MARCH 22 - MARCH 27, 2016
VOL. 83 | NO. 24
The signal at georgia State University
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50,000* students 6 campuses 1 president
SGA issue
*approximate size
PHOTOS BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Georgia State University holds the first Student Government Association election with students from Georgia State and Perimeter College campuses running for the Presidential position.
2A
NEWS
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
blotter March 11
March 15
Disturbing the Peace
On Friday morning, Georgia State Police was called to handle a harassing and intimidating individual off campus.
March 12
Scam at Shell
Georgia State University Police (GSUPD) are investigating a fraudulent card transaction which occurred at the Shell Station on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue Saturday morning.
Wild Waffle Wanderer
On Tuesday evening, GSUPD arrested a trespasser at a Waffle House near campus for obstruction of an officer, disorderly conduct and failure to leave the campus.
March 16
Valuable Victim
March 18 Car Thief
GSUPD arrested a person who attempted to steal belongings from inside a parked car between Fairlie and Poplar Street Friday after midnight.
Police are investigating a Georgia State staff member who was involved in a sexual battery incident which occurred near the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies building on Wednesday afternoon.
ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL
PHOTO OF THE WEEK Georgia State student Trenice Norman visits St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy on a personal vacation during spring break, March 15, 2016. The Signal asked Georgia State students to submit their spring break vacation pictures for a chance to be featured in this week’s issue. Trenice is our winner. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY TRENICE NORMAN
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NEWS
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SWITCHING TO
S O L A R Georgia’s got a pocketful of unused sunshine CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Associate News Editor
T
he Peach State’s environmental progressives are demanding Georgia make use of the sun’s rays showering down each day, and companies and schools alike are making first steps for solar power usage. In February 2015, Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) met with the Office of Sustainability, and voted the installation of solar panel-powered “Big Belly” recycling bins. The bins would use the energy coming from solar panels to decompose the trash into recyclable waste that are disposed in the machine. After members voted to allocate $40,000, the bins started popping up all around campus. “These bins, as expensive as they are, were worth voting for given their sustainable energy source, and how they impact the campus,” Anthony Nguyen, SGA VP for Public Relations, said. President of Georgia State’s Sustainable Energy Tribe (SET) Justin Brightharp said there have also been some solar panels installed on the roof of Library South. He said there have been attempts in the past by both the Student Government Association (SGA) and SET for Georgia State to utilize solar power. Brightharp told The Signal that SET sent out a survey three years ago asking students what the sustainability fee should pay for. The overwhelming, he said, called for solar power. In November 2015 Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s announced a city initiative to install solar panels on 28 municipal buildings – fire stations, recreation centers and a police station. This plan , dubbed “Solar Atlanta,” marked the city’s first major sun energy effort. In January Georgia Power (GP), a major electric utility in the state, submitted an Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) for 2016, which outlined the company’s goals to meet their energy needs for the next twenty years. Georgia Power updates their plans every three years, and in the 2013 IRP a proposed amount of 525 MW was suggested to come online. John Kraft, spokesman of Georgia Power
said even though they haven’t met that amount yet, the renewable energy plants are still under construction and are expected to be finished by the end of 2016, adding what is left for the 525 MW goal. The 2016 IRP proposal includes an increase of renewable energy of once again 525 MW, but while the 2013 increase was focused mostly on solar power, this one includes wind, solar and biomass. The electric company asked clean energy interest groups in the market to to bid on how much energy they can supply, to meet the goals of the 2016 IRP. New renewable energy sources will go online in 2018 and 2019, yet none in 2017. “By the time our IRP renewable energy proposals are approved by the Public Service Commission, it will be mid-2016. Then we have to implement it, put it out on the market, developers must analyze our requests, and then we must evaluate and approve their proposals,” Kraft said, as to why 2017 won’t see any renewables come online. “And all that, takes time.” State-wide environmental agencies protested the plan, claiming that the company focused too much on old, rundown plants instead of shifting to renewable energy, according to Environment Georgia. One of the proposals in Georgia Power’s IRP requested to expand the Waynesboro, Georgia’s Vogtle Nuclear plant, which is three years behind schedule and $3 million over budget.
Solar pays back
Colleen McLoughlin, an organizer for Environment Georgia, is part of the Athens “Solarize” project, which aims to reduce residential and commercial solar costs in Athens by 30 percent through bulk customer purchases; the more customers make a solar purchase, the lower the power bill. McLoughlin said the project is the second in Georgia, after one in Tybee Island and Chatham County. Environment Georgia teamed up with electric contractor Alternative Energy Southeast and solar developer Turnsol Energy, which will work together for the completion of over one fourth of the installations in Solarize Athens. For residents using solar power, a system of net metering is usually adopted by the utility provider, a system which feeds back the unused customer’s energy back into the provider’s power grid.
“Since that resident is contributing to the [provider’s] energy supply with a system they paid for, it is only fair that they get paid back the amount they originally paid for it, which is anywhere between $0.096/kWh- $0.167/ kWh,” McLoughlin said. “However, Georgia Power pays you about $0.44 for the power you send back to the grid, about a quarter of what that energy is worth.” According to Southern View Energy, solar panel prices have decreased dramatically, and are now at $1.50 to $3 dollars per watt. And while the number of panels varies according to roof size, most home installations are between 2,000-7,000 watts, or between $8,000 and $42,000. Brightharp said seeing a return from an investment in solar technology can take anywhere from five to 50 years. But the right solar panels can produce enough energy for more than just the building they’re installed on. “Sometimes [solar power] can produce enough energy to sell back to a company or a municipality. D.H. Stanton Park in South Atlanta is powered by solar panels and it sells excess energy back for the city of Atlanta,” he said. The problem, according to Environment Georgia, is that Georgians needs more incentive to install solar hardware and better initiatives for businesses and residents. Anne Blair, clean fuels director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said Georgia Power doesn’t pay customers of solar power a good amount for the energy they put back to GP’s grid. “Running renewable energy sources would require Georgia Power to transition to an entirely different business model,” she said. “And right now, they’re not putting nearly enough renewable energy resources into their plans but instead in existing coal and natural gas plants.” In February 2015 supermarket chain Target promised to cover a quarter of its American store rooftops with solar panels during the next five years, an equivalent, McLoughlin said, to four thousand football fields. Walmart has taken the lead in solar initiatives over the past years, with over 100 MW of solar capacity, followed by Kohl’s and IKEA. “After all, [Target’s] ads tell us we should ‘expect more.’ With solar on all of its viable rooftops by 2030, Target could create enough energy to power over a quarter-million homes,” she said.
Out with the old
Attorney Robert Jackson from GreenLaw, a non-profit legal group, and Erin Glynn, incoming IRP organizer for Georgia’s Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization, claims Georgia Power is sticking to their old ways because that’s simply cheaper, and more convenient. “For the few years that Georgia Power has utilized renewable energy sources, they have proved to be cheaper and more efficient than coal,” Jackson said. “But the costs [of implementation] stand as the greatest barrier, as GP would have to change infrastructure to match solar power needs.” “It’s like having an old ‘65 Corolla, all rusted out, sunroof leaking, windows cracked,” Glynn said. “But do you keep sinking money into it because you’re scared of buying something new?” Julie Hairston, communications director of the Georgia Solar Energy Association, said Georgia Power has seen a great increase in the use of solar power, and that’s mainly due to recent declines in production costs. “In 2011, Georgia had a total of less than 10 MW of solar energy, and now, by the end of the year we’re projected to have 1.2 GW,” she said. “That’s a giant stride, and it’s because production materials are cheaper, and panels are more efficient, which means less can be installed for the same output.” According to Hairston, in the past five years, Georgia has increased its solar energy MW output by 120 times, and even though the state isn’t where it’s supposed to be in the solar energy market, it’s merely young in the solar field. But, McLoughlin said, the state should have dotted up the map with solar panels a while ago, as the sunshine it receives could power the state over 40 times. “Many people are boasting that Georgia has the fastest-growing solar industry in the U.S., but we have to consider that Georgia is growing so rapidly because we were at zero not too long ago,” McLoughlin said. Colleen Kiernan with the Sierra Club said, despite some growth in the past years, Georgia isn’t using renewable resources as much anymore and is “holding tight to some of the oldest and dirtiest coal plants, such as Plant Hammond and Plant McIntosh, rather than putting them on a retirement schedule.”
PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL
NEWS
4A
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
University
Concealed guns on campus are almost legal Students, university police hash it out over Georgia’s “campus carry” legislation
Local
CHARLES BAILEY
Georgia Legislature Passes Religious Liberty Bill
Staff Reporter
*first appeared on georgiastatesignal.com
C
arrying concealed guns on campus could soon be legal once Georgia House Bill 859 (HB 859) meet’s Gov. Nathan Deal’s pen. HB 859, once ratified, would allow 21-year-old and older licensed individuals to carry concealed handguns on college campuses, except in student housing and athletic venues. The state Senate approved the bill on March 11 after weeks of contention over where more guns on campus yields protection or danger, according to the General Assembly. On March 10, Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a public forum with university police, student politicians and the general student body. With close to 60 people in attendance, several students and SGA members voiced concerns to Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) representatives Maj. Anthony Coleman and Lt. Sharon Ware on Mar 10 during SGA’s “Campus Carry” discussion. Students had voiced their dissatisfaction with campus escorts, call boxes, GSUPD security presence from officers other than Coleman or Ware and asked for security updates as well as their concerns for the future of campus life should the bill pass this week. Coleman fielded questions and concerns of campus safety, such as security oversight, campus escort services, and the repercussions of HB 859 and 792, which would allow the use of electronic weapons, like low-voltage tasers if passed in the Senate. Coleman and Ware did not comment on the potential police
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS | THE SIGNAL
Over 60 students attend the Campus Safety discussion hosted by Student Government Association in Student Center West, March 10, 2016.
reaction to the weapons carry legislation. Instead they sought student input for outlining safety measures. “What would you [the students] like to do to increase the [working] relationship with the police? We are here twenty-four-seven. We would love to work with you,” Coleman said. SGA President Pro Tem Sen. Justin Brightharp publicly extended invitations to future campus events to the GSUPD as an icebreaker between students and college law enforcement. “Our main forum with the GSUPD is community-oriented policing,” Ware responded. “Seek us out so we can get to know you better. If you have problems with GSUPD, ask for a supervisor.” SGA conducted a poll of Perimeter College and Georgia State undergraduate, graduate, and law students about HB 859 and 792. More than 54 percent of each category of students surveyed opposed HB 859. Conversely, more than 48 percent of all students supported HB 792. Coleman and Ware also said
the 89 call boxes across campus are checked twice a week, but the campus escort service is used sparingly. Most students use it to seek shelter from the cold or rain, and many refuse bicycle or walking escorts, they said. “Only in inclement weather is the Georgia State campus escort service used more often,” Ware said. “It shows us students don’t really care about crime; only about seeking shelter.” Coleman also said three new officers have joined their ranks, two new escort vans have been purchased and from their vantage point, crime has decreased on campus since the increased security measures following the fourth armed robbery in January. “We purchased and installed covert cameras after the last armed robbery that very night,” Coleman. “We will not have cameras on each floor, but cameras and the systems will have been upgraded in about two weeks, and we’ll be available to view footage at all times.” Jeremy Borger, a Georgia State actuarial science major, said he felt like he was in more control of his
safety after the debate. “I like to come to these forums, and I feel better because I feel like I have more of a say in my own safety, and I feel more comfortable talking to the officers on campus.” The University System of Georgia (USG) Vice President of Communications Charles Sutlive gave The Signal USG’s official statement, opposing the new legislation, saying USG agrees with current legislation: “We feel strongly that current law strikes the right balance between creating a safe environment on our campuses while affording those individuals who are carry users a safeguard location.” Coleman said he enjoyed the debate and hopes for more of them in the future, especially if the students feel better about approaching campus security officers, he said. He also said after the biometric scanners, more campus and library cameras will be installed at a later date.
Sean Keenan contributed to this article.
Panthers fight for a $15 minimum wage DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter
T
hree Georgia State grad students are gathering support around campus to increase the nationwide minimum wage to $15 an hour. Larance Carter, Isaac Davis and Misty Novitch are working with ATL Raise Up, a local partner of the national “Fight for $15” movement as part of a community project as part of an effort to obtain a master’s degree. Carter said the group chose this project to promote self-sufficiency for American citizens and their families. “It is a core American belief that people should be able to take care of themselves and their families with their own efforts and that if you work hard, you will be rewarded. However, this is not the case when it comes to low-wage workers,” he said. “We believe it is a part of our many duties as social workers to be advocates for
Last Week
these individuals.” The Fight for $15 began on Nov. 29, 2012, when 200 fast food workers went on strike in New York to protest minimum wage. Since then, fast food workers and others of low-income status — think health care professionals and adjunct professors — across the nation have joined the cause. Georgia’s current minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, one of the lowest in the nation, and $2.05 lower than the federal minimum wage. Senate Bill 15, also called the minimum wage bill, was introduced during the 2015 legislative session and purposed to raise Georgia’s minimum wage to $10.10. However, the bill did not pass. Seattle and San Francisco have already passed laws raising wages to $15 over the next couple of years. ATL Raise Up is pushing for the same wage increase in Atlanta. The group’s main focus on Georgia State’s campus is to build support and increase awareness. Their work with the Fight for $15 project involves
gathering signatures of students who support the movement, giving presentations and hosting an event. So far, they’ve amassed 268 signatures, according to Carter. “Our work at Georgia State is pure social advocacy with justice for the disenfranchised as the overarching theme,” he said. “The main point of all this is to create pressure against institutions, such as large corporations or conservative politicians, which we believe stand in the way of our solutions, which is raising the minimum wage, redistributing resources and promoting economic justice.” President and CEO of the Greater Macon of Commerce. Mike Dyer, said a minimum wage increase could create a ripples effect of problems in the marketplace. “It would just make our tasks that much more difficult in creating jobs and growing the economy,” Dyer said. “The cost will go up for everybody and then of course who’s going to pay for that? The taxpayers.”
Georgia State student Chloe Veal said she’s definitely an advocate for a minimum wage increase because it would make her work life easier. “I work two jobs, one pays an $8 hourly wage and the other pays off of tips, but not everyone believes in tipping,” Veal said. “Raising the minimum wage would help because I wouldn’t have had to get the second job if I was making enough with the first.” “We must do all what is within our power to fight for the social and economic justice of the disenfranchised, but particularly low wage workers,” Carter said. “This fight is not just about our communities, but our future.” Carter, Davis and Novitch are hosting an event on April 5 in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies with a panel of low-wage workers telling their stories followed by an open dialogue about the Fight for $15 campaign.
The Georgia Legislature passed a bill Wednesday allowing the protection of faith based organizations rights to object any event or individual that goes against their religious beliefs. Gov. Nathan Deal has yet to decide whether to sign this bill after controversial debates about the discrimination of those in the LGQBT community. However, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told Atlanta Journal Constitution, “The First Amendment and the free exercise of religious beliefs is an essential part of our democracy. It deserves the utmost respect and protection. This legislation does just that and protects these freedoms.”
National
Marc Rubio drops out of Presidential Campaign
After losing the Florida primary, Marc Rubio, Republican presidential candidate and Florida senator, dropped out of the race for presidency. He announced his departure in Miami during a speech discussing his loss against Donald Trump in his home state. He was known as the candidate who stood against Trump’s tactics throughout the primaries.
Global
Plane crashes in Russia
In the early morning on March 18, a Flydubai plane crashed in Russia killing 62 people, according to Aljazeera. The plane was scheduled to land in the afternoon, but it couldn’t land properly due to inclement weather. The plane made it inside the airport’s property before going down a few hundred feet short of the runway, according to The Guardian. Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a cause; however, they are still investigating the reason behind this incident. Hundreds of mourning people congregated outside the airport to reflect on the tragic event.
who will be the
next president of SGA? CHRISTINA MAXOURIS
T
Associate News Editor
his year’s Student Government Association (SGA) elections are promising an interesting match for the 2016 presidential race. Six ambitious student politicos are looking to fill this year’s SGA presidential slot, all with catchy platform acronyms and plans to rule over the six-campus Georgia State Empire. An advocate for the unification of the Georgia State body, Adib Ahmed Chowdury is the first competitor fighting for president’s title. Chowdury said he wants to focus on the unique and creative ideas of students, in hopes of communicating their different perspectives to SGA. Current SGA Vice President for student services, Fortune Onwuzuruike, is the face behind smoke-free campus initiatives, Panther Cash, and the Grocery Shuttle Bill, saying his strongest point is his love for the school. And with the merge comes new competition from the GPC Dunwoody campus president, Blake Rios. Backed by experience as a senator, and vice president as well, Rios said he has mastered the skills required for the position. From the Newton campus, Sri Rajasekaran is adding a female voice to the campaign. The sole student representative of the Perimeter College on the Consolidation Implementation Committee, she holds multiple leadership position at GPC and relies on her experience and cooperative skills. Georgia State student Eugene Butler, has held leadership positions in the Spotlight Programs Board, ready to tackle campus-wide issues, and wants to say to the Georgia State community, “I hear, I’m here, now let’s work.”
THE SIGNAL asked ONE
TWO
Describe your platform
What issues do you think are big on campus right now that you’re planning to address?
THREE The SGA president will be responsible for Georgia State’s now six campuses. What will you do to make sure you’re on top of all six campuses, and keep up with all the responsibilities that come along?
FOUR Why do you think you’re the best representative of the Georgia State student body?
They REsponded
Meet the
Presidential
Candidates
The Signal will host the Presidential candidates’ debate on March 29 in the Urban Life Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Satirical interview with the candidates Read the full interviews on our website www.georgiastatesignal.com
My platform stands on the words, “Let us Connect,” and I say this because my goals as being president refer to connecting many groups of people, and to unify a campus that is divided in evident ways. It will help initiate change in programs by making sure the whole campus is allowed to voice their opinions in polls created by SGA. I will connect with all of the members serving in SGA and also connect and speak to members of SGA, and have hearings of ideas that can be implemented. I want the people’s voice to be heard, and I want to avidly pursue this position and use it to its full ability. I am a highly efficient character, and promise in my first 100 days to setup a method to poll certain questions asked by the people. Adib Ahmed Chowdury Georgia State University
R-Require an increased security presence to ensure student safety E- Engaging the student body in athletic events S- Strategically increasing sustainability throughout the school U- Uniting all six campuses into the #PantherFamily L- Landing greater academic success through promoting academic programs and resources T- Traditions that will be formed and last forever S- Student services being expanded
Fortune Georgia State University
Sri Rajasekaran Georgia Perimeter - Newton
Eugene Butler Georgia State University
Big issues are working effortlessly to increase campus safety and increasing awareness of the available resources for campus safety and advocating for 24 study space. Making sure the student body knows who the Student Government Association and what we do. I will make sure that I am working closely with administration Also, I want to engage the WHOLE student body. I want all students to unite as one panther family. With Georgia State University being the largest institution in Georgia, I think it is necessary for the President to possess substantial SGA experience. I want to be an advocate for the student body and continue making an impact.
The soul of my platform is One Georgia State. [That includes] advocating for improvements to academic advising on all campuses, establish a campaign to make mental health of students a priority, work towards implementation of more dining options on all campuses, and expand sustainability efforts on all campuses. Across the Georgia State campuses, campus safety is a major concern. I plan on working with the administration and campus police to thoroughly assess the campus safety situation on all of our campuses, through data analyzation, forums, and with campus safety walks, and take necessary measures to address the issues we find. Teamwork is the key to staying on top of all six campuses and to ensuring that I am representing each and every one of our students and voicing their concerns. Hence, maintaining a close relationship with the six Executive Vice Presidents will be the key to staying on top of the happenings at all of the six campuses. I believe that I would be the best representative of the Georgia State University Student Body because of my commitment to serving the students.
My platform is a compiled list of some of the most pressing issues: campus Safety, having a mutual beneficial relationship amongst all campuses, and being an active integrated SGA President.Campus safety is definitely one of the most prominent issues facing the downtown campus now especially with the library burglaries as well as the Campus Carry loss being on the discussion table. We have to continue to make strives to provide the sense of safety back to the student body. At the Perimeter campuses, the funding of athletic scholarships and the division of access to campus activities on the downtown campus because of student fees has to reach a solution rapidly. I think my campus leadership within Spotlight Programs Board has definitely prepared me with the essential tools to succeed in managing such a task. [We have] commuters, non traditional students, perimeter students, veterans, freshman, and the list goes on. I feel because I have an understanding of [that range] and respect each and every Panther’s contribution, I am the best voice for the representatives we have here.
What do you think it means to be a Panther and how have you showed your voters that you are one?
“
I strongly
believe being a panther
means being
open minded.”
“
YOu have to love
your school and what your school
represents.”
“ “
Commitment
to go above and beyond.
I deeply care for
the school.”
I’ve demonstrated that i’m active and present
by being immensely
involved.”
Meet the Executive Vice President
candidates
The Signal will host the Executive Vice President candidates’ debate on March 30 in the Urban Life Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL
PREPARING YOU FOR THE ELECTION SEAN KEENAN News Editor
T
his year’s race for SGA’s Executive Vice Presidential seat, like that of the top dog slot, will be a helluva lot more competitive than last year. In fact, this year, with three SGA vets vying for the position, the political contest can actually be deemed a race. SGA’s current Vice President of Public Relations Anthony Nguyen has tossed his hat in the ring on a mission to boost student organization funding. His “RISEUP” platform model also seeks to advocate for inclusivity among student groups and expand student services and safety measures.
SGA Sen. Corey Gray is shooting for the position on a platform based around “Scholastics, Safety and Support,” which lobbies for stronger scholarship funding, a more secure campus and increased accessibility to student politicians. Another SGA senator, Shamari Southwell seeks the EVP spot with aspirations of “enhancing campus safety and fostering unity amongst all six [Georgia State] campuses.” He said his enthusiasm and school spirit set him apart from the other runners.
Platform
As a representative of the student voice, the goals I plan to accomplish with the advice of students are to RISEUP GSU by: • •
• •
• Anthony Nguyen Vice President of Public Relations
•
Revive the “Organizations United” Fund to increase student organization funding Improve and transform student services by: o developing a parking availability notification system o increasing healthier and vegetarian/vegan options on campus o the implementation of a 24-hour library space o extending Panther Shuttle operating hours Sustaining and strengthening sustainability initiatives Ensure that campus safety concerns are addressed by: o creating student relationships with campus security o improving security systems, (i.e. replacing library card scanners with biometrics ‘fingerprint’ technology) o educating personal safety outside of classrooms Uphold advocacy for all backgrounds, and to address and repress the xenophobia, racism and discrimination that students face in today’s political climate. Promote the importance of students engaging in the political process through voter registration initiatives
“I’ve garnered a passion in politics that has led me to join impactful groups such as Panthers for Bernie and Young Democrats of GSU. With International Students Association Council, I’ve experienced multiculturalism through organizations such as Saudi Arabian Students Association and Filipino Student Association. Through the Office of Leadership Development, I earned a leadership certificate through their transformative Student Leadership Series. From Sept. 2014 to Feb. 2016, I served as the Vice President of Medical Students Making a Difference to coordinate programs including community services, donations for the disadvantaged Atlanta population, and medical school preparations for pre-med students. Recently, I joined the Sustainable Energy Tribe to learn more about sustainability and how it can impact our everyday lives. Aside from student organizations, I work at our university as a First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) Mentor in Housing where I mentor new freshman, and in between classes, I work as a Special Events Tour Guide at the Welcome Center to immerse prospective students into GSU.”
Why Most experienced candidate to lead the Student Government Association (Head Liaison, Senator, Vice President of Public Relations, member of Student Activity Fee Committee, Diversity Fee Committee, Student Life Committee)
Platform My goals for office are to achieve the three S’s of my strategic plan. Those three S’s are as followed: 1) Scholastic • Lobby to provide more scholarships • Implement 24 hour study space • Extend Class Add/Drop period • Lobby for Fall Break 2) Safety • Provide safety seminars through GSUPD • Semester Safety Walks with GSUPD and Administration • #GSUnitedFront Campaign
Corey Gray Senator of the College of Arts & Sciences
3) Support • Implement Commuter Community/Transfer Territory • Maintain relationship with Residence Hall Association
Why I should be elected for this position because I have a passion for Student Government as well as being a true representation of the voice for the student body. I am a hard-working individual and I do not rest until the task that is presented is completed or in progress. I will dedicate my time and energy to this position and will be dedicated to giving our students the representation they need and deserve.
“My two opponents are both intelligent individuals who truly care about the student body at our Atlanta campus. I do believe that the difference between myself and the other candidates would be that my passion for student government and student voice has prompted me to truly dedicate my life to the voice of all in our country. I recently changed my major from Music to Political Science simply because I genuinely love helping and caring for people, and I have a passion for finding solutions to any problem that is put in my path.”
Platform • Enhancing Campus Safety • Fostering Unity amongst all 6 Campuses • Ensuring Dependability of the Student Government Association to Students • Transparency - Bridging the gap between Students and Faculty • Resource Awareness. I will elaborate much more on the goals of my platform throughout my campaign.
Shamari Southwell Senator of the College of Arts & Sciences
Why I should be elected to this position because as a senator of the College of Arts & Sciences, I have gained invaluable experience in understanding the in-s and outs of student government and how to make necessary change. With the recent consolidation and change in the structure of SGA, I will dedicate myself to administering cohesion amongst all 6 campuses and representing the Atlanta Campus with the highest esteem and to the best of my ability.
“I possess the leadership skills and experience to propel the Student Government Association forward. As a member of several organizations I possess resources and relationships in many different avenues of campus life which will be of great benefit to the Student Government Association and the goals I would like to achieve in my Vice Presidency. I believe my work ethic and enthusiasm to impact student lives and represent a GSU United speaks for itself.”
Meet the
The Signal will host the Speakers of the Senate candidates’ debate on March 30 in the Urban Life Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Speakers of the
SENATE candidates
DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter
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he Speaker of the Senate is a new position within Georgia State’s Student Government Association. In previous years, the Executive Vice President served in this role. The Speaker holds the power to call special meeting, coordinate Senate committees and direct legislation to be reviewed along with other duties listed under the Georgia State Student Government Association By-Laws. Individuals must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to run for and Executive Officer position, which included the Speaker, and 2.75 GPA or higher to maintain the position. Executive Officers must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at the campus where he or she holds office for the entire duration of the term. There will be 6 Speakers, one for each of the Georgia State and Perimeter campuses.
My motto: “Don’t strive to be well known, strive to be worth knowing.” Major: Public Policy major/Spanish minor Classification: Junior Campus Involvement: College Girls Rock, Inc., Students Health Promotion, Pinky Promise, NAACP, SCLC W.O.M.E.N., Inc.
What are some student-related issues you are concerned about?
Fostering a stronger sense of campus pride for commuter students; making sure low-income and less fortunate Georgia State students are taken care of during campus breaks.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running to encourage other students who are not a known face around campus to become campus leaders. Often times the students elected for positions in SGA are the same students you see involved in everything else on campus. There is nothing wrong with being actively involved on campus, but SGA needs new faces. I believe that by allowing other students to step up SGA will be an accurate representation of the diversity in leadership throughout the campus.
What are your post-graduation plans? Anescia Loi Georgia State University
I will attend nursing school and obtain my MSN. Once I’ve worked a few years as a nurse, I plan to do research as a Healthcare Policy Analyst. I currently work at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and I plan on becoming a part of their Governmental Affairs team.
My motto: “Whatever happens in one’s environment is because they allowed it to happen.” Major: Biology Classification: Senior Campus Involvement: African Student Association, FLC Peer Mentor, Student Assistant at the Scholarship Resource Center
What are some student-related issues your are concerned about?
Campus safety, uniting the student body and creating opportunities for student organizations
Why are you running for this position?
I care about the students of Georgia State and I want to push initiatives within the Senate that will impact and compliment the change and growth occurring at the university.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I plan on applying to graduate school to study Public Health and then going to get a medical degree with a concentration in pediatrics. Blessing Akomas Georgia State University Speaker of the Senate candidate, Janae Williams, did not submit a response to The Signal by press time.
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Meet the senator candidates SEAN KEENAN News Editor
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his election season, the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Senate race will host more competition than any other seat’s polls. This year’s SGA structure calls for a university-wide senate body composed of 45 elected student officials. Of that, the Perimeter campuses will hold 14 senate positions, which will likely be divvied up among the five recently-aquired schools’ student politicos. Georgia State’s Atlanta campus will seat the remaining senators; two each from the School of Policy Studies, the School of Nursing and Health Professions, the College of Law and the School of Public Health. The College of Education owns three vacancies. But Georgia State’s College of Arts and Sciences and its business school boast the heaviest hand in the senate room, with 13 and seven Senate slots, respectively. More than 60 candidates began campaigning on Monday, a few dozen of which hope to become senators for those big parties. Some names on the list of candidates are those of student government veterans vying to reclaim their chairs. But a tall order of rookies has also made its way onto the ballot.
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The Signal will host the Senator candidates’ debate on March 30 and 31 in the Urban Life Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ANDREW YOUNG SCHOOL OF POLICY STUDIES Jacob Benson Aquillah Roberson Leonardo Rodriquez
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Jacob Hill Kevin Martinez Chanel Smith
Read the full interviews on our website www.georgiastatesignal.com
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Gabriela Batista-Vargas Myles Brown Juan Galvis Erin Gardner Chelsea Gordon Chandler Harper Makia Jenkins Usama Lakhani Lamesha Martin Jose Mendez Usra Mohamed Sara Moreno Duque Joy Nwoke Felicia Okanlawon Marco Palma Tyler Philalom Jakub Pietrasik Kevin Remy Joshua Scales Nwenekanma Wami Daniel white Jorge Zamora
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Joshua Akinola-King Ryan Baill Joya Davies Daniel Duhart Lonna Edmond Christian Gatlin Devin Griggs Ngocthy Huynh Jonathan Jones Gelila Kebede Xinran Liu Audrey Maloof Diamond Miller Yann Doubai Mondon Federico Morales Barrera Michael Murray Brian (Thinh) Nguyen Ikenna Okoronkwo Donnell Ray Alexis Rickman Viviana Santana Emiere Scaife Shadricka Walker Shareze Wright
oting
begins at 12:01 a.m. via orgsync
Tuesday, April 5 Voting will end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 and SGA Election results will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8.
SECTION B www.georgiastatesignal.com
What is fair use?
Bee Happy
YouTubers have spoken over what is considered Fair Use. Our Columnist debates what can and can’t be used.
Pages 2B
Avoiding Stress Here are some tips and methods to lower stress in your life
PAGE 5b
Program shifting series The Panthers have announced homeand-home series with Vanderbilt and UNC beginning in 2020.
page 10B Photo:
Certified beekeeper Holly Bayendor McConnell, maintains various beehives behind her home in Woodstock, Georgia. PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
OPINION
www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions
Where’s the fair use, YouTube? Fair Use and Copyright Law in the modern age is trickier than it seems
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JOHN MILLER Columnist John is an English major with a concentration in Literature. He spends his time cooking, reading, writing and watching movies. Mostly watching movies.
Tweet John! @johnmillerdavi1
ny of you casual viewers of film review channels on YouTube might have noticed a hashtag appearing on both YouTube and Twitter: #WTFU, which was started on Channel Awesome. It’s short for “Where’s the Fair Use?” Essentially, film reviewers are facing difficulty from YouTube and copyright holders because the reviewers are having their videos taken down for apparent copyright infringement under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). From the perspective of the copyright holders, reviewers are infringing on their copyright by using clips of their material. From the perspective of the reviewers, their use of those clips falls under a qualification of copyright law called Fair Use--and they’re right. Fair Use, briefly, is the law which allows certain leeway to the use of copyrighted material “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching. . .scholarship, or research,” according to the law; the most important words here being “criticism” and “comment.” Factors to be considered when determining Fair Use, according to Cornell University Law School include: • the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial
nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; • the nature of the copyrighted work; • the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and • the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Not all of these factors need be met, however, to qualify as fair use. A defensible example of Fair Use would be the YouTube channel Chris Stuckmann, who uses minimal copyrighted material and provides a lot of his own commentary. A somewhat less defensible example would be a YouTube channel called CinemaSins which shows considerable footage from the movies it criticizes, so it might lose favor on those grounds. One very well known instance of a piece of artwork protected under Fair Use is when South Park made fun of the popular YouTube video “What What (In the Butt)” in their episode “Canada on Strike.” This was an instance of parody, which is also generally protected under Fair Use. That’s how South Park was able to copy the original music video’s format, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Setting all that aside, most film
criticism channels (including the ones mentioned) are protected under Fair Use for the reasons I listed above. But the dispute isn’t only over whether Fair Use is being exercised or not, the dispute is over whether YouTube is treating the copyright holders’ take-down requests correctly. Essentially, those involved with #WTFU are angry at YouTube for allowing copyright claims to place strikes on their videos without the correct documentation. Basically, YouTube’s policy doesn’t allow for Fair Use, and that’s what they’re angry about. This is because Youtube’s copyright policy is vague: All that’s required to claim copyright infringement is your contact information, a description of what you think is infringed, the video’s URL and a few stock statements. “The thing is, the studios at this point know that a DMCA take down = Strike with YouTube system in place, so they are giving you a strike,” Doug Walker, also known as Nostalgia Critic, wrote on Channel Awesome. These strikes ultimately hurt the channels who have their videos monetized. (It should be mentioned, too, that monetization does not disqualify a video from being protected under Fair Use).
Many of these reviewers’ livelihoods are dependent on their ability to make money off of their videos. If people are able to make false claims against their videos and have them get strikes, it can mean a detriment to that person’s ability to support themselves, similar to how Wired describes it. In response to Doug Walker, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said she was grateful for his input and that YouTube would look closer at the mechanisms that allowed these misuses to occur, according to Crave. Hopefully, she’s being genuine in saying the #WTFU hashtag will generate more attention towards the squeaky wheels in YouTube’s system. In the meantime, I suppose I could turn this into a caveat about copyright infringement on YouTube: Before you post anything you yourself didn’t create, make sure that everything depicted is covered under Fair Use. There’s a lot of misinformation about Fair Use, so it’s up to you to educate yourself as to what falls under its protection, as I cannot cover everything in this article. I’m 100 percent on the side of the reviewers, by the way, so let it be known I support #WTFU.
PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
OPINION
3B
EDITORIAL
One President for them all L ast year, Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) scraped together 1,282 votes during 2015’s election season. SGA’s election commission that year sought 6,000 voters of the school’s 32,165 student population, according to Forbes. With over 1,000 votes, the amount of students who appeared at the announcement was less than 10. Is it whether students care enough to place their vote or not enough to see who won? This year the Panther student body has nearly doubled in size since the consolidation with Georgia Perimeter College finalized on Jan. 6. That’s why it’s imperative that SGA rakes in a metric ton of votes for this season. Now, will this consolidated student body care enough about a central SGA? Perimeter college students are used to five different presidents for each campus. There are currently four candidates running for the presidential seat. The student elected at the beginning of April will take the reins of power over six campuses, the largest university in the state. We are going to vote on one president for all six. How will voter turnout be? How many students know about these candidates? How about the candidates that already hold office within SGA? And why should they care? Because SGA is their next best option to getting their voice heard. Don’t like campus food? Let SGA know. Want to express an opinion on the Campus-Carry Bill? SGA’s got your back. Sustainability? SGA’s on it. Believe it or not, the student government isn’t there for political science majors to sauce up their resume with a fancy position.
Reading over the candidates’ ambitions for their future terms, it’s obvious they have goals in mind. And they will carry out those goals the way they choose fit, unless you tell them otherwise OR bring different goals and issues to their attention. But unless the students make the effort to read up on who’s representing them, and what they have in mind, the candidates run short of reading the student body’s minds - and won’t be able to address their concerns. Beneath the president sits a cabinet of student politicians presiding over each of Georgia State’s many schools. SGA oversees Organizations United, the university’s club-forming arm. And together, they have the capacity to effect legislation that can impact the entire university. Few students realize the role SGA has on any college campus. Us usually, SGA voting is dismissed. However, students should care about those they place in office to represent them. In 2015, SGA introduced gender-inclusive housing options to Panther students, and last year it enacted schoolwide laws to require syllabi to provide the contact info for services for students in need. It’s important to be a part of the process when electing these officials. They are in a position of power that can get things done for you... or not. SGA’s legislature recently authored letters to discourage the passage of the state House’s “campus carry” bill, legislation which would allow students to tote guns on college campuses — save for in student housing and at athletic events. That cry fell on deaf ears, but the real-life political reach of SGA extends far beyond that of the Panther laymen.
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Upcoming student government debate will determine the next student body president for Georgia State Univeristy.
ARTS & LIVING Horticult
www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving
Connecting Atlanta to the earth SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Associate Arts & Living Editor
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FIND YOUR GREEN Amidst a city with space and grass constraints, Georgia State’s can find a place to get dirty without having to have a large backyard in their arsenal.
Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 “One of my favorite places to recommend is Oakland Cemetery,” Cloues said. “It's a gorgeous historic public garden, and they're always in need of volunteers to help with a range of gardening tasks. It's a great way for beginners to learn some of the basics of gardening in a friendly, low-stress environment, and it's a fun chance for more experienced gardeners to pass along their gardening knowledge.”
Edgewood Community Learning Garden
1503 Hardee St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Poncey-Highland Community Garden
On the SE Corner of North Avenue and Freedom Parkway
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN CLAY | THE SIGNAL
Garden*Hood is an independent garden center showcasing flowers, plants, and shrubs located in Historic Grant Park.
PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL
own in historic Grant Park, the flowers and plants within Garden*Hood remain a sea of green for residents to take home and bring to life. Garden*Hood is a retail nursery that sells plants, soil, pottery and more to give the gardener a certified green thumb. Kacey Cloues, the owner and general manager of Garden*Hood, used to be the only employee when it opened in October 2009. Now, Cloues and her partner, Lukas Bradley, are the majority stakeholders. “We offer high quality, under-utilized, garden-worthy plants in an environment that inspires, welcomes, and nurtures everyone from hobby gardeners to landscape professionals to novices,” Cloues said. Garden*Hood teaches classes on gardening, as well as events periodically. Several times a year, they host cocktail hours designated as “Flower Hour.” Additionally, the team of Garden*Hood designs and landscapes installs and provides the maintenance for private residences and commercial properties. The garden design team plots anything from small balconies to fullscale landscapes. “We tend to personalize our designs and use a range of different plants, some of which are rare or unexpected, but we’re not plant snobs,” Cloues said. “The only wrong plant is one that isn’t suited for the growing conditions or that will become invasive if left to its own devices.” In the workshops, classes and in-store advice, topics can range from buying supplies to installing plants themselves. “We offer a range of workshops and walkand-talks here at the nursery covering topics and questions from pruning, fertilizing, planting basics [How big does the hole really need to be?], watering basics, prepping the garden for winter, gardening with pets and so on,” Cloues said. Gardening is a year round job, with Garden*Hood open seven days a week and almost 365 days a year. In contrast with times the weather leaves little to be desired, there has
been a recent addition of a range of houseplants not sold in big box stores. When advice is not dished out, the greeny is tended to around the clock. “We hand-water every single plant in the nursery, no sprinklers or in-pot irrigation system here, which allows us to monitor our inventory extremely closely. We don’t sell a plant unless it’s completely healthy,” Cloues said. While the plants themselves are not grown in-house, all grows are sourced from independent wholesalers within the Southeast. “Every one of our growers is within 300 miles of our shop, which means the plants we sell don’t sit for days on an 18-wheeler getting trucked across the country to a (potentially) completely different climate from where they were grown,” Cloues said. Alternative options for plants in the area remain to be big box stores, such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart, and a couple of national chain nurseries. Garden*Hood’s prices are at a different level, but the quality of the greenery itself justifies any deviation. “Our customers get bonus karma points because when they shop with us, they’re supporting not just one, but a whole slew of locally owned, independent businesses,” Cloues said. “Shopping with us supports our wholesale growers, the artists who make several lines of our pottery and even the farm that produces the organic treats we feed our chickens.”
Grab Your Bulbs
For the new to the green or interested in starting, Cloues answers some questions on behalf of the garden shop.
Q: What are the most common questions you get about gardening?
Cloues: The most frequent question, or perhaps lament, is ‘Why can’t I get anything to live?’ I usually answer this with a question of my own: ‘Where have you been buying your plants up to this point?’ If someone has been buying plants exclusively from a big box store, the reason things aren’t surviving may not be entirely their fault. The plants at big box stores are often compromised by their long-distance journeys to the store, and then once there they’re treated like disposable commodities
instead of living organisms. The rest of the answer to the, “why can’t I get anything to live?,’ question revolves around determining exactly what kind of growing conditions are present in different areas of a garden. Matching the right plants to the right moisture and light conditions goes a long way towards ensuring gardening success.
Q: What is common advice for a beginner? What should they start doing?
Cloues: Don’t start with tomatoes. Tomatoes are fussy, challenging plants. Start with plants that are adaptable and tolerant of varying conditions, so they won’t become resentful while you’re learning to care for them. Also, start small. It’s easy to get swept away by dreams of gardening while leafing through garden design magazines or perusing the internet, but reality will land like a ton of bricks when it’s 98 degrees without a trace of rain in August, and you find yourself faced with 5,000 new plantings to nurture. If we think you’re biting off more than you can successfully chew, we’re not afraid to cut you off.
Q: What are some of your personal favorite flowers and plants? Cloues: I have at least five new ones every other day. Structural plants such as ornamental grasses, conifers and yuccas are always on my top ten list. This time of year, I’m a total sucker for the soft romantic flowers, the star and tulip magnolias. Ferns always have a special place in my heart. I know I’ve met a kindred gardening soul when I encounter someone else who appreciates the subtle nuances of all the hundreds of ferns out there.
Q: For someone who might be getting into gardening and plants, what is the introductory thing they need to know? Cloues: Doing research online can be helpful up to a point, but ultimately, the only way to learn about nature is to set aside your fear of messing up and simply dig in. No question is too basic. We’ll talk about plants and gardening with anyone willing to listen.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL
A stressed out student is overwhelmed with paperwork as well as online work.
Under NICHOLE PLACE
Arts & Living Associate Editor
Pressure Ways to be productive and destress
interruptions your studies, but also help keep you on track when you start to lose focus.
Motivation
N
ow that spring break is over and book bags are filled, the determination to make it through the semester has dwindled away. There is no more drive, no more motivation and no more focus to complete this semester out strong. So here are a few ways to keep yourself productive when all you can think of is summer.
Productivity A few ways to keep yourself busy. Trim The Fat: Our phone are programmed to update us on everything. From new emails to new tweets, phone notifications are blowing up left and right. To keep yourself focused try getting rid of the notifications. Rather than focusing on school work, the second your phone lights up you are distracted. If you really must know, you will go and look. Flip The Page: Having easy access to our social media apps are great, but they also suck you in when you don’t intend to click on them. So try putting all of your fun apps on the second or third page of your phone. By doing this you won’t be as tempted to look at them when you see your home screen. Touch It Once: We all tend to look at something or start some sort of project and then decide “I can do that later.” But instead of doing it later we forget it. So go by this little rule of thumb, just touch it once. After you have opened an email or started an assignment, finish it. Check It Off: I advocate for to-do lists any chance I can. It helps to see what you have to accomplish that day or even that week. It’s also a great idea to put them in the order from what is due first and what is due last. And if there are two parts to one assignment, put them both down. Nothing feels better than checking off something once you’ve finished it, I swear. Pick a Place: Picking the environment that you work in is very important. Choosing to study on your bed isn’t the best place because your brain associates it with sleeping. Also, make sure that you are not surrounded by your indulgences and distractions. Warn Others: Make sure that before you start to work on your assignments you let the people around you know. Cut out people as distractions. Letting them know to leave you alone will not only stop
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ARTS & LIVING
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Here are a few ways to keep yourself motivated when you just don’t want to work anymore. · Have your goals in front of your eyes at all times. Getting stuff done is no fun when you don’t have the end result in mind. · Surround yourself with the right equipment. Having the appropriate tools to get your job done is a necessity. You want to work with items that will give you the greatest outcome. · Listening to music can help bring your spirits up and make you want to push through. Whether it’s a paper or PowerPoint, you can find a theme song for any moment in your life · Remember to celebrate your achievement no matter how big or small they are. Awarding yourself for finishing an assignment will make you want to knock them all out, and you will reap all the benefits.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Start by sitting down with your eyes closed taking long deep breaths. Then, squeeze your fists as tight as you can while relaxing all other muscles in your body. Hold it until you feel like all your stress is in your fists. Then, think ‘sink into yourself,’ so that you sink into the chair. Then relax your hands and open your eyes. Yoga Poses
· Padahastana: Stand on the mat with your hand by your side. Take a deep breath in and raise your hands above your head. Breathe out and bend forward touching your palms to the ground. · Child’s Pose: Sit on the ground with your feet underneath you and your knees on the ground. Then fold your body forward with your arms stretched out in front of you and take slow, deep breaths. · Downward Facing Dog: Stand up straight on the mat and fold your body over having your palms touch the ground. Walk your feet back until you are in the shape of a mountain. Trying to get through the end of the semester is a struggle, but these tips should help you push through. It’s time to get to work.
Stress Relief Stress should not be held onto, so here are some foods and natural ways to get rid of stress. Foods: Here are a few foods that are best for stress eating that also help bring it down. · Oatmeal · Dark Chocolate · Blueberries · Avocadoes · Seeds · Green Tea · Pork Tenderloins
GEORGIA STATE OFFERS COUNSELING FOR ALL STUDENTS.
Natural:
· Amethyst (A Crystal that helps lower stress) · Vitamins B and C · Get enough sleep · Take deep breaths · Listen to music with just instrumentals · Take a power nap (They should last between 10-30 minutes) · Talk it out with someone
Get Moving A few different exercises to get rid of the stress.
CITIZENS TRUST BUILDING 75 PIEDMONT AVE. N.E. COUNSELING AND TESTING CENTER. SUITE 200A PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL
ARTS & LIVING
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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Keeping an open-MIND
Taking student involvement into the the community CHANTE FOSTER Staff Reporter
G
eorgia State Organization, Greatest MINDS Society, is breaking down social boundaries by promoting cultural exchange and equality. The campusbased involvement group works within the community through volunteering, mentoring and participation in the hopes to improve people’s lives.
Greatest MINDS Society
The newly chartered organization currently has about 80 members that are encouraged to participate in some aspect of the campus based society. On Tuesday and Thursday, ambassadors can been seen in the Library Plaza informing students about the organization and schedules for events and meetings. Vice President, Drew Reid, enjoys incorporating the values of the organization into service projects
and outreach programs for the community. The Greatest MINDS Society is currently organizing an outreach program that will be set up near Hurt Park, to provide assistance and resources for homeless people in the community.
Q&A
Q: As an organization, what are your values and how is that applied to Greatest MINDS mission? Reid:We are based on three principles, volunteering, mentoring and participation. We try to collaborate with other organizations. The general things that you can do as an average person, but having a group of people to do that with you, it’s positive and that’s the things we try to represent in our community. Q: Are you working on any new projects on campus? Reid:Every year we try to have an initiative, or goal that we try to set, so the reason why we are active
on campus this year is because we set the goal this year, we wanted to make sure that people knew a lot about our organization. Q: How is your organization breaking down social barriers within the community? Reid:Greatest minds come from all walks of life, and everything is not going to be all black or all white. So we try to make sure that everything we have is an open discussion. Even though you might not be from this walk of life, you might be able to speak on your particular walk of life to people who know nothing about where you are from, what you do and what you like. Q: What is the importance of promoting cultural exchange? Reid:Our organization exists for the fact that we promote values and cultural exchanges to people, you might not agree on what one person says. We exist in order to identify cultural awareness. Ultimately, just improving communication amongst
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SUBMITTED PHOTO BY GREATEST MINDS SOCIETY
Vice President of Greatest MINDS Society Drew Reid talks to a Georgia State student at a spring organization fair.
our own community at Georgia State and Atlanta. Q: In what ways do the members participate in spreading the word about Greatest MINDS? Reid: We have people that might send you an email, or people that
actually post up flyers, and we have all committees that we work out so people can find something they're interested in. We try to incorporate each person's career path, and we try to incorporate that into our organization values and participation.
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ARTS & LIVING
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Stefani’s heartbreaking ‘Truth’ CATRINA DYGERT Staff Reporter
G
wen Stefani was set to release her third studio album back in 2014, leaving fans wondering what happened to the final product. The original singles, “Baby Don’t Lie,” and “Spark the Fire,” both flopped on the charts, forcing Stefani to postpone the album. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stefani revealed that the album, due for release in 2014, hadn’t just been postponed - she’d scrapped it completely: “I didn’t feel fulfilled...I tried to make a record where I was just kind of involved — which is how a lot of people do it, but it didn’t work for me.” Stefani went back to the drawing board and came back with the deeply personal, “This is What the Truth Feels Like.” The album gives an insight into Stefani’s struggle following the end
of her 13 year marriage to former Bush frontman, Gavin Rossdale. The emotionally charged first single, “Used to Love You,” hit hard with fans at the MasterCard Priceless Surprises concert, where it was first released. The first note, which is bent and looped, creates a haunting intro, setting the song up perfectly for its hard-hitting lyrics. The music video, released three days later along with the studio version of the track, throws a softer punch. It focuses on a medium close-up of Stefani in a dark room as she goes through an emotional struggle, and, while Stefani is an excellent singer, she’s not an excellent actor. There are parts of the video that tug at the heartstrings, but mostly, it’s three minutes of watching Stefani shift around in a dark room. The second single, “Make Me Like You,” released on Feb. 12, does a complete turnaround. The track is upbeat and snarky, a track dedicated to Stefani’s new boyfriend, Blake Shelton. Although the lyrics do allow
Stefani’s personality to come through, the backing music is average at best. Stefani played it safe, with nothing to set the track apart from other feel-good pop songs. In fact, it feels almost outdated, giving off a “Great Escape” era vibe. However, Stefani did take a huge risk with the music video, which was recorded live at the Grammys. Even the video is a throwback to retro beauty parlors and skating rinks through elaborate sets all constructed on the Grammys stage. Stefani described her album as “very sarcastic and kind of dark, mad, and angry,” to Entertainment Weekly. The sarcasm and anger definitely come through in the tracks, making the album emotional and cathartic for Stefani and her fans. The album is a solid step forward for Stefani, both in her personal life and musical career. Unfortunately, it’s not quite the jump fans were waiting for after her last album.
Top Track: “Used to Love You” Grade: B Verdict: After a decade since her last album, Stefani is finally back in the pop scene. While the production and lyrics on “Truth” are objectively good, the album as a whole would be a better fit in 2005. The pop scene has been growing rapidly without Stefani, and it seems to be leaving her behind.
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EARTHGANG STRAYS WITH RABIES
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ARM AND SLEEPERS SWIM TEAM (REMIXED)
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CELADON CITY EARTH OST
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CRESCENDO UNLESS
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EERIE WANDA HUM
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HIPPIE SABOTAGE PROVIDENCE
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ILLMIND FOUR THREE TWO EP
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NATASHA KMETO INEVITABLE
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PORCHES POOLS
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TEEN LOVE YES
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Atlanta Beekeeping growing in th
ALEXANDRA GRAHAM Staff Reporter
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“
Don’t be afraid of bees, be afraid for them. They do a lot of good for us, and we like having them around. - Holly Bayendor McConnell
ecatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood features a mural painted last month depicting smiling people planting flowers, surrounded by rabbits, birds and mostly importantly, bees. Oakhurst’s mural is one of many places Atlanta residents can commune with bees, and not just the ones in paintings. A quick Google search will reveal a slew of recent articles about urban beekeeping. Holly Bayendor McConnell is a certified beekeeper and president of the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association (MABA). She thinks articles like these can positively influence bee health. “The media attention it’s received, the silver lining is, hopefully everyone is more aware and trying,” McConnell said. Honey bee populations have been under serious strain in the past 30 years and their plight has come into sharp focus. The majority of beekeepers keep only a few hives in urban and suburban areas, making them the recipients of much of this attention, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Beekeeping in Atlanta thrives despite continuing fears about bee health. Hives can be found right in the city, such as those on top of the Four Seasons Atlanta, or in surrounding neighborhoods, and the beekeeping craze continues to spread.
BEES IN TROUBLE Honey bees have been facing serious health problems since the 1980s, when a host of new diseases and pests exacerbated concerns about habitat diversity and the negative effects of pesticides. However, another perplexing problem plagues today’s bee population. It is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and its effects are disastrous: bees suddenly disappear, usually leaving behind a healthy queen and immature brood. A Pennsylvania beekeeper reported the first documented case in 2006, and researchers have been baffled ever since. The cause of CCD has yet to be proven, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. According to Beeinformed.org’s colony loss research, nearly 23.9 percent of Georgia hives died during the winter of 2014 and 2015. The number is closer to 30 percent nationwide. This statistic does not distinguish between hives affected by CCD and hives that died naturally during the winter, a common occurrence
that beekeepers face every year. Howe increase from 2006 and earlier, when death rate was a mere 14 percent nati to The Washington Post.
THE DEAL WITH PES
Jennifer Berry is the Apiculture Re for the University of Georgia’s Honey “Everyone’s saying that pesticides a when in actuality, all the research poi mites,” Berry said. “That’s the number die.” Varroa mites are parasites that only and cause a disease that stunts growth were first introduced to the U.S. in th are the primary focus of Berry’s resea Berry says the number two killer o Beekeepers can accidentally starve th collecting too much honey, leaving th to eat during the winter. In the wild, habitat loss due to agri development creates a dearth of forag to greatpollinatorproject.org. Many sp favor specific habitats and suffer even introduced, such as when weeds are r in new neighborhoods. Berry stresses that while pesticides starvation and varroa should not be o
IT’S NOT THE “BEE-PO
Despite these losses, the number of colonies in the US has generally been according to data released by the USD CCD has inspired a new push for b urban beekeeping, as more and more informed and pitching in. McConnel way. “In 2010, I saw a documentary on P Global Decline of the Honey Bee’,” M thought, ‘I have a backyard, how hard She joined MABA and chaired the a program that introduces children to becoming president last January.
HOW TO GET INVO
Beekeeping is no longer reserved fo with thousands of hives. It has moved backyards and is becoming a hobby f jobs who keep a few hives wherever t “MABA has about 200 members, a
N BEES
in the face of bee health concerns
every year. However, it is a sharp nd earlier, when the average winter e 14 percent nationwide, according Post.
L WITH PESTICIDES
he Apiculture Research Coordinator Georgia’s Honey Bee Program. that pesticides are killing the bees the research points towards varroa That’s the number one reason bees
arasites that only attack honey bees hat stunts growth and fertility. They to the U.S. in the late 1980’s, and s of Berry’s research lab. mber two killer of bees is starvation. entally starve their hives by honey, leaving the bees with nothing ter. t loss due to agriculture and a dearth of foraging sites, according ject.org. Many species of bees s and suffer even when new flora is when weeds are replaced with grass ds. while pesticides are bad for bees, a should not be overlooked.
HE “BEE-POCALYPSE”
s, the number of honeybees s generally been rising since 2006, eased by the USDA last year. a new push for backyard and more and more people are getting ng in. McConnell got her start this
ocumentary on PBS called ‘The e Honey Bee’,” McConnell said. “I ckyard, how hard could it be?’” and chaired the Junior Beekeepers, duces children to beekeeping, before ast January.
O GET INVOLVED
onger reserved for devoted farmers ves. It has moved into cities and oming a hobby for people with day hives wherever there is space. 200 members, and almost all of
them have bees scattered across the metro and greater Atlanta area,” McConnell said. Atlanta’s warmth and greenery make it ideal for urban and suburban beekeeping, and MABA focuses on keeping the community strong and fruitful. Mentors offer house calls to beekeepers with questions or concerns, and are available to advise people who are considering getting a hive but may not know where to start. They also offer a short course every January, a one day crash course in everything a beginner needs to know to successfully install and care for a hive. MABA’s monthly meetings are open to the public and feature different speakers, including researchers and master beekeepers such as Jennifer Berry, who speaks there twice a year. Most counties in Georgia have beekeeping organizations where newbies can find support. Even city dwellers need not fear their urban setting, as many people keep hives on the roofs of their apartment buildings. Community gardens also offer opportunities for hands on experience. Caring for a hive isn’t for everyone. It’s a big commitment. New beekeepers need to remember that the work continues even after the hive is installed. “Bees are like pets, some people don’t realize that,” Berry said. There are plenty of ways for concerned citizens to encourage bee health without taking on the responsibility of a hive. Berry recommends homeowners eliminate or heavily reduce pesticide use in their yards, and limiting herbicides on lawns surrounded by flowers. Even the small things count. As an alternative to extermination, calling a local beekeeping organization to have a pesky swarm removed for free. Choosing plants that provide shelter and food makes a difference, as well. Many annual flowers, the kind sold at stores like Home Depot that keep beautiful petals for months at a time, are bred not to produce nectar. Shrubs, zinnias, bee balm, sunflowers and other nectar rich plants can make any porch or yard a bee-friendly habitat.
THE TAKE-AWAY Beekeeping today is more than just a fun hobby or convenient honey tap. The situation isn’t as bleak as it was a few years ago, but, for McConnell, there’s still a long road ahead. “Don’t be afraid of bees, be afraid for them,” McConnell said. “They do a lot of good for us, and we like having them around.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
DID YOU KNOW?
Plant bee-friendly flowers: Some plants are better for bees than others. They love sage, lavender, sunflowers, honeysuckle and rosemary. Leave Your Weeds: “Let your weeds grow, and try not to use weed killers,” McConnell said. Weeds like dandelions are classified as wildflowers and make excellent food sources for bees. Limit Pesticide Use: While CCD cannot be attributed solely to pesticides, the bees will nonetheless thank you for some chemical free forage. Buy Local: Support local farmers, especially polyculture and organic farms. Buy local honey too. Share With Your Community: Encourage your neighbors to create a safe space for bees in their yards, too.
Bees communicate by dancing. Bees secrete sheets of wax like sweat. Approximately 98 percent of the hive is female; males, called drones, die after breeding with the queen. Honey is the only insect made substance that human eat. That distinctive buzz is created by the bee’s wings, which beat at 200 beats per second.
PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Holly Bayendor McConnell shows her passion for beekeeping by caring for behives in Woodstock, Georgia. She uses smoke to calm the bees down in order to acquire their honey.
SPORTS
www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports
Clashes with the ACC and SEC
The UNC Tar Heels finished the 2015 season in the ACC-Coastal division with an 8-0 conference record.
TOBI ADEYEMI Staff Reporter
A
fter a successful season, history continues to be made in the offseason for Georgia State football. The Panthers announced in February an upcoming home and home series with both Vanderbilt University and The University of North Carolina, according to Georgia State Athletics. Vanderbilt and UNC are both Power Five schools who play for the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference. The SEC is widely recognized as the best college football conference with teams such as Alabama, LSU, and UGA. However, the ACC is not far behind with teams like Florida State, Louisville, and BCS runner-up, Clemson. Georgia State appeared in its first bowl game this past season, which boosted the program’s credibility and perhaps gave them the opportunity to schedule these series. Charlie Cobb, the director of athletics at Georgia State, handles scheduling for the football team along with senior associate athletic director and chief of staff Doug Justice. Cobb explained why and how North Carolina and Vanderbilt were chosen. “We are going to play one Power Five team every year on the road, which we like to call money games,” said Cobb. “We try to find like schools that are willing to play us; we have a tremendous benefit factor being in Atlanta, every team comes down here to recruit, and by the time we play Vanderbilt, by the time we play North Carolina, we should be able to match up with those teams well.” By the time these games take place, Georgia State will have moved to the team’s new arena at Turner Field, according to 11Alive. This will very helpful as the average away game attendance for the Tar Heels is over 54,000 people, and away game attendance for Vanderbilt is just over 63,000, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. These home and home series will be two of the most attended games for Georgia State because Panther fans have never hosted programs with this much popularity in the Southeast region of the country. The series should also provide huge revenue boosts. According to USA Today, UNC currently brings in over $83 million of
revenue, which is No. 31 in the country and 60 spots over Georgia State’s $27 million that ranks No. 96. Bestcollegevalues. org said that Vanderbilt’s alumni network ranks in the top 25 of the country, and the alumni organization even has an Atlanta chapter, due to a large amount of former Commodore students living in the city. Considering parking, concessions and ticket sales, each of these home games alone could bring in $1 million as Doug Roberson said in the AJC. After the Panthers won their first Coach, Player, and Freshman of the Year awards in school history, and multiple players received recognition on All-Sun Belt Conference teams, this success has led to more in the offseason regarding program opportunities. Vanderbilt Georgia State will play host to the Vanderbilt Commodores Sept. 28, 2024. A season later the Panthers will take them on again in Commodores’ territory on Sept. 20, 2025. This is huge as it will become the first time the Panthers will play host to a Southeastern Conference team. The Commodores did not have the most impressive season in 2015 finishing with a 4-8 record and a 2-6 record in the SEC. One bright spot was the improvement from the previous season, where they finished with a 3-9 record and went winless in SEC conference play. Nevertheless an SEC team is still a big deal. University of North Carolina The UNC series will mark the first time Georgia State hosts an Atlantic Coast Conference team. North Carolina will come to Atlanta on Sept. 10, 2022 to take on Georgia State, and in 2021, the season prior, the Panthers will head to Chapel Hill. North Carolina had a fantastic football season; they finished with an 11-3 record and an 8-0 record in conference play. With these additions of Vanderbilt and the University Of North Carolina to the schedule, Georgia State has now scheduled games through the 2025 season including the 2016, 2017 and 2021 non-conference schedules completed. Benefits to Georgia State University Finally playing against ACC and SEC opponents will be big to
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY UNC ATHLETICS not only the football team but to the university as a whole. “I mean we announced the schedule today, and you’re not here talking to me about that, you’re here talking about games five, six years down the road, so it is obviously something that got you excited,” Cobb said with a laugh. “It’s a marquee opponent; it’s something that will bring revenue to the school. Students like games where they are either playing their school or a school their friends go to or schools that you recognize, so we have a sense of that.” Georgia State playing opponents from the SEC and ACC will garner a lot of attention turning them into big games for our school. The bigger the game, the more interested the fans and the students will be. The more excitement there is for the game, the more people will go out for the game, which leads to more tickets getting sold which ultimately leads to more revenue for Georgia State. More money to the school is always a benefit, and that will open up many more future opportunities for this football program. Motivation The football team has a motivation not just to play in these games, but to win and that trickles all the way down to recruitment. “The great part about being a Mid-Major program, every one of our kids thinks that they should have signed with the University Of Georgia, that Georgia made a big mistake not recruiting them,” said Cobb. Mr. Cobb believes that a lot of the football players not getting recruited by bigger school gives them a motivational advantage against those schools. When they play a North Carolina or Vanderbilt, that chip on their shoulder will benefit the team tremendously. Georgia State has started prepping for the upcoming season and spring practice is set to get underway. The complete 2016 season schedule was released this week, along with the nonconference schedules for 2016 and 2017. During the 2016 season, Georgia State will play host to Ball State and the University of Tennessee-Martin, but they will travel to play the Air Force and Wisconsin on the road.
11B
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Panthers new mentality: Season update Georgia State baseball is underway as the team strives for a winning season LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter
T
joining the signal is only
he 2016 Georgia State baseball season began on Feb. 19 as the team defeated Western Michigan 3-2 at the GSU Baseball Complex. Freshman Israel Zackery finished his first collegiate game with a walkoff single that won the game for the Panthers. This home opener was one of the three games played by the Panthers in the Atlanta Challenge. Continuing in the Atlanta Challenge, Georgia State faced VCU on Feb. 20. The Panthers started strong with a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning. VCU answered to this lead by scoring two runs in the fourth, creating a score of 3-2. Only ahead by one run, Georgia State sophomore outfielder Rhett Harper brought in a run-scoring single which put the Panthers up by two. VCU rallied back from this deficit by scoring two runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth, one in the seventh and two more in the eighth. With a score of 8-3, the Panthers had gone through four innings with
no runs. Junior outfielder Jaylen Woullard attempted to answer back by providing a two-run single in the eighth, but Georgia State could not seal the victory. The Panthers fell 6-8 to VCU. Finishing off the challenge on Feb. 21 the Panthers were defeated by Purdue with a score of 3-5. Preparing for each game, the team never views one team to be easier than the others or one game to be harder than the rest. Head coach Greg Frady describes this mentality. “Every team is a new team,” Coach Frady said. “Each team is a brand new team and you may have returning players, but there could be four new players. That makes that team a brand new team. A brand new DNA.” The Panthers hosted a four game set against Coppin State. The first game was on Feb. 26, followed by a doubleheader on Feb. 27 where the first game began at 1 p.m. and the second at 4:30 p.m. The third game began on Feb. 28. In the two teams first meet up, the Panthers swept the Eagles, winning all four games. This included three straight shutouts in the last three games.
one click away
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | SIGNAL ARCHIVES
Pitcher Wayne Wages warms up as teammates watch during a baseball game at the Georgia State Baseball Complex, March 5, 2016.
Throughout the four-game set against Coppin State, Georgia State totaled 55 hits and 64 runs. Completing 41 strikeouts with only four walks, the Panthers played well defensively as well as offensively over the series. The excellent defense and offense are not the only strengths the players portray while playing in games. “We have many strengths,” Coach Frady said. “One strength
I really love about the team is their commitment to one another. They’re good teammates.I can truly see a lot of people trying to help each other. Older guys trying to help the younger guys and if the younger guys are in they do everything they can to help us win. If they’re not in, they’re trying to be a good teammate supporting the guys on the field.” After falling 6-11 to in state
team Georgia Tech on March 1, the Panthers saw a three game series against Minnesota. The Panthers finished with a 1-3 record in the series with the Golden Gophers. Georgia State played its first conference series against Arkansas State on March 18-20 in which they finished with a winning 2-1 record. The Panthers are now 2-1 in the Sun Belt.
12B
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Calm, cool and collected
Jannis Koeke leading the way DEVONE SLAPPY
Koeke leading the way
Staff Reporter
J
annis Koeke is one of the best singles tennis players in the conference. He was named to the All-Sun Belt Singles First Team the past two seasons. Koeke is a force to be reckoned with on the court, but off the court he is as calm as the end of a summer storm. Koeke was born and raised overseas in Limburg, Germany. He only comes to the states for Georgia State, and during the summer he resides back at his small town home in Limburg. Making a change to go to school overseas is a big move, but Koeke doesn’t regret it. “I wanted to go to college and play tennis here, I knew that,” Koeke said. “I wanted to go to a good business school and the city of Atlanta is very nice. We are downtown and there’s a lot of stuff to do. Our college system (in Germany) is very different than here because we don’t have any sports.” Even though Koeke doesn’t regret coming to Georgia State to play tennis, he still gets a little homesick from time to time. “I go home during the summers, and the rest of the year I’m here in Georgia,” Koeke said. “I miss the food back home, the food is not the greatest here.” When he’s not on the court dominating, Koeke is relaxing either watching sports or doing his school work. He’s not a party type of guy, rather a calm and focused individual. “I’m kind of calm and always focused,” Koeke said. “I keep doing my work and practice. I like to watch sports in general, go to NBA or NFL games or just hang out with friends.” In Germany, two of the most popular sports are soccer and tennis. Koeke ended up playing both for the majority of his childhood, but he had more a passion for tennis. “I’ve been playing tennis forever, since I was five or six years old,” Koeke said. “I got into tennis watching my older brother play and then when I was old enough, I started playing and I kept doing great and winning is fun. I played both soccer and tennis until I was 14. I was just more successful in tennis so at some point I had to decide to do one of them.” Koeke made the President’s List at Georgia State each semester since enrolling into the school. He was named the 2015 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar Athlete. Head Coach Brett Ross acknowledges Koeke’s talents both on and off the court. “Jannis just keeps getting better every year,” Coach Ross said. “I think it’s a testament to how he shows up in practice every day and he’s just really solid on and off the court. He has a 4.2 grade point average as well. He’s the type of person that shows up every day in whatever he does.
The Panthers are 7-3 on the season this year and leading the way is their number 1 singles player Koeke. This has been the best start to a season for the Panthers since Koek joined the team and he knows this is the best team he’s been a part of. “I think we’re doing very good this season,” Koeke said. “It’s a good start for us and we’ve had some good wins. We’ve had some close matches where I could clinch one and Sebastian Acuna could clinch one and it’s been great. Our team is lot deeper than my freshman year, even if guys are injured or are out we have other guys that can step in.” Like just about every athlete in the world, Koeke has goals that he thinks he and his team can accomplish this season. “My goal is just to win the conference and go into the NCAA’s and compete.” There was a lot of skepticism going around Georgia State about the addition of Koeke, a player coming all the way from overseas just to play tennis. Some didn’t know what to expect, but the moment Koeke first got onto the court he was instantly turning heads. Koeke ended his freshman year with the best singles play record on the team going 17-11, despite his team only going 11-14 on the season as a group. In doubles play, Koeke and his partner Eric Baum went 11-10 on the season and second best on the team. Koeke was also named to the 2014 All-Sun Belt Singles First Team. In his sophomore year, Koeke finished the season 16-17, but was the only singles player on the team to go against four nationally ranked players. Against those nationally ranked players, he was 2-2 which is not too bad considering he was only a sophomore at the time. He was again named to the 2015 All-Sun Belt Singles First Team, and he was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week three times that season. Koeke is now entering his junior season and has gone 6-4 in singles play this season as the team has had its best start in years. Coach Ross believes the sky’s the limit for this team. “It’s been a good start to the year, we’ve had a couple big wins against ranked teams,” Coach Ross said. “We’re in the rankings for the first time in a couple years and it’s one of the highest rankings we’ve had in a couple years as well. I think we’re doing well, we got some momentum, but now it’s always fun to get into the conference play since it’s the highlight of the year.” The Panthers moved up eight spots this season ranked No. 59 in the ITA rankings and are on a three game winning streak. Their last loss was against No. 15 ranked Oklahoma State. The Panthers defeated UL Lafayette in their first conference game of the season.
PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL
Jannis Koeke looks to make a play during a match at Blackburn park on March 12, 2016
We Are
Recruiting
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DESIGNED BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL
SPORTS
14B
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Q&A
with Annie Davis
Transfer softball pitcher makes immediate impact at new home
Pitcher Annie Davis winds up on the mound during a game at the Robert Heck Softball Complex.
RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor
Q: Why did you choose to transfer to Georgia State as opposed to another big school in Georgia, such as UGA? Davis: Coming from University of Wisconsin last year, that was a really big center for athletics and academics, it was just a lot of pressure. I really just wanted to come to a smaller school, a smaller team and kind of a smaller atmosphere. Try to get that experience as opposed to a huge, pressure-filled environment. Ultimately, I knew the pitching coach here, she’s from Arizona like me. Q: How has Panther Family and Georgia State invited and welcomed you so far since you’ve been here? Davis: It’s been awesome so far. I mean, coming to the city has been a huge change for me. Being from Arizona, the desert to coming to the city and Georgia, the south. Southern hospitality is big here, the people are really nice, people are always welcoming you. My teammates, especially, a few of them have invited me to come home with them to their house on the weekend and stuff. They live in more of the country, so it’s kind of nice to experience the city and the country, they’re all welcoming and super nice. Q: Funniest teammate? Davis: Probably, her name’s Morgan Brown. She’s just hilarious. She’s from a small town in Georgia
[Monroe] and she just has this thick southern accent. She’s just so sweet and she’s just hilarious, she just knows how to make me laugh [laughs]. Q: The softball team has experienced record breaking numbers in terms of attendance this season, how important is fan support to you, coming from a big school to a smaller school? Davis: It’s really important. It’s still important to have people that support you. It’s great having the fan attendance that I had last year transfer over to this year, it’s just good to know people are supportive. Q: Favorite part about Georgia State? Davis: My favorite part about Georgia State is probably how collective it is here. You can just get a taste of anything. Like you have kids on all the different sports teams that are from all different countries and all different teams. We always hang out together and it’s just really nice to have the athletic community that we can just support as well as meeting students in our classes that are from the south and are also from different countries. It’s just great having that environment. Q: How have you felt so far this season, we know that you threw a shutout a couple of weeks ago, how has season gone for you so far? Davis: I’ve been a lot more confident this season than I was last season. I had elbow surgery over the summer and my elbow’s feeling a lot better so far this season than it
was last season. So that’s good. Also, it’s been a lot better throwing in weather that is 70 degrees rather than snowing and 20 [laughs], so that’s been helpful. Q: Who does Annie Davis emulate her pitching style after? Davis: Definitely my pitching coach. She’s the one who I grew up pitching next to, actually pitching lessons. She’s been my role model, Mackenzie Popescue, she used to pitch for Arizona State. She has definitely been my role model growing up and she’s been the one I’ve looked up to. Q: Now is that the pitching coach that you know here at Georgia State? Davis: Yes. She’s my pitching coach here at Georgia State, yes. Q: So how does it feel reuniting with her? Davis: It’s amazing to have her support. She’s calling pitches for me, she’s in bullpens with us during practices and it’s just great to have her around. Great having her be my support system. Q: Ultimate goal for Georgia State this season? Davis: We are at 11-11 right now, I believe. Which hasn’t been the best start we’ve been looking for, but our goal is to win conference. Starting from here on out we need to win all of our conference games in order to have a good future in head of us in terms of tournament play and stuff.
PHOTO BY JEFF HURNDON | GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Dominant Davis • Has pitched three complete games for the Panthers in the 2016 season • Leads Georgia State with a 2.81 ERA • Finished the 2015 season with Wisconsin as a 3-2 starter. Looking for a great summer job? Apply Today: NAUTIXPOOLS.COM
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PANTHER OF THE WEEK
15B
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
SPORTS CALENDAR 1
*CONFERENCE GAME
Sunday, March 27 Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tennessee 2 p.m.
SPORTS EDITOR’S PREDICTIONS RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL
NCAA Men’s Tournament Elite Eight PANTHER OF THE WEEK Kansas
WOMEN’S TENNIS Thursday, March 24 GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS
Katie Worley Softball
Sun Belt Standings
During a 13-0 win at Kennesaw State, Worley led the Panthers on the mound by pitching a perfect game. The accomplishment added to an impressive senior campaign for Worley, as she leads Georgia State pitchers with 7 wins, including a nohitter against Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 19. In 2013, she was a CAA All-Rookie Team player and was named the Sun Belt pitcher of the week twice in her career after a shortened 2014 season due to a back injury. Worley was named to Georgia State’s 2015 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. The Milton, Florida native is a health and physical education major.
Georgia Southern* at Troy, Alabama 1 p.m.
Friday, March 25 Appalachian State* at Troy, Alabama 1 p.m.
MEN’S TENNIS Friday, March 25 South Alabama* at Murfreesboro, Tennessee 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 26
Svannah State at GSU Baseball Complex 5 p.m.
at Lafayette, Louisiana 7 p.m.
UL Lafayette* at Lafayette, Louisiana 2 p.m.
at Murfreesboro, Tennessee 10 a.m.
Gonzaga
1st
5-0 | Overall: 14-5
2-0 | Overall: 20-1
Texas State
Georgia State
2nd
5-0 | Overall: 14-5
2-1 | Overall: 16-12
3rd
Georgia Southern
UL Monroe
4-1 | Overall: 13-6
2-1 | Overall: 13-11
8th 9th
Wisconsin
UAB
UL Lafayette
7th
UNC
Saturday, March 26
South Alabama
6th
Oklahoma
UL Lafayette*
SOFTBALL
5th
Duke
Friday, March 25
BASEBALL
4th
Villanova
BASEBALL Tuesday, March 22
UL Lafayette
Georgia Southern
3-2 | Overall: 12-7
2-1 | Overall: 14-12
Georgia State
Troy
1-1 | Overall: 10-9
3-2 | Overall: 20-7
Arkansas State
Texas State
2-3 | Overall: 10-8
1-2 | Overall: 20-7
Troy 2-3 | Overall: 11-9 UT Arlington 2-2 | Overall: 10-10
Appalachian State 1-4 | Overall: 6-22 UT Arlington 0-0 | Overall: 21-2
Little Rock
Texas State
1-4 | Overall: -11
0-2 | Overall: 11-10
THE FINAL SCORE Women’s Tennis
The No. 45 Panthers now stand at 7-5 after a 4-3 loss against Louisiana Tech on March 19. Due to the threat of rain, Doubles play was put on hold and would only go into effect if needed. In Singles play, Kristin Rehse, Niri Rasolomalala and Daniela Ramirez won their respective matches. Lara Vork, Linn Timmermann, Chiara Volejnicek dropped their Singles matches and Rehse and Rasolomalala lost the clinching point in Doubles. The team will face in-conference opponents Georgia Southern on Thursday and Appalachian State on Friday. Track & Field
Lighting and rain had an effect on the South Alabama Jaguar Classic, as six events were unable to take place. In the eight events that did occur, however, Georgia State had three first-place finishes. Stephanie Berger, Danielle Livingstone and LaPorscha Wells all placed first in their respective events. The Panthers will return to action this weekend at Georgia Tech for the Yellow Jacket Invitational. Coach Hunter returns as Tournament analyst
Men’s basketball head coach Ron Hunter returned to the Turner broadcasting team as he brought in-studio analysis during first round coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Hunter joined Matt Winer, Wally Szczerbiak and Seth Davis in the studio. Last year, Hunter and his son R.J. became the talk of the Tournament after an upset win over Baylor. Hunter has won 103 games at the University and has led the Panthers to the postseason three times in his five seasons at Georgia State.
FRONT COVER CREDITS Signal Photogrpaher Justin Clay and Production Editor Tammy Huynh contriubted to the front cover design.
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