Vol. 81 | No. 11

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NOV. 5 - NOV. 11, 2013

VOL. 81 | NO. 11

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inside

Page 10-11

HIGH HOPES Expectations are high for the men’s basketball team determined to play in March Page 17

disability initiatives University offices work to better accomodate students with disabilities

News | 4

Pack it up Packing your own lunch can slim you down and fatten your wallet

Opinions | 7

Write Out Loud Take a look inside part of Atlanta’s writing community

A&L | 12

Family Matters

PHOTO BY ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN | THE SIGNAL Point Guard Devonta White goes for a shot in the first exhibition game against Shorter University.

Georgia State won the game 90-60.

Point Guard Ryan Harrow returned to Atlanta to be closer to his family in trying times

Sports | 18 DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 6

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

NEWS

2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

last week...

blotter

Local

3,000 strong for Atlanta Marathon

Nearly 3,000 people ran the Atlanta Marathon and 10-miler, as well as the Atlanta Marathon 5K and Kids’ Fun Run on Saturday, Oct 26. The marathon started and ended at Atlantic Station, taking runners on a tour of some of Atlanta’s most well-known sites, including Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, Turner Field and Piedmont Park. J. Penny of Johnson City, Tennessee crossed the finish line first with a time of 2:39:04 after maintaining the lead for the whole 26.2 miles.

National

Renowned musician Lou Reed dead at 71

Iconic singer/songwriter Lou Reed passed away on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the age of 71. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Reed had to undergo a liver transplant earlier this year after experiencing complications due to a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Perhaps most famous for being the mastermind behind

the innovative rock band The Velvet Underground, Reed also had a prosperous solo career and put out a body of work that is constantly sighted as a major influence in modern rock. “He was a master,” David Bowie said in an official press release. Reed is survived by his wife Laurie Anderson, whom he married in 2008.

Global

Spying scandal for United States grows with Spain

The spying scandal brought on by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has grown as the Spanish news media reports that the NSA recently collected data on over 60 million phone calls in Spain. This is the latest in a series of disclosures concerning the controversial acts of surveillance that the NSA has brought upon foreign allies, including France, Germany and Mexico. According to Spanish newspapers, the NSA collected data on phone numbers and locations but did not monitor the contents of the phone calls.

Weather WED 67/57

FRI 61/39

SUN 65/41

SAT 63/41

Sleeping robberies Aderhold Learning Center

A student fell asleep and woke up to realize that his cell phone and laptop had been stolen from his book bag.

Police are handling the investigation.

OCT. 23

Flirting for cash Kimball Way

A couple of guys were nice enough (i.e creepy) to walk with some random girl for a couple of blocks. Did they think she was hot and want her number? Maybe. But they settled with taking her money, as she realized after they had departed that money had indeed been taken from her purse. The police are handling the investigation.

Blunt rolling Broad St.

source: weather.com THURS 65/38

OCT. 18

Officers pursued a Georgia State student caught rolling up a marijuana cigarette while walking

near campus. The student fled from the police and was eventually apprehended. Along with the marijuana, the student also carried a scale with him and was charged with possession and intent to distribute. Shortly after his arrest the student was taken to Grady Hospital due to problems. A smoker having breathing problems after running from the cops? No surprise there.

OCT. 26

Accidentally in trouble Piedmont Ave.

Officers responded to a call about an unconscious person, but when they arrived at the scene they discovered that the individual was in fact intoxicated. Turns out, that person was a Georgia State student under 21 years of age and was promptly arrested and transported to Grady Hospital for further evaluation.

Photo of the week MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL Georgia State student Lina Perez paints the face of a trick-or-treater at the Georgia State Greek Village.

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NEWS

STREET

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

HARRASSMENT is it stoppable?

These art pieces are a part of the movement series Stop Telling Women to Smile by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM

S

Staff Reporter

treet harassment can happen anywhere, rural and city areas alike.

Georgia State is an open and urban campus that is immersed in the outside world with non-students or faculty living their lives.

Students spend the majority of their days traveling down city streets, where street harassment has now become a prominent issue.

Yet women and members of the LGBTQIQA community are the only reported victims of gender-based intimidation and provocation.

In survey from Indiana University, 293 women from every race, age, class and sexual orientation cited examples of harassment by unknown men in public.

“The people who have the most ease moving through public space are individuals who hold power in society—men, people who are not-transgender and heterosexual whites and people who are perceived to be class-advantaged,” Georgia State sociology professor Dr. Maura Ryan said.

The term “street harassment” leaves a lot to be interpreted. The phrase consists of some—but not all—of the following: leering, honking, whistling, sexist comments, vulgar gestures, sexually explicit comments, kissing noises, following, blocking paths, sexual touching or grabbing, targeted public masturbation and even assault or, in some cases, murder.

Members of the LGBTQIQA community experience similar disrespect and harmful treatment because of violence motivated by the person’s actual or perceived gender expression or sexual orientation.

According to a report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, 53 percent of transgender Americans have reported being harassed in public, while eight percent of transgender people report experience physical assault.

“The harassment of LGBTQIQA people is similarly about a social terrorism that attempts to render gender and sexual minorities invisible by forcing them out of the public realm,” Dr. Ryan said.

Gender-based street harassment can also involve elements of racism, homophobia, classism and/or ableism and can be a complex issue with many root causes.

In similar studies, research on street harassment has been conducted all over the world. In 2000, a group of sociologists in Canada conducted a study of the effects of street harassment and perceived sense safety and found that over 80 percent of women had been through stranger harassment. These experiences had a damaging impact on their

PHOTOS AND ART BY TATYANA FALALIZADEH

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh attempts to spread awareness of street harassment by placing these art pieces in public spaces.

safety and how they felt in public.

However, the Canada report found that victims don’t seem to feel inclined to speak out or act in defiance of it because they are afraid of the possible threat of violence or being seen as dramatic.

Students shared their thoughts on what consitutes a violent threat, remark, or action, and the fine line between what’s right and wrong.

“It’s something trans* folks go through daily. And it’s hard for a lot of trans* folks, because harassment can lead to violent altercations,” Taylor Alexander, president of the Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, said.

“Street harassment is verbal and potentially physical abuse. The harassers expect you to always smile and respond to whatever sexist comments or questions they have. There is no way to prevent it. All you can do is not let those comments or acts affect who you are and how you choose to present yourself to the public,” Leah Clark, psychology major, said.

To help with the cause, organizations and online safe spots have popped up in recent years to provide victims an outlet.

Organizations such as Everyday Sexism, Hollaback and Stop Street Harassment host firsthand incidents to raise awareness of street harassment. These resources offer a venting space and chance to listen to others’ stories.

Holly Kearl, founder of Stop Street Harassment, wrote a book titled “50 Stories About Stopping Street Harassers” offering entertaining and empowering stories to increase the sense of safety.

Georgia State alumna Mandy Van Deven got her start as an activist at Georgia State and moved to New York City to work as an organizer for Girls for Gender Equity. She co-wrote the book “Hey, Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets.” Van Deven will visit Georgia State on Nov. 29 to host a discussion on street harassment in the Troy Moore Library, Groups of people who want to help stop street harassment are also taking to the Internet and public art spaces to get their voices heard.

The viral video “Shit Men Say to Men Who Say Shit to Women on the Street” advocates for men to speak up when they see others openly harassing others.

Dannie Brown, sophomore psychology major, said even compliments meant to sound nice or helpful can also be subtle forms of street harassment.

>>continued on page 4 (Street harrassment)

Find out more at http://stoptellingwomentosmile.com

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Health

Raising disability awareness at Georgia State CIARA FRISBIE Staff Reporter

M

any people may associate the month of October with LGBTQ history and Breast Cancer Awareness, but it is also a month dedicated to Disability Awareness.

The Office of Disability Services released two reports at the end of the fall semester 2012 and spring semester 2013 after acquiring student feedback, detailing the need for more resources for students with physical disabilities.

An anonymous comment, submitted that fall, reported that wheelchair accessibility at the ODS seemed difficult: “The location of the office is pretty good, though I am not sure how easy it is to access by wheelchair. I do wish the office could be a little larger.”

In addition, the report listed 29 physically disabled students registered at the ODS in 2012 and an overall majority of students as having attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, physiological disorders and systemic or chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes.

Results in the spring semester also presented data showing that there were dominant groups of students with different disabilities registered within the ODS and that changes based on student feedback needed to be made.

Some of the changes made by the ODS included an automatic door being placed at the front of the main office, as well as for their testing and computer rooms, placing

new motivational pictures in testing rooms and reception areas and bells and signage in the reception area.

Other changes included modifying testing environments by installing pipes and draping to create individual testing cubicles for students to take final exams. Additionally, the Student Accommodation Letter was updated to ensure faculty and ODS staff names were in print on the letter, as well as the corresponding course, semester and year.

But did these changes really satisfy the needs of students with physical disabilities?

Lanier Henson, Student Government Association (SGA) vice president of student affairs said SGA is working on new initiatives the university may have missed, like easier access for disabled students trying to use the Panther Express shuttles.

“Last Friday during a Mandatory Fee Committee meeting, the student government voted on reallocation of previous funds used to pay off a loan for the bridge between Library North and [Library] South to go towards transportation and parking,” he said. “Part of the proposal included funds to purchase a new fleet of Panther Express buses. These new buses will have improved accessibility for persons, and will board and depart at street level.”

Another issue with accessibility that has been brought to Lanier’s attention multiple times is the stairway(s) on the street from Courtland St. down to the courtyard, right outside the library, that have no wheelchair ramps or ramp system.

Without a ramp system available in that area, students and faculty members with physical disabil-

ities are forced to travel farther than most students when trying to find an automatic door and sometimes end up not entering the courtyard at all.

Henson also said that because the ODS wants to help students based on their own individual needs and special circumstances, SGA will take a slightly different stance by representing disabled students on a broader level. “[The SGA] will act as a liaison to the upper administration that just simply can’t have the one-onone contact with these students.”

Henson said that William Stanford, the SGA vice president of academic affairs, has been trying to help students with disabilities utilize more of the resources available to them, such as the testing center, the Margaret A. Staton Scholarship and the Bennett A. Brown Scholarship.

The Margaret A. Staton Scholarship is awarded to students who have a documented physical disability and are registered with the ODS at the university. Students must have previously completed at least one full semester of courses to be eligible.

For the Bennett A. Brown Scholarship, students must have a documented language-based learning disability, and it must substantially limit the individual’s ability to read, write or comprehend spoken language.

Universities across the nation are also dealing with new ways to help students with physical disabilities and many universities are offering state-of-the-art special services and programs for students with mobility disorders, According to http://education.com.

Some of these universities, like

the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, which was ranked number one for students with physical disabilities to attend, created the first wheelchair-accessible bus system and competitive wheelchair sports program.

Dayton, Ohio’s Wright State University, ranked number three on the website, has a system of underground tunnels connecting buildings together so students with mobility disorders don’t have to travel outside in extreme weather conditions.

The University of CaliforniaBerkelery offers students the ability to find personal attendants and accessible housing.

In an effort to discuss the ways in which the university, faculty and students can help raise disability awareness, the ODS at Georgia State University held its first ever BlazeDay event On Oct. 22, in the recreation center.

“The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the range of sports available to people with physical disabilities, to educate students about the different types of physical disabilities, encourage inclusion of students with disabilities and to help educators become more knowledgeable of the importance of active lifestyles for students with disabilities,” Pamela Pressely of the ODS said.

The BlazeDay event included sitting volleyball, wheelchair relays and Boccia.

The activities at the event were designed to show all students, not just those with physical disabilities, that everyone can participate.

Pressely also stated that she hoped BlazeDay would be a success so that the office can continue hosting it each year in October.

Top 10 Disablity-friendly colleges

(according to Education.com)

1) University of Illinois Urbana/ Champaign 2) University of Arizona in Tucson 3) Wright State University 4) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale 5) Edinboro University 6) University of California-Berkeley 7) University of Wisconsin at Whitewater 8) Ohio State University 9) Temple University 10) Michigan State University

Campus

Lean In: Challenging gender biases in the workplace SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State students now have the ability to make the decision whether they want to “lean in” or “lean back.”

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of best-selling book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” launched an organization and campus project across the world to inspire and empower people to discuss gender bias and inequalities in their lives.

On Oct. 28, at the 100 Auburn Avenue Auditorium, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business sponsored a livestream of Sheryl Sandberg’s presentation on the purpose behind her new program.

While Georgia State students were watching, people at 150 cam-

puses, 16 different countries and six different continents were tuning to the livestream as well.

“I wrote ‘Lean In’ and founded this organization for a very simple reason,” Sandberg said at the beginning of her speech. “This is going to be a big shocker–men still run the world. Although we’ve made huge gains for women in other ways, especially in education, progress for women at the top of almost every industry and almost every country in the world has stalled out.”

She focused on encouraging women to pursue their ambitions and challenge the bias that women in the workforce have to combat.

Sandberg’s book spurned the creation of an organization, Lean In, that uses the concepts and advice given in the book to reach an interactive and global level. Students and leaders are encouraged to join at http://leanin.org and estab-

lish their “circles.”

Circles are the basis and “heart” of what Lean In aims to accomplish at college campuses.

Groups consisting of eight to 12 members meet monthly to mentor one another. The discussions at these circles are centered on gender-related problems in leadership roles across the world.

Grace Lee, admissions counselor and Georgia State alumna, shared her enthusiasm for the program.

“I think it’s important to gain this knowledge and [these] tools before you enter the workforce. A lot of the time you find out once you’re in it–and it can be too late to combat,” she said.

Sandberg ran through all of the stereotypes that need to be broken and conversations that need to happen, such as the widely accepted standard people hold for men and women and the stereotypes that

hold the latter back.

“People think that men should be assertive, aggressive, speak out, decide things. Women should give to others, be communal and speak when spoken to. A man is being a leader–a woman is being bossy,” she said.

Sandberg added that women are told that they have to choose between a family and a career, while men can and should have it all.

Sandberg’s goal is to create a dialogue with these circles of men and women and rise above the social constraints that are “keeping progress weak.”

Dr. Nancy R. Mansfield, professor of legal studies in the Robinson College of Business, praised Sandberg.

“The other night’s Lean In live stream event was a great start of a movement at Georgia State. Sheryl Sandberg’s message resonated with

me and inspired me. We can all benefit by trying our hardest to excel, by raising our hand and keeping it up, by learning from our mistakes and by recognizing and eliminating gender bias along the way.”

Once registered as a member at Lean In, women and other students can start joining and creating circles as soon as possible.

Sheryl Sandberg wants this program to bridge significant gaps and cause change.

“My message to you, to all of you–women and men–is: We’re not going to change how we feel overnight–so don’t wait. Don’t wait to be sure you have the right answer to raise your hand. Don’t wait to be sure you’re qualified for the job to apply for the job. Understand that lots of times [people], but especially women, feel like frauds. Take a seat at the table anyway. Raise your hand anyway–surprise yourself.”

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

5

Economics

University

Bitcoin: Are online

Officials discuss new entrepreneurship program

currencies good investments?

ALEX KUGACZEWSKI Staff Reporter

20 100

100100 100 100 100

20 100 5 100

100100 100 100 0 10

5 10 1

1

one Bitcoin LEAH JORDAN

Associate Copy Editor

B

itcoin, a quickly emerging, completely virtual cryptocurrency, is gaining popularity by the day—and could be a lucrative investment for students.

On Oct. 21, one bitcoin was worth $176. On Nov. 4, less than two weeks later, the same bitcoin was worth more than $230. The volatility of the currency could be worrisome as the value of a single bitcoin fluctuates daily, but many still see the advantages to be greater than that of the U.S. dollar.

The online currency’s official website http://www.bitcoin.org boasts that there are no late fees and money is transferred from person to person directly online without the need for a bank. Fees are much lower and accounts can never be frozen.

The virtual currency can be used in any country and Bitcoin is almost completely untraceable.

If students were to buy low and sell high, the investment would be in their favor.

“If I were mining a year ago it would have been more likely that I would have made a profit. If I were mining next year it would have been more likely that I would have made a profit now, and so on,” Georgia State senior Jeffery Cole Copeland said.

Bitcoins are generated by being “mined,” and anybody can mine if they have the free, open-source application software “Bitcoin Miner” as well as the necessary hardware.

The program runs complex codes to solve mathematical problems and thus mines the bitcoins.

“About 95 percent of bitcoins will be mined before 2021,” Copeland said.

Just like mining for gold, there is a finite supply of Bitcoin. There will never be more than 21 million bitcoins in existence, and, like gold, when more people go to mine, there is less to be had.

The Crypto-Currency Conference, held in Atlanta on Oct. 5, offered a closer look at many virtual

=

$230*

currencies.

Bitcoin advocate and conference attendee Daniel Krawisz said there is no longer a need for government regulation of money.

“Bitcoin has proven that, through mathematics, there is no need for the state,” Krawisz said.

Copeland, a political science major, was invited to the conference as campus coordinator for Students for Liberty. His Georgia State club “Young Americans for Liberty” is in its final stages of becoming a chartered campus organization.

“For now, for students, I think it’s something we should be educated about. We should know something like this is going to happen sooner or later,” junior economics major Mitchell Oliver said.

Since The Silk Road—one of the largest online black market currencies to ever exist—was seized by the U.S. government in early October, bitcoins plummeted in value at that time. They bounced back up just one day later.

The Silk Road, which accepted only Bitcoin as a form of payment, has some people wondering if the currency promotes illegal purchases.

Oliver wants to see more improvements within the currency before he makes an investment.

“The Silk Road is a great example of Bitcoin being used for bad. Right now, it’s a really easy way for illegal stuff to happen,” he said.

Copeland says the U.S. government does not oppose the currency at this time.

“The government is okay with Bitcoin existing right now. They’d have gone after The Silk Road no matter what currency they were using,” Copeland said.

The government may not always be so lax about the system, however, because there is no governing body for the currency. Instead of paying enormous exchange rates when traveling abroad, students could exchange Bitcoin to other currencies, ultimately saving money.

Copeland said that in previous years, the majority of bitcoins were used for drug trade and trading Bit-

*as of Nov. 4

coin-to-dollar.

“That’s another thing that begs the question, ‘Is this legal?’” Copeland said.

According to Jeremy Liew, a Lightspeed Venture partner, transactions from SatoshiDice (a gambling website) accounted for “somewhere between 25 percent and over 50 percent of all Bitcoin transactions in the month of June 2013.”

Copeland invested in his first bitcoin last May, but hasn’t bought anything tangible yet.

“I’ve played a few hands of blackjack with it, but never purchased a product,” he said.

Oliver, on the other hand, advises against students investing in what he refers to as the “unstable” online currency.

“Right now, unless you have a lot of money to spend, it’s not a smart investment because it is fluctuating so much…it’s risky. I don’t advise that for college students,” Oliver said.

Even though the system isn’t regulated like a traditional bank might be, Copeland said the chances of getting money taken or stolen from you are minuscule, since each Bitcoin account—or wallet—is password protected.

He also said that anyone can look at anyone else’s Bitcoin wallet if they have the technological know-how.

Whether somebody has one bitcoin or one thousandth of a bitcoin, you can see every wallet it’s ever been in, right down to the miner.

“I keep [my bitcoins] with Coinbase exchange…it provided me a free Bitcoin wallet,” Copeland said.

“You can save them on your computer yourself, but if you do that and your computer crashes, they’re gone. There’s no recovering them.”

Doing personal research on exchanges with good reputations is recommended to students before purchasing bitcoins.

“Georgia State students should realize that whether they like it or not, Bitcoin is the future of money,” he said. “It’s something everybody should at least take a look at. It’s a cool project and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

J. Mack Robinson College of Business’s new entrepreneurship program aims to turn student ideas into companies.

The program, announced by President Becker during Georgia State’s State of the University address last October, could go into effect as early as next year.

According to Becker, the new university-wide track will help students translate their ideas into functioning, profitable companies.

“Over time, some of those ideas will take root and blossom into innovative companies that will shape our economy and employ thousands of workers,” Becker said.

While specifics are missing, the goal of the program is to expand opportunities for entrepreneurship education for all students—regardless of major or concentration, according to Dr. Robert Gemmel, director of the Herman J. Russel Center.

“I really believe in the idea that a lot of great entrepreneurial ideas come from all areas of study,” he added.

While the college’s new entrepreneurial track remains under construction, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business will offer a number of events open to students of all majors, including the Business Plan Competition, scheduled for Nov. 19.

No projections for admission requirements or program participation currently exist, but Gemmel said that some concrete information should be available by the end of the academic

year.

Gemmel continued by saying that he expects the process of implementation to begin either in the summer or fall of the next academic year.

Georgia State’s history is deeply rooted in business education, beginning in 1913 as a branch of Georgia Tech known as the Evening School of Commerce. Eventually, the school gained independence and, decades later, was renamed to its present title.

The addition of the new entrepreneurship program closely follows the J. Mack Robinson College of Business’s strategic plan for improvement, which aims to improve upon the college’s reputation for quality business education, attain prestige in addressing problems for 21st century businesses and further immerse itself in the business community of all regional levels.

The J. Mack Robinson College of Business was named number one in Georgia for its part-time MBA program by Bloomberg Businessweek and number eight in the nation for public schools. The addition of the new entrepreneurship program will add to the college’s other distinctions, like J. Mack’s placement in U.S. News & World Report’s fourth-best undergraduate risk management and insurance program.

Becker’s reveal of Georgia State’s new entrepreneurship track was accompanied by several other significant announcements during the State of the University address, including the demolition of Kell Hall, introduction of a new Biomedical Institute and the beginning of new cooperative education programs for the computer science and computer information systems degree programs.

>> Street harrassment (cont. from pg 2) in. All you had to say was I was pretty, that’s fine because you’re just complimenting me. When you add your two cents about helping me out with something that needs no help, that’s when it becomes sexual harassment,” she said.

Within the montage, a man insists, “I don’t care how she’s dressed, it’s not okay. It’s not a compliment.”

Two men advise, “You’re giving all of us a bad name.” Another man deadpans, “Misogyny, super sexy.”

FX’s “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell” produced a comedy segment that involved Bell taking to the streets asking women and men what they think of street harassment and openly mocking those who said that women found it “flattering.”

Bell asked the women how often it happens to them and they all answered that “every day” they were victims of street harassment.

When Bell asked a man what he thinks of street harassment he said that he saw it as a good thing.

“I think street harassment is good, you know? I think women need that.

It makes them feel better about themselves.” When asked by Bell how to prevent it from happening, a woman replied, “You’re a dude. Talk to your dudes, have that conversation with your boys.”

With similar intentions, Brooklyn-based artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh started an art series in 2012 titled

“Stop Telling Women to Smile.” “[The series] attempts to address gender-based street harassment by placing drawn portraits of women composed with captions that speak directly to offenders outside in public spaces,” according to Fazlalizadeh’s website.

This art project became popular enough to fund a KickStarter, allowing Fazlalizadeh to travel to popular cities and create portraits with different personal messages. She plans to visit Atlanta to spread her artwork.

With the amount of campaigns and activism rising, why is street harassment as prevalent as it is?

“We can understand street harassment as a mechanism of social control,” Ryan said. “Scholars have long argued that the street harassment of women is about the control of public space in a society where historically women had been relegated to the private sphere of the home and men had complete control of public life. While public space is gendered, it is also sexualized as heterosexual.”

From a legal standpoint, there is not much students can do to someone yelling, harassing or giving them unwanted sexual suggestions. However, several classes of existing laws could provide legal remedies for women who are harassed in public.

For example, street harassers facing prosecution could face sexual assault charges and “fighting words” statutes.

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

When

HELLO ‘ ’

becomes harassment M ADJOA D. DANSO Copy Editor Adjoa is a senior English major with an insurmountable love for discount Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

“I would sell my soul to NBC Universal for nothing.”

Follow her @joadanso

any people are unaware that what they’ve faced or what they’ve done is a form of street harassment. Almost every woman or member of the LGBTQIQA community has a drawerful of street harassment stories. Let me be clear about what I mean when I say “street harassment:” I don’t mean a single smile or “hello” directed at a stranger (this is the south, after all). I mean going out of your way to make sure someone is aware of your presence and that you are paying attention to them.

Street harassment is always unwarranted and unwanted, regardless of someone’s attire or what time of day it is. Here’s one of my personal accounts: Last summer, I was walking home from a hair appointment and decided to stop at Burger King. I was leaving the parking lot, maybe two blocks away from home (a big deal in the ‘burbs). A man in a white car pulled up beside me to see how I was doing and asking for my name and number. I said “No, thank you” and sped up. Five hundred feet later, the same man pulled up, closer this time, trying to convince me to give him my number because that was supposedly “all [he] wanted.” I ignored him and practically ran into the yard of a nearby house, where I knew he wouldn’t be able to follow me. In that moment, I thought, which of these houses can I find safety in? What if no one’s home? What if he gets out of his car? How can I defend myself? That is street harassment.

Although this incident was not physical, street harassment can go that far. It can be as simple as requesting that someone “give you a smile” or comment-

ing on someone’s body for them to hear you. It can be as extreme as making a physical pass at someone or touching yourself when an “attractive” person is in your vicinity.

If someone continues to speak to you or approach you after you’ve made it clear that you are uninterested, that’s harassment. If someone calls a slur out at you, that’s street harassment. If you call someone an expletive after they’ve denied your out-of-the-blue pass at them, that’s harassment. If someone grabs you to tell you how great you look today, that’s harassment.

If you tell someone how great of a time you can show them in the bedroom or elsewhere, that’s harassment.

If you comment on someone’s perceived sexual preference or gender identity (i.e. “Is that a girl or a boy?”), that’s street harassment.

Be aware of what street harassment is so that you’re not a part of it and can help stop it. When you ask a woman to smile and she refuses to or ignores you, don’t call her a bitch. You might be the fifth person that day to make her feel uncomfortable when she’s just trying to get where she’s going. And even if you’re not, no one is required to comply with the requests made of them by people on the street. Street harassment is not just a compliment; it’s an invasion of someone’s privacy.

ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN BROWN

From the Editorial Board

Disability initiatives we can all get behind

T

hough the vast majority of us get along just fine in the concrete campus that we call Georgia State, there are many around us everyday with disabilities – both visible and not – that may not find things as accommodating as we might.

Indeed, according to reports from the Office of Disability Services, there are quite a few initiatives that Georgia State could adopt fairly quickly to make life easier not just for the handicapped but also for non-burdened students as well, such as the placement of additional automatic doors around campus, among others.

Another place to look are the elevators on campus. For many, the elevators just don’t work. And if they do, they’re subject to frequent breakdowns and delays.

Indeed, despite a recent investigation by The Signal that revealed more than 60 elevators on campus were months past their expiration date – though many were subsequently re-certified last month – elevators around campus continue to fail.

For example, just last week one of the elevators in Patton Hall failed, forcing the more than 300 residents of the six-floor building to use just one elevator.

Not only is this an inconvenience for students without disabilities, who pay thousands of dollars each semester to live on campus, but it literally leaves the wheelchair-bound and others stranded.

Navigating Georgia State is difficult enough as it is. It doesn’t need to be any harder.

That said, progress has been made in regards to the Panther

Express shuttles, which will see an upgrade for disabled students with additional funds redirected from the former Library Fee to pay for new busses that are more assessable.

Additional events like BlazeDay, held last week at the Student Recreation Center in partnership with BlazeSports America, have helped spread awareness about the difficulties those living with physical disabilities face while providing a fun and friendly competition for participants.

For its part, Student Government and the Office of Disability Services are well positioned to host additional events like BlazeDay to continue raising awareness about this issue.

Both offices have signaled that this is something they’re interested in doing, and as we’ve seen last month, this is something that we all can benefit from.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

OPINIONS

Food matters: How fast food is breaking your bank and your scale F MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a junior finance major and student financial advisor.

“My goal is to have more college students financially literate.”

Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

Follow him @madmoneyATL

ood insecurity is a real issue in our country. Families living at or below poverty level struggle to find enough money to pay for groceries each week. College students in particular have to find ways to eat for less, and many see fast food as the holy grail of cheap, filling food. This leads to higher obesity, diabetes and heart disease levels because families and students alike turn to cheap, high calorie, low-nutrition food. Entire novels can be written on this vicious poverty cycle, but I want to focus in on the alternative that people are moving to when money is low and hunger is high, all while thinking they’re saving money.

The most popular option to get a quick, seemingly cheap meal for the past few decades has been fast food.

What many people don’t know is that numbers show that not only is eating out extremely unhealthy for you, but it is also much more expensive than eating at home. I’m going to show you how bringing your lunch (or every meal, for that matter) to school can get you back on track to financial security, more spending money and an overall healthier life.

In 2013, more than 50 percent of Americans will eat out in a given week, while almost 10 percent will eat three or more meals out of the home in a week, according to http://www.statisticsbrain. com. This means fast food restaurants, food trucks, convenience store foods and other similar options. To put it in

perspective, only two percent of meals were eaten out of the home in 1913.

The times and cultures have changed, and so has America’s physical and financial health. There is a hidden cost to everything, and eating fast food is no different. Health care experts estimate that health care costs related to obesity surpass $118 billion per year.

Anyone who thinks being overweight is free is sorely mistaken.

But I am not here to focus on the health benefits; I am here to explain the savings behind avoiding fast food.

Not eating out is much cheaper than you think and can help you not only save money, but stick to a budget much easier.

Let us take an example of a college student who eats 20 meals per week.

We will assume 10 of those meals are at fast food restaurants. Next is the tricky part. How much do you spend when you grab lunch or dinner somewhere? Long gone are the days of the affordable lunch combo or being full from the dollar menu. Sure, you can get a bunch of food from Wendy’s or McDonalds for $4 or $5, but that’s without a drink—and you might still be hungry afterwards. I work at Chik-fil-a and very rarely see meals come out to be cheaper than seven dollars. That meal ten times a week means $70 per week spent just on fast food. On top of that, you still have the groceries you buy to eat the rest of your meals!

You can easily blow through $75-

7

Dollars & Sense with

$100 each week on fast food, Starbucks, mid-day snacks and all other assortments of food options throughout the day. What if I told you for the same $100, you could eat just as much, eat healthier and make the food last two to three times longer? The secret is being smart and bringing your food with you!

For breakfast, try options such as Carnation’s instant breakfast series that you just add milk to. You get about 10 packs for $5, so with the cost of milk, you have a 75 cent breakfast that gets you through the morning with the nutrients provided. That beats the $5 McDonalds McMuffin and coffee combo any day of the week. If you have more time in the morning for a full breakfast, ham and cheese omlettes are an easy option and the ingredients are a lot cheaper than you would think––it is about $1.50 per omelette, given current grocery store prices.

Lunch is simple. Stick to deli meats and cheeses with a side of chips and a bottled water, and you have a daily lunch that doesn’t top $3. To start thinking like a real economist, just break down your spending at the grocery store. A loaf of bread, package of ham and cheese are around $10 and can make 10-12 sandwiches. That’s $1 per sandwich! If you need to mix it up, there are plenty of go-to lunch options at the supermarket that don’t break the bank. My tip is to always buy 4-6 of each so you are stocked for the next two weeks.

Mitch

If you want to bring cold items, plan ahead! There aren’t any simple solutions on campus for keeping yor food cold, so always remember to bring that handy lunchbox and ice pack combo you used back in middle school.

And don’t worry, the lunchbox is cool again––you’re saving money!

Dinner is trickier, as many people don’t have time to cook. But in the time it takes you to drive and get your Happy Meal, you could have thrown together a simple dish. Pasta is my favorite meal since it only takes 10 minutes to cook a full bowl of pasta with breadsticks.

Again, there are plenty of simple dinner options that are cheaper and better for you than the over-processed “food” options served elsewhere.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to eat out when you want. Sticking to a budget and eating cheap is all about being flexible. Moe Monday is a glorious thing, and so are the daily $4 lunch deals at Subway.

I’ll leave you with one final thought on eating fast food: Embrace the idea of free water. You will spend over $400 dollars in a year on soft drinks alone if you pick Coke over water just to fill up on empty calories and buckets of sugar.

Opting for a free cup of water when eating out will always be cheaper and healthier.

By focusing on being smart when it comes to eating fast food, you can cut back on monthly expenses and cut out avoidable health risks!

ILLUSTRATION BY AMI DUDLEY THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

8

What you don’t know about hookah pens E JABARI KIONGOZI Columnist Jabari is a senior political science major. “I strive to be your weekly comedic relief.” He writes to both entertain and inform.

Follow him @JoeBraxton

lectronic Hookah Sticks, or E-Hookah Pens, are the new “it” thing. Hookah sticks come in a variety of plastic canisters offered in an array of colors. Users accessorize these to match their shirts saying “I’m Dope” or Jordans that are smoke gray. Hookah sticks are said to be a better smoking alternative to cigarettes and actual hookah itself, but could still be harmful. Should we be informed? Probably so.

Most consumers of the product have been lead to believe what they’re smoking is just vapor, which is why some intentionally pack theirs with “loud” for an extra kick. I assume Miley Cyrus does, because I doubt she knows how to roll a fat one.

Anyway, labels say hookah pens are tobaccoand nicotine-free. MTV claims they’re sucker free and America claims to be just plain free. Well, these claims are true...to an extent.

Having tried hookah pens before, I totally understand. I’m not knocking them at all. They practically taste like Pez candy. Remember being younger and seeing other kids crush a pack of Smarties to smoke? The peach flavor reminded me of those days. So how can the sweet taste of something so innocent be vicious and guilty of putting your health at risk?

weekly comic by william miracle

Propylene glycol is one of the main ingredients that can be found in hookah pens. It’s not that bad, per se, but not completely harmless, either. Natural News released a study showing how the chemical can fluctuate: At its lowest grade, propylene glycol is least harmful, but “it is a toxin regardless of which strength is used.” Kind of like anything served at a fast food restaurant.

The misconception behind hookah in general is that it is safer to smoke than regular tobacco products, which is not true. The Food and Drug Administration has made it clear that all tobacco products are unhealthy. Ironically, cannabis is still illegal. But I won’t go there.

Hookah pens, however, are becoming more popular because of their appeal and the fallacy that they’re completely safe. The ease of access in buying one isn’t limited to smoke shops, either. Many other businesses have begun to capitalize off the new fad by adding hookah sticks to their inventory. You may feel an urge to go buy one right now.

But be informed. Hookah pens are the perfect way to mask certain smells and avoid the K9 unit.

They may be cheaper than running through a pack of cigarettes a day. However, what you tote will always have some affect on your lungs and throat.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS “Have you ever experienced street harassment? How would you define street harrassment?”

Lauren Smith

Major: Chemistry “It first started when I was 14. I brush it off, but when they’re persistent, I do anything that will get them to walk away. I’ve had my ass grabbed, arm pulled and been yelled at. I don’t find it flattering, no one wants to feel like a piece of meat. It’s not going to keep me from going to where I need to go, it happens to so often that I’m immune to it at this point.”

Jonathan Douthat

Major: Accounting “I would say it becomes harassment when it’s no longer accepted conversation between two people. When someone no longer wants to be a part of that conversation and you continue pass that point.”

Jeanette cervantes

Major: Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies “I recently witnessed three young men sitting in the Library Plaza cat-calling women who were walking by. People all around were uncomfortable by it, but no one knew what to do. I felt powerless.”

Montreal Williams

Major: Psychology “A compliment turns into harassment when it becomes excessive and physical.”

Leah Clark

Major: Psychology “Street harassment is verbal and potentially physical abuse. The harassers expect you to always smile and respond to whatever sexist comments or questions they have for me. There is no way to prevent it. All you can do is not let those comments or acts affect who you are and how you choose to present yourself to the public.”

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

a social outlet for military students

JOHNNY GIPSON

Associate Arts & Living Editor

F

reedom has a price. As both Americans and Georgia State students, there is a lifestyle we are guaranteed that ensures the ability to learn, develop and become whoever we desire. Many of us lose sight of that on a daily basis, and tend to forget about those who protect this freedom. The Student Veterans Association seeks to bring honor to those who make this privilege possible.

Led by President Chief of Staff Clint Coleman and President Jeremy Jefferson, the association advocates for resources to assist student veterans and increase enrollment, graduation and retention as well.

Joining the association a year ago and quickly earning a leadership role, Coleman explained their mission.

“We find a social niche for veteran students,” Coleman said. “We bring together veterans who may be living different lifestyles from a majority of students.”

Having served five years in the Navy, Coleman explained the difficulties that a lot of veterans face upon their dismissal from the service.

“A lot of vets get caught up in alcoholism and depression because they don’t know how to make the transition back to the American lifestyle,” Coleman said. “You can become institutionalized in that system, and we’re here to help veterans overcome that in positive ways.”

Two-year member and naval veteran Jefferson agreed that there is difficulty behind transitioning back to the American lifestyle.

“Being in the military is much simpler,” Jefferson said. “You have so much structure and order being in the military that when you gain that freedom back in America, it can be tough. The lack of structured time and the freedom to work at will is a difficult adjustment.”

Although there is a lot of structure behind the militant lifestyle, Jefferson explained how the prolonged conditioning can alter one’s mentality as a person.

“It definitely wears on you mentally,” Jefferson said. “You become a lot more desensitized to certain things, both emotionally and mentally. When I first got home, I tended to overlook the things that my peers were going through simply because of everything that I’d been through.”

Both Coleman and Jefferson are still in

the reserves, available for dispatch at any moment. Even though they have a strong commitment to service, they still have personal aspirations. Jefferson is studying criminal justice to be a police officer, and Coleman is a business student looking to become a military contractor, handling branding and marketing.

Coleman said that although his life and career goals have a lot more direction now, he started off more lost than anything.

“I joined when I was 20 years old. I was down and out, and it was a desperate move.

I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I wouldn’t change anything about the experience.”

Having learned a lot on his journey, Coleman also explained how the time spent has changed his perspective on life.

“My whole perception of time changed after serving,” Coleman said. “Coming home and seeing how everyone I spent so much time with went their separate ways made it feel like five years just flew by. It really put everything into perspective.”

Learning different perspectives has also shown Coleman and Jefferson how they are perceived as servicemen. Jefferson explained his personal frustrations about the stigma that comes with being a serviceman.

Jefferson, having been stationed in Iraq, knows from personal experience.

“The biggest misconception is that everyone who has been to the Middle East has killed someone,” Jefferson said. “People seem to assume that all veterans are violent and crazy killing machines. There are a very small percentage of us that even deal with that aspect of the field.”

Coleman said that it’s an unfair assumption that no other profession can quite relate to.

“People need to find out who the person is first, and take into account the role that they play in the military,” Coleman said. “You don’t automatically categorize someone as a savage or hero in other career paths. Finding out who I am and what I actually did should always come first.”

Regardless of any negative baggage that comes with the job, Jefferson claimed that the fulfillment of being a patriot makes up for it.

“The most memorable experience to me has to be getting on the airplane coming home,” Jefferson said. “I get goose bumps thinking about it. You get off the airplane after arriving home, and everyone is clapping and waving flags. Everyone is thanking you for your bravery and there’s a ton of apprecia-

ent Vet Stud er

SVA O

FA

s an

Student Veterans Association:

M E R ICA

tion. It’s amazing.”

Coleman agreed that the feeling is unimaginable and also explained that working in the military has made him a much better person.

“Being in the service has taught me a lot about work ethic and becoming more personable,” Coleman said. “You have no choice but to become diverse, so I think it’s great.”

Coleman also had advice for anyone considering enlisting in the military.

“I would advise anyone interested to do their research and know what they’re getting into,” Coleman said. “There are hundreds of roles you can play, and there’s something out there for everyone.”

The Student Veterans Association will be having its “Haverty Lecture” on Nov. 6 at the Rialto.

There will also be a Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 9.

TWITTER: @STUDENTVETS_GSU

FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/SVAATGSU

PHOTO BY AFI CAKPO| THE SIGNAL Clint Coleman is chief of staff at the Student Veterans Association.

ARTS & LIVING

12 10

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 NOVE TUESDAY,

SOCIAL MEDIA Remember the Myspace days?

Most young people eagerly embrace the idea of sending personal information out into the Internet abyss, anticipating that it will be shared with friends, attractive strangers and maybe that weird guy Tom. Social media has evolved too fast to truly comprehend the impact it has on everything, from the ability to get a job to having a successful relationship.

In an overly connected world, not participating is becoming less of an option.

What can students do to control their web presence?

U

nderstand privacy settings

“One thing they [students] have to recognize is that it is in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram’s best interests to share as much of your content as possible; they are trying to make money from advertising,” Dr. Amelia Arsenault, communications professional and assistant professor of journalism at Georgia State, said.

Social media websites are constantly updating permissions to revert back to the share default. Keeping this in mind, students need to stay on top of permission updates and at least attempt to read the changes made. Just because your settings are O.K. today doesn’t mean they will be the same tomorrow.

W

hen in doubt, don’t post

Being able to articulate oneself is an acquired skill.

In college, students are at that stage of life where mistakes are expected, but are no longer easily excused by age or ignorance.

“One thing I run into time again are students [who] use it more personally and have content and words that would be offensive in the business setting,”Professor Jacob Aull, a digital marketing professional and part-time lecturer of social media marketing at Georgia State, said. “The unfortunate thing is that [social media] should be a platform for personal expression, but as more businesses continue to utilize social media, it is no longer just that.”

Look past the moment and take time and ask yourself who will be seeing this. Could it easily be taken out of context? Can you think of a way to better articulate your thoughts? Odds are, if you have to question whether or not you should post, you probably shouldn’t.

e t t e u te iq

by Naja McGowan

U

se your voice, but don’t silence others

It is natural to be passionate in your beliefs and opinions, and social media is a great way to voice them. But respect that other people are just as passionate about their own views as you are of yours.

“All discussions should remain civil,” Dr. Matt J. Duffy, former Georgia State professor and communications professional, said. “I have a friend on Facebook who starts off every comment with ‘This is stupid,’ and I can’t think of a worse way to start a discussion. You can think the opposing position is stupid, but try to engage without name-calling.”

Social media can serve as a forum to inform and have discussions with others about the events that affect us. When having these discussions, remember to remain civil and be respectful. Insulting someone’s opinion doesn’t make yours any more valid.

C

ategorize your platforms

“Figure out which is your social media tool that you’re going to use for friends and keep that private, and pick which one you think is going to eventually be your public face,” Arensault suggested.

It doesn’t matter which social media platform you choose to use for what, but it’s important to separate your professional and private profiles online. This will allow you the freedom to use at least one social media profile as an outlet of pure self expression and will help you to feel better about limiting your personal opinions on professional social media profiles.

K

now when it’s time to take a break

For avid social media users, scrolling, liking and posting has been integrated into their daily lives. It is important to remember that while being connected is great, unplugging from time to time helps retain sanity.

“When ‘checking in’ has become more important than actual human contact, you may want to think about taking a break,” Duffy said.

Even Aull, whose job requires him to constantly be online for clients such as Atlanta Bread Company, Graphic Packaging International and YMCAs of Metro Atlanta, acknowledges that everyone needs to step away sometimes.

“Because of all my different clients and projects, I would keep social media tabs open on my browser throughout the day,” Aull said. “I’ve gotten to the point where I had to take that off because I spend too much time going back and checking it.

“I try to limit my use to a couple of times a day and I think people should take time to detox at some point,” he said.

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 EMBER 5, 2013

13 11

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ARTS & LIVING

12

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Dynamic writing groups dare to inspire

LAURA APPERSON Senior Editor

T

he crowded bar teems with young writers holding a cold beer in their hands and listening intently to a speaker standing at the front of the gathered listeners. He is passionate and loud, reading a piece he wrote just for the event. Another writer stands off to the side, preparing to step up front and and read his own work opposing the other speaker’s view.

This is WRITE CLUB Atlanta, a group that takes the idea of what Consigliere Myke Johns calls a “high-brow stuffiness” literary event and turns it into a loud, nervy, interactive event for writers dying to produce new work and share it.

“If you’ve ever been trapped at a bad poetry reading, it’s the kind of thing you try to avoid,” Johns said.

“WRITE CLUB takes the traditional reading event structure and turns it up a few notches.”

The event, which takes place in Highland Ballroom every second Wednesday of the month, presents two writers with opposing views about a subject and puts them in a competition in which the audience participates.

“One writer reads, then the other, and the audience picks a winner,” Johns said. “So by being there, you’re affecting the outcome of the show.”

The participating writers don’t come from an exclusive community. Anyone can participate—and, in fact, Johns strongly encourages students to contact WRITE CLUB. The group chooses writers for the event from the community or from submissions from curious writers through the website.

Each writer receives precisely seven minutes to read their piece, and when the timer goes off, time is up. The audience participation, the timed competition, and the excitement of hearing a new and original piece of writing creates a literary space that cannot be found in a coffee shop poetry reading.

“Hopefully the loud, combative nature of WRITE CLUB fosters a sense that as a writer it’s actually a boon to be bold and assertive and have opinions,” Johns said.

WRITE CLUB isn’t the only group hosting events in Atlanta— Naked City, WRITE CLUB’s sister show, takes place at the Goat Farm the first Monday of every month.

“It’s open mic, so if you show up early and get your name on the list, you get five minutes at the mic,” Johns said.

Vouched Atlanta hosts readings—also at the Goat Farm—a few times per month. Vouched, or “champions of small press literature” as they name themselves on their website, support small press authors, literature, journals and publishers. Laura Relyea, the curator for this event called Vouched Presents, gathers local and visiting authors together for an evening of indie literature.

“There’s a really amazing community of writers here in Atlanta now—our literary scene is blossoming and there are so many ways to get involved,” Relyea said about the literary events hosted in Atlanta, including Vouched Presents.

Vouched doesn’t only host readings at the Goat Farm. Their efforts to promote small press literature extend to guerilla bookstores and promotions on their website, vouchedbooks.com.

The website is filled with resources where students and small press literature lovers can find new

books worth reading. Series such as “New Love” and “Indie Lit Classics” are only two examples of what vouchedbooks.com has to offer. “‘New Love’ is an opportunity for our contributors to harold a small press writer who they had never heard of before or whose work they have just discovered,” Relyea said. “Indie Lit Classics is where we offer our perspective on how a certain story or collection deserves its place in the canon or history of small press list.”

And WRITE CLUB’s website isn’t lacking in material, either: podcasts with writers as well as writing prompts welcome readers to a mecca of inspiration outside of the monthly events. Podcasts can also be located on iTunes.

WRITE CLUB viceroy and host Nick Tecosky encourages young writers not only to participate in events like this, but to find fellow writers to provide encouragement and understanding while writing.

“Find the best writers you can and make friends with them. Surround yourself with them. They know what you’re going through,” Tecosky said. “And listen to them when they talk about the craft.”

And Atlanta isn’t lacking talented writers. WRITE CLUB and Vouched Presents are only two of the many events hosted around the city to provide an outlet for professional and aspiring writers alike.

“Atlanta is full-to-bursting with amazing writers producing exciting and accessible work deserving of a wide audience,” Johns said. “Creating a space for writers to express themselves is important, but creating a space for people to hear that and be a participant in it is just as important.”

Visit http://georgiastatesignal. com for more information about literary groups and events in

“

[Atlanta’s] literary scene is blossoming and there are so many ways to get involved.”

-Laura Relyea

COURTESY OF: JASON MALLORY (L to R) WRITE CLUB Viceroy Nick Tecosky sets the clock for combatant Raymond Carr.

REVIEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

13

ALBUM REVIEW:

Katy Perry

Prism

Oct. 18, 2013 Grade: C+ Verdict: The musical equivalent of consuming empty calories, with a couple of stand-out side dishes thrown in.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

D

oes anyone really care about top 40 albums? This is not a dig at Katy Perry, whom I’ll readily admit to turning up plenty of her singles whenever they play on the radio their required 20 times a day minimum.

But I honestly can’t remember knowing anyone, even Katy Perry fans, ever being excited about the prospect an entire Katy Perry ALBUM. It just feels odd to say out loud, doesn’t it? Try me.

Name five songs that were on “Teenage Dream” that you liked but didn’t hear on the radio first.

The fact is that Katy Perry is not so much a songwriter as she is a centerpiece/performer.

And “Prism,” for all her assertions that this album has a “new tone” or “a darker feel” or whatever else her label told her to say to justify them slapping an $11 price tag on all those freshly printed CDs, is just another remix of the same kind of Katy Perry product you’ve come to expect by now: Katy Perry’s oh-so-bubbly voiceover sugary hooks, catchy verses, and wildly age-inappropriate innuendo.

That’s not to say it’s a bad album by any

means. It’s just that after beginning with an admittedly exciting four-song stretch (starting with the irresistibly catchy “Roar”), the album makes a sudden decline in quality, making it painfully obvious that it just got through all its pre-packaged radio singles.

“Roar” proves that Katy and her team (everyone’s favorite producer Dr. Luke, Swedish Backstreet Boy inventor Max Martin and easily over a dozen different songwriters) know a good chorus when they hear one, and establishes the tone of the album: big, loud, boomy and anthemic.

And when Katy, Inc. sticks to this formula, pure ear-candy magic is the result. “Birthday” channels those sweet, sweet throwback disco vibes of Bruno Mars (when he in turn was channeling Michael Jackson), while “Walking On Air” sounds like a holdout from a Cherinspired workout album. “Legendary Lovers” even weaves in an energetic, Bollywood-inspired dance beat to liven things up. But regardless of the influences or instruments involved, they’re somehow all blended together to make slightly different variations of the same frothy, top 40 milkshake.

For all the faint passes Katy Perry’s actual contributions to the songwriting (or lack

thereof), it’d be unfair to say she isn’t pretty much THE reason the singles even work as well as they do in the first place. Her infectious energy is present on every track, even over the the decidedly forgettable ones. And when it’s paired up with her trademark throaty vocals, even the clunkiest of lyrics and juvenile of club anthems (Ms. Perry’s decision to showcase her best impression of an obnoxious ‘90s club DJ on “This Is How We Do” comes to mind), are saved.

She manages to switch it up from the epic love-lorne croons on the oddly bouncy ballad “Ghost” to the scandalous low whispers of the club jam “Dark Horse,” and hits everything else in between. In fact, without Katy Perry behind the wheel, none of these songs would be even close to hits.

But as it stands, the magic synergy of Katy and her Katy Perry machine manages to only be good enough to churn out a few great but predictable toe-tappers, leaving a ton of artificial sweetener on the cutting room floor to pad out the rest. “Prism” isn’t going to change any of your expectations of Katy Perry anytime soon.

It really is the musical equivalent of consuming empty calories, with a couple of stand-out side dishes thrown in. But it never leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

1

THE DIFFERENCE MACHINE The Psychedelic Sounds of The Difference Machine

2 3

CUUSHE Butterfly Case

4 5

ODESZA My Friends Never Die EP

6 7 8 9

DR. DOG B-Room

10

TEEN DAZE Glacier

THE ALBERTANS Dangerous Anything

LOVE INKS Generation Club MIKAEL JORGENSEN & GREG O’KEEFFE

Mikael Jorgensen & Greg O’Keeffe CHESTER WATSON Phantom TANYA MORGAN Rubber Souls

NOW PLAYING AT

Cinefest

MOVIE REVIEW:

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Rating: R Running time: 93 mins.

Grade: B+ Verdict: “Bad Grandpa” is a surprisingly good movie. It has the classic jackassery one would expect, but it also has heart and an extremely cool mix of “reality” and narrative story-telling styles.

PEDRO ALVARADO Staff Reviewr

F

or the sake of consistency with the “Jackass” franchise, “Bad Grandpa” does include all of the genital, flatulence and excrement jokes that the audience expects from this group of actors. But what sets this installment apart from the rest is that it actually tells a story.

After his daughter is arrested for drug related charges (again), Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) takes his grandson Billy (Jackson Nicoll) from Nebraska to live with his father in North Carolina. As with most “road trip” movies, Irving and Billy encounter a series of adventures and obstacles along the way.

Unlike most other road trip movies, however, their mishaps are actually cleverly disguised pranks designed to capture a genuine reaction

from the people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time. What makes this work particularly well, is Knoxville and Nicoll’s ability to improvise with the unsuspecting prank victims. The two lead actors’ ability to spontaneously interact with the people who are not in on the joke is only trumped by their ability to keep the story moving forward. Knoxville, in particular, displays a seemingly natural ability to mess with the crowd, while in character, and not get too bogged down in the joke so as to keep the scene from moving forward. Knoxville really deserves a lot of credit for this feat because unlike a film that is entirely scripted, there are no opportunities for second takes. He has to make sure to get the scene right the first time, because the people he’s interacting with have no idea that he’s an actor or that they are being filmed.

In addition to the hilarious pranks, there are a multitude of scenes with just Irving and Billy. These scenes are just as hilarious as the prank scenes, if not more. The writers weaved

a relationship between the two characters that, heretofore, didn’t exist. It’s these scenes that really make the movie as good as it is. By exploring the complexity of a relationship between a grandfather and grandson in close quarters, getting to know each other for the first time and doing so in a genuinely realistic way, the filmmakers are able to discover authentic, true to life comedy rather than manufactured “bits” that rely almost entirely on sight gags and schtick. In the climax, when Billy is turned over to his father, the organic growth of the relationship between Irving and Billy is so great that Irving’s goodbye is simultaneously hilarious and heart-warming. One third of the audience cried from laughing, another third cried from the heart-felt sentiment and the remaining third cried from both.

While most people wouldn’t consider a Jackass movie a true character study, let alone a work of art, “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” is giving film critics something to think about.

Synopsis: Julian, a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok’s criminal underworld, sees his life get even more complicated when his mother compels him to find and kill whoever is responsible for his brother’s recent death.

Showtimes: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Weekends: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Running time: 90 minutes Rated: R

columns

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Music column

Last words on Lou Reed W

PAUL DEMERRITT Columnist

Paul DeMerritt is a freelance journalist and musician with extensive experience reporting on the music and culture of Atlanta and the globe.

Follow him @PaulDeMerritt

hat is there to say about Lou Reed that hasn’t already been said?

His legendary status in music is forever sealed in rock ‘n’ roll history. The ease and delirium of the stream-of-consciousness poetry he spat over The Velvet Underground continues to resonate in the stylings of countless artists.

Though his lyrics were unmistakable products of scuzzy 60’s New York City, they transcended the limits of any era. He took the spitfire sublimity of beat poets like Allen Ginsberg and blended it with music, dance, art and whatever style complemented his words. The meaning always outweighed the medium.

Reed’s most significant contribution to music and culture at-large was not in the content of his music, but in the style in which he displayed it. The ultimate distillation of Lou Reed’s timeless importance came from an oft-quoted 1982 interview with Brain Eno where he stated that even though The Velvet Underground’s first album may have sold 30,000 copies, “everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band.”

His tireless devotion to his own brazen aesthetics and brash whims crafted the philosophy of punk and indie rock before either word was in use.

Reed’s discography is brilliant, spotty, deeply confusing and highly contradictory. From collaborations with Metallica (2011’s maligned “Lulu”) to a double album of grating noise-dirges (1975’s “Metal Machine Music”), the one constant was that there was no constant.

He was a slave and ardent defender of his personal visions, even when they stood against any resem-

blance of popular (or independent) music. He was one the few musical journeymen to effortlessly dip in and out of radio-friendly melodies and divisive avant-garde styles.

Take 1972’s widely acclaimed “Transformer.” It was Reed’s first solo album and his first foray into commercial success, thanks to the popularity of laid back lead single “Walk on the Wild Side.” It’s hilarious that his explosion into popularity came from a song that openly romanticizes transsexuality, drugs and oral sex—all while remaining catchy enough for the layperson to hum on a sunny day.

It is practically impossible to trace the countless lines of Reed’s influence. Numerous genres (shoegaze, garage rock, punk, freak folk) have their roots embedded in his music, and novels could easily be devoted to Reed’s musical children.

The easiest way to quantify his significance is to look to the many voices that have come out of the woodwork to voice their admiration for him. Patti Smith, David Byrne, John Cusack, The Who, Josh Groban, The Mountain Goats, Ryan Adams, Weezer, Miley Cyrus, Julian Casablancas, Stones Throw Records, Morrisey, Arcade Fire, The Arctic Monkeys, Henry Rollins. Even The Vatican’s Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi paid tribute to him.

Reed died from liver disease on Oct. 27 at age 71.

The news of his death was surreal. The man seemed like his music: immortal, untouchable by time.

Reed left behind a lifetime’s worth of music that will survive him, continuing to convert passive music listeners into full-time musicians, innovators for future generations.

Sex column

Sex trafficking in Atlanta

A

RACHEL KINGSLEY Sex/Dating Columnist

I believe that even though our society has become more open about sex, it’s still a highly taboo subject. If we want to become more open and accepting, we need to start with education. I write about my own experiences as a single girl dating in Atlanta.

Follow her @rachelkingsley

ccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, sex trafficking is the most common form of modern-day slavery in the United States. Usually targeting women and children, estimations of victims are in the millions.

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing organized crime and is the third largest criminal enterprise in the world. Estimates from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime state that the slavery is a $32 billion industry a year. The majority of sex trafficking is international with victims being taken from third-world or less developed areas of the world and moved to more developed countries, such as the United States. This makes it very hard to not only find and help victims but also track the criminals and pimps.

Terms such as “human trafficking” and “sex slavery” usually conjure pictures of Liam Neeson in “Taken,” fighting the Eastern-European gang that takes his daughter into the underground world of trafficking. Unfortunately, sex trafficking isn’t just happening halfway across the world–it’s happening down the street. Even in our backyard: In Georgia, over 12,000 men purchase sex with young women in a month.

According to The Schapiro Group, a consulting firm based in Atlanta, 42 percent of men who purchase sex from young women slaves are found in the North metro Atlanta area, outside of I-285. The study also shows that 23 percent of buyers are from the south metro area, 26 percent are inside the perimeter, and about nine percent come from the airport area.

I was lucky to be able to speak with a former child sex slave victim here in Atlanta named Jane. Jane told me about her experience in the trafficking ring, stat-

ing, “My mom sold me when I was seven. We were really poor; my dad was never around. We lived in Section 8 housing and had to get most of our food from the food bank. We were really bad off. One day a man came up to our door saying he was from an adoption agency and could offer me a better life than the one I had with my mom. It sounded too good to be true.

“My mom paid the man a $50 ‘administration fee’ and I was picked up the following day.” Jane stated that she was taken to a home in a residential neighborhood and was subsequently tied up in a shed in the backyard. She was only allowed in the house when she was forced to have sex with up to thirty different johns a night. “It was a nice neighborhood. It didn’t look like a crack house or anything; you would have never suspected.”

Once Jane hit puberty and was no longer desired by the pedophiles who had been raping her, she was forced into prostitution. “Prostitution wasn’t as bad because I wasn’t tied up all the time. It was still slavery, but a different form.” Jane was lucky and was able to get out of the sex industry. Most aren’t as lucky.

Drug abuse and suicide are high occurrences.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI are workingalongside local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies, and victimbased advocacy groups participate in over 30 task forces in the country. The best way to combat the sex trafficking in Atlanta is to report any suspicious activity. Jane said, “The neighbors saw me living with a group of men and they never questioned it. They thought nothing like slavery could ever happen next door. If they would have just picked up the phone… my life could have been…different.”

Panther at Large

German bureaucracy

I CALEB ROBERTSON Columnist

Caleb Robertson is an English major at Georgia State. No, he does not want to teach. He is currently studying abroad at Mainz University in Mainz, Germany Follow him @CJRobertson

f you plan on studying abroad, practice your signature, because you will have to fill out and sign more paperwork than seems reasonably necessary. There are the application forms, the health insurance forms, the intent to study abroad forms and the financial aid forms–and those are just the ones you need to fill out for Georgia State. Just wait until you have to start filling out forms for foreign

governments.

In order to stay in Germany legally for more than 90 days, I need to get a student visa from the city office in Mainz. Two weeks ago, I went with my pathfinder Jan to do just that. My passport, health insurance and matriculation forms were all in order, but there was one form not satisfactory: proof of financial commitment from my parents.

The letter my father wrote for me was not official enough for the German government.

I had to be told this through Jan because the woman in charge of handling student visas for people with a last name M through R didn’t speak English. Let me run that by you again: the woman whose job it is to get international students legally documented in Germany does not speak the lingua franca that would enable her to communicate directly with almost all of these international students.

This woman informed me (through Jan) that I needed a form called a Verpflichtungserklärung, or a declaration of commitment, from my parents. My parents needed to get this form from the German Embassy in the United States. However, when they called the consulate to get the form, they were told that they no longer gave out these forms because of fraud.

The proof of financial support is designed to keep people from going on welfare after they arrive in Germany. Unfortunately for me, without a student visa, I cannot get paid for my office assistant job at the University.

My next appointment with the city office is on Nov. 7. I have until then to sort out all of the paperwork, so I won’t receive a paycheck until the end of December.

So protect yourself from a bureaucratic headache and get all the information about the forms you will need before you leave. On all of my instructions, it simply said “proof of financial support,” without any further elaboration. Make use of your advisers in the study abroad department at Georgia State and the international office of the institution where you will be studying.

The New Indian Creek Lodge is near Completion Make your spring 2014 reservations beginning January 6, 2014 The new Lodge at the Indian Creek Recreation Area will open its doors in the spring. The facility replaces the old lodge that was purchased by the University in 1938 and was renovated in 1996. In 2012 a decision was made to replace the old lodge with a modern energy efficient building. The new facility is 4,700 sq. ft. and the first LEED-certified building at Georgia State University. It is located 16 miles from campus and is easily accessible by MARTA. It is a palette of earthy textures and colors, ranging from reclaimed barn wood, stone, granite and tile incorporated into an open lobby reception area with fireplace, large meeting room, two break out rooms, a catering kitchen, and front and rear outside decks with seating. The facility is wireless and has full audiovisual presentation capabilities.

Departments, chartered student organizations and recreation members will be able to plan their next meeting, retreat or social event by accessing the on-line reservation system beginning January 6, 2014 for events beginning January 13, 2014.

Check the department website, recreation.gsu.edu for details regarding scheduling, fees, and assistance with planning your event.

R E C R E AT I O N A R E A

Supported by Student Activity Fees In addition, check out the new Ropes Course for students, faculty, staff and outside groups for challenging, fun filled team building activities.

calendar

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Campus Events Heels of Success: Moving Forward and Moving Up

Nov. 6 6:00 -8:30 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Hall, Dahlberg Hall Explore the culture of women in the workplace. A mix of gendered panelists will share their stories and tips on how to be successful in a male dominated world. A networking sessions and a reception will follow the event. Guests are encouraged to wear business causal attire and everyone is welcomed.

Government and Nonprofit Career Fair Nov. 7 12-3 p.m.

Dahlberg Hall

Do you plan on being an employee for the government or a non-profit corporation? Then this is perfect event for you. Get a jump-start in your career at this fair. Dress professional and have that resume ready. This is free and open to all Georgia State students, alumni and colleges.

Concerts Dance Ensemble Fall 2013 Showcase Nov. 9 TBA Student Center Ballroom

This year, Dance Ensemble will be performing a dance called “Elements.” All of the dance pieces will represent water, earth, air or fire.

Not only will the Georgia State members be performing, but other organizations like Dancer of Pointe, The African Student Association and Peerless Perfection. Canned goods are encouraged to bring to donate to Hosea Feed the Hungry.

An Afternoon with Steve Harvey: Education and SelfImprovement Nov. 18 3:00 p.m.

Sports Arena

Ending the semester, Steve Harvey is coming to Georgia State to give advice and share inspirational stories from some of his life experiences. Harvey is an acclaimed actor, author, comedian, television and radio personality. Come out and hear what he has to say about life.

Downtown Events The Taste of Atlanta Oct 25-27

If you are a foodie this is the perfect event for you. This is a three-day festival featuring culinary talents all over the Atlanta area. Over 80 of Atlanta’s best restaurants will be there. As you learn how to cook certain dishes at the cooking demonstrations, live music and street performances will surround you. Go to tasteofatlanta.com for more information.

BronzeLens Film Festival Nov. 7-9

Marriott Marquis Film lovers, actors, and filmmakers will all gather in the heart of Atlanta to share a creative platform of education, entertainment, and empowerment. The point of this festival is to promote Atlanta as the new film industry for people of color. Screenings and panels will be available at this event.

For more information go to onzelensfilmfestival.com.

Living Social’s Craft Beer Fest Nov. 9 Atlantic Station

Start November off right by indulging yourself with more than 100 craft beer and wines. Aside from the drinking, enjoy some

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

of Atlanta’s best food trucks, live music and much more.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular-The Rockettes Nov 11-23

Since the Christmas spirit begins early, celebrate the Rockettes as they finally return to Atlanta with a brand new show. Brand new scenes, sets, costumes and special effects will be showcased.

They will also be preforming five new numbers. This is a Christmas event you do not want to miss.

For ticket information visit cobbenergycentre.com.

The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar Nov. 14-16 The Westin

Come out and enjoy several seminars on photojournalism.

Photographers from all over the nation will be there to give advice as well as teaching hands-on demonstrations. This is something no Atlanta photographer wants to miss. For more information go to photojournalism.org.

Deerhunter 40 Watt Club Saturday, Nov. 16 9 p.m.

The Head And The Heart Tuesday, Nov. 12 The Buckhead Theatre 7 p.m.

MGMT Sunday, Nov. 24 Tabernacle 7 p.m.

Two Door Cinema Club Buckhead Theatre Love Scam featuring Street Lurkin and Yeti Jones Monday, Nov. 11 Saturday, Nov. 9 8 p.m.

Graveyard Tavern 11 p.m.

Of Montreal Sunday, Nov. 17 Terminal West 7 p.m.

SPORTS

PED

GET

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

PUM

A preview of the 2013-14 men’s basketball team DAVID A. NORWOOD II

G

Sports Editor

eorgia State will open its regular season on Nov. 9 against Southern Polytechnic University.

After the Georgia State-Shorter game, Coach Hunter said this was the first time he felt comfortable coaching at Georgia State.

He had people on the floor and people on the bench that knew what he wanted.

Georgia State returns four starters— CAA Rookie of the Year guard R.J. Hunter, redshirt senior forward Manny Atkins, senior guard Rashaad Richardson and senior guard Devonta White.

Washington is expected to replace James Vincent at center after being redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Harrow is expected to be the starter at point guard, with White sliding over to the two-guard position and Richardson leading the second unit for the Panthers, which will solidify the starting five for the Panthers.

“The key to our season is…[senior guard] Rashaad Richardson and [sophomore forward] Markus Crider,” Hunter said.

“Those two guys probably had the biggest development over [the summer]. Those guys have accepted their roles of coming off the bench making us... Those guys will be able to give us the depth we’ll need... We talk about what Curt [Washington] and these guys do we expect these guys but those guys [Richardson and Crider] have to be the rock for us this year.”

The team also returns sophomore forward LaRon Smith, junior guard Ryann Green, junior guard Kevin Shaw, sophomore forward T.J. Shipes, sophomore forward Markus Crider and senior forward Denny Burguillos.

The team also welcomes freshman guard Jaylen Hinton, guard Darius Sharpe and slam dunk phenom Isaiah Dennis.

Prior to the start of the season at Hoop Day, 5-foot-11-inch Dennis dunked over teammate 6-foot-9-inch teammate Washington, which became a highlight on ESPN’s Sportscenter Top 10 Plays.

Dennis attended Eagle’s Landing High School in McDonough, Ga., where he helped lead his team to the 4A State Championship, its first state title, his senior year.

Hinton earned first-team all-state and all-prep and second-team all-metro honors after his senior season at Trinity Episcopal High School in Richmond, Va. Sharpe earned a spot on the team as a walk-on. For prep, he attended Whitewater High School (Fayetteville, Ga.), earning allstate (GACA), all-region and all-county honors following his senior season.

James Vincent, the lone senior for the

Panthers last season, will be missed as he led the team in blocks from the center position.

However, with Curtis Washington’s eight-block performance on Oct. 28 against Shorter and the team’s collective 14-block effort, replacing James Vincent with one person won’t be a concern.

“It will be a collective effort for us to be better defensively,” Hunter said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love for us to block shots, but that is not necessarily who we are. We want to challenge shots and focus on everything else on defense.”

Over the following nine weeks, the Panthers will play the non-conference portion of their schedule, facing the likes of the defending SEC Champions Vanderbilt University on the road on Nov. 12, former conference foe Old Dominion University on Dec. 14 at home and in-state rival Georgia Southern University on Dec. 20 at home.

“We really just want to focus on worrying about us,” head coach Ron Hunter said.

“It is just another opportunity for us to play, whether it is Vanderbilt, Shorter University or University of South Alabama. We want to win games and that will be our focus all season long.”

Georgia State will also compete in the Preseason NIT tournament for the first time in school history.

They will open the tournament on the road against McNeese State in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Nov. 18.

However, in-conference doesn’t begin for the Panthers until January when they face Troy University at home on Jan. 2.

Georgia State hasn’t competed in basketball as a member of the Sun Belt since the 1981 season.

This season marks Coach Hunter’s third season as head coach at Georgia State.

In his first season at helm, the Panthers went 21-12 and 11-7, finishing sixth in the conference.

They also competed in the CAA Basketball Tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals to George Mason University.

Last season, Georgia State went 15-16 and 10-8, finishing fifth in the conference.

Although they finished better in the conference, they were ineligible to return to compete in the CAA Basketball Tournament due to a CAA bylaw stating that if a team resigned from the conference it isn’t allowed to compete in the postseason tournament.

For the upcoming season, the Panthers can compete for the Sun Belt Championship, but last year’s absence is an afterthought for Coach Hunter.

“We are just excited to be in the Sun Belt and have an opportunity to play in the conference tournament.”

MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL Forward TJ Shipes dunks on a Shorter University defender in a 90-60 exhibition win.

SPORTS

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Men’s Basketball Feature

Family comes O first for Ryan Harrow

DAVID A. NORWOOD II Sports Editor

n Oct. 28, Ryan Harrow made his long-awaited debut for Georgia State’s men’s basketball team.

Harrow finished the game with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.

“I was really excited to be back home in Atlanta,” Harrow said. “All of my friends and family were here.

To be able to play with my new teammates against someone else was really exciting for me.”

Among friends and family present at the game was Harrow’s father, Mark Harrow, who suffered a stroke prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, his son’s last season at Kentucky.

Harrow transferred after the season to Georgia State where he’d be closer to his father, who lives in College Park, Ga., to help him whenever needed.

Georgia State earned a waiver from the NCAA for Harrow to play right away for the team due to his father’s illness.

Harrow said his father raved about his son’s performance against Shorter.

“My dad said I played well and he was excited to see me out there having fun and smiling,” Harrow said.

Although Harrow has moved to Georgia, he’s no stranger to the Peach State.

Harrow spent majority of his prep years in Georgia, attending Walton High School (Marietta, Ga.), starting his freshman year.

He attended Concord High School (Concord, N.C.) for part of his sophomore year, where his brotherin-law, Erasto Hatchett, was an assistant coach, according to The Advocate Messenger.

However, Harrow transferred back to Walton High School (Marietta, Ga.) to be close to his family after the death of his grandmother.

Tragedy turned into triumph, however, after having to sit out the re-

PHOTO BY ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN | THE SIGNAL Point guard Ryan Harrow graduated from Walton High School (Marietta, Ga.) as a five-star prospect and was ranked among the top 25 players in the nation.

“

All of my friends and family were here [in Atlanta]. To be able to play with my new teammates against someone else was really exciting for me.”

- Ryan Harrow

mainder of his sophomore year, he became third-team Parade All-America selection, the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year and was also named 5A Player of the Year as a senior.

For college, Harrow returned to North Carolina to attend North Carolina State where former head coach Sidney Lowe was head coach.

However, after a year at the school, Lowe was fired and Harrow decided to transfer.

Harrow picked Kentucky over Louisville, Texas and Georgia, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader.

When Harrow arrived to Kentucky for his sophomore year, he had to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.

In contrast, his new team captured the 2012 NCAA National Championship.

Unfortunately, when it comes to winning a national championship, defending one is even more pressure.

Several key pieces of the championship team left for the NBA draft, including the No. 1 pick of the NBA draft, now-New Orleans Pelican Anthony Davis, leaving the team to be composed of young players.

Inexperience got the best of the Wildcats as they suffered upset losses to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament Finals where he took the blame for the defeat and Robert Morris in the opening round of the NIT Tournament.

Seven months later, Harrow is suiting up for a different feline–the Georgia State Panthers.

With the transfer to Georgia State due to his father’s health issues, Har-

row has a new start and an opportunity to finish his final two years at home.

Harrow has worn number 12 since he was in high school, but with the new start at Georgia State, he decided to wear number 55.

“My dad was born in 1955 and I really like Jason Williams who played on the Sacramento Kings. He wore number 55,” Harrow said.

Georgia State also gets a new start this season as the basketball program left the CAA this summer and returned to the Sun Belt for the first time since the 1981 season.

Along with the Sun Belt foes on the schedule, Harrow gets a chance to avenge his loss to Vanderbilt last season next Tuesday.

“I am glad that we get to play them again,” Harrow said. “A lot of people remember that game, but along with my former teammates, we also beat Vanderbilt twice last year. I feel like I have a pretty good feel of how they play and I think our Georgia State team will be well prepared to face them when the time comes.”

Although fans and media alike set expectations high for the Panthers this year, Harrow’s not worried about living up to those expectations.

“Honestly, I am just worried about how my teammates see me,” Harrow said. “I really cannot control what anyone outside of our program thinks of me. I just want us to do well as a team. I know that if our team is playing well then I am doing my job as well and the rest will fall into place.”

Women’s soccer makes it to Sun Belt tournament with second-year coach JAMES HUNTER Staff Reporter

A

fter joining the team last year, women’s soccer Head Coach Derek Leader is making sure his squad is ready to compete in its first Sun Belt Conference tournament.

“I think the team has adjusted quite well,” Leader said. “New opponents and styles in new locations; it’s really about adapting to new environments.”

The Lady Panthers traveled to take on Texas State University, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University and Western Kentucky University with a 2-2 record in those trips.

Overall, Georgia State has a 4-4 conference record on the season.

Leader thinks the team is constantly improving and the expectations for performance are reaching new heights every day.

“Overall I’d say they have an improved mental attitude,” Leader said.

“They’re having fun. They’re very goal and task-oriented and I don’t know if that was the case a year ago.”

Leader said the internal competition among the teammates that has been created is great for the program now and in the future.

“I think they know we’re competing with each other and not against each other from within. Everybody just wants the best for each other and for the team,” Leader said.

Leader has an exceptional player at his disposal in sophomore Ashley Nagy.

Nagy was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week for her twoscore performance against Troy on Oct. 13 and is also the team leader in goals.

Leader was sure to give all of his athletes credit, though.

“Ashley is great, but It’s by no means an individual effort,” Leader

said.

The team’s goal is to win the conference tournament, and the Lady Panthers are working hard every day to put themselves in the position to do that.

Leader said the team is not getting ahead of itself. They are taking games one at a time and are looking to get the highest seed in the Sun Belt Conference tournament as possible.

The highest seed always plays the lowest seeded teams in tournaments, so getting a high seed would put Georgia State in a good position to win the tournament.

Out of eight teams, Georgia State is the seventh seed and is set to face second-seeded South Alabama in the first round on Nov. 6 in San Marcos, Texas.

Women’s soccer found its “Leader” Leader is in his second season at

Georgia State (5-10-1).

He left Southern Methodist University (SMU) to coach the Panthers after four years, three of which Leader spent as an assistant coach and his last year as the associate head coach.

After sifting through job offers for an assistant position at an SEC school and a head coach position at a Southland Conference school, Leader chose Georgia State.

“In the end, I wanted to be a head coach in college and my wife and her family are all from Georgia,” Leader said.

Under those circumstances, Leader decided that coaching the Lady Panthers was his best fit.

Leader has been involved with soccer all of his life, playing from his youth up through high school.

“My parents were from England, so I grew up with that kind of culture,” Leader said.

Leader is a 1995 graduate of Akron University, and his first coach-

ing job came as an assistant coach of the men’s and women’s programs at Ashland University from 1995 to 1996.

The head coach said he’s been lucky enough to coach men and women at all levels of the game, including at youth levels.

Leader worked for over 10 years at IMG Academy’s soccer program, coaching youth, collegiate and even professional soccer players before taking the job at SMU. At IMG, he met and coached with Tom Durkin, the new coach of the women’s professional team, The Boston Breakers.

Leader said he has also been fortunate enough to work with professional coaches for most of his life, including former MLS coaches Jay Hoffman and Tom Turner He’s also coached with Timo Liekoski, an assistant coach on the 1994 U.S. World Cup team, who began helping Leader.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

PANTHER Of The Week

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

MARYNA KOZACHENKO WOMEN’S TENNIS

Maryna Kozachenko came out of the Roberta Alison Fall Invitational undefeated winning a total of six matches.

On the first day, Kozachenko came away with two singles victories and a doubles victory with partner Chaimaa Roudami.

Kozachenko continued her dominance with Roudami to win two more doubles matches.

Kozachenko closed out her weekend with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Loyola Paramount’s Lisa Piller in her third-round singles match.

Kozachenko is a reshirt senior and was a member of the All-CAA first team doubles team in 2011 and 2012.

She is a from Kiev, Ukraine and graduated from Kiev International School.

In the Ukraine, Kozachenko competed in numerous tournaments in the junior level reaching a ranking of 694 in the International Tennis Federation.

Sports Calendar

23 19

briefs

*CONFERENCE GAMES

Men’s Soccer

Tue, Nov. 5 Men’s Soccer North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. 7 p.m.

Fri, Nov. 8 Volleyball UALR* GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

Sat, Nov. 9 Volleyball Arkansas State* GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

Wed, Nov. 6 Women’s Soccer South Alabama*- Sun Belt Conference Tournament San Marcos, Texas 11 a.m.

Fri, Nov. 8 WBB UT-Martin- Preseason WNIT Martin, Tenn.

7 p.m.

WRAS 88.5

Sun, Nov. 10 Women’s Soccer Championship- Sun Belt Conference Tournament San Marcos, Texas 2 p.m.

Fri, Nov. 8- Sun, Nov. 10 Women’s Tennis National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Flushing, N.Y. Fri, Nov. 8- Sun, Nov. 10 Men’s Tennis Charleston Challenge Charleston, S.C. Fri, Nov. 8 Women’s Soccer Semifinals- Sun Belt Conference Tournament San Marcos, Texas 5 p.m.

Sat, Nov. 9 Sand Volleyball Florida State, South Carolina Tallahassee, Fla. All Day Sat, Nov. 9 Men’s Basektball Southern Poly Atlanta, Ga. 1 p.m.

1340 The Fan 3

Tue, Nov. 12 Men’s Basketball Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn.

8 p.m.

Wed, Nov. 13 Volleyball Western Kentucky* Bowling Green, Ky. 7 p.m.

Last Tuesday, Georgia State defeated Mercer 2-1 at home.

Fifth-year senior forward Caleb Kernan and freshman forward Amiri Abraham each scored a goal for the Panthers.

Georgia State’s three win streak ended Saturday at home in a 4-1 loss against Incarnate Word.

Neil Rajendran scored the lone goal for the Panthers.

Court Volleyball

On Friday, Georgia State defeated UT Arlington 3-2 in Arlington, TX. Sophomore outside hitter Debe Bohannon led the team with a career high 27 kills.

Georgia State’s four game win streak ended Saturday on the road in a 3-1 loss against Texas State.

Men’s Basketball

On Monday, Georgia State defeated Shorter College 90-60 at home.

Redshirt-junior Ryan Harrow led the team in points with 17.

Fri, Nov. 15 Women’s Cross Country NCAA South Regional (6k) Tuscaloosa, Ala. 12 p.m.

Football

On Saturday, Georgia State suffered their eighth consecutive loss, falling 44-28 to Western Kentucky.

Redshirt-sophomore Ronnie Bell threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

Sun Belt Standings STANDING

FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER

COURT VOLLEYBALL

1st

UL-Lafayette 3-0

WKU 6-2-0

WKU 12-1

2nd

UL-Monroe 3-1

Arkansas State 2-1

South Alabama 5-2-1

UALR 10-3

UL-Lafayette 5-2-1

Texas State 8-6

4th

Troy 3-2

Texas State 4-3-1

UT Arlington 8-6

5th

Texas State 2-2

Troy 4-3-1

UL-Lafayette 7-6

6th

WKU 2-3

Arkansas State 4-4-0

Arkansas State 6-8

7th

South Alabama 1-3

South Alabama 5-7

8th

Georgia State 0-4

Georgia State 4-4-0

UALR 1-7-0

-

UL-Monroe 1-7-0

Troy 4-9

-

UL-Monroe 2-11

3rd

9th 10th -

Georgia State 4-9

What’s

Happening

Supported by Student Activity Fees

ber m e v o N 2013 Monday Tuesday

4

Wednesday

Miss GSU Orientation

12:15-1 p.m.

465 University Center

5

6

Miss GSU Orientation

6-7 p.m.

465 University Center

Thursday

Friday

7

Miss GSU Orientation

Panther Prowl: The Great Prowl 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

Student Center Ballroom

12:15-1 p.m.

465 University Center

Slam Art

7 p.m., Courtyard Stage, Student Center

SU ion Miss G ntat i r nt O e a e g a P s GSU ial Mis tend t n e t o All p st at nts mu sion to a t s e t ses con ntation ectations e i r o n a xp bout e d learn a ntestants an o c r fo nner. the wi

Portraits of Pain, an exhibition of artwork by GSU student Haseena Peera, will be showcased in the Student*University Center’s Gallery Lounge November 4-27. The exhibit showcases ink drawings of controversial subjects such as the emotions of abuse, politics, religion and being true to total self.

7-9 p.m.

470 University Center

Open Mic Night

12

For event details, visit our websites:

Campus Events studentevents.gsu.edu

Cinefest Film Theater spotlight.gsu.edu/cinefest

Spotlight Programs Board spotlight.gsu.edu

Student Media studentmedia.gsu.edu

Student*University Center studentcenter.gsu.edu

Looking for food or drinks in the evening?

VISIT EINSTEIN BROS BAGELS The Student Center Courtyard’s Einstein Bros Bagels is open until 9 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 7 p.m. on Fridays, as well as Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. More than just bagels and coffee, Einstein’s offers deli and hot sandwiches, hearty salads, fruit smoothies and a variety of healthy side items to complete your meal. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, Einstein’s never tasted so good.

2 0 1 4 M i s s Ge or g i a S tat e Un i v ersi t y Pa g e a n t

EMILY DIAMOND Miss GSU 2013

See C a l en d a r F or Or i en tat ion D at e s

9 &10

Plaza

12 - 1 p.m.

Library Plaza

13

14

15

Cinefest

Only God Forgives, Nov. 4-10

FREE for GSU students, faculty & staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. & $5 at 5 p.m. & after.

Smyrna (Special Event), Nov. 8

16&17

M-Th: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

F: B N Q N Q N Q N t S-S: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Film Theater

F: 3 p.m.

8 1/2, Nov. 11-17

M-F: 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m.

S-S: 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m.

STEVE HARVEY DISTINGUISHED

THE

11

8

Portraits of Pain in the Gallery Lounge

Soul Food Cypher

7 - 10 p.m.

Courtyard Stage Student Center

Sat-Sun

SPEAKER 2013-2014

Supported by Student Activity Fees

3 p.m.

SERIES

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 GSU SPORTS ARENA

FREE with GSU ID

$5 for public at the door

Multi-faceted entertainer Steve Harvey believes that dreaming pays off with hard work and perseverance. The acclaimed actor, TV and radio personality, best-selling author and fashion entrepreneur inspires audiences with his savvy business sense and genuine passion for family and helping others. Named one of Reader’s Digest’s 100 Most Trusted People in America in 2013, Harvey also remains dedicated to philanthropic initiatives that create uplifting educational opportunities for young men and women. He is currently the popular host of the TV shows Family Feud and Steve Harvey, as well as the top-rated radio host of the Steve Harvey Morning Show.

Followed by meet and greet t

studentevents.gsu.edu