainable practice for artists,” Lemecier said on Medium.

“That’s until you understand the magnitude of the environmental impacts of the current blockchain: It is a DISASTER.” Lemecier and other creators who choose to avoid the Ethereum blockchain may instead use more environmentally friendly alternatives like those listed on CleanNFTs. While all blockchains emit some carbon, not all use such energyintensive sources to the same extent as Ethereum blockchain.

Cole Podany - Staff Reporter

NFT's are traded on the Ethereum blockchain Blockchain (noun)

A system in which a record of transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are maintained across several computers that are linked in a peer-to-peer network.

Definitions from Oxford Languages

The Ethereum blockchain emits as much carbon as the nation of Sweden annually.

That's 45.4* million metric tons of carbon dioxide

*Sweden's 2020 carbon emmisions via Statista

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2022

11

Georgia State Greek organizations create well-rounded, inclusive and academically successful groups

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State’s Greek organizations work to crush cliches Greek life at Georgia State works to break stereotypes GRACE BRASWELL Associate Arts & Living Editor

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or many, college is supposed to be the best years of your life. It’s the time to try new things, meet new people and explore yourself and your identity.

On a campus as big as Georgia State’s, however, meeting new people and finding lifelong friends can be a difficult task—especially with such a high percentage of commuter students.

Many students turn to Greek organizations to build instant relationships and bonds to find friends and make connections.

Greek organizations are known for negative stereotypes such as enabling hazing and partying.

However, Greek life at Georgia State aims to rewrite the typical narrative. At Georgia State, fraternities and sororities push inclusivity, protest hazing and hold members to impressively high standards.

Max Verlohr, President of Georgia State fraternity Sigma Nu, joined the organization in his sophomore year after transferring from the University of South Carolina.

V explained that before coming to Georgia State, he did not know a lot of other students and wanted an opportunity to branch out.

After talking with some of the members, he joined Sigma Nu to be part of an organization with close bonds between brothers and friends to uplift and inspire.

“We’re such a commuter school, so sometimes it’s hard to find people to hang out with,” Verlohr said.

“If you’re not in any clubs or anything, students will come to class and then leave immediately without getting the chance to meet people. Greek life is a great way to make connections and become active in the school and community.”

According to Verlohr, fraternities are much more than just the stereotypical party organizations presented in the media. Fraternities at Georgia State participate in philanthropy, push volunteer work and are actively involved in the community.

Apart from volunteer work, fraternities also participate in activities such as intramural sports, competing against one another in events such as dodgeball and flag football.

“Things are super different than [what’s] in the

movies,” Verlohr said. “People think that all we do is party, but we focus a significant amount on intramural sports and philanthropy. Sports and volunteer work are a big thing for us, and we want our members to stay active and stay involved.”

“

Greek organizations are known for negative stereotypes such as enabling hazing and partying.

However, Greek life at Georgia State aims to rewrite the typical narrative.

”

— GRACE BRASWELL

Associate Arts & Living Editor

The current social chair for Sigma Nu, Wesley Grant, joined the fraternity in the second semester of his freshman year at Georgia State. Grant felt a connection with Sigma Nu almost immediately after he joined.

“These guys are always there for you, and they’re always pushing you to do better no matter what,” Grant said. “It’s hard to find friends like that.”

Alexis Hart, the historian for Zeta Tau Alpha, joined Zeta during her sophomore year at Georgia State. Hart decided to go through the recruitment process after determining that she wanted to join a community of like-minded girls who would accept her.

After going through recruitment, Hart found her

home in Zeta and described the girls in her sorority as the most genuine friends she has.

Although joining Greek life might seem intimidating initially, Hart described her experience as incredibly welcoming.

“It is a genuine sisterhood,” Hart said. “I connect so well to my sisters, and we’re all very similar. However, we celebrate one another’s differences.”

According to Hart, one of the many perks when it comes to joining a sorority at Georgia State is the ability to reach out with alumni and make connections with sisters who have already graduated.

With Greek organizations well established all over the country, connecting with alumni can lead to both career and social opportunities.

“It’s a huge network of women all across the country,” Hart said.

“I know in my sorority, Zeta, there are a lot of times within the professional field where I will run across other members of Zeta or Zeta alumni. It’s always nice to have those kinds of connections, and I know it’s the same in other sororities, as well.”

Before joining Zeta, Gabby McQuade the Vice President of recruitment, discussed her yearning for friends who genuinely understood and welcomed her. When McQuade talked to the girls in Zeta, she immediately felt she had found the people she would be friends with for the rest of her life.

Despite the degrading stereotype describing sorority girls as “dumb and blonde,” McQuade emphasized the immense amount of diversity amongst sororities at Georgia State, as well as the sizeable academic push in Greek life.

“We have the highest GPA in Zeta, and all of my friends have a GPA of 3.0 or higher,” McQuade said.

“We have to have a certain GPA to stay in Zeta.

Otherwise, we are put on academic probation where we are required to log our studying and get tutoring to succeed academically.”

Despite many stereotypes, Greek organizations at Georgia State strive for their members to be the best they can push academic success and community involvement while creating strong bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.

SPORTS

February 01, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Sitting at 8-9 Georgia State’s in unfamiliar territory Two straight wins is a start, but can they run the table to end the year?

ANDREW FREEMAN Staff Reporter

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hen Georgia State entered this season as heavy favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference, it turned few heads. They collected eight first-place votes out of the 12 Sun Belt Conference head coaches who voted.

Why would it have been a surprise?

Super seniors Corey Allen and Kane Williams returned to capture their first March Madness appearance as team leaders.

Eliel Nsoseme's second season in a Panthers uniform gave the team a six-foot-8, 240-pound menace inside and a third preseason All-Sun Belt Conference player.

Head coach Rob Lanier brought the team to the Conference Championship game in his second season. He followed that up with the Panthers' highest-ranked recruiting class in the program's history during the 2021-22 season.

Georgia State got close to winning last year–they lost to Appalachian State by seven in the conference championship game.

It would have been their third in four years and first under Lanier, a former assistant coach who found success with several Power 5 schools before becoming the Panthers’ head coach.

He's coached multiple future NBA players, learning to be successful across coaching with all talent levels. Everything lined up for them to have a successful season.

After a 4-1 start to the season, Georgia State watched as their season unfolded in a way that came as a surprise, especially to those who voted for the coaches they thought would win the conference.

Thursday's 68-64 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns marked the team's first win over a month, dating back to a 92-44 blowout at home over Toccoa Falls. On Saturday, they won their second straight with an impressive 73-62 outing at Lousiana-Monroe.

Five losses and four canceled games later, Georgia State may have found their groove again with a pair of solid wins, on the road nonetheless.

The back-to-back wins wouldn’t mean as much if the team wasn’t struggling the way they are. The program has built a solid reputation as winners, with more victories than any other division-1 basketball team in the state. Consistent activity in

the loss column is an allergy to a team that hadn't been three games under .500 since December 2012.

Winning the regular-season conference is out of the question for Lanier's guys, but there's always the tournament, which begins on Mar. 3. Georgia State sits at the very bottom of the standings with a lamentable 2-4 record, the lone win coming Thursday.

There's never a single person or group of people on a team to blame, especially when it comes to success. Georgia State needed that win on Thursday. They needed it badly.

With nine games left on the schedule, the team has an opportunity to win out and clinch their ninth straight winning season, all since joining the Sun Belt.

The record doesn't show the strides the team's making, but it's also unfair criticism, considering the games they've had to cancel. That said, some of the fixes are minor and do not involve anyone changing their playstyle.

Allen, Williams and Nsoseme will have to continue to improve their decision-making for the team to succeed.

Contested shots have haunted the team all season: Williams and Allen, the two primary scorers, are shooting less than 40% from the field and below 35% on threes (Williams at 21%).

However, the recent games have displayed optimistic signs for the pair of guards. Entering Thursday, Williams was struggling at the line. During the Louisiana road trip, he didn’t miss on ten attempts from the line. He’s up to 78% on the year entering Monday, which would be a career-best if the season ended yesterday.

Allen, on the other hand, continues to be the primary scorer for the Panthers. It’s no secret that he’s an exceptional shot maker in the Sun Belt, but some games haven’t been kind to him. Yet, maybe he’s found a way to flip the curve. His 18 points on Saturday marked his highest-scoring game since he scored 23 against Toccoa Fall a month ago, which were also his two most efficient games this year.

Both could be high-volume-shot-creators that provide the team with guards confident enough to convert complicated looks at the basket. Lanier will need them down the stretch, especially in close games.

Georgia State entered this season as heavy favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference

Justin Roberts and Jalen Thomas have become more aggressive as scorers and playmakers.

Roberts also reminds opponents of the scrappy defender that he is––a meteoric sub-6-footer who will pester his matchups with exceptional hands-on defense. On offense, the preseason All-Conference guard brings outstanding perimeter shooting and a secondary ballhandler behind Williams.

Thomas hasn't been able to find his footing yet this season, shooting 40% from the field down from nearly 60% last year.

However, the junior should find his way back to his old self.

The numbers may be down, but it also comes with a lack of reps. The Detroit-native was a lead player in the team’s eightgame win streak last season, scoring in double-figures in seven of those games.

When he plays well, the Panthers always have a chance. The team has plenty of bright spots to continue thriving on as they await their shot at the conference title come March.

Winning teams don't shoot below 70% from the line, and Georgia State's making just 68% of their freebies. But, they get the job done other ways.

They entered Monday as the Sun Belt's most efficient teams on offense and defense, shooting 47% from the field (best in the conference) and holding opponents to 41%, first and third-best in the Sun Belt, respectively. All this, and they’re the only team in the Sun Belt scoring 80 points a night.

Pretty impressive stuff for a team that’s yet to play its best basketball.

Again, it just comes down to the team getting back to their old ways. Lanier's been able to change the program for the better as well. They're taking care of the ball more this year than the previous two seasons and creating turnovers more frequently than almost any other Sun Belt team.

It's clear that Georgia State has a ways to go record-wise, but they've also got plenty of time and, barring any more games getting canceled, will use the month to progress in their play.

Will they make a run to March Madness? Maybe.

After one of the worst starts in program history and an inconsistent schedule, it would sure be a pleasant surprise for a team now seen as an underdog.

PHOTO BY TRENT LEGASPI | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2022

13

Men’s

Upcoming Games

VS. Troy

Men’s

Home Game vs Troy @ Georgia State Sports Arena 02 / 03 / 22 7:00 p.m.

VS. South Alabama

Women’s

Home Game vs South Alabama @ Georgia State Sports Arena 02 / 05 / 22 2:00 p.m.

VS. Georgia Southern University

Away Game @ Georgia Southern University 02 / 05 / 22

1:00 p.m.

Many issues plagued the team early due to game cancellations.

PHOTO BY TRENT LEGASPI | THE SIGNAL

Rob Lanier’s Panthers down but not out

Panthers have found their health at a good time AARON WILSON JR. Staff Reporter

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o, you’re telling me there’s a chance.

Amid a “down” season for the Georgia State Men’s Basketball team, all their goals are still in play as the calendar flips to February.

A litany of issues plagued the team early in the campaign as they dealt with game cancellations due to COVID-19 and their injuries and streaky play.

One of the critical early injuries of the year happened to the senior forward, Eliel Nsoseme.

Nsoseme brings energy and leadership that substantially benefits the team on and off the court.

Five months removed from that injury, Nsoseme has begun to heat up recently in his return, providing double-doubles in the last two wins for Georgia State as they have improved to an 8-9 record and 2-4 Sun Belt record.

The road back was anything but easy for Nsoseme, though, as he discusses what kept him going through that tough time.

“It was really tough for me not

to be able to be on the court with my brothers, but I know that it was a matter of time,” Nsoseme said.

“I went through a lot the past five months, and the support of all my teammates and coaches kept me going.”

“I didn't want to go out like that for my last season, so I did my best in rehab like I will do it in the game. Also, I had my sister see me after six years, and that was the boost I needed.”

“She reminds me why I do this.

[The] most important thing [is to] never forget where you came from and all the sacrifices made along the way.”

With Nsoseme back, the spotlight has been on seniors Corey Allen, Kane Williams and Justin Roberts. However, people may forget that there is more substance to the team than they think.

One of those underclassmen would be the Freshman Forward Ja’Heim Hudson. Hudson has seen action in 15 games this season and has impressed at least one of his elders in Nsoseme.

“Everyone brings something to the table, and that is what I love about this team. Without a doubt, I will say Ja'Heim Hudson is a dog, and he is not scared to put his nose in the fight. He is a really good kid that wants to learn from the old guy, and we can see it on the court.”

“Also, one of my favorites is Jamall Clyce. He reminds me of my young self and the hard work that he puts in every day. The scary thing is I can talk about all the non-seniors and what they bring because we have a great team.”

With the young guys growing into their roles, the seniors fighting hard in their last season, Georgia State has a chance to make a strong push down the stretch and assert themselves during conference play.

The team will play five of the next eight games at the GSU Sports Arena, so the Panthers look to be hitting their stride and will have the support of the home crowd to try and finish strong.

The Kickback

February 01, 2022

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UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Black History Month Pep Rally 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Unity Plaza

Spring 2022 ATL Student Organization Involvement Fair 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Student Center East

Men’s Basketball vs Troy 7:00 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena

Wellness Walk with the Counseling Center 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Virtual

Budget Bites:Recipe Demo 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Online

007:No Time to Die Showtimes: 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Cinefest Theatre Suite 260

FEB 04

THURSDAY FEB 03

WEDNESDAY FEB 02

TUESDAY

Learn About Korean Exchange Programs sponsored by Georgia State University 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Virtual

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Men’s Basketball vs South Alabama 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena

88 Sessions (with thefamilyorchestra) 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Cinefest Theatre Suite 260

Bear Grams with Spotlight 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Unity Plaza

FEB 07

SATURDAY FEB 06

FEB 05

FEB 01

THE KICKBACK

Knowledge Garden with NaanStop 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

55 Park Place

WANT YOUR UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENT TO BE HERE? LET US KNOW! AT SIGNALPROD@GMAIL.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2022

THE KICKBACK

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GAMES WORDFIND FIND THE WORDS IN THE PUZZLE.

Words can go in any direction.Words can share letters as they cross over each other.

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