The Signal Vol. 83 No.23 by The Signal

MARCH 8 - MARCH 22, 2016

VOL. 83 | NO. 23

The signal at georgia State University

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CARDBOARD

heroes

A look inside Atlanta’s Cardboard Convention and the kick-ass creations surrounding the event. Arts & Living | Page 9 PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Cardboard heroes attend Cardboard Con inside the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, March 5, 2016.

Inside Spring for joy!

Recruiting kid martyrs No to arms Georgia State researchers found the terrorist group is targeting children to turn into martyrs.

Our columnist tackles the Campus Carry bill and why it’s not such a good idea.

The time of florals, neons and allergies is upon us. Read about how to make the best spring transition.

News | Page 6

Opinions| Page 7

A&L | pages 12

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 7

Postseason play Men’s basketball regular season is over as tournament play kicks off.

Sports | pages 15 Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

blotter Feb. 28

March 1

Weirdo

A Georgia State student was reported for suspicious behavior near the University Commons. The case has been cleared.

Feb. 29

Stranger Danger

Georgia State University Police issued a criminal trespass offense to a non-Georgia State individual caught exploring Kell Hall.

March 2

M.I.A

A Georgia State student reported missing property on Edgewood Avenue at Park Place. The case been cleared.

March 3

Student Scammer

Turner Field Turmoil

Four Georgia State students were involved in three different accidents. A car accident occurred between two students and on the same afternoon two unattended cars were struck in Turner Field’s student parking lot. No injuries were reported.

Georgia State University Police are investigating a student who attempted to use fraudulent funds for a financial transaction via card.

ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK The Buryat Contortionist Group performs as deep sea creatures in Cirque du Soleil’s “Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities” during a dress rehearsal in Atlanta on March 2, 2016.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Financially enabling the disabled

ABLE bill could give some people a chance to save cash

“Even if that’s money we’ve earned, if we go above that number we’re in Associate News Editor danger of losing our benefits,” she said. “And with $2,000, it’s almost impossible to find an apartment in Atlanta.” ordan Hall, a Georgia State And that’s why life at home comes student travelling by wheelchair as the easiest – and only – option due to cerebral palsy, said having a disability shouldn’t mean her life for many, Hall said. With Medicaid is over. She wants a full-time job, a covering only up to 40 hours a week home away from her parents and a of nursing services, and with certain bank account with more than $2,000. disabilities requiring round-the-clock All of which are being denied to her care, parents become the caretakers of now. such individuals. And all of which would be Hall said she thinks, for handicap addressed by House Bill 768 (HB 768), accessibility reasons, the most known as the “Achieving a Better convenient housing facility is Life Experience Act” (ABLE). ABLE Piedmont North. She said she’d allows a tax-free savings account of love a kitchen of her own, but up to $100,000 for individuals without Commons don’t have accessible compromising their eligibility for doors and despite the fact that she’s Medicaid. As long as that money a junior, Piedmont North is the only is spent on disability-related needs convenient housing facility. in areas such as transportation, However, she still has to have a education and housing. The bill nurse come in every morning and unanimously passed a House vote on evening to help her get ready. And she Feb. 23. feels fortunate that that’s all she needs, A sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Lee because she said there are others that Hawkins, R- Gainesville, told the AJC need more intensive care throughout that if withdrawals from an ABLEthe day but can’t afford it. account are qualified as disability She currently holds an internship at need-based, there will be no tax, the State Capitol, and said a disabled however, if they are for non-related co-worker lacks the care she needs, causes, there will be 10 percent tax on because she doesn’t have the funding the withdrawal. or money to pay for it. The bill echoes the ABLE Act “Her elderly mom has to take passed by Congress in 2014, providing weeks off at a time to take care of her, the same benefits to individuals with because even though she needs 24disabilities, an account created for hour care, funding doesn’t allow for the person and family to cover needit. And if she passes away, the girl will based expenses. With the federal have to be institutionalized,” Hall said. government to look up to, 35 other The bill also addresses is the issue states have passed an ABLE bill, each of transportation, which for Hall is a with different versions, and each constant barrier. allowing a different maximum to She said after being deemed unfit ABLE accounts. But many states will to drive, her only choice was public not be launching the program until transit, which is both expensive and 2017. inconvenient. “Taking MARTA once or twice is Full time care & part time fine, but it doesn’t drop you off at all the precise locations,” Hall said. “And jobs Marta drivers are often late, and very To qualify as a recipient for expensive.” Medicaid, Supplemental Security After landing another internship Income (SSI) or the Social Security recently, Hall said there is more to Disability Insurance (SSDI), a disabled consider before accepting. individual can only have up to $2,000 “It’s exactly 17 minutes from the in their bank account, or $3,000 if it’s school. But an accessible car and a couple. Which means scoring a fulldriver costs $135, and I can’t afford to time, good-paying job isn’t an option pay that money every day.” Hall said. in danger of exceeding the bank account max. Terms of agreement According to Medicaid experts Under HB 768, once an individual Carla Willis, Bill Rencher, Melissa Haberlen and Kristi Fuller of Georgia with an ABLE account passes away, the state’s Department of State’s public policy department, Community Health claims the money an ABLE account will not be taken the individual received for medical into consideration when individuals assistance (Medicaid) since opening are considered for SSI, SSDI and their ABLE account. Medicaid benefits. This means, after their passing, “[The bill would allow] individuals guardians or family members of with disabilities to save money for disabled individuals are obliged to disability-related expenses without pay the state government back for all risking certain federal benefits or access to Medicaid coverage,” the team need-related expenses that Medicaid covered, and if needed, draw that said in an email to The Signal. money from the ABLE account. Hall said many of her friends and According to the Georgia State previous co-workers had to be sent home from their jobs earlier to qualify experts, the clause concerning the deceased is consistent with Medicaid as only part-time workers and not exceed the bank account limit. policies, such as Medicaid estate

CHRISTINA MAXOURIS

recovery of Georgia Medicaid for Workers with Disability Program. “Federal law allows a person’s home to be excluded as a resource for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility, but after the person passes away funds are recovered from their estate for the purpose of covering the cost of the services provided,” the team said. They said such policies were there to make sure that people consider Medicaid as the last resort when it comes to health insurance. But despite the requirements, Hall said it’s a win-win. “An ABLE account not only allows me to store money, but it guarantees for additional funding from the government to cover my expenses. So it’s only fair if I pay that money back,” she said. It’s more than a bill, Hall said; it’s an eye-opener to people that view disabled individuals as noncontributing members to society. “Everyone has their daily life struggles, but when people look at someone who’s disabled, they think we can’t do anything,” Hall said. “So it’s not that I want the bill to receive more funding from the government, but just to earn my own money and be independent.”

What’s ABLE? The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act will allow disabled individuals to own a non-taxable ABLE account which will hold up to $100,000. Currently, for the disabled, an account with more than $2,000 risks less fuanding from Medicaid and loss of social security benefits.

“With $2,000 in my account, it’s almost impossible to find an apartment in Atlanta.” -Jordan Hall, Georgia State student

PHOTO BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL

Jordan Hall, a Georgia State student who advocates for students with disabilities, is in favor of House Bill 768.

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Global

Indoctrination and Violence The Islamic State preys on children, molding them into martyrs OLIVIA NELSON Staff Reporter

hild militants are being utilized more than ever in the Islamic State’s (IS) regime to broaden its scope of control in the Middle East. Mia Bloom, John Horgan and Charlie Winter, faculty of Georgia State, recently published a study called “Depictions of Children and Youth in the Islamic States Martyrdom Propaganda,” which found that the number of IS’ child warriors is much higher than previously estimated. “Children are no longer used as just props in the Islamic State’s outreach efforts,” Horgan, a professor of Global Studies in Georgia State’s Psychology Department, told The Signal. “They are now fully fledged militants, occupying the same roles as adults.” Through analysis of the child militants’ role in the Islamic State’s terrorist conquest, results will be used to better understand how to deoperationalize and rehabilitate these adolescents sooner than later.

Children amidst violence

ISIL begins to develop from radical branch of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)

The war-torn region is often unable to provide sufficient data to follow these children. Missing figures have subsequently caused underestimates of child militants, a key reason that Georgia State researchers turned to alternate forms of IS social media in their study, such as Twitter and Telegram, a multi-use platform that the Islamic State turned to when jihadist profiles on Twitter were banned. “For the most part, the way we know the numbers, which is the horrible part, when the kids are dead we can count them,” Bloom said. “When the kids are alive we don’t have reliable estimates about how pervasive the problem is of child soldiering in Syria.” This study found that use of young martyrs are on the rise. From Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2016, 89 adolescents were “eulogized in Islamic State propaganda” and reporting three times as many child suicide deaths in January 2016 than January 2015. Winter, a senior research associate in Georgia State’s Transcultural Conflict and Violence Initiative, said the political implications of solving the child militant crisis arise from the conflicts in Syria and other regions of the Middle East. “It’s an immensely difficult problem, especially because the Islamic State is predicated in its success in civil war in Syria [and the surrounding areas],” Winter said. “It’s going to be a long time before this issue is mitigated. The stability necessary to meaningfully push the Islamic State back is immense. It requires a change in the Syrian War and real change in Iraqi politics.”

Demobilization and Rehabilitation

Reintegrating and rehabilitating these child militants is an extensive issue that

2006

AQI becomes Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)

Keywords to know Sharia Law

Islamic legal framework based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of the Prophets.

Caliphate

An Islamic state led caliph (a political and religious leader) whose power and authority is absolute.

Arab Spring

Widespread movement (both violent and nonviolent) in 2011 towards democratic ideals in Arab countries; includes demonstrations, riots, and civil wars

Western perspective

National Geographic reported six in 10 Americans between 18 and 24 cannot locate Iran on a map, nor could many locate Pakistan. Asmaa Malik, a sophomore at Georgia State, said that this is partially due to news media’s inadequate coverage. “American media doesn’t portray the livelihood of the individuals in the Middle East,” Malik said. “Instead they just acknowledge that there are a few bombings and then transition back to Donald Trump.” Malik also said that the age of social media and spreading global internet access may elicit change in the way we view the world. “The use of child militants by the Islamic State is tragic and completely wrong by all moral codes, contradicting UN doctrines,” Malik said. “With rapid transformations in technology, it’s easy to raise awareness in these issues, and take the time and educate themselves about the situation in order to do so.”

Candance Whitfield contributed reporting to this article.

2011

Syrian Civil War begins during Arab Spring insurgency, ISI and Syrian militants merge to become Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or Islamic State

Timeline

2004

Stunted data and demographics

requires time, attention and resources. “De-radicalizing these children is the most important thing to create a safe space to be and to learn ideology away from jihadism, to be safe from mobilization, retribution, and being brought back into the conflict,” Winter said. International organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization advocate for child involvement in conflict zones, as well as fund operations to aid rehabilitation and recuperation. In rehabilitation programs, such as Pakistan’s SABAOON, children are offered the opportunity to de-radicalize and learn beyond jihadist ideology. However, this is an acutely difficult process that requires time, monitoring and a comprehensive understanding of individual traumas faced by each child. Addressing the psychological injury inflicted on indoctrinated children by terrorist organizations is elemental to subdue further trauma later in life, according to Horgan. “We now need to make sure we don’t lose the battle to rehabilitate and reintegrate those children who have been robbed of their identity and childhood,” Horgan said. “Once these children reach adulthood, nobody will care what happens to them, but we have to urgently find solutions to reduce the scope of this problem.”

of Islamic State

IS propaganda is proliferated through numerous methods and platforms, often targeted at children in vulnerable regions afflicted by wartime conflict in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Northern Nigeria and parts of Turkey, according to Brittanica. Georgia State’s research suggests that indoctrination into Jihadi regime is far more pervasive than once speculated. While child militants are not new in the scope of war, the methodology IS utilizes to indoctrinate children is systematic. According to Georgia State’s research, people in IS-controlled areas are exposed to propaganda on an “almost daily basis, [where] children are featured in multiple contexts, from highly publicized executions and training camps to Qur’an memorization fairs and [invitation to worship].” Bloom, a communications and Middle East studies professor, said “most of these children [in propaganda] are dead because these are children that have been martyred and then IS promotes them on their channel.” Children in these areas often struggle to find adequate food, shelter and security. By offering these amenities to such a vulnerable demographic, terrorist organizations can manipulate and coerce children into servitude, luring oblivious kids into a hellish lifestyle. In addition to poverty, the use of adolescents to hold and advance

ISIL regime is driven by orphanage, intimidation discrimination. From these symptoms arise the malleability of these children, according to the United Nations Council for Children and Armed Conflict. The UN Council also reports children in these circumstances often have no other choice but to join; there is no ‘volunteer’ basis. “[People should] realize that children do not willingly participate in terrorist acts. They are socialized, seduced and subjugated,” Horgan said. “It is a form of systematic child abuse. The propaganda that Islamic State spreads via social media represents the photographic evidence of that abuse.”

2014

IS overtakes two cities in Iraq and instates caliphate

Last Week Local

New charges for father involved in hot car death

The Atlanta suburb father that had previously been charged in the hot car death of his 22-month-old son in 2014 has now been charged with additional counts that involve sexting with minors. According to court documents, on March 3 Harris was indicted with two counts of sexual exploitation of minors and six counts of sending harmful materials to minors. For almost two years Harris has been detained in the Cobb County Detention center without bail for the murder charge of his son. As of now the prosecution team has not set an arraignment date on the sexting charges, but jury selection for the murder trial will begin April 11.

National

Ben Carson, no longer GOP candidate

On March 4, Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon, Ben Carson, announced he was leaving the presidential race after his subpar performance at the polls on Super Tuesday. Carson told the Conservative Political Action Conference that he would be leaving the campaign trail but would be working closely with My Faith Votes, a non-partisan group that advocates for more participation by Christians in the upcoming and subsequent elections.

Global

UN imposes tougher sanctions on North Korea

Hours after the United Nations voted that there needed to be tougher sanctions on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, the country fired six shortrange projectiles into the sea. Following this act of defiance, Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader said, “Nuclear warheads need to be ready for use at any time.” The Pentagon is aware of these reports and is watching the situation on the Korean Peninsula. They advise North Korea to differ from actions that could provoke any further tension.

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Local

Turner Field neighbors want a say DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter

eorgia State is moving into Turner Field and neighboring residents want to make sure their needs aren’t overlooked during the area’s revamp. The Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition, a cohort of neighborhood leaders and residents wants a benefits agreement included in The Ted’s sale contract to ensure upcoming development will favor residents living near the stadium. The coalition platform asks developers to deliver a range of neighborhood amenities including a grocery store and other retail outlets catering to residents. Clemmie Jenkins, a 65-year resident of Peoplestown, said she hopes the developers will provide the community essentials her neighborhood lacks. “We don’t have a laundromat or pharmacy and we are definitely in a food desert,” Jenkins said. “I would just be in heaven if there was a grocery store I could walk to.” If an agreement is added, Georgia State and the development team, Carter and Oakwood real estate, would be required to invest in and develop the larger Turner Field community, not just the 67 acres

purchased. Georgia State and its development partners won the bid for Turner Field in December 2015 and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA), which is selling the land, is currently negotiating the final price. The 67-acre sale includes the ballpark and surrounding parking lots. According to the AJC, the development team plans to turn the area into a mix of apartments, student housing and retail shops. Along with conversion of Turner Field into a football stadium, the total construction cost will be $300 million. Residents of Summerhill, Mechanicsville, Peoplestown and other surrounding neighborhoods are concerned the newly developed area will become walled off from the larger community and cater only to Georgia State students and fans. Resident Columbus Ward said after 50 years of undesirable development in the community, he only wants developers coming in who will work with residents. “We need any developers who come in to be community partners,” Ward said. “If they aren’t community partners, we don’t need them or anyone else.” The coalition conducted a neighborhood survey in December 2015 asking residents what they

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wanted in their community. There were over 900 responses which were used to develop the coalition’s benefits platform. Educational programs, beautification projects, improved security and affordable housing were among the main points listed on the platform. Jenkins also said many people in the community are worried the development will cause housing price increases which could displace long-time residents. “We’re connected through five communities and a lot of us have been here for generations,” Jenkins said. “I hope they don’t overprice houses or spike up rent, then people won’t be able to stay.” Keisha Lance Bottoms, executive director of the Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA), told The Signal the city will keep in close contact with the Turner Field community but is unable to negotiate a benefits agreement because the discussions will delay the sale further. “The demand that the negotiation of a purchase agreement be stalled to incorporate a community benefits agreement is a more recent ask, and to comply with yet another request to delay could jeopardize the already fragile timeline in which to complete this transaction,” Bottoms said.

“The demand that the negotiation of a purchase agreement be stalled to incorporate a community benefits agreement is a more recent ask, and to comply with yet another request to delay could jeopardize the already fragile timeline in which to complete this transaction.” -Keisha Lance Bottoms,

Executive Director of AFCRA A benefits agreement will most likely not be added into the sale contract. The developers will look after the community’s needs after the contract is signed, Bottoms said. “As part of our ongoing negotiations, the parties are already looking to incorporate language in the upcoming purchase agreement that will assist in ensuring compliance with any forthcoming community benefits agreement,” she said. Georgia State student and Mechanicsville resident Renee Martin said she would like to see Georgia State students step up and help make the surrounding communities better. “A development I would love to see

implemented is an urban agriculture center,” Martin said. “The students in surrounding school districts could learn health conscious eating habits and how to grow food for themselves.” Martin said she thinks the community understands the cost of not creating a coalition to help facilitate development opportunities. The coalition hopes to be able to meet with the developers after the sale contract is finished to discuss specific benefits. A sale date has not been confirmed as the purchase agreement is still in negotiations, but the Braves will leave Turner Field in December.

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

City

City bolsters female workforce

Georgia State professors study female entrepreneurship CHARLES BAILEY Staff Reporter

ith female entrepreneurship on the rise, Atlanta is spearheading efforts to help train women to strengthen the city’s small business workforce. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced on Feb. 4 the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), a city project aimed at training 15 small-business women in practical business education, financial capital and business support services and mentorship in the Flatiron Building in downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta Intown. Atlanta ranks in the middle among Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) that have more progressive gender attitudes -- a “fem factor” -- about working women and have more opportunities for self-employment, according to Georgia State Professor of Economics Carlianne Patrick in a recent study of female entrepreneurship. Theia Washington, executive director of the WEI, said the project will train a new class every 15 months. Cristina Cruz-Benton, a city spokeswoman, said the WEI will receive funding from the City of Atlanta and donations from partners, and seven years of free office space in the Flatiron Building. “The WEI is dedicated to supporting women who want to be good stewards of the community,” she said. “Some of our Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta are looking

for entrepreneurs to help them solve problems, and strengthen their internal innovation needs.” Patrick’s recent study found that women tend to become entrepreneurs in cities with more self-employment and small businesses opportunities. Women account for more than 30 percent of all American businesses, and have generated over $1.5 trillion since 2015, according to the 2015 State of Women-Owned Business Report. Female entrepreneurs invest over 90 percent of their earnings into their family and communities, according to the AJC. Patrick said their results found 8 percent of married women called themselves boss, whereas only 4 percent of unmarried women were self-employed. Patrick said her team used National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the General Social Survey (GSS) to determine the choices of single and married women. Patrick also said she and her team studied self-employment by marriage and gender as early as 1976, finding married women chose self-employment as an alternative to unemployment, and unmarried women choose it when they have more ability and self-confidence. “Married women choose selfemployment when they have small children [under the age of 5] or their spouse works,” she said. “Having young children increases the probability that unmarried women exit the labor force altogether [instead of self-employment].” Washington told The Signal that the advocacy group Women in Construction, Engineering and

“Some of our Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta are looking for entrepreneurs to help them solve problems, and strengthen their internal innovation needs.” -Cristina Cruz-Benton, City spokeswoman Related Services (WICERS) is hosting a competition for college-aged women to pitch ideas to improve Atlanta for a prize of $5,000. The Big Ideas Smart Solutions Pitch Competition allows female college entrepreneurs to submit a business idea to help Atlanta in areas of improving neighborhood safety, reduce energy use, accelerate economic growth or improve transportation in the city, according to WICERS.

Looking for a few good women

At the federal level, Secy. of Defense Ashton Carter announced on Dec. 3, over 200,000 combat careers are available to any and all qualified women, according to the New York Times. The Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCEITF) July 2014 study tested male and female health and performance for ground

combat. Studies showed that 40 percent of women received injuries. “The [armed] services are currently involved in implementation working groups to put women in these jobs,” Gabrielle Hermes of the Pentagon Press Office told The Signal. Hermes said “working groups” are private, and was unable to elaborate. Jodene Topran, Georgia State nutrition student and small business owner, said she likes the idea of the WEI because it gives “small businesses a fighting chance to succeed in today’s economy,” and proving yourself as a woman in business is harder doing it alone. “The first year is the hardest, and it can make or break your business and your spirit,” she said. “but once you’re established, the community no longer questions your ability based on gender, and you have time to keep your business going for the second, fifth, or even tenth year!”

‘Religious liberty’ bill angers local businesses New Georgia bill possibly allows discrimination against LGBT couples ALYSSA DAVIS Staff Reporter

eorgia legislators just nudged a bill through the state Senate that could allow faith-based groups or individuals to withhold services from members of the LGBT community. House Bill 757 (HB 757), dubbed the “religious liberty” bill, passed in a 38-14 vote on Feb. 19. Some metro Atlanta businesses aren’t hesitating to speak up against the bill, claiming it’s riddled with language that could legalize discrimination. Heads of 373K, a tech startup business based out of Decatur, decided to move to Nevada once HB 757 passed through the Senate. Although the bill has not yet become a law, founder Kevin Williams told the AJC, “I don’t want to be in a state where it is hard to attract the best talent.” The bill is a hybrid of a former

version of HB 757, also known as the Pastor Protection Act, and Senate Bill 284, the First Amendment Defense Act. Kevin Tanner, the main sponsor of the bill, told The Signal he believes the key to preventing the bill from discriminating against others is finding a balance that protects the rights of those with strongly-held religious beliefs and members of the LGBT community. “Just because one group has rights doesn’t mean they can take others’ rights,” he said. “That’s where we need to find a balance. It’s important to work on and that we can accomplish that with a nonemotional conversation.” Henry Carey, a Georgia State political science professor, said he thinks that major changes will only be made to the body of the bill if local businesses demonstrate a large amount of backlash. “The bill would only [undergo

severe changes] if the business community opposes it,” he said. “There are signs that it will. Though social and religious conservatives support it, they do not make as large campaign contributions as does the various business lobbies.” Since the passage of the bill through the Senate, over 400 companies, including Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo and Twitter, have formed Georgia Prospers, a coalition to protest the legislation. Jacob Hansard and Thomas Hails, the owners of Happy Hookah, a downtown smoke shop, joined the coalition Feb. 27, when they found out about the bill. They said they support 373K’s decision to move their company. “There are a lot of places that if they start up here, automatically you are associated with that law even if you are not a supporter of it,” Hansard said. “If you don’t have your own reputation, somebody is going

to look at a business based in Georgia differently than a state without these laws.” Hansard and Hails said they believe that the businesses that will be hurt the most are those that support the bill. “At the end of the day, the businesses that are for it are going to have the hardest time,” Hails said. “The moment you put that up on your door, you have a scarlet letter. Everybody knows [your beliefs].” Tehnehn Forte, the vice president of Alliance, a student-run LGBTQ advocacy group, thinks that the bill could cause damage to the LGBT community. “It is going to cause a lot of people to feel bad, it is going to cause a lot of people to doubt their existence,” they said. “It may even cause people to reject their existence because they want to be accepted.”

Mariett Romtvedt contributed to this article.

SGA

SGA’s got a full race ahead Upcoming compeition for election aspiring student politicians SEAN KEENAN News Editor

he Signal acquired the list of candidates for this year’s Student Government Association (SGA) elections. And after last year’s Team IMPACT-dominated vote, dulled by a few uncontested executive seat grabs. This year’s competition of runners could be competitive. The spreadsheet of names emailed to The Signal by SGA’s election commission reveals that there will be five students vying for the presidential position which, due to the recent GSUGPC consolidation, oversees the political operations of six Georgia State campuses. Three of those runners hail from Georgia State proper, the Downtown Atlanta campus, while two still sport a Georgia Perimeter College student email address. Four Georgia State students — all are enrolled at the Atlanta campus -- will compete for the SGA president’s right hand position, executive vice president, which, along with the chief seat, went uncontested during the 2015 polls. The new speaker of the senate, which acts as a liaison between the SGA senate and executive board, will be selected from a running of three Downtown campus students. About 60 Georgia State students will be campaigning for senator positions among four schools of the university. The College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences each raked in 25 prospective politicos. Georgia State’s policy and education schools claimed four and five candidates, respectively. The names cannot be released to the public until March 21, when campaigning begins, but The Signal will drop teasers on its social media to start the conversation. The Signal will also host three political debates for the candidates on March 29, 30 and 31 at Urban Life 200. SGA elections will run April 5-7.

OPINION

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Guns for the good guys ILLUSTRATION BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

JOHN MILLER Columnist

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Check out what students on campus think about the Campus Carry bill in our new series ‘Ask the Campus’ (ATC)

The past and present of the Campus Carry bill

’m generally of the school of thought that guns should not be allowed on campus, but I’m hesitant to express that opinion too vehemently, because I don’t have enough information on the topic, and I don’t want to pollute the public discourse with yet another uninformed knee-jerk reaction. What I can talk about are observations I’ve made about the recent Georgia history of this subject and particularly the behavior of current Governor Nathan Deal. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 60 (HB 60) in July 2014. This bill allowed people to carry guns in places they hadn’t been able to before, including “schools, bars, churches and government buildings,” according to AJC. State Rep. Rick Jasperse was a sponsor of the 2014 bill, and also helped file House Bill 859 (HB 859), which is the currently-infamous ‘Campus Carry’ bill, so there has been a push among state government for this provision for some time now. Deal reacted to detractors of HB 60 who were afraid that allowing people to carry guns in “schools, bars, churches and government buildings” was too risky, and he urged voters not to forget HB 60 left out the campus carry provision, according to AJC. Now, the same thing is happening with HB 859 (HB 859). What does Deal

have to say about it? He said that he heard the same complaints when HB 60 was being considered: “We heard all the hype that we’re now hearing about Campus Carry, all the predictions of tragedies. All the predictions that we were going to open our state up to a Wild West scenario, and that those fears don’t appear to have come true,” AJC quoted him as saying. So, basically, he told people to quit whining about HB 60 because there wasn’t a campus carry provision, and now he’s telling people to quit whining about campus carry because of how they were whining about HB 60. That’s like telling someone to quit whining about the rain because at least it’s not hailing, then to tell them to quit whining about the hail because they whined about the rain when it wasn’t hailing. We shouldn’t just assume Deal is flipping the script on us, though. Some sources such as the AJC try to make it seem like Deal vocally opposed campus carry during his gubernatorial election. This is not so. What he said was “I do not believe we need guns in college areas where alcohol is being consumed and where there are ball games and things of that nature. But I do hope we. . . find a way to make sure college students are not going to continue to be victimized,” according to AJC.

(Restrictions on guns being allowed in those areas of campuses are upheld by the current prospective bill.) Deal has been consistent on his positions about gun laws from the beginning; it just seems like he’s just been kind of disingenuous about how far-reaching his ultimate plans are. Yet, it doesn’t take much analysis to tell where Deal is coming from with all this. He clearly believes, like Jasperse, in “restoring rights to Georgians” regarding their right to bear arms. This means that well-regulated guns will, from his perspective, always be a good deterrent of danger. College and university officials have criticized the campus carry bill, and Deal has responded by asserting that the university’s place is to educate while the law’s place is to decide where guns may or may not be allowed, according to AJC. Speaker David Ralston sums up Deal’s position succinctly, “Getting a college degree should not mean abdicating your Second Amendment rights,” according to AJC. But let’s back up for a second. Is Deal really correct when he said that people’s fears about HB 60 don’t appear to have come true? First, Deal has no basis for saying people’s concerns don’t appear to have come true. There’s no real way to tell if the bill itself had any effect on gun crime rates, as correlation and

causation are difficult to parse. What can be said is that in general, Georgia has “poor gun safety measures,” and that it’s the “16th ‘deadliest gun state’ in the country because of its permissive gun laws and high rate of gun deaths,” according to Center for American Progress. Those “poor gun safety measures” do not mean that people aren’t required to get background checks. In fact, there’s an overwhelming number of Georgians who believe background checks for firearms should be mandatory, also according to Center for American Progress. But if permissive gun laws cause a high rate of gun deaths, detractors of both bills would have a point. Unfortunately, it’s hard to determine exactly what effect those laws have on the overall gun crime rate, which in Georgia, is disturbingly high already, according to Center for American Progress. One thing that does happen is this: murder rates spike (albeit briefly) after guns have been banned, according to Crime Prevention Research Center. But again, it’s very difficult to parse why this happens. So, an all-out ban on guns is not necessarily a desirable alternative. That being said, I’m not going to turn this article into a pro- or anti-gun manifesto.

OPINION

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

EDITORIAL

The Atlanta Beltline: A train off its tracks

all it a wrecking ball with the Midas touch. Call it concrete gentrification. Whatever you choose to call it, the Atlanta Beltline trail is chugging down the city’s abandoned railway corridors indiscriminately spurring development in neighborhoods along its path. But in many regards, it’s a train off its tracks, hell-bent on tearing through some of Atlanta’s poorest communities to pump cash into the local economy. Realtors, architect, and developers of posh high-rises alike have swooned over the Beltline’s development-inspiring abilities since its 2010 inception. People long holed up in Atlanta’s artist neighborhoods, such as Old Fourth Ward and Poncey-Highlands, have seen property values skyrocket as the completion of each new strip of trail welcomes uppity mess halls and mixeduse residences to the region. Three years before the Beltline took any kind of concrete form, Georgia Tech City Planning Professor Dan Immergluck noticed a creeping increase in property taxes and rent rates for areas near the planned trails. And that discovery has proven indicative of the significant displacement to come.

Fanciful eateries and high-ceilinged condos aren’t in the cards for residents in some neighborhoods along the trail’s slated path. Some of the city’s less-thanaffluent residents complain they can’t afford the spike in land values that have come near the current trails. And parents and teachers from Atlanta Public Schools (APS) claim the city has prioritized “gentrification” along the Beltline corridor over education for the district’s youth. The Beltline projects are primarily funded by Tax Allocation Districts (TAD), which reap property tax revenue from neighboring areas that have agreed to forgo theirs for the construction cause. But when the Great Recession rocked the nation’s housing market — the source of Beltline cash — in 2008, APS, which had signed onto the agreement with promise of a return, was told they’d have to wait on that cash while the city opted to keep pumping money into trail expansion. Eight years later the city is stuck with a crippled public education system. And those afflicted — parents, teachers, student, advocates — are caught between a rock and a hard place with two crummy reform plans by Gov. Nathan Deal and APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen

— one vies for state takeovers and one looks to turn struggling schools over to charter interest… all because the city chose to fund a spiffy sidewalk instead of aid for the future of Atlanta’s youth. Luckily, the city and APS resolved the dispute over monies owed on Jan. 29 with a compromise that will end up paying the schools less than half of the initially agreed-upon amount. “That’s just our economic reality now,” said Carstarphen. “But at least we’re getting real-time money to help real-time kids.” But compounding on parents’ worries of having to relocate is the fear that an educational lapse — remember the APS cheating scandal? — is funnelling kids from poor, predominantly black communities into the “prison pipeline.” City Councilman Andre Dickens recently backed a city ordinance to require legislators to construct impact statements outlining the effects bills could have on the affordable housing market. Still, major contention surrounds the definition of that word, “affordability.” Check out the newest ‘live, work, play’ spaces (mixed-use) popping up along the Eastside trail. The new Krog Street Market, opened last September, spruced up some of Old Fourth Ward with an

expensive food court, high-brow bars, and another luxury apartment complex complete with single bedrooms starting at over $1,400 a month. Is that affordable? When that age-old Sears building on Ponce De Leon Avenue was eyed for renovation a few years back, Atlantans and prospective ITP residents crossed their fingers for some cheap living. Studios there now start at around $1,700 a month, whereas bigger apartments could run you four grand for rent. So it’s obvious that, among the burgeoning wealthy class in the city, there are many people quietly fleeing the threat of this gentrification, wondering if that train has any brakes. The current Beltline project plans likely can’t hold up in the event of another severe tanking of the economy. But that possibility hasn’t slowed development along the Beltline corridor. Of the 22-mile trail expected to encapsulate the city, just over two miles of the Beltline’s blueprints are operational. And construction still has to roll through some of the city’s toughest neighborhoods, where Atlanta Beltline Inc. has been buying up disheveled properties to earmark for further expansion.

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

box’d up

atlanta’s cardboard mania Stephen Larkworthy, left, enjoys a drink with his fellow cardboard heroes inside Trader Vic’s, March 6, 2016.

CHANTE FOSTER Staff Reporter

rab some markers, a few rolls of colorful duct tape and dumpster dive into a new experience with an unique twist. Cardboard Con is a free event that will keep you thoroughly entertain, from the welcoming participants to the wacky yet innovative costumes.

Getting Boxy

Unlike the fancy Comic-Cons that come to Atlanta every year, Cardboard Con was designed to be a fun event that combines innovative cardboard costumes, with friends and few drinks. Frequent attendees get creative, such as one member of the Con dressing up as a litter box. Cardboard enthusiast, Amanda Wollnick, has been attending the event for five years, and she enjoys cat themed costumes. “I try to do things that are cat themed, so I said, ‘you know what a littler box is kinda funny,’ Wollnick said. “It’s fun to wear cardboard, there’s great art value, [especially] in the winter or the cold March month.” The Con celebrated it’s 7th annual event on Saturday, March 5th. The evening of excitement started with a public parade to the Marriott Marquis downtown Atlanta. It’s popularity is attributed to the people being able to immerse themselves fully into the world of cardboard.

The First Box

The original idea for the Con started as a joke, for a flash mob. A group of friends thought it would be fun to crash Dragoncon with costumes made entirely out

of cardboard. One of the original troopers and founder, Andrew Duncan, decided to create his Con in 2010 after the cardboard soldiers gained popularity amongst other people. Duncan is pro designer and creative consultant, and he owns his own props company. He’s taken his work to the next level, some of which is on the big screen, as an assistant propmaster. Today the event is held annually, in any space that can accommodate the crowd of people. It’s considered the most affordable science fiction convention in Atlanta, according to the Cardboard Cons website. Each year the event gains more followers. Original Cardboard Con participant and Duncan’s friend, Todd Sayre, talks about the Box Cons history and his experience with the event. The cardboard costumes were a hit because no one else thought to use the martial to imitate sci-fi fantasy characters.

What was the idea behind the cardboard costumes?

Sayre: Drew came up with this concept of doing a flash mob, and he wanted to do it at Dragoncon, the rules were to show up at DragonCon, middle of the day Saturday, go into the lobby of the Hyatt and then from there go out scavenging cardboard, enough to build a custom, the only thing you came with is tape, a marker, and something to cut with.

How did you get the attendees attention at the con?

Sayre: We went to the corner of the lobby, built our costumes on site, taped them together, put them on and

then we had three things that we were going to do for two minutes each. One was beeping and singing, ‘beer, beer, beer,’ and then no one could hear us because we had costumes on. The other was cheering and yelling, and getting everybody to cheer, and then we were going to end.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Cardboard Heroes

How did other people at Dragoncon react to the Trooper costumes?

Sayre: We got so much attention and became so popular, for the rest of Dragoncon we could not walk more than 10 to 30 second without someone wanting a picture, because no one had done anything with cardboard.

Boxed Event

The night was filled with laughter as the Cardboard Con members exchanged stories and conversed with good drinks. As the event moved from one location to the next, everyone stopped to take pictures with curious bystanders in the hotel lobbies. The event started with a parade, at 8 p.m., followed by drinks at the Pulse Bar in the Marriott Marquis. The rest of the night was finished in Trader Vic’s located in the basement of the Hyatt. The Box Con ended with panel discussions covering topics like Dirty Dumpster Tricks and Cleanly Cut Cardboard, which focused on the positive uses of cardboard. The crowd gathered for numerous photos and a costume contest. Nominees included Deer and their Hunter, who won the creative use of cardboard and Angler, a giant cardboard Anglerfish, who won the 2016 Cardboard Con Costume Contest.

The next level of costumes can take a traditional box and transformed it into a superhero. Stephen Larkworthy, is the designer and creator of Box Heros. His Avenger team of coworkers and friends attend various events such as parades and children’s hospitals. When he’s not working, Larkworthy is creating suits made entirely of cardboard boxes, using a software called AutoCad. After a suit is made the hard work goes to the recipients who then paints the suit, which can take anywhere from a week to a month.

Larkworthy attends Cardboard Con to share his passion with people who enjoy being immersed in the world of cardboard. “If there’s cardboard in the name the box heroes have to come, it's something we are bound to do,” Larkworthy said. “It’s a normal night, [with] a bunch of people like at other conventions, [which] [makes] it special, and so much fun to be a part of.” For more information about Box Heros visit the company's website.

Tangle

PHOTO BY JASON LUONG | THE SIGNAL

Amy Stufflebeam, co-founder of the Bleux Stockings society, stands in front of The Highland Inn where their next showcase will be, March 6th, Friday, 2016.

p U ed

x u e l B in Atlanta society reimagines literary canon

SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Associate Arts&Living Editor

n mid-18th century England, there was an educational revolution for women to expand their mind, referred to as the Blue Stockings Society. It was a discussion group where arts and literature were explored, something seen as unfit for a woman in that time. In Atlanta, Amy Stufflebeam and Ellaree Yeagley have founded The Bleux Stockings Society, produced as an answer for the new age of female writers. The literary society consists of showcasing cis-women, transwomen, and non-binary scribes. What does that mean? Cis-women: Women who were assigned female at birth and continue to identify as such. Trans-women: Women who were assigned male at birth, but identify and live with the female gender. Non-binary: Non-binary individuals are those who have a gender identity that doesn’t conveniently fit into the binary of “male” and “female.” This can entail identifying as androgynous, genderfluid, or more. Amy Stufflebeam initiated the idea after reading about the original group during high school, and she came face to face with the Atlanta live literature scene. “Everyone was super welcoming and eager to hear fresh voices. Finding new people and getting them on stage isn’t always easy. Speaking as a relative newbie, it can seem pretty scary to get up in front of all those people,” Stufflebeam said. “We wanted to make it less intimidating for writers to start performing by providing a place that felt safe and comfortable for them.” Shortly after, The Bleux Stockings Society was conceptualized and begun the beginning of this year.

Put on your stockings For interested creatives who identify with any of the required groups, there is both a private and a public Facebook page to join and read. In the private page, prompts, articles of interest, art opportunities and other things are posted. The public page is used as a tool for promotion and to show the projects of the joined writers.

Due to Yeagley and Stufflebeam’s priority for “safe spaces” to exist, the importance of having female and non-binary voices became the goal. Safe spaces are a term used for a place where a marginalised group can be where they aren’t in direct associating with any of the standard mainstream stereotypes, prejudice or marginalisation. Yeagley is the creative mind behind the blog and the zine that goes along with it, a self-published work that can have poetry, prose and art. She also created the portrait of Josephine Baker that accompanied the inaugural show in January as the “Patron Saint of the Month,” where the artists can be inspired and

Society is still in search for a permanent dwelling. “We’d like to keep getting an influx of new writers, as well as putting out zines or blog posts of their work and providing resources for continued creative skill development,” Stufflebeam said. “We have a few irons in the fire, including a net-based and physical library of important works by women and non-binary writers, a comedy show, and larger one-off events in combination with other Atlanta lit shows. Really, the sky’s the limit.” Most of the discussion and meeting within the society happens on the private Facebook group where members congregate. A lot

“The literary center needs to become more fluid.” -Stufflebeam reminded of a feminist icon. For the Stockings, a live literature event is held every month on both a public and safe-space location that alternates, so members get a chance to perform their work in an environment they prefer. The work can range from fiction, poetry, personal essay and more. Spoken word artists are something that’s encouraged for future performances. “Our first show was in January; we had roughly 90 people attend, and raised over $200 for Planned Parenthood,” Stufflebeam said. “We were really pleased with the turnout, and our February show was even larger.” The first month’s show was hosted by the Downtown Players Club off of Broad Street and February’s was held at 7 Stages. The Bleux Stockings

of expertise and advice is asked group members themsevles when discussing themes and topics. “The shows are a place to hear some excellent writing, support each other, and have a good time,” Stufflebeam said.

Meet them in March The first performance’s theme was “comfort” and the second performance’s theme was “strange.” For the month of March, which happens to be Women’s History Month, is themeless. The event also happens to be one available to the public. On March 28, at 8 p.m. the third event will be held. The location is TBA. Each performer gets five to seven minutes to read their piece. There

will be a $10 cover charge, $5 for students. All proceeds go to cover the cost of the venue, the zine and the drink tokens for the performers. Any extra funds will be donated to Planned Parenthood. Submissions are open currently, with the cut off date being March 10. Any additional questions can contact the founders at BleuxStockings@ gmail.com

Why create the safe space?

While people who search for safe spaces may understand the concept easily, it’s a common reaction for the non-invited members to feel left out and not privy to the purpose of having such groups. “Even among feminist-identifying male allies, voices and opinions often default to male. It’s not intentional so much as it is ingrained,” Stufflebeam said. “We understand that some people may take offense by the fact that cis-men are asked not to attend

the safe-space events. We hope that those who feel hurt or defensive about this, utterly essential aspect of Bleux Stockings’ mission, will consider the needs and feelings of the people the show is meant to encourage and respectfully support them by attending the public shows.” Stufflebeam and Yeagley’s mission is not one of exclusion, but including those who haven’t been regularly. “Amy and I continue to agonize over verbiage like ‘no men allowed,’ because that’s not what we want people to take away from our mission statement, but the fact remains that mainstream art has been and continued to be white and cis male-dominated,” Stufflebeam said. “There’s no doubt that the literary canon is important, but white and male hardly encompases the breadth of human experience. The canon set the standard; it determines what writing has value, and that’s extremely problematic because white and male as a creative baseline excludes so many talented voices, viewpoints and literary traditions. The literary center needs to become more fluid.” Stufflebeam and Yeagley themselves have performed numerous work in the past, but have no immediate plans to feature their own work in Bleux Stockings and instead will focus on exhibiting other creatives. Other members’ work is published on the website and shared periodically on social media. “We’re just happy to orchestrate a time and place to listen to our badass writers,” Stufflebeam said. While inspired by the early century literary group, the Bleux Stockings Society was named in opposition to some of the features found in the original group. While progressive in that time period, the Blue Stockings incorporated wealthy white women. “We wanted to pay homage to the original group and their willingness to push back against patriarchal norms without excusing

their exclusivity. We wanted to take what was a promising, if limited, idea and create a better, broader, intersectional redux,” Stufflebeam said. “So, we altered the name to an amalgam of blue/bleu/deux. Deux as in the French word for the number two, because we’re the second generation. Our goal is to incorporate intersectionality in every aspect of the show, and we felt our name change was an interesting way of reflecting that.” This narrative pairs with the Bleux Stockings Society logo which is of an ouroboros, a serpent or a dragon eating its own tail, symbolizing self-creation and recreation. In each cycle, every iteration gets closer to perfection. The Bleux Stockings Society’s place within the Atlanta art scene is a rather new one, but picking up so far each month. Stufflebeam calls the Atlanta literary community, “thriving.” “It’s amazing how chock-full of talent this city is. Ellaree and I are just honored to be a part of it,” Stufflebeam said. The main desired outcome is the creation of a assembly for artists to find a home. “We want to provide a forum for members to grow as artists and have their creative voices heard without feeling pressure to only write a certain way or to present themselves as something they’re not in order to fit mainstream expectations,” Stufflebeam said. Members’ involvement in the society is up to the member, being able to choose how active or inactive they want to be. “Amy and I are limited as producers insofar as we hail from a predominantly white, cisgender writing environment,” Stufflebeam said. “One of our first goals is to reach more people in non-white, non-cis writing spaces. Word-ofmouth has worked well for the group thus far, but we can and should do better.”

PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Spring has sprung

Everything Spring

NICHOLE PLACE

Associate Arts & Living Editor

pring is here even if the weather hasn’t fully caught on yet, which means that it is time to unpack our shorts and bathing suits. Get your sunscreen out and put away your books for a week, because the arrival of spring means spring break y’all!

Spring Fashion Trends

The clothes and accessories that every man and women needs this spring, fresh off the runway. Women · Denim: Because chambray shirts are good anytime of the year. · Bold Stripes: If bold nautical stripes don’t scream spring to you, then you have the wrong idea of spring. · Floral: A pretty simple concept. · Flared Jeans: Because the 70s vibes are back in full swing. · Statement Earrings: It’s about bare necks this year and bedazzled ears. · Embellished Bags: Fringe, sequins and patterns for any and every occasion. Men · Bomber Jackets: Great transitional piece that make you look cool as hell. · Short Shorts: The fashion world is finally taking a note from all the frat boys out there. · White Chinos: The best way to look classic in the spring. · Dad Caps: Baseball caps a father of four

would be into wearing. · Floral: Even the guys are breaking out the flowers this spring. · Novelty Sweaters: A sweater with real personality is all the rage. Spring Makeup The best looks for this spring. · Candy Apple Lipstick: A red lip Snow White would be proud to wear. · Aqua Liner: A pop of blue to add a tropical flare to your eyes. · Peach and Pink Eyeshadows: Bright colors for the lids. · Glitter Eyeliner: Add some sparkle to your eyes. Spring Foods Refreshing treats for the warm spring days. · Popsicles · Passion fruit tea · Strawberries · Avocados · Apricots Simple Spring Recipes · John Daley (21 and up): Sweet tea vodka and lemonade. · Avocado Grilled Cheese: Grill together freshly slice tomatoes, cheese, and sliced avocados between two slices of sourdough bread. · Sparkling Pink Lemonade: Mix together three-fourths bottles of Pink lemonade, one-half bottle of ginger ale, and sliced strawberries. · Black Berry Popsicles: Pour Blackberry ginger ale into popsicle molds, add a few fresh blackberries and freeze. Spring Break Essential Please don’t leave for the beach without these. . Bathing Suits

. . . . . . . . . . .

Underwear Sunscreen Shorts (3) Tee shirts(4) A dressy outfit Cash Sunglasses Refillable water bottle Sweat shirt Pajamas Yoga pants/Gym shorts (For relaxing) Sunless Tanner We all want to be beach bod ready and that includes faking a sun kissed glow. I recommend a faux tan rather than becoming wrinkled by the sun any day, so here are a few great self-tanners. · Tarte Brazilliance $37 · Origins Great Pretender 21.50 · St. Tropez Mousse $32 · Lorac TANtalizer $33 · Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs $12.99 · Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer $9.99 (A classic) · Ulta Bronze Glow $8.99 Stay-cation Make the most of the city you live in this spring. (Keep up with The Signal’s Calendar for more events going on the week of spring break.) · A day trip to Helen · Atlanta’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 12 on Peachtree Street. · The Pirates of Penzance: March 5-13 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. · Georgia Aquarium · Atlanta zoo · World of Coke · Jewish Music Festival: March 10-27 · American Craft Council Atlanta Show:

March 11-13 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. · A day at Six Flags Room Decor · Succulents: A cute way to have plants in your room is by placing them into mugs or other containers that aren’t just plain pots. . Floral Letters: Use hot glue to attach fake flowers onto a cardboard or wooden letter. . Pastel Pillow: A fast and fairly cheap way to change the look of your room. . Watercolor Photos: Change the look of your wall by adding watercolor pictures. . Mason Jar Madness: Switch out your regular containers for mason jars to give your room a rustic feel. Spring Cleaning Tips · Clothes: For two weeks take note of what clothes you wear and what you don’t. Whatever you don’t, donate. An easy way to do this is by turning all of your hangers to have the hooks facing out. By the end of the two weeks you will see what is turned in and what hasn’t changed. · Lemon shower: Cut a lemon or other citrus fruit in half and rub it against the metal in your shower or sink to make it shine. · Microwave: Clean your microwave by microwaving 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar for five minutes. · Drain Cleaning: Pour baking soda and vinegar down your drains to clean them out. · Toilets: Use coke instead of cleaning products to clean grime off your toilet. Pour it in, let it sit and then flush. Spring is here so get a head start on everything spring. Enjoy your break!

PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Paint the town green: column

Celebrating St. Patty’s Under 21

to ride on a float during the parade itself. Volunteers will offer face painting before the parade for adults and any little leprechauns they bring with them.

CATRINA DYGERT Staff Reviewer

t. Patrick’s Day isn’t just for the Irish anymore. More and more people are coming out to drink and be merry while enjoying festive green drinks and Irish food. Unfortunately, if you’re under 21, you usually end up being left out (or babysitting your drunk friends). This year, you can join in the fun at some of Atlanta’s hottest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for all ages.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 5K

You’re bored

Started in 1858, the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade is the oldest Irish celebration in Atlanta and one of the oldest in the country. The annual parade will be marching through Midtown this year on March 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m. rain or shine. The parade is a family-oriented event and attracts a range of different participants, including clowns and the Bagpipe & Drum corps. Last year, the parade boasted over two thousand participants and more than 80,000 spectators. This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Easter Uprising in Ireland. The Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade hopes to memorialize this monumental time in Irish history through a huge display of dancing, singing, and family fun for people of all backgrounds.

ShamRock the Station

After popping in at the parade, you

Atlanta has a whole day of fun Irish-themed festivities coming up, even if you’re not old enough to drink. Best part: all the events are free (and no, you don’t have to pinch yourself. You’re not dreaming). Treat yourself to a day out on the town on March 12 for a St. Patrick’s Day you’ll actually remember, and don’t forget to wear green.

COLLEGE DAY

is MARCH 11th

WE KNOW

The second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade 5K offers a fun way to kick off your St. Patty’s Day. The race starts at 9:30 a.m. and goes through Midtown and Piedmont Park. It’s starting and ending on Peachtree Street so runners can catch the parade. While there’s no pot of gold at the end of the race, the first 25 male and female runners to finish the race will be awarded prizes, including a $100 gift card for the first place male and female runners. The top two runners will also get a chance

ILLUSTRATION BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade

can drop by Central Park anytime from noon to 11 p.m. for another St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Radio 105.7 is bringing back ShamRock the Station, a free concert. This year’s lineup features some up-and-coming new artists, including Grizfolk, Transviolet and JR JR. If you want something more authentically Irish, there will be plenty of classic Irish food at Meehan’s Public House. They’re amping up their menu to offer patrons a taste of Ireland through shepherd’s pie and corned beef. If the music and food aren’t enough to entertain you, Irish dancers will also take the stage to show off traditional Irish dances at the park.

at the

All College Students can show their student id’s at the show box office on Friday, March 11, only and receive a 50% discount off admission and parking (Yellow Lot) with student id!

Auto Show Dates: March 9-13, 2016

Find us on YouTube The Signal at Georgia State University

In addition to seeing over 400 new cars/trucks/vans/SUVs under one roof, a few additional highlights of this year’s Auto Show include: MEET THE

WALKERS

March 11th, 2pm – 7pm

Meet Atlanta-based actors who have appeared on AMC’s popular television series, The Walking Dead.

EXOTIC SHOWCASE and VINTAGE DISPLAY

Two local car clubs, Caffeine & Exotics and Georgia Cool Cruisers, will be on-site showcasing a variety of exotic and vintage automobiles.

For more information visit us online at

Follow or Like us on

GOAUTOSHOW.COM #AIAS16

drive a RIDE& Test variety of vehicles the show! DRIVE Forthroughout a list of cars and

EVENTS

dates/times, visit

GOAUTOSHOW.COM/SITE/RIDE-DRIVE

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.37) Puzzle 2 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.45)

7 9 3

9 27

8 6

4 3

Tuesday

Courtyard Series 5

March 8 Noon - 1 p.m.

The traditional monthly musical show is presented by Spotlight Programs Board.

5 3

5 91 1

ENGLISH AS

9 7 LANGUAGE 6 22 9SECOND March299

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4 1

7 9

Friday

3 911 2 7 March 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Trixi Whitley

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STATE OF THE 56 ATLANTA AIRPORT LUNCHEON

571

3698

Thursday

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Saturday

Sunday

March 12 Atlantic Station Come out and

a free concert2 7enjoy at Atlantic station.

6 Breakaway 8 Trips 2 (International & Domestic)9 4

The line up will consist of JR JR, Grizfolk, The Strumbellas and Declan McKenna.

Monday

Summer 2016 3 registration

Spring Panther

2Station 2016

Sham Rock The

The Earl will be hosting Trixi Whitley, get your tickets at Freshtix. com.

The event will feature Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Miguel Southwell, General Manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for a State of Atlanta address.

43 7

2 10 March

Open for adults who are non-native speakers of English who have a desire to improve their language skills.

Wednesday

CLASSES

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March 13

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

The highs and lows of men’s basketball Panthers plan to fight to the finish after protecting their tournament spot

SIGNAL ARCHIVES

The “Crash Bros”, Markus Crider and TJ Shipes, connect on a play during the Jan. 19 win over Georgia Southern.

LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter

uring the seniors final home game at the GSU Sports Arena, the men’s basketball team gained a victory over conference member Appalachian State and maintained their conference tournament spot. Honoring seniors T.J. Shipes, Markus Crider, Kevin Ware and Jalen Brown, Shipes and Crider obtained their 80th win as Panthers. Georgia State began the season defending the Sports Arena. The team went undefeated at home until falling to UL Lafayette on Jan. 16 with a score of 54-87. This marked the team's largest defeat since Ron Hunter became head coach in 2011 as well as broke the home 8-0 winning streak of the 2015-16 season. Coming out from this loss the team was determined to beat conference rivals Georgia Southern in the next game. With the bleachers packed with Panther fans, the energy inside the Sports Arena was unlike any other game. The two teams battled closely throughout the entire game. Redshirt junior Jeremy Hollowell contributed to the success by gaining key offensive rebounds near the end of the second half. After being fouled by Georgia Southern sophomore Coye Simmons, Hollowell made two free throws which tied the match at 55-55 and sent the game into overtime. With 0.14 seconds left in overtime, Hollowell completed two more free throws which resulted in a 6966 Georgia State lead. After Georgia Southern freshman Tookie Brown

missed a three pointer in hopes to win the game, Ware got the defensive rebound. This sealed the victory for the Panthers. Georgia State won 69-66 in overtime. Shipes and Crider had 14 points each which helped contribute to the Panther victory. This win left the Panthers with a 12-4 season record and a 5-2 standing in the Sunbelt. Georgia State went on the road to play conference members Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Little Rock, respectively. The team fell to all three teams, therefore placing them at a 5-5 record in the Sun Belt. The Panthers defeated Texas State after returning to the Sports Arena, but continued to struggle in the conference. Experiencing a four-game losing streak, Georgia State came close to defeating South Alabama in overtime. Redshirt senior Kevin Ware made one of two free throws from the line, tying the game up. Despite Hollowell’s 22 point performance, the Panthers lost 79-78. The Panthers fell to Little Rock when returning home leaving their series record at 0-2 for the 2015-16 season, but triumphed against Arkansas State creating a 1-1 standing. Hollowell had a total of 18 points and Williams slightly trailed with 17. Creating a combination of 35 points in the Panthers 69-61 victory over Arkansas State. As both teams had a 7-9 record in the conference, they were both in the running to secure one of the top eight spots for the conference tournament. The final home game was the Panthers only hope of staying alive for the tournament. Defeating Appalachian State 83-70, Georgia State protected their spot as they ranked No.6

in the Sun Belt. One behind Georgia Southern at No. 5, while having Little Rock at No. 1. “That was my first recruiting class with Markus, T.J. and R.J., and we asked those guys to take a leap of faith. Tonight was the 80th time those guys won, and that is a special number. To win 80 games in four years is a tremendous honor,” Coach Hunter said according to Georgia State Communications. The Panthers finished off the regular season with a win against UL Lafayette in the two teams second matchup of the season, but suffered a loss in the season finale against No. 2 UL Monroe, 91-78. Georgia State’s first Sun Belt Tournament game will be on March 10 against No. 7 Texas State at 8:15 p.m. in New Orleans.

Keeping hope alive

Graduating players reflected on what is was like to play in their final home game. “Completed, in one word,” Crider said. “I can say completed because one, it’s been a long four years. We’ve won 80 games in this class, and me and T.J. are the last two to see that happen. I am completed.” With this 80th win under their belt, the Panthers are fully aware of what they need to improve on to finish out the season strong as well as perform well in the tournament. The team has successfully picked up their transition offense as they showcased against Appalachian State. Along with keeping the defense strategies up and scoring the ball, the Panthers are mentally preparing for finishing off the season strong. Senior forward Jalen Brown who knocked

down a three pointer during the game against the Mountaineers expanded on this mindset. “We're fighters,” Brown said. “We’re never going to give up until we can’t fight anymore. That showed last year with Baylor; it’s the program. That’s how we think here. We fight no matter what. We play hard every game. We’re going to fight; that’s all we can do.”

Freshman players plan to step up

Leaving behind a winning legacy, the seniors plan to pass down their fighting mentality to the freshmen players. Seeing time off of the bench freshman Malik Benlevi and Austin Donaldson recognize ways the team can prosper in the future. “More so playing with confidence,” Donaldson said. “Playing with each other and making sure we build bonds on and off the court. On defense just communicating. We’ll get better over time with that.” The senior players have assisted in helping the freshmen face adversity as well as push through the season. With their guidance, the freshmen hold certain lessons that they’ve been taught and plan to bring them into the future seasons at Georgia State. “Markus taught me to just go out and play ball,” Benlevi said. “Just to go out and give it everything. Kevin has been like a big brother to me, and T.J. stayed on me hard and pushed me to just keep giving it my all.” Saluting the four seniors, Benlevi and Donaldson strive to make them proud during their next three years as Panthers.

Regular season highlights Markus Crider has played in a school record 128 games The Panthers are now in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the third consecutive year. Crider and T.J. Shipes are six wins away from tying the school record for wins by a player with 87, which was set last season by Ryann Green. Georgia State will face No. 7 Texas State in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament on Thursday as the No. 6 seed.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Kensey Caldwell, a true competitor Competing at the collegiate level

Kelsey Caldwell lunges for a ball near 3rd base during a game against the Kennesaw State Owls on March 2 at Robert E. Heck Softball Complex.

DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

ever doubt the great competitiveness of Georgia State junior softball infielder, Kensey Caldwell. Caldwell grew up playing softball since she was four year old and has been coached by her dad throughout the years. People get the wrong impression of her and think she is very intimidating or a stand-off type of person, but in reality she is just a competitor. “I think people get that impression of me based on how I come off on the softball field,” Caldwell said. “I’m there to compete and I’m there to win and I’ll do whatever it takes. And if it means me getting a little mean, then that’s what it is going to take. I don’t mean it in a mean way, I mean it in a competing athletic way.” Caldwell has been an athletic competitor all her life and some of that can be attributed to where she grew up. “I grew up in Loganville, Georgia out in the boondocks,” Caldwell said. “It’s a very small town where high school softball was taken very seriously and sports in general were the face of the town. We never won any titles but we got close and I have friends from my team to this day. It’s a good place to grow up.” Being a competitor, you have to have passion for the sport and Caldwell has just that. “Passion for the game motivates me,” Caldwell said. “I love the game and always have. It’s frustrating at times when you don’t succeed, but that one time you do succeed is why I love to play the game.” In her eyes, Caldwell knew she was meant to play softball and her dad was that role model for her to keep playing the game she loves. “My dad is my role model and has coached me since I’ve been playing and he’s always been there for me even now,” Caldwell said. “I just felt like it was something I was good at and put all my effort into playing softball and playing in college.” In her 15-plus years in softball, Caldwell has only played in the infield. “I’ve always played infield and my favorite position is shortstop, but I’ve played a bit of second base when I was

younger,” Caldwell said. Even now at Georgia State, she is still playing infield, and perhaps playing around the same position all these years has contributed to her success at the collegiate level.

Competing at the collegiate level

Caldwell’s effort finally paid off as a competitor, as she joined the Georgia State’s Softball team as soon as she left high school. “I chose Georgia State to be close to my family and make sure they can come to my games,” Caldwell said. “Just want to be close to home just in case I have any trouble I can go home and see my family.” In her freshman year, Caldwell gained a lot of experience and playing time as she started in 47 games. She had a hitting average of .292, hit six home runs and had 23 RBIs. In her sophomore year, she started 56 games and hit at an average of .229, 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. She was slowly improving and gaining more confidence in her ability at the collegiate level. “Biggest difference between freshman year and now is my confidence,” Caldwell said. “When I was a freshman I was timid and didn’t really know my place. [Now] I know I can compete out here and I can be as good as anyone out there with hard work. I go up to the plate or out on the field with more confidence and it’s helped me.” Indeed the confidence has helped her this season, as she is having a better season than last year at this point. She is hitting at an average of .271, has two home runs, seven RBIs, nine runs and four doubles; all in just 16 games played this season. The Panthers are currently 9-7 on the season and they begin conference games on March 12. Caldwell’s expectations are high, but being the competitor that she is they always have to be that way. “I want to win conference and I want a ring,” Caldwell said. “I want to go out there and show everyone that we can compete and we can win a title.” Not only does she have conference and team expectations, but as a competitor she makes sure that she has her own personal goals to

motivate her to become a better player. “Personally I just want to compete and make a name for myself, as well as my team,” Caldwell said. “Maybe I can make first or second team All-Sun Belt or something that I can look back on and say that I accomplished it.” Caldwell makes sure her team is on the same page, as she is the leader of this team and shows that on and off the field. “I think I do a good job of motivating the freshmen and being a leader on the field,” Caldwell said. “I try to be a leader on the field, off the field, in the dugout, in the locker room, and in the weight room. I hope

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

they think the same thing.” Caldwell’s leadership is strong and it has been evident this season, especially in the recent University of South Florida Series Tournament. In their first game of the tournament the team lost to Villanova 15-2. However, after the loss, Caldwell motivated the team as they won three straight and had their chance for a rematch in the championship round against Villanova. The Panthers won that game 15-2 and got the best of both worlds, revenge and the trophy. “When we first played them we didn’t really know what to expect”, Caldwell said. “We kept saying oh they

got lucky and that they didn’t really see the REAL Georgia State Softball and I know for sure they saw the real one the second game. We got a little bit of revenge and it felt good.” Caldwell is currently majoring in human learning development, with a focus on sport coaching. “I want to coach my dad’s organization, the East Cobb Bullets,” Caldwell said. “I eventually want to work with them or take over the organization or just do something with softball.” Being the competitor that Caldwell is she’ll never leave the game she loves, softball.

SPORTS

Q&A with dynamic duo

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Sara Olivova and Jansen Button

Panther Pioneers •

•

Olivova and Button were freshmen in Georgia State’s firstever Beach Volleyball season. The duo were named 2015 AVCA AllAmericans. The two were named to the 2016 preseason All-CCSA all conference team. Georgia State beach volleyball heads in the 2016 season as the No. 8 nationally ranked team after a trip to the National Championships in 2015. Button’s a Menifee, California native and Olivova is from Ostrava, Czech Republic.

DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

Q: Sara, you’re also a skier...how in

the world did you get involved with two polar opposites?

Olivova: I used to ski when I was

little. So, I’d say from age eight to 12. I grew up in the Czech Republic, so my Dad really got me into it and I started playing volleyball after that.

Q: Can you both just explain the

emotions beginning this program three years ago and now preparing to end your college career tenure?

Button: I think freshman year

was so exciting. Nothing had been set, there was no foundation. Now being a senior, I think it’s really cool to look back at everything we’ve accomplished and to continue the growth from everything going on in our senior year and hopefully the future of our program is going to be in good hands.

Olivova: I definitely agree.

Freshman year was definitely a little hectic. Now, we just know what we’re doing, we know what we want. There’s a lot of assistance within our team,

the coaches are great. We have great conditioning and strength programs. Everything just falls into place.

Q: How fast did it go by?

Button: Now today, it’s gone by pretty quickly. I think we’ve just spent a lot of time putting hard work in, it’s hard to believe it’s almost over.

Olivova: It’s gone by pretty

quickly, but I feel like we’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

Q: Czech Republic, California... where did you both connect?

Button: I’d honestly say

personality. We’re both very competitive and want to do the extra thing to get better. I think we’re just mainly on the same page most of the time. Even down from diet, to sleep, to weekends just sitting on the couch and spending time together. I think just being on the same page.

Olivova: I agree. Especially on the

court, like no matter what’s going on, we can be honest with each other and just know that the goal is the same and that’s to win.

Q: Are you ready to go into this year with the target on your backs as AllAmericans?

Button: Absolutely. I don’t think

we really look at it that way. I think this year is a different situation. We’re playing as a team and what matters is us winning as a team in order to get to Nationals.

Olivova: Yeah, I absolutely agree. The awards great, but it means nothing if you can’t go back and prove it in the end.

Q: In June 2016, what will Georgia State symbolize to you?

Button: WeIl I think it’s just going to be somewhere I hope I left my mark at.

Olivova: I think leaving this team behind...I hope that they continue what we started here as freshmen.

Q: Thoughts on being named all conference preseason today?

Button: Well, we just found like

two minutes ago [laughs]. But, I think it’s pretty exciting to see that all the hard work that we put in during the off season and during the season paying off, but in reality it puts a target on our back just to play as well as we have been in the past.

Olivova: Yeah, I agree with that. It’s nice to have that award, but I

think we’re just both ready to get out there to practice, get better and work hard.

Q: Favorite memory from the last

four years at Georgia State together?

Olivova: I think, probably beating

(No. 4) FSU last year. Not just because of me and Jansen, but just because after we won that, our game was the deciding point to pretty much beat FSU as a whole team or not. Everyone just stormed the court, we were so happy and I felt like we really played for the team.

Button: Yeah, I absolutely agree [laughs].

Q: Sara, would you become an

American, as in terms of Olympic competition, to play with Jansen and get a chance to win some gold medals?

Olivova: [laughs] I would love

to, but I only have a green card. So, I think I’m trying for a dual citizenship, but I’ll probably rep the Czech if that happens.

Button: I would definitely hope

she would stay in the Czech Republic, I think she would have a great opportunity at that level.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Greg Frady’s tenth season at Georgia State Frady’s thoughts on being inducted into the German Baseball and Softball National Hall of Fame

Head Coach Greg Frady signals to a player during a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Marh 5 at the GSU Baseball Complex.

LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter

n his tenth season as head coach at Georgia State, Greg Frady shines a light on his journey as well as his achievement of being selected to join the German Baseball Hall of Fame. Originally from Ellijay, Georgia, Frady attended Gilmer High School where he lettered in six sports. Despite participating and loving all of these sports, Frady’s best sport was basketball. Being named the most valuable player during his senior year, Frady received several basketball offers. However, he realized that basketball would not be the best longterm sport for him to pursue. “We didn’t have a three point line back then,” Frady said. “So you had to go to the basket. It was a rough sport. I was 6-feet tall, 160 pounds and I just thought that’s not going to be for me long-term. I thought the game that came best to me, that gave me my long-term future, was baseball so I stuck with baseball. I loved baseball as well.” Wanting to still be engaged in a sport, Frady picked the best fit for him, which was baseball. He was also named the most valuable player for baseball during his senior year in high school. In spite of deciding to pursue a career in baseball, Frady now realizes that the sports were secondary in a much larger picture. He reflects back on the community he grew up in, where some individuals would continuously tell him that he was wasting his time playing sports. However, there were a few that believed in his dreams. “I grew up in a time where it took a community to raise a child,” Coach Frady said. “I was very fortunate to grow up in a community where people liked me and took an interest in me. A lot of people gave me rides. They brought me to practice or took me home. They helped me fund trips that I needed to take to play on teams.” Frady’s community helped set him up to be the man he is today. “The bigger picture was the community coming together to help a

child,” Coach Frady said. “Which has given me the opportunity to be here today and I am thankful for that.”

First coaching job

Attending Troy University for his undergraduate career, Frady met his wife of 28 years, Rhonda. Not only did Frady meet his wife, but during his time of being a student-athlete at Troy, which resulted in receiving his first assistant coaching job at Columbus State. “When I was a senior at Troy we were playing in the national championship game,” Coach Frady said. “We won, so I got to end my college career as a national champion. The ironic part was that we played Columbus State in the national championship game. After it was over the coach for Columbus State said he really liked the way I played the game as well as the way Troy does things.” After that he extended an assistant coaching position to Frady. Frady used this opportunity to stay connected with baseball as well as get his master’s degree. Frady served as an assistant coach for three years after being named interim head coach near the end. Understanding the responsibilities of being an assistant coach, Frady took on several similar jobs as they arose. Including being an assistant coach for eight years at the University of Central Florida and two years at Georgia State. In the midst of his 29th career of college coaching, Frady has been the head coach for several teams. Spending six years at North Florida Community College, 11 years with the German National Team and 10 years with Georgia State, Frady has proven his ability to lead at head coach. “I’ve always just tried to be the best coach,” Coach Frady said. German Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame In 2004 Frady moved to Germany to revamp the German National Team. Serving as head coach for the German squad as well as the Panthers, starting in 2006, became a simultaneous career for Frady. While this organization found stability, Frady would have a conference call every Monday morning at 5 a.m. with his assistant

coaches to assess the week. They would go over what the players were doing well, training strategies and mental preparation. With this challenge came great individuals along the way to assist him in running the team. “I had an assistant coach in the north country, an assistant coach in the middle and an assistant coach in the south,” Coach Frady said. “Then I had a working office that handled the business. So then what I would do, was help create and select the rosters for the tournament and then coach the team in the tournament. The national team didn’t practice together

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

every week. They only came together during the tournaments.” These tournaments have taken Frady and his family all over the world. Some locations include Panama, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan. Frady’s main goal was to bring respect to the German people as well as bring the team back together. During this time the team experienced unprecedented success. Leading the team to a win over China in the World Cup in 2009 as well as falling short just two games before qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in spring 2008, Frady has undoubtedly

shared his winning spirit with the German team. Honoring these accomplishments and several other achievements within his time being the head coach for the German team, Frady will be inducted into the German Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame on July 31, 2016. “To be from the United States and be selected to be apart of an International hall of fame, when you’re coaching another country is pretty rare,” Coach Frady said. “I will be the 12th member of their hall of fame so it’s a very small group. I am very thankful for this opportunity.”

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SPORTS CALENDAR

SPORTS EDITOR’S PREDICTIONS

*CONFERENCE GAME

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Will Kilgore Baseball The sophomore from Columbus, Georgia hit the first walkoff of his life against Minnesota in the bottom of the tenth inning on March 5 at Panthersville. The right-handed second baseman’s game-winner gave the Panthers their sixth of the 2016 season. Kilgore is a transfer from Georgia Perimeter, where he stole 16 bases, scored 63 runs, drew 27 walks and batted .348 his freshman season. While at Columbus High School, he won state titles his freshman and sophomore years while developing into an underclassmen All-American honorable mention in 2012 and 2013. A member of the University’s Fall 2015 Dean’s List, Kilgore’s major is currently undecided.

1st

Sun Belt Standings

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th

RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

WOMEN’S TENNIS Friday, March 11

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, March 10

Winthrop

Sun Belt Tournament

at Rock Hill, South Carolina 3 p.m.

at New Orleans, Los Angeles TBA

Saturday, March 12 Miami (Ohio)

Sun Belt Tournament

BASEBALL Tuesday, March 8

Saturday, March 12

at New Orleans, Los Angeles TBA

Sun Belt Tournament

at GSU Baseball Complex 6 p.m.

at New Orleans, Los Angeles TBA

Friday, March 11

Sunday, March 13

Lafayette

Sun Belt Tournament

at GSU Baseball Complex 6 p.m.

at New Orleans, Los Angeles TBA

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

UT Arlington

South Alabama

0-0 | Overall: 17-0

0-0 | Overall: 9-2

UL Lafayette

Arkansas State

0-0 | Overall: 16-1

0-0 | Overall: 7-4

Texas State

Georgia Southern

0-0 | Overall: 17-5

0-0 | Overall: 7-4

Troy

Texas State

0-0 | Overall: 14-5

0-0 | Overall: 7-4

UL Monroe

UL Lafayette

0-0 | Overall: 11-5

0-0 | Overall: 7-4

Georgia Southern

Troy

0-0 | Overall: 11-7

0-0 | Overall: 8-5

Georgia State

0-0 | Overall: 10-8

0-0 | Overall: 6-4

South Alabama

UT Arlington

0-0 | Overall: 10-8

0-0 | Overall: 7-5

Appalachian State

UL Monroe

0-0 | Overall: 3-14

Hawks vs. Raptors

Monmouth

Hawks

Friday, March 11

at Rock Hill, South Carolina 11 a.m.

Mercer

NCAAM Tournament PANTHER OF Cinderella THE WEEK

0-0 | Overall: 5-5

Thunder vs. Spurs

Spurs

Cavs vs. Clippers

Clippers

Bulls vs. Wizards

Bulls

THE FINAL SCORE Basketball Women

The women ended their season last weekend in Louisiana with losses to UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe. Senior Morgan Jackson scored a career-tying 17 points in her college career finale against UL-Monroe. The team will not make the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, but will return 11 players next season, including sophomore leading scorer Makeba Ponder. Men

The men split the trip in Louisiana, with a win against Louisiana Lafayette before falling to UL-Monroe. They will be the No. 6 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament against No. 7 Texas State in the first round on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. This season, the Panthers swept the Bobcats with 58-46 and 69-61 wins. The winner will face UT Arlington on Friday. For complete live coverage and the Tournament bracket, visit the GSU Signal Sports Twitter page. Women’s Tennis

The No. 43 Panthers lost at Princeton and No. 32 Columbia last weekend. The team has now lost three matches in a row and will continue road play in South Carolina and Ohio next week.

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