APRIL 19 - APRIL 26, 2016
VOL. 83 | NO. 28
The signal at georgia State University
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL Every year, The Signal's final issue of the semester is comprised of stories suggested by our readers.
Inside Yik Yak Heads West
Modern mob justice
News | Page 4
Anonymous chat app Yik Yak is seeing ratings drop and plan on moving from the ATL.
Proactive Artists
Catching up with coach
Our columnist approaches Georgia's growing execution rate as it breaks records.
Local artists spread their work and message throughout the community.
Coach Hunter reflects on the past, present and future of his career at Georgia State.
Opinions| Page 7
A&L | page 9
Sports | page 15
DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
News 3
Opinions 7
Arts & Living 9
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NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
blotter warrants, and received a trespassing warrant.
April 7
Open sesame...NOT!
April 6
A Georgia State staff member reported a forced entry to the Georgia State Police Department (GSUPD) near Piedmont North before 10:45 am. This case is still active.
April 9
April 8
April 11
GSUPD arrested a non-Georgia State suspect near Waffle House receiving stolen goods before 5 p.m. The suspect had outstanding
GSUPD arrested two non-Georgia State suspects for property damage near the Petit Science Building before 3. This case has been cleared.
Ordering an All-Star and a side of stolen goods
I stepped away for a second A Georgia State student reported a stolen item worth less than $1,500 around Aderhold Learning Center before noon. This case is still active.
He got them shifty, beady eyes
A Georgia State staff member reported a Georgia State student’s suspicious behaviour to Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) near Decatur Building F before 2:30 pm. This case is still active.
Don’t touch that!!
ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL
PHOTO OF THE WEEK Members of the Open Door Community hold a vigil outside the Capitol for Kenneth Fults, a death row inmate executed on April 12, 2016. PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
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NEWS
www.georgiastatesignal.com/news
Reader's Pitch
THE PARKING KERFUFFLE
University expansion could scramble students parking options SEAN KEENAN & BROOKE LEBLANC News Editor & Staff Reporter
T
he parking situation on Georgia State’s campus won’t be getting any simpler in years to come. With Georgia State’s acquisition of Turner Field awaiting a few final board meetings and pen strokes, the school’s use of the Braves’ overflow parking lot will soon be up in the air, leaving some students scouring for spots. Piedmont Central, the university’s new dorm complex which will welcome more than 1,000 students in the fall 2016 semester, has no parking offerings. The locally-notorious ParkAtlanta, the city’s parking enforcement contractor, could be out of work soon if the company is unable to renew its contract with the city after it expires this September. And to overshadow the entire dilemma of driving at all, city and county officials can’t make up their minds in deciding if and how to expand Atlanta’s transit systems, such as the Streetcar and MARTA railways. Georgia State is still largely regarded as a commuter school. However, public transportation has become a contentious issue engulfed in an argument over Atlanta’s homeless and criminal populations and their use of the train network. The current and prospective residents of Turner Field’s surrounding neighborhoods, such as Peoplestown and Summerhill, still don’t know if the city will snake the Streetcar south to carry people between The Ted and Downtown. Some students said they “hate the Streetcar” due to qualms with its speed and fare price. Some of those same students told The Signal they also “hate MARTA.” But everyone interviewed for this piece said they know that finding a spot to park your own ride on campus can be a cumbersome process. “For the first two weeks of school, I literally missed like three of my classes because I couldn’t find parking,” Georgia State sophomore Kimberly Woodruff said. “People told us it would get better over time, and it never did.” Georgia State, which now doubles as Turner Field’s overflow parking, allows students to leave their cars at the stadium and hop on the university-operated shuttle buses to and from campus. But during the spring semester, Georgia State sometimes forfeits its spaces for the Atlanta Braves baseball season. An addendum to the original Blue Lot schedule is available online to direct prospective parkers. The Blue Lot is the only option for free parking,
and it can be reliable in its availability of spaces, whereas M Deck fills up most days. This lot is outside and free of gates or guards, and a number of crimes have occurred, such as property damage and theft. The initial sketches for the redesign of the Turner Field land detail retail shops, restaurants and housing complexes, among other amenities typified by Atlanta’s other mixed-use developments. The Blue Lot is slated to be totally covered by a mish-mash of businesses that will lend use to the school and its city. University President Mark Becker told The Signal in a March 28 interview that these changes could also affect the students’ shuttle services.
beneficial to students,” he said. “But right now, the Streetcar doesn’t serve a tremendous value to Georgia State. It is convenient getting from, say, the residence halls to Aderhold if you’re in a hurry.” Becker also said the Turner Field acquisition will be a step in the right direction of school expansion since Georgia State has “taken asphalt parking and converted it.” “[Georgia State’s already] been buying parking lots and developing campus around it,” he said.
STUDENT VOX
Kara Nelson Sophomore Biology Major “I’ve heard only complaints about parking, no praise.” “I hate the streetcar.”
No Parking
A change could also offer an opportunity to encourage more biking, according to Joseph Hacker, a Georgia State clinical assistant professor in the policy school. And with Georgia State maintaining commuter school status, effecting these plans can be tougher than expected. “Georgia State students are not really biking very much,” Hacker said. “We’re predominantly a commuter college, and some issues could be helped if more people could bike instead of drive. But let’s be honest, there’s not much affordable housing near campus.” Still, a campus bike plan is now being developed to make Georgia State more bicycle friendly and add more options for pedaling around safely. Hacker said, although the broad-scheme goals of the bike initiative remain tentative, he and other school leaders have been in touch with city officials and other prominent members of the cycling community to gather feedback on possible plans. “Safety is the most important thing, but once the bike plan is complete we have to go through a committee process to get approval to make sure it fits the university Master Plan,” he said. In reaction to Cycle Hop, a bike-share program coming to Atlanta in July, the school’s student sustainability fee committee has pitched proposals to offer students a free or discounted rate to the program. For those without the resources or wherewithal to pedal to school each day, transit operations and the expansion of such have been cluttering the city’s development agenda. Heated debates surround the prospect of stretching transit offerings to a broader reach of Atlanta neighborhoods. But Streetcar plans can't yet be worked into The Ted's outline for stadium expansion and renovation, according to Becker. “[Streetcar expansion] has the potential to be
Tiffany Somphone Sophomore Communications Major
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Following the acquisition of Turner Field, Georgia State students worry about the fate of the Blue Lot.
“I think that we should work on getting more parking because the majority of people here commute. People who live in the dorm can bike, but it’s not an option for most of us.” “When the Braves play, and everyone can’t park at Turner Field, everyone takes up the spots in the deck that you need to park at. You’re never guaranteed an actual parking spot.”
Sydney Lord Freshman Film Major
PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL
Georgia State's new student dormitory Piedmont Central is still under construction located on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. The student dormitory will not have a parking lot.
“MARTA just sucks. It needs to be expanded." She went to Europe last year and said the transit system is considerably better. “When they first announced it, it seemed kinda cool, like a trolley that you could just hop on and off whenever you wanted. But it’s just so slow"
NEWS
4
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
City
Yik Yakking out of Atlanta CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Associate News Editor
Y
ik Yak, known by some as “the anonymous Twitter,” has left some students bitter over its allowance of hateful comments and racist threats. Just three years after its launch, the app is seeing a rapid decrease in usage around the nation. The Atlanta startup group had many far-reaching ambitions when launching Yik Yak in 2013, with over $60 million dollars pledged by investors, and less than 10 people working for them. But years after its launch, Yik Yak is now seeing a decline in download and user rates. According to Techcrunch.com, Yik Yak’s download rate has fallen since its 2014 ratings. Back then, it ranked No. 21 in social networking app downloads. Whereas this year, it’s dropped down to No. 63 among social networking apps and No. 1067 among all iOS apps downloaded. An anonymous source that previously worked with the company told The Signal that’s because the app is losing the only user base they target, students. “When you’re a student, say in UGA, you’ll want to see what’s going on around your campus, what students are talking about,” the source said. “But if I’m living in Buckhead, have my own apartment and job, why should I bother downloading and opening the app… to see what my neighbors are talking about?” The app has already been banned in many high schools due to explicit online content and was recently caught in a crossfire between student bodies and school officials. After racist comments appeared in the University of Missouri’s Yik Yak network and University of Mary Washington. A student was murdered amidst threats posted on the site. Some students have asked for a ban of the anonymity-based application. First in the trend is the College of Illinois, whose president banned Yakkers access to the app from the school’s wireless network. Prior to
her decision, the university’s student senate passed a resolution urging the ban. “While this is only a limited response to the shocking number of racial incidents that have taken place recently, we believe that anyone who holds such backwards and erroneous views should not have the privilege of being able to hide their hate behind a keyboard,” the College of Illinois released in a statement. It’s easy to hide, since Yik Yak doesn’t require any verification of identity. You can choose anonymous, a customized handle, or a name that might as well be someone else’s. The College of Illinois’ administration repeatedly asked Yik Yak to provide them with the records of the users posting racist and threatening posts. But according to our anonymous source, that’s not going to happen. “The app is not anonymous. [The people who work at Yik Yak] can find out who you are. They can find all your information. If a police officer or anyone working with the government contacts them, they’ll spill the beans,” he said. “Nothing on there is anonymous.” In November 2015, an Emory University student posted a threat to shoot up the school, which was reported to police and the girl was arrested. So while Yik Yak might have all the information behind anonymous users threatening to shoot up their campus, they’ll only divulge that info to a person with a badge. The ex-employee said there’s a lot more wrong with the app than hateful comments. “It’s lost its cool factor. Take snapchat, you keep coming back to it. But [Yik Yak] is just the same thing over and over again,” he said. “You can only look at the same corny jokes and same reposts before you lose interest.” Kelsey Santangelo, a Georgia State junior, said even though she used to use Yik Yak, she now doesn’t find it as entertaining. “Now I feel like the majority of yaks are someone posting an opinions and everyone hating on it,” she
PHOTO COUTESY OF LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE BLACK STUDENT UNION FACEBOOK
An anonymous YikYak commenter posts a racially threatening post where students at Lewis & Clark College rallied on campus.
We asked Georgia State students if universities should be allowed to ban Yik Yak on campus?
• 87% said no • 13% said yes out of 23 votes, via twitter
said. “Even if it’s a perfectly normal statement like, “I like burritos”, you’ll see responses like ‘WTF fatty.’ I mean really?”
Atlanta’s talent lack
Yik Yak recently released plans for expansion to San Francisco, after what they called, “A lack of skilled talent," according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. “When I first started working with them, they were already saying an expansion to San Francisco was inevitable,” the anonymous source said. “That’s where all the action is. Everyone ends up there – it’s Silicon Valley, it’s good for business.” As for the lack of talent, Yik Yak’s already had multiple trade-offs for the
bigger and better, according to the anonymous source. The source said most of the app’s original developers are no longer with Yik Yak, replaced by brighter minds. “They either have a lower position, or been demoted. Everyone who workers there that had a high title had someone else step in, someone better, ex-Google, ex-Facebook, and take their job. They’ve devoted all this time and energy and the company hires ex-Facebook people to become their boss,” he said. Although the publication had brief correspondence with Yik Yak, The Signal has yet to hear back about requests for official company comments. Najwa Hossain contributed to the reporting of this article.
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Last Week Local
Georgia goes through with death penalty for convicted murderer Kenneth Fults was executed via lethal injection on April 12, nearly 20 years after killing his 19-yearold neighbor. In 1996, Fults allegedly broke into Cathy Bounds’ trailer, taped her eyes shut, placed a pillow over her head, and shot Bounds five times in the back of her head. According to the AJC, the execution comes after the State Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Fults’ appeal to the Supreme Court. Kenneth Fults is the fourth man to be executed in Georgia this year.
National
Woman is facing charges after live-streaming rape
An 18-year-old girl and a 29-year-old man were charged Wednesday with “kidnapping, rape, sexual battery and pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor” following a rape that was live-streamed using the app Periscope, CNN reported. Marina Alexeevna was at a house party in Columbus, Ohio in late February when Raymond Boyd Gates began to sexually assault the 17-yearold girl. Alexeevna, began “Periscoping” the assault. “If convicted, Lonina and Gates could each face sentences of more than 40 years,” the prosecutor, Ron O’Brien, said in a statement.
Global
Series of Japanese earthquakes leaves several dead
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Kumamoto, Japan on April 15, one day after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake ratted the same location, The Weather Channel reported. Nine people have died and hundreds more are injured. Fires sparked up throughout the southern region, and multiple buildings collapsed as aftershocks continued to shake the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Officials for Japan’s Meteorological Agency did not implement a tsunami warning, as no imminent threat of a tsunami was possible.
Reader's Pitch
5
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016 Linda Chau
University
Card fraud clamor persists Credit card fraud issues have students awating security audits OLIVIA NELSON Staff Reporter
D
espite complaints lobbed and dollars lost, Georgia State's administration has yet to initiate changes to address credit card fraud issues on campus. Earlier in April, The Signal reported that the new string of crime was sweeping the campus. Students reported suspicious purchases, missing cards, and identity theft on university grounds. However, two weeks later plans to review the security of campus card scanners have yet to be carried out. Catrice Clark, a finance director at Georgia State, said that service transactions were reported to thirdparty vendors, who then investigated using Campus Guard, an organization that provides resources and expertise for third-party vendors in order meet PCI regulations. Clark said that reform is ongoing, but no additional security measures have been implemented since. “We have had Campus Guard assess the credit card merchants at the GSU Atlanta and Perimeter campuses to provide suggestions on how campus merchants can maintain PCI compliance,” Clark said.
Outsourced card security
Third-party vendors use PCIDSS, or Payment Card IndustryData Security Standard, to maintain standards for safe card use. Georgia State has requested these third-party
vendors for proof of fulfilling PCI requirements in order to maintain contracts and potentially upgrade card security. Some of the third-party vendors that GSU-GPC are contracted with are Southern Refreshments, Saxbys Coffee, Coke, Sodexo Food Services, and Follett Higher Education, each of which is required to meet PCI regulations. Ren Flot, Chief Information Security Officer at Georgia State, discussed the third-party vendor compliance with PCI. “The team working on PCI compliance is using the findings of this security assessment to continue to improve and reinforce credit card processing security at the university,” Flot said.
Consolidation becomes murky
The Georgia State-Georgia Perimeter College consolidation poses potential changes as well, according to Clark. “As a result of the GSU-GPC consolidation, we are renewing our contracts and ensuring that the software and services used for processing transactions shall be compliant with standards established by PCI,” Clark said. The consolidation also instigated new methods of enforcing these standards. “GSU has implemented an annual PCI-DSS Campus Merchant Training program. This training provides ondemand training for all students, staff and faculty. Additional training events
are in the planning phase,” Clark said.
Whose problem is it?
Andrea Durojaiye, sophomore at Georgia State, said that she now rarely uses her card on campus. “I don’t usually carry cash around with me, because of the robberies in the library and general safety,” Durojaiye said. “Now I feel like I shouldn’t even carry my wallet, because even I use my card on campus my information, money and identity is at risk.” Many of the reported cases of credit card fraud go unresolved. Part of this problem is where the crime occurs, according to Georgia State’s Interim Police Chief Carlton Mullis. “The problem faced with credit card fraud are the jurisdictional issues,” Mullis said. “We have jurisdiction when it started here and then follow up where it happened. If someone goes on a spree ordering things on Amazon, that’s harder to track where it occurred.”
Report Losses and Fraud
Call the card issuer as soon as you realize your card has been lost or stolen. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24 hour service to deal with this. Once you report the loss or theft, the law states you have no additional responsibility for charges you didn’t make; in any case, your liability for each card lost or stolen is $50. If you suspect that the card was used fraudulently, you may have to sign a statement under oath that you didn’t make the purchases in question.
What can you do? • Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates and the phone number to report fraud for each company in a secure place. • During a transaction, keep your eye on your card. Make sure you get it back before you walk away. •
Open your bills promptly — or check them online often — and reconcile them with the purchases you’ve made.
• Report any questionable charges to the card issuer.
City
USG athletics get slack on records requests
Backed by UGA football coach, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signs SB 323 CANDACE WHITTFIELD Staff Reporter
O
n April 11, Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 323 (SB 323) into law, which allows collegiate athletics offices 90 days to respond to public records requests. Before SB 323, all collegiate offices had 3 days to respond to records requests. An added 87 days has stirred up controversy surrounding disclosure of information, raised concerns about the secrets of the recruiting process and affects accessibility to obtaining records. According to UGA’s athletic director, Greg McGarity, the law is aimed at granting a time extension to the college sports recruitment process. He said the new law allows helps to facilitate the amount of incoming requests.
“[Open records requests] are very lengthy and it takes a lot of time just to estimate the time and effort it takes for those people who are doing their regular job, not necessarily to stop everything to provide this information,” McGarity told the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC). “It’s not like we have staff sitting idly by just to deal with it.” The bill, was dubbed “The Kirby Law” after Kirby Smart, the University of Georgia’s new football coach who inspired it's creation. Smart spoke with state legislators about the issue which linked him to the amendment, but said he should not receive any credit for SB 323. “When I went over to the Capitol, I was asked what’s the difference in our program and some programs I’ve been at in the past,” Smart told The Telegraph .” That was the extent of my conversation with those guys about that. So for me to get the credit for
that is a little bit misleading.” Georgia State student Samantha Bierworth said athletic departments should be held responsible for everything they do, “from spending on projects to the blurred lines in recruitment.” Contrarily, according to the AJC, advocates to the First Amendment, such as Hollie Manheimer, said the changes are “unprecedented.” Manheimer said it “shields contract terms, complaint letters from the NCAA, spending projects and more from the public eye.” “No other public agency in Georgia is given 90 days to conduct business in secret,” she said. According to The Telegraph, Georgia State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, said ,"It just allows us to play on the same field as Alabama and everybody else,” referring to the bill allowing opportunities to help hide
recruitment information. The Signal is currently searching for records pertaining to the athletic scholarships promised by GPC’s former interim-President, Rob Watts. These records could allow a deeper look into the number of students affected by his lack of follow-through on those promises. However, the Georgia Perimeter College (GPC) athletics department has been completely dissolved and the records are nowhere to be found. Multiple inquiries to GPC’s marketing and communications department were fruitless, as staff repeatedly said they did not know where such records would be located. Student enrollment and tuition records cannot be accessed because they are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Dominique Times contributed to the reporting of this article.
Students fight for $15 with Ronald McDonald DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter
S
tudents and faculty in Library Plaza on April 14, might have noticed a giant Ronald McDonald towering above them. Students who are part of ATL Raise Up and Atlanta Jobs with Justice, two local organizations endorsing minimum wage increases, held a moving rally to increase awareness of their cause. April 14 was a nationwide day of action for supporters of the Fight for $15, a nationwide movement set on spiking the minimum hourly earnings to what advocates call a “livable wage.” People in more than 300 cities marched and protested for their cause. Georgia State student Misty Novich, who helped orchestrate the on-campus rally, said she supports minimum wage increases because they would allow people to live above the poverty line. “We’re pushing for a living wage, rather than a minimum wage,” she said. “People should be able to work a job and get their basic needs met, work in dignity and not live in fear and despair.” According to the Census Bureau, more than 45 million people in the United States live at or below the poverty line. This year, New York and California’s State legislature approved plans to raise their minimum wages to $15 by 2022. Georgia’s current minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, $2.05 lower than the federal minimum and among the lowest in the nation. Novich and fellow protesters passed out flyers with the phrase “$5.15 is a joke so go vote” on them, urging students to take action. “The whole point of a minimum wage is to combat the tendency of bosses wanting to pay you as little as possible,” Novich said. “$5.15 is obviously not enough.” The Fight for $15 movement has been making waves across the country and the state, with a number of prominent leaders endorsing the substantial hike in wages. Georgia Democratic State Sen. Vincent Fort has backed initiatives and marched with protesters to support the increase. Still, the raise, which would nearly triple Georgia’s minimum wage has been met with opposition by local, state and national-level conservatives.
NEWS
6
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
SGA
SGA’s runoff winners announced After The Signal's Great Debates and heated election polls, SGA execs have been selected SEAN KEENAN News Editor
A
joining the signal is only
fter arguably the most heavily contested Student Government Association (SGA) election season in Georgia State history, the winning candidates for Atlanta’s 2016-17 executive board seats have been chosen. This year the race for all three Atlanta campus executive board — president, executive vice president (EVP) and speaker of the senate — positions resulted in runoff elections. SGA’s acting Vice President of Student Services Fortune Onwuzuruike was elected president after early-April voting pinned him in the April 14 runoff against Georgia State’s Newton Campus SGA president Sri Rajasekaran. Onwuzuruike overcame the odds after the April 5-7 polls closed with him trailing Rajasekaran by 60 votes. SGA executive seats are secured by earning at least 51 percent of the vote count. And with four contestants vying for the slot, neither Rajasekaran
nor Onwuzuruike was able to amass that much support that early. Onwuzuruike said he was able to pull out the win because, after the first election, he jumped to the Perimeter student bodies populations, which had mostly backed Rajasekaran. “I won because I realized I need the GPC students to win,” he said. “I got in good relations with them and I continue to go over and know them not only as students, but as people.” Current SGA Sen. Shamari Southwell beat out VP of Public Relations Anthony Nguyen to claim the executive vice president’s seat. Southwell’s adversary also took the popular vote during the initial elections but couldn’t recreate that lead in the runoffs. Sen. Blessing Akomas will take the speaker’s chair, after a ballot-box bout with SGA Senate Clerk Janae Williams. The elected candidates will be sworn in at the May 9 SGA senate meeting. Onwuzuruike told The Signal that his early plans for the President seat
involve better acquainting himself with the school officials and advisors at Georgia State’s Downtown campus and the school’s newly-acquired Perimeter campuses. “I want to make sure we are all on the same page, welcoming all [new] campuses to the Panther family,” he said. The president-elect also said he wants to host a few ‘chill sessions’ so that his new cabinet of EVPs can familiarize themselves with their new colleagues. “I want to meet with all six of them in a relaxed, chill and stress-free setting,” he said. “I feel like that will be good for us now that elections are over.” Once everyone’s good and inaugurated into their new positions, Onwuzuruike said, it’s time to grind. “I’m just truly blessed to be able to handle this much responsibility and have the full support of Georgia State behind me,” he said. “It’s like I had an army of Panthers behind me the whole time. Now let’s get to work.”
Fortune Onwuzuruike SGA President-Elect
Presidential runoff results Fortune Onwuzuruike
Atlanta - 1144 Perimeter - 204 Sri Rajasekaran
Atlanta - 477 Perimeter - 556
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OPINION
www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions
Georgia’s death penalty Another murder by the government
K
JOHN MILLER Columnist John is an English major with a concentration in Literature. He spends his time cooking, reading, writing and watching movies. Mostly watching movies.
Tweet John! @johnmillerdavi1
enneth Fults was executed April 12, for a murder in 1996. He appealed to the Supreme Court, but his appeal was turned down hours before his execution. He also petitioned for clemency, but was turned down, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). Major news outlets like The Atlantic and Vice focus their blame on one juror, Thomas Buffington, who called Fults a “n-----” years after the trial, which should have invalidated his role in the jury, because Buffington’s racism would prove his judgement biased, but Georgia’s government chose to ignore it on procedural grounds, according to The Atlantic. And while this is infuriating, to focus too much on such a detail takes attention away from the overall mechanism that allows governmental powers to kill. Rather than focus on the racial injustice we all know is horrifically and historically entrenched in all aspects of American life, let’s focus on the fact that the death penalty is murder, and the best way to describe its fulfillment at the state level is Mob Justice. That’s right – like a group of townspeople threatening to kill Frankenstein’s monster. Foremost among this mob are Fults’ prosecuting attorney, the judge presiding over his case, the jury, the Supreme Court, the personnel at the Georgia Diagnostic Prison, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles which denied his request for clemency, among others. This mob isn’t marching down the road with pitchforks and nooses raised. Rather, it’s operating from behind desks, respected roles, and hypodermic syringes. There are two ways to read a headline like AJC’s “Georgia executes Kenneth Fults for 1996 Murder.” One has “Georgia” meaning the state government, and another has “Georgia” meaning everyone in the state. If it’s the latter, it’s simply not true. I’m part of the state, and I didn’t kill Kenneth Fults. To claim a vast collective is responsible for a murder is to make me and other Georgians complicit in a murder we didn’t commit or even know about until hours before its commission – in my case.
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rgia
PAG S | T E DE S I G HE S IG N N AL
But if it’s the former, then it’s Mob Justice veiled as civic service. Kenneth Fults might have been a murderer, but he never implied he killed on my behalf, nor hid his murder behind the law, like the state government did when they executed him. Though the Death Penalty Information Center claims that the number of executions is going down in Georgia, the number is in fact rising in recent years from 1 in 2013 to 2 in 2014 to 5 in 2015 to 4 in 2016. And the next one is scheduled for as soon as this month. “The only other time Georgia has executed as many as five people in a year was last year [2015] and in 1987,” according to the AJC. Once another execution is carried out this year, that will break the decades-long maximum number of 5 per year, effectively raising the bar of how many people the state government finds it acceptable to kill. This should concern you because there is a distinct possibility you or someone you know could be wrongly accused of a crime, convicted, sentenced to death, and executed, as Georgians such as Troy Davis and Brian Terrell possibly were. Not only that, but you would have to spend the rest of your life on death row – roughly 15 years-hoping against hope that some miracle would save you from the blunt mechanism of a vengeful criminal justice system. Amnesty International lists many ways in which the death penalty’s existence is unnecessary, among them being that it doesn’t deter crime, that it’s often used as a political tool, and that it’s often discriminatory, as is certainly the case in Fults’ instance. But the core of the issue is very simple: groups of people acting within the law are getting away with killing people. I mean, besides the military. It’s only because of some sort of thirst for revenge that government killings are condoned yet it’s this very eye-for-an-eye thinking that makes the death penalty archaic. I’m not going to proselytize about what the law should be in an ideal world, but I will decry the use of the death penalty, because I
am opposed to murder committed by anyone, and I’m highly skeptical about exceptions and rationalizations people give for murder, of which the death penalty is just one among many. And a dangerous one, because it’s an example of the law going against tenets of a social contract it’s designed to uphold. One might say the death penalty is a good idea because taxpayers should not have to pay for murderers to be housed and fed for life, but the truth of the situation is that the death penalty itself is expensive for taxpayers, according to Death Penalty Information Center. People are also kept on death row for quite a long time and need to be housed and fed there . And on that subject, it can be argued that living on death row is worse than simply being killed outright, that living with the knowledge of your hopeless situation is even worse than just getting it over with. No wonder the American Civil Liberties Union reports a high rate of suicides on death row.
Once another
execution is carried out
this year, that will break the decades-long
maximum number of
5 per year Georgia Executions 2016 4 2015 5 2014 2 2013 1 2012 0 2011 4 2010 2 according to deathpenaltyinfo.org
OPINION
8
EDITORIAL
It's Affluenza season, go wild!
I
n December 2013, Texas teen Ethan Couch killed four people in a bout of liquor-fueled joyriding. But when his case went to trial, Couch was absolved of the charges on the defense that he was so astonishingly wealthy and poorly-raised that a state judge deemed him incapable of comprehending the difference between right and wrong. His “affluenza” plea left him on probation, legally prohibited from continuing on with his underage drinking exploits. But the long arm of the law failed to shackle Couch from his intoxicant-inspired aspirations. A partygoer ratted out Couch on Twitter by posting a video of him actin’ like a fool during a basement-set beer pong game. Time to answer to your sins, eh, Ethan? Nope. Couch, now 19, and his mother sliped into Mexico, where they planned to lay low until America forgot about the teenaged Mr. Moneybags who took the lives of four innocent people without repercussion. Sounds like a good time to order a pizza deliver, right? Let the heat die down. Well, the combined brilliance of Couch and his mom managed to lead Mexican authorities to the painfully-stupid duo. Texas’ most famous teen fugitive was
extradited back to the States, where he again went before a judge to take ‘punishment’ for his actions, and finally, a painful three years later, the teen got what he deserved - almost. With all the eloping and intervention of adult and juvenile courts trying to configure a proper punishment for the spoiled teen, Couch was sentenced to two years in jail, and another ten under probation. Yes, the same kind of probation he was under when he was caught drinking and partying again. Can we sign up for that probation as well? And despite ending the lives of four people, who probably have families of their own and children not half as spoiled as Couch was, the judge of the original case still spoke with words of empathy for the kid. ILLUSTRATION BY ERIK REID | THE SIGNAL Why? Because he bought the 16-18 years of age, and your parents are argument that the teen was in desperate need of therapy, that he was so too busy pre-ordering you the iPhone 7 blinded by the good life and riches he had to talk about morals, cheers! You’re free stacked up that he couldn’t possibly see what was wrong with running over four to run around intoxicated and hey, if you people while under influence - after all, he’s kill a couple people here and there - things spoiled, cut him some slack! So if you’re in the blurry court lines of happen, you couldn’t possibly have known!
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Together, we'll go far Dear readers,
A
bout 11 months ago, a brand new editorial team jumped on a #collegemedia roller coaster together. We went through loop after loop each month until we finally got something right – at the end of the fall semester. I was honred with the task of leading this new team as their editor-in-chief and i’ll be back at it again. As the weeks turned into months, they became family. A dysfunctionl family, but a family with a purpose. Provide great content to our audience. Our family has grown since August and it will grow even more when we take The Signal to the Perimeter campuses. We’re going places and it will only get better. Thank you for reading this year!
Troi Charity Editor-in-Chief
ARTS & LIVING The underground artist
www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving
Sienna Brown
Reader's Pitch
Experiencing the infinite spectrum of art
CHANTE FOSTER Staff Reporter
T
he possibilities of art and hidden talent within the city of Atlanta are endless. Artists in the community and at Georgia State began their work early in life and continue to find inspiration around them to guide their passions. These underground artists have transformed their artistic outlets into methods of empowerment, as well as steps toward making a difference on both personal and professional levels.
Self Expression
Full-time artist Sage Guillory makes a living from his work featuring graphics and a personal flare that interprets his representation of life. The artist has done numerous graphic designing, illustration and art directing jobs. “As an artist, you have the responsibility to reflect the time and really show what’s going on,” Guillory said. “Once you put all your faith in what you want to do, and give the universe no option but to provide for you, then things turn around.” Guillory has done a collaborative project with music artist Raury, which was featured as the album artwork, and displayed in London, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Work featured: Artguillory.com
Life in print
Fiction writer and novelist Chance Howard has already published two novels in his young life. The
Georgia State student is currently studying to be an educator. “Art can be found through pictures, words and people themselves,” Howard said. “I can find a story in everything, and that is what made me fall in love with the city of Atlanta.” For Howard, one challenge that affects his art style is reaching out to a social media consumed audience. By adding his own personal style, Howard is using words in a way that’s relatable to a younger audience. “The largest impact on my art style, being words, is that people don’t use them anymore,” Howard said. “I try to use words in the best and most unorthodox way I can.” Howard’s first novel is titled “Going Home,” and the second novel titled “Pride,” which explores the life of a teen who has conflicting relationships with a parent after coming out.
Instagram: @justchance Access to book: Readsbychance.com
Contemporary painting
Painter and Georgia State art major Brianna Adams is passionate about education, and creates work that explores self-discovery as a black women. For the young artist, everything used or seen through daily life influence the way art is experienced or created. “I believe a lot of people appreciate art and its value, but don't realize they do,” Adams said. “Everyone can appreciate art in their own, and it's literally everywhere.”
Adams finds inspiration in human anatomy, by focusing on the unfined natural state of the body. While the young artist is experienced in contemporary painting, she is challenging herself to try other mediums of art such as realism. “I love the human body and especially the human face and all the tiny things about people that makes us all unique,” Adams said. “That's why I really enjoy portraits and while I'm still working towards it, realism is an art style that completely captivates me.”
Instagram: @wheres_bernana
Spoken word
Poet and performing artist Sydney Sinclair has been showcased at various open mic events, bars and lounges. The Georgia State student thinks that art value is determined by the artists, and that the messages conveyed by an artist shows their passion. “Within my art, self expression is the biggest influence,” Sinclair said. “I began writing and performing not necessarily to speak to anyone or on anything specific, [but because] experience helps me create.” Poetry is not just a form of art. For Sinclair, it also helps elevate built up emotions. Being a writer encourages the poet to share experiences and thoughts with others. “Expression keeps me sane, and my art organizes and asserts my thoughts and feelings for me,” Sinclair said. “I'm mainly inspired by other music and writers, as well as my experiences and my thoughts.”
Spreading the talent
There are various locations in Atlanta where artists can submit their work, showcase their art and speak their words.
Book Publishers
Bouje Publishing 50 Hurt Plaza SE #1448 404-221-0703
Artwork Submissions
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center 535 Means St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 688-1970
Spoken Word
Apache Café 64 3rd St. NW Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 876-5436
Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud: @ trippenontrip
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAGE GUILLORY
Georgia State student artist Sage Guillory credits Greek Mythology and European Mythology as his inspirations for his artworks (below).
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY SYDNEY SINCLAIR
Georgia State student and poet Sydney Sinclair performs a spoken word piece in Library Plaza.
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL
Chance Howard’s book, Amil’s Hope, tells a youthful coming-of-age story through a collection of vignettes.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY BRIANNA ADAMS
Artwork (above) by Georgia State student Brianna Adams showcase women of color loving their bodies while being comfortable with their sexuality.
PAGE DESIGN KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL
Reader's Pitch
Robbie Callens
POWER TO THE PUSSY Atlanta brand empowers through bold clothing SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Associate Arts & Living Editor
C
lothing can be a bane necessity for some, used for artistic purposes or as a way to piece together an identity. Clothing with a message can used as a catalyst to carry and broadcast whatever the wearer wishes. For Atlanta clothing brand Pussy Power, the message is pretty succinct. Taylor “Tay” Tousana is the founder of a local start-up clothing brand called Pussy Power. “Pussy Power is a lifestyle brand based here in Atlanta,” Tousana said. “We promote unity, self-empowerment, and being active members of the community.” The phrase may seem bold and brass to some, but that is the essential point. Inspired by everyday surroundings, the phrase seems simple and powerful enough to become a notable catchphrase. “I wanted to choose words that were aggressive and quick to catch the attention of anyone walking past someone wearing the merchandise,” Tousana said. The brand currently sells five items of headwear, three caps and two visors. The three caps come in pink, black and white. The visors, in black and pink. Each clothing piece bears the aforementioned slogan, Pussy Power. The attitude and boldness in such a phrase resonated enough with Tousana to inspire her to gaslight and found the lifestyle brand. “My vision for this company is to obviously expand on merchandise, but most importantly impact the world,” Tousana said. “That's why pussy power is so much more than a brand; it's more of a lifestyle. It's about self-empowerment and treating all genders races and nationalities with respect.” Robbie Callens, the photography intern for Pussy Power, became a part of the creative team after hearing about the brand at a bonfire with a group of creatives. The intern call was being held at Edgewood’s Joystick Gamebar, and from there he got an offer. “I am the photography intern, so I attend all the meetings and as many of the events that they host and take pictures for their social media content,” Callens said. “Like Instagram, Tumblr and their website.” Callens works under the main photographer, Nayquan Shuler, and is shown the ropes of setting up shoots and choosing his own creative vision. “They give me the freedom to set up my own shoots with setting and models of my choosing or sometimes they will provide that,” Callens said. “Their main photographer is further along in his career and will do some of the bigger
shoots for the website, and I’ll add secondary angles and content for behind the scenes or just extra content.” Their artistic vision? “The aesthetic sticks to pink, black and white. And it’s got a bit of a neo-punk vibe to it,” Callens said. With a pink pastel feed covered in daily motivation pictures and filled with attitude, Pussy Power’s Instagram serves as a curator of their image. “Pussy power is simply the most simple way to put it,” Tousana said. “I combine influence from my creative process, along with the Pussy Power team member’s creative process and come up with a direction from there.” The intended wearer and demographic of Pussy Power, despite the name, is for everyone who connects with the style. “I envision everyone wearing my brand’s merchandise,” Tousana. “Pussy power stands for equality. So I see people from all races, genders, shapes and sizes rocking our brand name with confidence.”
Their Place in the Community Pussy Power and associated friends have put together events in the past for the community, ranging from the art community to the philanthropic. “They have hosted full moon mixers at the Artlanta Gallery, a clothing drive over the holiday break, and had [a] part in a recent female photography exhibit at Studio No. 7,” Callens said. They have also hosted a toy drive with artist Raury, where all proceeds went to a local women and children’s shelter. Pussy Power also dips their toe into the Atlanta music community, with sponsoring female acts around the city. Tousana is the manager, and subsequent sponsor on behalf of Pussy Power, of local act Eri Soul. On April 16, Pussy Power and Eri Soul participated in Souls’ EP release party that held performances from other local artists like Nai Br.Xx and Exit Culture.
Find the power Besides sporting the bold caps, a good way to learn more and hear of any announcements or events is to keep a close eye on their social platforms. “Best way to get involved is to follow us on social media and stay up to date. We are always looking for help when we get involved with the community,” Tousana said.
Instagram: @puss.ypower Snapchat: puss.ypower
" It’s about
EQUALITY, it's more of a
female empowerment
BRAND.
"
-Taylor “Tay” Tousana
Pussy Power Founder
Feminism? Pussy Power is about women empowerment, but the term feminism is rather polarizing, where people either take on the title proudly or reject it. “Over the past couple years feminism has become more of an extremist perspective,” Tousana said. “Almost to the point where people just assume feminists hate men. When really feminism is about equality. Men are equal to women and women are equal to men.” For Callens and others who work for Pussy Power, believing this is what begins the basis of their involvement. “I told them when I first joined, what is man without the strength of women? Which, as a question, defies the primary separation of identity for humans,” Callens said, “And when you try and answer I guarantee you, it always ends up at nothing. I grew up in a place where identity was what you made it, not what others perceive onto you. I believe that feminism deconstructs the systems of structuralism and patriarchy where they have grown out of control.”
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Taylor Tousana (upper right corner), founder of the brand Pussy Power, seeks to impact the world with her feminist clothing; such as caps that come in multiple colors inspired by her brand's color scheme pastel pink, black and white.
ARTS & LIVING
12
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
trek yourself
Star Trek Convention feeds Atlanta with multifandom fun CATRINA DYGERT Staff Reporter
O
n April 15 science fiction fans gathered at the Northlake DoubleTree in Tucker, Georgia to celebrate their favorite shows at Treklanta. The convention opened with a welcoming speech by Eric Watts, the Founder and Chairman of Treklanta. Watts also introduced several of the celebrity guests at this year’s convention, including Tracee Lee Cocco, Jack Stauffer and Carel Struycken, all from the “Star Trek” franchise. Struycken is also well known for his role as Lurch in “The Addams Family” series. Even though the convention was catered towards fans of “Star Trek,” other events were featured for fans of various sci-fi classics, such as “Star Wars,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “Doctor Who.” Some specific events at the convention were able to draw in large crowds through unique styles and storytelling.
Going Green
Panels were held which took a look at independent fan film productions. Java Green, an author and filmmaker, was one of the guest panelists. Though Green has been involved in acting his whole life, he is best known for his role as Dr. Frank N. Furter in the Plaza Theatre’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a role he has been reprising for 13 years. Green only got into Doctor Who about four year ago, but the show inspired him. Since then, Green has filmed his own Doctor Who fan series called “The Forgotten Doctor,” which follows a new regeneration
of The Doctor, immediately after Paul McGann. Green also partnered with Throwback Studioz to help write and direct several episodes of an X-Men fan series called “Uncanny X-men,” not to be confused with the band of the same name. The series follows Wolverine through action-packed adventures and is entering its fourth season. This was Green’s first year at Treklanta, but he has also been featured on a number of other conventions in the area, including TimeGate, Outlanta and Anachrocon. Green is still trying to get a feel for Treklanta, but he admitted to having a great time and hopes to return for more panels next year. “It’s a lot slower. It’s a lot more intimate which is fun,” Green said. “I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying the conversations.”
hand building all of the puppets used in the show themselves. The puppets are hand and rod puppets, which means that, aside from the hand that moves the mouth, the puppets are also attached to a small rod which allows the puppeteer to move the hand around. The Kelsos’ make their puppets unique by working backwards. They start with thrift store finds for the outfits - usually baby clothes - and work from there. Even though building the puppets is hard work, the Kelso’s show no signs of stopping. They are currently enjoying their convention circuit and time with the fans, but their next goal is to turn Felt Nerdy into a webseries. They’ve already filmed some pieces that are set for release on their YouTube channel later this year.
Master of Puppets
Facing the Future
Another highlight was the “Puppets in Space… Opera!” This puppet show was put on by Veronica and Charles Kelso, a husband and wife act from Atlanta. The duo, performed a puppet show that pulled from “Star Trek” and “Doctor Who,” as well as a few, well-placed pop culture references. The jokes kept the audience in stitches. Charles Kelso said the trick was authenticity. “I love doing jokes that are sort of inside humor jokes,” Kelso said. “It feels more authentic if the humor is coming from somebody who knows and is laughing with something rather than at it, so we try to stick to things that we’re big fans of.” Charles and Veronica were inspired to build puppets after visiting the Center for Puppetry arts here in Atlanta. While Veronica did have previous theater experience, neither Kelso had done puppetry before. Now, however, the Kelsos are puppet masters,
Lee Johnson, a staff member for Treklanta and a Lieutenant for the USS Republic was pleased with this year’s turnout. While numbers are still low compared to other Atlanta conventions, such as Dragon Con, Johnson wasn’t quick to trade the Treklanta experience for Dragon Con’s numbers just yet. “If we never reach that level, that’s not a bad thing, because we give people access to things that they don’t have otherwise,” Johnson said. “You get access to people you grew up watching. If you’re into DragonCon, you’ll definitely want to come to [Treklanta].” Treklanta will be back up and running again next year, giving you plenty of time to find a costume and learn to speak Klingon (Qapla'!). Other Trektivities can be found online on georgiastatesignal.com.
PAGE DESIGN KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL Two Treklanta visitors dress as members of Starfleet, the fictional organization in Star Trek at the DoubleTree Hotel, April 16, 2016.
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
13
ARTS & LIVING
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
Column
93 DAYS OF SUMMER
PHOTO BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL
Long patterned dresses are the perfect attire for all summer time activities from strolling in the park to chilling out at your favorite music festival.
Your guide to everything summer this year NICHOLE PLACE
Assistant Arts & Living Editor
S
pring has sprung (kind of), and now summer has rolled in. It is time to get your pizza floaty ready, because it’s time for the guide to everything summer.
Fashion
Fashion trends that you should be adding to your closet this summer.
Women
· Large floral pattern dresses: Big patterns for those hot days. · Drop waist peplum: The low waistline is a great preppy look that also say, “I don’t care enough that my waistline is this low.” · Off-the-shoulder tops: A sassy nautical look for the summer. · Neckerchiefs: Fred from “Scooby Doo” is now a fashion icon. · Embroidery: Embroider everything. · Slip dress: Despite the name, there is a difference between this white, silk dress and just wearing your see through undergarments. Bathing Suits · High Neck Sport Bikini: A sporty and fun top for swimming or other beach activities. · Detailed One Piece: Being covered up doesn’t have to be boring.
· Ruffled Off-The-Shoulder Tops: A sassy top for the beach. Summer Makeup: Lots of Trends that are back for a second time this summer. · Orange red lipstick · Dewy highlight · Colored eyeliner · Grey smudgy 90’s liner
Men
· Rolled shorts: Take a note from your rolled pants. · White sneakers: “Damn Daniel.” · Anoraks: A fancy name for a large rain coat. · Suede jackets: It seems a bit impractical in the heat, but you’ll look cool. · Layered button downs: Make a button down look more relaxed by leaving it open with a tank underneath and rolling the sleeve. · Grey and Green: The safest colors to wear this summer Bathing Suits · Large Prints: Fun and funky. · Seersucker: A very preppy and beachy fabric from the pool. · Shorter Shorts: Show a little thigh at the beach.
Festival Survival Kit
Festival season is upon us, here are some things that you should always be taking with you.
· A refillable water bottle: A cool canteen can add to your hobo festival garb. · Hand sanitizer: Because you don’t want to actually be super dirty. · Baby wipes: A shower in wipe form as I like to call it. · A light rain coat or poncho: Because weather is unpredictable. · A Ziplock bag: A semi-waterproof case for your phone. · Portable charger: Your phone will die. · First-Aid kit: Boo boos hurt so be prepared.
Room Decor
Bring summer to your home décor. · Pop art: A way to add color in a quirky way. · Geometric pots: Cement or glass pots that have a geometric shape help bring a funky look to greenery in your space. · Textured clay pots: These kind of pots can be decorative and add to your space without having a plant inside of them. · Ceramic or wood trays: These act as a small coffee table that can be set on your footstool and display your favorite books, or other decorative items. · Two-tone wicker baskets: A great way to add color and dimension with a storage piece. · Fake lemons: Classic.
EASY ROOM DIY: Colored Sand Vase
Materials: Three bowls, a glass vase, sand and food dye. 1. Separate the sand into three separate bowls. 2. Dye each bowl of sand a different color. 3. Fill the glass jar with the sand, alternating the different colors to create layers.
WE KNOW You’re bored
ARE YOU READY TO LIVE IN FULL COLOR?
Find us on YouTube The Signal at Georgia State University
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SPORTS
www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports
Pushing forward
Coach Ron Hunter shares his thoughts on new and old players, as well as future plans for the Georgia State men’s basketball team.
PHOTO BY LAHAR SAMANTARAI | THE SIGNAL
Coach Hunter's thoughts on the previous season and the new recruiting class LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter
A
fter falling to Texas State 63-61 in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament, head coach Ron Hunter remains optimistic for the 2016-17 season. The Panthers finished the 2015-16 regular season with a 16-14 record. Starting off strong in the season, Georgia State won eight straight home games defending the Sports Arena until falling to UL Lafayette. Georgia State began to slow down and experienced losing streaks later in the season. Falling to conference members such as Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Little Rock, the team began to recognize what they needed to improve on. After defeating Appalachian State in the final home game, Georgia State clinched a spot in the Sun Belt tournament, but could not advance as far as the program saw in previous seasons. Coach Hunter describes the previous season as a learning experience for the freshmen players. “Well I think it was a learning experience,” Coach Hunter said. “It reminded me of T.J. and R.J’s first year when they were playing. We had a lot of freshmen playing and after that, they got to a NIT game and then a NCAA game. So it’s almost kind of starting over again with all the young guys. We had some good things, but we lost a lot of close games.” Freshmen Malik Benlevi, Austin Donaldson, and Alario Harris saw playing time for the Panthers. While Benlevi averaged 1.8 points per game and Donaldson averaged 2.4 points per game, they were able to learn from experienced players Markus Crider and T.J. Shipes, who battled to be the most winningest players in Georgia State History.
Starting off strong in the season while struggling towards the end was also a learning experience for Coach Hunter. “The learning experience for me came when we started off so well, and it caught me off guard,” Coach Hunter said. “I thought we would start off slowly and then get better, but we played our best basketball early rather than late. When you lose a guy like Ryan Harrow and R.J. Hunter, it’s hard to replace that in a few months. Especially with R.J. leaving early.”
Recruting class
Although the Panthers lost seniors T.J. Shipes, Markus Crider, Kevin Ware and Jalen Brown, there are high hopes for the recruiting class as well as two promising players coming off the bench. “We had two guys sitting out that are really good players,” Coach Hunter said. “Devin Mitchell and Willie Clayton, who are outstanding players. Then we have the guys that we signed to a group that now becomes a veteran group. I think we should be right back playing for the championship next year.” Mitchell, the Alabama transfer, will bring valuable assets to the team offensively and defensively. Playing in 14 games during his freshman year at Alabama, Mitchell scored against Vanderbilt and Towson. Coach Hunter explains what skills Mitchell can contribute to the team. “Something we desperately needed from last year/s team, scoring,” Coach Hunter said. “He can really score the ball. By far the best shooter in the program. We really missed that this past year so I think that will be his greatest asset to the team. Georgia State will welcome shooting guard D’Marcus Simonds, who is now a senior at Gainesville High School, into the basketball program. Averaging over 22 points per game during his junior season, Simonds chose to attend Georgia State over
other universities such as Mississippi State, University of Florida and the University of Georgia. Coach Hunter commends Simonds on his basketball skills as well as looks forward to him joining the team. “Again he will be a freshman coming in, but he’s really talented,” Coach Hunter said. “A lot like when R.J. came in as a freshman. He just has to come in and help us win. He’s been such a star, but we have a lot of really good players, so he has to just fit in and find his role on the team. He’s going to be a special player here.”
Effective coaching
Having the passion for coaching, Hunter considers the job to be his calling in life. Seeing the players that he has coached, rather they are from IUPUI, Georgia State or WisconsinMilwaukee, doing well serves as one of Hunter’s greatest accomplishments. Hunter came into Georgia State to turn the program around and has accomplished that goal within his arrival in 2011-12. “One of the things I’ve always prided myself on is building programs,” Coach Hunter said. “That’s why I came here. I love building programs. I love when people say you can’t get something done in a certain situation and you want to prove them wrong. We’ve been able to do that in every stop we’ve made including here. Georgia State was already NCAA Division I, but they said you couldn’t win here. Now we’ve won a lot of games here.” “I just want the guys to play hard,” Coach Hunter said. “Sometimes you can’t control if the ball goes in, but you can control your effort. One thing I want to make sure of is that my guys give effort every single time.”
SPORTS
16
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
Football coaching staff enhances Hiring of Minters and McDonell essential to football team improvement DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter
C
oming off of the first bowl game appearance last year, the Georgia State football team is looking to compete for even greater things next year as they add two well experienced coaches to their staff. The Panthers signed former Cincinnati Head Coach Rick Minter as their new defensive line coach and John McDonell, former offensive line coach at Tulane, as their senior offensive analyst. Both coaches each have over 30 years of coaching experience and Head Coach Trent Miles feels these new additions are exactly what they need to compete for a Sun Belt championship. “We are thrilled to be able to add Rick Minter and John McDonell to our staff,” Miles said in a press conference. “Not only are they experienced coaches with tremendous track records, but they are outstanding people who will be role models for our young men. These additions will help us take another step forward as we try to compete for a Sun Belt championship.” Both Minter and McDonell are both great coaches coming in to fix two of the Panthers’ biggest problems last year. Minter coming in for the defensive line coach is exactly what the Panthers needed, an experienced defensive minded coach. Last year the Panthers only had 18 sacks, which is ranked No. 107 overall in Division I football. Minter was the linebacker coach for the Philadelphia Eagles the past three years during which the Eagles averaged 41 sacks per year. Expect the Panthers sack problems to
be improved dramatically. The second big problem for the Panthers last year was their rushing attack, as they only had 1,260 yards on the season which is ranked No. 126 in Division I football. Only Washington State and UCF had less rushing yards on the season. McDonell was the offensive line coach for Tulane the past four years. During his first year there they only had 475 yards on the season, but after that year the team averaged 1,591 yards per season. Expect the Panthers running attack to help relieve some of the pressure off the new starting quarterback this year.
Like father, like son?
Minter is finally getting to coach along his son, Jesse Minter. Jesse is entering his fourth year as the defensive coordinator for the Panthers. Rick, being a coach for over 30 years, really got his son into football and into embracing the love for the game. “My dad really allowed us to embrace football growing up,” Jesse said in an interview with Georgia State associate athletics director Mike Holmes. “He wanted us to be around as much as possible. By the time I was 16 or 17, I was able to develop relationships with assistant coaches [got] to see how they worked and understand what football does to people.” Minter coached for big programs such as Cincinnati (1994-2003), Notre Dame (1992-93,2005-07), and in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Minter provided his son with the opportunity to learn coaching from many different teams, but the most experience he had was with his dad at Notre Dame the second time. “After college, when I became an
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PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Panther’s Defensive Coach Rick Minters advises linebackers during practice on April 13, 2016
intern with Notre Dame, I got to live with my dad,” Jessie said to Holmes. “The whole experience of that year was incredible and we had a lot of fun. Other than my first year as a defensive coordinator, there is no other year that I learned more in coaching.” Now with over three years of college experience with the same program, it looks like Jesse will be showing his dad whaat he has learned over the years. With Minter and his son teaming up and nine starters returning from last year, the Panthers defense will probably be the best it’s had since entering Division I competition.
McDonell looks to improve the o-line Along with Minter, McDonell has also coached for big name programs such as Stanford, Notre Dame, Purdue, Stanford and Washington State. In fact he has worked with Coach Miles before at Stanford in 2001 and he has worked with receivers coach Tim Lappano at Washington State from 1989-92. McDonell’s resume speaks for itself. He has been to 10 bowl games, one of them being the 1997 Rose Bowl, one conference title at Weber State, and he has coached two lineman who were both selected in the first round of the NFL. He also coached another
lineman that was named an AllAmerican. Last year the Panthers gave up 33 sacks and are looking to improve that this year. McDonell during his last two seasons at Tulane, only had his lineman give up an average of 25 sacks per season. This is exactly what the Panthers need with a new quarterback at the helm this year. With McDonell helping the running attack and offensive line protection, Minter fixing that Panthers pass rushing attack and the 60 plus years of coaching experience they bring to the table, expect the Panthers to possibly have their first Division I winning season.
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
Gregson keeps Panthers bid alive Conference will determine automatic NCAA Tournament bid TOBI ADEYEMI Staff Reporter
W
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Freshman Jemima Greyson in action on the green at the Louisville Invitational in John’s Creek, Georgia, Sep. 8, 2015.
ith the regular season coming to a close at their last event, the Georgia State women’s golf team are prepping for their postseason, beginning with the upcoming Sun Belt Conference championship. The Panthers last event was the 23rd annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle’s Landing Country Club, where they shot a final round 306 to finish the 54-hole event at 59-over which was good enough for ninth place. The Panthers were led by freshman Jemima Gregson, who shot a final round 74 and finishing the event at 8-over par, good enough for a ninth place individual finish. Head Coach Cathy Mant had nothing but praise for the freshman. “I’m really proud of the way Jemima is playing. She has stepped up to the challenge as a freshman and is only getting better,” Coach Mant said to Georgia State Communications. To have true freshman come in
and produce right away is a blessing, but for one to come in and not only produce but excel is extremely rare, and that’s exactly what Gregson did over the course of the season. The John Kirk Intercollegiate was her second top 10 finish and her fifth top 25 finish in her last nine events. Even though Jemima Gregson led the way, multiple other golfers on the team experienced success this season too. Paula Zambarte, Julie Lied, and Solene Le Coz each had one top 25 finish. Yasemin Sari, sophomore from Kadenbach, Germany, has three top 25 finishes in nine tournament appearances, and she is the only member of the team to record a score in the 60s this season. Sari shot a final round of 68 at the Edwin Watts/ Kiawah Island Spring Classic back in March to finish tied for 18th. Coach Mant was very proud of her and the whole team’s performance. “Overall, I am really pleased with the way everyone played today,” Coach Mant told Georgia State Communications. “Yasemin played extremely well and really stepped up in a big way. Even with a little stumble
at the end, she still came back and birdied her final hole.” Up next for the Georgia State women’s golf team is their biggest event of the year, the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The Sun Belt Conference Championship will take place April 17-19 in Miramar Beach, Florida. Coach Mant is very confident in her team after everything she has seen this season, and especially after the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate. “We had too many big scores that derailed a chance of shooting a really good score,” Mant said, “But I think the team sees that if we do certain things, we will have a chance at the conference championship.” The winner of the Sun Belt Conference Championship gets an automatic bid to NCAA regional play. If the Panthers can make it to NCAA regional play, they get the opportunity to compete for a spot at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Oregon. The best of luck to the Panthers from here on out.
Up next are the conference championships Georgia State men’s golf team finishes up productive regular season at No. 60 LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter
F
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Sophomore Alexander Hermann looks on the range during the Georgia State hosted AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic in Duluth, Georgia, Oct. 12, 2015.
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inishing the final regular season event, the Georgia State men’s golf team will begin competing at the Sun Belt Conference Championship on April 24-27 in Miramar Beach, Florida. The Panthers began their spring campaign at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate at Magnolia Grove Crossing Golf Club in Mobile, Alabama. Hosted by conference member South Alabama, Georgia State faced other opponents such as Wake Forest, Chattanooga and Auburn. Finishing third after the first two rounds, the Panthers finished fifth place after the third and final round in the Mobile Intercollegiate. Senior J.J. Grey earned his second career third place finish in the event. After shooting a final round 72, Grey completed the event at 5-under par. Tying for 17th place, sophomore Alexander Herrmann shot the low
round of the day resulting in a 3-under 69. Being one of the team's most improved players along with his twin brother Max Herrmann, head coach Joe Inman recognizes their contribution to the program. "I truly think everyone on the team has improved this year. If I had to point someone or someones out, I would say Alexander and Max Herrmann have maybe shown the most improvement,” Coach Inman said. “As [a] freshman last year, they had a lot of ups and downs which is typical for freshman. This year, they have shown much more consistency. Their good rounds have become really good rounds and they minimize the damage in their bad rounds. I think the sky's the limit for them the next two years.” Alexander Herrmann continued on to see success as well as help the Panthers in the Tiger Invitational. Alexander Herrmann tied for sixth place with two golfers ranked in the top 10 in the country. Leading Georgia State with a 1-under 71. Continuing on in the event sophomore M. Herrmann led
Georgia State in the final round with a 2-under 70. Thus, tying for 22nd place. Georgia State finished at fifth place, shooting 288 in the final round while totaling 883. Having won its third-straight Furman Intercollegiate title this season, Georgia State shot a final round of 281 finishing 7-under to defeat Harvard. Grey placed third after shooting a final round 4-under 68 and finishing the event at 8-under. The Panthers finished the regular season at Old Waverly Collegiate. Finishing at fourth place, junior Nathan Mallonee led Georgia State shooting a final round 1-over 73 finishing at 3-over. Mallonee tied for 12th place. “I am very happy with how our regular season has gone,” Coach Inman said. “Our team has gotten better every month and we were able to win two tournaments along the way. I think the way our regular season is finishing will propel us into the Sun Belt Conference Championship and then hopefully a long run in NCAA postseason play."
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PANTHER OF THE WEEK
SPORTS CALENDAR *CONFERENCE GAME
WOMEN’S TENNIS Thursday, April 21 GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Aaron Winchester Football Quarterback Aaron Winchester led the white team over the blue team in a 26-3 win on April 16 at Georgia State’s spring game. The redshirt freshman threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Winchester is in competition for the starting position to replace the senior Nick Arbuckle with Conner Manning and Emiere Scaife. “I think [we] played well today,” Winchester said after the scrimmage that brought a near 2,000 fans to Panthersville. The Lawrenceville native was a two-time all-state quarterback at Mount Pisgah Christian School. As a senior, he was first-team all-state member and the region 6-A Offensive Player of the Year.
1st 2nd
19
SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
Day One Sun Belt Championships
at New Orleans, Louisiana TBA
RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL
VOLLEYBALL Friday, April 22
TBD CCSA Championship at Emerson, Georgia All Day
Friday, April 22
Day Two Sun Belt Championships at New Orleans, Louisiana TBA
MEN'S TENNIS Thursday, April 21
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD Friday, April 29
at New Orleans, Louisiana TBA
at Cullowhee, North Carolina 10 a.m.
Friday, April 22
Day One Sun Belt Championships
SPORTS EDITOR’S PREDICTIONS
Western Carolina
Cavs vs. PANTHER OF Cavs in 7 PistonsTHE WEEK Haws vs. Celtics
Hawks in 6
Heats vs. Hornets
Heat in 7
Raptor vs. Pacers
Pacers in 6 Warriors in 4
Friday, May 13
Warriors vs. Rockets
Day Two Sun Belt Championships
Sun Belt Outdoor Championship
at New Orleans, Louisiana TBA
at Lafayette, Louisiana 8:30 a.m.
Clippers vs. Blazers
Clippers in 6
SOFTBALL
BASEBALL
UL Lafayette
South Alabama
13-1 | Overall: 34-3
16-1 | Overall: 27-9
South Alabama
UL Lafayette
14-2 | Overall: 26-11
10-5 | Overall: 23-12
THE FINAL SCORE No. 53 men’s tennis trumps Georgia Southern
The 4-0 in-conference men’s tennis team defeated rival Georgia Southern 4-1 on April 16 in Statesboro, Georgia. Jannis Koeke, Zackery Kennedy, Felipe Jaworski won their respective Singles’ matches, as freshman Jack MacFarlane lost his match. The team will now head to New Orleans this weekend for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with the women’s tennis team.
Sun Belt Standings
Beach volleyball earns No. 2 seed in conference tournament
3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Georgia Southern
Little Rock
9-5 | Overall: 24-19
11-7 | Overall: 18-17
Troy
Texas State
7-7 | Overall: 26-16
9-6 | Overall: 21-16
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
6-8 | Overall: 23-22
9-9 | Overall: 21-15
UT Arlington
Troy
6-9 | Overall: 27-12
7-7 | Overall: 21-15
Texas State
UT Arlington
5-9 | Overall: 26-16
6-9 | Overall: 20-17
UL Monroe
Georgia State
6-12 | Overall: 21-25
5-9 | Overall: 16-18
Appalachian State
UL Monroe
2-15 | Overall: 9-35
5-9 | Overall: 14-21
The first CCSA Tournament will begin on April 22 in Emerson, Georgia. The Panthers’ 22-7 regular season gave the program its first 20-win season and No. 3 Florida State received the tournament’s No. 1 seed. LSU will be the No. 4 seed in the bracket as well. Georgia State’s first match will begin at 9:30 a.m. against FIU. Softball sweeps Appalachian State in series
Ivie Drake’s on-base streak extended to 11 games as the Panthers breezed past the Mountaineers in North Carolina. Georgia State defeated Appalachian State 15-0, 11-9 and 9-3. Katie Worley earned her tenth win of the season, but her scoreless innings streak came to an end at 21. Senior Taylor Anderson hit her 28th career home run of her career.
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