Vol. 91 No. 11

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Adam Duffy signaleditor@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Amira Daniel signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com

Dir. of Business Operations

Ira Livnat signalmarketing1@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

NEWS EDITOR

Raymond Tran signalnewseditor@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Vacant

OPINIONS EDITOR

Jane Cha signalopinions@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR

Vacant

ARTS & LIVING EDITOR

Merissa Ware signalliving@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIVING EDITOR

Vacant

SPORTS EDITOR

Matthew Tindle signalsport1@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

Vacant

COPY EDITOR

Annalise Ray signalcopyeditor@gmail.com

PRODUCTION

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Hunter Laserna signalprod@gmail.com

HEAD ILLUSTRATOR

Shemar DeBellotte

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR

Trent Legaspi signalphoto2@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Vacant

DIGITAL

DIGITAL EDITOR

Vacant

signalmanaging@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR

Vacant

VIDEO EDITOR

Carter Riddett signalvideoeditor@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR

Vacant

PODCAST EDITOR

Vacant

THE SIGNAL BUREAUS

ALPHARETTA BUREAU CHIEF

Vacant

CLARKSTON BUREAU CHIEF

Vacant

DECATUR BUREAU CHIEF

Vacant

DUNWOODY BUREAU CHIEF

Vacant

NEWTON BUREAU CHIEF

Vacant

ADVERTISING

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER

Chuck Colin wcolin@gsu.edu

PERIMETER STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER

Zoana Price zprice@gsu.edu

ADVERTISING

For all advertising inquiries, email the Director of Business Operations at dbo@georgiastatesignal.com

MISSION STATEMENT

The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment.

The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State community.

COVERAGE REQUESTS

Requests for coverage and tips should be subwmitted to the

Editor in Chief and/or the relevant section editor.

SUBMIT LETTER TO EDITOR

Letters must be submitted to the Editor in Chief via e-mail and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. Letters should be 400-500 words maximum.

The Signal will allow longer letters, but only in rare circumstances. Letters must include the full name(s) of the writer(s) and include their year and major. If the writer is a faculty member, they must include their title and department. Letters will be fact-checked prior to publication. The writer may be obligated to make changes to the letter for publication. Letters will be edited for grammar, clarity, length, factual accuracy and adherence to The Signal’s policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/ or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff.

DISCLAIMER

Opinions and Letters to the Editor expressed in The Signal are the opinions of the writers and readers. It does not reflect the opinions of The Signal

OFFICE INFORMATION

The Signal Student Center West, Suite 250

P.O. Box 3968

Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404-413-1620

Fax: 404-413-162

THE BLOTTER

CRIME BLOTTER

FEB 22ND

“Performative art is evolving”

GSUPD arrested a non-GSU offender for Disorderly Conduct outside of the CMII at 11:32 a.m

“Woodruff Park is my favorite bar ever…”

A non-GSU offender was arrested by GSUPD for a Liquor Law Violation in Woodruff Park at 4:53 p.m.

NEWS BRIEFS

FEB 23RD

“M for munchies?”

At 12:06 p.m. GSUPD arrested a non-GSU offender for Drug Law Violations at M Deck.

“Morning Shower”

At the Commerce Building exit on Broad Street, GSUPD arrested a nonGSU offender for Public Indecency.

FEB 26TH

“Maybe they have spare change under the seats."

Between 10:40 a.m. and 11:25 a.m., four GSU students were the victim of car break-ins at GSU's Blue Lot. The investigation is still active.

February 28, 2024

LOCAL NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL

Augusta University student murdered on UGA Athens campus

Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, was brutally murdered during her morning run on Feb. 22 at the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Arrest warrants have been released for Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26. Ibarra faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, and more. The UGA and Athens community are in mourning and are investing in increased security. This includes over seven million dollars dedicated to increasing the size and capabilities of their police department.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered

Alabama's Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling declaring frozen embryos as children, allowing those who destroy them to be held liable for wrongful death. The decision sparks debate over when life begins and may impact infertility treatments. Critics fear the ruling sets a precedent for other states, with one religious group already citing it in a Florida abortion rights case. Dana Sussman of Pregnancy Justice warns of an agenda promoting fetal personhood. The ruling follows lawsuits from parents who underwent IVF and froze embryos.

Human rights defender jailed in Russia for Ukraine war criticism

Russian human rights defender Oleg Orlov, renowned for his advocacy for peace, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a Moscow court. Orlov, 70, a prominent figure in Russia's human rights movement, faced charges for criticizing the war in Ukraine and denouncing Russia's regime as "fascist." The verdict underscores the Kremlin's tightening grip on dissent amid ongoing crackdowns. Under a law prohibiting criticism of Russia's armed forces, Orlov's conviction reflects broader suppression of voices opposed to the conflict. His sentencing signals escalating restrictions on freedom of expression in Russia.

As

Photo by Trent Legaspi | The Signal

Mental health is going to be on the Exam

Midterm season is raising the pressure on student mental health

EMILY WAHNER Staff Reporter

With midterms creeping up again, mental health becomes a relevant topic of conversation among students. Georgia State promotes its free access to counseling resources that are available to all students.

Individual counseling is offered for a short term. It is available for inperson and/or virtual appointments depending on scheduling. Rooms can be scheduled at 75 Piedmont 200A for privacy during virtual meetings.

Many students like Colin Hinze, a senior at Georgia State University, have had a disappointing experience with these resources.

“When I was a freshman on campus I lived over on Central which is right next to where the mental health services are,” Colin says. At the time they were only doing virtual meetings so it was hard to get in-person appointments. I was only ever able to get about two scheduled through their services and I ended up paying out-ofpocket for private mental health care anyways.”

Heaven Palffy, a senior, has had similar frustrating feelings.

“I actually have never had any experience with Georgia State counseling because the waitlist to see a counselor is so long,” Heaven says. “I know there is a shortage of that kind of stuff and there are so many students,

but I think we are handling a lot of things the wrong way when it comes to mental health, especially with all the violence we have on campus. I think we should be able to have easier access to those outlets for our wellbeing.”

Now that we are at the midpoint of the semester, things are only getting more stressful for students.

“Senior year is stressful as always and I wish it was better, but it would be very helpful if we had more help available,” said Colin, “It honestly feels like if you are struggling at Georgia State there isn’t that help available to you.”

Many students have reported that the midpoint of the semester is when their mental health starts getting worse. Many factors play into why student mental health is declining during this time. Exams and burnout are often the main reasons, but recently safety has been another big factor.

“We are a very exposed campus and a number of traumatic events have happened,” Colin says. “Just recently there was the shooting at the Race-Trac and the university tries to downplay and say ‘Well technically it wasn’t on campus’ and it's not a threat to us, but that's not how it's perceived by anyone who is here and it makes a lot of us feel unsafe to be on campus and that deteriorates the mental health of the student body.”

While the university offers 24/7 crisis counseling and many other online resources, students are calling for an increase in person-to-person help. The two seniors offer words of advice to the university and students.

Palffy had this to say,

“In terms of student population, we all should accept and recognize that mental health is an issue and we should try to find other resources to combat that but at the same time we can all acknowledge that it’s a very big issue on campus and I don’t think that Georgia State does enough to help their students with that.”

Hinze added to this by saying, “I would make it much more accessible to all students. If students have the ability to get a lot of mental help on campus that would be incredibly helpful if it was in a place where more students are accessible, not near the housing corridor. Have it near where more students are like the student center, make it so that students can get in-person counseling easier and make walk-ins available.”

If you are an individual struggling with mental health issues, you can access help through the Georgia Crisis and Access Line by calling 1-800-7154255. You can also access help through Georiga State by calling 404-413-1640.

No right turns on red lights

New city ordinance bans right turns at red lights in downtown, midtown, and Castleberry Hill

DAVID HOFFMAN Staff Reporter

The Atlanta City Council has passed an ordinance putting the brakes on right turns at red lights in certain parts of the city.

On February 19th, city council members voted 10-3 on an ordinance to prohibit drivers from making right turns at intersections in the Downtown, Midtown and Castleberry Hill neighborhoods. The Atlanta Department of Transportation has until December 2025 to provide signage to the appropriate traffic lights and implement the change.

The new measure will go into effect in 2026 to make sure there is enough time for proper infrastructure to be put in place.

Atlanta has joined the list of other cities that have passed similar bans like Washington D.C., New York City, Denver, Indianapolis and Seattle who have either severely limited or outright gotten rid of turns on red.

Supporters of the ordinance say the ban will reduce pedestrian accidents, with the ordinance itself citing specific studies from Boston University and Harvard that reported the increased rates of traffic deaths for black pedestrians.

Council member Jason Dozier who helped introduce the ordinance wrote in an emailed statement the reasons behind the ban.

“We’ve seen a 50% increase in pedestrian deaths since 2020, and 38 pedestrians died on Atlanta’s streets last year as a consequence. When cars are allowed to turn at red lights, they typically creep into crosswalks, with drivers looking only for oncoming cars rather than pedestrians or cyclists,” said Dozier. He then wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, his thoughts on the ordinance after its vote.

“The proposed ban is a strategic measure to address intersection safety concerns and contribute to a more sustainable, pedestrian-friendly Atlanta,” wrote Dozier. “Thank you to all the advocates and community members who

have been pushing for safer streets and Vision Zero.

Together, we can create positive change and make Atlanta a model for pedestrian-friendly urban living.”

The bill comes as part of a larger initiative adopted by the city in 2020 to increase pedestrian safety called Vision Zero. The program aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the city to zero through safer road design and speed regulation.

The bill allows law enforcement to hand out citations to violators caught turning right on the estimated 250 intersections affected. Violators could face a $70 fine.

The areas specifically affected by this are listed as the downtown streets between North Avenue on the north and 1-20 on the south, and the midtown streets between 1-85 on the north, and North Avenue on the south. Many intersections are impacted near notable high-traffic sites such as Piedmont Park, MercedesBenz Stadium and downtown’s hotel district.

The ban also affects intersections on Georgia State’s campus. Georgia State students are familiar with traffic and roadside accidents, having every part of campus at the intersection of one or more busy roads. As more and more conversations about campus safety arise, pedestrian safety continues to be at the forefront of student concerns.

“I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve been cut off on the road while trying to cross,” shared Georgia State student Varsha Sudharsan. The pedestrian sign would be active and they would cut us off as we walked. This is so dangerous for students that have disabilities.”

The new measure will go into effect in 2026. For any drivers that have been taking right turns, breathe easy. Continue to be cautious when taking right turns and paying attention to pedestrian crossings.

This time of the semester brings with it several stressors for students.

ILLUSTRATION BY SHEMAR DEBELLOTTE | THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

The true cost of TEMU and Shein purchases

Taking a look at the ethical and environmental consequences of fast fashion giants

MARIA SPONAR Staff Columnist

Our society continues to find new ways to get the newest niche object or the latest “dupe” on the trending fashion for the lowest possible price. Last week’s Super Bowl captivated millions of Americans – football enthusiasts or not –with its plays and the inundation of advertisements. What was particularly hard to miss was TEMU’s repeated appearances throughout the event.

TEMU, a fast-fashion giant owned by one of the largest e-commerce companies in China, spent 35 million dollars on commercials, aired around five times throughout the entire Super Bowl game. This expense is a small portion of the estimated $3 billion the company is estimated to invest in advertising by the end of the year. TEMU’s investment in advertisement seems to be working, as they are the number one shopping ad on the Apple and Play Store in 2024, with over a staggering 31 million downloads from January 1st to January 22nd of this year.

TEMU’s ad campaign urges people to “shop like a billionaire,” tempting them to spend money on the seemingly endless array of products, each more discardable and cheaply made than the next. The company’s unethical approach to its customer interactions is concealed behind the glamor of the advertisement, which involves infiltrating personal information, leaving them at an immense risk of identity theft. Last year, the business had accumulated nearly 600 complaints ranging from scams, undelivered packages, mysteriously leaked information and the gradual draining of their bank accounts.

If the potential for scams isn't enough, the extreme scrutiny that the company that owns them, Pinduoduo, is undergoing for their worrisome labor laws adds yet another layer of peril. Congress is currently investigating their company with “extremely high” suspicions of their supply chains in China being tied to forced labor. However, they are not the only fast-fashion company that is being investigated for their unethical labor practices: Shein, a globally renowned fast-fashion website that mainly focuses on selling clothes for meager prices, has had various human rights organizations and ethical brands meet at congressional offices with hopes to “Shut Down Shein” due to its exploitative labor practices.

Despite various attempts to have Shein shut down for its labor violations, it continues to be one of the most popular shopping apps in the United States, attracting millions of people with its too-good-to-be-true constant deals and low prices. Fast fashion brands such as Shein are being exposed more nowadays for manipulating and exploiting their factory workers who produce this seemingly endless array of constant new fashion, often in developing countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam. It is said that over 98% of these workers who are employed by big fast fashion company names need to be paid a living wage. As these concerns are exposed more and more, more discoveries are made on just how bad these companies that produce mass amounts of cheap products are, not only from a human rights lens but also from an environmental standpoint.

Producing and sending out over one million packages stuffed with low-quality and cheaply produced clothing and objects every single day creates an array of environmental damage, including an increase in electricity, carbon emissions, packaging waste, as well as unregulated hazardous and gravely concerning chemicals. With all of these environmental hazards also comes the massive amounts of waste that will only skyrocket after these cheaply made products are quickly discarded.

While TEMU’s flashy and enticing advertisements may seem like a great way to purchase that unnecessary yet somehow vital product, the hidden costs associated with these seemingly harmless purchases must be exposed, and the ethical as well as environmental damage caused by these companies must not be overlooked, emphasizing the urgency to make more well-informed choices that better align with values promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to shopping.

Is

the “i'm just a girl” trend really as harmless as it seems?

Analyzing the trend’s impact on women and young girls

MARIA SPONAR Staff Columnist

Every day, new social media trends begin to circulate and spread across all platforms. One of the most popular trends from late last year is the “I’m Just a Girl” trend. While seemingly lighthearted and innocent on the surface, it has begun to raise concerns about the negative repercussions that this trend could have on women, particularly young girls.

This trend has been going around social media for months, managing to remain relevant by morphing into various versions of the same original content. One exceptionally worrisome version is the “girl math” phenomenon, which revolves around women justifying imprudent spending habits through exaggerated and inaccurate explanations. Examples of this include coffee purchases not counting as overspending if it's done with gift cards, returning clothing items being a way to make a profit, and buying items on sale will equate to saving money.

This trend fosters a deeply consumerist mindset, insinuating that participating in the over-consumption of stereotypical “girly-girl” traits such as shopping, drinking Starbucks, and purchasing copious amounts of makeup, is essential for self–identity.

The dangers behind this kind of mentality being popularized are more dangerous now than ever before, as global initiatives to stop over-consumption and mitigate the climate crisis are gaining impressive momentum with each passing day.

However, this is only one side of the issue: the trends' detrimental effects include reinforcing the dangerous stereotype that women do not belong in the STEM field because they are inherently incapable of understanding mathematics and finances. This mentality only prolongs the gender biases that feminism has fought so hard to dissolve and obstructs the ongoing progress toward achieving gender equality in

traditionally male-dominated fields.

Another dangerous derivative is the “girl dinner” phenomenon, which includes women uploading images of unhealthy and comically unbalanced meals as their dinner, gambling with resurfacing the toxic female diet culture that women have been fighting to de-normalize for decades. Exhibiting these ridiculous eating habits with the center of the joke being that it is a “typical girl dinner” perpetuates unhealthy relationships with food and contributes to the normalization of eating disorders in women.

At its core, this trend serves as a way to regress society into reinstituting gender stereotypes. Whether expressed in complaints about having the opportunity to work a job, study in college, or further their career, these “jokes”, despite being phrased sarcastically and exaggeratedly, reinforce the sexist stereotypes that have limited women from self-autonomy for centuries.

With nearly 400 million TikTok users engaging in this ongoing trend, it goes beyond the realm of a supposed joke and assumes a life of its own. Behind the illusion of humor lies the potential for enlisting real, lasting harm, particularly for the preteens that make up nearly one-third of the entire platform. It is important to understand the true hazard that the perpetuation of such content can have on shaping societal perceptions of the expectations of being a woman. As the fight for women’s liberation continues to strive, it becomes crucial to scrutinize and challenge trends that may unconsciously impede its progress – even if they may seem harmless at the surface.

PHOTO BY TRENT LEGASPI | THE SIGNAL

Temu's super bowl ad shows how mainstream its become.

Spread : Special Edition

Turning Point GSU

censors The Signal, confronts members

Georgia State’s conservative student group blocks free speech on campus, destroys university property

ADAM DUFFY Editor-in-Chief

On Wednesday, Feb. 14th, The Signal printed its most successful issue in over half a decade.

On Thursday, Feb 15th, The Signal faced its most flagrant case of censorship to date.

The Signal celebrated Valentine’s Day by honoring a longstanding tradition of printing our “Sex Issue.” A paper focused on issues of sexual health, sexuality and celebrating love.

The print was a huge success; the student body’s response blew us away, and we couldn’t be happier with how it was received.

However, not all students were as content with the issue. On February 15, Turning Point GSU, the local studentled chapter of the national conservative non-profit organization, put out a statement about the issue on their social media.

In the first post, Turning Point GSU stated this over an image of the cover,

“This is NOT it @signalgsu - The fact that someone approved of this and put it in our school newspaper is appalling. NO ONE asked for this.”

A following post stated this,

“This is degenerate and highly inappropriate and it does not represent the views or sensitivities of everyone on campus. It sets a very terrible precedent and this accelerates the destabilization of our society. Allowing someone who appears to be half or fully naked on the greenway for a photo shoot on a college campus looks very bad for GSU. Do better.”

As the leader of an organization that is comprised entirely of students and by extension speaks through their voice, I find the notion that “NO ONE asked for this,” to be categorically untrue.

We, as members of The Signal and students ourselves, did ask for this. We also identified that here at Georiga State we have a large population of students who do care about the topics laid out in our reporting.

To corroborate this, we need only look at how it was received by the student body at large. This issue of The Signal was the most popular paper we have released in the past five years, including numerous prior Sex Issues.

We also reject the notion that our papers will be or are required to be representative of the “views and sensitivities of everyone on campus.”

We know Georgia State is home to a diverse set of ideologies, backgrounds and opinions. We encourage all of our fellow students to express their views concerning the work we do so that we can come together and better understand one another.

That is why, in regards to specifically Turning Point GSU’s social media post about our Sex issue, we encourage all students to engage in our work and voice their opinions.

We would never try to limit the ability of a student or group of students to express themselves freely on campus. We find it to be a vitally important human right that is only more essential in the current state of the world.

That is why the actions taken by Mekai Kamara, president of Turning Point GSU, on February 15, cannot go unaddressed.

On Thursday, Feb. 15th, several members of The Signal were working in our office in Student Center West. At around 4 PM, Kamara came to The Signal’s office carrying a crumpled copy of our Sex Issue freshly ripped from our door sign.

Kamara proceeded to invite himself into the room, at which point he began expressing his frustrations with the issue, repeating many of the same talking points laid out in the social media post from the previous day..

After voicing his complaints for several minutes in front of our staff members, Kamara quickly left the office. Afterward, members of our team discovered that approximately 100 copies of our paper placed outside our office had been thrown away. Also, the copy Kamara had been carrying was one he had ripped off the front of the same news rack, identified by the tape on its corners and crumpled appearance.

One of the staff members called GSUPD to report the vandalism and The Signal gave an official statement.

Of the members of our team in the office at the time of the incident, here is what a few of them had to say.

Hunter Laserna, The Signal’s Creative Director and member for almost two years, retold the events of that Thursday in stating,

"Ira [Livnat] opened the door and [Kamara] walked right past [Livnat] into the middle of the room and he flings up the paper and holds in front of everyone. He just said, “Who should I talk to about the content of the issue?”Then, [Kamara] goes on a minute-long rant about how he doesn’t agree with the content of the paper. - Then [Livnat] goes, “Let me stop you right there. Do you identify as Republican?” [Kamara] says yes. Ira then asks “Do you believe in the right of freedom of speech?” and [Kamara] says “Yes I do.” [Livnat] then said “Okay, well I think our conversation is done.” [Kamara] then goes, “Oh, I don’t think it is.” - I noticed when he walked in that the paper he was flinging in front of the room had a piece of black tape on the top. I knew [Kamara] ripped it off our display because I personally taped it on myself with the black tape in our office.”

of Kamara and Turning Point.

" It is unfortunate, if not ironic, that it would be TPUSA that tries to censor and intimidate, in a most fascistic fashion, the last bastion for independent student journalism at Georgia State. TPUSA supports "free speech" but their fervent protection of said speech seems to end just where the speech with which they disagree begins. If TPUSA expected this to go unanswered, I'm afraid they will be sorely disappointed."

After the events that transpired in The Signal’s office, members of The Signal discovered that approximately 100 copies of the sex issue placed outside the entrance to Library North and approximately 200 copies placed in University Commons were also discarded. The Signal is currently investigating these incidents to confirm whether or not Kamara or other members of Turning Point GSU destroyed those papers as well.

Lilli Regnier, one of The Signal’s illustrators, was also in the office at the time. This was her perception of the events from the perspective of a new member in a non-leadership role.

"-the vibe was very interesting. He seemed very nervous, but at the same time, very confrontational. Then[Livnat] said “Okay, what’s the legal issue? What’s the actual problem?”- You know it just all seemed to boil down that [Kamara] just didn’t really like it. It didn’t fit with his tastes and I guess that was the major problem with it. Later, everything happened where Hunter [Laserna] figured out that the paper that he was showing us was torn off of the rack outside and all of the other papers were gone and we found them in the trash. [Laserna] and I checked the rack on the outside of the library and it was empty. I went over to the trash can across the way and found all of the papers that were originally on the rack in the trashcan there.”

While the exact details of these events is not clear, it is clear that Kamara is going out of his way to intentionally censor The Signal and limit the ability of our students to express their views.

As the president of Turning Point GSU, a student organization that proclaims values such as liberty, individual empowerment and freedom of speech, we find Kamara’s actions extremely hypocritical.

It is clear to us that Turning Point GSU does not support every student’s ability to express themselves freely.

Regardless of the ideological dissonance behind these acts, Kemara’s actions are a clear Code of Conduct violation as outlined in Section 2, Subsection A in items 4, 5 and 7.

We are The Signal. We are the student-run, student-led newspaper of Georgia State. We’ve been here for 90 years, and we are not stopping now.

In my three years in this organization, I have come to deeply appreciate what The Signal represents. We represent the ability of students to come together to advocate as a collective and celebrate our shared experiences.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with and leading dozens of students during my time here, and I can confidently say that they are some of the best GSU has to offer.

I will not stand for anything that would go against either of those pursuits.

As the situation develops over the coming weeks, we will be sure to clearly and freely inform you, the students.

The Signal is on it.

Ira Livnat, The Signal’s Director of Business Operation, was the one who interacted most with Kamara during the incident. Here is what he had to say about the interaction and overall conduct

HUNTER LASERNA

Creative Director

LILLI REGNIER Staff Illustrator

IRA LIVNAT VP & Dir. of Business Operations

ARTS &

A new era in media consumption and content creation

Shaping the future of media and storytelling through podcasts

MACKENZIE SUTTON Staff Reporter

In the dynamic realm of media, a powerful contender has emerged, swiftly gaining traction and popularity - Podcasts. These are not just changing how we consume news and entertainment, they are also providing a platform for voices and stories that have been historically underrepresented or overlooked.

In recent years, podcasts have become significantly more popular. According to a study by Statista, podcasting is an increasingly popular pastime in the U.S. with 79 percent of respondents being aware of the format, while over 82 million people listened to podcasts in 2021. This number is estimated to rise even further, reaching over 100 million listeners in 2024. The surge in podcast listenership can be attributed to a variety of factors, including accessibility, diversity of content and the intimate nature of the medium.

One of the most compelling advantages of podcasts is their accessibility. Unlike books, movies or television shows that require undivided attention, podcasts can be consumed while commuting, working out, doing chores or during any downtime. This convenience and flexibility have led to a significant increase in regular podcast listeners, making this medium an integral part of our multitasking lives.

Another crucial factor contributing to the popularity of podcasts is the diversity of content available. There is a podcast for virtually every interest. From true crime to cooking, politics to pop culture, science to spirituality, the options are endless. This wide range of topics not only attracts a diverse audience but also makes podcasts a unique medium for advertisers to reach specific demographics.

The intimate nature of podcasts stands out as a unique selling point. Traditional media often present a perceived barrier between the creators and the audience. In contrast, podcasts offer a more personal connection, often feeling like having a one-on-one conversation with a friend. This intimacy allows listeners to form a deeper connection with the host and the content, thereby fostering a loyal listener base.

Podcasts aren't just popular among listeners, they're changing how we make content too. They've made a new space for creators to share their ideas and stories. You don't need to be famous or have a big name to start a podcast. Anyone with a story or useful information can do it. This has made content more open and accessible, leading to a boom of unique, specific content. Ideas that might not have made it on mainstream media now have a place.

Podcasts let these ideas grow, making the content world richer and giving listeners lots of options.

As podcasts continue to grow in popularity, they are undoubtedly leaving an indelible mark on the future of media. With this rise, we may see a paradigm shift in traditional media outlets, with more and more incorporating podcast-style content in their programming. It's an exciting time to be a part of the podcast revolution, whether as a listener, creator, or advertiser.

The rise of podcasts represents a new age of storytelling. It's a testament to the evolving needs of the audience - a need for convenience, diversity and intimacy. As we continue to navigate the everchanging landscape of media, it's clear that podcasts have secured their place in it, reshaping how we consume, create and interact with content

PHOTO BY SAGE HATHAWAY | PODCAST WARRIORS

Podcasting has changed the way we communicate and gather information

Georgia State hires new head coach Dell Mcgee

Former Georgia running back coach set to be Georgia State’s new football head coach

MATTHEW TINDLE Sports Editor

The Georgia State Panthers found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Feb. 15. when head coach Shawn Elliott resigned from his position to become the tight ends coach at the University of South Carolina. Athletic Director Charlie Cobb wasted no time finding a new head coach as the Panthers hired Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee.

McGee inked a 5-year deal with the Panthers that will last until the 2029 season.

"We are proud to announce Coach Dell McGee as our head football coach," Cobb said. "Coach McGee is an outstanding and authentic man with a strong passion for developing young men. His track record of competitive success at the high school and college levels makes me confident that he will lead our football program to its greatest achievements. We welcome Linda and Dell to Georgia State University!" In his brief introduction, McGee expressed his ambitions for Georgia State saying "Georgia State is primed for success as a premiere institution in the best city in America. I can't

wait to lead this football program as we compete for championships."

The former Auburn cornerback began his coaching career in 2002 as a defensive backs coach for Harris County High School followed by another ten years climbing the ranks as a coach for two more high schools even winning a State Title in 2007 for Carver-Columbus High School as their head coach. In 2013 Mcgee took a job at his alma mater as an analyst before becoming the assistant head coach for Georgia State’s rival Georgia Southern from 2014-2015. McGee then took over as the interim head coach for the Eagles in 2015 finishing with a 9-4 record.

McGee is now most notably recognized for his eight-year tenure at Georgia coaching the likes of star running backs Sony Michel, Elijah Holyfield, D'Andre Swift, and NFL superstar Nick Chubb. The Georgia native is also credited for helping the Bulldogs recruit and coach 56 NFL draft picks and 15 first-rounders.

Georgia State has been known for their run-heavy offense placing 25 in the nation last season in rushing yards, 2,445, and 28 in touchdowns,

25, compared to Georgia who placed 20 in yards, 2677, and 1 in touchdowns, 40. The boost to the ground game could be the difference in not just competing for a bowl game but fighting for a spot in the FBS top 25.

Georgia State ranked 120 in the nation in the 2024 recruiting class and with McGee’s resume for recruiting, fans hope to see the Panthers climb up the rankings for the 2025 recruiting class as well as open up the transfer portal for more high-caliber athletes.

It’s also worth noting Dell McGee’s son Austin McGee signed with the Panthers as a three-star cornerback and is set to make his college debut this upcoming season as a true freshman.

Last season, Georgia State finished with a 7-6 record and a win at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Utah State. This upcoming season, expectations are higher as fans get a chance to see how McGee will lead the team for the years to come.

Coach Elliott resigns,Spring Football postponed

Former HC returns home to South Carolina as TE Coach

QUINN SOCKMAN Sports Reporter

Feb. 15, Head

Coach Shawn Elliott resigned from his duties after seven seasons as Georgia State Football’s head coach.

Elliott posted a 41-44 record at Georgia State, leading the Panthers to a 4-1 bowl record in his tenure. The decision came early Thursday morning, just three days into the GSU Spring Football season.

Following his resignation, Elliott was hired by the University of South Carolina as TE Coach. Before coming to Georgia State in 2017, Coach Elliott served various coaching roles at South Carolina, beginning in 2010 as an OL Coach.

Elliott was highly respected at the U of S.C., stepping into the interim HC role when HOF Coach Steve Spurrier resigned in 2015.

Upon his resignation, Coach Elliott issued a statement on his departure, citing the decision as “something that [he] must do personally.”

Throughout his seven years at GSU, he and his family remained at their home in Columbia. Both of Elliott’s children attend high school in Columbia. They are set to graduate in the coming years, a factor Elliott cited in his return to the University of South Carolina.

As a result of Elliott’s departure, GSU Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb issued a statement postponing the spring football season: “Georgia State Athletics has received a waiver from the NCAA to pause spring football practice as we continue our coaching search.”

Unfortunately, Elliott’s decision came somewhat unexpectedly after he led the Panthers to a 7-6 record in 2023, with an impressive 5-1 start and bowl game victory.

While the team will continue individual/team workouts, GSU cannot host any official team practices in compliance with NCAA regulations on off-season training until their Spring Football season returns.

Being an OL coach at heart, Elliott instilled a run-heavy approach in his time at GSU, most recently having coached RB Marcus Carroll to 1,350 rushing yards in 12 games (6th in FBS yards per game) this 2023 season. The Panthers' offense grew tremendously under Elliott, wearing down defenses with a disciplined rush attack and strategic passes sprinkled within. In Elliott’s first season at GSU, 2017, the Panthers scored just 22.2 points per game, an alltime low since the team’s inauguration in 2012. Into Elliott’s second season as Head Coach, Elliott sought his new QB in Dan Ellington, who would later work under Elliott’s GSU coaching tree as an RB/ TE Coach (2020-2024). Despite an underwhelming 2018 season, the tempo of Georgia State’s offense increased tremendously into 2019, as Elliott developed a heavy balanced rushing attack. This fast-paced scheme splits up carries between RB and QB, forcing defenses to respect multiple rushing threats on any given play. With this new scheme, Elliott transformed the young program into a Sun Belt Conference contender, posting a school-record of 33.3 points per game in 2020.

Though former Head Coach Elliott is now far from Atlanta, his efforts should continue to impact the culture, traditions, coaches, and players at Georgia State for years to come as the Panthers usher in a new era under new head coach Dell McGee.

PHOTO BY GSU ATHLETICS

Dell McGee comes in at a chaotic time, hoping to turn the team's fortunes around

The Kickback

THE KICKBACK UPCOMING EVENTS

Snack and Study

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Dahlberg Hall - Room 134

Color and Chill

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Student Center East - Gallery Lounge (3rd Floor)

SUNDAY

Enjoy Your Weekend! All Day!

Donuts with Development!

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Student Center East - 1st Floor Lobby

Not Your Average Cookout 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Student Center East - Unity Plaza

1

Women of Color - Girls Trip 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Student Center East Room 210

GSU Collegiate Recovery Community 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Student Center West Room 481/482

2

MONDAY TUESDAY

4 Culture Café on the Go: Women's HERstory

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

SATURDAY

Enjoy Your Weekend! All Day!

MAR

Student Center East - 1st Floor Lobby

3 MAR

5 MAR

Art Gallery: Women Empowerment Exhibit

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Student Center East - Gallery Lounge (3rd Floor)

Seeing Without Sight: The Ultimate Sensory Challenge 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Student Center East Room 203

Snack and Study

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Dahlberg Hall - Room 134