The Signal Vol. 88 No. 23

VOL. 88 | NO. 23

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I had 99 problems. And now another.

MARCH 20

Keep out. Beware of…

Well just beware.

At G Parking Deck, the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for failure to leave campus at 8:59 p.m.

“Unruly is my middle name.”

At 7:58 p.m. on the corner of Courtland Street and Gilmer Street, the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a nonGeorgia State offender for disorderly conduct.

NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brooklyn Valera signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Sharayah Davis signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Franky Huang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

MARCH 23

“But I have nowhere else to go.”

A Georgia State student was a victim of financial fraud at 5:29 p.m. at University Lofts. The case is still active.

MARCH 26

Apple Maps Rerouting...

At 9:01 p.m., the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a nonGeorgia State offender for trespassing at M Parking Deck. The department exceptionally cleared the individual.

At Y Parking Deck, the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for trespassing at 11:20 a.m. The department exceptionally cleared the individual.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Federal officials charge Georgia Tech professor

Vaccinations on the rise: 51 million fully vaccinated

U.S. and Myanmar diplomatic trade engagement on hold

Georgia Tech professor Gee-Kung Chang was indicted on visa and wire fraud charges, according to Fox 5 Atlanta on Thursday. The 73-year-old allegedly abused the J-1 Visa program to bring Chinese nationals to the United States. Court documents indicate Chang worked with Jianjun Yu, research director for a partially state-owned Chinese telecommunication and IT company in New Jersey, to provide the visa recipients with jobs to conduct research for the company.

According to the CDC, 15% of Americans have been fully vaccinated. Monday, U.S. News reported that 143 million vaccine doses have been administered. The majority of the vaccines came from Moderna and Pfizer/ BioNTech. Over 93 million people received the first dose and 51 million have been fully vaccinated. The CDC advises people to wait two weeks after the final dose to consider themselves fully vaccinated.

Monday, CNN reported that President Joseph Biden suspended diplomatic trading with Myanmar following the violence over the weekend against pro-democracy protestors. Protests began after the military took hold of the region during a Feb. 1 coup.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that the suspension would be lifted after Myanmar returned to a democraticallyelected government.

NEWS

March 30, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

The Georgia State Immigration Law Clinic trains attorneys to advocate for noncitizens who have been denied work permits unlawfully, which is why they received an $18,000 grant.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Immigration Law Clinic receives $18,000 grant Funding to provide more assistance to non-citizens with work permit application LEAH LI Staff Reporter

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ccording to Georgia State News Hub, the American Bar Endowment awarded Georgia State College of Law Immigration Clinic $18,000 for their performances on training attorneys to advocate for noncitizens who had the government deny them work permits unlawfully.

Georgia State Law clinical faculty will use this grant to train attorneys at Alston & Bird, Kilpatrick Townsend and Troutman Pepper, enabling them to handle 10 federal district court lawsuits against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

According to Will Miller, the clinical supervising attorney at the Immigration Clinic, the clinic represents noncitizens in removal proceedings at the Atlanta Immigration Court. Many clients are seeking asylum from the U.S. government because they fled danger in their home countries.

“To establish eligibility for asylum, the noncitizen must show not only that they were harmed in their home country, but also that they were targeted on account of one of five ‘protected grounds’: race, religion, nationality, political opinion or particular social group,” Miller said.

The Immigration and Nationality Act states that noncitizens can apply for work permits while waiting for their asylum application’s decision. The work permit is crucial for them as it enables them to get a driver’s license, an SSN and allows them to work in the U.S legally.

Nonetheless, the decision of the employment authorization document (EAD) applications isn’t always fair. Miller said one client had two daughters listed on her asylum application, but only one of the two girls’ EAD application was approved, and the other one got denied.

“These denials cause major upheavals in families’ lives,” he said.

Miller thought having a lawyer can significantly increase the asylum seeker’s chances of success in immigration court.

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research center at Syracuse University, maintains data on asylum applications’ adjudication in the U.S. immigration courts. According to their statistics, only 18% of unrepresented citizens received asylum in 2020. Over 30% of represented citizens did receive it.

“Legal representation is especially important for asylum seekers at the Atlanta Immigration Court, where over the course of fiscal years 2015 to 2020, not a single judge had a denial rate of less than 91%,” Miller said.

Miller said that noncitizens with pending asylum applications are authorized to work lawfully in the U.S., provided they meet specific requirements. However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency that adjudicates work-permit applications, sometimes denies these without a lawful basis.

A denial from USCIS is not appealable, so the noncitizen must re-submit the application, requiring a costly filing fee.

They hope that a different, more competent USCIS officer will review it on the second go-around.

Another option is to sue USCIS in federal district court, but the lawyers who know how to handle these kinds of lawsuits can often charge more than the noncitizen can afford.

According to Miller, the American Bar Endowment (ABE) recently awarded the Clinic a grant to teach local “big firm” lawyers how to sue USCIS in federal court.

This kind of grant, known as an “opportunity grant,” is awarded by the ABE “to support new, boots-on-the-ground, innovative programs and projects that serve the immediate and critical legal needs of the public and are of importance to the legal profession and its concerns for access to justice.”

The Clinic was one of only 15 to receive an ABE opportunity grant out of 150 total applicants. The three local firms agreed to file collectively and on a pro-bono basis.

“We will also create video modules and other training materials to be housed on the Clinic’s website,” Miller said.

Miller said that the local firms’ lawsuits would provide a remedy for at least 10 noncitizens who otherwise would have to waste time and money submitting additional applications to USCIS. The training will give lawyers the proper tools to handle their cases.

“Increasing the number of lawyers capable of suing USCIS in federal court necessarily will drive down the fees charged for representation, Miller said.

Rahma Taha, co-President of the Georgia State Immigration

Law Society, believes the clinic is doing a fantastic job as a resource to the Atlanta community and a teaching platform for Georgia State students at the College of Law. “Personally, my experience with the clinic is wonderful. I love the work I am doing, and I have really developed great confidence in my ability as an attorney since working with the clinic,” Taha said.

Before her clinic experience, Taha struggled with imposter syndrome despite having completed two internships plus a non-immigration clinic. Now, she feels better prepared to join the legal workforce upon graduation after completing two semesters with the clinic.

Taha thought the clinic’s greatest success is its contribution to the academic experience. Georgia State Law students only had one immigration course before the creation of the Immigration Clinic.

Although the only immigration course is incredibly educational, it wasn’t enough for Taha. She found herself in a sort of educational desert after finding out her interest in immigration law in her second semester.

Since then, the university added an Immigration Clinic, increased the credit hours one can receive with the clinic and added a second course in “Crimmigration,” a course exploring the intersection between criminal and immigration law.

“Now, I can graduate with a full year of experience in complex immigration, an understanding of immigration services from simple work petitions to intricate asylum cases, and even be equipped to represent non-citizens in criminal courts,” Taha said.

Taha thought expansion is the best improvement it could make. Working in the clinic has helped her create an incredible network with immigration attorneys within Atlanta. She thinks such a valuable resource needs to be available to more students.

“Expansion would also increase the good we could do for our community. Georgia State Law would be investing in the city it loves while providing its students the unmatched chance to litigate in some of the most hostile immigration courts in the country,” Taha said.

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

4

Andrew Young School moves to 55 Park Place

Georgia State plans to move the building from its Marietta Street location in 2023 LEILA DAVIDSON Staff Reporter

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eorgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is moving to a new Downtown location.

In the new location, the Andrew Young School has six and a half allocated floors. The school will share the 55 Park Place building, which used to be the Georgia Pacific Plaza location, with the Robinson College of Business.

“When you walk into the building, there’s a huge atrium. To the left side, there are banks of elevators that go to the Robinson College of Business, and on the right side, there are banks of elevators that take you to the Andrew Young School,” Dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Sally Wallace said.

With the funding they received for the move, the School of Social Work, the Criminal Justice department, part of the Economics department, and one of the Urban Studies Institute’s research centers have already moved to 55 Park Place.

Students, faculty and staff can expect to see lots of new technology, collaborative spaces, lounge spaces, a new designated Career Services and a new office of Academic Assistance.

There isn’t an official date for the entire building’s physical move, but Chief Administrative Officer for Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Avani Raval estimates that it will be sometime in 2023. Architects for the new floors’ design have to be hired, and a construction firm to renovate the floors after that.

Georgia State purchased the 55 Park Place building in 2013 after negotiations with Georgia Pacific that owned the building.

“The building was predominately vacant, and Georgia State was in need of space and eventually purchased the building,” Raval said.

The plan for the Andrew Young School’s move began when Georgia State purchased the new building.

“Georgia State has been trying to find ways to move both the College of Business and the Andrew Young

School to 55 Park Place over time, depending on funding,” Raval said.

Georgia State owns the entire building and leases out two ground floor spaces to a restaurant and a delicatessen. Both entities are not associated with Georgia State University.

“

Georgia State has been trying to find ways to move both the College of Business and the Andrew Young School to 55 Park Place over time, depending on funding — AVANI RAVAL

”

Chief Administive Officer at Andrew Young School

Currently, the State of Georgia is leasing the current Andrew Young School location on Marietta Street to Georgia State. Georgia State plans on making the complete move to the 55 Park Place location around 2023 when their lease with the state is up.

Georgia State is planning to move the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies building to a new on-campus location.

“We don’t know if there will be a state agency that comes in or what, but the State is also in need of space, as we heard. It will be interesting to see who comes in after us,” Wallace said.

The Andrew Young School is currently located at 14 Marietta St., which is the previous location for the Fourth National Bank, built in 1905. The new location for the Andrew Young School is only half a mile from the original site, making it accessible for students on campus.

The Andrew Young School is home to the Criminal Justice and Criminology department, Public Management and Policy department, Economic department, Social Work department and the Urban Studies Institute.

The school initially started in 1996 with only two departments: Economic and Public Management and Policy. In 2011, the school integrated the Criminal Justice and Social Work departments into the building.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies gets its name from civil rights leader Andrew Young.

Young was the 55th mayor of Atlanta, 14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and a U.S Representative for Georgia’s 5th district.

Wallace hopes that the new Andrew Young School building at 55 Park Place can be a very welcoming and collaborative space for students to interact, work and come together on campus.

“There’s a little bit of sadness in leaving [the current location], but we’re going to a place that we are going to be able to recreate that so we’ll be all together again,” Wallace said. “It’s significant that we’re moving from a place that we were all together to a place where we will be all together again.”

Close to the new Andrew Young School building’s future location is Woodruff Park, Highland Bakery, Landmark Diner, GSU Writing Studio, Walgreens, and Starbucks for students to visit, eat, shop, and study while on campus at the Andrew Young School.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

5

THE SIGNAL

Georgia State’s downtown campus is a 20-minute walk from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where students can receive vaccinations for COVID-19.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Mercedes-Benz Stadium to be mass vaccination center The home of the Hawks will administer 42,000 vaccines a week CHRISTOPHER THOMAS Staff Reporter

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his vaccination center opened officially on March 24 and will continue to operate until May 19 with variable hours and days for appointments. Mercedes-Benz Stadium plans to continue operating in its original capacity while also taking on the responsibility of being a vaccination center, meaning that there may be some variability in their hours of operation.

On March 23, 2021, Gov. Brian Kemp thanked the multi-agency coalition that made it possible to have a large mass vaccination center in the heart of downtown Atlanta. “[This came from] all of us pulling together just to make this happen,” Kemp said.

On March 5, the White House Coronavirus Task Force announced Mercedes-Benz Stadium was working with local and federal government agencies to be the largest mass vaccination center in the southeast to combat COVID-19.

By the end of the eight-week period of their contract, Mercedes-Benz predicts that they will have administered over 336,000 vaccines and fully vaccinated over 210,000 individuals. They will be administering the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine for the first three weeks of operation, followed by the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine for another three weeks. Mercedes-Benz will administer the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine for the final two weeks of their contract.

“Here at this location, we had the necessary space for the team to serve and provide up to 6,000 doses a day. That [is] 42,000 doses a week,” Federal Emergency Management Agency acting administrator Robert Fenton said.

Fenton later said that the stadium’s location played a significant role in making it a mass vaccination site. “[It is] uniquely located to support those underserved people in the southeast of the metro area,” he said.

Mercedes-Benz is implementing what they call “barrier-free access” at the vaccination site. There will be weekend appointments and, on certain days, appointments as late as 10 p.m. There will be locations for free parking and walk-up capabilities for those who take Marta or walk from Georgia State’s campus. The facility is also ADA handicap accessible.

Over 700 people will be operating this site, and they

will offer translation services to all those that need it.

“I hope that what the community sees represented here is a full commitment from every level of government to restore our community’s health,” Robb Pitts, Chairman of Fulton County, said.

Chairman Pitts expounded on the increase in accessibility by removing barriers such as not requiring an ID to be vaccinated and not needing to have insurance.

“There should be nothing holding anyone back,” he said.

Pitts also announced that the different agencies were doing outreach to Black and brown communities that have been disproportionately affected. “[We know that] Black and brown people have not been vaccinated at the same rate as others, [but we] must work to reverse that trend,” Pitts said.

The stadium contains six pods or sections where they administer the vaccine. The stadium spread out the pods across three stadium levels, with five pods in constant use and the last used as overflow. Fulton County Board of Health operates pod one, and FEMA and the Department of Defense operate pods two through five, utilizing 220 active-duty military members onsite.

As vaccine production increases, many wonder where and how they can get their vaccines. Vaccines are becoming widely available at pharmacies and other health clinics, but their supplies cannot always handle the load of individuals seeking the vaccine.

Thus, private companies have started working with multiple government agencies to create a safe, accessible location with a large stock of vaccines to create mass vaccination centers to ensure that everyone can get a vaccine who wants one.

The implementation of this mass vaccination site and the effort to make it accessible is a light at the end of the tunnel of this global pandemic. However, there are still those that fear the vaccine itself.

For those who fear the vaccine, Dr. Lynn Paxton, District Health Director of the Fulton County Board of Health, recommends visiting reputable sources like the Centers for Disease Control or the Georgia Department of Public Health website to learn more about the vaccine.

“I want to emphasize that these COVID vaccines are extraordinarily effective. They are safe, and they are our way out of this pandemic,” Dr. Paxton said.

Eligible parties can make appointments for the vaccine at the Georgia Department of Public Health website by clicking on the prominent display on the front page.

If access to the internet is an issue, patients can make appointments by calling the Fulton County Board of Health’s access line at (404) 613-8150 Monday through

“

Here at this location, we had the necessary space for the team to serve and provide up to 6,000 doses a day. That [is] 42,000 doses a week — ROBERT FENTON

”

FEMA acting administrator

Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If lines are busy, the Georgia Department of Public Health also has a scheduling resource line at (888) 457-0186.

With the Mercedes-Benz Stadium Community Vaccination Center opening, great emphasis was placed on the multiagency teamwork necessary to open the center. Collaboration between all individuals wearing masks and social distancing is still essential to get through this pandemic.

As of March 25, the state of Georgia has expanded eligibility for vaccinations to all Georgians, allowing all adults over the age of 16 to be vaccinated.

OPINIONS

March 30, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

Atlanta is raging war against the homeless

The necessities of the homeless are as vital as our economy ABIR ODEH Staff Columnist

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The Student Government had an important referendum.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SGA

Student Government constitutional convention red flags

What last weeks vote could mean for the future of SGA KENNETH LOCKETT III Opinions Editor

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ditors Note: I was a member of the Student Government Association during the 2018-19 school year.

Last week, the Student Government Association held a pretty important referendum. While the referendum itself might not lead to massive changes, it’s what the organization will be able to do that is raising some heads. There were five questions asked of the students, which on the surface didn’t really mean anything.

For example, the third question asks students if SGA should relocate “Article 6 – Executive Branch” from its constitution into the SGA bylaws.

A simple change, right? But as The Signal reported on March 25, this gives SGA a lot of power. “[T]he relocation would make calling a university-wide referendum unnecessary whenever there is a structural change in the executive branch,” the article explained.

This would allow SGA to do things such as abolishing the executive boards on each of the Perimeter College campuses. SGA would be allowed to consolidate the executive branch. One university-

wide president, vice president and financial director. This would put the Perimeter College at a serious disadvantage and allow the Atlanta Campus to snatch up all of the executive branch positions, prioritizing Atlanta Campus issues, an issue that started a fight during the last administration.

Couple that with the wording changes listed in the following questions. Part two of question five asks if they should change the wording of Article 13 from “shall process all expenditures approved by the Campus Senates and signed by the Finance Directors in a timely manner” to “shall process all expenditures approved by the senate[s] and signed by the finance director in a timely manner.”

On the surface, it seems like the same wording, right? But notice how they turned the finance director into a singular term. This implies that there will only be one finance director. This singular position will likely be based on the Atlanta campus, where Atlanta senators will have easy access to the director.

They also removed the term campus leaving only senates. This happens all over the constitution, removing

the importance of each campus senates.

This is likely a continuation of the consolidation of the Perimeter SGA that started under the last administration. On the surface, combining all of the Perimeter campus senates into one larger body would give them a more prominent voice in the overall organization.

But remember why there are individual campus senates in the first place.

A student on Clarkston doesn’t have the same concerns as a student in Dunwoody or Decatur. A student from Atlanta won’t understand the problems a student from Newton faces. SGA is supposed to be the students’ voice and help their students in any way possible. But they are humans; they simply won’t prioritize an issue to which they don’t personally relate.

Just like Atlanta doesn’t understand perimeter issues, Dunwoody doesn’t understand Clarkston issues. While I don’t think we should be raising the pitchforks just yet. We must understand what’s at stake and what is possible.

You never know what could be happening behind the scenes.

s Georgia State students, it is hard for us to overlook the homeless population in Atlanta. Georgia State’s Downtown campus is in Atlanta’s heart, and its community includes the homeless population.

Being backed into an unfortunate situation is usually not in our control; those who are fortunate enough to find themselves comfortable should not be judging those who are not. Helping the homeless, especially in times of hardship, is not giving out “handouts” or aiding their desire to be “bums.” They are not always people who face the consequences of poor choices, and they most certainly are not a group of people removed from our society.

COVID -19 impacted some more than others, and the homeless population is one of those communities that is most vulnerable to the pandemic.

So, to hear that on Jan. 30, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Ambassador Force told the nonprofit organization, Atlanta Justice Alliance, to stop serving the homeless community in Woodruff Park was astounding.

They told the alliance to stop their services in a letter reported on by The Signal to “positively impact the course of the viral pandemic..”

The nonprofit organization responded: “We refuse. We will be there next Saturday, just like we have been all along. Respectfully, kiss our a-s.”

While this letter intends to protect the homeless from the spread of the virus since contracting it could devastate their community, it is also audacious.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, released its annual homelessness assessment report on March 18, finding that 580,466 people were

homeless in a single night during 2020. The report shows a 2.2% increase from the previous year.

The HUD report includes an analysis of homelessness in the following categories: homelessness among all people, chronic, unsheltered, family, veteran and homelessness among people of color.

Various factors contribute to homelessness, such as unaffordable housing, unemployment, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse and lack of services.

An additional agitation to the influx of homelessness in the U.S. is the COVID-19 pandemic. Around this time last year, many of us found ourselves with new realities, and for some, the transition was not as simple as moving back home with our families.

Many faced unemployment, which may have stressed already tense financial situations.

We have opened most, if not all, retail, local business, restaurants, entertainment, religious institutions and personal care facilities with minimal to no restrictions.

In Georgia, masks are not mandatory, only advised.

And many businesses are operating at total capacity.

Schools are urged to open, with guidelines, but still open to entire operations.

These guidelines include and are not limited to riding buses, lunches and recesses that could risk the pandemic’s spread.

However, we reject the most vulnerable sect of our society. Why should there not be extensive guidelines, such as those at our schools?

The homeless are punished because they neither contribute nor benefit from economic activity.

It’s important to remember that we could find ourselves in positions similar to those we judge or those we refuse to aid at any moment in our lives.

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

7

Stay in your bed and go to therapy

Online therapy resources are better than in-person CALLIE MCNORTON Associate Opinions Editor

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here are so many contributors to students’ mental health issues. Therapy is one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle these issues. Many use in-person resources, but online resources have been rising with last year’s circumstances.

“The stigma around mental health continues to fade. The results reveal that 94% of students say that they wouldn’t judge someone for seeking out help for mental health, which Lipson says is an indicator that also correlates with those students being likely to seek out help themselves during a personal crisis,” Kat J. McAlpine said regarding a Boston University study on mental health and academic performance.

While stigma is breaking and students are becoming more comfortable with the realities of mental health issues, online therapy has become a better option for anyone seeking treatment.

Having access to online therapy allows more flexibility for the student and the therapist. Even after we go back to normalcy, it is understandable that we will integrate online meetings into our lives.

If a student can seek help online, they will be able to get the help they need more quickly.

Furthermore, this cuts out travel time, as well as time away from responsibilities such as children.

“Research studies, many of which are listed in bibliography format by the Telemental Health Institute, also indicate that telemental health is equivalent to faceto-face care in various settings and an acceptable alternative,” Amy Novotney for American Psychological Association said.

Online therapy has

many similarities and is considered an acceptable alternative to in-person counseling, so it is a good move for those new to therapy.

Many times, the intimacy of a therapist’s office can be intimidating. A therapist’s overly zen space mixed with too big of a smile can turn many away from in-person sessions.

Online, you always have the power to leave and control your area to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

It can be overwhelming making the jump to online therapy or therapy at all. Georgia State has many resources that students should take advantage of because you’re already paying for them. At the Counseling Center’s website, you can find a list of resources from issues ranging from anger to time management to sexual addiction. The WellTrack app addresses anxiety and depression securely and anonymously.

Individual, group and couples counseling is also available through Georgia State. Students can receive up to 15 sessions throughout the academic year, and if those are biweekly, that is six months of free therapy.

The mission statement of the Counseling Center “is to support Georgia State University students in achieving their personal and educational goals by enhancing their mental and emotional health, interpersonal relationships and academic performance through accessible, professional, culturally competent and empirically supported services.”

With all of the obstacles that students have faced this year, tackling mental health is vital. We are in the digital age, and therapy has found its way there too.

As the vaccine had begun to be distributed around the state of Georgia, there is hopes to see some form of normalcy at GSU in the coming month.

IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTER STOCK

We still have a long road to normalcy post-COVID

Back to normalcy at Georgia State upcoming in the fall?

GABBY MILLER Staff Columnist

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t has been over a year since the beginning of the pandemic, and we have started to adapt to wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home instead of going somewhere public. With multiple vaccines in distribution and development stages, things may begin to go back to normal.

But the real question is, will things get back to normal soon at Georgia State? What will happen in the upcoming fall semester?

With the way things are going now, a new normal is too far beyond our reach.

Most likely, things will not go back to normal, even if we get vaccinated before the fall semester starts.

Until then, we will have to find ways to find at least a semi-normal life on campus during these times.

Even though we strive for a taste of what life used to look like, it would be a lie to say we are not comfortable in our new normal.

We have gotten so used to wearing the masks, and it would most likely still be a mandate if we go back to in-person classes in the fall.

Last fall semester, things were more strict than before. In the library, no more than two people could be at a table due to social distancing. In the class buildings,

you must always wear a mask.

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With the way things are going now, a new normal is too far beyond our reach.

Most likely, things will not go back to normal, even if we get vaccinated before the fall semester starts.

”

— GABBY MILLER

Staff Columnist

It is hard to imagine change when things have been this way for the past year; just last semester,

we were finally allowed to go back to classes. Then, we found that classes would be blended.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we had to get the vaccine to return to campus in the fall. But even then, the vaccine isn’t going to solve all of our issues at this time. Even with the vaccine, it is hard to imagine stores letting us go in without a mask or social distancing.

Why would the university change after the vaccine or the possible pill in the works?

Many students are asking, “Will there be a type of normal back at campus without the need for the blended program at school?”

Since the vaccine is starting to get spread around more, will it change things at campus? Are we going to find a way to be normal this fall because of the vaccine?

Some are concerned that we might not get back to normalcy until 2024, a three-year difference than what we hoped would happen. Even though three years seems like a lifetime, changing our new ways just because the vaccination has begun distribution would be difficult to validate. The pandemic has taught us that we have to be patient for things to go back to normal.

This Week’s Spread: Arts & Living WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

MONDAY

TUESDAY

1Hatshepsut was the first female 2Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the pharaoh of Egypt.

With her husband’s death and her son too young to take the throne, Hatshepsut was the first female ruler of ancient Egypt to reign as a male. With any pharaoh’s full authority before her, artists portrayed her as male in all her statues and artwork. She legitimized her claim to the throne by calling herself the king and adopting all of the kingship attributes.

8Lizzo is an inspirational role

SPREAD LAYOUT BY ADAM MONTES, ILLUSTRATION BY ERICA DEAN, ROE GASSETT , OLIVIA MADRZYK , AND ARIEL WALTER | THE SIGNAL

model for body positivity.

With her nude album covers, bathing suit posts on social media, and songs revolving around loving one’s skin, Lizzo challenges female beauty standards no matter size, shape or color.

15

In the U.S., 62% of all accountants and auditors are women.

Worldwide, the percentage of women studying accounting is 49%, nearly equal to the number of men.

22

Every 90 seconds, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth.

These complications are preventable more often than not, but due to gender discrimination, women do not receive the proper treatment.

29

The vagina averages a 4.5 on the pH scale, similar to the acidity of a tomato.

According to Healthline, a typical vaginal pH level averages between 3.8 and 4.5.

youngest-ever elected congresswoman.

At the age of 28, AOC is the youngest woman to be elected into the House of Representatives, representing the 14th district of New York.

9Selena Quintanilla inspired a generation of Mexican women.

Selena was the first female Tejano artist and the youngest singer ever to win the Grammy Award for “Best Mexican American Album.” showing America could support and love a woman with brown skin.

16

Businesses owned by women of color have more than doubled since 2007.

Over the past nine years, the number of women-owned businesses grew at a rate five times faster than the national average, increasing by a rate of 126%.

23

Women have a better sense of smell than men.

Research shows that women possess a higher cell count than men in their olfactory bulb, the part of the brain responsible for receiving signals of smell from the nostrils.

30

Women fall in love slower than men.

More than 25% of men fall in love between the first and fourth date. Only 15% of women had the same result. These results are because women are biologically predisposed to be selective when choosing a partner to ensure they reproduce with a suitable mate.

WEDNESDAY 3Rashida Tlaib is the first Palestinian American woman to be elected to Congress.

Talib made history in 2008 by being the first Muslim woman to ever serve in the Michigan Legislature and became one of the first two Muslim women in Congress, representing Michigan’s 13th congressional District.

10Michelle Obama won a Grammy.

Along with inspiring young women worldwide with her work involving health and women’s education, the Grammys awarded Michelle Obama for “Best Spoken Word Album” for the audio version of her autobiography, “Becoming.”

17

One of the highest IQ scores in the world belongs to a woman.

With a recorded score of 228, American author, columnist and playwright Marilyn vos Savant showed the intelligence of a 22-year-old at age ten.

24

Women have more vivid memories than men.

Psychologists have found that women almost consistently outperform men when it comes to tasks with little to no verbal processing, including recalling certain odors and images.

31The word “vagina” is first

seen on film in Walt Disney’s production “The Story of Menstruation.”

In 1946, Walt Disney Productions produced the ten-minute film with hopes of creating a detailed video to inform young girls about the menstrual cycle, including menstrual flow and feminine health products. Millions of American students watch the film in health education classes around the country.

Women’s History Month: The power of women By: Deena Kayyali Arts And Living Reporter

Facts about the strength, resilience and power of women around the world

THURSDAY 4 Greta Thunberg started the

world’s most significant global revolution for climate change At only 17 years old, Thunberg led the largest climate strike in history. Her efforts gained popularity around the globe, and millions began protesting on government property.

Thunberg was Time Magazine’s person of the year in 2019.

11Serena Williams won the Australian Open while pregnant.

According to an article by Insider, Williams took the pregnancy test while preparing for a marketing event. Noticing something was off with her body, she took the test, finished her makeup, and did not see her test results until hours later.

18

Women earn the majority of advanced degrees in the United States.

According to a report done by the Council of Graduate Schools, women earned more than half of the doctoral degrees awarded in the United States and made up most advanced degree students at all levels.

25

Women can see a larger spectrum of colors than men.

When breaking down color hues, neuroscientists discovered that women could distinguish subtle color gradations more than men.

FRIDAY 5 In Japan, Murasaki Shikibu

wrote the world’s first novel.

In the 11th century, Shikibu wrote “The Tale of Genji.” The book revolves around a young man’s life and displays the Japanese aristocratic culture, including descriptions of dress, daily life and society.

12 On average, working women

SATURDAY 6Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history.

At only 23 years old, Gorman is an award-winning writer and cum laude graduate of Harvard University. She has read her poetry at President Joseph Biden’s inauguration, written for the New York Times and has three novels in the making.

13

In the U.S. earn 82 cents for every dollar men make.

Over 2.7 billion women don’t have the same work opportunities as men.

America’s wage gap has been hypothesized to result from sexism and white supremacy.

Specifically, the devaluing of women and their efforts in the workforce.

Though women and girls make up more than half of the global population, women worldwide earn 24% less than men.

19

Malala Yousafzai opened an all-girls school for Syrian refugees.

Malala was shot three times by the Taliban while seated on her bus ride back from school. When she turned 18, she opened a school for girls in Pakistan, calling on leaders worldwide to provide “books, not bullets.”

26

Women have more robust immune systems than men.

Research has repeatedly shown that women possess enhanced capabilities of producing virus-fighting antibodies.

20

According to Unicef, an extra year of education can help a girl earn 15 to 25% more as an adult.

Girls who receive access to education improve their own lives and are allowed to improve the lives of their families, children, their economies, and societies.

27

A clitoris grows throughout one’s lifetime.

The clitoris is the pleasure center of the vulva, with its sole purpose being sexual arousal and stimulation. Many women in their forties and fifties have stronger orgasms than they did during their teens and twenties.

SUNDAY 7

Frida Khalo re-defined femininity.

Despite the harsh gender inequality of the 1900s, Frida Khalo broke all social conventions by refusing to alter her features labeled as “masculine” and became, even today, one of the forefronts of the feminist movement.

14According to Forbes, the

number of women leaders in the world has doubled since 2005.

In their most recent and most influential list, the women elected hailed from 30 countries and were born over four generations.

21

Gender inequality is a significant cause and effect of hunger and poverty.

Estimates show that 60% of chronically hungry people are women and girls due to the risks of poverty, exploitation and armed conflict.

28

The anterior cingulate cortex is more prominent in women than in men.

The ACC is the section of the brain that is responsible for impulse control and decision-making. Since this area is larger in women, they are more likely to consider the consequences of their decisions and perform logic-based decisions.

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

March 30, 2021

The Movespot offers a new social experience Student creates a multi-use social media app CATHERINE USHER Staff Reporter

I

The app KemNu helps students engage with their college and community more conveniently.

ILLUSTRATION SUBMITTED BY KEMNU

KemNu boosts student engagement

The new social platform simplifies social interaction in college ISA CARDONA Associate Arts & Living Editor

M

aking friends and networking can be a challenge for many college students, and it’s been increasingly difficult with limited face-to-face interaction during a pandemic.

KemNu is a social platform that enables people to connect over fun and exciting activities.

The platform’s co-founders, Viraj Patel and Vishwa Mudigonda, wanted to create something to help students struggling with networking like they did when they began their undergraduate journey in 2013.

“We were excited freshmen. We wanted to go out, network, make new friends and party,” Mudigonda said.

“That’s what college was supposed to be, the place where it’s going to be the best time of our lives. But we soon realized that making new friends and connecting with organizations were extremely difficult.”

Mudigona realized that not much information about organizations was available online. There was no dedicated platform to see a list of organizations, find club meeting times or contact information for those organizations. The team at KemNu decided to build a solution.

KemNu, which means “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” in the Gujarati language, is marketed as the ultimate college platform to bring students and organizations together for exclusive college, university and other educational institution events.

A Georgia State student will only see Georgia State events through registering with their student email. The platform goes further by rewarding student engagement.

The more users participate in events hosted on KemNu, the more points they receive, and those points earn rewards. The team partnered up with various small businesses in Georgia to provide exclusive discounts only available through the app.

Based on KemNu’s research, there’s been a 50% decline in student engagement with college organizations on campus since 2016. They found this data before COVID-19, and now the numbers are much lower.

KemNu wants to make student engagement more streamlined and convenient while emphasizing social interaction, challenging other sites like Panther Involvement Network, GroupMe and Discord.

“[On KemNu] you can have conversations with members in the organization, post the events live on the platform, have conversations, collect payments for paid events and you can skip or add an event to your schedule,” Marketing Director Salina Patel said.

It also has robust security backed

by Google Cloud with encrypted data so that even the developers can’t access it. The app also encourages students to get verified before they engage on campus. Students must submit a live selfie through the app’s system, and KemNu’s highly trained employees will personally vet them to approve their profiles.

The platform’s whole concept shifted to rebuild campus life after the pandemic since many students may be questioning whether or not they can have a fulfilling college experience.

“We’re enabling you to find your community through this platform.

[If] you like coding, you can check out all the coding things and filter the events and organizations accordingly,” Mudigona said. “We’re enabling students to find their communities in a much easier way and faster than ever before.”

n today’s society and almost worldwide, many use and love social media. People are constantly looking down at their phones, scrolling up and down apps like Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. Although social media is a helpful tool, it can sometimes get a little hectic to use. Social media’s different purposes such as entertainment, social networking and advertising can make using these apps a lot more complicated than it should.

One Georgia State junior created an app that fulfills all of these social media uses.

Carl White III created Movespot in 2017 after realizing that people use social media at the wrong times.

“One day, I was working out at Planet Fitness and saw everyone scrolling on their phone,” he said. “I noticed that people were in a place that was designed for them to work out and be active but instead, they were all glued to their phone screens.”

Noticing this at the gym initially gave White the idea for Movespot, an app that offers social media users the complete social experience by combining social media, social networking and making moves all into one platform.

He then went on to formulate a clear idea of what he wanted the Movespot to be.

Once he got that step out of the way, he went on to develop his app.

“App development has many different concepts to it, so without the right research, it wouldn’t have been possible to complete,” he said. “It started from a PowerPoint to jotting down notes to finding out how to actually implement the ideas into the app.”

He then started his UI/UX design, wireframing, server hosting, market research and beta testing.

Movespot is an app that allows social media users to have a unique social experience and not force users to scroll on their phones all day idly.

Movespot is the only app

on the market that features a three-way live stream.

It allows users to market themselves and hang out with friends. The app offers a time map that enables users to stay connected with their mutual friends’ time distance, showing each friend’s current location and making it easier to hang out with them at any time.

“

In the future, I honestly see the Movespot with millions of users and being used on a global scale

”

— CARL WHITE III Georgia State student and creator of Movespot app White had a particular age group he wanted to market the app to when it came to his target audience, but he still noticed other age groups use the app.

“Our main target audience is Generation Z, which are the people that were born between the mid to late 1990s up until the early 2010s,” he said. “We are also seeing millennials use the platform as well.”

White feels like the Movespot will soon become a household name.

“In the future, I honestly see the Movespot with millions of users and being used on a global scale,” he said.

While White continues to push forward his app and formulate new ideas, he proves that hard work and the proper research can bring a vision to life.

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

11

Raafeke uses cultural influence in ‘Radiance Lost’ Perry incorporates unique characters and themes KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

U

sing his cultural influences from the West Indies as a source of inspiration, author and Georgia State student Richie “Raafeke” Perry published his first book, “Radiance Lost.”

This tale is a part of an upcoming series that encapsulates the meaning of family, mystery and adventure.

Perry has always had a love and passion for reading and writing but never saw or read about characters who looked like him. Using this as motivation, he started creating characters for himself and other Black children to see themselves in.

“My goal is to diversify the things that we see in literature,“ Perry said.

“That’s why most of my work is based around connecting our diaspora like the islands, African Americans and Africans.”

Just like many authors, Perry chose to use a unique pen name that would set him and his work apart. Finding inspiration from “The Lion King” character Rafiki, he created the name Raafeke for himself and has loved it ever since.

“I didn’t want to use my legal name just because I wanted something that would really stand out,” Perry said. “With Rafiki, he was a storyteller, eclectic and spiritual, and that is my lane of interest, so I felt very attached to that kind of persona and wanted to make my own.”

Hiccups, technical difficulties and roadblocks are normal during any writing process. For Perry, one of the most complex struggles he faced was rewriting his story after his computer crashed unexpectedly.

“It was around Christmastime when I had to start over, and it

got to a point where I wasn’t sure if I could do it and wanted to quit,” Perry said. “But my mom just told me to ‘keep going; you already know what you’re writing.’”

Another challenge Perry is still working to overcome is incorporating the natural language and culture of his characters.

When it comes to Perry’s writing style, he chooses to use the native tongue of his family and other cultures to create a “melting pot” of dialects and sounds for his readers.

“I was very nervous about writing it a certain way and having Caribbean people saying ‘that’s not how we sound,’” Perry said.

“But ultimately, I had to realize that I was doing it for me because no one else can write it for me.”

Remembering one of the many reasons he continues to write, Perry expressed how impactful it is to read diverse stories like his growing up.

“I would have to fight with my siblings over who gets to be the one Black character in a show,” Perry said.

“Everyone wants to see someone who looks like them, but I shouldn’t have to settle for one character just because they look like me.“ Speaking more on his plans, Perry is working toward finishing another book that would complete his current series.

Outside of writing, he has goals to raise more awareness in the Caribbean about the LGBTQ+ community and focus on education.

“If I had a lot of money, I would see myself giving how I want to, at home and abroad,” Perry said. “I just want to build a community and build something that will last.”

Atlanta photographer Jasper Washington shares her work on VSCO and finds solace in the community.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JASPER WASHINGTON

VSCO: A social media app without likes that encourages individuality

Atlanta photographer Jasper Washington discusses her inspirations COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

V

SCO is a mobile photography app on which users can capture, edit and share photos using pre-set filters and effects. VSCO also allows users to post pictures to their gallery and curate a collection of their favorite pictures — but much of VSCO’s value lies in what features the app doesn’t offer.

Unlike seemingly similar apps like Instagram, the lack of likes, followers or comments fosters authenticity in VSCO’s community and discourages users from comparing themselves to others.

“Our mission is to help everybody fall in love with their own creativity,” VSCO’s website states.

This inviting atmosphere draws in users like Atlanta photographer Deiera Washington, aka Jasper, who VSCO recently featured in a VSCO journal. Washington feels that she can be herself and express her creativity without fear of judgment on the app. “[The VSCO app] helps make me more confident to put my work out there because there is no concern of if someone will like it or not,”

Washington said. “I know people see it, and that’s what matters to me.”

VSCO was founded in 2011 and has not ever implemented likes, comments or follower counts.

Instagram stated in 2019 that it would begin to hide users’ like counts from other users, following in VSCO’s footsteps.

“VSCO … hasn’t had comments from the start, hasn’t had like counts, hasn’t had follower counts.

As [people] use and experiment with new technology and new platforms, they’re becoming more aware of the impact it has on their lives,” Allison Swope, VP of Product for VSCO, said in an interview with PCMag. Without standard interactive features available on other apps like ‘likes,’ the creative community on VSCO does not lie silent — in fact, it thrives. Users share ideas and encourage one another without comparing themselves.

“I think the VSCO community is mainly just about exchanging inspiration and appreciation for one another’s art,” Washington said. “I’m also constantly inspired by the other photographers’ work I see displayed,

[and it] reminds me to keep pushing to be unique so I can stand out.”

Washington’s work primarily consists of portraits, edited with VSCO’s array of filters and effects.

Her photographs are works of art, but she sees her subjects as works of art, too.

“Women have so much range, and it is one of the most beautiful things to see,” Washington said. “We become the embodiment of art just by the ways we express ourselves, whether it be as simple as switching up our look, getting a new hairstyle or just overall embracing and owning our femininity.”

Washington’s identity as a Black woman is also a driving force behind her work and inspires her to share it on VSCO. “Not long ago, it was very rare to see a Black woman take on the role of a photographer, [But] now, we see an uprising of very Black talented women in the creative industry, finally getting the recognition they deserve and being role models to young girls like me,” Washington said. “I’d like to become that role model.”

SPORTS

March 30, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Opinions: employers must start paying their interns It’s time for the next generations to earn more than experience JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

T

he proper role of unpaid internships has become painfully clear. Employers take advantage of young up-and-coming students and recent graduates, passing it off as a great way to gain experience.

The journalism industry’s foundation revolves around “who you know.” Earlier, this month NFL Network reporter Jane Slater tweeted out an unpaid journalism internship. She viewed it as an opportunity to give back to someone looking to make their way in the sports industry.

However, she received heavy criticism for promoting a non-paid opportunity. Slater admitted that her wealthy family helped her through her entry-level jobs, where she made as little as $16,500. Not all people have that luxury.

After many people began to criticize the position for not offering financial compensation, Slater’s comments to others sparked an extensive debate. Many prominent names in the industry shared their opinion.

ESPN’s Matt Miller, another well-known name in the industry, defended the opportunity and praised unpaid journalism as a pivotal stepping stone for those wanting a spot in the industry.

“I turned an unpaid writing opportunity at Bleacher Report into where I am now,” Miller said. “Would have never made it 10 years in this business or to ESPN without that chance.”

However, Miller’s response may support the abolishment of unpaid internships. Employers take advantage of current students and recent graduates because too many are willing to negotiate their worth to zero.

Students and recent graduates are recovering from the lackluster job market COVID-19 brought them after graduation. More than ever, students and recent graduates face a challenging dilemma in picking between an unpaid internship and applying for a regular nine-to-five job.

But the financial aspect just begins the conversation around Slater’s remarks.

Journalism has drastically changed, and entry-level job requirements are valuing versatility beyond just writing.

Aspiring journalists need to write well, edit others’ work and have experience with digital editing apps, such as Adobe Premiere or Photoshop. Asking interns for so much

time and then giving them little compensation puts them in a challenging position, especially if they are still in school.

However, others in the industry oppose Slater and Miller’s views.

Tori McElhaney of The Athletic is a prominent supporter of paid internships to students and recent graduates. As the Atlanta Falcons’ beat-writer, her journey started with multiple unpaid opportunities before finally landing at a full-time opportunity.

“I definitely think interns should be paid,” McElhaney said. “I had the opportunity to take an unpaid internship, but I know not everyone has that luxury.”

“

I hate the mentality, and I definitely want better for future generations, — TORY MCELHANEY

”

Atlanta Falcons Beat Reporter at The Athletic

McElhaney also highlighted that the “I suffered, so you have to as well” mentality plagues the industry. A University of Georgia alum, she knows that some schools have significant advantages over others in even getting these toptier unpaid internships.

“I hate the mentality, and I definitely want better for future generations,” McElhaney said.

At the heart of the debate is the elitism coming from those already established in the industry.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein sided with unpaid

internships and argued that people do not understand their true worth.

“The phrase “unpaid internships’ is looked way down on nowadays,” Zierlein said. “Too many people have no idea how it helps to get a foot in the door that can become your first big job.”

It’s worth noting that Zierlein’s father’s coaching career spanned over nearly 50 years in both college and professional football. The elitism from the industry establishment is not only concerning, but a major roadblock to change.

The issue is that many in the industry don’t understand that times have changed, and it’s not feasible or financially responsible for some just to take an unpaid internship.

Not only is the pandemic a factor, but the continually rising price of living is also a significant barrier. Students and recent graduates move into areas that stretch them thin financially, and taking an unpaid internship does not help pay the bills.

There needs to be accountability and a sense of awareness from employers regarding an unpaid internship’s financial implications.

Older generations view Millenials and Gen-Z as “entitled,” but if anything, turning down unpaid work is the financially smart move.

It’s not as if people ask for handouts, just fundamental rights in being compensated for their 40-50 hours of work.

Georgia State alum and former sports editor for The Signal Espen Indrisano has done both paid and unpaid internships. He understands the difficulty of having to work without making a living.

“Unlike other students, I had the luxury of taking an unpaid internship with FC Dallas [at the beginning of 2020],” Indrisano said. “My parents were able to help me, and I moved to Texas for the internship, but [I’m] the exception to the rule.”

While his time in Dallas was cut short due to COVID-19, the 2020 journalism graduate highlights that unpaid interns are risking too much not to receive compensation.

ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

13

Braves are ready to go for opening day

From pitching to offense, the team’s future is bright

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AARON WILSON JR. Staff Reporter

hursday’s the day: Braves Baseball is back.

The defending National League East champion Atlanta will begin their pennant defense as they seek their fourth straight crown in one of baseball’s most entertaining divisions.

The opening-day roster will look similar to last season’s that was a win away from the World Series.

Headlined by reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman, young slugger Ronald Acuna, Jr and Marcell Ozuna’s return on a four-year, $65 million extension, the Braves’ offense remains strong.

The revamped pitching staff will feature Ian Anderson, a late bloomer in 2020, and critical offseason acquisitions Charlie Morton and Drew Smiley. Of course, Max Fried remains the ace of the rotation.

But who will operate the fifth spot in the rotation? That answer is here, in the inaugural session of the Braves Bulletin.

Welcome to the initial installment of Braves Bulletin, your weekly destination for rumors I hear, performance reviews, news, and anything note-worthy.

Bryse Wilson wins the fifth spot in the pitching rotation

Wilson may not have been outstanding this spring, but his consistency opened the eyes of many. He posted a 2-0 record with a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings this spring. Entering Spring Training, the team expected Wilson to be behind Kyle Wright for the fifth spot in the rotation.

However, Brian Snitker, who enters his seventh year as the Braves manager, gave

insight into the situation.

“Kyle would be the first to tell you not everything is clicking on all cylinders,” Snitker said. “We all see the stuff. My God, it’s just crazy. And that’s OK, you know if he just keeps working and refining his craft … we’re going to need him at some point.

We’re going to use them all.”

Snitker will indeed use “them all” at some point when it comes to his young arms as Wilson was also sent to the alternate site but will likely return for the second trip through the starting rotation. The first week will probably feature a bullpen day for the Braves.

Max Fried will get the ball to start the Braves season

Fried showed up and showed out as he became the star attraction every fifth day.

With the ascension to ace status being a bright spot last year, reported have confirmed Fried will start on Opening Day against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The California native put the team on his left bicep and was a workhorse for a rotation that floundered for a large part of 2020 after his comrade Mike Soroka went down with a torn Achilles early in the season.

The Braves will need to start the season well from their first few series’, and handing the ball to Fried to begin the 2021 season should come as no surprise.

Even with the acquisitions made this offseason, not having Fried open the season would be a travesty to the 27-year-old. He deserves the ball in Philadelphia on April 1, and now he knows for sure that he will get it.

Black head coaches and student-athletes are far from balanced, and the system must change.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GSU ATHLETICS

The glaring correlation between race and opportunity

Black coaches are as rare as ever, regardless of the sport MARQUIS CHAMBERS Staff Reporter

I

n sports, Black coaches often go underlooked with head coaching positions. NBA franchises often hire white coaches with no experience, and it’s no different in the NFL, MLB and softball, a predominantly white sport.

It’s no secret that division one sports offer few head coaching opportunities.

Cliff Warren, assistant coach for the Georgia State men’s basketball team, is no stranger to the uphill battle in obtaining a coaching position at such a high level.

“I know college basketball. It’s very difficult to get head coaching jobs, Black or white,” Warren said. “It’s just tough cause there are only so many 350 head coaching jobs in division one … [But] if you want to be a division one head coach, there aren’t that many.”

But just how few opportunities are there?

In 2012, 256 white coaches and 86 Black coaches made up division one athletics. Fast forward to 2020, the numbers of whites increased to 250 while Black coaching roles went up just four percent to 98.

White women still make up more roles than Black women.

Kalynn Hicks, a junior on the Panthers’ softball team, led a studentathlete protest last March, which observed the lack of minority players in the sport. Playing in a predominantly white sport, she often sees herself as a minority.

“The only Black coach as a woman

and a head coach that I have seen is when we play HBCUs,” Hicks said. “It’s crazy to me because there are so many women who could do it, or there are at smaller schools, and they have come from the higher [predominantly white institutions].”

Hicks has only played for one Black head coach, her father. When the Panthers traveled to North Carolina A&T, an Aggies head coach told Hicks that it was “refreshing to see another sister here.”

“It made my whole day,“ Hicks said. “‘Wow, she sees me, and she’s acknowledging that I was there.’ It hit home for me when she said that actually, so that was nice.“ Black student-athletes across all sports share that moment of relief.

Warren felt like he had enough influence on young student athletes’ lives to the point he decided to stick with coaching for an extended period.

“I think the way I observed other people when I got into coaching sometimes wanted to emulate those people,” Warren said. “Sometimes you like what they do, say, like how they carry themselves, and it’s not done on purpose. It’s just how you live your life.

I think I’ve had some influence over players that I have coached.”

Many Black coaches have struggled to separate themselves from some of their counterparts in recent events. Like many, Warren believes that not all talent from a player can translate to them teaching.

“I think currently there are a lot more opportunities than there were 30 years ago,” Warren said. “And now I think we are all striving to do even better than what we have done before.”

Starting the talk about the disparity in the head coaching position and even other coaching positions is essential.

The idea for coming up with different ways for Black student-athletes to feel more comfortable is talking about these problems with programs like Coaches 4 Change.

“Right now, during the season, a lot of people that are involved with Coaches 4 Change just want to keep the message going,” Warren said. “Now that March Madness is here, there is a buzz about student-athletes having more power in their voice. And having young studentathletes have a voice in their futures [is the reason for this organization].”

Hicks also serves on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, which gives Black student-athletes a haven.

“We would have days like Tough Talk Tuesdays, where we checked in with Black student-athletes,” Hicks said. “I was glad that we came up with something that African Americans could have and go in and talk to each other about certain situations and problems.”

As the conversations continue between Black student-athletes and coaches, the goal remains consistent: make sure everyone has an opportunity to share their voice, regardless of race.

March 30, 2021

THREE BIG THINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

Men’s tennis puts on clinic against Georgia Southern

The Braves are back in action and ready for revenge

Deshaun Watson’s future is in jeopardy

The Panthers swept the Eagles across two doubles matches and five singles matches in the infamous StatSouthern rivalry on Saturday.

Mihai Marinescu and Vazha Shubladze cruised to a win. Andrei Duarte and Roberts Grinvalds also picked up a win in doubles. Marinescu and Shubladze also won their singles matches, with Andrei Duarte, Kevin Huynh and Patrick Lazo completing the sweep.

The Atlanta Braves will begin their season on the road Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Braves came within one win of advancing to their first World Series since 1999 last season but fell short to the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, with another year of experience for young sluggers Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Ozzie Albies and reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman fully healthy, the Braves could certainly have an entertaining season ahead of them.

Houston Texans franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson has been accused by 19 women of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct.

The first allegations came just days after reports that Watson had requested a trade from the Texans.

The women claim not to want money or attention, but rather “a change in behavior concerning Watson, and a change of culture in the NFL.” An NFL spokesperson acknowledged the situation, and the league is taking it under review.

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Hot Topic Tuesday 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Virtual

Trans Day of Visibility Lunch and Learn 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm SCE Ballroom

Consent Circle 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Virtual

Black Male Leadership Academy 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Virtual

Credit: The Good, Bad and the Ugly 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Virtual

Group Think: New Georgia Voting Bills 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Virtual

Drive-in Movie 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm GSU Green Lot

APR 02

THURSDAY APR 01

WEDNESDAY MAR 31

TUESDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Spring Tailgate Saturdays 10:00 am - 5:00 pm College Football Hall of Fame

Save The Arts Festival 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Atlantic Station

Meditation Monday 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Virtual

Something’s Missing (Exhibition) 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm The Bakery Atlanta

Ragnar Kjartansson: “The Visitors” Video Installation 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm High Museum of Art

APR 05

SATURDAY APR 04

APR 03

MAR 30

THE KICKBACK

Flag Parade 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Virtual

Hot Wings Hot Topics Time 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm