The Signal Vol. 83 No.13

NOV. 17 - DEC. 1, 2015

VOL. 83 | NO. 13

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Home For The ‘Holidaze’ Going home for the holidays can be tough. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when visiting family.

Opinions | Page 7

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JASON LUONG | THE SIGNAL Georgia Tech Sophomore, Tiffany Chu, is not excited about the thought of returning home for an extended period of time.

Inside #______ LivesMatter

Happy holiday$

Holly Jolly With Crafts

Change of scenery

Mysterious stickers around campus are reminding students of 2013’s White Student Union.

Editorial: The holidays have two meanings. To cherish family and the gifts we are about to buy and receive.

Not every holiday season needs to be spent in a store. Here is a creative DIY for your wallet to enjoy this winter break.

We take a look at how transfers affected the basketball program throughout the years.

News | Page 6

Opinion| Page 8

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

A&L | pages 10-11 Opinion 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports | page 16 Sports 15

2

NEWS

blotter

Two or more non-Georgia State people got into a verbal confrontation outside of the Commons Precinct at 2:57 p.m. The case has been cleared.

nov. 9

nov.

11 Taking more than knowledge

Living a lie

The Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) responded to an incident where a student was possessing and using false identification documents. The incident happened in the Piedmont North Building and has been cleared.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

CORRECTIONS Issue 11.10 - Neighborhood Guide:

In Library North, a Georgia State student was involved in an incident where something was taken from the building that was valued at more than $500. Someone also tried to steal from the building. The incident happened 1:11 p.m. to 1:26 p.m., and the case is still active.

• SGA Senate: Unprepared - Photo by Jason Luong & Dayne Francis.

• Sports Page A10- Staff byline mispelled. The writer is Devone Slappy, not Devonne Slappy • Cover photo belongs to Jade Johnson | The Signal

nov.

12 The rule breaker

Nov. 10

Another bike gone

A bike from the E Lot Bike Rack was stolen between 8:30 a.m. and noon.

A Georgia State student is involved in the incident, and the case is still active.

nov.

10 Street showdown

A non-Georgia State affiliated person was arrested for six different reasons at Park Place at 10:29 p.m. The person drove under the influence, possessed an ounce or less of marijuana, carried no proof of insurance and carried an open container while driving on the wrong side of a street and having no license plate.

ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Georgia State Students, dressed in all black, gather in the courtyard to stand in solidarity with University of Missouri Students. This comes in the wake of numerous acts racism across their university’s campus.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Gains and losses Georgia State leases two residence halls and prepares to open the doors of a new one LAUREN BOOKER News Editor

W

hile Georgia State’s Piedmont Avenue bound 11 story high residence hall nears completion, Patton Hall and the University Commons have been sold to Corvias Group, a Rhode Island based development firm.

On May 14, 2015, the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG) agreed to lease out the two dorms to Corvias, along with residence halls on nine other campuses throughout Georgia, according to the New Housing Lease Agreement obtained through an Open Records Request.

Randy Brown, Director for Georgia State’s University Housing, said he believes Patton Hall and the Commons were bought by Corvias to help alleviate their costs of building new housing.

“They were able to come up with the money. So we were able to partner on this and figure out that we are able to have the capital and money to get new housing,” he said. ”They are coming up with all the money for it.”

Partnering for housing

Sonja Roberts, USG’s communications specialist, said Corvias was chosen as the developer for the Public Private Partnership (P3) with the USG in November 2014 through a competitive bid process. She said the goal of P3 is to lower the costs of housing for students.

With P3, Corvias will develop, build, manage and maintain residence halls in nine of USG’s 31 colleges, according to Corvias’ website.

Roberts said the partnership will also provide students with access to safe, quality and affordable dorms.

“It is an on-going challenge to build and finance large projects such as student housing and keep costs affordable. The USG is always looking at ways to keep costs down and still provide a quality education and student services,” she said.

Andrea Jones, spokesperson for Georgia State, said there won’t be any significant changes for students living in residence halls, and they will continue to receive residence life programming.

Georgia State will also continue to control the residence life aspect of all the dorms, according to Brown. Corvias is in charge of the maintenance and custodial functions of Patton Hall, the Commons and the upcoming housing facility.

“We maintain the occupancy or the assignments component of it, the residence life, which consists of your RAs, assistant directors, associate director, living learning communities, all of those programmatic types of elements,” he said. “We also maintain the IT services for all buildings on campus.”

He said housing prices for residents will not be affected

by Corvias’ acquisition of Patton Hall and the Commons, because the buildings

The new housing facility on Piedmont Avenue will open its doors next fall.

have a projected cost.

“Ultimately the Board of Regents have control over what the rates are. It is really sensitive to percent increases and while also recognizing what the campus needs are financially in order to pull off the projection for the year,” he said.

Preparing for new dorms

Next fall, the new residence hall will welcome in an influx of students, filling approximately 1,052 beds. University Housing is also considering to let upperclassmen stay in the housing facility, according to Brown.

“We are thinking a large designation for first-year students. But there are a couple room types that are appealing to upperclassmen students,” he said. “We are going to play around with what that looks like, as well as some living learning communities that can have some mixed uses.”

He said Corvias’ design concept for the residence hall hinges on the ideas of greet, meet, chat and gather, and the rooms will be similar Patton Hall.

When opening the door to the suite, there will be a shower on one side and a sink and toilet on the other side, Brown said. Then there would be two doors going into separate rooms, which could be shared or single person occupancy.

“We’ve learned

now that basically three people in a shared space is two sinks. Four people can use the restroom functions and not impede on somebody else,” he said.

Rashidat Akande, a Georgia State senior, said she would consider living in the new dorm since the bathrooms will not be connected like Patton Hall.

However, she said upperclassmen may not make the upcoming residence hall their first choice.

“Once you become an upperclassmen, you don’t want to live on campus anymore,” she said. “You kinda just want your own space, but I don’t really think any upperclassmen would want to stay over there.”

The new housing facility’s suite setup was selected by last year’s housing staff and Corvias, because they viewed it as being cost efficient, unlike the Commons and the University Lofts’ apartment style dorms, according to Brown.

“We are still able to keep a small square footage while also opening up the bathroom functions to multiple users simultaneously,” he said.

Since the dorm might be open to students of all classifications, Brown said the types of programming for residence life could vary based on first-year students and upperclassmen population sizes.

“We also have to be open to any of our halls that may shift or change depending on what the needs of the students are,” he said. “So we are always constantly assessing and making tweaks and subtle changes to the initially way we conceptualize it.”

Brown said Corvias is planning for laundry rooms to have three washers and dryers on each floor. Through design, the laundry rooms will be right beside a gathering area, where a

microwave, TV and sitting area will be.

“They put windows on the laundry rooms of this new hall so you can see and sit right outside of the laundry room and watch it. So they have built it into this kind of greet space,” he said.

“It will be a social environment where you can hangout, watch a little TV and check your clothes.”

On Nov. 11, University Housing gauged the student body to hear their opinions of possible furniture options for the new residence hall. The chair selection included a red bouncy stool, a chair similar to a spinning top and a bean bag chair.

Akande said the chairs seemed creative, but felt uncomfortable.

“As a student, I feel like you should feel comfortable in your environment.

You want somewhere where you can just lounge and relax,” she said.

The search for new residence hall staff will begin next semester, and the new dorm will need about 30 resident assistants (RA), Brown said.

“Typically we do placement of the residence hall staff in early to mid spring,” he said. “If we place one of the retained hall directors in the new hall, then we will not go search for a hall director at the new hall.”

Brown said University Housing hopes to build another housing facility in the future, but the timing will be dependent on the size of the wait list.

He said last year’s wait list was approximately 1,200.

“We are still pulling together some data to see how many people end up dropped off the waiting list,” he said.

“As well as pulling together some historical data to kinda see if we could how much the waitlist is grown every year so that we can forecast how much it should grow this next year.”

PHOTO BY LAUREN BOOKER | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

HIV prevention gap last week

Social stigma scares people from getting STD screened

CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Staff Reporter

Local

Hit and run leaves woman dead on scene

Tracy Mitchell, owner of a DeKalb County taqueria, was arrested Nov. 11 on charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and hit and run, according to Atlanta Eater. Mitchell, who cooks and runs Bad Dog Taqueria in DeKalb’s Emory Village, is alleged to have struck and killed a woman with her vehicle around 1:30 a.m. Mitchell turned herself in to DeKalb police on Wednesday evening.

National

Smokers beware! Smoking at home is threatened by a federal ban

James Minter, 26, fired a handgun in an Alabama church injuring his girlfriend, his infant son and the pastor, according NBC News. Pastor Early Carswell tried to subdue the man and the witnesses was able to disarm Minter before he fled. Police caught up to Carter a few miles away and arrested him on charges of attempted murder.

Global

Islamic State terrorizes Paris

Three teams of Islamic State terrorists attacked Paris, France on Friday leaving more than 120 people dead in their wake, according to the Associated Press.

Attackers stormed Paris’ Bataclan concert hall, where they killed 89 hostages before the assailants were killed. Elsewhere in northern Paris, the other terror squads detonated suicide bombs near a France versus Germany soccer match. At least 350 people are still injured from the attacks and French President Francois Hollande has promised to wage “merciless” war on ISIS.

H

IV has been declared a “public health emergency” in the South by the federal government. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has named 16 red-zone states, including Georgia.

Patrick Sullivan from Emory University said that the South is under threat, because it is home to the people with the lowest incomes, according the Atlanta JournalConstitution. With Southern conservative leaders refusing to expand Medicaid, getting treatment is often not viable for those who cannot afford it.

The CDC found the South ranks first in the nation for its rate of new HIV cases. The federal AIDS website has attributed this fact to the lack of prevention and testing.

Lack of Knowledge

Jacob Aberle, a Georgia State student, said the lack of information and general knowledge of HIV, how it is transmitted and how to protect yourself is reminiscent of the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

“I desire to live in a world where I can have a real relationship with somebody I love even if he is HIV positive and I am not.” Aberle said.

Nationwide, one in eight people infected with HIV do not know they have the virus, according to AIDS. gov.

A new organization called Decent Exposure is emerging in Georgia State to promote student health in the university and the city of Atlanta.

In collaboration with the clinic, the organization helps students gain access to confidential HIV testing.

Decent Exposure said, “We believe that the rise in HIV is related to people being misinformed of its concentration in their community.

There is an assumption around STI’s that people will form stereotypes, and they will determine whether they are being safe or not without consulting a professional.”

Prevention Methods

One of the most effective ways to

Now hiring Reporters

prevent HIV is to get tested regularly, no matter what sex habits one has.

Decent Exposure said HIV is no longer a problem only for the homosexual community and is spreading to younger age group.

One form of preventive medication is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which boosts the immune system of sexually active individuals for them to fight off a HIV infection. For the medication to be effective, they need to be taken on a very precise schedule, with no dose ever missed.

As a sexually active man, Aberle said he practices safe sex habits to eliminate his chances of contracting HIV. He said even though PrEP protects against HIV infection, it does not replace the effectiveness of using condoms as protection against STDs and STIs. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) exists for those who have already come in contact with the virus, and it works to enhance their immune system, according to the CDC. The most common HIV treatment, as shown in government research, is Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which usually includes more than one medicine and helps slow the multiplication of the HIV virus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), out of the 36.9 million people living with HIV, about 15 million are receiving ART and are living longer and in better health.

Prevention in Atlanta

Besides prevention, Atlanta residents can visit certain centers specializing in HIV testing and prevention to get confidentially tested. Positive Impact is an organization in Atlanta that provides testing, prevention and support services. AID Atlanta, another testing and prevention center, is the largest AIDS organization in the South.

Along with these organizations, Decent Exposure is reaching out to students of Georgia State about the importance of getting checked. Their findings suggest that between the ages of 18-22, twice as many females than males get tested for HIV. The Georgia State University clinic is also making an effort at providing HIV testing and counseling. Decent Exposure said the tests include a

“I desire to live in a world where I can have a real relationship with somebody I love even if he is HIV positive and I am not.”

-Jacob Aberle, Georgia State Student

Did you know?

Oral HIV Protection Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily oral fixed-dose combination of two drugs. One is 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and 200 mg emtricitabine. The pill reduces the risk of obtaining HIV up to 92 percent.

Scientists say PrEP is fully effective in a person’s blood stream by 20 days of use. Research also shows that a person must take PrEP every day to be protected, and not skip days.

How to get HIV The highest-risk sexual behavior to get HIV is anal sex and vaginal is the second highest-risk.

HIV is also commonly spread through sharing needles and syringes. *According to the Centers for Disease Control urine and blood test. Results take 1-2 days for deliverance.

Diagnosis and prevention organizations exist for all age groups, but college students are the most vulnerable due to their activities. The federal AIDS page found that one in four new HIV cases are between the ages of 13-24.

Aberle said he thinks many infected young people avoid getting tested due to the social stigma around

HIV. “People need to be able to talk about what they consider to be “safe” and okay within their sex lives without fear of judgement from others, especially potential lovers,” he said.

Decent Exposure said they believe students should not be berated for their sex-lives, and the clinic should be a responsible part of students’ sex-lives.

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5

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Atlanta Streetcar’s year in review: Free rides, a few crashes and some vandalism The streetcar stops at Woodruff Park for anyone to enjoy the free ride before the New Year.

PRISCILLA MEDEIROS Staff Reporter

W

hether you’re a frequent rider or not, enjoy these last few weeks while you can because starting in January the Atlanta Streetcar will no longer be free.

Construction of the 12-foottall trolley began in 2012 and made its debut on Downtown streets in December of 2014. Since the streetcar’s grand opening, it has attracted a group of diverse consumers that includes tourists, locals and Georgia State students.

The streetcar will begin charging a ridership fee and continue its economic development plan in 2016, even though it’s seen vandalism and accidents since it began running.

The fate of the fare

When the streetcar first opened to the public, it was intended to be free only for the first three months but Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed extended free ridership for the rest of 2015.

Even though project designers had an expectation of over 2,000 riders

each weekday, the streetcar’s initial ridership was 18 percent lower than anticipated, according to the AJC. Reed decided to extend the free fare in hopes that the streetcar would become a habit to the community. A trip to Israel allowed Reed to discover new fare collection technology, according to SaportaReport.

The City of Atlanta’s Press Secretary Jenna Garland confirmed that the streetcar will no longer be free for consumers in the upcoming year.

“The streetcar will have fare service for 2016. We will have a few different ways to purchase the fare in January,” Garland said.

Two of those ways include the MARTA Breeze Card system and a new mobile app that will allow riders to pay their fare with the use of a smartphone.

Accidents and vandalism

Drivers, pedestrians and bikers who make up Atlanta’s busy downtown area can spot the 80-foot long electric trolley traveling on a path of thick rails beside bright traffic stripes.

However, this past year hasn’t always been a smooth ride for the $98

million streetcar since it’s no stranger to accidents and vandalism.

“I believe the current figure is 11,” said City of Atlanta’s Press Secretary Jenna Garland.

Most of these accidents resulted with the driver of another vehicle being at fault except for one instance in which the streetcar driver was arrested on unrelated traffic charges, according to WABE. A safety video on the Atlanta Streetcar website warn drivers to obey traffic laws and to be cautious of an approaching streetcar. When it comes to an accident involving a motor vehicle, the odds are usually in favor of the 96,000-pound streetcar.

Vandalism proved to be another issue for the streetcar back in September. One perpetrator slipped into the Atlanta Streetcar’s fencedin vehicle maintenance depot and tagged three streetcars, according to the AJC. Garland recounts the events that led to the streetcar being vulnerable to vandalism and what was done to prevent another incident.

“Our security contract at the time required two officers at the Vehicle Maintenance Facility each night,” Garland said.

PHOTO BY PRISCILLA MEDEIROS | THE SIGNAL

However, according to Garland, one of the officers had a family emergency and was unable to make his shift. The supervisor failed to call in a second security guard, leaving only one officer on patrol during the night of the vandalism.

“As a result, the city has secured a new security contractor,” Garland said.

Economic development

The light-rail project was designed to improve downtown Atlanta’s eastwest connectivity and to add value to the surrounding neighborhoods, according to the Atlanta Streetcar Corridor Development and Investment Guide.

“More than $1.5 billion in new development has sprung up within a five minute walk of the Streetcar line,” Garland said.

The Downtown Atlanta area near the streetcar route is continuing to expand with several real estate developments planned for the next year.

Student Experiences

Whether you’re noticing the several yellow writings on the ground that say “streetcar” or passing by the

streetcar’s Woodruff Park stop on your way to Aderhold, the streetcar has made its presence known to the Georgia State community.

Adriana Parra, a Georgia State nursing major, said she doesn’t want to get hit by the streetcar.

“It only has the little bell [to signal its arrival] and you can’t hear it if you’re wearing headphones,” she said.

It takes about 60 feet to come to a complete stop, according to the Atlanta Streetcar website. The ads urge pedestrians to be “Streetcar Smart” and to “Stop. Look. Listen.”

Kento Londot, a Georgia State sophomore, chooses to ride the streetcar, instead of driving to big Downtown events.

“Around here in Atlanta it’s a lot easier to take a streetcar instead of drive to big events like concerts,” Londot said.

Londot rode the streetcar to Centennial Olympic Park then walked to a concert at the Georgia Dome to avoid expensive parking fees.

“It came in handy and I felt pretty safe,” Londot said.

When asked if he would still ride the streetcar if he had to pay a fare, Landot said he would “rather walk.”

NEWS

6

Under The Radar ZEKARI SMITH Staff Reporter

S

tickers emblazoned with “White Lives Matter” have been popping up around Georgia State’s campus for the past month, and the people behind them are currently unknown.

For Georgia State students who remember the White Student Union controversy back in 2013, Patrick Sharp is an easy scapegoat. Sharp, however, refuted this claim, but does say that many people have approached him about the stickers, many of whom could have been the creator.

“Many, if not most white students are tired of racial double standards but don’t want to have lunatics coming after them, as I have. So I don’t know who did it exactly. It could have been any number of people,” he said.

Still, Sharp defended the stickers and said the message behind them is that white people shouldn’t be attacked based on being white. He said white people are not “uniquely evil.”

When asked how these stickers should be dealt with, Sharp said they should be left alone.

“Georgia State should do nothing.

It’s not the school’s business to tell people what they can say and think.

If people want the school to tell them what they should say and think, they are probably a little too delicate to be attending college to begin with,” he said.

Shakira Thomas, Georgia State

freshman and biology major, also said the stickers should not be considered offensive, because they are not a threat. She said they have the same message as “Black Lives Matter” or “All Lives Matter.”

“I think it’s supposed to mean that white people want to direct attention to injustices and inequalities that they face, just like police brutality within the black lives matter movement,” she said.

Tori Franklin, Georgia State sophomore and nutrition major, never noticed the actual stickers, just the flyers for anti-racist demonstrations. She said she felt the message behind the stickers could have been a genuine call for attention to white issues, but they probably came out of ignorance.

“I feel like it’s maybe not coming from a place of ‘we’re more important; you’re more important.’ I feel like it’s coming from a place of ignorance like they don’t understand what it’s like to be a minority. They try to say ‘well I have problems too’, but it’s not the same thing.”

An anti-racism rally was held by the Progressive Student Alliance, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and The International Socialist Organization on Tuesday, Nov. 10th, in response to the stickers. The rally attracted an array of people, some of whom shared speeches or stories about their experiences.

Julia White, a member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, said she feels that the stickers support a white supremacist agenda.

“It just means that black lives are useless, they don’t mean anything, so that’s why we’re out here, like, reminding everybody that black lives

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Student organizations rally against the ‘White Lives Matter’ movement lurking on campus

PHOTO BY JADA HAYES | THE SIGNAL

With “White Lives Matter” stickers popping up on campus, students rally against it in Library Plaza this past week.

do matter and that we’re not going to tolerate white supremacy on this campus.”

The main speaker at the antiracist rally, Seyoum Bey, said that the coalition of the three organizations found over 70 stickers. These stickers are “white lives matter stickers” as well as stickers depicting the celtic cross and “good night left side.” Bey believes that these stickers will lead to larger demonstrations of similar sentiments if they are not dealt with.

“Any form of white supremacy, any form of any type of organizing will eventually grow if it’s not nipped in the bud at the beginning,” he said.

Bey also discussed a meeting held by the Black Student Alliance that was “infiltrated” by white supremacists who claimed that black people have not made any relevant contributions

to history.

Bey met with the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Darryl Holloman, in hopes of having Georgia State’s support in removing the stickers, but it didn’t go as he’d hoped.

“After speaking with him, his position was that this is a public campus, and at a public campus, at a public university, we cannot infringe on people’s’ ideologies, despite it promoting white supremacy. He said it wouldn’t be fair if Patrick Sharp came up to him and said ‘The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement is saying things I don’t like so can you do something about it?’.”

“So by not acknowledging this issue, we feel like the university is engaging in hypocrisy and they’re perpetuating the same notions

that white dominated societies perpetuates about black people just in general.”

The Black Lives Matter movement was created by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in 2013 as a response to violence against black people, according to USA Today.

However, some people have felt excluded and/or threatened by this message.

A Facebook page by the name of White Lives Matter uses its platform to bring attention to issues affecting white people, such as black-on-white crime. They argue that white people are the most discriminated against because of their skin color, and their hardships are ignored in favor of people of color, particularly black people.

According to BBC, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly called the Black Lives Matter movement a “hate group” and believes the movement supports the killing of police officers.

Many people have spoken out in attempts to share their interpretation of the Black Lives Matter movement, including President Obama, who was quoted on PBS. “I think everybody understands all lives matter,” Obama said. “I think the reason that the organizers used the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ was not because they were suggesting nobody else’s lives matter. Rather, what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that’s happening in the African-American community that’s not happening in other communities.”

For now, white lives matter stickers will continue to be posted around campus, and anti-racist demonstrations will continue to be held in response to them.

Millennials plan Atlanta’s future with the Atlanta Regional Commission NATALIE GRAMRELL Staff Reporter

W

ith the introduction of the Millennial Advisory Panel, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is working to make the voices of the younger generation louder during the expansion of metro Atlanta.

Millennials makes up 25 percent of the region’s population, according to the Atlanta Regional Council’s press release .

ARC said they created the Millennial Advisory panel to help make the younger generation’s voices be heard, according to the press release.

“As we move forward, we are able to have a better understanding with the issues that Millennials are faced with and how they envision living out their lives in the Atlanta region, and how they can make the region an even better place to live, work and play,” Cheryl Mayerik, ARC senior Communications Coordinator, said In the “New Voices” study by the ARC, the commission talked to 119 millennials from the Atlanta area to find out their views on aspects of the Atlanta area, including transportation and urban layout.

To make the region a better place for millennials to live, Atlanta City Council recently accepted the panel’s decision to take on the Region’s plan, which is a plan recently taken on by the city of Atlanta to improve certain things in the region.

“The Atlanta Region plan is something that is required to be taken on every certain number of years,” Mayerik said.

The plan displays innovations relevant to millennials, such as plans to improve the area’s transportation infrastructure, build a skilled workforce and encourage a healthy community.

Georgia State student Naina Noorali said she feels like there should be more buses available on campus.

“We’re really busy, like always on a time crunch and sometimes I feel like I have to wait at Langdale for buses a really long time, like traffic delays for example really makes people go slower. So I think young people discussing this stuff would be a really good idea,” Noorali said.

The Region’s plan will map out possible changes to the region by year 2040.

Mayerik said the panel is a diverse group that ranges from roughly 1933, and that there are several college students on the panel.

Georgia State Student Stefan Owens said as an economics major, he saw the benefit in having a “dense urban environment” instead of the more spread out transportation infrastructure.

“So I think addressing those issues would be something that would be a good impact for millennials,” he said.

For young professionals who wish to voice their opinions of a brighter Atlanta, ARC’s website offers plenty of methods to engage with the community and get involved.

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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.

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ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN MILLER | THE SIGNAL

‘So. . .how’s school going?’

How to deal with the dread of going home for the holidays

I

f you have a family who expects you home for the holidays, it’s about this time of year that you begin to feel the looming threat of having to visit them for the holidays.

Maybe you see them regularly, but something is different this time of year. There’s something more sinister about time with your family. There’s something expected of you from them, something beyond the usual.

This is the time of year when traditions are being performed. You’ll likely have to interact with family members you haven’t seen or spoken to since last year. There might be a tree or a menora, and there will definitely be food.

You’ll be assailed with questions about your time at school. You’ll be asked what you’re doing, how it’s (whatever it is) going, who you’re spending time with, and what you’re studying.

All through this you’ll be screaming internally because not only do you not know how to answer most of these questions, you hate having to tell these people you barely know. This is the dread of having to go home for the holidays. But luckily, there are a few things to keep in mind to make them more bearable.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that your mere participation is important to your family. Just to show up at the family gatherings and to be yourself, no matter if you speak a lot or just a little, is likely

enough for them.

Second, it’s important to remember that they’re asking you questions about your school not because they want to embarrass you, but because they’re genuinely curious. Your answer doesn’t have to be in-depth, but don’t be flippant or sarcastic either.

Small-talk is a great way to give the illusion of communicating even if no communication is really taking place. Remember, family events are, by and large, a performance, so simply keeping up appearances is enough.

If you don’t comport yourself as a respectable member of your family now, you will gain a reputation among your contemporaries’ offspring as being a ‘black sheep’ of the family, and you will lose respect.

But beyond the concern for respect is the concern for the fleeting nature of the lives of each of your family members. These rituals exist for a reason, and that reason is to have some semblance of togetherness for once every year, signposts that affirm that there is indeed a sense of family amongst these drifting bodies.

And that is probably the best reason of all to behave yourself, and to maintain a sense of composure during this season’s family events; your parent’s won’t’ be around for long, so show them that you are willing to at least passively give yourself to their traditions, however meaningless or lame they might seem to you now.

There’s a false conception that suicide rates spike during the holidays, probably because people assume those who don’t have families to go home to are especially depressed because they’re lonely and the weather is dreary, but the opposite is actually true; suicides are most common in the Springtime.

The idea has salience besides the evidence contradicting it, though. Christmas can be a lonely time if you don’t have anyone to go home to, for whatever reason (readers of Catcher in the Rye will recognize this dilemma).

And I don’t mean to leave out those of us who don’t have families who cruelly expect our return to home; their struggles are greater than our own. They grapple with loneliness, which is more painful than a thousand holiday homecomings.

Yet, isn’t it paradoxical that those of us who whine about having to go home for the holidays never consider the alternative? If we were not to go home, what would we be doing?

I’ll tell you: we’d be wishing we had gone home.

This is the ultimate irony of all of this dread: it’s not dread at all--it’s more like apprehension, apprehension that we feel before doing something we’re not accustomed to, but really do want to do.

Like getting out of bed, or going to bed, it’s simply a change of pace that is at first met with resistance, but is quickly gotten used to.

OPINION

8

EDITORIAL ‘Tis the season to start spending The holidays stand for family but also a time when commercialization is at its peak

M

ere hours after Halloween has passed, uppity department stores nationwide pop in their ‘holiday season’ playlists stuffed with every sugar-coated Santa Claus and mistletoe tune you ever heard.

Your local grocer stacks the Coca-Cola by the entrance in an awkward attempt at a turkey sculpture.

‘Tis the season to have holiday products shoved down your throat? But is this not consistent with the holiday spirit that corporate America has molded around us? The minute November begins, the Halloween decorations are gone, candy is on sale, and Thanksgiving decorations go up while multitudes of Christmas decorations appear.

However, Christmas exemplifies the immense national -- if not global -- a shift from a faith-based celebration to one of superficial materialism and consumerism. On the surface, many are grateful for family, life and many other things. Underneath that is the

battle for materialistic items.

We probably have never thought of it this way. After the feast is done, the table is cleaned, and the football games are over, we rush out and trample each other after telling ourselves we are grateful. We have even gone as far as to name this single day, no matter what date it falls on as Black Friday.

As an outcome and nest of violence, many stores have chosen to close their doors this season. REI, an outdoors and sporting goods retailer, is closing for this one day, according to USATODAY. But even with the chaos, many retail departments will remain open for you to grab good deals. Which leads to the real questions of how much of holiday cheer is in the joy of the season and how much of it is pressure from the media to deck the halls with a crapload of jolly.

There is a sign that the holidays are here. A turning point. While the music begins, those giant red “sale” logos go up. Even without the holidays, many will be driven

and buy items “on sale.” Why? Is it because we now have a chance in obtaining items we could normally not afford? Is it because the items we have now are considered out of date? And is it worth standing outside of stores for multiple hours waiting and repeat this every year.

We see this when new technology comes out into the market. For example, when Apple products launch.

Everyone knows Apple will come out with a new device with “new features” next year.

And yet, some will switch over and obtain the new device.

Society drives us; we can’t doubt that. And with the help of social media, the urge to go out and buy is stronger. And after the holidays are over you now have to decide, where are you going to stash everything you just bought? What items are getting thrown out and replaced with newer and better versions?

Are you expecting to shop ‘til you drop this Black Friday season? Let us know your thoughts. Email signaleditor@ gmail.com

ILLUSTRATION BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

ARTS & LIVING

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Homeless for the Holidays: Students can use their holiday break to give back

Where to Give

SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM

Associate Arts and Living Editor

W

hen holiday break commences, not everyone has a home to go to. And even when there is a home to go to, some may find it more fulfilling to create holiday cheer for someone else.

In the greater Atlanta area, there are food banks and organizations to keep the holiday season a warm and a fed one. SPARK: Reproductive Justice Now is collaborating with the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition (AHRC) to provide outreach to the homeless and hungry population.

Alissa Robbins, a senior Georgia State student and the office adminstrator for SPARK, is in charge of coordinating a collection in partnership with the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition for the colder holiday months.

“SPARK Reproductive Justice Now will be collecting cold weather clothing, blankets, hygiene products as well as non-perishable food items to donate to a Thanksgiving dinner for homeless individuals and families,” Robbins said.

Hosted by the AHRC, the Thanksgiving dinner will be on Nov. 25 for homeless individuals and

“In celebrating the holidays and the spirit of the season, it is a great way to extend that spirit and joy to those who are not as privileged or fortunate as some of us are. It’s a great way to spread happiness and hope to those who may not have any.”

SPARK: Reproductive Justice Now:

A collaborative outreach that seeks to find reproductive justice in Georgia and the greater South.

They are accepting donations now to be dispersed at the Thanksgiving dinner.

-Alissa Robbins

families. The dinner is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At the SPARK office, donations and gifts to be given out at the dinner are currently being taken. The timeline for the offerings will continue until Nov. 24.

“Students can get involved by donating everyday items that they may have already lying around the house,” Robbins said. “Our goal is to get as many donations as possible and to make a positive change in their lives.”

“Despite their circumstances,

homeless or impoverished individuals are just like you and I, they just so happen to be in a situation where they cannot help themselves because of certain barriers or situations that put them there,” Robbins said. “We can easily end up in their situation at any given point in life. In celebrating the holidays and the spirit of the season, it is a great way to extend that spirit and joy to those who are not as privileged or fortunate as some of us are. It’s a great way to spread happiness and hope to those who may not have any.”

If you would like to volunteer, email Alissa Robbins alissa@sparkrj.org or SPARK offices at 404-331-3250. Walk ins are also acceptable, there will be a sign-up sheet waiting.

There will also be a Volunteer Orientation on Nov. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition:

A community-based organization that commits to improving the health and wellbeing of marginalized groups.

The dinner will be held here and the donations will be distributed.

1231 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. NW Atlanta, Ga 30314

250 Georgia Ave SE Suite 207C Atlanta, Ga, 30312

How to Give Any items you think would benefit the homeless or displaced community is welcome, but more specifically the community looks for: The dinner itself is in need so the event on Nov. 25 will requires volunteers.

Coats Soap Jeans Toothbrushes Sweaters Toothpaste Long-sleeved shirts Shampoo and Conditioner Scarves Deodorant Gloves Lotion Socks Women’s hygiene products (pads, Blankets tampons, pantie liners) Towels Any and all non-perishable food Pillows items Shoes “For the dinner we need volunteers to set up, clean up, serve and distribute food, put together hygiene kits, organize and distribute the collected items as well as simply interacting with our guests.” Robbins said.

Pick Your Passion There are charitable organizations across the city to spend the holidays with, but here three places that might end up on your list. .

Nicholas House

PO 15577 Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: 404-622-0793

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

With colder weather approaching, Atlanta’s homeless community is in need of food and clothing donations to endure winter’s harsh conditions.

A transitional house for homeless and displaced families. Nicholas House not only has shelter, but it provides counseling, case management and assistance with parenting and other services targeted to strengthening the family unit and getting them back on their feet.

•

Volunteer opportunities include:

• • •

Collecting donations Stocking and restocking food Helping out events that the Community Food Bank provides food for or sponsors In order to sign up for day to day volunteer projects as well as the special event volunteer orientation, sign in to their volunteer management system that can be found on their site,

Our House

Decatur Site 711 South Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30030 Phone: 404-378-0938

Cooking the daily dinner meal.

• Helping out the children with after school tutoring.

• Throwing activities together for the families.

If interested, contact Nicholas House and reference their volunteer page.

Atlanta Community Food Bank

732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. NW Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-892-9822

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

A woman hands out food to the local homeless community in downtown Atlanta.

PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

The Atlanta Community Food Bank is a place for homeless and in need to get fed. They obtain more than 60 million pounds of food and groceries each year and gives it to more than 600 nonprofit partner agencies.

Volunteer opportunities include:

Atlanta Site 173 Boulevard Northeast Atlanta, GA 30312 Phone: 404-522-6056 Our House is a full-day, year-round early childhood education center that serves children daily, and offers parents support services to improve their displacement.

• • • • • •

Volunteer opportunities include:

Office and Donations Assistant Playgroup Supervisor Rocking Babies Kid’s Crafts Meals Playroom/Classroom Cleanup

Happy Crafting!

Holidays DIYs

NICHOLE PLACE

Associate Arts and Living Editor

E

ach holiday that takes place in the months of November and December have their own items that are a necessity for celebrating. As college students, it can be hard to get our hands on these festive items. So, here are four DIYs to help make celebrating this year a little more cost effective.

The holiday season comes and goes quickly. So, take this time to enjoy family, friends and really cool DIYs. Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving: A holiday that celebrates thankfulness. Setting aside all of the horror of its origin, it still

brings families together over a warm meal. So, here is how to make a cute, personal plate for dinner.

Materials: A white, oven safe plate, sharpie, and stencils (if needed) 1. If you are going to be decoration new plates make sure to wash them first.

2. You can then set your oven to 350 degrees.

3.

Then use your sharpie to draw simple or intricate designs. Make sure that they aren’t too close together just in case the ink starts to run. For your designs, try to make them as fall of thanksgiving-y as possible, or not, you’ll be the one eating off of them.

4. Plate your plate into the oven for about 30-40 minutes.

5. Once they have baked, turn the oven off, crack the door of the oven open and leave the plate inside the oven. The plate must be cool before taking it out. Leaving it in the oven to cool is crucial because the plate could crack if it is taken from hot to cold too fast.

6. Once it has cooled it is ready for dinner.

Hanukkah:

A nine branched candelabrum is lit each day during the eight days of Hanukkah. Here is an easy way to make a Menorah that is slightly different than the traditional oil lamps.

These next few months will be full of indulging in food and conversation, so make your table as inviting as possible.

1. You will need a nice tablecloth, choose one that will go well with the holiday’s colors.

You will then need a table runner to go over the table cloth. Try to stay away from white so that way people won’t be afraid to spill anything.

2.

For the centerpiece try to pick something that won’t get in the way of conversation but that could possibly be a conversation starter. If you choose something that is tall make sure that it is skinny, and vice versa. It’s good to go with, candle stick holders, pine cones, and small vases. The best part about a centerpiece is that you can get creative with it.

Materials: Real or faux wooden log, a tool to drill holes and nine candle sticks.

1.

Take the log and drill nine holes along the top. Make sure that the holes are big enough to fit your candles.

An alternative way of keeping the candles on the log is by gluing short candle stick holders along the top.

2.

To make the candles different sizes, cut the bottoms of the candles off. Make sure that there are two of each size except for the center one.

3. Then you can place the candles into the holes that you made. If they don’t fit all the way or stand up all the way you can use hot glue or wax to stick them in.

4. Make sure that the candles are larger on the outside and then get smaller towards the middle.

A non-traditional DIY Menorah, used to celebrate Hanukkah.

HOW TO SET A TABLE:

3. The plates you choose should be nice but not so nice that you would be devastated if something broke. You also want to have two at each place setting, one small and one large plate. You’ll want to stack them one on top of each other to make room for the food.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

more crafts!

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Find video tutorials on Youtube this week!

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4. As for napkins and silverware you can really do whatever you want. You can have them on top of the plates or next to them or even near a buffet table but whatever you do make sure you have extras.

Kwanzaa:

Around a table, family and friends gather to feast and celebrate history. Here is how to make a Unity Cup to take part in the first principle of Kwanzaa.

Materials: A wooden cup, individual beads or a string of beads and glue (preferably hot glue).

1.

You can start by either painting your wooden cup on of the colors of the flag of Kwanzaa (black, red, or green) or leaving it.

2. You can then take your beads and start to glue them onto the cup. Glue the beads around the cup in rows.

3.

Then to finish just use allow time for the glue holding the beads on to dry.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Family members drink from a Unity Cup, used during Kwanzaa, to symbolize their commitment to promoting togetherness and harmony .

Christmas:

A Christmas tradition is counting down the days with an advent calendar.

Materials: A box with a lid, crafter’s knife, tape, pencil, Sharpie, printer paper and construction paper or wrapping paper.

1. The box that you have should be like a larger shoe box. Take the lid off and use a pencil to sketch out the doors for your calendar.

2. Then take your crafter’s knife and cut out the doors.

3.

Then you want to take the printer paper and roll them into tubes. Make sure that they fit into the door holes. But you don’t want the printer paper to be sticking through the holes, they should line up with them.

Then tape the tubes into the box. These tubes will separate each little gift in the calendar.

4.

Next take your construction paper or wrapping paper and cut them into the shapes of the doors. Then draw numbers one through 25 on the doors.

5.

Then you can tape one side of the paper cut outs onto the inside of the holes.

These will be the doors.

6. Last, fill up each hole inside of the box with candy or other treats. Then place the top on and you’re done.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

An advent calendar used by Christians to count down the days till Christmas.

ARTS & LIVING

12

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Mixing up traditional holiday events:

Make this holiday season magical with new ways to spend your winter days CHANTE FOSTER Staff Reporter

The holiday season is here, which means it’s a great time to make memories with friends and family. Putting a spin into traditional holiday events is simple with these popular attractions.

Callaway Gardens Callaway Gardens has created a place where guests can enjoy holiday lights, while riding along a guided trail. “The Fantasy in Lights,” will be featured at Callaway Gardens from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2.

The theme of the light show is based on Christmas stories and guests can experience the attractions in multiple ways. Rachel Crumbley, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, describes the light show as being steady and traditional over the years.

“Actually, the scenes are consistent because everyone has their favorite,” Crumbley said. “The last time we had new road work, due to a newly constructed building, there was a new scene added.”

“Fantasy In Lights” is an attraction that began in 1992. This year is the 24th season of the popular holiday event.

The first “Fantasy in Lights” show had only five attractions. All together, it takes about six weeks to complete the setup for the entire events. Today, the show has 15 attractions and approximately 8 million lights.

Traditionally, guests can take the interactive trolley, which tells the story of the lights, while the guests are driven down the trail. Now, they can do more than just ride the trolley, they can ride a bike, take a motorcycle, drive a car, walk and even take photographs.

Certain nights have special events, for instance Nov. 13 was motorcycle night. On Nov. 16, photographers had an exclusive opportunity to take pictures of the attractions at night.

Some of the attractions include Magical Christmas, Snowflake Valley, Santa’s workshop, Toy Soldiers and more.

Package rates for Fantasy In Lights are available to guests. It includes admission, accommodations, the jolly trolley ride, a collectable christmas ornament and more.

Amicalola State Park Save money and observe the fall trees at Red Top Mountain State Park. For $5, which covers parking, guests can visit the waterfall, go hiking, and more.The state park has 12 miles of hiking trails.

From Nov. 13 through Nov. 20, Stars of Red Top, or star gazing, will be offered at the state park. The guided trip will be at night, so guests are advised to bring flashlights and wear warm clothing. For more information about this event visit the Georgia State Park website.

Snowmountain On Nov. 21 through Feb. 28, Stone Mountain Park will be covered in snow. This popular attraction includes a 400-foot hill, where guests can go tubing at Avalanche Alley. They can also make snowmen in the Snow Zone and use tube runners for an individual snow sliding experience.

Hip-hop Nutcracker Jennifer Weber, choreographer and performing artist of Decadancetheatre, stepped outside of the box with her interpretation of the nutcracker.

The hip-hop inspired nutcracker is coming to Atlanta on Nov. 28. at the Fox Theater. The name alone is what makes the hip-hop nutcracker different. Traditionally, the Fox has ballet interpretations of the seasonal performance.This performance combines classical music and hiphop, with live musical performances and a DJ. Tickets are available on Fox Theatre’s website.

Cirque Dream Holidaze The combination of Broadway and Cirque is coming to the Fox Theater on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27. The Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a spin off from traditional cirque performances. This year it will feature a holiday inspired show with 20 acts and 30 performers doing stunts, dance numbers, illusions and more.

Trying new things is a good way to twist up holiday traditions, whether it’s making snowmen, visiting the holiday lights or going ice skating. There are many ways to enjoy the holidays in Atlanta.

Ice Skating Centennial Olympic park is bringing back the ice and holiday lights, starting Nov. 21 through Jan. 10, 2016. $12.00 gets each guest a maximum of 90 minutes skating time, to include the skate rentals. With a larger group, rates starts at $9, and students can take advantage of $9 entries on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Hours vary based on holidays, for instance Thanksgiving day the ice rink will be open from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Centennial Park.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

reviews

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FILM REVIEW

‘Peanuts: The Movie’ falls flat: The childhood epic fails to deliver FERNANDO MATTOS

Staff Reviewer

O

ne key moment defined the new Charlie Brown film to me. A child in the audience I was sitting in asked her father what the “zzz” balloon above a sleeping Snoopy meant. The father quickly explained it before going back to his iPhone.

The movie stays in this dead zone that neither has the humorous, real world punch of the comic strips nor a story interesting enough to a child.

In the movie, we see Charlie Brown fail again and again in impressing the new girl in town, but it’s just a collection of anecdotes without any sort of intelligent nor sarcastic commentary on what means to fall in love for the first time – the main plot line. To the little ones, the story seems beaten – they have seen it over and over again, but there’s nothing here that seemed attractive to me that would pull them away from a Pixar or Dreamworks movie.

Even more frustrating, the setup for the joke is always here. In one instance, Charlie Brown begins reading a book that lists 10 steps in order to be a winner. He fails once again and… the movie just

moves on to another anecdote connected to the plot of winning the girl. What would have generated a punch in a strip, here’s just another missed opportunity. “Peanuts: The Movie” is just like that friend who starts telling a sensational joke, but either forgets it or stops it because the boss has walked right into the room.

There are good aspects of the film, but they are few. One is the opening, which goes from a drawing on a piece of paper to the actual first scene. It’s a simple and yet touching homage to cartoonist Charles Schultz, for it says that we couldn’t be here now watching this without his amazing imagination and talented hands that created a character loved all around the world.

The voice actors are also a strong point. All characters seem unique and the voice matches well their personalities: the introspect, the lover, the mentor. At no moment a voice seems forced or over acted.

Voice acting wise, the movie does extremely well.

For kids, however, it’s a confusing film. First, there’s an awkward double structure: at the same time we are following Charlie’s struggle, we are also seeing Snoopy write a novel about a dog pilot who goes through war in order to save the dog girl of

SYNOPSIS:

his dreams. I’m not sure a child can connect the metaphor between love and war. I’m almost sure that, even if the connection could be made, it wouldn’t be funny. For adults, the metaphor “love is like a war” may work, but is it something hilarious or something profound? For me, it’s a cheap, overused metaphor that works as neither one.

“Peanuts: The Movie” constantly places the football right on the line for that final point, the punch that will connect us all in our insecurities, failures and doubts, transforming it all into a burst of laughter. Every time, however, the movie takes that ball away and we, like Charlie Brown, fall flat in the grass. The only problem is that our falling is never as funny as the comics are.

Life always seems complicated for good ol’ Charlie Brown, the boy who always tries his best against seemingly impossible odds. When the Little Red-Haired Girl moves into his neighborhood, Charlie Brown develops a crush on her. Meanwhile, his best friend Snoopy embarks on an epic adventure in a fantasy world.

As a World War I flying ace, the lovable beagle pursues his nemesis, the Red Baron, while also trying to win the heart of a beautiful poodle named Fifi.

RATED: G GRADE: C VERDICT: Without the

punch of the comic strips for adults nor an interesting story for kids, “Peanuts: The Movie” ends up in an odd dead zone.

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ALBUM REVIEW

Battle of the heartthrobs: One Direction and Justin Bieber compete in album release CATRINA DYGERT

Staff Reporter

O

ne Direction and Justin Bieber have rocked headlines for years, though, in Bieber’s case, not always in the best light. Thankfully, Bieber has managed to stay out of headlines recently, except to boost his new album, “Purpose.” On the other hand, One Direction have stayed in the headlines following bandmate Zayn Malik’s departure in March.

With this loss, critics speculate on the success of One D’s new album, “Made in the A.M.,” Directioners assured critics they had nothing to worry about, and One Direction’s first single, “Drag Me Down,” certainly put all doubts to rest. The chart-topping single set up the album as a success after the first play-through. While the lyrics leave something to be desired - the whole song is a repetition of the same verse - the beat is awesome, and despite having the deepest voice, Harry Styles can hit the high notes just as well as Malik could.

Similarly, Bieber’s first single, “What Do You Mean?” was met with critical acclaim, taking the top spot away from The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” on the Billboard 100.

The song has an incredible electron-

ic beat and smooth vocals, but, once again, the lyrics leave something to be desired. Even the catchy melody can’t make up for the over-used “I don’t understand women” trope.

“Sorry,” Bieber’s second single, has the same style vocals as the first single and a much more mature, clean sound than previous albums.

The beat, however, is another step up for Bieber. The success of this song is as much due to Skrillex, who co-produced the song with Blood, as it is to Bieber. The lyrics are also much more mature, proof of how much Bieber has grown since his first album debuted.

One Direction’s second single, “Perfect,” also shows how much the band has grown as a whole. The song, which, at first, sounds like another cutesy love song from the pop quartet, is about One Direction’s personal experiences with love. It offers a much more intimate look at the boys’ lives than previous songs offered. It’s also a huge improvement lyrically for Styles and Tomlinson, who worked on the song with their team of writers.

Both albums are, as a whole, definitely a success for Bieber and One Direction. There has been incredible growth for both acts, though only Bieber seems to have found his voice. One Direction continues to experiment with their albums as their management team loosens

the reins. While Bieber heads on a world tour to promote his album, One Direction will be taking a much deserved break following their

album release. Fans don’t need to worry, though, neither One Direction or Justin Bieber will be leaving headlines anytime soon.

Straight Outta Compton

SYNOPSIS

“PURPOSE” Top Tracks: “I’ll Show You”

“MADE IN THE A.M.” Top Tracks: “Perfect” and

and “Love Yourself”

“Infinity”

have polished up his act, but he’s certainly polished up his voice. By pairing up with big names in the industry, including Halsey, Ed Sheeran, and Skrillex, Bieber has created an outstanding album.

critics’ doubts, One Direction have been successful with their new album. It’s obvious in the songs and the music videos that the boys had fun experimenting with new styles and melodies on this album.

However, this album puts a huge emphasis on Styles’ voice over everyone else.

GRADE: AVERDICT: Bieber may not

GRADE: AVERDICT: Despite many

In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A’s first studio album, “Straight Outta Compton,” stirs controversy with its brutally honest depiction of life in Southern Los Angeles. With guidance from veteran manager Jerry Heller, band members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren navigate their way through the industry, acquiring fame, fortune and a place in history.

SHOWTIMES:

Wednesday- Friday 1p.m., 3:15p.m., 5:40p.m., 7:45p.m.

Rated: PG-13 Running Time: 150 minutes

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Georgia State’s

isaiah

DENNIS Junior point guard ready to take team lead Isaiah Dennis goes up for lay up during the first game of the season against Middle Georgia State.

DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

I

f you’re looking for the second shortest guy on the basketball court that dunks like he’s in the NBA slam dunk contest, then you’re looking for none other than Isaiah Dennis. Dennis is 6 feet tall and the starting point guard for Georgia State.

Dennis’ journey has been a long successful one that is just getting started.

“I grew up in McDonough, Georgia right in Henry County,” Dennis said.

“It was a very quiet around there and everyone’s really friendly, and it was safe out there. The people are all really encouraging.”

Dennis, growing up in a safe environment in Henry County with friendly people, more than likely contributed to his success in high school.

Dennis went to Eagles Landing High School, where he lead the varsity basketball team to successful seasons his last three years there.

In his sophomore year at Eagles Landing, Dennis helped lead the team to the state’s 4A final four and then went back to the final four again his junior year. During his junior year, Dennis averaged 14 points a game along with 4 steals and finished the season with a 28-3 team record.

It wasn’t until he was a senior, when he had his best season of his high school career. Dennis brought Eagles Landing its first state championship title in school history, blowing out every team by more than 13 points each tournament game. Dennis also earned Atlanta Tip-off Club

All-Metro Team honors, as well as first-team all-state and first-team allregion 4A honors.

Dennis had success on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball in high school. Dennis averaged 16.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 steals and 3.1 rebounds his senior season and won Henry County Player-of-theYear award and Eagles landing High School defensive Player-of-the-Year honors.

Despite being 6 feet tall in high school, Dennis could still dunk with authority. In fact, Dennis won the 2013 American Family Insurance High School Dunk contest by jumping over two other contestants for the slam. Dennis was also runner-up at the City of Palms Dunk Contest.

Dennis’ Impact on Panthers Basketball

Dennis joined Georgia State in the 2013-14 basketball season and made waves through the nation despite having little playing time. At Georgia State’s preseason Hoop Day event, Dennis dunked over 6 foot 10 teammate Curtis Washington. The dunk was so jaw-dropping that it was featured on ESPN Sportscenter’s Top 10 Play of the Day featured at number five on the countdown.

In his sophomore season, Dennis got more playing time averaging 2.7 points and shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. However his sophomore moment came in one of the biggest games of the season against Baylor in the NCAA tournament second round.

Dennis came into the game for the injured Ryan Harrow and made

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MIKE HOLMES | GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

an immediate impact on the floor.

He played 21 minutes in that game in which he had a career high three steals, eight points and two assists.

Thanks to his contribution and a clutch RJ Hunter three-pointer, the Panthers upset Baylor and advanced to the next round.

Dennis is now in his junior season with the Panthers, and is the starting point guard for the team. Coach Hunter, head coach of the Panthers basketball team, emphasized in a postgame conference how Dennis is now the leader of this team.

“The key to our success is Isaiah Dennis,” Hunter said. “I’ve given my keys to the car to Dennis. My first year here I gave the keys to Devonta White, and the next year I gave them to Ryan Harrow, and now I’m giving it to Dennis this season. This show runs with our point guard and is successful with our point guard. That’s no pressure on Dennis, we’ve groomed him for this and he’s been here three years preparing for this moment and he will lead us.”

Dennis has grown over the years at Georgia State and it has shown.

From being featured on Sportscenter for an amazing dunk, to stepping in for Harrow and helping lead the team to an NCCA tournament upset over Baylor, and now being the starting point guard/leader of this team, Dennis has really grown into something special for Georgia State. Expect him to make a bigger impact than all of his previous seasons at Georgia State now that he is in the starting role for the first time.

What Makes

Dennis So Special?

Dennis is athletically gifted with the ability to dunk at 6 feet tall, as well as play offense and defense efficiently and it showed in the first exhibition game of the season against Oglethorpe. In that game, Dennis was 4-4 from the field scoring 11 points with three assists and three steals to win the game 85-34. After the game Dennis was asked what he thinks makes him so special.

“I just got a god given ability, being real athletic,” Dennis said. “I’ve always been athletic since I was a little kid, and just use that to my advantage on both offense and defense.”

Dennis has always been one of the smallest players on the court and you’d think that’d put him at a disadvantage, but rather it gives him motivation to go even harder.

“Since I was little, I’ve always been the smallest and I wanted to prove myself [because of it],” Dennis said.

“I just got so much heart and passion and I just play with that off-the-court and on-the-court, and I just use all my heart and that will always put me over the top.”

In addition, one thing that makes Dennis even more special is the fact that he is a winner.

“Since high school I’ve been winning championships,” Dennis said. “I won my high school state championship my senior year. My first year here we won the Sun Belt Championship.

Then my second year here, we won the Sun Belt Shampionship again and went on to the NCCA tournament.

All I know is winning and I’m just a winner.”

With the gifted athletically ability, heart and passion for the game, and

being a winner is what makes Dennis so special.

Dennis’ Future Expectations

As mentioned earlier, Dennis will be starting for the rest of the season at point guard for the first time in his college career. The Panthers are coming off their biggest upset in school history in the NCAA tournament against Baylor. So what are his expectations for this season?

“Make it back to the NCCA tournament and win more than one game and go far,” Dennis said. “And prove we are just as good as a team as we were last year.”

The Panthers have lost some key players from last year coming into the season such as RJ Hunter, Ryan Harrow, Curtis Washington, and Ryann Green. However Dennis believes the team has actually gotten even better.

“We lost pieces, but we got so many with Isaiah Williams, Jeff Thomas, and Jeremy Hollowell,” Dennis said.

“Jeremy looks real good [on the court]. Jeff looks good too and his shots are going to fall. Isaiah Williams is going to be a great player for us. We got so many weapons, I think we got more weapons than we did last year. I think we’re going to be really good.”

This Panthers team has a whole new look to it this year, and they will be led by none of the other than Isaiah Dennis.

SPORTS

16

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Transfer ‘U’

Isaiah Dennis goes up for lay up during the first game of the season against Middle Georgia State.

JEREMY JOHNSON Staff Reporter

T

he Georgia State men’s basketball program has become a destination for players who are transferring and looking for a fresh start.

The Panthers have reeled in multiple high profile transfer players from major programs. This has led to the Panthers becoming a perennial contender in the Sun Belt and has supplemented the program that also develops young players well.

The Panthers have their share of home grown talent also. Players like R.J. Hunter, Ryann Green and Devonta White were all players that head coach Ron Hunter recruited and nurtured until they were ready to play the major roles that they all eventually would for the Panthers.

The Panthers, as a mid-major program, have been competitive over the last few years in large part due to supplementing the young talent with older, more experienced players that were at school in the big power five conferences across the country.

This supplementing of talent allowed coach Hunter to have the luxury of letting players develop and learn the ropes before being thrust into duty before they may have been ready for the spot.

This trend of bringing in high

profile transfers started with Manny Atkins in 2012, when Atkins transferred from Virginia Tech and started all 31 games in that season.

The Panthers made a huge splash when then Kentucky point guard Ryan Harrow decided to move closer to home and joined the team in 2013 and almost led the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in his first season with the Panthers.

Harrow was an All-Sun Belt selection for the Panthers before signing a contract to play professionally for Rethymno in Greece.

The same season the Panthers also picked up Curtis Washington from the University of Southern California.

Washington became a mainstay in the starting lineup for the Panthers for the next two seasons before signing to play professionally for Instituto in Argentina.

Harrow practiced with the national championship team at Kentucky in the 2011-2012 season, sitting out the season after transferring to Kentucky from North Carolina State.

The trend would continue even further with the addition of Kevin Ware, a member of Louisville’s national champion team in 2013. Ware came on strong for the Panthers at the end of last season and looks to be a key component for the 20152016 team.

There is now a new batch of

Tradition of getting players from top college programs keeps the basketball program dominant

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MIKE HOLMES | GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

transfers that have made their way to Georgia State that figure to play big roles for the Panthers just as the earlier transfers before them have.

The New Guys

The new transfers are Jeremy Hollowell and Isaiah Williams.

Hollowell comes to Georgia State from Indiana where he played two seasons with the Hoosiers. Hollowell was one of the top 50 prospects in the 2012 class coming out of high school.

In his two season at Indiana, he averaged 2.8 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game as a freshman and 5.7 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Hollowell finds himself at Georgia State, being counted on to play major minutes as he has slotted into the starting lineup early in this season after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.

The need for a change of scenery and the need to focus on his craft is what brought Hollowell to the Panthers.

“I just needed a fresh start. I let some of the wrong things distract me. And I just thought it would be best to get a change of scenery,” Hollowell said.

Hollowell also knew the relationship he already had with the Hunter family drew him to Georgia State as well.

“I knew coming here the relationship I had with R.J. [Hunter] and coach Hunter and the Hunter family, I knew that would really help me out, taking a year off. I even have family out here, so it was a good year off, I learned a lot and I’m ready to get back out here now,” Hollowell said.

Hollowell’s relationship with coach Hunter also has pushed him to grow as a player since joining the team last season while sitting out.

“I’ve known coach Hunter a long time. He still believes in me. A lot of people still believe in me and he knows what I’m capable of,” Hollowell said.

Isaiah Williams is a point guard that transferred after the 2014 season, where he won the Southern Conference freshman of the year award at Samford.

Williams is looking to play some key minutes at the point guard position for the Panthers after gaining experience as a freshman. Williams admits that adjusting to the system has taken some time.

“In my year at Samford I kind of already got the feel for college basketball and all so basically I just have to get used to the system here.

Because the system from Samford and here are different so, I just got to get used to the system,” Williams said.

This is a problem that could arise

and make the method of building with transfers difficult, but so far so good. This is because players are encouraged to get time on the court together before the season ever starts.

“Basically for us to hoop with each other during the summer so we get chemistry so when the season starts we’ve already got a feel for each other,” Williams said.

The players also live in an era where communication is not limited by how far away someone is. Players stayed in contact using social media and building chemistry that way.

Williams and Hollowell had even crossed paths prior as opponents in 2013-2014 when Samford played against Indiana.

“I actually played against Jeremy [Hollowell] when I was at Samford.

But during the summer we all communicated through Twitter and all that and we all got along just fine,” Williams said.

The Panthers have filled holes the last few seasons with older transfer players so that younger players could grow and develop to take over later.

This method has been successful and has paid off as the Panthers now have a deep roster blended with talented youth and experience.

The 2015-2016 season will be one to remember as the new and old blend together to form one of the Sun Belt’s finest rosters.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

17

QA &

Get to know Robert Davis off the field

Junior standout wide receiver sits down with The Signal RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

Robert Davis’s steps off the field as we get to know him personally, and what is going on inside his head.

Best part of coming to college at Georgia State?

Probably have to say the student life.

Being able to meet new people, especially with Georgia State being such a diverse University, just being able to meet people from different places and stuff like that.

What’s your favorite part about living in Atlanta?

Just probably all the sights, there’s a lot of beautiful places to go and just take a walk. You know, you see the nice buildings and night stuff like that.

Do you have a favorite restaurant?

Nah, I can’t think of one off top right now…

Do you go to Cookout?

Yeah, every once in awhile...but I’m more of a Zaxby’s fan, I’d have to say, yeah.

What’s your favorite memory

on the field these past three years?

Probably our first win. Against Abilene Christian. That’s probably my best memory so far being here.

Favorite movie?

I’d have to say Fat Albert. Fat Albert’s definitely my favorite movie.

Your favorite character from Fat Albert?

Kyla Pratt. I think she’s beautiful, if you know who she is.

Favorite food?

Microwave popcorn.

Favorite pastime to pass time in the dorms?

Playing NCAA.

Do you play yourself on the game?

I play with my friend Kameron Myers all the time, that’s who I play with.

Favorite Dance?

I’m not much of a dancer, but if I had to say one that’s funny to watch, it would probably be the whip.

Any celebrity crushes?

Um...not necessarily a celebrity crush, but I think that...I don’t know what the girls’ name is, you might know her, the one that played on My Wife and Kids?

Oh...Cady [Parker McKenna Posey]!

Yeah Cady...I think she looks really good.

Favorite song at the moment?

Favorite song...I would probably have to say “Black on Black” by Young Jeezy.

Excited for the [Young Jeezy “Church in These Streets”] album [released on Nov.13]?

Yeah! I am.

FREE FILM SCREENING: GIRL RISING Become inspired to make a difference. Join us as we celebrate International Education Week and the Peace Corps’ Let Girls Learn initiative with a special screening of Girl Rising, a film about the impact of education for girls around the world.

Tuesday, November 17 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Football Update: The last quarter Panthers/Miles improvement plan slowly coming to life as team wins again at Texas State JEREMY JOHNSON Staff Reporter

T

he saying goes, “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.” This true in life and with the 2015 Georgia State Panthers’ football team.

In a result oriented sport and country, the Panthers’ 3-6 record can be a bit, deceiving.

The Panthers have lost games this season, to the passerby eyes one may conclude that this is the same old Georgia State Panthers’ football team.

The same team that won one game in the last two seasons prior to this one. The same team that did not have a running back who ran for over 400 yards last season.

The same team that just moved to division one level of competition.

Those assumptions would be wrong this season. The Panthers have losses, but those a few of those losses could easily have been wins in favor of the Panthers.

The Panthers have held fourth quarter leads in the last two losses they suffered in games against Arkansas State and Louisiana Lafayette.

The Panthers are on the cusp of making my preseason bold prediction of the Panthers winning six games and reaching a bowl game come true. The team, with a few plays here or there going in the other direction, could very well have four or even five victories now.

There has only been two games this season where the Panthers were outmatched. The first was against the reigning College Football Playoff team, Oregon, who beat the Panthers 61-28 and the second was against Appalachian State where the Panthers suffered a 37-3 loss.

The tiered process

The Panthers have made huge strides and are now competitive every week. The process of building a contender from the ground up can be seen as a tiered process.

The process includes five tiers.

The first one is simply getting the program off the ground, getting practices in, recruiting players, then bringing things together enough to actually play in a competitive game.

Then the second tier comes as

some program cornerstones are set in place. A coaching staff has brought in players that fit their respective systems and schemes.

In this time some program changing players emerge. These players provide a foundation for the next couple years and gives younger players hope of doing special things as a team in the coming years.

Tier three is where the Panthers are currently. This is the tier where the excitement is rising around the program. Now when teams face the Panthers they know it will be tough 60 minute game.

The cornerstone players are reaching the end of their careers, but the young players around them have watched and learned from their example.

There is now has depth and the backups begin looking as talented as the starters as the recruiting has improved and the programs offseason program has been improved.

Tier four is soon coming for the Panthers. Tier four is when the results come in. Tier four is where all the losing is paid off and the lid is blown off the pot.

This is where teams win games and start to expect to win every week. The results start to improve and soon fans, players, and coaches begin expecting the ultimate prize.

Which brings me to tier five.

Tier five is when a program learns to become champions. This tier is one that only a few programs reach. The Panthers still have a few years before this point.

But it is not too far from one’s imagination that this may not be as far away as it seems as the team currently sits at 3-6.

Trent Miles, if given the time, will continue to improve the recruiting due to Georgia State being located in a major football talent hub.

The state of Georgia on a yearly basis puts out boatloads of division one football talent.

The evidence of Miles’ recruiting has already begun to show through the cracks as the Panthers’ stars like quarterback Nick Arbuckle, Joseph Peterson, Donovan Harden, Joel Ruiz, Tarris Batiste, and so on and so forth begin to head out of the program and move on to the next steps in

their lives.

The Panthers can already see the potential replacements growing up right in front of their eyes this season.

The Future

The quarterback position has a potential heir in Emiere Scaife. Scaife is a more imposing quarterback in the pocket than his predecessor Arbuckle as he stands 6-foot-2 inches tall and 218 pounds.

Scaife has only attempted eight passes this season. But I have a feeling that may change in the near future.

The Panthers lost star tight end Joel Ruiz early this season. Junior Keith Rucker is doing a great job taking over the position and has really come into his own as the starter catching 24 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs.

But looking even past Rucker as he has only one season left, the Panthers have another promising tight end in waiting.

Freshman Ari Werts. Werts has seen some meaningful snaps this season due to Rucker battling some injuries as well as Ruiz.

Werts is a lot like Ruiz in that he provides a big athletic target.

Werts stands 6-foot-4 inches tall and is already 225 pounds.

At the end of 2015 the Panthers will lose playmaking wide receiver Harden. But there his replacement may very well already be a key part to the Panthers’ offense.

Freshman Penny Hart is already opening eyes around the country as he is leading the Panthers in receiving with 52 receptions and 851 yards receiving.

Hart will only improve at the position and learn the nuances.

These are only three players but the Panthers roster is quickly filling up with young talent that could take them into the fourth tier of building a program.

The next few seasons will be exciting times for the Panthers.

The next few weeks will be just as exciting to see if Georgia State can mount a late surge and finish the season strong closing out games.

The charge momentum has begun to build already after the Panthers’ 41-19 victory over Texas State.

More wins like this one could be on the horizon.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

Members of the Georgia State football team continue to practice as the season comes to an end.

SIGNING DAY MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Love is expected to play as a first baseman for the Panthers.

Chris Clerkley The 6-foot-9 power forward from Perry High School is a three-star recruit and was named his team’s Mr. Defense in 2013 and 2014, as well as receiving the Panther award in 2015. Clerkley has also played with Simonds in games.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Jada Lewis The 5-foot-7 combo guard star from McEachern High School was scouted by ACC and SEC schools, before signing with Georgia State.

Lewis is currently ranked No. 87 overall by ESPN and No. 27 in her position.

Shaquanda Miller-McCray McCray will join UGA-transfer Nasheema Oliver as a 6-foot-3 post player next season. McCray has been named an All-State player twice and led her team in South Carolina to the State Championship game.

Jaylyn Harrison Harrison comes from the same high school as freshman forward Astaja Tyghter and has been described as an “energizer bunny” by head coach Sherwin Baldwin-Tener, according to Georgia State Sports Communications.

SOFTBALL Taylor Chadwick Chadwick was a four-year starter at Ringgold High School who batted .484 her senior season. Chadwick was a two-time All-region selection on a team that made four consecutive trips to the state elite eight, which included two championship game appearances.

Kylee Love Love reigns from Walnut Grove High School, where she appeared in the elite eight three times. A fouryear starter, Love finished her career with a batting average of .454 and 40 career home runs. Her senior year, Love broke the state record for RBIs with 61. A two-time All-State player,

Caitlin Ray Ray was a four-year starter at EastSide High School and as the team’s pitcher, her team was only one win shy of making the state’s elite eight. Ray won 18 games her senior season, as well as hitting .503.

Baylee Sexton A four-year starter at Buford High School, Sexton batted .442 and received a handful of awards and recognition from Gwinnett County. She was recently named a Georgia Dugout Club all star and currently plays travel ball with the Atlanta Vipers.

Emily Soles Soles was a four-year starting pitcher at Prince Avenue Christian High School who finished her career with a 0.92 ERA and 1,092 strikeouts.

Soles pitches for Georgia Outlaw in travel ball, where she has been ranked the eleventh best player in the nation.

VOLLEYBALL Morgan Hash From Franklin Community High School in Indiana, the outside hitter and middle blocker Hash finished her high school career with over 1,000 kills, 178 blocks, 165 digs and 74 assists. Hash was named a member of the all-conference team her junior year as her senior awards have yet to been announced.

Madelyn Ott Ott is from Goochland High School in Virginia where she was named the conference player of the year and first team all-conference this past season. Ott was a letterwinner each of her three years playing in high school and led her team to district championships in 2013 and 2014.

Sydney Stroud A four-year letterwinner at James Madison Memorial High School in Wisconsin, Stroud was an all-state honoree, first team all-conference member and the team MVP her senior season. Stroud was also a second team all-conference member in basketball her junior season, as well as placing seventeenth in the state’s high jump category and also playing soccer.

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Sun Belt Standings

D’Marcus Simonds Simonds is the highest rated signee out of high school. The 6-foot4 Gainesville High School senior was named an honorable All-State mention his junior year by the AJC. The four-star recruit was former of T.J. Shipes at Buford High School before transferring to Gainesville last season.

Kirsten McMonigle McMonigle was a four-year starter at shortstop and third base for Greenbrier High School. She hit .474 for career and stole 95 bases. Playing travel ball with the East Cobb Bullets, McMonigle was named an All-American and one of the top 125 players in the country.

19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

Appalachian State

Arkansas State

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

6-0 | Overall: 7-3

Georgia Southern

Appalachian State

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

5-1 | Overall: 8-2

Georgia State

Georgia Southern

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

5-1 | Overall: 7-2

LIttle Rock

South Alabama

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

3-2 | Overall: 5-4

South Alabama

UL Lafayette

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

3-2 | Overall: 4-5

Troy

Georgia State

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

2-3 | Overall: 3-6

UL Lafayette

New Mexico State 2-3 | Overall: 2-7

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

8th

FOOTBALL

Troy UL Monroe

2-4 | Overall: 3-7

0-0 | Overall: 1-0

9th

Idaho Texas State 0-0 | Overall: 1-0

2-5 | Overall: 3-7

Happy Holidays, from The Signal PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JASON LUONG | THE SIGNAL

Do you dread going home for the holidays? Well, Jason does.