The Signal Vol. 82 No. 20

FEB. 17, 2015 - FEB. 23, 2015

VOL. 82 | NO. 20

Who has the best burgers in Atlanta? The Signal talked to four business owners to battle it out.

e th

B U R T S G E B in ER t n i jo

tow n

PAGE 12 | A&L

PHOTO BY MARC VALLE | THE SIGNAL

Inside Inside like us! facebook.com/gsusignal

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Bada bings! Stop it!

Bubbling up

goodbye childhood

Reaching the apex

We’re taking a serious stroll down nostalgia lane this week with Jon Stewart leaving “The Daily Show.”

The Apex Museum on Auburn Avenue provides a rich environment to learn and honor Black History Month.

A popular hangout spot for student-athletes receives a threatening letter from Athletics.

News | Page 5

Opinions| Page 7

A&L | page 9

Sports | page 18

New bill may allow malt beverage sales to “hop up” in brewpubs. Will you be buying more beer?

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 2

Opinions 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Feb. 11

The tag says ‘hang dry’ University Commons

Feb. 9

“And in the morning, I’m making waffles!�

Waffle House

A male was intimidating customers by pacing the floor of the Waffle House. Georgia State officers filed a criminal trespass warning (CTW) and escorted the individual from the premises.

Feb. 10

Nobody ever taught me how to play poker University Commons

A student and two non-Georgia State affiliated individuals were found in the midst of quarrel involving an issue of gambling.

The non-affiliated individuals were issued a Criminal Trespass Warning (CTW) and escorted of the property. The information has been turned over to the Dean of Students.

A Georgia State student filed a report for vandalism when she found her clothes in the laundry room had been taken from the community dryer and then had bleach poured on them. This case will be handled by the Georgia State Police Department Investigations Division.

Vandalism CTW Battery Public Intoxication

Feb. 12 Grandma hits harder 10 Park Place

Georgia State officers responded to complaints of a male punching individuals at 10 Park Place. He was arrested for two counts of battery. The male was not associated with the university but has been processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Let’s get this party started

Underground Plaza

Two separate individuals were arrested for public intoxication. Neither were affiliated with Georgia State.

Photo of the week PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARC VALLE | THE SIGNAL Norae Woodard and Scott Mayott, Georgia State couple, enjoy themselves at the Dinner and Movie event presented by Spotlight held Friday, Feb. 13 in the Student Center Ballroom.

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www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

PUSHING THE PAUSE BUTTON MATTHEW WOLFF Staff Reporter

G

irish Kumar Krishnan began playing video games after experiencing a massive culture shock when he and his family moved to the rural parts of the U.S. in 1998 from the crowded city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (India).

Krishnan, a Georgia State student, said he didn’t have any idea of what America was like because he and his family were only used to seeing the U.S. on TV, which was primarily depicted like New York City.

“So we thought we were coming to the future; [we imagined there was] going to be robots and skyscrapers,” he said. “Then we land in Knoxville, Tennessee.”

Krishnan said he felt powerless by these changes, especially when his family later moved to Suwanee, Georgia.

These changes resulted in feelings of social isolation.

“Imagine a 12-year-old Indian boy trying to grow up in rural south Georgia. Shit was weird,” he said. “Growing up I didn’t feel like I could connect with or had any control over my environment.”

Krishnan continued playing video games throughout high school, still feeling as though he had a sense of his own environmental control.

However, things changed when gaming began to affect his grades in college and he began losing his own self control by developing a video game addiction.

“I noticed I always had problems with finishing things, procrastination, attention and started looking into why that might be,” he said.

After failing organic chemistry, Krishnan said he decided it was a time to not only stop playing video games but figure out why he had let them impact his academic career.

Putting down the controller Krishnan is now a graduate student at Georgia State pursuing a masters degree in Mental Health Counseling and interns at a facility to treat patients with video game addictions.

Krishnan works with licensed counselor Thomas Andre at Warnecke Professional Counseling which is currently run by Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Andrew Warnecke.

Warnecke Professional Counseling, located in Marietta, provides counseling to patients with game addictions through a program called Reboot, according to the center’s website.

The official name for problematic gaming is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as “Internet Gaming Disorder” (IGD).

Georgia State student once played video games excessively, now counsels others with Internet Gaming Disorder “Once it [a disorder or addiction] hits that book, it allows research to be done in such a way that it can be substantiated and verified,” Andre said.

“So it’s on it’s way to becoming a clinical disorder.”

The symptoms of IGD are similar to those of drug and alcohol abuse, according to Andre. “[Symptoms include] failed attempts to control it yourself, very similar to drug and alcohol problems — heightened sense of euphoria while playing. That’s the people that get so ingrained — so focused — that hours can pass by before they realize how much time they wasted and maybe they didn’t do their homework,” he said.

Andre also said symptoms include cravings, neglecting social outlets and obligations, restlessness from not playing and dishonesty about the amount of time individuals play or about their behavior with it.

People with IGD go to extreme circumstances to continue gaming, according to Andre.

“I’ve had some people that have stolen money — stolen credit cards — from their parents to fund the gaming or buy extra powers or whatever,” he said. “I’ve known some people that lied about attending school, maybe not even registered and concealed it.”

Psychology behind the games and addiction Krishnan said people develop problems with video games because they are trying to escape from something in their lives.

“Escapism is a factor,” he said. “If they feel powerless in their own lives or have little power over their environment or [are] just anxious or agoraphobic sometimes… all of these things lends itself to problems with video games because they can almost self medicate with video games.”

He also said the addiction is often correlated with associations of escaping their real-world problems.

“For every behavior there is a purpose. Even an addict’s behavior. Why does an addict do what he does? It takes the pain away,” Krishnan said. “It takes his thoughts away. For a lot of them it’s association and video games can be a source of induced association so they don’t have to sit with their thoughts and their worries.”

Andre said for people that are shy, gaming can also be an outlet for them to talk to people or be part of group interaction.

“You don’t know me, anonymity.

You can’t see me, invisibility. See you later, asynchronicity,” he said.

Krishnan said IGD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often bidirectional.

“People with problems with attention play more video games or are drawn to video games because video games are able to hold their attention because it’s so stimulating,” Krishnan said. “But at the same because it’s so overly stimulating and chronic then it starts to worsen their attention problems.”

However, he also said not all gamers are addicts.

“I’m not saying all video games are bad either, It’s almost like alcohol or anything else. There’s people who can drink a beer or two and be fine and then there’s people who obviously have problems,” Krishnan said. “Same thing with video games in my opinion.”

Understanding Internet Gaming Disorder Andre said the professional method of treating patients is through psychology-based education.

He and Krishnan are currently treating five patients who are three weeks into an eight-week group program.

“It’s a process group for people to talk about their own lives, talk about what’s going on in their lives, why they do what they do,” he said.

Andre also said he has seen approximately one hundred patients in

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a new addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition. the three years since he’s been working with IGD. After graduation Krishnan intends to continue research on IGD, human attention and the impact of technology on our neuropsychology.

“I want to keep counseling while doing research and publish and educating people on this to some extent.”

Krishnan said his belief that psychology is used in games to encourage people to keep playing and pointing this out to his patients can be a catalyst for change.

“When I explain these things, they [those addicted] start to change be-

cause now they understand,” he said.

“They have a concept of what is going on. Usually it’s people just telling them, ‘Hey, stop playing video games. It’s bad for you.’”

Those with an addiction to gaming and want to stop should have hope, according to Krishnan.

“They might think it’s hopeless, that they can’t ever break these cycles or that they are losers… You can change and science says you can too,” he said.

For a full version of this story, visit www.georgiastatesignal.com Key words: video game, addiction

Internet Gaming Disorder: Quick Facts Up to 90 percent of American youths play video games.

15 percent of them (more than 5 million kids) may be addicted.

“

Males 30 years of age or younger spend about seven or eight hours a week gaming.

40 percent of gamers are female.

31 percent of males and roughly 13 percent of females report having felt felt “addicted” to video games

Symptoms Progressive loss of control Tolerance Withdrawl Neglect of other activities and obligation like school, vocation, and family Periods without food or sleep

Source: video-game-addiction.org; esrb.org

I’ve had some people that have stolen money — stolen credit cards — from their parents to fund the gaming or buy extra powers or whatever.”

- Kumar Krishnan

Georgia State graduate student and intern at Warnecke Professional Counseling

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

City

Mercedes-Benz moves headquarters Atlanta, more jobs to be created SEAN KEENAN Staff Reporter

M

ercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), currently headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, will be closing up shop and relocating in Atlanta, according to a statement released by Mercedes-Benz.

Merry H. Hipp, deputy director of communications for Deal, said Mercedes’ investment in these plans will yield opportunities in the job market.

“This new venture will create at least 800 jobs and it represents an investment of $75 million,” she said. “Mercedes’ motto is ‘The Best or Nothing.’ The company that accepts nothing but the best chose Georgia and it speaks volumes to what we have to offer.”

Hipp also said Deal is adamant about continuously creating occupational opportunities.

“Gov. Deal’s top priority has always been job creation,” she said. “More than 325,000 new private sector jobs have been created since Gov. Deal took office.”

Deal said Mercedes Benz’s popularity will help usher in more business to the state’s automotive industry, according to the Jan. 13 release.

“With its international name recognition and unmatched reputation for quality, Mercedes-Benz USA’s decision to move to Georgia is simply a home run for the state,” he said. “I look forward to building upon this new partnership and adding Mercedes-Benz to the state’s already impressive automotive sector.”

Mercedes among Millennials

Hipp said the governor anticipates Mercedes-Benz’s relocation will create professional openings for more students.

“The governor realizes that Georgia State students and college students everywhere are looking for high-quality, highpaying jobs after they graduate,” she said. “And with names like Kia, Porsche and now Mercedes in Georgia, our state will have more opportunities for Georgians, especially college students as they enter the job market.”

Boland said Mercedes will seek out professionals with various administrative skillsets.

“There will be jobs in marketing, information technology, engineering and human resources,” she said.

Boland also said she be-

“

This new venture will create at least 800 jobs and it represents an investment of $75 million ...

Mercedes’ motto is ‘The Best or Nothing.’ The company that accepts nothing but the best chose Georgia and it speaks volumes to what we have to offer.”

Merry H. Hipp Deputy Director of Communications for Governor Deal

lieves Mercedes-Benz will reach out to schools and students to offer financial aid once MBUSA is situated at the new headquarters.

“I’m sure we will [offer scholarships/grants], but its too early in the process,” she said.

“Right now we have… collected thousands of resumes already…

[Next] we will look into additional outreach and once we get settled in Atlanta, we will absolutely be interacting with the colleges and universities.”

Effect on economy

MBUSA President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cannon and Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal announced the specifics of the company’s transition during a Feb. 3 press conference, according to the statement.

Deal said the new headquarters will be constructed in Sandy Springs and he anticipates for the luxury automotive company to be beneficial to Georgia’s economy, according to the statement.

“Mercedes-Benz USA’s planned headquarters location in Sandy Springs is great for the city, metro Atlanta and for the entire state of Georgia,” he said at the conference.

Cannon said the metro Atlanta region was carefully chosen among other prospective cities as the destination for the headquarters, according to the statement.

“Mercedes-Benz is a marquis brand which deserves a marquis setting,” he said at the conference.

Donna Boland, manager of corporate communications for MBUSA, said the company made the decision after narrowing their choices down to Ra-

leigh, Dallas and Atlanta.

“We wanted a place that would be image commensurate for the brand — a dynamic growth environment that parallels what we expect to be doing with the brand,” she said.

Atlanta is the perfect location to help expand and improve the company, according to Cannon during the conference.

“Our ambition is to be more than just a great car company,” he said. “We want to be among the best companies in the world and Atlanta will serve as the perfect foundation to foster that ambition for the future.”

Deal said Georgia’s economic climate is well suited for Mercedes’ influx of business, according to a Jan. 13 release from the governor’s office.

“Georgia is home to many growing, globally connected businesses, due in part to our top ranked economic environment that has made us the No. 1 state for business three times over,” he said.

State government subsidies

Stefanie Harper, director of communications for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said the department offered MBUSA $23 million in state incentives based on the creation of new jobs and Mercedes’ investment in the state.

“The total estimated cost savings and cost avoidances is $23,312,500,” she said.

She also said the total is comprised of multiple economic benefits including a regional economic business assistance (REBA) grant.

“A REBA grant was offered which is given to the

community for project/site development. In this case $6 million will be awarded to the Development Authority of Fulton County,” Harper said.

A portion of the total was an accumulation of tax credits for Mercedes-Benz, according to Harper.

“Mercedes is eligible for the Sales & Use Tax Exemption on Construction Materials which is 7 percent of qualified expenditures,” she said. “Mercedes is also eligible for the job tax credit (150 jobs qualify) and quality job tax credit (800 jobs qualify at $4,000/job). These credits are awarded to a company when the actual jobs are created in Georgia.”

Boland said the subsidies are just ‘icing on the cake’ and had little to do with MBUSA’s decision.

“We were not just looking for the least expensive place to do business,“ she said. “Incentives were not the deciding factor. In fact, they weren’t a major factor.”

Ideal timing for Atlanta

MBUSA plans to operate in Georgia by July out of an office complex in Dunwoody while the new facility is being constructed in Sandy Springs, according to the Feb. 3 statement.

MBUSA said in the release that the company had recorded their best sales in January to date, beating January 2014 sales by nine percent with 24,619 units moved.

Cannon said this is a great way to start off the new year, according to the statement.

“Our product offensive continues in 2015,” he said.

“Stay tuned.”

MERCEDEZ-BENZ

LOCAL IMPACT

800

net new jobs in Georgia

$74 million to the state

$23,312,500 Total estimated cost in savings and cost avoidances

$6 million Will be awarded to the Development Authority of Fulton County Information obtained from Stefanie Harper at the Georgia Department of Economic Development

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

5

local government

BREWING

BEER

BILL

Malt beverages could be sold in and out of brewpub premises

was designed to prevent, but instead has created a tier that holds all the cards over both the manufacturing tier and the reAssociate News Editor tail tier,” he said. “They are mostly afraid a change might create a crack in the arith malt beverage consump- mor and next thing they know, ABintion growing in the U.S., a Bev [Anheuser-Busch InBev] and SABnew beer bill is bubbling to MillerCoors are backing trucks up to Sam’s Club and selling directly to them. the surface in Georgia.

Senate Bill 63 (SB 63), seeking to It’s an unfounded fear. In the 45 other change Georgia’s malt beverage laws by states that often have even more liberal allowing the beverages to be sold on and distribution laws than we are suggesting, off brewpubs’ premises, was introduced it has never happened.”

However, the amount of breweries to the Georgia General Assembly by five in Georgia have been increasing from 22 republican representatives on Jan. 29, acin 2012 to 28 breweries in 2013, accordcording to the assembly’s website.

Brewpubs are restaurants where ing to the Brewers Association.

The Brewers Association states that malt beverages or beer are manufaccraft beer sales have also rose 17.2 pertured, according to the Justia US Law. Georgia’s brewpubs could also stop cent in the U.S. in 2013.

Roberts said drinkers are wide rangselling beer solely in draft form and allow licensed malt beverage manufactur- ing and millennials have grown up with ers to sell limited amounts of the drink, the option of craft beer or malt beverages. according to the bill.

Britanny Phouangphet, 21-year-old John Roberts, brewer and partner in Atlanta’s oldest independent brewery, Georgia State public policy major, said Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brew- she loves the taste of beer and calls herery, said he helped create SB 63 and has self an avid beer drinker.

One provision she supports in SB 63 considered opening another location in is the selling of malt beverages in brewAtlanta if it passes.

“I think this bill vital to the con- pubs, but she said she thinks the drink tinued growth of craft brewing here in shouldn’t be taken to go.

“I think that could cause a lot of Georgia. That growth will help the overall local economy. I think it’s a win-win problems being that a lot of people wouldn’t wait until they got home. They for everyone,” would drink it he said. probably outCurrently side or in the brewpubs are car and that only permitwould run ted to sell up into a lot of leof Millennials say to 5,000 bargal issues,” she rels of beer for said. craft beer tastes better off-premise Phouanguse through phet also said a distributor, SB 63 could according to of Millennials say safer for offRoberts. premises if “I would they have drunk craft beer beer is only like to be able taken to-go to sell that in closed consame amount tainers. of Millennials say in a package “I think other than just the liability craft beer has better value kegs,” he said. would fall on Five years the restau*according to Mintel Press ago, Roberts, rant if they alMoon Rivlowed it,” she er Brewpub said. “Then brewmaster John Pinkerton and other brewers resur- again I am not sure because liquor rected the Georgia Craft Brewer’s Guild stores sell closed containers of malt li(GCBG) in hopes of changing the state’s quor beverages. I think it would still lie on the consumer,” she said. beer laws, according to Roberts.

Georgia State senior history major GCBG is a brewing-industry trade Ryan Fisher said he doesn’t typically organization, according to the organizadrink alcohol but he thinks college kids tion’s website.

Roberts said while constructing SB are drawn to the beverage.

SB 63 might improve Georgia’s 63, GCBG tried to make it’s provisions economy through the profits restaufair for brewers, retailers and wholesalers. However, wholesalers have ex- rants receive, according to Roberts. pressed some reluctance towards the bill. However, he also said drunk driving Roberts said he believes the hesitan- may increase due to the bill.

“Don’t sell it at night; mostly have a cy is caused by wholesalers not wanting to give up their power and fearing po- cut off time,” he said.

Hunter Hill, a representative spontential change.

“They hold all the power right now. soring the bill, could not be reached for That’s something the three tier system comment by press time.

LAUREN BOOKER

W

craft beer poll

43%

50%

17%

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY GUERIN | THE SIGNAL Max Lager Grill & Brewery is one brewpub that crafts beer in their very own restaurant.

6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

University

Georgia State free of charges from art ‘bomb’ Student responsible for photography project causing halt on Interstate 75-85 will not be facing consequences from Georgia State SAMUEL ROTH Staff Reporter

A

student’s art project on Interstate 75-85 was mistaken for a bomb on Feb. 3. Georgia State will not be charged, according to Associate Vice President for Public Relations and Marketing Communications Andrea Jones.

Georgia State’s device was spotted during a Martin Luther King memorial and prayer service and caused a halt in traffic in the area.

Interstate 75-85 were shut down after a student-made pinhole camera was reported to the authorities as a suspicious package, according to Atlanta Police Department’s Assistant Chief Shawn Jones in a press conference following the incident.

The pinhole camera was attached to the bridge on 14th Street spanning Interstate 75-85 by an unnamed student for an assigned art project for a Georgia State class, according to Shawn.

Shawn said the 911 call regarding the project was placed at 12:47 p.m. and later addressed by police personnel.

“After inspecting the package, the decision was made to conduct a controlled disruption of the item and to render it safe. Due to the ob-

ject possibly being an explosive device and to the safety to resolve the issue, it was necessary to close down 75-85 to not cause potential harm to the public as well as to contain the incident scene,” he said.

However, this isn’t the first time a pinhole camera has caused a traffic evacuation. A similar incident occurred in April 2013 when another pinhole camera was found strapped to a bridge above the train tracks in Roanoke, Virginia, according to Petapixel.

Andrea said after the incident Georgia State photography professor Constance Thalken suspected the object was a student’s assignment for her class. Thalken contacted her department head on Feb. 3. “[The Department Head] told the university attorney and other officials and Georgia State Police reached out to APD. We invited the police to the class Tuesday where we provided them photos and locations of all of the cameras,” she said.

Neither the professor nor student(s) involved will face disciplinary action by the school, according to Andrea. The students’ identity is also being kept private for their protection.

“We have used this experience as a learning opportunity. The Welch School of Art and Design is reviewing and modifying language

in course syllabi to specifically address student work in public spaces to avoid future issues,” she said.

Georgia State released a statement about the incident on Feb. 3.

“Georgia State University sincerely apologizes for the traffic problems resulting yesterday from the mounting of a student camera at the 14th Street Bridge. The camera was one of 18 used by students in an art project and deployed at various locations in the city. Georgia State Police are closely cooperating with the Atlanta Police Department in the removal of all cameras,” the statement read.

Atlanta Police Department (APD) spokesman Ralph Woolfolk said SWAT, Homeland Security, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Tech Police responded to the scene.

Atlanta Fire was also a responder.

“I myself directed traffic at the intersection of 12th and Williams Street. I was then released by a Motors Unit and drove to the command center,” he said.

Once the package was detonated, it became clear that the object strapped to the bridge contained no explosive material compounds, according to Shawn.

“What we observed was an object that looked like an explosive.

The explosive device always comes in different shapes and sizes as you

well know and what may appear to be one thing can easily be something else,” he said.

Georgia Department of Transportation State Bridge Maintenance Engineer Jesse Doyle inspected the bridge after the detonation and deemed it safe, according to Woolfolk.

There were 17 additional art projects throughout Atlanta found and destroyed, according to the APD. Georgia State sophomore Delaney Strunk said she commended the student’s imagination but thought the situation intensified further than necessary.

“I think the project overall was a great idea but the handling and the exploding of the project was a little much. If we are gonna use that much force it should be for something that isn’t a homemade camera,” she said.

Lauren Zottarelli, senior student, said the university should already have steps in place to avoid similar situations.

“Atlanta has the busiest and largest airport in the world. That is definitely going to make the city more conscious about safety and responding to situations like this,” Zottarelli said. “And also, as a long distance commuter to and from the school, I already know how bad traffic can get. This accident made that day so much worse.”

Dried mildew and mold discovered in Georgia State dorms CIARA FRISBIE News Editor

I

n addition to prior complaints made by Georgia State students about University Housing maintenance, more concerns have risen with the recent discoveries of mold and mildew at the University Commons, according to WSB-TV. Georgia State student Amber Crosson told WSB-TV Feb. 9 she found mold under her sink after inquiring about other plumbing issues in her dorm.

“If I ask you to fix something when I am paying so much money, it takes you two months. That is ridiculous,” she said.

However, Associate Director for University Housing Dr. Mylon Kirsky said Crosson did not submit a TMA work-order about her concern for the appearance of the stain under the sink.

“There was a concern back in August for a leaky sink that she had and it was fixed within a day,” he said. “This concern that she had about the appearance of the stain was not submitted through the work order request and the first time that we heard about it was on the news yesterday.”

Kirsky also said since the story first aired on Feb. 9, Full Circle

Restoration services has gone to the dorm, cleaned with mildew-mold remover and repainted the surface.

“By the way it was not mold as it was alleged. It was a black stain as a result of dried mildew from where it was repaired back in August,” he said. “Nevertheless, we see this as a primary concern to ensure that the residence halls, the rooms [and] the apartments are all in tip-top shape conditions.”

Although lower levels of mildew or black mold won’t necessarily harm humans, it can still cause allergic reactions, according to The Health Research Funding Organization.

Crosson hasn’t been the only student who has complained about a similar problem. Georgia State student Brandy Harris told WSBTV she moved out of the dorm last year because of health-related issues.

“The paint was bubbling up — you know, you can pop it — and there is little black stuff in there,” she told WSB-TV. “What would happen to me is my lymph nodes swell … whenever I came into the room, I’d be fine outside.”

Kirsky said although Harris did make her concerns known to University Housing, the department couldn’t discern whether or not her health problems were caused by a common cold.

“We investigated them [her complaints] similarly, as soon as possible. She went to the hospital for that. She was saying that [mold and mildew] were the reasons why she moved out of Housing. I can’t address whether that is true or not,” he said. “She did bring her concerns to us and we forwarded those concerns on to Risk Management and insurance but as you know, her concerns were also relayed during the winter time so we were not able to discern whether or not Bandy had a cold [or] the flu and there was no evidence found in the room that any hazardous material was found…”

Maya Scott, sophomore English major, said she has seen mildew or possibly mold in her shower while living in the Commons Building C. “…Especially with the inner lining of the [shower] curtain. I don’t think the ventilation is good enough in there for it to not have as much moisture. You know there is usually a fan you turn on,” she said.

“There is no fan.”

Scott also said Crosson and Harris’ stories do not make her feel safe or that her money is being well spent.

“We pay a lot of money to live in the Commons, especially [if] its like $8,000,” she said. “So if I am going to spend my money, I think that is going to go towards better cleaning and keeping things clean … [If] I

get sick the Commons and Georgia State should be held liable.”

Kirsky said University Housing has no current plans to address the other dorm halls unless there are additional concerns brought up by students through the TMA system.

“People live in the rooms and based off how people conduct themselves, moisture [and] things can accumulate, so when the students or if the students notice an issue, we as that they submit their work order requests through the TMA system that we have online…,” he said.

University Housing conducts preventative maintenance in the summers and as dorms become totally vacant, according to Kirsky.

“We do have staff that go in and they do an assessment of the conditions of the room and if issues are found we repair them … we do preventative maintenance and do address concerns as soon as [we are informed] but until then it is required that students let us know. If you are following the work order system and submitting requests, then we have a way of tracking it, identifying it and following-up appropriately,” he said.

For additional information on dorm maintenance or for workorder request forms, visit Georgia State’s Maintenance website.

Lauren Booker, associate news editor, also contributed to this report.

Local

Atlanta dentist under federal investigation

Dr. Dennis Jaffe, a local dentist specializing in gold teeth and “grills,” is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia attorney general over the possibility that he’s stealing Medicaid money, according to WSB-TV. There have also been discoveries of past cleanliness issues in the dentist’s office. His license was revoked by the Georgia Board of Dentistry after inspectors found problems within the office including old equipment and defective parts covered in garbage bags. Jaffe is currently facing one federal misdemeanor charge about potentially embezzling the Medicaid money but the investigation is ongoing.

National

Alabama judges ordered to administer gay marriage licenses

An Alabama federal judge instructed a probate judge in Mobile County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Feb. 12, according to CNN. While Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage was struck down in January, some judges still refused to issue the licenses because the state’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roy Moore told them not to. The state federal judge’s decision was also made to send out a strong message to other judges in Alabama’s counties to follow suit as well.

Global

London police confirm killing of suspect

The Copenhagen police said they shot and killed a man on Feb. 15 who they believed to have carried out attacks killing two people, one at a cafe and one outside a synagogue, in addition to wounding at least five police officers, according to The New York Times. The suspect was identified as a 22-year-old Denmark native who was previously known as a gang member with a violent criminal record to security services. However, he was left unnamed. These latest attacks in Copenhagen are said to resemble last month’s attacks in Paris conducted by jihadist gunmen who killed cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo in addition to gunshots aimed at a Jewish target.

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

THE END OF THE WORLD

AS WE KNOW IT

How Jon Stewart’s departure is the end of our childhood

A

NICOLE MOTAHARI Opinions Editor Nicole is a double major in biology and English. When she’s not writing, she enjoys listening to musical theater and watching British TV with her family.

Tweet her @SignalOpinions

s Imagine Dragons once sang “This is it. The apocalypse.”

On Feb. 10, Jon Stewart announced he was leaving The Daily Show of which he’s been anchor of for the past 16 years.

According to Stewart, he will be leaving the show within the year. Add this to Jay Leno’s departure from “The Tonight Show” and David Letterman’s announcement that he is leaving “The Late Show” in May of 2015 and it all makes for a dismal end of an era.

I grew up watching these shows. As a child all I dreamed about was being allowed to stay up late enough to watch a glimpse of “grown up TV” as I called it.

When I got to late middle school, I was allowed to stay up just long enough for the opening monologues which I’d laugh along heartily at but not really understand. I mean, heck, the adults found it funny and I was so totally grown up, right?

Only when I got to high

school did I delve fully into the world of late night entertainment. The politics, the music, the gag reels, all pulled me in until tears were streaming out of my eyes and my sides were killing me.

From Dave Letterman’s ‘Top Ten’ skit to Jay Leno’s ‘Jaywalking’, those shows made up the primary fodder of my childhood evenings.

I mean, come on now, who doesn’t enjoy laughing at people who don’t know what color the White House is? It makes you feel just a teeny bit better about the ‘B’ you got on your math quiz — at least you’re not THAT dumb!

And now it’s time for a new generation’s hosts to take over. It’s bittersweet in a way to realize that our childhood is over. It might seem silly to get so worked up about late night comedy, but the realization that we’re no longer kids is painful.

We’re moving into the real world with real responsibilities and lives and it’s time for us to grow up.

There’s a sad strange truth

about it and it brings about a bittersweet pang in the heart, one similar to the one we feel when the clock in The Sound of Music goes ‘cuckoo’.

The end of a chapter in our lives is so evidently marked

by Jon Stewart and all these legendary comics leaving. It means we’re really going to be adults, that one word that Peter Pan despised so much.

We’ll be out in the workforce, many of us in those 9-5 jobs and we’ll lead our own careers.

After a long day at the office, we’ll come home, but we won’t be watching that same ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE RICHARDSON | THE SIGNAL late night show our parents did. And the cycle will repeat itself. wonder where the time has Perhaps all this is high We’ll be parents enforc- gone, just as we’re wonder- falutin’ mumbo jumbo, as ing bedtimes and our kids ing now. Life will take us on Gilbert Blythe once told will go through the same that never ending journey Anne Shirley. Or perhaps it’s thing. They’ll grow up and of good comedy and grow- life. I’ll leave it up to you to watch comedy and we’ll ing up. decide.

Self-interest and ethnocentrism Choosing between freedom and freedom ZACH ITZKOVITZ Columnist

Zach comes from various suburbs north of Atlanta and has since found his way to the belly of the beast.

His first taste of downtown Atlanta was in 1996 when the Olympic Games honored us with its presence. Now that he’s here AND cognizant, he intends to explore with the curiosity of his former self and the understanding of his experience.

T

he concept of selfinterest is an all too familiar and quintessentially American belief.

It guides not only public policy but also social values, both of which are connected in a somewhat frightening way.

After World War II, the United States adopted a foreign policy of “containment,” the goal being to contain an apparent communism being spread throughout Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union. “Containment” was a foreign policy, but more broadly, it was an ideology. Which beliefs characterized this ideology?

The core conviction was that Communism is an oppressive and tyrannical oligarchy. This is how our

federal government justified its radical foreign policy and defense measures.

Containment was seen as a humanitarian cause: To save the downtrodden peoples of Eastern European countries, many of which most Americans probably still can’t point to on a map. (Where’s Bulgaria again?)

No one should doubt that the Stalinist regimes established in Eastern and Central Europe at the time were horrendously oppressive. The relationship between government and governed existed only in late-night rendezvous’ with secret police from which only the police returned.

But let’s take a step back.

Who committed these crimes? Joseph Sta-

lin was a central culprit and war criminal. Fortunately for many, he died in 1953. Unfortunately, Nicolae Ceaușescu rose to Romanian power in 1965 as leader of the Romanian Communist Party, a Sovietbacked puppet government.

He exported his country’s production to pay off foreign debt, leaving most of his citizens to starve in the streets. He was rewarded by a comically eager and everaccurate firing squad.

Would it be just as accurate to blame Communism for the crimes of these men?

The Soviet Union was dominated by a self described “Communist Party of the Soviet Union.” Clearly, they saw themselves as a communist entity, but would

Karl Marx or Friedrich Engels agree? They wrote “The Communist Manifesto,” an 1848 treatise that introduced communism to Europe. They established communism as a system with no private property in which occupation depends on skill and wage depends on need.

Whether it’s a good idea or not can be argued elsewhere. But the fact remains that this system did not exist in the Soviet Union nor did it exist elsewhere. Many communist scholars will tell you it’s never existed at all.

It may seem petty, but noting that the Soviet Union did not enact communism is more than a semantic distinction.

Unlike communism, Marxism-Leninism was not

universally sensationalized in U.S. propaganda, despite being Stalin’s term for his guiding ideology. It wasn’t a typo — it was misinformation, engineered and spread deliberately. That’s what propaganda is and our late pals Stalin and Ceaușescu used the same technique on their populations. They could’ve given our media some tricks of the trade.

When a semantic discrepancy justifies public policy and the imprisonment of U.S. citizens, it demands attention. When it instills ethnocentrism and xenophobia into an entire generation, it demands clarification. When those ideologies linger into 21st century public policy, it demands an explanation.

8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Be careful with the way you use the words

‘hipster’ and ‘nerd’ JOHN MILLER Guest Columnist

L

et’s look at two commonly used neologisms: ‘hipster’ and ‘nerd.’ Both are recognizable and like many words, they invoke clear images that anyone can recognize. For this reason, I’d like to argue that ‘hipster’ and ‘nerd’ are completely accurate and don’t need redefinition.

I came to this conclusion after hearing someone refer to themselves as a nerd. The person didn’t seem very nerd-like — at least not to me — so I had to ask myself ‘what is a nerd?’ I found that ‘nerd’ is just another word for an enthusiast.

Then I consulted Oxford Dictionaries and found that there are two primary definitions: “a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious” and “a single-minded expert in a particular technical field.”

Suddenly, ‘nerd’ became more synonymous with the word pedant. But the person who referred

to themselves as a nerd wasn’t a pedant (even though by now I have proven myself to be one).

They were in fact just a foolish and contemptible person, so their use of the word was accurate.

So, in order to be a nerd, one doesn’t need to be pedantic like me; one only needs to be contemptible.

When the specific meaning of nerd fails, it can be used as a catch-all insult, and being so, it has entered the pantheon of other four-letter insults.

Then I heard the word ‘hipster’ in reference to someone who indeed appeared to have put a lot of time and money into the way they were dressed. In my mind, a hipster was a person who tried to be popular by following what is hip.

The individual who was called a hipster wasn’t necessarily trying to be popular but did seem to want to be hip.

I consulted the Oxford Dictionaries web site again and found that the definition of the word hipster is “a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being

outside the cultural mainstream.”

Since the person in question was not dressed like most of the other people around, I could deduce that the fashion they had put so much effort into was outside the cultural mainstream and therefore, they were the dictionary definition of a ‘hipster.’

But I still wasn’t satisfied. I would let the Oxford English Dictionary have the final word.

I searched ‘hipster’ in the OED and found the definition is “one who is hip” — a tautology. Then I searched ‘nerd’ and found the definition is relatively the same as the Oxford Dictionary’s web site.

In conclusion, it seems that these two words are in different phases of development, but they each serve a purpose. When you use one of these words, be aware of what it means and don’t use it to hurt someone’s feelings. Words like ‘hipster’ and ‘nerd’ might have been insults once, but over time they have become more versatile.

We should use them with accuracy and care, because they are funny words.

HIPSTER

NERD

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

Apex Museum celebrates Black History all year long Written by Taylor Josey, Staff Reporter

D

an Moore, founder and President of the Apex Museum, opened a museum with the mission of telling the story of people of color.

“In many places attention is only focused on the history of Black people during the shortest month of the year,” Moore said. “But for me and what we’re doing here, every month is black history month.”

Moore came to Atlanta as a filmmaker from Philadelphia in 1975.

Opening a museum wasn’t always his goal, but he was inspired after attending a banquet honoring Dr.

Benjamin E. Mays.

“I sat there listening to all the accolades given to Dr. Mays and I asked myself why is there not a museum in Atlanta of all cities dedicated to preserving the history of African and African American people,” Moore said.

From there, he went forward to open a global exhibit of African American History: The African American Panoramic Experience.

He opened a small space on the Morris Brown College campus until he was able to open on Auburn Avenue in 1980.

m u e s u m e h t e Insid One of the current exhibits in the museum is “Africa: The untold story.” This exhibit was curated based on the works of Dr. Asa Hilliard, Georgia State urban education professor.

“He took groups to Egypt for many years. He said never let them begin our history with slavery,” Moore said. “We address the history of Africa and all its contributions prior to the slave trade.”

The exhibit consists of a timeline dating back to 6500 B.C. which includes African contributions to art, medicine, science and architecture. There is also a replica of The White Lion ship that brought slaves overseas. It depicts the horrifying conditions and troubles the slaves had to face with life size humans shackled on a ship.

A replica of the infamous “Door of No Return” emulates the passageway captured Africans were forced to walk through to their enslavement. Visitors can walk through this small dark space and on the other side is ocean. In addition to the “Door of No Return,” there is a life-size man, woman and child in shackles and torn clothing. There are auction posters around them, illustrating the way humans were sold and families were torn apart.

The other current exhibit titled “Sweet Auburn: Street of Pride” is shown in the museum’s Trolley Car Theatre. It is narrated by actress Cicely Tyson and social ac-

tivist Julian Bond.

“In 1957 Fortune Magazine called Auburn Avenue the richest negro street in the world. Here you had African Americans who literally developed this street,” Moore said.

Depicting the history of Auburn Avenue, the 17-minute film shares stories of African American pioneers John Wesley Dobbs and Dr. King who played roles in the development of Sweet Auburn Avenue.

“Blacks were forced here. You couldn’t live on Peachtree Street so they owned the businesses, gas stations, churches and beauty parlors,” Moore said. “Entertainers like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cook and Ray Charles and many others performed right here at The Royal Peacock.”

The film also shows Alonzo Herndon, former slave, who opened Atlanta Life Insurance company. There is also a replica of the Yates and Milton drugstore equipped with a counter, medicine and customers. The first Yates and Milton Drugstore was at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Butler Street in the Odd Fellows Building.

“Yates and Milton bought the drug store from Moses Amos who was the first black pharmacist in Georgia and it was a block away from here,” Moore said. “There’s a very rich history on this avenue.”

PAGE DESIGN BY JAMAAL HICKS | THE SIGNAL

Visitor experiences

During Black History Month, Moore says some people only celebrate the Civil Rights era and contributions of African Americans are often looked over.

“That’s only a glimpse of our existence. I don’t know if we celebrate the many inventions that we all have benefited from created by black people under duress,” Moore said. “Because we have to realize most of these older inventions were done during a time when black people were unable to do anything legally.”

In one of the rooms there is wall of an old Bellsouth calendar of over 50 Black contributions. The traffic signal and

the mailbox are included in an exhibition of African American patents Moore says Michael Jackson’s anti-gravity shoe leaves an impression on most visitors.

“There would be no Red Cross today if it were not for Dr. Charles Drew who taught how to store blood,” Moore said. “Or Mark Dean with IBM who invented the first gigabyte chip. Things like this need to be celebrated so young people know they don’t have to be entertainers. There are many fields open to them they can pursue to make a difference.”

When Moore first opened the museum he wanted visitors to have a ‘wow’ experience. He

says he is satisfied with the experience the museum has to offer today.

“I had a lady from Russia who came on a day we were closed, but I let her in to browse around,” Moore said.

“She wrote me, ‘Thank you for letting me in. I never knew that about black people and I guarantee you when I get married and have children I will make sure they know the true story of the black race.’”

The museum celebrates its 35th year anniversary this year.

They will soon be expanding for a state of the art experience.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Students can visit for $5.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY GUERIN | THE SIGNAL “Africa: The Untold Story,” an exhibition inside the Apex Museum, depicts the horrid conditions slaves faced including mutilation to the body.

10

HONORING HISTORY Black History is everyone’s history Written by Sydney Cunningham

PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL The Auburn Avenue Research Library is currently undergoing remodeling at its Auburn Avenue location, but its exclusive collection of black history files can still be seen at its temporary location at the Atlanta-Fulton Library.

O

pened in Atlanta in the year 1994, the Auburn Avenue Research Library is the first library in the Southeast to have a specialized purpose: To honor

and offer academic resources for the history and research done on African American culture. All information related to the culture of black history are depicted and examined through art and journals.

Years ago, the research library served a different purpose.

According to the site’s history, “The onestory red-brick building, located at 333 Auburn Avenue, officially opened July 25, 1921, becoming Atlanta’s first

public library branch for African Americans. Before then, black citizens were excluded under the era’s Jim Crow laws from public library service in the city.”

Since the middle of last year, the library has been closed for expansion. Sharon E. Robinson is the library’s administrator and lends a closer look.

“As part of Phase 1 of the Library Bond/Building Program, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History closed in July 2014,” Robinson said. “Renovations and expansion will include additional specialized storage space, expanded exhibition galleries, enhanced lobby and reception area and additional programming space for special events and programs.”

C onst r u c t i on will take approximately 12 months and some services is expected to resume in regular locations in the third quarter of 2016. The services visitors would find in the original location are relocated. They can be currently be viewed at the Central Library located on One Margaret Mitchell Square on the cor-

ner of Carnegie Way and Forsyth Street.

“Even though we are closed for reconstruction, we are in constant collaboration with other libraries.

We do have exhibits ongoing that with be featured at Hammonds House Museum,” Robinson said.

“We currently have an exhibit there now entitled Open Season by renowned artist Shanequa Gay. It is an interpretive piece that addresses issues that are happening currently today with black males, a visual critique on the disenfranchisement.”

Other events going on are relevant to some who would never see themselves in the library. Robinson’s favorite program was when they collaborated with Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“There was a day where they came down to look at heirlooms and national treasures that we and the Atlanta metro area had,” Robinson said. “We also had a day with them where it was geared towards children and they explained to them the importance of preservation of history.”

Inside the resource

Taking a deeper look within the library, there are three main divisions: reference and research, archives and program.

In the research and reference section, there lies a variety of records, secondary sources and web accessible research for the study of black culture and history and the African Diaspora. On the main floor, there is a comfortable, quiet environment for thought and inquiry, which includes research tables, microform readers, computer stations and exhibition cases.

Located on the second floor, the archives division preserves and makes available unique historical records with a concentration on local Atlanta history. There are cartographic records, graphic arts, still photographs, sound recordings and art all shown and available. There are also rare book collections.

In the program division, the library’s mission is supported. They serve the interested audience with books discussions, readings, exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, seminars, tours and workshops.

There is an auditorium, small gallery and conference spaces.

“Through its cultural, educational and scholarly programming which is local, national and transnational in scope, the program division helps interpret and highlight the institution’s rich collections and provides outreach to the general public as well as to Atlanta’s academic community,” Robinson said.

11

Sections of the library to

c h e c k o ut

one

Southern Civil Rights Movement

two

Southern African American Literature and History

three

General African and African American History and Literature

four

Atlanta and Georgia Vertical File Collections

five

Current and Historic African American

six seven

Journals & Newspapers

Africana Children’s Literature Collection

The Coretta Scott King Award Winning Children’s Titles 1969 to current

nine

Subject Bibliographies highlighting AARL resources

EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR

eight

Africana Cinema and Documentary Film Collections

The Divided Mind of the Black Church

Theology, Piety & Public Witness Community Lecture / Book Signing Southwest Library 3665 Cascade Road Southwest Atlanta, Georgia 30331 The Southwest Library in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, who will discuss his latest publication, The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety and Public Witness. The book traces the historical significance of the rise and development of black theology as an important conversation partner for the black church. Calling for honest dialogue between black and womanist theologians and black pastors, this fresh theological treatment demands a new look at the church’s essential mission.

Benny Andrews: The Visible Man Film Screening / Community Discussion West End Library

Atlanta, Georgia 30310

In collaboration with L and S Video, the Auburn Avenue Research Library and Hammonds House Museum will host a screening of the documentary film, Benny Andrews: The Visible Man. The film explores the life of renowned artist and educator Benny Andrews whose figurative expressionist style celebrated the human spirit and the pursuit of the American Dream. This film is part of the Art History of the African Diaspora Film Series and includes a post screening discussion and a special viewing of art work

by Benny Andrews from the Hammonds House Museum’s collection.

Saving the Soul of Georgia Donald L. Hollowell and the Struggle for Civil Rights

Community Lecture / Book Signing Central Library One Margaret Mitchell Square Atlanta, Georgia 30303 The AFPLS Central Library, in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library, will host Dr. Maurice C. Daniels, who will discuss his latest publication, Saving the Soul of Georgia: Donald L. Hollowell and The Struggle for Civil Rights, the first biography of a pivotal but unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

W

hile the facility appears to only service for one’s looking to educate themselves, there is so much more. At the Auburn Avenue Research Library, there are opportunities offered to those who want to do the educating.

“The Auburn Avenue Research Library offers volunteer and internship opportunities for the general

public, college undergraduate and graduate students,” Robinson said.

“The internship program objective is to provide interns an introductory knowledge of the function and fundamentals of a special library through observation and hands-on experience. The internship program meets this objective through a number of strategies.”

THE INTERNS WILL:

1.

Study the role and function of a research library within the setting of a public library system.

2.

Develop research skills while working with and identifying irreplaceable and unique specialized and archival material.

3.

Learn about donor relations activities directly related to collection development.

4.

Observe and engage in activities related to basic collection processing and preservation according to best practices and standards.

5.

The library is an academic resource, but there is an underlying importance to a building dedicated to honoring Black History.

“The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is one of five public African American research libraries who are part of a public library system in the United States,” Robinson said. “As a special library, the Auburn Avenue Research Library collects, preserves and provides public access to its resources and services to the independent learner… Our mission and our scope is to collect, preserve and make available African American resources that document the achievements.”

Even though the library is undoubtedly a scholarly resource, it is an overlooked asset to those still in college.

Observe and engage in activities related to creating finding aids and other inventories using nationally accepted descriptive standards.

“The Resource Library is in the Central Library and if students are given any assignments where they need to consult resources that aren’t available on campus, they can come by and take advantage of ours,” Robinson said.

The Auburn Avenue Research Library has a close history with consorting with Georgia State’s African American Studies professors and the departments. Many of them encourage their students to use the close resource.

“The Auburn Avenue Research Library is an important research library for the study of people of African descent and has become a vital force in the intellectual and cultural life of the Atlanta metro community and to the world,” Robinson said.

12

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Take a bite

F

Best burger places in Atlanta

Burger Fi:

Grindhouse Killer Burgers:

Written by Nichole Place

rom fast food to wine and dine restaurants, Atlanta is crawling with burger places. But the burger market is no longer just for meat lovers; some places are now serving alternatives to the classic food staple. And

The Loaded Burger:

1520 Avenue Place Suite

209 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, Georgia

30329; One CNN Center Plaza Northwest, Atlanta,

Follow where the Loaded Burger will be

Ave Northeast, Atlanta,

Street Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30309

theloadedburger.com/

Grindhouse Killer Burgers

Burger Fi

Owner: Michael Diamond Favorite menu item: Quinoa Burger, fries and onion rings

Owner: Alex Broustein Favorite menu item: Grindhouse Style burger and 50/50 fries and onion rings

Q: What about your burgers make people come back?

Q: What does your restaurant have to offer besides great food?

Grindhouse:

Grindhouse:

“I think we hit the sweet spot between being delicious and affordable, with a lot of variety.”

Burger Fi:

“Our burgers have no hormones or anti-bodies. It is just Black Angus, grass-fed.

The flavor is just unbelievable.”

Loaded Burger:

“The value and the ‘wow’ factor. You can go any place and get a cardboard burger.

No one has a lot of the toppings that we do.”

Grub Burger:

“Number one: Our quality.

We bake our buns fresh in house and we are also grinding our meat in house. Really just putting some love into it.”

“Well we serve great milkshakes also, and we have a bar at our Piedmont Road and Athens locations. We also have a great staff, plus a cool sci-fi vibe and entertaining retro movies playing.”

Burger Fi:

“We have great atmosphere.

We have an open kitchen and recycled furnisher. [We have] the environment, the people and great staff.”

Loaded Burger:

“It’s a great experience. People love that they can see us prepare their food! It’s like an open kitchen with full flexibility to customize to our clients needs. It’s not often you order directly with the chef!”

Grub Burger:

“Even though we are a fast, casual dining establishment we still have a level of hospitality.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMILY LASHER | THE SIGNAL

no matter what ingredients go into the burger, everyone is claiming they have Atlanta’s best burgers. So, where are people supposed to start the hunt? Here are just a few outstanding burger places that can be found in Atlanta.

Grub Burger Bar: 2955 Cobb Parkway Southeast, Suite 820, Atlanta, Georgia 30339; Georgia 30329

The Loaded Burger (food truck)

Grub Burger Bar

Owner: Crystal Waters Favorite menu item:

Owner: Michael Renner Favorite menu item: Second Amendment

Q: If you had to describe your restaurant in one word, what would it be and why?

Q: How often do you add new items to the menu?

Q: How do you decide what burgers are menu worthy?

Grindhouse:

Grindhouse: “Almost never.”

Grindhouse:

“Entertaining. Because that’s what we are.”

Burger Fi:

“Exciting. Reason being is right when you first walk in you hear the music and smell all of the food. When people come and get their tray we’re supposed to explain it to them but they are just ready to go and eat.”

Loaded Burger:

“Loaded. It’s loaded all the time. Loaded and ready to go.”

Grub Burger:

“Eclectic.

We’re every unique and versatile and diverse in our atmosphere and our menus. We’re a little quirky and we kind of want our people to be the same way.”

Burger Fi:

“We don’t. This is a pretty standard menu here.”

Loaded Burger:

“I have a jump drive with 100 or more menus for different events or times of the year. We always update because a lot of ingredients aren’t in season.”

Grub Burger:

“Not too often. We do have our market that we run by monthly. It’ll be something really creative; last month was the lamb burger. We have a macaroni and cheese burger, a pizza burger. They are all kind of cool and unique.”

“We never really change our menu. The burger styles on our menu are just combinations we felt represented the best variety. But really we encourage your to design your own burger.”

Burger Fi:

“That is done in Florida and what they did was take a little bit of everything. We went with the all-natural burger which is a pretty great trend. We rotate out a lot of different stuff. We try to keep things that people like.”

Q: What makes your restaurant more competitive or better than other burger restaurants?

Grindhouse:

“Pretty much all of the answers above. Also having great locations.”

Burger Fi:

“The misconception is that this is fast food. This is a quick serve restaurant but at the same time we prep everything fresh in the back.

We hand brand our buns.

And we carry all local beers.

It’s something we really pride ourselves on.”

Loaded Burger:

Loaded Burger:

“R and D. Research and Development. You are looking at different recipes and what’s trending. And again what products are available.”

“Our ability to be mobile.

We are able participate in various community events, large festivals and private catering on any given day.

It allows us to have a great reach in our customer base.”

Grub Burger:

Grub Burger:

“We have a chef on our team, Cliff Whight, he really is the creator, the genius behind a lot of the new market burgers.”

Burgers are a staple for many people; they are cheap, easy and hard to mess up.

From grass-fed to real grass,

“I think the fact that number one a full bar. That definitely attracts a certain crowd. On top of that we are serving great quality food at a reasonable price.”

burgers are filling up Atlanta’s streets. And with so many great options, the burger hunt never has to end.

13 15

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

ALTERNATIVE

EXERCISE:

FIT FUN INTO FITNESS PHOTOS BY RUTH PANNILL | THE SIGNAL MAIN PHOTO: Georgia State student Mackenzie Taylor works at Atlanta Rocks! and uses rock climbing as an alternative form of exercise.

SIDE PHOTO: Rawsome Juicery offers a variety of healthy blended drinks to complement a workout regimen.

INGA MASIC Associate Arts & Living Editor

E

xercising in a bland gym can be taxing at times and doing the same excercise routine can be dull. The key is to incorporate new and fun ways to get that dream body: Go rock climbing, participate in zip-lining challenges, and for being healthy inside and out, visit a juicery.

ATLANTA ROCKS! INTOWN: If heights aren’t a big issue, then rock climbing should be something to invest in. Rock climbing is not only an innovative way to stay in shape, but is also a way to experience the greatest form of adrenaline. A sense of control enters the body and when you reach the very top, it gives a sense of achievement.

“Most first timers love making it to the top. But as you become better, accomplishing harder grade climbs always keeps you coming back for more. It really makes you feel that you have accomplished something you didn’t

think you could do,” David Turrentine, general manager of Atlanta Rocks! Intown, said.

Atlanta Rocks! offers different classes for those who have never rock climbed, and they also make sure every customer’s safety is the first priority. There are also extensive programs offered for those who want to pursue rock climbing on a more intense level.

“We offer a Novice Climb which is great for all ages and experiences and comes with the staff to assist in the safety concerns,” Turrentine said. “We also offer technique classes that will help turn you into a better climber.

We have hosted a Youth Climbing Team that is trained by coaches that will get them ready for competitions as well as climbing outside.”

Rock climbing gives a different feel from working out at a gym and doing cardio. It’s all about endurance and pushing through the struggles to get a goal body or goal level.

“It is a thinking person’s sport.

Like chess, you are making moves with your body to accomplish the climb,” Turrentine said. “Routes are set for various levels of difficulty so that beginners, intermediate and advanced climbers alike have a place to train. Your core is also very important as is your forearms, hands and lats.”

TREETOP QUEST: Zip-lining generates a feeling of freedom, and sensationalism is the ticket to a good zip-lining experience; however, when combining that with eclectic challenges, Treetop Quest is what comes to mind.

“Treetop Quest is not a ‘typical’ passive zip line tour. Our activities are self-guided, which provides participants with an active role navigating through the obstacles and across ziplines,” Sara Baggett, operations manager of TreeTop Quest, said. “All courses are within the forest, so participants can enjoy the beautiful scenery while on their adventure.”

The interesting dynamic of TreeTop Quest is that instead of simply allowing you to zip-line through the woods and let that be it, they make you complete a series of challenges. When each challenge is completed you are able to move on to the next level, until you ultimately complete the course.

“Not will not only be tested physically, but mentally, also. Every level is designed to challenge people in different ways. For example, strength versus balance.

Thrills and sweat are guaranteed, but your brain will get a workout too,” Baggett said.

This concept works on the premise that individuals taking part in the challenges are prepared mentally and physically for what they have to endure. It takes dedication to keep going through the pain, especially when there are no harnesses for the most part, just a giant net.

“Our park offers a true adventure and fitness is a convenient by-product of completing the courses. Of course our staff is always here to assist patrons when necessary, but to finish the courses without assistance requires focus, self-reliance and strength,” Baggett said.

RAWESOME JUICERY: In order to truly achieve a healthy lifestyle, there has to be attention on the inside of the body as well. What is put inside the body is just as important as what is worked out. In fact, they go hand in hand. There will be no efficient results from working out if the diet is lacking.

Drinking juices and eating clean foods are a good way to complement an exercise regimen. One establishment is aware of what a quality health product is supposed to taste like, and that place is Rawesome Juicery.

“We strive to use unique flavor combinations. My goal was to create a menu that you couldn’t get anywhere else. We make our own salad dressings and raw foods from scratch. It’s the healthiest food spot inside the sweet auburn curb market,” Chantel Jiroch, owner and creator of Rawesome Juicery, said.

Rawesome Juicery works hard at making sure their products are created properly and that the cleanest substances are making their way into the bodies of the customers. They want to establish a basis for customers to be able to understand that healthy eating is the key to healthy living.

“I’m a believer in eating clean.

It’s not something I promote but something I live. This is the way I eat so I know the benefits and I want to share this information. If you simply replace one meal a day with a healthy juice, smoothie or salad, you will notice a difference in the way you feel. It’s the fuel the body begs for,” Jiroch said.

If curiosity ever takes over and the need to know how these products are created, they have nothing to hide. From the window, people are able to view how everything is processed and created; they welcome anybody who wants to enjoy a clean lifestyle.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

14

Lifestyle column

campus life column

Pajamas Are

Black History Month: Then and Now

Not

How time has affected history ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY LASHER | THE SIGNAL

real Clothes!

Find something else to wear 1. Pants:

NICHOLE PLACE Columnist Nichole is constantly crafting and is an avid redecorator. Not only does she have a love of bright colors and patterns but she also is a pug fanatic. Nichole is the writer of the Lifestyle column and the creator of Sunshine-Somedays, a lifestyle blog.

Follow her

@GSUSignalAandL

I

t is not hard to dress nicely. We are now in college, where we should not only take our school work seriously but also our appearance. No one wants to respect someone in Tweety Bird pajama pants and an old sports shirt. Yet, we find it so hard to gather the strength to take a few extra minutes to put on actual clothes.

So instead, I suggest finding a compromise between comfy and appropriate. Here are just a few ways to compromise and to know what is absolutely not appropriate.

Pajama pants are not real pants. Plain and simple. It may be in the name but I promise you it’s a ruse. There is only one exception to wearing pajama pants in public and that is if you are deathly ill and are running to the store for medicine that will save your life. Any reason other than that is unacceptable.

Instead, try wearing jeggings. And no I do not mean leggings that are painted to look like jeans; I mean actual jeggings. You can get them at places like American Eagle and Abercrombie. The few extra bucks spent on them is worth looking nice while feeling like you are still wearing pajamas.

2. tops: I am not telling you that you can’t wear a shirt that explicitly says something about sleep on it, I’m just saying you can’t wear it in public. No one cares if you got enough sleep or not; it’s hard to hear, but it’s the truth. If the rest of the world can put up a front about not being tired, then you can put on a shirt you didn’t buy in the nightgown section.

Finding nice shirts is not hard. You can literally just look in any section other than pajama and exercise wear. And there is no need to fight this rule; no one is forcing you to wear a sweater made out of Brillo Pads; we are just asking you to wear something that isn’t covered is

drool. If you absolutely have to wear a looser shirt, then try sprucing it up with some accessories.

3. shoes: Just because something goes over your foot and has a hard bottom does not mean that it is a shoe. Put the UGGS and boots that look like you’re wearing dogs away! Here is a little tip: If there is fur or they feel like slippers, then they are slippers! End of story.

4. Accessories: Not every outfit needs to be decked out in bracelets, necklaces and scarfs, but it doesn’t hurt to throw on a little somethin’ somethin.’ When an outfit is a little too plain or looking a little too undone a necklace or scarf can tie it together nicely.

However, be cautious; one accessory too many can leave you looking like a walking rack from Charming Charlie’s.

Dressing nice does not mean always wearing a suit and tie; it just means not looking like you just rolled out of bed. Wearing appropriate clothes doesn’t have to be like feeding a toddler cherry cold-medicine. All you need is the right pair of stretchy jeans and you’re on your way.

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

Follow her @MiaMore09

T

here are an entire 28 days dedicated to honoring and remembering some of the most prominent black leaders, right? But what exactly is being celebrated and how are blacks being honored? Present day life conflicts with our historical past.

I remember my teachers always making special preparations for Black History Month every year in elementary school.

The classroom decorations would be a clash between hearts for Valentine’s Day and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quotes plastered everywhere.

Year after year it would be the same lesson on Black History: Black people were slaves, Harriet Tubman freed a lot of slaves, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and that’s it. An entire community summed up in three events. This limited education always left me wanting more. You have 28 days and that’s the best that can be done?

I realize now though, as an adult, that the limited education I received was based on the history of the time. It wasn’t until I enrolled in an African American studies course that I realized how much I didn’t know and the depth of my historical deprivation.

Nowadays Black History has progressively reversed. Just when you thought how much the world has changed for the

better by having an ethnic man run a country, you turn around and another young man has died over nothing. Instead of MLK posters, we now have “In loving memory” t-shirts. Making hashtags outshines learning about Nat Turner, Fred Hampton, Fannie Lou Hamer and Assata Shakur.

We honor the black community by exploiting them on shows like Love and Hip Hop and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. A child today can’t tell you a thing about any black activists but can give you a full blow by blow of what happened on the latest episode of any “reality” TV show. Don’t get me wrong; I’m guilty of indulging in the mindless entertainment put on BET, Bravo and Vh1, but I dare not omit true history from my life. The channels or programs that show better images are less popular.

So how do we change this?

What can we as college students do to restore the historical value of Black History? Visit the Apex Museum on Auburn Avenue or the new Center for Civil and Human Rights that’s on Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. Also we have an entire department and major dedicated to the education of African Americans; it’s the African American Studies Department.

Basically, educate yourself.

Also, there are groups and organizations like the NAACP collegiate and Atlanta chapter and NCNW. They promote the awareness and education of black people. Those are just two of the many organizations dedicated to uplifting the black community. Also, there are opportunities to attend peace rallies and forums to address the issues.

This Black History of today is relevant only through different media outlets. Even with so many leaders, organizations and lives to celebrate, the mass majority chooses otherwise. The once beautiful pride in Black History month has been diminished. Restoring Black History Month and bringing back its true meaning may be a challenge, but it’s well worth the effort.

Now go the Apex Museum or the Civil Rights Museum and learn something. Happy Black History Month!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

15

ALBUM REVIEW

Napalm Death returns to brutalize the masses with ‘Apex Predator - Easy Meat’ ALEX KUGACZEWSKI

Staff Reviewer

F

ew bands can claim to be the forefathers of their genre. It’s an honor reserved only for the masters of a particular craft or those accidental visionaries creating the sounds of tomorrow. Napalm Death is one of those rare bands who might just be both. Beginning with 1987’s debut “Scum,” the Englishmen began a continuous campaign of sonic warfare, setting the metal underground to the torch.

Before the release of that critical album, metal had rarely been so visceral — so inexplicably kinetic and violent. “Scum,” then gave birth to the grindcore genre, setting the stage for innumerable imitators. Since that time, a number of impressive bands have come and gone, furthering and reveling in the sounds first set to tape so many years ago. However, Napalm Death has been churning along with the horde, releasing record after record of pure punishment.

With less revelation and more solidification, Napalm Death’s 16th studio album is far less concerned with pushing envelopes than furthering the band’s narrative. “Apex Predator – Easy Meat” is just the next wave of the onslaught.

Kicking off with the title track, one thing is immediately clear: the band knows how to make an entrance. Druidic chants build and build before giving way to pounding industrial percussion as manic howls pierce the cacophony.

It’s nothing if not an effective start, setting an ominous tone for what’s to come. Swirling guitars, frenzied growls

and tidal waves of percussion follow, reminding any listeners who may have lost the plot that this is, in fact, Napalm Death, back and ready to pulverize the masses.

Lead single “Smash A Single Digit” features the band trading harsh and clean vocals as the maelstrom surges beneath, building to a funk-laden groove to close out the proceedings. If there’s a mission statement track to be found on the record, this just might be it, surging with primal fury and the pure momentum we’ve come to expect from the Englishmen.

Later, “Dear Slum Landlord…” effectively halts the record’s breakneck pace, opting for slow, winding leadwork before it culminates in Barney’s explosive roars battling over the mechanical percussion. It’s a smart move, one that keeps “Apex Predator” from devolving into pure indulgence as it transitions back into the madness with “Cesspits,” one of the record’s heaviest numbers.

If any concerns are likely to be leveled at Napalm Death’s “Apex Predator – Easy Meat,” it’s not with the music it-

“Apex Predator Easy Meat” Grade: B Verdict:

Predator - Easy Meat” sets an ominous tone for a year of metal to come and is an excellent its own right. self; rather, it’s the state of the band in general that may come into question.

Typically speaking, the longer a group stays together, the more necessary – and the less likely – change becomes.

For now, that doesn’t seem to be an issue for the four Englishmen who’ve crafted yet another solid entry in their storied catalog, but given time, all empires fall and the band may come face to face with the realization that their trademarked brand of brutality might not cut it anymore. Even so, that’s a worry for another day, because for now, “Apex Predator” certainly lives up to its title.

FILM REVIEW

‘Birdman’ soars above most of its Oscar’s competitors FERNANDO MATTOS

Staff Reviewer

A

lfred Hitchcock tried the oneshot-film in 1948 with one of his best movies, “Rope,” creating an experiment unlike any other in filmmaking.

More than 50 years later, Alejandro González Iñárritu tried the same trick in “Birdman,” making an entire film without a single cut. This lack of cuts uniquely places the viewer inside the head of the protagonist, Michael Keaton. “Birdman” is a speeding train of thought that never stops until the screen goes black. Riding this train is one of the best film experiences of the year.

The movie tells the story of Riggan (Keaton), once a famous actor in the Birdman blockbuster movie franchise, who is trying to stage an act in a Broadway play. He hopes this play will prove he is also capable of creating art.

Iñárritu makes sure to show early on that he will not let reality dictate his story. In the opening scene, Riggan is meditating while floating above the ground. All he wears is dirty, oversized underwear. The scene effectively

introduces the story of a man, unsure of his talents and his role in the world, who is about to expose himself before the critical Broadway audience.

The film constantly uses images in this fashion, where the laws of physics are broken in order to show what Riggan is experiencing. At first, these scenes are disconcerting, for they seem to be out of place in this drama.

However, Iñárritu commits to them, just like he commits to the lack of cuts.

Slowly, something magical begins happening: everything works.

Although they seem like gimmicks at first, they later on become integral parts of the movie. Iñárritu challenges the viewer who can either stay in an ordinary and often boring world, or fully embark into this story, letting the characters and scenes overwhelm the senses. And Iñárritu ends up winning this battle.

In one of the best scenes of the movie, Riggan gets locked out of the theater just before he must take the stage. As he runs through Times Square in his underwear, there is comic tension as he rushes to get back to the scene on time, in fear of being exposed to an entire world. In one scene, Iñárritu defines “Birdman” and everything it speaks about. Ke-

now playing at

aton’s performance is nothing short of impressive. If Iñárritu succeeded in creating such a complex and nuanced character, Keaton is greatly responsible for this success.

It is thrilling to watch a film in the dark room, on the big screen that, someday, years from now, may still be studied and remembered. These types of movies do not come often and if there is a film worth your hard earned dollars this month, its name is “Birdman.”

“Birdman” Rated: R Grade: A+ Verdict: “Birdman” is constantly on the verge of not working. But it does, and the result

1

ALEX CALDER Strange Dreams

2

BEACON L1

3

MICHNA Thousand Thursday

4

MONSOONSIREN Falstrati EP

5

SORROW Search of the Miraculous EP

6

RONIIA RONiiA

7

JAGA JAZZIST Jaga Jazzist ‘94 - ‘14

8

TANYA TAGAQ Animism

9

V/A - SECRET SONGS V/A - shh#000000 (Black)

10

UNTIL THE RIBBON BREAKS

11

NOLLORES Never Leave

12

VIET CONG Viet Cong

13

DIODE MILLIAMPERE Psychic Pizza Connection

14

FAZERDAZE Fazerdaze EP

15

GHOSTFACE KILLAH 36 Seasons

A Lesson Unlearnt

The Equalizer SYNOPSIS: cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone

SHOWTIMES:

Wednesday - Friday

Rated: R Running Time: 131 minutes

16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Campus & Downtown Events Mood Kanye Feb. 18

Kanye West is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. The public desires to have the same potential, money, passion and uncertain attitude that he does. In this session, you will be able to learn from his journey and image we make for ourselves as well as why leadership is impactful in our society.

Thriving: One Breath at a Time Feb. 19

Counseling and Testing Center This event teaches a person ways to stop struggling through emotions and behaviors and learn ways to start thriving. This is an event that occurs on a schedule and will be happening throughout several weeks. There will be different exercises to take part in for each week.

Coffee Talk: What In the World?

Feb. 19

This is a weekly conversation about the leadership topics happening in the world.

Engage in this conversation over some coffee and pastries.

Once the students participate in five coffee talks, they will receive a travel coffee mug.

Professionalism: What Makes you Different?

Feb. 20

If the meaning of professionalism has been lost through the years for you, this event is something to attend. You will learn the importance of professionalism in the real world and way that it will benefit you personally.

Camellia Show Feb. 21 - Feb. 22

Atlanta Botanical Garden Presented by the North Georgia Camellia Society, colorful, award-winning flowers will be on display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The show will feature regional growers displaying their finest flowers for competition.

Kennesaw State Festival of New Music Bailey Performance Center Visit Kennesaw State University for performances including jazz and choral ensembles the first evening and then a symphony orchestra and wind ensemble the second evening.

All performances are provided by Kennesaw State’s school of music. The last night is a free event.

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www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Athletic Director Charlie Cobb

speaks on new facilities, Turner Field

BRYAN JOHNSON Staff Reporter

O

ne of the biggest questions Athletic Director Charlie Cobb is facing is whether or not to plan for the proposed acquisition of Turner Field by the university.

Cobb has now led Georgia State Athletics through their first football season and is beginning his second semester in charge of the program. Cobb replaced Cheryl Levick who stepped down in May 2014 due to health reasons.

Cobb comes to the university from an identical post at Appalachian State University as well as spending time with North Carolina State’s athletics program. Cobb was notable during his 10 years at App State for overseeing one of the biggest periods of athletics facilities growth for that university. He is poised to lead Georgia State along a similar path.

During his time at App State, Cobb was known for overseeing an investment in Athletics Facilities totaling over $50 million, according to his bio page on App State’s Athletics website. He also led a program which won three Division I FCS National Championships in football as well as saw a 298 percent increase in football season ticket sales.

Arguably, Cobb was brought in to replicate that success for Georgia State on a much larger scale.

TURNER FIELD DEVELOPMENT President Mark Becker announced a $300 million dollar proposal for the purchase and redevelopment of the Turner Field property once the Atlanta Braves vacate the property ahead of their 2016 move to SunTrust Park in Cobb County. Cobb was very secure in moving forward with planning for a possible Turner Field Athletics Facility.

“I think it’s safe to say that that is a win-win,” Cobb said.

The Turner Field project would have a massive impact on the growth of Georgia State’s footprint in downtown Atlanta. Becker also proposed a 30,000-seat football stadium as well as relocating the facilities at Panthersville, a 20-acre facility that currently houses the Baseball, Softball, and Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, according to the AJC. Included as well would be new Athletics offices, locker facilities, retail, residential and student housing.

Cobb commented on some of the proposed facilities.

“I think there’s a lot of it to plan out, but obviously it becomes the epicenter for us. You got to have office space, locker space, academic space.

We’ve certainly talked about being able to pull the facilities we have at Panthersville and put them down in the parking lot and also being able to replicate the footprint of the AtlantaFulton County Stadium for Georgia State Baseball,” Cobb said.

PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL Charlie Cobb, Georgia State’s new athletic director, talked about his first several months on the job, the future for Athletics and hopes for new facilities.

DEVELOPMENT STALLED The concern many students may have is what the strategic plan looks like without the Turner Field development. The Braves vacating of the property has led to a very public dispute between the City of Atlanta and Fulton County over the sale of the property. This dispute was unresolved as of last December as a resolution obtained by an open search of Fulton County records was considered but not approved by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

“Request approval of a Resolution supporting the cooperative effort with the City of Atlanta to explore the future of Turner Field and to devise a plan for prospective use of Turner Field; to propose establishment of a joint committee to cooperatively establish goals and timetables and to review and approve plans related to Turner Field and the surrounding area; and for other purposes.”

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners Agenda Item Summary: Item #14-1037

With the concern that the Turner Field development may become indefinitely delayed or be scrapped altogether, the Athletics Department is without a backup plan. When asked, Cobb admitted that a contingency plan for facilities development that was not focused on the Turner Field development did not exist at the time of the interview.

“I don’t know; I hadn’t thought about that one. I can’t answer that one… The good news is with strategic plans, there’s many, many people involved in it. There’s not just one person’s documents; it’s many many people,” Cobb said. “So that’s a great question. I’ll take a note and make that part of what our discussions are.

This is obviously Plan A, but what’s Plan B?” The previous strategic plan included facilities developments that included a $2.5 million Football Strength and Conditioning facility attached to the current MLK Practice Fields, a $5.5 million Sports Performance Center and a $3.875 million Academic Performance Center. Cobb commented on those

proposals.

“The first part about it is all of that was done before Turner Field was even on the radar screen. So with the thought of the pursuit of the Turner Field project completely trumps anything that was done previously; so we’re going to walk down that road. We’re trying to get construction started on a weight room for the football program; it won’t be to the scale of what was originally presented,” Cobb said.

Despite the precariousness of Georgia State’s position in regards to the Turner Field acquisition, Cobb remains optimistic that the right steps are being taken and emphasized the importance of the students in any meaningful development of Georgia State Athletics.

“I’m unabashed in the fact that I believe that when students show up to an event, it gives validity to whatever the event is,” Cobb said. “Then the non-students — the older folks like myself and others — we show up because if you guys are having a great time, then there’s obviously something pretty exciting going on.”

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 18

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Bada Bings receives cease and desist order from Georgia State Athletics

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL Bada Bings! Sports Food & Fun, a local sports bar at The Pencil Factory, is a popular hangout spot among Georgia State students and alumni that regularly shows Panthers sporting events.

AKIEM BAILUM Sports Editor

B

ada Bings! Sports Food & Fun received a cease and desist letter from Georgia State in regards to allegations by the university that it used its name and those of student-athletes when advertising special promotional deals.

The restaurant, located at the Pencil Factory apartment lofts near Georgia State campus, was alleged by the university to have engaged in unauthorized use of certain Twitter handles to plug special deals it offered.

The Twitter accounts specifically mentioned in Georgia State’s cease and desist letter include @GSUPanthers, the primary account for the athletics department. Also mentioned were @ gsu_rha, the account for University Housing, and @robinsoncollege for the Robinson College of Business.

A picture of the letter was used in a tweet by Bada Bings which elicited some feedback, much of it critical of Georgia State.

Lawrence Morrow, the owner of

Bada Bings, says this is not the case and the restaurant is simply trying to do business as normal.

“They don’t want us using Georgia State Twitter handles to inform our customers of certain things we’ve got going on,” Morrow said. “We’re simply informing our customers, some of whom just so happen to have Georgia State handles.”

In the letter, Georgia State mentioned that it would continue to monitor Bada Bings’ tweets and that it would take the issue to Sam Olens, Attorney General for the state of Georgia if it did not comply with the university’s edicts.

“I took this letter to the Georgia Speaker of the House [David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge] and he just looked at it and laughed,” Morrow said.

The letter, dated on Feb. 3, was signed by Bharath Parthasarathy, Deputy General Counsel for Legal Affairs at Georgia State on behalf of the athletics department.

Parthasarathy also served as Georgia State’s interim athletics director (AD) for a brief period in 2014 in between the departure of

former AD Cheryl Levick and the hiring of current AD Charlie Cobb from Appalachian State.

Morrow mentioned how many of the Bada Bings customers happen to be Georgia State student-athletes, some of whom, he says, live at the Pencil Factory. “Some of the soccer, football, volleyball and baseball players live [at the Pencil Factory],” Morrow said.

He also made mention of how R.J. Hunter of the men’s basketball team makes visits to Bada Bings with his father, Ron Hunter, coach of the men’s basketball team.

Included in the letter was an allegation that using student-athletes to promote business at Bada Bings constitutes a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) violation and would affect their eligibility to compete in NCAA events.

Morrow also said that this is another baseless allegation. “It’s not like we’re asking the student-athletes to come down to Bada Bings to sign autographs,” Morrow said.

He says that part of the prime

directive for Bada Bings is to offer affordable deals for the student body.

One of its most touted offers is its $10 All You Can Eat Wings deal.

“We created these days for Georgia State students,” Morrow said.

“We know that our kids don’t have disposable income.”

According to Morrow, he has no concrete idea as to why Bada Bings received the cease and desist letter, but he told The Signal that someone mentioned to him that it may have had something to do with the university’s relationship with Six Feet Under.

Six Feet Under, a seafood restaurant with two locations in Atlanta, is a sponsor of Georgia State Athletics.

Morrow believes that it is an example of the university attempting to excessively use force against the restaurant.

“This is an example of Georgia State trying to bully a small business,” Morrow said. “I’m not going to let them bully a small business.”

Despite the impasse between the restaurant and the athletics

department, Morrow says Bada Bings will maintain its support of Georgia State’s teams but was still shocked that he received the cease and desist letter. “We fully support the Panther Nation,” Morrow said. “We have streams of the football games on when they’re on the road. We do all we can to support the Panthers.

So, when I received that letter, I was mad.”

The Signal attempted to reach out to Parthasarathy to get his thoughts on the matter. A representative in Georgia State’s Legal Affairs Department redirected the phone call to Jerry Trickie, associate A.D. for communications in the athletics department. Trickie then redirected The Signal to a representative for Georgia State compliance.

The compliance officer said in an email to The Signal that it is a regular occurrence for cease and desist orders to be issued. The representative said that Trickie and the compliance department reached out to Morrow after receiving the letter and has attempted to reach out to him via phone and email.

19

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SPORTS CALENDAR

*conference games

Men’s Basketball

Saturday, Feb. 21 MEN’S TENNIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 26

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Ivie Drake Softball

at Rock Hill, South Carolina

Saturday, Feb. 28

The freshman Georgia State catcher had a huge weekend at the Tiger Invitational. Ivie Drake capped it off with a walk-off single to drive in the game-winning run, completing a 7-6 comeback victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

Drake was born in Athens, Georgia but hails from Carlton, Georgia in Madison County near Athens. While playing for Madison County High School, she played all four years as a catcher. In 2012, Drake was named the All-Northeast Georgia Softball Player of the Year by the Athens Banner-Herald. That season, she led Madison County High to a 34-8 record along with a regional title and a No. 2 ranking for Class AAAA schools.

In 2013, she signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for Georgia State. In her first four games as a Panthers, she has amassed a .667 batting average with eight hits, five RBIs and an on-base percentage of .733.

at Little Rock, Arkansas

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD Monday, Feb. 23

Carolina

Day One

WOMEN’S TENNIS Kennesaw State

MEN’S BASKETBALL

at Birmingham, Alabama Noon

San Marcos, Texas Noon

Day Two

Saturday, Feb. 28 at Troy, Alabama

Atlanta Athletic Club/ Piedmont Park

Old Dominion

ESPN2

at Birmingham, Alabama ALL DAY

THE FINAL SCORE

at Norfolk, Virginia TBA

On Valentine’s Day, Panther fans have to love what they saw on ESPN2 as Georgia State defeated Texas State by a final of 53-41.

The Panthers were led by R.J. Hunter, who scored 17 points in a winning effort. Defensively, the team was anchored by Curtis Washington had put in three blocks along with nine points.

Georgia State returns to the Sports Arena on Thursday to face South Alabama.

Women’s Basketball

After the men’s game concluded, it was the women’s turn to take the court.

Georgia State’s bid to win three straight games would fall short as the Panthers lost to Texas State by a final of 71-61 in San Marcos, Texas.

The Panthers suffered defeat despite a personal-best points performance

by Gaby Moss, who scored 16. The team’s next game will be on Thursday at the Sports Arena vs. South Alabama.

Softball

The Panthers’ first series of the season was at Auburn for the Tiger Invitational. After losing 20-8 to No. 17 nationally ranked Auburn, the Panthers responded with three straight wins included a come-frombehind, 7-6 win over Eastern Illinois.

Georgia State will play one more matchup vs. Auburn on Wednesday before its home opener on Friday vs.

Savannah State.

MENS BASKETBALL

1st

Georgia Southern 11-3 | Overall: 18-5

2nd

UL Monroe 12-3 | Overall: 18-8

3rd

Georgia State 10-4 | Overall: 17-8

4th

UT Arlington 8-6 | Overall: 14-10

5th

UL Lafayette 8-7 | Overall: 14-12

6th

South Alabama 7-8 | Overall: 9-17

7th

Appalachian State 6-8 | Overall: 9-14

8th

Texas State 5-10 | Overall: 11-13

COLLEGE NIGHT February 21, 2015, 8 p.m. to 12 midnight $7 per student, FREE for members, $5 per person for groups of 10 or more. For group sales, call 404-733-4450.

Get to the High at 7:30 p.m. to pick up a free ticket* to the Alliance Theatre or Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. After the performance, come back to the High for College Night! *while supplies last Music by

9th

UALR 5-10 | Overall: 10-15

10th

Arkansas State 4-10 | Overall: 9-14

11th

Troy 4-11 | Overall: 9-15

Semicircle

Airbrush Tattoos Collaborative Chalk Art Artist Talks and Tours Art Stations Student Sculpture Garden and more!

Wear all white and visit our decoration station to design your own artsy look!

ON VIEW: Wifredo Lam: Imagining New Worlds Imagining New Worlds: José Parlá and Fahamu Pecou Tours by artist Fahamu Pecou

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José Parlá (American, born 1973), Contemplating the Storm (detail), 2014, 60 x 84 inches, acrylic and ink on canvas. © Artists Rights Society, NY

Sun Belt Standings

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