Vol. 89, No. 21

VOL. 89 | NO. 21 03 / 22 / 22 EST. 1933

Independent, Impactful & Impartial

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IN THIS ISSUE :

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In News: We report on the Meme stock frenzy and racketeering probe Pg. 05 In Sports: We preview Panther Softball’s search for looking for a deep Conference Tournament Run Pg. 12

georgiastatesignal.com @gsusignal

Editor’s Note Welcome back panthers, please enjoy the eighth issue of the semester!

-Deena

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THE BLOTTER

March 22, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

CRIME BLOTTER

MAR 15TH:

“C’mon man! There’s kids around.”

On Tuesday, a non-Georgia State-affiliated offender was arrested for public indecency. This occurred at 5:03 PM on the corner of Peachtree and Wall St.

“You would think stealing a muffler wouldn’t be so loud.”

On Tuesday, a Georgia State-affiliated person was a victim of larceny of parts of their car. This was reported at 6:10 PM at S parking deck, the investigation is ongoing.

NEWS BRIEFS

MAR 16TH:

“You’d have to be a real har-ass to do that.”

On Wednesday, a Georgia State-affiliated victime was harassed online. The crime was reported at 8:42 AM and the investigation is ongoing.

“Well that isn’t the number 1 worst thing you could have done in public”

On Thursday, a non-Georgia State-affiliated offender was arrested for criminal trespass and public urination. This occurred at 5:42 PM at 141 Piedmont Ave.

MAR 17TH:

“Shoulda bought Nord VPN”

On Thursday, a Georgia State-affiliated victim was defrauded online. The crime was reported at 6:55 PM and the investigation is ongoing.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Mother of Young Thug’s child killed in ATL.

Daylight savings to become permanent by 2023.

White House seeks avenues to reduce gas prices.

A woman was shot and killed at an Atlanta bowling alley on Saturday over a dispute about a bowling ball. 31-year-old, LaKevia Jackson was at a friends birthday party when the shooting occured. Jackson was also the mother of Atlanta rapper Young Thug’s child.

As of Saturday, a suspect has not been named.

Jackson leaves behind a 14-year-old son.

On Tuesday, a bill passed through the U.S. Senate that would end the tradition of changing your clocks twice a year and make daylight savings time permanent. The bill’s supporters say the brighter afternoons will allow for more enjoyment and economic activity in daily life. Detractors say that it will harm people and establishments that operate earlier in the morning. Early morning bluecollar workers and public school students would be in the dark for an extra hour during certain parts of the year.

Historically high gas prices are burning into the pockets of Americans around the country in recent months. The U.S. has just recently banned imports of oil from Russia which will drive up prices more.

President Biden has looked to a couple of options to strengthen domestic oil supply. The administration has floated the idea of lifting sanctions on Venezuela to purchase oil from them, but that has been met with logistical controversies. Biden has made several phone calls to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia in an attempt to get MBS to pump more oil. All of these calls have been ignored.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Photo by Trent Legaspi | The Signal

NEWS

March 22, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

Russian President Vladimir Putin bombs Kyiv, Ukraine on February 25th.

PHOTO BY GIOVANNI CANCEMI ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The latest in Russia’s invasion No end in sight for Russia’s attack on Ukraine TARA WOODIN Staff Reporter

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n Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his nation, announcing a “special military operation” against Ukraine.

“We have [tried] to resolve the matter peacefully,” he said.

“The problem [occurred] not by our fault, and in this regard, we were forced to launch this special military operation. The Russian troops near Kyiv, near other Russian cities, have nothing to do with our intention to occupy the country. That’s not our objective.”

It’s been nearly a month since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and much has happened.

Peace talks continue as Ukraine and Russia attempt to progress on a 15-point plan.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, now says there is ‘hope for reaching a compromise. He says, “absolutely specific wordings are close to being agreed on neutrality for Ukraine and guarantees for Russia.”

Many have said there is no way of knowing that the Russians are negotiating in good faith.

Friday, Putin made a rare public appearance at Moscow’s largest stadium to address a crowd of tens of thousands of Russians who support the invasion of Ukraine.

He has taken several measures to ensure his narrative of the war is the only one Russian citizens hear.

Russia has now blocked Facebook, limited Twitter and made it a crime to refer to the fighting in Ukraine as a war, making it nearly impossible for Russian citizens to have access to independent news.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to attempt to gain support against the invasion of his country, explaining that there will also be long-term effects on Russia if this war continues.

“I want everyone to hear me now, especially in Moscow,” said Zelensky on Saturday. “It’s time to meet, time to talk. It is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise, Russia’s losses will be so huge that several generations will not be enough to rebound.”

Michael Kofman, an expert on the Russian military, said Russians appear to now be fighting with three objectives; to encircle spread-out Ukrainian fighters in the east, surround Kyiv and break through the major port city of Odessa in the west.

On the ground:

On Mar. 5, the Russian military reported using its latest hypersonic missiles for the first time in combat. Russians designed The Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile to launch from MiG fighter jets.

As of Mar. 7, Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine, is currently under Russian control.

Ukrainian police said Saturday, dozens of civilians were killed and injured because of attacks in the eastern Donetsk region.

This last week Russia has targeted mainly Ukraine’s residential area. Russia could not take control of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, so they destroyed it with artillery, rockets and cluster munitions and guided missiles.

A Russian rocket attacked military barracks in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine on Friday, killing more than 40 soldiers.

Russia has also shelled many major cities and areas, housing civilians. As a result, US, UK, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway have accused Russia of war crimes.

Paris claimed Putin is only pretending to be interested in a peace deal.

On Mar. 16, the Russian military bombed a theatre in Mariupol where hundreds of people, including many children, had taken shelter.

They have also attacked preschools, a boarding school for visually impaired children and a maternity hospital in Mariupol.

Around 20% of the population, millions of Ukrainians, have been internally displaced or have fled the country.

Those who remain struggle as cities run low on food, lack clean water, have no access to medical care and have no heat or electricity in many places. They are also at a heightened security risk with threats to infrastructure, such as the destruction of bridges and roads.

On Friday, The United Nations sent humanitarian aid convoys to Sumy, a hard-hit city in eastern Ukraine.

“More than 9,000 people were evacuated from the besieged Mariupol,” said Zelensky in an overnight address to the nation Thursday night. “In total, more than 180,000 Ukrainians have been rescued by the humanitarian corridors.”

The Polish city of Rzeszow has become a humanitarian hub for the region. Poland has so far taken in more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees.

International reaction:

Pope Francis spoke out, calling the attack on Ukraine a “perverse abuse of power,” in a message to a gathering of European Catholic representatives on Friday, without outright calling out Putin.

A Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam announced it would be cutting ties with the Moscow patriarchate.

Halliburton and Schlumberger announced Friday they had suspended operations in Russia.

As of Thursday, President Rodrigo Duetre of the Philippines plans to remain neutral in the war. Putin is ‘a personal friend’ and ‘this is not our fight.’

Japan and South Korea have imposed various sanctions on Russia over the last couple of weeks.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck will discuss liquified natural gas (LNG) to make Germany less dependent on Russia for gas. Russia is currently the largest supplier of gas to Germany.

“This man is unpredictable,” said Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Laima Andrikiene to the Helsinki Commission.

“Putin is targeting not only Ukraine, but he’s also targeting our security architecture in Europe… if we fail in Ukraine, it will be only a matter of time until Putin continues his aggression against us.”

A British general warned that Russian forces are resorting to “indiscriminate use of power.”

“His instinct will [always be] to double down because he’s got himself into a dreadful mess, a huge strategic blunder,” said Michael Clarke, former head of the British-based Royal United Services Institute, a defense think tank, on Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s in his character to try to retrieve that, except by carrying on, going forward.”

In China, there appears to be overwhelming support for Putin.

However, China’s strict censorship and policing of public opinion would make it hard to understand how strong of opposition, if any, there is for China’s citizens.

Hu Wei, a politically well-connected scholar in Shanghai, said Friday that inside China, the war in Ukraine “has ignited enormous disagreements, setting supporters and opponents at polar extremes.”

As the situation develops, we will bring you the latest.

5

THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

Meme stock frenzy leads to racketeering probe DOJ invokes RICO Act for the first time PHILLIP DANIELS Staff Reporter

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Georgia’s proposed bill would prohibit teachers from discussing sexual orientation with students.

PHOTO BY MERCEDES MEHLING ON UNSPLASH

Lawmakers propose new antiLGBTQ+ bill.

Bill similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

MATTHEW MONROE Staff Reporter

G

eorgia’s proposed bill would prohibit teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with their students.

10 Republican Senators have spearheaded the Common Humanity in Private Education Act, which they presented to the Georgia Senate.

It states that “No private or nonpublic school or program shall promote, compel or encourage classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not appropriate for the age and developmental stage of the student.”

The bill, ironically, was introduced the same day that the Florida Senate passed their version of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, poised to limit discussion surrounding LGBTQ+ issues in schools.

Florida’s bill has drawn plenty of attention nationally and across the globe.

Various states have even proposed their versions of Florida’s bill this year as those ideas appear to be gaining traction.

Indiana legislation is still considering a bill introduced earlier this year prohibiting teachers from discussing human sexuality with students under 18 without parental consent. It covers several topics such as abortion, birth control, sexual orientation and “transgenderism.”

In January, neighboring Tennessee introduced a bill that would effectively ban public schools from using textbooks or educational materials that “promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) lifestyles.”

In Kansas, Republicans proposed a bill in February that would make teaching with classroom materials about “homosexuality” a Class B Misdemeanor by state law.

The Georgia bill also claims that it will help “deter developmentally inappropriate classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Supporters of the bill believe that it encourages inclusion for all in the classroom, but LGBTQ+ advocates on the other side believe that it works against the rights of young LGBTQ+ children.

Georgia Equality, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, voiced its displeasure with the bill and called for action in a statement. “[Georgia’s] Don’t Say Gay bill is government-sanctioned censorship disguised as nondiscrimination,” the group said.

“This bill gives the government broad censorship over honest conversations about our nation’s history and the root causes of injustice and discrimination.

The vague language in this legislation opens the door to a surge in lawsuits aimed at teachers over basic classroom instruction.”

“This bill goes even further by explicitly targeting LGBTQ+ students, families and history by banning classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity. Simply talking about your family could be a violation of the provisions in this bill.”

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston appeared to have limited knowledge of the bill as he discussed it recently.

“I don’t read Senate bills until they get over here,” Ralston said. “If it gets over here, I’ll [look] take a look at it. It doesn’t sound like something that is [very high] on my agenda.”

While SB 613 is unlikely to pass with the deadline quickly approaching, a stark trend has emerged across America, with multiple other states considering similar bills to Florida’s recently passed bills.

There is a clear cut in political circles around our nation, and these bills are likely just the beginning of various legal proceedings that will follow throughout this year.

As this story develops, we will keep you updated on the latest surrounding SB 613 in Georgia Legislation.

ollowing the January 2021 “meme stock” explosion of retail investors, significant hedge funds have been under investigation by the Security Exchange Commission and Department of Justice for violating the RICO Act. The government subpoenaed over 30 investment and research companies that have short positions on symbols: $GME (GameStop), $AMC (AMC Theaters), $BBBY (Bed Bath and Beyond) and $SNDL (Sundial Growers) for racketeering charges.

Institutions Such As Citadel, Robinhood, Citron Research, MelvinCapital and Muddy Waters are under investigation by Bloomberg Business.

The means for being charged with racketeering is that these institutions have utilized a Short and Distort method and “spoofing” and “naked shorting” these stocks.

The practice of Short and Distort is unethical and illegal and is defined as going short on a particular stock and then spreading fear about the future about that stock to drive the price down.

Spoofing utilizes highfrequency algorithmic trading back and forth between institutions to create an artificial move in the price of a stock.

Naked shorting is the practice of short-selling stocks that do not exist.

Short selling is a method of trading on the market when a trader will profit by selling shares lent to them into the market then repurchasing them at a lower price and the difference in price the trader takes in profit.

Naked short selling is a predatory tactic of market manipulation. Synthetic shares are flooded into the market creating more supply than the corporation’s ever issued and creating selling pressure that is not feasible.

Financial institutions can employ these methods and take advantage of retail investors through Payment For Order Flow (PFOF); PFOF explains how retail investors obtain investments.

If someone were to open a trading app on their phone and purchase a stock, the company that runs that app does not hold the stocks they are looking to buy.

They would have an arrangement with a Wall Street institution; that would work similarly to a warehouse in which the app would buy the stock from a Wall Street fund and then take profit for buying from them rather than then stock exchange.

This relationship is that of Citadel and Robinhood. Citadel has a secondary business under its corporation, Citadel Securities.

Citadel Securities is a market maker; they handle more than 40% of all retail investments trading. Citadel Securities operates Citadel Connect; this is a dark pool.

People use dark pools as a place to buy and sell shares for market makers and institutions without affecting the price of a stock.

Gary Gensler, Chairman of the Security Exchange Commission stated on Feb. 14 “90 - 95% of retail order flow isactive in the dark pool” on Fox Business.

This admission from Chairman Gensler led to a full-on investigation from the Department of Justice on Feb. 25 for predatory naked short selling and market manipulation.

Racketeering is a charge lawmakers created in 1970 to convict criminal organizations and their leaders that were multiple times removed from the crimes.

This case represents a historic moment because this is the first time authorities have used the law outside of criminal enterprises. .

RICO is a charge that, when investigated, there is evidence of an initial crime and systems that show conspiracy, aiding and abetting and intent.

As this story develops and eventually comes to trial, this will create history and possibly paint Wall Street as America’s most heinous criminal organization.

OPINIONS

March 22, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

The Obama Presidency saw many revolutionary moments thought his tenure, some positive and some not so much.

PHOTO BY BUMBLE DEE ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Obama tightrope

Assessing the disappointment of the Obama admin

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TERRANCE DAVIS

Staff Columnist

hy is America so racist? We have had a black president after all.”

Many Americans saw the election and presidency of Barack Obama as a genuine indicator that the American nation had finally shed its history of brutal racism through the rise of one black man to the highest office in the country.

The presidency did signal a cultural shift that Americans of all colors felt.

Whether or not they accepted it, white Americans had a black man as the supreme governmental authority in a nation that has done everything to hold black Americans back.

For Obama, this position of power would necessarily require some compromise in his demeanor and policies.

Obama distinguished himself from other prominent black politicians at the time by presenting himself in a more confident and self-assured way than the typical “noble negroes” (Allen West, Clarence Thomas, etc.) found in the predominantly white space of Washington D.C. Just from watching him speak, you could tell that Obama was a brilliant man, an excellent speaker and he exuded this aura of a strong and commanding presence.

As the most powerful person in the country and one of the most famous people in the world, it can be said that the Obamas played a crucial role in the formation of the concept of “black excellence.”

This fact did not mean Barrack didn’t have to be careful. Quite the contrary, in fact, as many of the criticism he faced were thinly veiled racial agitations, which, most of the time, had very little to do with his actual policy.

He may have been the president, but Obama was still a black man and carried those cultural signifiers. Even his name doesn’t sound remotely American.

Many of his political opponents were quite critical of him, even when it was absurd.

Two notably amplified scandals were the “Tan Suit” fiasco and the “Birther conspiracy,” which claimed that Obama was not born in the United States and therefore unable to be president.

The “Birther Conspiracy” is also interesting as it is Donald Trump’s public introduction to politics in this generation.

External pressures forced Obama to walk a bit of a tightrope when it came to the level of black identity he revealed to the public and many of his policies.

As a black person in the public eye, Obama lives with the unfortunate

responsibility of being somewhat of a representative for black people to white audiences. Thus, they must not do too much to disrupt the status quo.

People could see this strict emphasis on conventionality seen in almost every facet of Obama’s presidency.

Black audiences had their hopes and desires for the Obama presidency.

As stated before, Obama was very open about his middle-of-the-road policy positions.

In the 2008 presidential debate, he made it clear that he has no issue utilizing our military capabilities to kill Bin Laden.

Despite this, many maintained the bold and progressive characterization of Barack Obama throughout his campaign.

While some of it was his own doing (his campaign did pay lip service to vague platitudes like “Hope” and “Change”), a whole lot of it was projection.

There was an understanding amongst black Americans that there would be some “playing by the rules,” maybe regarding specific economic and foreign policies (which never seem to change).

Still, there was a sense that a black man who fought to break down every obstacle and do what many thought to be impossible would do something to confront this nation’s brutal racism.

Obama has made statements regarding his similarities to the late Trayvon Martin. However, there was no agenda or plan to do something about it outside of this tragedy.

Black Americans’ frustration with Obama’s failures in a racial justice plan is exceedingly valid, especially when considering the 2020 George Floyd protests, which showed the world that Amerikkka has a lot of work to do.

Obama left the presidency on a relatively high note, with a 58% approval rating. Many have viewed his legacy as a president in a much more mixed light over the past few years.

While there is a general idea of the man “not doing enough” in most regards, there is still much to consider when thinking about how much of the moderate nature of his administration was his shortcomings.

For many Black Americans, the post-Obama years have been a real wake-up call and harsh reminder that the status and privilege of Obama’s White House residency did not trickle down to the rest of us.

The discourse continues as to what he and his presidency mean to our community.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

OPINIONS

7

Kyiv,Ukraine - Feb 25,2022 scene of the aftermath of Russian bombings.

PHOTO BY DROP OF LIGHT ON SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

White supremacy in Ukraine

Is White exceptionalism a universally adopted construct?

O KALIN M. WILLIAMS

Staff Columnist

n Feb. 24, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Within hours, thousands of Ukrainian women and children became refugees and fled into neighboring Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Poland.

Ukraine is not only home to white European natives but immigrants from Africa, India and other nations.

In a disgusting show of racist preferential treatment, African and Indian immigrants, mainly women and children, have been prevented from boarding trains headed for safety at the Ukrainian border.

Black men, at gunpoint, have been made to relinquish their positions on trains.

The government has given white Ukrainians the right of passage in their place. One can only wonder how prevalent the idea of white superiority is after witnessing such detestable treatment of human beings.

Reports and video footage of Ukrainian border guards forcefully removing immigrants from countries like Nigeria and Cameroon have spread across the globe.

One might ask how a world with liberal ideology and universal considerations of human diversity could face such moral tragedy. Ukraine’s deputy chief prosecutor David Sakvarelidze may be able to offer us a take.

In a candid and heartfelt analysis of the invasion, he intimated, “It’s very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed, children being killed every day by Putin’s missiles, helicopters and rockets.”

I wonder if people feel the same pain when African children are maimed and killed due to conflicts caused by the foreign interests of European and western nations.

It may appear the lives of African people are expendable in the eyes of “cultured” “civilized” European societies.

It isn’t normal for us to think about if and how Europeans uphold white supremacy here in America.

Americans have often overlooked the implications of the 1884-85 Berlin conference, in which European powers systematically portioned out Africa to suit their economic interests.

The legacy of this economic molestation has meant heavy debt, the exacerbation of tribal rivalries, political corruption, genocide and war for African nations.

In maintaining a system of control and dominance, white colonists applied this principle of inferiority to indigenous African populations.

One can see this effect most saliently if one studies South African history and the heinous practice of Apartheid. We witness now in Ukraine a very telling historical parallel at play.

In a strange twist of irony, reports have surfaced that Ukraine has solicited mercenary fighters from African countries to join its fight against Russia.

Three of these countries, Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria, are among 17 others who abstained from voting in a Mar. 2 United Nations resolution that condemned Russia’s aggression and called for an end to the violence.

As clients for and beneficiaries of Russian military weaponry financing, and technology, these countries and others effectively have their hands tied.

The ministries of foreign affairs for Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria have all spoken out against Ukraine’s alleged recruitment of African foreign nationals. They have forbidden their citizens to fight on behalf of Ukraine.

None of these nations wants to incur Russian ire and endure the pains of the Kremlin’s retaliation. Russia has already stated that any support by other countries of Ukraine is tantamount to a declaration of war.

Ukraine recognizes that many Africans are poor and without income to feed themselves and their families.

In a bid to increase its military forces, Ukraine has found it within its collective conscience to accept the sacrifices of African bodies while denying the rights of African immigrants that choose not to be a part of the Ukrainian war effort the opportunity to leave the country.

In cases where African immigrants have been able to evacuate Ukraine, their journey has been unnecessarily laborious compared to white Ukrainian nationals.

One should note that young impoverished African men have voiced support for becoming mercenaries in Ukraine. They see waging other peoples’ wars as a chance to better their economic status.

The decision to participate in for-profit murder, while egregious, is simply a side effect of inhabiting a capitalist system that rewards winners and punishes losers.

Sadly, economic opportunities are few in many African countries where the unfortunate effects of geographic limitations on trade, foreign meddling, internal corruption and war have all assembled to prevent economic subsistence for much of the continent’s inhabitants. In other words, for a large number of young African men, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Aware of this, it is revolting that Ukraine insults the humanity of indigent would-be mercenaries, even considering it now fights for its survival.

If a man or woman is good enough to hold a gun and spill blood on behalf of another, in a conflict which is not even one’s own, it is undoubtedly a sin against and a violation of humanity’s highest moral aspirations to racially discriminate against this person.

The idea that human life is not equal is an attitude America has openly grappled with since the codification of Jim Crow laws in the southern United States.

The congressional passage of the American Civil Rights Act of 1964 was perhaps an attempt to rectify disgusting misconceptions about the rightful claim to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness Black people have.

It was a step in the right direction. The intent is worth something.

In my estimation, bipedalism, high cognitive function, the possession of a beating heart and the consumption of oxygen for survival are the relative primary markers of what we might call “humanness.”

It appears, however, that the notion of Black inferiority is still present in the minds of many “blond-hair, blue-eyed” whites, and so, for what it is worth, I am still not convinced that all lives truly matter.

Spread: ARTS & LIVING WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

Controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill comes to Georgia THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE STATE SENATE ON MARCH 8 WRITTEN BY COLE PODANY - STAFF REPORTER

O

n Feb. 24, 2022, the Florida House of Representatives signed off on the Parental Rights in Education Bill, a widely controversial bill that opponents have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The bill will allow parents to sue a school district if a teacher or staff member discusses sexual orientation or gender identity in a way that is “age-inappropriate” in elementary schools.

On Mar. 8, the bill reached the Florida Senate, which passed the bill that day.

The Florida Senate is handing over the bill to Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, who has said he will sign off on the bill when it reaches his desk.

The same day the Florida Senate signed off on the bill, 10 Georgia Republicans introduced a highly similar bill in the Georgia Senate.

Georgia’s bill is called the “Common Humanity in Private Education Act.” While the bill won’t have enough time to pass during this session, Georgia’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill could have heavy implications for LGBT Georgians and their families if it returns in the future.

Supporters of the bill say that it would keep age-inappropriate conversations out of the classroom and give parents more control over the content their children come across.

In particular, DeSantis said he believed that the Florida version of the bill would prevent classroom discussion of “transgenderism.”

“When you look at the bill, and it says ‘no sexual instruction to kids pre-K through three,’ how many parents want their kids to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction?” DeSantis told CBS Miami at a press conference.

“It’s basically saying for our younger students, do you really want them being taught about sex? And this is any sexual stuff. But I think right now, we see a focus on transgenderism, telling kids they may be able to pick genders and all of that.”

Opponents of “Don’t Say Gay” bills argue that discussions of sexual identity and gender identity are not age-inappropriate and that children of any age can identify as LGBTQ+.

The bill may make LGBT+ children feel alienated from peers and teachers.

It may even disallow kids from talking about LGBTQ+ issues with family members or friends.

Anthony Michael Kreiss, a law professor at Georgia State, explained the implications of Georgia’s version of the bill on the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is a profoundly hateful piece of legislation that will harm Georgia’s children, chill speech and will be used as a cudgel to attack LGBTQ+ people and their supporters as pedophiles,” Kreiss said. “It serves no interest but a bare desire to harm.”

Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ political advocacy group and the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group in Florida, voiced its opposition to the bill and those like it. Georgia’s version borrows from Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, using similar language.

“While the bill [was made] to race Donald Trump to the right and curry favor with an extremist political base, it has terrifying consequences,” Brandon Wolf, the Press Secretary at Equality Florida, said.

“It would further stigmatize LGBTQ+ people, isolate already vulnerable young people, and chill attempts to create inclusive school environments. LGBTQ+ people are a normal, healthy part of society.”

“We deserve to be seen, acknowledged, and celebrated just like everyone else, not demonized and used as political pawns,” Wolf added.

Senators have introduced “Don’t Say Gay” bills in Texas and Tennessee and have garnered nationwide attention from civil rights groups. The CEO of GLAAD, Sarah Kate, voiced her concerns about the potential changes in schools’ policies.

GLAAD is one of the largest media monitoring organizations globally, focusing on portrayals of LGBT+ people.

“School should be a place where students learn and find acceptance, [now] talking about LGBTQ+ people is a crime,” on her Twitter.

“This proposal injects poisonous and dangerous politics into classrooms [with] LGBTQ+ students and students with LGBTQ+ parents.”

Georgia’s bill received unique opposition from Georgia’s largest LGBT equality groups. Georgia Equality collected over 2,500 signatures against the bill on a petition that ended on Mar. 17.

According to Wes Han-Burgess, Director of Development and Communications at Georgia Equality, this is the seventh anti-LGBT bill the group has helped stop since 2021.

“LGBTQ+ students and families have just as much right to see themselves reflected in the classroom, the library, and on the field of play as other students do, but the attacks won’t stop here,” they wrote.

“This fight will continue after the legislature adjourns, through the rest of the year, and next.”

ILLUSTRATION BY LAURYN JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

March 22, 2022

These quotes are from posts on the non-GSU-affiliated account @thers.crushes

“ Guy with the afro and airbrush boys on the hood shirt slide my way.

— ANONYMOUS

1ST YEAR

”

“ This guy from snu that’s super @thers.crushes is a student-run account dedicated to student crush confessions at Georgia State University.

PHOTO BY ERIC LUCATERO ON UNSPASH.COM.

The crush account

— ANONYMOUS

@thers.crushes has recently become one of the most popular non-affiliated Georgia State accounts.

DARREN LANG Staff Reporter

S

omeone makes a single post featuring 10 slides, and almost immediately, hundreds of Georgia State students are intrigued. Scrolling furiously through, some students are flattered, others disgusted and some disappointed.

“Maybe I’ll be featured on the next post,” many will think.

This captivation isn’t created through a prize or a punishment. It simply boils down to a question we’ve all pondered: does someone have a crush on me?

Sitting at over a thousand followers is the Instagram account @thers.crushes. It’s a student-run account dedicated to student crush confessions at Georgia State.

“At first, I [saw] that there were crush accounts for other colleges like Tech and Mercer. I noticed we didn’t have one and thought it would be fun to see what would happen if I made an account for GSU,” the account runner explained.

The concept is relatively basic; you click on a link in the bio and are presented with two requests: “What’s your year?” and “Confess,” where the post gives you a blank template to write whatever you please.

All posts are anonymous, adding to the excitement of figuring out who your secret admirer can be.

Within days of the account being

up, users flooded the account. This interest was all to the surprise of @ thers.crushes, who was feeling the stress of organizing each confession.

“It definitely was at first - but I kind of made a system for posting in like the order that they get submitted, and it’s so much easier now.”

There has been a near-constant stream of posts with this added system, ranging anywhere from 10 to 40 different confessions a day.

This unrelenting pace, @thers. crushes explains, is for the sake of a better environment here at Georgia State, “I hope they get a sense of some positivity towards themselves and others. My favorites are when people compliment other people’s personalities or energies - it’s so wholesome getting submissions like that!”

Yet, as with anything anonymous, people will look to cross lines free of consequences due to the shielded identity. This account is no stranger to these actions, admits @thers.crushes.

“There are many disturbing ones that I’ve gotten but I won’t repeat them for the sake of the readers. Let’s [say] that [some] submissions that are giving very strong Wattpad energy.”

There have been missteps, with posts that have later been deleted.

However, @thers.crushes has kept all posts in good taste.

“I don’t have specific guidelines, but

cute but he’s younger than me and it feels weird idk

I try not to post things that are too sexual or anything,” she elaborates. It has never been the intention to make students uncomfortable.

Those looking to exploit the system are missing the main point of this account.

“I just try to keep it positive because the account is all about having fun and spreading compliments for people,” @thers. crushes explains. @thers.crushes has spent a lot of time looking into others’ deep feelings, and this had me questioning one thing: do you believe in love?

“I definitely think love is a beautiful thing - it can be [terrific] and connect everyone in a great way (if handled healthily, haha). I 100% believe in soul connections! I think they are really cool things to have with someone, and they help you learn so much about yourself and others.”

This Instagram account is committed to honesty in its purest form. It’s impressive how much effort and care @thers.crushes puts into running the account.

She wanted to create a wholesome and loving environment and did so with overall success. With an open heart, I hope this account continues to thrive, giving a voice to the confessions that are at times too scary to admit in person.

3RD YEAR

”

“ The baddies at Starbucks hurt

building can run me over with the GSU bus — ANONYMOUS

2ND YEAR

”

“ It’s really sad that pounce has more crushes than most of us

— ANONYMOUS

4TH YEAR

”

“ This guy in my club makes me

go WOOF WOOF BARK BARK AWOOOOO GRRRRRRR BARK BARK WOOF WOOF ARF ARF ARF GREEEHEHEHEHE — ANONYMOUS

3RD YEAR

”

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

11

“The Witch Queen” is fantastic

Bungie delivers on their latest expansion

T

GARET WEHS Staff Reporter

he Witch Queen” is the latest expansion released for “Destiny 2,” and many consider it the best expansion in the franchise’s history.

While it may not have the overall significance or legacy to the series as “The Taken King” or the raw amount of content as “Forsaken,.” Still, it delivers the most polished and compelling story and expansion experience.

The story centers around the emergence of the Lucent Brood, led by the Hive god Savathûn.

The designers also added a new weapons crafting system to the game alongside “The Witch Queen.”

Though it is somewhat barebones currently, Bungie has stated more and more weapons will eventually find their way into this system.

With this new addition, players will finally have a way to tailor weapons to their interests without relying on luck.

Void 3.0 has also shipped with “The Witch Queen,” the first of several revamps to the existing class structures.

It offers incredible flexibility and diversity when it comes to creating builds and is a much-needed addition to the game’s health .

The revamps of the Arc and Solar subclasses are coming soon, and what the designers have shown is promising already.

The newest raid, The Vow of the Disciple, is also one of the best in the franchise’s history. Mechanically interesting encounters blend with incredible visuals and fascinating lore to bring players one of the most fantastic raiding experiences so far.

The final boss , Rhulk, is easily one of the most unique bosses the game has seen.

As developer Bungie has stated before, “The Witch Queen” is the first in a series — GARET WEHS of expansions that will bring the plot of the ten-year Staff Reporter franchise to new heights.

The setup done in this This new enemy has expansion story-wise gained the power of the showcases a clear focus on Light, something that only what is to come. The final the player had access to at cutscene of the campaign this point. What follows is gives us our first look at The an escalating investigation Witness, the penultimate into these newfound powers enemy players have seen so that reveals dark truths about far. ancient histories.

While it may not top a The campaign itself is select few other expansions, what shines in “The Witch “The Witch Queen” is Queen.” It is by far the most already in the conversation well-designed campaign as a top-three expansion. in the history of “Destiny,” The incredible quality and the new addition of of the story and campaign Legendary mode gives a is enough to carry this true sense of challenge and expansion into that satisfaction that has been discussion. Undoubtedly, sorely missing.

“The Witch Queen” delivers As usual, the art direction a beautiful experience for and visuals of the game are “Destiny 2” and sets up for spot on and create a brilliant even greater things in atmosphere. the future.

“

“The Witch Queen” delivers a beautiful experience for “Destiny 2” and sets up for even greater things in the future.

”

Jamaica is just one of six different international location considered to be Black People Friendly for international travel.

PHOTO BY SÉBASTIEN JERMER ON UNSPLASH

Six Black-people-friendly international travel destinations

This list of destinations spans across the globe from the Caribbean to Europe KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

W

ith COVID-19 restrictions having eased up since the height of the pandemic, many people are excited about traveling again.

One concern that has always remained prevalent within the Black community is racism outside the U.S. With as stressful as traveling can be, these notably six safe and welcoming international locations can provide some peace of mind

1. Jamaica:

With this Caribbean island’s rich culture and amazing beach views, there is much to take in when traveling here. Jamaica is predominately populated with people of African descent who welcome all kinds of tourists every year. Although there are many places to eat Jamaican food in the U.S., nothing compares to trying the real thing where jerk-style cooking was born.

2. Brazil:

According to the 2010 census, it is estimated that 91 million people in Brazil are Black or have African lineage. With these numbers, it will not be hard for travelers to feel at home.

Many people consider Brazil to have the “body of America and the soul of Africa” because of its history and African influence in the food.

Aside from the culture, Brazil is known for its year-round beautiful weather as it sits right below the equator, making for a humid yet tropical climate.

3. Dominican Republic:

Sharing a large island with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is yet another place where seeing a Black or brown face is very common.

This is a great destination for those who enjoy exploring the outdoors and do not mind getting wet in the process.

The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua is a famous canyon on the island that consists of several waterfalls, hiking trails and swimming opportunities.

The nightlife is unlike any other as there are many evening adventures to choose from such as bars, restaurants and clubs.

4. Madagascar:

Sitting on the southeastern coast of Africa, Madagascar is the second-largest island country in the world.

Although the island is underdeveloped regarding tourist attractions, people still come and explore the island’s wildlife and lush forests. Just like the popular 2005 film “Madagascar,” the country is known for being home to the white-ring-tailed Lemur.

Given that Madagascar is part of the African motherland, Black travelers should feel right at home

when visiting.

5. Thailand:

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is one of the most visited Asian countries with the delicious food and great weather bringing people back.

This country is a diverse melting pot of people as tourists from all over the world come to visit and experience this cultural hub. There is plenty for tourists to see and do all over the country, such as hike through the lush jungles and indulging in crystal blue beaches.

Many locals and other visitors have noted how cheap it is to eat in Thailand and get the most out of their money when it comes to housing.

6. Greece :

This family-friendly vacation destination is located in Southeastern Europe and accommodates millions of tourists every year.

This country has a rich history dating back centuries with many historical monuments still standing today.

For those who love a glass of good wine, Greece has a wide assortment that is worth trying as the grapes are grown and produced on the mainland, giving people a real taste of Greece. Greece is also known to have great hospitality towards its visitors, so people of all kinds are welcome there.

SPORTS

March 22, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Should the Hawks trade John Collins?

The Hawks could look different this offseason.

JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

S

GSU’s Softball Team plays in the second round of the SUN Belt Tournament.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Panther softball preview

Panthers Softball looking for a deep conference tournament run ADEBANJI BAMIDELE Staff Reporter

B

efore the 2022 season, the Georgia State Softball Team had two players named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.

Junior infielder Daisy Hess and outfielder Emily Brown shined during the 2021 season as they led the Panthers offensively, combining for 11 home runs and 103 hits.

Hess brought consistency to the team as she batted .331 and had a .641 slugging percentage, which measures the batting productivity of a proper hitter.

Brown matched the hot streak of Hess and batted a team-high .335, and stole 7-7 bases. Senior Baylee Sexton led the team with 18 successfully stolen bases.

Despite the warm bats and stolen bases, the Panthers could not muster enough consecutive wins and ended the season with a 16-30 record and a 3-18 conference record.

The team started hot by sweeping their series with Radford University with (3-1) and (6-0) victories.

Despite the hot start, the Panthers proceeded to free-fall as they stumbled into a 10 game losing streak, being shut out in 10 of the 30 games they lost.

With hope for a deep tournament run, the season ended in heartbreak as the Panthers lost to Appalachian State 2-1 in the Sun Belt Softball Championships Elimination Game.

Advancing to the 2022 campaign, the Panthers got off to a rocky start, but the team has turned it around and is on a two-game winning streak, with a 10-16 record overall.

The season began in DeLand, Florida, as the Panthers opened the season with a doubleheader against Indiana State and Stetson in the Stetson Lead-Off Classic.

The Panthers secured 1st-year head coach Angie Nicholson’s first win as they defeated the Sycamores 12-3 in dominant fashion.

“We executed our game plan well today, we fought and swung the bats aggressively,” said Nicholson.

The second game of the doubleheader against Stetson was not as easy as the Panthers came out strong in the first inning, with a 1-0 lead, but ultimately fell to 8-2 to the Hatters.

The Lead Off Classic ended with three games, the first being a rematch against Indiana State, lacking offense as the Panthers fell 0-2. The second game was against

Delaware, which ended in a 4-1 defeat where the offense could not find a spark. The final game against Stetson was the most competitive as the Panthers battled back from a 4-0 deficit, ultimately falling 6-7 to the Hatters.

The Panthers left the Classic with a (1-4) record and continued to improve as they split the following series, with Western Carolina ending a five-game losing streak.

“Very proud of Alice Thomas battling at the plate and coming through with the game-winning hit for us,” Nicholson said.

They welcomed the Jacksonville State Tigers and swept them in their two-game series as the team returned home. With an opportunity to capitalize on their three-game win streak, the Panthers face tough SEC and conference opponents.

Recently, sweeping the two-game series against the Dartmouth Big Greens, the Panthers will look to continue the winning streak as they welcome South Alabama to Bob Heck Softball Complex on Mar. 25 in Atlanta.

ince being drafted by the Hawks in 2017, John Collins has been a core piece for a young Hawks team.

Collins has been a fan favorite since he stepped foot in Atlanta, with his thunderous poster dunks and, more importantly, his work in helping people in the Atlanta community.

Entering the league, he was looked at as just another young player with bounce but has developed an all-around offensive repertoire.

During the last four seasons, Collins has been one of the more consistent forwards in the league, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds while shooting 56% from the field and 38 percent from the three-point area.

Collins also played a vital part in the Hawks 2021 season that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee Bucks, which warranted the Hawks to sign Collins to a five-year 125-million dollar deal last summer.

Over the past few months, the press has released conflicting reports regarding Collins’ frustration with his current role on the team.

Collins’ frustration with the team started back in December after a 104-98 loss to the Orlando Magic, where he seemingly called out the team for their lack of defense and shot selection.

“It’s the same old story,” Collins said. “We take bad shots, we don’t play defense, we don’t rebound. We’ve got to fight our way back into the game. It’s an uphill battle. It’s the same story. I could sit here and talk about it all day.”

In an interview with Hawks beat writer Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Collins spoke on his frustration back in January and did not hold anything back.

“When you win, it covers

up a lot of s—, ” Collins said.

During that interview, Collins also addressed his name being in trade rumors over the years, especially with reports of the Hawks interested in acquiring Ben Simmons.

“In terms of the Hawks and Atlanta, I don’t need to talk about it because I’ve talked about it enough. This is where I want to be,” said Collins.

Collins did not get traded this past deadline, but everyone knows that the NBA is a business, and anyone can be shipped off at any time. This fact leads to the question, is it time for the Hawks to move on from John Collins this offseason?

It’s no question that Collins is one of the best forwards in the league, but it may be time for a change of direction for the young big man.

Collins averages 16 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field and 36% from three this season.

This season Collins has missed 12 games, and in those games, his impact was truly missed as the Hawks struggled, going 6-6 over that stretch.

With the emergence of Trae Young as one of the best players in the league, it is evident that Hawks management wants to build around him, and Collins may not be a part of those plans in the future.

In 17 games without Trae Young since his arrival to Atlanta, Collins has averaged 20 points and eight rebounds.

Collins may not be the best player in the league, but he has the tools to become a top-rated player in the NBA. A change of scenery could be the best for Collins and would give him a chance to flourish into a perennial all-star caliber player in the NBA as a larger role could take his game to the next level.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

Upcoming Games

13

Who should the Falcons draft at eight?

What side of the ball will the Falcons prioritize in this year’s draft?

Men’s

SKYLER HILL Staff Reporter

VS. University of Georgia

Women’s

Georgia State vs UGA @ Coolray Field (Lawrenceville, GA) 03 / 22 / 22 6:00 p.m.

VS. South Alabama

Beach

Home Game vs South Alabama @ Bob Heck Softball Complex 03 / 25 / 22 5:00 p.m.

W

ith the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select “The Best Available Player!” said Roger Godell.

Yes, it is true. The Falcons selected “The Best Available Player” simply because they’re in dire need of every position on the field.

This year’s NFL draft has franchisechanging defensive ends, “Revis Island” cornerbacks, talented receivers and a handful of notable quarterbacks.

The draft is approaching in less than a month, and the Falcons hold the rights to the eighth pick.

Let’s start with the guys relaxing on “Revis Island.” Because the Falcons already have elite-ranked cornerback A.J. Terrell, drafting another lockdown guy to pair with Terrell wouldn’t be a terrible idea. At #8, a couple of big-name players could slip down into their hands.

Ten years from now, NFL fans might look back at this draft with confusion as they try to decipher why the NFL dropped Louisiana State CB Derek Stingley Jr. to eighth in the 2022 draft.

He had started every game for Tigers before tearing a ligament in his foot last season and only allowed 41.1% of completions when thrown something.

Although he didn’t participate at the combine, he still spoke at the event. Safe to say, Stingley Jr. knows what he’s capable of when he’s on the field.

“I know myself, and I know that when I’m at the best version of myself, I’m the greatest,” said Stingley Jr. Time to get saucy. At the cornerback is the highly-touted Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Depending on who you talk to, he’s the best defensive back in this class.

During Gardner’s three-year tenure at

the University of Cincinnati, he did not give up a single touchdown.

In 2021, he upped the ante by only giving up 131 yards in 14 games.

Fast forward to his matchup against Alabama in the college playoffs, he only gave up 14 yards on four targets against Heisman-winning QB Bryce Young. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons draft him if he’s still on the board.

Alright, that’s enough with the piña coladas on Revis Island.

It’s time to evaluate the players who play in the dirt. It’s almost guaranteed the top-rated edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson won’t be on the board for the Falcons to pick. Still, many speculate that Kayvon Thibodeaux could be available for the taking.

Since his first year at the University of Oregon, Thibodeaux has displayed his game-changing athleticism for the world to see.

Despite his talent, rumors swirled about his commitment to the game of football.

During the NFL combine, Thibodeaux himself put these rumors to rest.

“When you talk about fire [or] when you talk about passion, I think you can’t really explain it,” said Thibodeaux. “I get emotional thinking about it because [of] all the sacrifices it took for me to get here.

I wouldn’t have made those sacrifices if I didn’t love the game.”

Jordan Davis and Travon Walker, two members of that absolute unit of defense the University of Georgia had last season, could be on the board for the Falcons.

Teams know what these two are capable of, and their performances at the combine only enhanced the way they felt.

Jordan Davis put on an absolute clinic at the NFL combine. Sitting at 341

pounds, he ran a 4.78 40-yard dash and set a record for the longest broad jump by a 340-plus pound athlete in combine history.

Travon Walker ran a 4.58 and recorded a longer wingspan and arm length than edge rushers Hutchinson and Thibodeaux.

Forty times. That’s how many sacks Matt Ryan withstood last season. Drafting an offensive lineman will be on the table come draft night.

Big-name OLs Evan Neal, Ickey Ekwonu and Charles Cross have a high probability of being selected before the Falcons even have a chance. If any of these guys are available when the Falcons are up, it’ll be fascinating to see what side of the ball the team chooses to prioritize.

With Calvin Ridley set to miss the entirety of next season, drafting a receiver just became more critical. Just the thought of taking a lethal receiver this early on in the draft is scary, but as the saying goes, “with high risk comes high rewards.”

Ohio State receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson showed out during their last season with the Buckeyes, scoring 13 touchdowns each.

Standout receiver Drake London balled out for the University of Southern California before a season-ending ankle injury. London could also be available for the Falcons at eight.

Well, there you have it, folks. This draft is an all-around stacked draft class that showed great promise in college. There are talented players available at every position.

Hometown fans can only hope the organization will use their pick wisely on Apr. 28.

VS. Florida Atlantic University

Away Game @ Florida Atlantic University, Deland, FL 03 / 26 / 22

2:00 p.m.

The Atlanta Falcons are looking for their next big signing this offseason.

PHOTO BY NATHAN GONTHIER ON UNSPLASH

The Kickback

March 22, 2022

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

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

SCW room.482

Black History Month Trivia 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Online

Men’s Basketball vs ULM 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena

Tom Gibson Jazz Trombone Sectional 1:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Aderhold

SSDP Presents:Legalize Georgia 10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.

Student Center East room 216

Trap Karaoke 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Student Auditorium

MAR 25

THURSDAY MAR 24

WEDNESDAY MAR 23

TUESDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Men’s Basketball vs Louisiana 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena

Bent Frequency 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Kopleff Recital Hall

The Leadership GamesJeopardy Style 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

SCW 460 Promotional Table 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

First Floor,Student Center East

MAR 28

SATURDAY MAR 27

MAR 26

MAR 22

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

THE KICKBACK

15

GAMES SUDOKU

GAMES CROSSWORD

USE THE CLUES TO FILL IN THE WORDS PUZZLE. THIS WEEK’S THEME IS: ACTORS IN FAMOUS ROLLS Words can go across or down.

Letters are shared when the words intersect.

ACROSS 2. Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso) 3. Rose Dawson (Titanic) 8. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) 9. Trinity (The Matrix) DOWN 1. Thor (Avengers Endgame) 4. Rick O’Connell (The Mummy) 5. Bruce Wayne (The Batman) 6. M (Skyfall) 7. Han Solo (Star Wars)

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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.