Vol. 89, No. 20

EST. 1933

Independent, Impactful & Impartial

13

Day 13 of death and destruction in Ukraine

IN THIS ISSUE : In Opinions: Black History M o n t h i s o v e r… n o w w h a t ?

Pg. 06 In Sports: We review Atlanta United’s Win 3-1 on Pg. 12

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Editor’s Note As the world faces uncertain times, The Signal strives to do what journalism does best and inform the people. We will continue to follow the unfolding of events overseas weekly.

-Deena

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THE BLOTTER

March 08. 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

CRIME BLOTTER

MAR 02ND

“You Can’t Go There” GSUPD was called to the bicycle rack at the Piedmont Central Dorms on Wednesday afternoon for reports of suspicious activity and criminal trespass. The non-Georgia State-affiliated offender was not arrested at the scene. This case is still open.

Avenue on Thursday Afternoon for outstanding warrants.

“Swiper, No Swiping”

Thursday afternoon at Student Center East, a GSU-affiliated individual had their personal items stolen from them. GSUPD are currently investigating this case and looking to charge with larceny.

“Too Late to Uber”

Early Friday morning, at the intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Courtland Street a nonGeorgia State-affiliated driver was arrested for driving under the influence. They were arrested at the scene.

MAR 03RD

“Caught Ya”

With the help of outside Agencies, the GSUPD made an arrest at the RaceTrac at 120 Piedmont

NEWS BRIEFS

LOCAL

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Grants Given to Houses of Worship to Fund Affordable Housing.

Self-Driving Taxis Are Coming to California.

Groundbreaking New Sickle Cell Treatment Available.

The nationwide non-profit Enterprise Community Partners announced on Wednesday that they received $8.5 million in grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation.

This money will be available in multiple cities across the United States and will let houses of worship build affordable housing on their property.

This grant will allow houses of worship in Fulton County to convert 6,000 acres of land into 1,000 affordable homes over the next five years.

Chinese rideshare companies Auto-X and Pony AI have obtained rideshare licenses in California for autonomous vehicles. Auto-X is setting up a manufacturing and production facility in San Francisco.

These companies have been in the United States since 2017, and over the past five years infrastructure such as car charging stations and roadside units that record live traffic data have pathed the way towards future success for autonomous rideshare services.

In Birmingham, England a new treatment is being administered for sickle cell disease.

Crizanlizumab, through the utilization of monoclonal antibodies, has been able to revert the clotting of blood and drastically reduce the amount of pain experienced by sickle cell patients. This is the first major advancement in treatment for sickle cell disease in decades.

NEWS

March 08. 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

Texas Governor Gregg Abbot has begun instructing healthcare professionals that hormone therapy is ‘child abuse.

PHOTO BY CARRINGTON TATUM ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Top news stories

Greg Abbot targets trans kids, parents; drop in omicron, rise in employment TARA WOODIN Staff Reporter

G

reg Abbot targets trans children and parents:

Texas Governor Greg Abbot instructed state health agencies to consider medical treatments provided to transgender children, such as hormones and puberty suppressing drugs, as “child abuse.”

In a letter, Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton quoted Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code, which states that sex change operations can cause “mental or emotional injury to a child that results in an observable and material impairment in the child’s growth, development, or psychological functioning.”

Just as with the abortion laws Texas recently attempted to pass, their plan of attack is to come at the situation from all sides.

The reporting requirements apply to “all licensed professionals who have direct contact with children who may be subject to such abuse, including doctors, nurses, and teachers, and provides criminal penalties for failure to report such child abuse.”

In his first State of the Union Address this week, President Biden condemned state laws targeting transgender people.

Biden announced a five-step plan to protect transgender children and their families in response to Abbott’s order. He condemned the governor’s actions, calling them ploys to earn political points.

Americans on both sides of the issue have taken steps to fight their case: the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit to prevent the government targeting adolescents and their parents. Last year a Dallas health care program for transgender

children had to shut down after it became a target of conservative criticism.

In Harris County, the state’s largest county, and in several others,cases against gender-affirming care authorities have said the charges will not receive prosecution.

Lower Omicron numbers beget higher employment:

The surge in omicron numbers over the holidays at the end of 2021 led to many people staying home from work and vacation. Many believed this would raise unemployment again and continue to tank our fragile economy from COVID-19.

However, recent numbers prove the opposite.

As the highly contagious but milder symptom variant of COVID-19 died down, more people searched for jobs and fewer people called in sick; many have wondered if an end to the pandemic is finally in sight.

Several businesses have begun requiring employees to go back into the office, driving a steady flow of patrons to restaurants, car washes, dry cleaners and gyms.

U.S. employers added 678,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8%, the lowest level since the pandemic.

These numbers could reinforce Biden’s statement during the State of the Union that his $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package contributed directly to the solid economic rebound.

“If we see more numbers like this moving forward,

we can be optimistic about this year,” Nick Bunker, the Research Director of Indeed said.

“

If we see more numbers like this moving forward, we can be optimistic about this year

”

— NICK BUNKER

Research Director of Indeed

Layoffs are at a new low, job openings a new high and yet the share of workers quitting jobs remains near the highest on record, and many workers are still scrambling to get enough hours.

As virus cases continue to decline and Americans’ savings deplete, many have projected those numbers to continue to rise through the spring.

5

THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MARCH 08. 2022

President Joe Biden addresses the European Union Summit in Brussels.

PHOTO BY HADITHA26 ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Biden’s state of the union address: key points War in Ukraine and Covid-19 concerns among talking points.

MATTHEW MONROE Staff Reporter

P

resident Biden faced, arguably, his toughest test on Tuesday as he addressed the American public for his annual message.

The war in Ukraine took center stage amid Russia’s strikes on various cities. Biden addressed the raging war in Eastern Europe and made it a point to unite the country against Russia’s hostile acts against its neighbor.

With a 40-mile long Russian convoy on the outskirts of Kyiv, analysts and military throughout the week gave experts a rather bleak outlook on Ukraine’s chances.

Experts predicted that Kyiv could fall in a matter of days, and Russia’s attacks so far were only the tip of the iceberg.

Biden throughout the night made it a point to condemn Putin’s actions and display his solidarity for Ukraine. Biden even called on Congress to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, to which he received a standing ovation from both parties.

The president established that democracies worldwide must fight back against the looming threat of authoritarianism in Europe.

“In the battle between democracy and autocracies, democracies are rising to the moment,” Biden said.

“The world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security. This is the real test.”

Biden took more time on Tuesday to point out the unity between NATO and the West. NATO enacted sanctions to inflict severe economic effects in response to Putin’s unjustified aggression.

Biden specifically referred to those affected by the sanctions as “Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime.”

Biden expressly told the American public that American troops would not be taking part in this war, but the country would feel the effects at the gas pump.

Before the conflict in Ukraine took center stage, inflation concerns were going to be the main point of the president’s address. Biden laid out his fourpoint plan to combat the growing inflation problem in America.

“

In the battle between democracy and autocracies, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security. This is the real test — JOE BIDEN

”

President of the United States

“Too many families are struggling to keep up with their bills. Inflation is robbing them of gains they thought otherwise they would be able to feel. I get it,” Biden said.

Biden’s plan included making more products in America instead of overseas and increasing competition in other industries to create more jobs. With rising gas prices amid sanctions on Russia, it’s hard to tell when this plan can be effective.

Biden also took a brief moment to speak about his recent nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Judge would be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, and the nomination would be a landmark in Biden’s presidency.

Biden presented his plan to combat COVID-19 and called for both parties to “reset” the current political climate as the country prepares for another return to normality.

“We have lost so much to COVID-19. Time with one another. And worst of all, much loss of life. Let’s use this moment to reset. Stop looking at COVID-19 as a partisan dividing line.

See it for what it is: A God-awful disease. Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies and start seeing each other for who we are: Fellow Americans,” Biden said.

Biden said that Americans who already ordered COVID-19 tests would be able to order additional ones beginning as soon as next week.

Biden added that his scientists are hard at work in ensuring that vaccines are coming for children under the age of five.

Biden ended his address by speaking directly to America and reassuring all citizens with an optimistic tone.

“We are stronger today than we were a year ago, and we will be stronger a year from now than we are today. Now is our moment to meet and overcome the challenges of our time. And we will, as one people. One America. The United States of America,” Biden said.

OPINIONS

March 08. 2022

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The digital crimes of Razzlekhan The digital footprint of one of history’s greatest thieves

I TERRANCE DAVIS

Staff Columnist

n 2016, Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex was hacked, with around 119,000 bitcoin ($72 million in 2016) stolen from the exchange.

These are the details of the perpetrators of said crime.

Hong Kong charged Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, A.K.A, the Versace Bedouin, the Crocodile of Wall Street, Turkish Martha Stewart were charged with conspiracy to launder the Bitcoin, which is now worth $4.6 billion, technically making this the largest seizure of financial assets in history.

While the theft in and of itself is rather incredible, what has made this story so delightful is the clumsy and sweeping digital footprint of Heather Morgan, the one with all the nicknames.

Morgan’s online presence, spanning most social media sites, includes everything from financial gifts, fashion unboxings and most notably, rap music videos.

While her social media presence has calmed down a lot since the arrest, much of her content is still available online in some way, shape or form.

According to her Twitter , Morgan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, surreal artist and fashion designer.

The bio is mostly true, as Morgan and Lichtenstein have a background in the finance sector. According to Morgan’s LinkedIn page, she has worked at a few “micro-fund investing firms” and has even written articles for Forbes Magazine.

However, the Heather Morgan saga’s main attraction is her discography of bizarre rap songs that break my comprehension of reality.

The Razzlekhan persona shines through in these music videos, the most popular is the song “Versace Bedouin.”

The song is about three and a half minutes long, but it always feels a lot longer. Despite the inept rapping and generally awkward presentation, the song has an almost uncanny-valley quality.

Much of the response to the song and Razzlekhan dismisses both as cringe. However, there’s a little more there, albeit not that much more.

The instrumental isn’t horrible. While outdated, it has an amusing, cool, if not stereotypically oriental flair to it, and it wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack to Broad City or Sorry to Bother You. The song’s title, “Versace Bedouin,” is a phonetic spectacle. Her lyrics are rarely good, but there is an identifiable sense of intentionality to them, with some of them bordering on clever when listening to the songs.

What is most puzzling about this video and much of Morgan’s Razzlekhan character is the strange, post-Myspace, early 2010s awkward energy that permeates throughout her videos.

Upon viewing, you could forgive someone for thinking these videos were shot in 2011, making it all the more perplexing than the music video for Versace Bedouin released in 2019.

Other songs by Razz like “Cutthroat Country” have her snitching all

over wax with the lyrics “Spearfish your password/all your funds are transferred.”

Given the controversies over whether or not courts can use rap lyrics as evidence, one could only speculate whether or not these lyrics will be admissible in court.

Most of her music is easy to find, and while it can be fun to gawk at her eccentricities, there should be some consideration as to what this hack means for the future of organized crime.

As more developments in digital assets become introduced, along with the rise of web 3.0 services, it is an unfortunate inevitability that cybercrimes like this become not only more commonplace but the norm for organized crime.

Given the notoriously difficult task of recovering cryptos and their gain in mainstream attention, along with our already chaotic financial system, these hacks like the one’s Morgan and Lichtenstein were involved in seem to be the future of high-level crime.

PHOTO BY TALAJ ON DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Black history month

Black History Month is over…now what?

E ALANNA JACOB

Staff Columnist

ven as a Black woman, I spent most of my life holding little to no knowledge of Black history, outside of slavery, until I took my education into my own hands.

The ‘United States History’ course curriculum in America consists of the following: Columbus and his voyage to America, colonization, The Constitution, the revolutionary war, Washington’s presidency, political parties, slavery, the Civil War, and Jim Crow laws.

Despite the increase in diversity in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, diversity taught in classrooms has advanced at a much slower pace.

In 2021, some states placed legal limits on discussing racism in school. Throughout the years, parents have also made efforts to try to censor books about racial identity.

History taught in classrooms is whitewashed. The Webster dictionary defines whitewashing history as portraying history “in a way that increases the prominence, relevance, or impact of white people and minimizes or misrepresents that of nonwhite people.”

To minimize whitewashing and shed light on how diverse our country truly is, the United States dedicates time to celebrating different cultures, ethnicities and religions.

These include, but are not limited to National Hispanic Heritage Month, American Indian Heritage Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month and African American History Month.

In 1917, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in response to the lack of available information on accomplishing of Black people.

In 1926, the organization declared a “Negro History Week” as the second week

of February. The Association worked to teach students about Black and African American contributions to American society.

Critics argue that Black lives were only collectively referenced as enslaved people outside of this month, and today, Black people are left with only 28 days to celebrate their history.

That the month is limiting to the discussion of African American success, but Black History Month has been and still is a catalyst for change in the teaching, discussion and image of Black people in history.

What began as a week has turned into a month, and ultimately, a movement. As we continue to move in the direction of highlighting Black figures, we will continue to see a Black history as American history.

The celebration is a month-long spotlight on the achievements, contributions and culture that Black people have brought to the world. It also focuses on a conversation about Black history away from slavery, segregation and Black trauma.

This February, the theme for Black History Month was “Black health and wellness.”

While educating the world on Black achievements, the month also provides opportunities for African Americans.

Black History month opens opportunities for knowledge. The celebration of Black culture and achievement was one week in 1917 and has worked its way up to February.

Now that Black History month is coming to an end, we must take our education into our own hands, and immerse ourselves in the diverse history of America.

February is a step closer to weaving Black history into what we know as American history. For now, we can agree that Black History Month is worth the recognition.

TUESDAY, MARCH 08. 2022

OPINIONS

7

Georgia State needs a black men’s research institute Combating negative narratives about black men

T KALIN M. WILLIAMS

Staff Columnist

his year, Morehouse, an HBCU, has installed the first-ever Black Men’s Research Institute (or BMRI) in the country on its campus. You may ask yourself why this long-awaited development in American collegiate history is relevant.

What possible value could a research establishment that primarily focuses on the lives of black men in the past, present and future add to an institution of higher learning? If you must ask this question, you would only reaffirm the necessity for such a program to exist.

To be mindful of the unique struggles and successes of black men in this country is to at once be deeply sobered by the brutal nature of American racism and yet, be wildly nonplussed with the high achievements by members of such a historically oppressed people.

This idea is not to say that oppression and disenfranchisement are unique to Black people. The subjugation of human groups at the hands of other groups is the story of humanity across time and continents.

It is, however, to acknowledge Black peoples’ long-time endurance of a particularized brand of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of leaders who have controlled the most powerful country in the world.

The greatest gift someone can have is the knowledge of self. Herein lies the benefit and ultimate value in an all-Black men’s research institute.

The compilation of a centralized body of knowledge through research, sociological experimentation and continuing robust, detailed dialogue about the life of Black men in America post-slavery can facilitate a positive rise in the station–social, economic and spiritual–of Black men.

This idea is the goal. Morehouse has gotten it right with this initiative in a stroke of genius.

I’d like to see a Black men’s research institute here at Georgia State. It succeeds above many metropolitan institutions in its commitment to diversity and devotion to achieving the highest professional and learning standards.

I believe historically disadvantaged groups can fully assert themselves without fear of repercussions for their boldness.

Morehouse shouldn’t be the only institution in the state that recognizes the gifts of mind that black men can offer the world.

Georgia State, too, can provide the support and attention necessary to nurture and grow talent, the strength of mind, compassion, wisdom and economic pragmatism for black men.

Since part of the school’s mission statement champions diversity in its student body, it is the institution’s responsibility to cultivate these diverse elements.

A research institution primarily geared towards understanding

Black men’s lives, history, struggles and successes will benefit the larger black community.

All who support a vigorous and preeminent society should stand behind this.

The apparatus is already in place here at Georgia State. This initiative could be led, for example, by the Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Dr. Jacob English.

To see this manifest at our institution would be one of the great hallmarks of American university history.

Located in the historic Auburn Ave neighborhood, Ebenezer Baptist Church is just blocks away from the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

PHOTO BY THE BROWNFOWL COLLECTION ON SHUTTERWSTOCK.COM

Gentrification is modern day segregation Gentrification is the enemy of inclusion and diversity.

P LUIZA DE ABREU

Staff Columnist

eople have called Atlanta a “Black Mecca” since the 70s. It’s a diverse city where minorities can make a good living while thriving in their surroundings.

However, a considerable threat has found its way into the diverse neighborhoods of Atlanta. This monster has come to force people out of their homes with jacked-up rent prices.

Gentrification is the enemy of inclusion and diversity. It is causing growing segregation in our city. It is no longer legal, but those in power still uphold it.

The powerful and wealthy are using gentrification as a tool to keep class division alive and well in our society.

Considering the extensive research on the disadvantages that people in minority communities face in the housing market due to discriminatory practices, research has shown that gentrification affects the segregation of poor residents differently across racial and ethnic groups, especially when displacement is a factor.

A Stanford University professor, Jackelyn Hwang, conducted a study and concluded that gentrification disproportionately affects minority communities.

She claims that those in minority communities have fewer options for moving toward than their white counterparts.

Hwang found that low-income residents who moved from neighborhoods that were not predominantly Black benefitted from gentrification by moving to more advantaged locations. Still, those moving from once primarily Black areas did not see benefits.

Her findings suggested far more constraints for the Black community when they have to move due to raised rent prices, leading them to move to a shrinking set of affordable yet disadvantaged neighborhoods within the city.

As these remaining neighborhoods succumb to gentrification, it leaves minorities with little to no housing options.

A report done by Governing magazine showed Atlanta ranked fifth among US cities experiencing the most gentrification. It also found that more than 46% of its census tracts face gentrification.

Nearly half of all Atlanta neighborhoods experienced a rapid increase in housing costs between 2000 and 2017.

Approximately 13% of all low-income households in Atlanta are in neighborhoods at risk of, or already experiencing, gentrification and displacement.

“Atlanta is developing so fast that there is nowhere for the poor to go,” said Elisabeth Omilami, CEO of Hosea Helps, in an interview with The Guardian.

Lower-income, majority Black and Latinx areas along the Beltline are experiencing increasing housing costs, gentrification and displacement.

People of color are most likely to be kicked out of communities they have lived in for so long. There is a systematic problem. It may not be intentional racism, but it is racism nonetheless.

We need to build a more inclusive society where diversity is welcomed instead of pushed away. Gentrification is a Master’s Tool, and as Audre Lorde would say, the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.

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The Latest on the Ukraine Invasion Russia’s advancements, the U.S. responses Adam Duffy -

News Eduitor

P

resident Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine rages on for another week. Every day, both the battlefield and the geopolitical scene change significantly. Here is a recap of the latest news on the ground in Ukraine and the broader global context.

Russian gains ground at a cost:

Russian forces continue to bear down on Ukrainian cities with force, with the heaviest fighting in the eastern and southern portions of the country.

The large eastern city of Kharkiv remains in control of the Ukrainians despite heavy bombing by Russian forces.

Russia continues to seize many smaller towns in the south of Ukraine including the city of Enerhodar on Friday.

This town is host to the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine and is one of the southern region’s more strategically important cities.

Fighting intensifies in the south as Russian forces seek to control Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, an important military and financial point.

A convoy of Russian vehicles roughly 40-miles long has been heading inland to surround the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. This convoy has caused a great deal of panic on both the global stage and for the citizens of Kyiv.

Sources reported on Thursday that the Russian army’s massive convoy was brought to a screeching halt due to a lack of resources. Russian vehicles are without fuel and Russian soldiers are going without food.

While the Russian military is vastly larger than the Ukrainian military, many logistical issues have marred this campaign’s first week.

The most crucial factor in Russia’s early shortcomings is a staunch defense from Ukraine’s military and people.

Officials within the Kremlin and Russian state media believed Ukraine would be taken over in a matter of days.

While the Russian military has met unexpected resistance, their own force’s issues have not helped their efforts.

The Russians have not been able to set up proper communications with all of their personnel. This element is a fundamental component of a successful military campaign.

Russian forces abandon tanks in the streets of Ukraine due to a lack of fuel, and early reports suggest that much of their machinery is rife with maintenance issues.

These factors all paint the picture of a military somewhat unprepared and who dramatically underestimated its foe.

This miscalculation has led to a significant death toll within the Russian army. On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that 498 Russian soldiers have died in combat and 1597 soldiers have been wounded.

The Russian military has every motive to underplay these numbers. Unofficial outside reports have estimated three times what the Russian government is saying.

For context, Russia lost as many troops in the first week fighting Ukraine as the United States lost fighting Iraq in the first ten months. Russia lost 498 soldiers, and the U.S. lost 482 soldiers.

While the high death toll and early failures from the Russian military is good for the Ukrainians, it may also serve as the pretext for something far worse.

Putin wants to declare a victory in the conflict as quickly as possible. The longer the battle continues the more his reasons for entering Ukraine will be delegitamized in the eyes of the global community, but most importantly with his citizens and soldiers.

Putin invaded Ukraine under pretenses that he would be toppling a corrupt regime and the people would greet the Russians as liberators. Currently, through the use of information control and dogmatic thinking, a majority of the Russian population believes this. However, the longer the Ukrainians fight against their supposed liberators, the less Putin’s people will support his cause.

We have already seen how Putin reacts when a town or area does not roll over as quickly as he had hoped.

Instead of being deterred, he escalates the firepower.

Cities that held off conventional Russian forces are now being targeted more and more by missiles and air raids.

Russia has come under fire for the suspected use of cluster bombs. This weapon is extremely effective at killing and maiming groups of people, and the Geneva conventions outlaws it.

Russia has also put its nuclear forces on maximum readiness, the equivalent to what we call DEFCON 1.

While nuclear war is still off the table, this escalation of force shows the length Russia will go in pursuit of its goals.

People in the international community and here in the U.S. are also not helping in ensuring tensions stay low.

The response to Russia at home:

Domestically, President Biden has stayed staunch in not involving United States troops in Ukraine, however, there is a sizable bipartisan push to escalate fighting against Putin.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) stated on Twitter that the U.S. needed to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has echoed these desires and has urged the U.S. to conduct cyber attacks on Russian governmental institutions.

For reference, if the United States created a no-fly zone over Ukraine, it would allow U.S. troops to shoot down any Russian aircraft conducting operations over Ukraine.

Also, U.S. doctrine states if a critical infrastructure like energy or nuclear launch capabilities is shut down by a foreign cyberattack, it is considered an act of war. Russian doctrine is the same, if not easier, to provoke than ours.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) told news outlets Russian students should be kicked out of American universities in retaliation towards Putin.

These sentiments marry with others within the government and the media who push for increased force on Russia and downplay Putin’s nuclear threat.

This stunning willingness for many in power to drag the world into a war, the likes of which haven’t been seen in 80 years, is still being resisted by the administration so far.

As the situation in Ukraine and the rest of the world develops, we will be sure to bring you the latest.

PAGE LAYOUT BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

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Studies have shown that smoking cigarettes and vaping are just as addictive.

March 08. 2022

PHOTO BY SEAWARDS DAWSON | THE SIGNAL

The truth behind smoking e-cigarettes

The harmless, flavored air vaping was made out to be has even more detrimental side effects KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

I

n a world where social media, movies and television glamorize smoking cigarettes and vaping, smoking can become a hard habit to break once someone is hooked. Despite how difficult quitting smoking can be, the harm it causes can lead to a more challenging life.

If anyone is considering taking a break or quitting altogether, these are five facts about vaping and cigarettes that are worth reading: 1. Smoking cigarettes and vaping are equally as

addictive:

Many people resort to vaping to quit smoking cigarettes, but in actuality, they are both just as addictive since they both contain nicotine.

Smoking e-cigarettes can often lead to an even stronger addiction as users can purchase cartridges that have a higher nicotine concentration in them than a cigarette.

Although companies market e-cigarettes as less addicting and a “healthier” alternative to smoking than traditional cigarettes, it has not been proven to treat nicotine addiction.

2. Vapes contain metal particles and harmful chemicals:

Along with nicotine, e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals such as propylene glycol, carcinogens, acrolein, diacetyl and metal tiny metal particles such as lead and nickel.

All of these are chemicals and additives in other household products such as antifreeze, weed killers and paint solvent, all of which can lead to several lung, teeth and mouth diseases.

Scientists have found that once these liquids heat up, it causes more toxic chemicals to form.

3. Vaping can cause heart and lung disease:

E-cigarettes contain many harmful chemicals and

additives, and studies have shown smoking these toxins can cause significant damage to the lungs and heart.

Several lung diseases such as popcorn lung, lipoid pneumonia and collapsed lung are linked to vaping.

Some common symptoms people may experience with these diseases are chronic coughing, chest pains and shortness of breath.

With vapes being relatively new products, there is still some uncertainty about the adverse effects vaping can cause.

According to the American College of Cardiology, users who vape are 56% more likely to experience a heart attack and 30% more likely to stroke.

When people inhale the fresh vapor, research has shown that it instantly tightens and stiffens the blood vessels, cutting off blood from other parts of the body.

a traditional cigarette, but in reality, most e-cigarette products do contain nicotine.

According to the CDC, 99% of e-cigarettes sold within the United States contain nicotine.

Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant that can cause many health problems for users ranging from high blood pressure to change how the brain works.

Smoking e-cigarettes during adolescence can also have lasting effects on someone’s memory, learning ability and mood.

Nicotine is not a safe substance to introduce to young kids or young adults as the brain continues developing until age 25.

Becoming addicted to something like this could stunt their growth or lead to more serious drug addictions.

4. Flavored e-cigarettes are made to appeal to a younger audience:

E-cigarettes come in a wide variety of colored packaging and fruity flavors such as mango, cotton candy and pineapple.

These things alone are enticing to teens as it appears to be just flavored air, making it something fun to smoke compared to a regular cigarette.

Many commercials and campaigns urge the youth not to take part in vaping. In 2019 a new federal law increased the age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old.

This effort to slow down and stop youth e-cigarette consumption is still ongoing as the FDA reported that over two million teens are still using e-cigarettes.

Among those two million teens, 11.3% are high school students and 2.8% are middle schoolers.

5. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine:

Many consumers are under the impression that vapes are just harmless flavored air and less harmful than

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 08. 2022

11

Atlanta’s strange and bizzare Atlanta’s strangest museums GRACE BRASWELL Associate Arts & Living Editor

W

hile Atlanta is known for fun and exciting tourist attractions such as The World of Coke, the Georgia Aquarium and historic Olympic sites, several spots around Atlanta remain a bit more hidden.

Several strange and bizarre attractions that can be explored throughout the city by tourists, visitors and ATL-iens alike. Here are a few of those places.

Doll’s Head Trail:

One of the most interesting and obscure places to visit around the Atlanta Area is the “Doll’s Head Trail,” located just a few miles outside of downtown Atlanta.

While some may see this area as just a nice place to hike around in nature, upon closer look, they will notice that an assortment of doll’s heads presented by a group of unknown outsiders covers the trail.

While the doll heads are the main attraction of this trail, several other artists have added to the collection of work seen along the route over the years. These art pieces include bottle creations, collages, old, decorated car parts and more.

People can find The Doll’s Head Trail at Constitution Lakes Park, near Moreland Ave and South River Industrial Blvd SE.

Center for Puppetry Arts:

Located in Midtown, Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest puppetry museum in the US. This museum houses puppets from popular movies and TV shows such as The Muppets, Sesame Street, Labyrinth and several more.

The museum is an interactive experience for

its visitors, teaching the history of puppetry for those interested. Housed in the museum are legendary figures such as Miss Piggy, Kermit and lots of other familiar faces in pop culture.

Apart from the actual puppets, there are several movies to watch about puppetry, tutorials on how to make puppets and information on the history of puppetry.

People can find The Center for Puppetry Arts can be found in Midtown near Spring and 18th Str.

Waffle House Museum:

Waffle House, the classic southern restaurant founded in Georgia, has a museum located outside of Atlanta in Decatur.

The Waffle House Museum is located where the restaurant founders Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House back in 1955.

Inside the museum, visitors can find several types of Waffle House paraphernalia along with more than 60 years of waffle house artifacts.

The museum is located at 27199 East College Ave, Decatur, Georgia.

The Trap Music Museum:

Atlanta is well known for its rap and hip-hop scene, with several of the world’s most influential rappers coming from the city. In honor of some of these famous rappers and artists, the Trap Music Museum opened in Atlanta.

Inside the museum, visitors can learn about famous rappers, enjoy a drink or two or even participate in an escape room.

The museum is located at 630 Travis St NW in Downtown Atlanta.

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

Super Powereds, published in 2014, takes a unique approach to superheroes by focusing on the characters personalities and life in Highschool for heroes.

PHOTO BY KROPIC ON DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Superpowereds is nothing but fun

Interesting Powers Collide with Fun Characters GARET WEHS Staff Reporter

T

here is very little ground left to cover or new ideas to explore in the superhero genre.

Initially published in 2014, “Superpowereds: Year 1” does a lot with a relatively novel idea and setting. Drew Hayes achieves this through fun characters and a wellbuilt world that pulls the reader in with exciting ideas.

The main plot revolves around five teens, Chris, Alice, Nick, Mary and Roy, who have only recently received an operation to control their powers.

They are known as “Powered’s,” people with powers but cannot control them. After their operation, they are allowed to attend Lander University to earn their Hero Certification License.

Like any other story with a school setting, there is an emphasis on characters and their interactions.

The cast of characters is broad enough that there will likely be a relatable character for everyone, and their conversations and relationships feel authentic.

The main cast especially gets

the most screen time to develop their relationships, and as such, they quickly come across as the most fleshed out in the novel.

While the characters themselves aren’t particularly dynamic and deep, their interactions do more than enough to keep the novel interesting.

Another crucial part of the genre is the powers, obviously enough, and Hayes delivers in this area. The forces within the book are diverse and exciting , including more traditional abilities such as super speed and super strength.

These more generic powers have exciting twists that make them far more fresh and unique.

The plot revolves mainly around the five former Powereds attending school, making friends, strengthening their powers, and hiding their past from their fellow students.

It is a relatively simple plot, but one that works on the strength of its characters with some help from scattered pieces of world-building.

The fight scenes, where they pop up throughout the novel, are snappy and well-paced. They

manage to not drag down the pacing of the overall story while delivering a nice injection of action to break up the pace of the more mundane school life of the students.

The powers within these fights are also well considered and implemented, showing great attention to detail.

There are slight hints dropped at various points throughout the novel, from government agents and other students, about the broader world of the novels.

These have just the right amount of space and attention to give the audience a picture of the wider world without distracting from the story.

“Superpowereds: Year 1” is an entertaining introduction to a series and proves to be a quick and satisfying read.

The cast of characters, the attention to detail given to the character’s powers, as well as the exciting nuggets of information provided about the world all make for a fun and lighthearted read.

SPORTS

March 08. 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Atlanta United Win 3-1 In Home Opener

The five stripes beat Sporting Kansas City comfortably in the first game of the season

O

Hudson goes up for the block during their blow out victory against Northeastern.

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

The Panthers’ close out the season on a high note Momentum is on the Panther’s side, will they go marching?

SKYLER HILL Staff Reporter

A

fter a troublesome December and January, Rob Lanier and his squad ended the season on a crucial high note.

Many gave the Georgia State men’s basketball team high projections going into this season.

Pre-season Sun Belt Conference polls catapulted them to the top as the number one team in the SBC rankings.

This team would be going into this season with high expectations to live up to.

This season would be a challenge, and test their psyche but the team deserved the ranking despite these factors.

The pre-season rankings seemed correct, as the team started with an impressive 5-1 record. They were pouncing on teams. They beat BrewtonParker College by 60 points in the third game.

Three days later, they beat Northeastern by 19 points.

The Panthers were looking sharp until they suddenly didn’t. On Nov. 27, they lost by 35 points against Rhode Island. As losses began to stack for the team, COVID-19 began to creep up and strike with a vengeance.

The resurgence of cases began to trend upwards again, and the Omicron variant was spreading at lightning-fast rates.

Games were being canceled and

weren’t being rescheduled. The Panthers had shut down athletic facilities, bringing practices and team gatherings to a halt. Five total games were canceled by the start of January, making it nearly impossible for this team to ever catch a consistent rhythm.

With COVID-19 cancellations and loss after loss, the season looked like one to forget about, but suddenly the team sparked a match.

In the last ten games of the regular season, they went 9-1 and ended the season on a seven-game win streak.

During the win streak, they had several key victories.

The Panthers got their revenge on Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State, two teams that had previously defeated them earlier in the season by small margins.

After winning against Appalachian State, they defeated longtime rival, Georgia Southern twice in back-toback meetings. In the first meeting with Southern, Kane Williams came up big as he scored 21 points and willed his team to victory.

In the Feb. 23 meeting against the University of Louisiana at Monroe, heavy production came from Cory Allen and Justin Roberts as both guards had 15 points.

In addition to the exceptional guard play, he scored 11 points in 17 minutes.

To top the excellent ending to the season, the Panthers defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 65-58 in the last ever game at the GSU Sports Arena.

The great ending to the season earned the Panthers the third seed in the conference tournament, thus giving them a first-round bye.

This season had unexpected cancellations and many bouts, but Coach Lanier knows adversity is a part of the game.

“It’s a long season. It’s a long game.

You can be playing poorly and still find your way out of it.” said Coach Lanier.

“Yes, we’ve had some adversity, but we’ve shown resilience. It’s a testament to our staff, our great graduate assistants, and them turning the page each day. The goals we set for ourselves are still in front of us. Each day we gotta come out and get better about our mistakes.”

The Panthers head into the postseason with all the momentum they need. The NCAA tournament begins on Mar. 13, and the NIT tournament starts on Mar. 16.

Whichever tournament they could potentially wind up in will be considered a victory for Coach Lanier and his players due to the trials and tribulations they faced throughout the first half of the season.

JOSH JENKINS Staff Reporter n Feb. 27, Atlanta after the match. “I don’t score United began the many goals, so when I do, I MLS season with get speechless when I see it a 3-1 win over Sporting go in the back of the net.”

Kansas City at the Mercedes Atlanta had fewer Benz Arena. possessions and shots than The team started the game Kansas City but was still strong, sustaining pressure more dangerous than the until Luiz Araujo, who away side by creating five big scored Atlanta’s first goal of chances compared to Kansas the season, injured himself City’s one (stats via FotMob). while taking the shot.

Araujo’s injury was a harsh blow to Atlanta United in the first game this season, with him being such an essential player for the team. In the post-match press conference, head coach Gonzalo Pineda admitted that he is unsure when Araujo will return.

“It didn’t look good,” Pineda told the press. “When someone feels like that after a sprint is never a good prognosis.”

He also confirmed to the press that it was a hamstring injury, and the team will know the extent of Araujo’s injuries soon.

Dominic Dwyer replaced Araujo and made his Atlanta United debut.

Twenty-two minutes after — DOMINIC DWYER coming onto the pitch, Atlanta United Dwyer had the ball in the back of the net, and it was Forward 2-0 to Atlanta at halftime.

The team can also take “It’s always nice to score encouragement from the fact in your first game for a new Josef Martinez registered two club,” Dwyer said after the assists after failing to register game. “Scoring against my a single one in the entirety of old team was bittersweet, last season. but it was my first goal in a The victory over Sporting couple of years, so it was a Kansas City was enough to long time coming.” leave Atlanta United third in Kansas City did get a goal the Eastern Conference and during the 85th minute fifth in the Supporters Shield through Daniel Salloi, but after the first match week.

17-year-old debutant Caleb Atlanta travels to Wiley scored to make it Commerce City to face the 3-1 to Atlanta United four Colorado Rapids, who lost minutes later, all but sealing 3-0 away to Los Angeles FC the deal for the Atlanta in the opening weekend in United win on opening day. their next game.

At 17 years, two months The team will be hoping and five days old, Wiley’s Thiago Almada can secure goal made him the 15th his work visa in time for youngest ever goalscorer in the next match to fill in for MLS history and Atlanta the injured Luiz Araujo, but United’s second-youngest Gonzalo Pineda said the behind only George Bello. team has the depth to deal “Definitely a dream come true,” Wiley told the press with the upcoming games.

“

This is a special club, this is a special group of players and they really welcomed me in preseason, and I’m pretty new

”

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 08. 2022

13

Men’s

Upcoming Games

VS. Wofford College

Away Game vs Wofford @ Wofford College 03 / 08 / 22 5:00 p.m.

Woman’s

After 14 seasons with QB Matt Ryan, the Falcons are looking for an alternative to take up the mantle.

VS. University of Georgia

Woman’s

Away Game vs University of Georgia @ NO. 16 Georgia 03 / 09 / 22 6:00 p.m.

VS. University of Louisiana

Away Game vs University of Louisiana @ NO. 20 Georgia 03 / 11 / 22

7:00 p.m.

PHOTO BY THOUSANDWORDS ON DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Should Falcons select a QB in the NFL draft?

The Falcons need to draft Matt Ryan’s future replacement.

JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

T

he 2022 NFL Draft is only a month away, and this is an opportunity for the Falcons to transition into the future by selecting an heir apparent for 14-year signal-caller Matt Ryan.

Ryan has had a great career with the Falcons, winning MVP and guiding them to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

With dual-threat quarterbacks becoming the norm in the NFL, pocket passing quarterbacks like Ryan have become a thing of the past.

Players such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have brought success to their respective franchises with their ability to pass and run with the football.

The Falcons hold the eighth pick, and with many finding this year’s quarterback class being underwhelming, this is a perfect chance for head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot to draft the future.

Kenny Pickett:

In his first four seasons at Pittsburgh, Pickett only threw 39 career touchdowns before last season, where he erupted for 42 touchdowns.

Pickett didn’t go missing when playing big-time programs, as he led victories against Miami, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Clemson.

At 6’3 and 227lbs, Pickett is an

accurate passer who completed 67% percent of his passes and isn’t afraid to take chances against talented defenses.

Pickett isn’t Lamar Jackson when it comes to athletic ability. Still, his ability to make just enough plays outside the pocket warrants comparisons to the likes of Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill and Carson Wentz.

One of the main issues with Pickett is that he did not have success statistically early in his career, but if he can show that he is a consistent threat and can win big games, he should have no problem adjusting to the NFL.

Malik Willis:

Ever since transferring from Auburn to Liberty, Willis has been rising on many draft boards and might be the first quarterback taken off the board.

Willis is the ultimate dual-threat quarterback and fits what teams are looking for in the modern NFL. He possesses a strong arm and excellent mobility with his 6’0, 220lb frame, making it hard for NFL defenses to identify him in the backfield.

During his career at Liberty, he threw for 5,107 yards with a 62% completion percentage and threw 47 touchdowns, and on the ground, Willis ran for over 1,800 yards and scored 27 touchdowns.

The only negative some would say about Willis is his play against top-level teams during his time at Liberty.

Against Ole Miss, Willis faced off against Matt Corral, another

quarterback who could be the first quarterback taken on draft night.

Willis had one of the worst games of his career in that game and only threw 173 yards, with three interceptions and no touchdowns.

Put Willis around top-rated talent like Pro Bowlers Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson and watch what he can achieve.

Desmond Ridder:

If the Falcons would rather wait to select a quarterback in later rounds than select one in the first, Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati could be an intriguing project and could sit behind Ryan a year or two.

Ridder led the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 13-0 regular-season record and college football playoff bid but lost in the Cotton Bowl against the Alabama Crimson Tide 13-27.

In his final season, he threw 30 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.

Ridder possesses good passing ability and can make plays outside the pocket, which the Falcons desperately need.

Last year the Falcons hit a homerun with the fourth pick of the draft by selecting tight end Kyle Pitts, who had over 1,000 yards and made a pro bowl appearance.

Pairing him with a young, dynamic quarterback who can make plays with their legs opens up opportunities for Pitts to become an even more significant threat than he was last year.

The Kickback

March 08. 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS THURSDAY

FRIDAY

GSU’s Collegiate Recovery Community Coffee Connection 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

SCW Rm. 482

March Blood Drive 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Urban Life Building

Panther Matinee 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

CLK-CN 2240

Diversity Women’s Panel 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

SCE 210

Midpoint Madness 10:00 A.m. - 3:00 p.m.

255 Sparks Hall

Master’s SIngers Concert 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Kopleff Recital Hall

Awaken Your Third Eye 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Classroom South Room 301

MAR 11

WEDNESDAY MAR 10

TUESDAY MAR 09

MAR 08

THE KICKBACK

Community Connections:Queer and Trans Resilience 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

SCE 206

TUESDAY, MARCH 08. 2022

THE KICKBACK

GAMES SUDOKU

GAMES CROSSWORD

USE THE CLUES TO FILL IN THE WORDS PUZZLE. THIS WEEK’S THEME IS: POP MUSIC ARTISTS Words can go across or down.

Letters are shared when the words intersect.

ACROSS 3. “Thats What I Want” (2021) 4. “Bad Habits” (2021) 6. “Good 4 U” (2021) 7. “Easy On Me” (2021) DOWN 1. “Cold Heart” (2021) 2. “bad guy” (2019) 5. “Need To Know” (2021)

15

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Accurate as of June 21, 2021. *Georgia State Visa® Rewards credit cards earn one (1) Reward Point for every one (1) dollar spent on all purchases. Reward Points may expire and can only be earned on signature-based transactions.

A portion of the proceeds supports the GSU Athletics Department.