Vol. 79 No. 26 by The Signal

THE SIGNAL ThE STUDENT NEWSPAPEr OF GEOrGIA STATE UNIVErSITY SErVING ThE STUDENTS SINcE 1933

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VOLUME 79 | ISSUE 26

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

Hundreds rally for Trayvon

Miles keenlyside | the signal

Hundreds rallied at the state capitol yesterday to protest Georgia’s “stand your ground,“ which models the Florida law that protected the killer of Trayvon Martin from charges nearly a month ago.

tErah BoyD associate News Editor

A month after the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin the nation is still responding. Yesterday’s “I am Trayvon Martin” rally at the Georgia Capitol is the latest response from students and protesters demanding the arrest of 28-year-old George Zimmerman. Martin was found dead on the scene in his gated Sanford, Fla. neighborhood. Zimmerman was reportedly standing over his body with a handgun. Zimmerman walked away without arrest, stating the shooting was an act of self-defense. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law has kept Zimmerman from being arrested. Monday’s rally demanded justice for the slain Florida teen and a repeal of the “Stand Your Ground” law. The rally was organized by Rev. Markel Hutchins, and was aided by many Atlanta area colleges and universities,

including Clark Atlanta, Spellman and Morehouse. At approximately 5:20 p.m., a march of hundreds of Atlanta University Center students rounded Martin Luther King Boulevard to join the rally at the Capitol. Protesters fear the Georgia equivalent of the Florida law could lead to a similar event in Georgia. Senate Bill 396, also known as “No Duty to Retreat,” passed in 2006, one year after Florida’s “Stand Your Ground.” This bill, which amended Title 16 of the Georgia Code, was designed to protect gun owners that are protecting themselves. “It’s not guns that kill people, its people that kill people,” said Clark Atlanta University student Jasmarrett, who declined to give her last name. “I’m not for the abolishment of the law, but I am for the amendment of the law, because those laws are meant to protect [people] no matter what they look like.” Georgia State accounting major Darrell Brown feels that student support

“will have a great impact” on legislative changes. “I, myself being a black man understands being judged on what you wear. I wear hoodies, but I don’t want to look like a killer,” Brown said. “I also have two younger brothers growing up in a predominantly white community, and I would hate for them to be targeted for being black males.” Black community leaders, including members of the NAACP and the Concerned Black Clergy spoke out about the racial tensions that surround the circumstances of Martin’s death. “This is not just a Black issue, this is not just a Hispanic issue, this is not an issue characterized by race; anytime someone’s life is in issue it’s a human issue,” said Jonathan Howard, the Morehouse College senior class president. The cry for legislative reform dom-

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Film Festival returns through April 1 Page 14-15

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PatriCk duffy | the signal

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inated the rally’s message. Most speakers spoke out against violence and demanded that concerned and scared citizens speak to legislators. “This law they call ‘stand your ground’ is also known as ‘shoot to kill,’“ said state Sen. Emmanuel Jones, president of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. “They are letting 18- year-old’s tote guns, everywhere you pray, in anyone’s parking lot, anywhere you want,” he said of the current General Assembly’s gun bills. Current Georgia General Assembly bills include a proposal to lower the age to carry a concealed weapon from 21 to 18 and to carry firearms on college campuses. “We have to put our actions into words,” said speaker Taylor Allen from Clark Atlanta University. “We will vote, not just in the presidential election. You have to be knowledgeable about the officials that are running your state, your country.” Two of the youngest members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Spellman College alum Rep. Alicia Thomas Morgan and Morehouse alum Rep. Rashad Taylor agreed to submit a bill Tuesday to repeal the Georgia equivalent of “Stand your Ground”. “For these next two days you need to come back to the capital,” Morgan said to the crowd of students. She recognized that this was many of the student supporters first time at the Capital, “but don’t make it your last.”

breaking news. Stay in the loop on the web.

Kernizan, Briggs elected to top SGA posts chriS ShattUcK News Editor

PatriCk duffy | the signal

Many protestors wore hoodies and carried bags of Skittles in rememberance of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old man who was shot dead in Florida just over a month ago by a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain. The man claimed he shot Trayvon in self-defense under the state’s “stand your ground“ law, which is very similar to Georgia’s own law.

Like us on Facebook to check out videos from the protest and head to our website for the ground coverage at www.gsusignal.com

In an election dogged with few eligible executive candidates and several notable disqualifications, many executive incumbents within the Student Government Association sailed through either their re-election or appointment to other leadership positions. Per an amendment to the SGA’s bylaws, this election was the first to no longer require that presidential candidates and their running mates previously hold posts in the organization – with the stipulation that new candidates must undergo mandatory orientation meetings by the SGA’s Election Commission. Candidates that met the constitutional requirements for office but missed orientation meetings or the candidate debate were automatically disqualified. Others withdrew their names voluntarily. In total, nine candidates, including the only non-SGA ticket for the presidency and executive vice presidency, either withdrew or were disqualified, according to Amy Gregg, chair of the election commission. Five of the seven top SGA posts were filled by now-sitting SGA leaders, including President-elect Marcus Kernizan and Executive Vice President-elect Taylor Briggs. Briggs says that she was excited when she first learned there were other candidates that had initially qualified to run against her ticket but their dismissal did not impact how she or Kernizan campaigned. “I was really excited to be running against someone for EVP, because at the top there are less candidates and it is not unusual to run unopposed,” Briggs said. “That didn’t turn out to be the case but we ran our campaign the same way because we still have to win the approval of the students.” However, both those previously in power and those newly elected said the most recent election served as a referendum on what issues needed to be addressed by the SGA. While Kernizan served as the vice president of academic affairs on the SGA executive board, Briggs served as key figure in the senate as the head senator from the College of Arts and Sciences.

As executive vice president, Briggs said she would prioritize issues students brought to her attention for resolution. “I put out several prongs of my platform, and the ones that students react to and want to talk about I plan to put to the top of the list,” Briggs said. “So instead of solely pushing my own agenda, through this term I hope to continue to sort through ideas and find the ones that matter most to students and champion those,” she said. The current vice president of budget and finance, Theo Muhumuza, was elected for the first time since his appointment to the position earlier this semester following the resignation of the past vice president, Paul Marmol, at the end of last semester. Danielle Kleinman, the president pro-tempore of the senate, was elected as the next vice president of public relations. During its next session, the new senate will elect a president pro temp to replace Kleinman. Vice President of Public Relations, Jarrell Abrams, will also receive a spot on next year’s executive board as the new VP of student life to replace Ben Williams, who decided not to seek re-election. Per the SGA constitution, President James Dutton was ineligible to run for a third term as president, which he previously ran unopposed for, but sought and won a position as a College of Law senator. Of the newly elected vice presidents, only Adriana Macchione, the vice president-elect of academic affairs, and Christian Hill, the vice president-elect of student services, have never held a leadership position in the SGA or senate experience, either. However, Hill said he looks forward to working with the other newly elected SGA members to carry out the platform he was elected on. “As the next Vice President of Student Services, I vow to do all that is within the legitimate authority of the Vice President of Student Services to, not only carry out my platform, but also to adequately represent the will of the constituent body that I have been so passionately elected to represent,“ Hill said. The newly elected SGA members will be inauguarated April 20.

SGA E-board winners:

President: Marcus Kernizan (unopposed) Executive Vice President: Taylor Briggs (unopposed) VP for Academic Affairs: Adriana Macchione (unopposed) VP for Budget & Finance: Theo Muhumuza VP for Public Relations: Danielle Kleinman VP for Student Life: Jarrell Abrams (unopposed) VP for Student Services: Christian Hill (unopposed)

NEWS | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

SGA to take on Signal disposal Chris Shattuck News Editor

The Student Government Association has decided to consider an official response to whether the disposal of approximately 250 copies of The Signal constitutes a violation of the student Code of Conduct or criminal law. “I think what they’re asking from us is valid,” Ben Williams, SGA vice president of student life, said. “They’re asking us to say as the Student Government Association two things: whether they violated the student code of conduct and whether we feel they have violated any laws about throwing away the Signal’s.” SGA President James Dutton said he thought the question of if the disposal of the papers constituted a crime or breach of the student Code of Conduct should be considered by the Student Judicial Board, the judicial branch of the SGA. Allison Renyi, the chief justice of SJB, said the topic was set to be considered Monday but the SGA would not have a formal opinion until later this week. Although other SGA executive board members expressed reluctance with adopting a resolution, several E-board members weighed in on the issue during their meeting last Thursday. Dutton said that he personally thought the disposal was inappropriate and that the members responsible for the act should have chosen another avenue of expression, such as writing an opinion piece for print in the newspaper. He also said that he didn’t think it was a crime, though, because he thought students were personally entitled to take as many papers as they would like. Other members, such as Executive Vice President Elise LaPlante and Vice President of Student Life Ben

March 23 Edgewood Ave.

Officers arrested two Non-GSU individuals for Robbery, Battery, Kidnapping, Terroristic Threats and False Imprisonment. At 3:59 p.m. officers were advised that two unknown individuals entered Dee’s Market and began hitting a Non-GSU individual in the face, took her to a back room where she was tied up and threatened. The victim stated various items were taken from the store. The two individuals were located and arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Freshman Dormitory

A report was filed for Harassing Phone Calls. The complainants, two GSU students stated, on 03/03/23 at 12:00 p.m. they began receiving harassing phone calls and emails from two NonGSU individuals. The case is being handled by Investigations.

Student Recreation Center

A report was filed for Simple Battery. The complainant, a GSU student stated, at 3:44 p.m. another GSU student punched him in the face after he threw a basketball to him he did not catch. The victim refused to press charges. The case is being handled by Investigations.

G Parking Deck

A report was filed for Entering Auto. The complainant, a GSU faculty member stated, at 9:40 p.m. he noticed his driver’s side rear window was shattered and his laptop computer and case was missing. The case is being handled by Investigations.

MLK Dr./Washington St. Chris Shattuck | The Signal

Ben Williams, SGA vice president of student life, acknowledged that two sorority girls admitted to him that they had dumped the papers two weeks ago.

Williams, generally agreed with Dutton as to whether the actions committed by the girls were legal. However, they disagreed slightly as to whether the disposal of the papers constituted a form of censorship. Dutton said the disposal was “sort of a form of censorship,” whereas Williams and LaPlante argued cuts to funding would have actually represented a clearer avenue of censorship.

“Them grabbing the papers and throwing them away was for the sole purpose of: ‘I want less people to see what they wrote bad about me,’” Dutton said. LaPlante disagreed. “I don’t think it’s censorship because censorship has a very specific context,” LaPlante said. But LaPlante also considered the potential repercussions of being seen as siding with the group responsible

for disposing of the papers. “I guess the issue that I have with it is that I think that they’re, kind of, putting us in the position of whether or not we condone throwing away the newspapers, [and] I think they’re trying to attach it to the larger issue of what was printed on that newspaper,” LaPlante said. “I feel like what they’re asking for is so much more loaded than what they’re saying.”

Signal proceeds with “theft” case Chris Shattuck News Editor

The Signal has announced its resolve to pursue a case against those responsible for the theft of its newspapers, despite the Georgia State University Police Department’s reluctance to file a report for the “crime.” The paper decided to finally file a report following a statement made last Thursday by Ben Williams of the Student Government Association, who said at least two girls came to him and admitted to trashing the papers and wanted the SGA to take a stand on the issue.

However, the responding officer said no crime was committed because The Signal later recovered the approximately 250 papers, which were removed from their stand and disposed of into nearby recycling bins inside the General Classroom Building on March 13, the day the issue hit the stands. A maintenance worker at the scene said she saw a small group of girls disposing of the newspapers approximately 15 minutes before Signal staff discovered the trashing. GSUPD deferred the complaint to the Office of the Dean of Students for potential Code of Conduct violations by the

students. The paper plans on filing a complaint tomorrow. Miranda Sain, The Signal’s editor-in-chief, said the trashings were illegal. “If someone steals your car but you find it later, that doesn’t change the fact someone stole something from you,” Sain said. She said the girls responsible for the disposal should have acted in a civil manner instead of resorting to a form of censorship to suppress stories they didn’t agree with. “If you disagree with what’s written, you have a right to throw away your copy of the paper,” Sain said.

“If you throw away 249 other copies of the paper and deprive others of their right of access, then you’ve denied them information they have a right to,” she said. “Regardless of whether the papers are free or not, it is still censorship,” she continued. In recent weeks, the case has received extensive coverage by popular online journalism blogs and websites maintained by student free speech advocacy sites, such as the Student Press Law Center. The 36-page issue was the largest known production printed in the 82-year-old history of the paper.

A report was filed for Simple Battery. The complainant, a GSU staff member stated, at 6:15 a.m. an unknown individual approached her and kicked her in her shin. The victim refused medical attention. The case is being handled by Investigations.

University Commons

A report was filed for a Fire Alarm. On 03/16/12 at 12:15 a.m. officers were advised of smoke on the 10th floor of Building A. When officers and AFD arrived they observed burnt food on the stove. The area was cleared for re-entry. The case is being handled by Housing and the Office of Emergency Management.

March 22 University Commons

Officers arrested a GSU student for Alcoholic Possession under 21 Years Old. At 1:15 a.m. officers confirmed the individual was underage and intoxicated. Grady EMS responded and determined he did not require medical attention. He was arrested, processed and released on a Copy of Charges.

Student Center

A report was filed for Theft. The complainant, a GSU staff member stated, at 5:15 p.m. she noticed her wallet containing various items was missing. The case is being handled by Investigations.

Student Center

A report was filed for Theft. The complainant, a GSU staff member stated, on 03/05/12 at 12:00 p.m. he noticed a freezer that was on the loading dock being picked up by surplus was missing. The case is being handled by Investigations.

Edgewood Ave./Hurt Plaza

A report was filed for Harassment. The complainant, a GSU student stated, at 6:30 p.m. he began being harassed and threatened by another GSU student. The case is being handled by Investigations.

News | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

Gold Dome Update Tax reform bill follows university recommendations Sarah Woods | The Signal

Senate Bill 458 would amend the state’s categorisation of higher education as a nonpublic benefit to ban undocumented students from attending state universities.

Bill would ban undocumented students from universities Terah Boyd Associate News Editor

Chris Shattuck | The Signal

If signed by Gov. Nathan Deal, the latest tax reform bill would eliminate the state car sales tax and ad valorem tax.

Terah Boyd Associate News Editor

One of the largest tax reform bills of the past decade cleared the Georgia General Assembly last Thursday. In addition to cutting taxes for state businesses, House Bill 386 will also eliminate car sales taxes and the ad valorem tax, also referred to as the “birthday tax.” Although a similar bill failed to pass in the last few days of last year’s legislative session, the reform plan that passed took less than a month to clear the assembly this year. Georgia State University’s Fiscal Research Center (FRC) presented an analysis of the bill to state legislators last week, which exposed projected gains and losses to Georgia’s government. A debated aspect of the bill is whether tax revenue losses will hurt small local governments. One of the biggest losses in tax revenue in the FRC study is an

exemption for married Georgia residences, losing 362.6 million dollars of taxes. “The bill will help local governments deal with the anticipated change in revenue,” Sally Wallace, FRC director and chair of the Department of Economics, said. “The bill is quite balanced in terms of its revenue impacts. The sales tax exemption for industry is expected to help attract new businesses and to help existing businesses grow.” The FRC’s study predicts that, by 2015, state revenue would increase from the business the tax cuts would attract. “The FRC is a resource for all levels of government,” Wallace said. The FRC is a common resource of fiscal guidance for the Georgia General Assembly. Legislators and researchers said that they anticipate the tax cuts will continue to attract businesses to Georgia, creating jobs for Georgia students when they graduate.

Sally Wallace, FRC director and chair of the Department of Economics

Wallace said she hopes key components of the bill pass, including the energy tax “I hope that the energy tax component of the bill increases employment and affords our students good job prospects.”

A bill that would amend how citizens access public benefits would also change whether undocumented students would be allowed access to public universities. If passed, Senate Bill 458 would re-categorize higher education as a public benefit, which would place much stronger qualifications on university admissions and limit access to school only to those who qualify, namely undocumented students. The Board of Regents, strong opponents of both House Bill 59 and now SB 458, introduced their own policy to only bar undocumented students from the most competitive University System of Georgia schools last fall. The Board of Regents says its policies prevent illegal immigrants from competing with classroom space for Georgia students. “We believe [the Board of Regents’] policy assures undocumented students do not receive a public benefit since they must pay out of state tuition,” Chancellor Hank Huckaby of the University System of Georgia said to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 22. “No undocumented student will be taking a seat in a class away from a Georgia student.” Stephen Anthony of the Political Science Department at Georgia State isn’t confident that the bill will drive through the House as quickly as the Senate. “I think it has a chance,” Anthony said. “My indication is that the Governor isn’t thrilled with it. Certainly the Chancellor [of the Board of Regents] has stated his opposition.” “What happens at this stage of the session with bills like this is that it is not always about the merits of the bill,” Anthony said. With the general assembly ses-

sion drawing to a close SB 458 will have more trouble navigating through its last crucial steps before it becomes a law. But SB 458 may be have a greater shot at passing because it merely amends an existing piece of legislation, according to Anthony.

Chancellor Hank Huckaby of the University System of Georgia

“If there is a law that does what you want and doesn’t include who you want, that’s the answer,” Anthony said. Anthony said the current district lines in Georgia may also shape the reason for reform bills targeting undocumented students. Some lawmakers can propose these bills without opposition in many of their districts. “There isn’t any historical context on this,” Anthony said. If the bill becomes a law, without judicial consideration, it could begin affecting non-Georgia State University System students as early as spring of 2013. __________________________________ This is the last week of the General Assembly in Georgia. Let the lawmakers under the Gold Dome know your opinion before the end of the session. For more information, including locating your legislator and access to the Georgia code online, visit www.legis.ga.gov.

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opINIoNS www.gsusignal.com/opinions

Last week, the activist group “Occupy GSU” infiltrated classrooms, dispersing flyers and chanting – resulting in the arrest of one protestor. The shenanigans were a tactic to rally up students for the groupʼs march to the Board of Regents meeting. However, judging from the comments we received from our social media outlets, students were not enthused by the groupʼs tactic to rally support. We cannot help but notice that many of those faces that made up the “Occupy GSU” movement are also avid members of Georgia Students for Public Higher Education (GSPHE). Many of the tactics used by GSPHE are being reflected in the “Occupy GSU” movement. These tactics are proving to be no more popular or successful in the “Occupy GSU” movement than they were when used by the GSPHE. That said, it is time that both of these groups reconsider their protest strategy. Instead of interrupting classes by tossing around flyers, the groups should consider getting actively involved in organizations that could potentially make a difference, such as the Student Government Association (SGA). While we understand that some members of both groups are no longer Georgia State students, those that are students should join politically engaged organizations on campus. If you read our special SGA issue from a couple weeks ago, the reverberating message from many candidates is that they wanted to represent and be the voice of the students. During the time that the HOPE Scholarship revisions were underway, Georgia Stateʼs SGA was heavily involved in advocating for the students. The SGA could provide the connections and the platform needed to actually make a difference instead of yelling into a megaphone until you are hoarse. Ultimately, we know that groups like GSPHE and “Occupy GSU” are working in earnest to better the University System of Georgia by pointing out injustices and bringing awareness to tuition hikes. It is just time to reevaluate the strategy. When students are beginning to see you as a nuisance, itʼs time to reevaluate your strategy and look introspectively to see if you really have made a difference at all with your current tactic. P.S. The Signal would really appreciate it if the “Occupy GSUʼ movement would stop putting their protest flyers into our newspapers while they are on the stands. Unless, that is, youʼd be willing to pay for an insert or an advertisement. Thanks! FroM thE EDitoriaL BoarD

reﬂects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of The Signal, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors

racial Proﬁling Jaira BUrKE Guest columnist

Is every black man a thug? Is every Indian, Pakistanian, or Iraqi a terrorist? Is every Mexican an illegal immigrant with a criminal background? Just recently Trayvon Martin, a seventeen-year-old boy, was murdered in a gated community in Stanford, Fla. The boy was visiting his father and stepmother, who were in the neighborhood watching a basketball game. At half time the boy decided to walk to the nearby convenience store when the Neighborhood Watch, George Zimmerman, saw him and called the police saying there was a “suspicious” individual in the community. Upon the Police’s arrival, the boy was shot dead, with an Arizona Ice Tea and bag of skittles in his pocket. The neighborhood watchman stood unharmed claiming to have gotten in an altercation with the boy. George Zimmerman has still not been arrested or even brought in for questioning. In situations like this it is hard to deter from asking the obvious question; if Trayvon Martin was a Caucasian boy and George Zimmerman an African American, would the police’s reaction be at all the same?

Every day society feels the implications of racial profiling. Just what was suspicious about young Trayvon? His skin pigmentation? The media is at fault for plugging in negative images of minorities in America. Tyler Perry movies bring, as Spike Lee once said, “Coonery and Buffoonery” to its best. Metro PCS commercials make a regular habit of emasculating men of Middle Eastern races. California “Gangsta” movies love to present Hispanics in America as “Chicos and Cholas.” I don’t think I need to express to the readers that racial profiling is wrong. But, it is my belief that many people are guilty of racial profiling without even knowing. For example, in my personal experiences alone, I have been told that I “talk white” on several occasions. Exactly what is speaking white? There are many dialects and accents, which are effected by region or tribe, not merely race alone. Or one example of racial profiling that I love to site is when one of my professors at Georgia State said in class “What would happen if I said the N-Word at the Marta Five Points Station?” And the class joyously replied almost instantaneously, “You would get shot!” Why is this the im-

mediate response? African Americans are not angry, short-tempered people walking around with lethal weapons hoping to shoot whoever pisses them off. Don’t allow what you view on television to become your reality. Minorities deal with racial profiling and other racial implications to no fault of their own. Do these images in the media come from some type of truth? Yes. But, one should not have to suffer because the acts of others or even a select few. Like poor Trayvon, a young boy on the track for graduation, when a man who succumbed to racial profiling viewed his skin color as a threat. A person’s level of Melanin does not control their personality or their actions. This boy was guilty of not posing a threat, or attacking a man, but was guilty of being a young black man, which in the majority of societal views equates to being a violent, intolerable, ignorant savage. It is in no way justifiable that negative images in the media dictate how we live and interact amongst one another. I urge you all to boycott television shows and movies that stereotype and categorize races of people, causing the plight of racial profiling on America.

Commencement: a one time affair During the fall semester, Georgia State made the decision to move to one annual commencement ceremony in May for bachelor’s, master’s and specialist graduates. In an effort to answer questions that have arisen, it is important to share the reasons for this decision. --GSU’s academic calendar and the non-availability of the Georgia Dome forced the scheduling of a mid-week Fall commencement ceremony. --The mid-week scheduling required almost 200 staff volunteers needed to assist with the Fall commencement ceremony to be away from their campus jobs at a crucial time in the semester. --The budget impact of having two Georgia Dome ceremonies per year. The university arrived at this decision after an extensive discussion process that included input from the GSU community. The following outlines the timeline of that process: --March 28, 2011: University Senate Commencement Committee

(Student Representation): Decision was made to explore the possibility of a move to one ceremony. --March 30, 2011: University Deans Group. No opposition --April 5, 2011: GSU Signal publishes SGA story, reporting the possibility of the move to one commencement ceremony. --April 25, 2011: University Senate Commencement Committee (Student Representation): Committee updated on process to that point. --April 28, 2011: University Relations vice president and another UR staff member meet with SGA President James Dutton to discuss the possibility of the move to one ceremony. Dutton voiced no opposition. --May 11, 2011: Administrative Council discussion. (Student Representation) No opposition. --September 15, 2011: University Senate Commencement Committee (Student Representation). Updated on process. Committee endorses move to one Dome ceremony.

--October 27, 2011: University Senate Meeting (Student Representation): President Becker announces during his remarks that GSU will have only one bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree ceremony at the Georgia Dome. It will take place at the conclusion of the Spring semester each May. The final Fall ceremony will be in December, 2011. It is with sincere hope that students affected by this change will chose to attend the May ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments. For more information on the May ceremony go to www.gsu.edu/ commencement. DEaNNa J. hiNES Vice President for University relations

ArTS & & LIvING| LIvING| THE THE SIGNAL SIGNAL ArTS

YOUR vOiCE YOUR OPiNiONS MARTA and the Atlanta Streetcar project are teaming up to build an electric streetcar to promote mobility for pedestrians in downtown Atlanta. They have already started construction on Edgewood, and another proposed route would go down Peachtree. Do you think this project will be a success and would you use a streetcar to get around downtown?

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

THE SIGNAL Editorial Department

EDitor iN chiEF

Miranda Sain signaleditor@gmail.com SENior EDitor Sabastian Wee signalseniored@gmail.com MaNaGiNG EDitor Mishall rehman signalmanaging@gmail.com NEWS EDitor chris Shattuck signalnewseditor@gmail.com aSSociatE NEWS EDitor terah Boyd tboyd10@student.gsu.edu artS & LiViNG EDitor alicia Johnson signalliving@gmail.com aSSociatE artS EDitor

zack Kraimer zack.j.kraimer@gmail.com aSSociatE LiViNG EDitor thaddeus Morgan thad.morgan89@gmail.com SPortS EDitor

Jerel Marshall thesignalsport@gmail.com

aSSociatE SPortS EDitor ProDUctioN EDitor

“I would use it and it probably would be successful. Especially if there are a lot of students here who are trying to get around, they already use the shuttle bus for a lot of [their] transportation needs, so it would be pretty beneficial for not only students but for people from around the county.” Dajuan rooks – computer Science

“I personally wouldn’t because I work right down the street so I just park there every day when I have class. And would it be a success? I really don’t know, I don’t use public transportation that much, so I have no perspective on it whatsoever.”

“Yes I would definitely use it an yes it would be a great success, I think it would kind of conflict though with the Panther Express as far as for GSU students, but for those who come down here for the state capitol I think it would be an awesome idea.”

alex Branham – chemistry

Shadaya harper – Biology- Pre Med

“It sounds like it would be very efficient. It would probably help people to get from one place to another without having trouble walking with people harassing them on the streets.” Marie Granados - Business

Dylan rice drice90@gmail.com Bennett Greer signalprod@gmail.com

aSSiStaNt ProDUctioN EDitor aysha Johnson signalprod2@gmail.com PhotoGraPhy EDitor oPiNioNS EDitor

Patrick Duffy patrickduffy8@gmail.com Miles Keenlyside signalopinions@gmail.com

SociaL MEDia SPEciaLiSt

Brittany Williams signalwebsite@gmail.com coPy EDitor Laura apperson laura.catherine.apperson@gmail.com StUDENt MEDia aDViSor Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu

Marketing Department MarKEtiNG/Pr EXEcUtiVE cooper Donnelly aDVErtiSiNG coorDiNator Baylye Boxall bboxall1@student.gsu.edu circULatioN coorDiNator Phillip Masci signaldistribution@gmail.com rESEarch aNaLySt

Krystle Sharp kdarnell1@student.gsu.edu circULatioN coorDiNator Victoria Lightfoot lightfoot.victoria1@gmail.com

MiSSioN StatEMENt

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Give science a chance

Letter to the Editor As a university which actively encourages all kinds of debate and critical thinking, we – as professors at Georgia State University – disapprove of the GSU campus police’s unnecessarily heavy-handed arrest and removal of a student at a demonstration on Tuesday, 13th March. Although the student was a student at another college – not GSU – his ‘crime’, for allegedly ‘littering’ (he was distributing leaflets in the courtyard and library) was clearly out of all proportion to his treatment – forced to the floor by four armed officers, handcuffed, and then dragged (literally) to the edge of campus, where three police cars and a police motorcycle came to take him away. The vid-

eo footage of this is widely available. The student spent a night in jail and, the following morning, was released after the judge dismissed all charges against him. A university has to be a place where students, staff and faculty feel they can express themselves freely and without fear of police intimidation and an exaggerated security ‘presence’. We ask the GSU administration to take steps to ensure that the practice of political dissent can continue to take place without such overreaction. This kind of unwarranted use of force exposes the University to unfavorable publicity and stifles the free expression of ideas that characterizes a vibrant University environment.

Dr ian almond, Dr Makungu M. akinyela, Dr Murray L. Brown, Dr henry carey, Dr Brennan collins, Dr William a. Edmundson, Dr hector Fernandez, Dr Jeannie Grussendorf, Dr Beth a. Gylys, Dr Emanuela Guano, Dr amira Jarmakani, Dr Juliana M. Kubala, Dr Gabriel P. Kuperminc, Dr Peter Lindsay, Dr Mark Noble, Dr Leeanne richardson, Dr Peter rorabaugh, Dr renee Schattemann, Dr Susan talburt, Dr calvin h. thomas, Dr a. K. Umoja, Dr tanya Washington, Dr cassandra White

Goodbye Theatre in the Square JaMES McDoUGaLL columnist olumnist

Marietta’s Theatre in the Square has closed its doors after 31 years. It’s a real shame too. They were consistent with their content and staffed by a great group of people. My first job in a professional theatre was there about five years ago and I will remember it fondly. My coworkers were dedicated and righteous, and I appreciated what they did in the middle of suburban sprawl. Through political hangups and an audience adverse to change, they still made it 31 years. According to their website the downfall began in 2007,

ArTS & LIvING | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

“when the home sales market collapsed. Many of [their] corporate funders were homebuilders” and within 18 months they lost “75% of all [their] corporate support.” Since then they had been playing it safe, bringing back audience favorites and checking controversy at the door. But it wasn’t enough to get people in. Theatre in the Square wasn’t the only theatre in trouble before they finally had to close. Actually, the majority of theatres across town without “Alliance” in the title aren’t doing so well. Georgia Shakespeare has rolled out a massive capital campaign. That’s right, in Atlanta even Shakespeare has to ask for a leg up. Save our theatres, Atlanta, before the artists leave. Save our theatres, Atlanta, before the multitude of education programs they provide disappear.

Save our theatres, Atlanta, before the schools realize this apparent apathy, and finally cut all federal funding for the arts. But this is a two-way street: local theatre should treat this as the warning no one is safe. No longer can they rest safely in name recognition and regional respect. If theatre is to survive in this city it must justify its existence. This is a call to build inclusive, thought-provoking programing. This is a call for dynamic change. If not, we will keep seeing more and more Atlanta institutions lost, but fondly remembered. So please, see what’s showing around town. Many theatres have great deals for students including: 7 Stages in Little Five Points, Actor’s Express in Midtown, and The Alliance. Visit atlantatheaterfans.com for a full list.

MiLES KEENLySiDE opinions Editor

America is in the middle of a crisis, and it may be what’s going to hold us back from keeping up with other nations in the 21st century. The number of students who are studying math and sciences is dropping, which will gradually but surely leave us with fewer scientists and professors to go on with the research and development which is so vital to American innovation and advancement. I blame the culture of deniability that has been permeating our popular culture in the recent decade. America’s ability to make great scientific leaps was once a point of pride in our culture, an attitude that greatly needs a revival. Somehow it has become acceptable to dismiss scientific proof in exchange for opinions and speculation. Particularly in the political arena, denying scientific evidence has become a sport. Topics with perfectly legitimate scientific data like global climate change, evolution and stem cell research are repeatedly slandered and ridiculed by misinformed and under-qualified politicians and the American public eats it up as the truth. Religious leaders frame science as the enemy of faith and polarize the opinions of pious youngsters, literally demonizing scientists in their impressionable psyches. What happened to the awe and wonderment that used to draw the youth of America to scientific pursuits? The best example, of course, is the moon landing, America’s crowning glory in scientific achievement. We were the first ones to leave the shores of Earth and dip our toes in the great cosmic ocean. It enthralled children and adults worldwide and is often cited by scientists as the precise moment they were captivated by the possibilities of science as children. It’s not all just memory foam and Tang, ei-

ther; NASA motivated scientists of all kinds to develop technologies to be used in space and here at home. Adventure novels like the Tom Swift series touted the advantages of mastering science and invention, even leading the developers of the TASER to name the lessthan-lethal weapon after the series, inspired by Thomas A. Smith’s Electric Rifle. So what can we do to restore the good name of science here in America? For starters we need to start restoring funding to math and sciences at the lowest levels of education, to make scientific endeavors more accessible to the students so they can develop a better sense of what is possible. We need to educate people about how important scientific progress is to the economy and stability of America in the long run. Most of the short-term solutions that are responsible for funding being siphoned from sciences could be turned into long-term solutions if the right options were explored through scientific study. We pay money to fight wars for oil, when the right scientific funding could lead to amazing breakthroughs in energy. The possibilities are endless, and the only limitations seem to be the imaginations of the scientists themselves. For example, scientists from MIT, Harvard University and Rice University have developed a camera that can take images around corners without the use of mirrors or angled lenses. That’s right, I’m talking Blade Runner type stuff here. Apparently the camera can collect ambient light bouncing off of surrounding surfaces, and reassemble them into a cohesive image. “Zoom in. Stop. Enhance.” Who would have even imagined that such a sci-fi concept could be realized in our time? Luckily a scientist did, and it’s people like them who will propel us into the future. So give science a little bit more credit; without it you wouldn’t have almost any of the things that you have come to rely on so desperately in the 21st century.

Comments from our website In response to Michael Brazeal’s “New Falcons stadium defies common sense”

In response to “What you should know about sex trafficking and what you can do about it”

From anonymous:

From Jeff Shaw:

Are you anti football or just not a Falcons’ fan? First of all, getting a new stadium will bring another Super Bowl to the city. The NFL has all but guaranteed it. Second of all, the stadium would be used more than 8 times a season as there are 2 preseason games which cost the team just as much as a regular season game to use. Playoffs! You’re talking about playoffs? Blank’s team has won a playoff game... a few actually. Remember the first ever home playoff loss for the Green Bay Packers? Yeah, that was Arthur Blank’s first year as owner. Two years later the Falcons’ won a home playoff game against the Rams and played in the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia. Third of all, this is great for GSU. You are a fan of GSU, aren’t you? We would become the primary tenant of the Dome and our banners will be ﬂying when the football season kicks off with the Chic-fil-a Classic and when the SEC Champion is crowned. Our house. Fourth, yes there will be an increased tax on tourists. That’s not a tax on us. Taxes suck all around but the burden does not fall on residents nearly as much as it does on those coming to Atlanta. With the tourist attractions around the Dome like the Aquarium, Coca-Cola, Philips Arena, and the soon to be NCAA College Football Hall of Fame it will be the millions of tourists every year paying off this stadium. Do I think the Falcons’ need a new home? No. The Dome is awesome and I love it. But if you want to criticize it, find better arguments and try to represent your university a little better.

Sadly, I think Simonds falls within the segment of society that needs greater education on this issue. First, the decriminalizing of “sex work” does not solve any of the abuses and horrors that prostituted men and women face. In fact, history shows the opposite. In Amsterdam, law enforcement can’t accomplish anything because the sex industry is now primarily run by competing mafia groups, and most of the women in the industry have been trafficked from other countries and can’t speak the local language. Those trying to fight trafficking in Amsterdam say that the legalized system has created an absolute nightmare. All of the sex trafficking is just done now under the umbrella of law, but the women aren’t any better off. Second, when you actually take the time to speak to women in the sex industry, especially those being prostituted, it does not take long to realize that this really wasn’t a choice. “Choice” implies alternatives. For many who were molested as children, couldn’t finish school, ran away, developed drug addictions, or had children as teenagers, there is no alternative. It’s like seeing someone jump out of a 10-story building and saying that they chose to do that, not realizing that the building was actually on fire and that the only choices were to jump or burn alive. All prostituted men and women are in need of assistance, it’s just a matter of them receiving it in their own timing when they’re ready. We can’t force it on them, but make no mistake, few if any would continue in that life if given an alternative. Statements and assertions like those made by Simonds in this article are dangerous and perpetuate the cycles of sexual abuse and enslavement that are devastating our city.

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Plans for the city’s Freedom Park Project is underway and SEAT has taken the lead this year.

SEAT – Freedom Park Project Flux Projects create public art

Anna Norris Staff Writer

Flux Projects, an organization that promotes temporary public art, has chosen this summer’s Freedom Park Project: SEAT. This new interactive architectural design was envisioned by architects Brian Brush and Yong Ju Lee. Brush and Lee are partners in the design collaboration E/B Office based out of New York and Portland. SEAT is a garden pavilion composed of nothing but wooden chairs. The design includes about 400 chairs that will be connected in the form of a sine wave arch. It was chosen by Flux Projects along with the Freedom Park Conservancy from 89 entries. Visitors to Freedom Park will not be limited to simply looking at SEAT. They can

actually sit on the chairs or even in the shade beneath them. Brush says that SEAT was inspired by a desire to question what we take for granted, taking something as simple as a chair and turning into a complex architectural work. “Many of our projects attempt to question the encoding and representation of information in the built environment,” Brush said. “It’s less about communicating information, and more about changing the perception of domestic objects through their use as architectural units and components,” Brush said. “It’s a repurposing of an object through the manipulation of its informational identity.” Brush says that constructing SEAT will be a rigorous process.

“A high degree of organization will be key as each chair will be custom-connected to another,” Brush said. He says there will be about 1600 such connections. Anne Dennington, the executive director of Flux Projects, said that the artists and volunteers will begin construction on SEAT in mid-July. The construction process will take anywhere from one week to 10 days in an area of Freedom Park that will be visible from Moreland Avenue and Freedom Parkway. The project is expected to be in the park until mid-September. Dennington says that “high visibility” and “great impact” were two main components in selecting the Freedom Park Project concept. She says that the two people who sat on the selection committee from the

Freedom Park Conservancy wanted a piece that would pull people into the park. Other judging criteria included art that incorporated artistic merit, feasibility and safety for the audience. “Even though Brian and Yong Lee are architects, they are also actively doing public art projects, so they are designers as well,” Dennington said. “That was a really good blend for this. Their practice gave us a lot of confidence that they were going to be able to do this, and do it safely.” Dennington says the fact that SEAT would bring amenities to the park was also appealing. “Their project managed to combine something that was visually compelling with something that was interesting to use,” Dennington said. Dennington says that

while Flux Projects started broadly with no set location, it has narrowed into in-town Atlanta neighborhoods in such a way that people have come to expect yearly projects from the organization. Dennington says that Flux’s main goal is for residents of Atlanta to begin to call for more art in their city. “When we’ll really turn that corner is when people that don’t consider themselves arts patrons, just people who live in Atlanta, are paying attention to the arts as part of their daily life,” Dennington said. Flux Projects worked with the Freedom Park Conservancy to select the artwork that replaces last year’s “ladder project,” Rise Up Atlanta, which was created by Charlie Brouwer. Flux Projects, founded by Louis Corrigan, works with

artists in order to provide Atlanta with public art. “The organization started with the goal of bringing more opportunities for our artists,” Dennington said. “We quickly realized that we can provide funding to artists but equally important was getting an audience for their work.” Flux Projects hosts one major event a year, FLUX, which invites artists from all backgrounds, visual arts to performance arts, to submit proposals for the event, which takes place in the vacant spaces of the Castleberry Hill Arts District. Projects like this give students one opportunity of many in the city to enjoy art. Last year, Flux and Georgia State provided a free shuttle to FLUX. Dennington plans to offer this service this year as well.

Arts & living| THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

Achievement

gap

Courtney Boyd Staff Writer

Each day, thousands pass through the sliding doors to fill pale yellow seats before the doors shut. Grabbing a rail in one hand and holding an iPod in the other, Brandy Smith braces herself for the jerky takeoff to Chamblee station. When tuition costs took a hike, Brandy, a senior biology student, took on the responsibility of working two jobs to make ends meet. The money she earns as a parttime student assistant at the on-campus language lab affords her small necessities like buying books and covering MARTA fare. “I have to pay for every single thing that’s school-related,” Smith said. “Financial aid is extremely important for me to be able to complete my education. Unfortunately I’ve had to get numerous loans and I’m afraid to even look at the balance that I will have to pay off when I finally graduate! Luckily, I’m still able to live with my parents to save money. It’s not ideally where I want to be, but it’s what I have to do.” Her less-than-ideal living situation comes with a lengthy commute to the downtown Atlanta campus of Georgia State. Each morning she drives to and parks at the Doraville transit station, then takes a 20-minute train ride to congested Five Points. Moving back home did, however, have some perks. Brandy was able to buy a car for less than what she paid to spend a semester in the Commons, and her food expenses have greatly decreased. Despite crossing financial hurdles, Smith still has to complete several semesters of major coursework before she can clench a diploma to her chest. The fall 2012 semester will mark the start of her sixth year as a university student, a miscue she attributes to intense upper-level classes and little academic assistance. According to a brief released in 2011 by The Education Trust (EdTrust), a Washington-based education advocacy organization, out of nearly 400,000 minority students who enroll as college freshmen each year, fewer than half earn a bachelor’s degree in six years. Though they surmount barriers commonly faced by minority students - those EdTrust lists as “underfunded high schools, an intimidating collegeadmissions process, and daunting financial circumstances” - they are unable to navigate their ways out of the nation’s universities in fewer than four years. The same brief, entitled “Top Gainers,” highlights that four-year colleges and universities that have boosted minority graduation rates “sometimes even closing the gaps between minority students and their peers.” In 2010 it ranked Georgia State as the number two top gainer in underrepresented minority six-year graduation (URM) rates from 2002 to 2007, when minority graduation rose 18.4 points from 32.3 percent to 50.7 percent. Though no information was reported for the past several

years, Timothy Renick, chief enrollment officer at Georgia State, ensures that students are given a better educational opportunity here than at other institutions in the state and many others in the nation. “In 2011, Georgia State graduated more African American, Latino/a, and Asian students than any other school in Georgia,” Renick said. “As the University Strategic Plan states, Georgia State is a place where students from all backgrounds can succeed.” EdTrust further reported on Georgia State’s performance that, today, minority students graduate at higher rates than their non-minority peers (numbers not provided). The URM improvements, however, do not come at the expense of their nonminority peers, whose six-year graduation rates rose 8.1 percentage points from 2002 to 2007. And even with improving overall graduation rates, Renick says there is still more work to be done to increase timely graduation. Using aggregated data including detailed demographic information collected through PantherCard use, he put together a report titled “Striving for Success: Retention and Graduation as GSU” that President Becker presented before the Board of Regents in spring 2010. “Striving for Success” outlines a fourpronged, three-year program aimed to increase retention and graduation rates. Renick advocates Keep HOPE Alive, the PATH program, targeted interventions and the university assistantship program as instrumental to students’ prosperity. “Georgia State students are diverse in just about every way, including in the obstacles that they face,” Renick said. “For some students, the challenge is economic in nature. For others, it may be an academic skill such as math or writing, or even a single academic course that they fail to pass. As a result, there is no one program that works for all students. We have developed a broad menu of academic support programs to address very specific problems that students face.” Smith would like to see more programs targeted towards upperclassmen. Though being part of an FLC helped during her freshman year, not having mandatory advisement or faculty mentors to guide her through more difficult classes left her unprepared to navigate the sea of financing and registration decisions. She warns other low-income minority students who are in her younger, high school senior shoes. “I think it is possible to earn your degree in four years, but you have to know exactly what you are doing. Most freshmen come to school thinking they should just start off with the basics and go from there. That is not necessarily true. You have to be on the right path from day one,” Smith said. “Otherwise you will end up like most GSU students: in debt and on the six-year plan.”

Out of the 400,000 minority students who enroll as college freshmen each year, fewer than half earn a bachelor’s degree

In 2010 it ranked Georgia State as the number two top gainer in underrepresented minority six-year graduation (URM) rates from 2002 to 2007, when minority graduation rose 18.4 points from 32.3 percent to 50.7

In 2011, Georgia State graduated more African American, Latino/a, and Asian students than any other school in Georgia.

ARTS & LIVING | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

REEL reviewS 21 Jump Street YUTI JOSHI Staff Writer

“21 Jump Street” proves to be not only thought-provoking but fun and extremely entertaining. This film, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is a crude and aggressive comedy that takes the silliness in the show and amps it up to ecstatic heights. The movie starts off with Jenko (Channing Tatum) as a popular football jock that intimidates Schmidt (Jonah Hill) with purple nurples. Schmidt is a stereotypical nerd with a bleached-blond

bowl cut and large braces. The story then goes to a drug bust scene seven years later where Jenko and Schmidt are seen consigning bike patrol in a public park. They are assigned to Jump Street by their captain (Ice Cube). He gives them two warnings that they have to adhere to as Jump Street officers. One of them is not getting expelled from their assigned high school, and the other being not have sexual relationships with students or faculty members. They are assigned to bust a drug scene in a high school in town. Jenko and Schmidt have to face their issues of taking on this generational gap, which is much funnier than big shoulder pads, shaggy mullets or acid-washed den-

The Hunger Games IMAN NAIM Staff Writer

The movie adaptation of author Suzanne Collins’ book, The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, hit theaters this past Friday, much to the excitement of ardent fans. The action film takes place in the future, in the ruins of North America. Decades before Katniss’s story begins, the cruel capitol of the country Panem is fighting to quash rebellions from the 13 districts it reigns over. The

rebellion ends with the obliteration of a district, and as a reminder to all its citizens that they are under the mercy of the capitol, every year a boy and girl tribute from each district is thrown into an arena and forced to fight to the death on live television. Fast-forward 74 years and sixteenyear-old Katniss has volunteered to enter the arena in place of her younger sister, Prim. Her struggle for survival is compromised by the obligation she feels to save her district partner, Peeta Mellark. This captivating movie will have you hooked from Katniss’ adrenalinepumping escape from the Gamemaker-

im shown in the original series from the 1980’s. When they are sent back to high school undercover, these 20-something year olds are shocked to discover how much has changed since 2005. Texting is the norm, and the old social hierarchies seem to have broken down. Kids these days are so tolerant and sensitive and environmentally conscious, Jenko notes. The bad guys are shown as a clique of diverse, articulate, college-bound teenagers, led by Eric (Dave Franco) whose very existence destroys the pecking order Schmidt and Jenko rely on. The real energy in the film comes from Jenko and Schmidt who simultaneously reverse their roles in the film when they come in as students seven years later. Schmidt

induced fireballs to the terrifying final showdown between the remaining tributes—and some vicious visitors. Action isn’t the only aspect that audiences have to look forward to. Balancing out the violence is the heartwarming relationship between Katniss and her young friend in the arena, Rue. Who could forget the love and loyalty that Peeta feels for Katniss and his determination to keep her alive in such a dangerous place, even at the cost of his life? The main concern of fans is whether or not the movie will do justice to their cherished book. Additional scenes such as insight into their mentor’s effort to help both Peeta and Katniss stay alive and the Head Gamemaker Seneca

becomes the big shot with an only slightly inappropriate romantic interest (Brie Larson) while the beefy, bull-necked Jenko is exiled to the world of wonks and dweebs. While Jenko is forced to slum it at the bottom of the food chain, Schmidt quickly finds himself befriending Eric, the earthy-crunchy coolest guy who happens to be connected to the HFS drug ring. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s odd-couple act and partnership is what makes the movie much funnier than the hit-and-miss jokes and the action involved. By taking us to obvious places for cheap gags and giggly gross-outs, “21 Jump Street” will grip the audience with its absurd, eccentric inventiveness.

Crane’s desperate attempts to control Katniss’s rebellious attitude before it causes resistance across the country only add to the story and make for a better viewing experience. Excellent performances from side actors Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks brought the witty and clever characters of Haymitch and Effie to life and contributed to Lawrence and Hutcherson’s outstanding portrayal of the star-crossed lovers from “District 12.” Overall, “The Hunger Games” is a loyal adaptation of the book that readers will love watching come alive on the big screen, as well as a blood-pumping action film that new-coming fans will be able to enjoy.

21 Jump Street Director: Phil Lord and Chris Miller Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, and Ice Cube Release Date: March 16

The Hunger Games Director: Gary Ross Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth Release Date: March 23

365 ArTS & LIvING| THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

The Atlanta Film Festival aLicia JohNSoN aND thaDDEUS MorGaN arts and Living Editor and associate Living Editor

The 2012 Atlanta Film Festival rolled out the red carpet for its premiere film, “L!fe Happens,” in what promises to be a long list of quality screenings lined up for movie goers. Atlanta Film Festival 365 was the title of this year’s festival, showing the public that there’s more than just two weeks’ worth of films that can be taken away from the programming this year. “We’re not only a film festival, but we’re a media arts organization that’s been around for 36 years. So we do a lot of education, we do programming, we do workshops, we partner with other events throughout the year,” Charles Judson, Head of Programming and Industry Outreach for the Atlanta Film Festival, said. “We started with the mission of helping filmmakers originally, to help with equipment, help with training, and we’re just continuing that mission in

new ways, almost four decades later.” One of the ways in which the festival has grown is the heavy incorporation of music into the programming, including live performances after the shows and strong musical elements in some of the films. And although their mission has grown beyond just screening movies, the Atlanta Film Festival has still made progress in the terms of its films, with more than 2,200 submissions and nearly 220 films being programmed this year, according to Chris Escobar, Executive Director for the Atlanta Film Festival. Even with the progress made in this year’s festival, there are no signs of slowing down in making next year’s Atlanta Film Festival even better. “We always have room to improve, but the one place I feel that we’ve always been

consistent in is the range of great programming we’ve had,” Judson said. “That’s one reason we’ve been around so long is because we’re known for the quality of film and programming.” The film screened on opening night, “Life Happens,” showcased the originality of the films submitted, as three women who live together struggle with their careers and intimacy, while collectively raising a baby. Traditional gender roles were challenged in the film, one of the qualities of the independent film that Kat Coiro, director and co-writer with Krysten Ritter, had specifically intended. Coiro also shared her knowledge of the filmmaking process with the audience after the film premiered, telling how she managed to get the film funded, the effort put into shooting the film in 17 days and the challenges that she faced with production. Like most film festivals, the main benefit is the ability to

see documentaries and films not commercialized yet. The types of films range from narrative features and partner series to documentary features. “This year we have more film programs than probably ever before that were all local,” Judson said. “A lot of that is reflected because people...can work on [their] passion project and other stuff as well.” That local quality and diversity is what makes these films more relatable and their artistry appreciated. Those involved in the festival’s production use the festival as a way to educate viewers about society. Judson remembers being particularly excited about showing a documentary named “Roadmap to Apartheid.” He stated that most coverage of this issue does not go into depth about the matter but that this documentary did. “They don’t really go into depth about what it means,” Judson said. “The film makers are definitely doing a good job of being evenhanded.”

Viewers witnessed this at the festival’s ‘home-base’ theater, Landmark Midtown, on the second day of the festival. This film focuses on the apartheid struggle between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Directors Ana Nogueira and Eron Davidson discussed the conflict in certain areas like the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The film also focuses on the similarities and differences between the Israeli-Palestinian apartheid conflict and the apartheid conflict that took place in South Africa. This socially-conscious film is a part of what represents the importance of the film festival to the city of Atlanta. “One thing I’m always interested in is finding stories that people haven’t heard of before and always finding people who are not represented and really trying to bring those to the forefront and give people insight into different people, different cultures and different types of stories,” Judson said.

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

ArTS & LIvING | THE SIGNAL

aysha Johnson|the signal

The Atlanta Film Festival takes place from March 23 until April 1.

Atlanta Film Festival Screenings Tuesday March 27

Thursday March 29

Saturday March 31

Workshops: Producing In The Cloud: New Tools-Crawford at 10 a.m. Producing/Directing: Short Subjects at 1:15 p.m. Documentary Filmmaking at 2:45 p.m.

West is West at 5:15 p.m. Coal Rush at 7:30 Glitterboys & Ganglands at 9:30 p.m.

Street Dogs of South Central at 10:45 a.m. Brooklyn Castle at 11:30 a.m. Small, Beautifully Moving Parts at 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday March 28

Friday March 30

Sunday April 1

Workshops: Mobile Technology at 10 a.m. Making Your Film Pop at 1:15 p.m. LED Lighting Demo at 2:45 p.m.

A People Uncounted at 4:45 p.m. In Organic We Trust at 5:15 p.m. Welcome to Pinehill at 9 p.m.

Encore Day with the award winners at 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

ArTS & LIvING| THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, MArch 27, 2012

RECORD REviEwS Opposites 01 Tender TOPS Django 02 Django Django Django

Fin

John Talabot

04 151a Kishi Bashi 05 Maraqopa Damien Jurado & Old 06 Young Tennis It Yourself 07 Break Andrew Bird Riferimento... 08 Ogni Calibro 35

09 Ssss VCMG Your Heart 10 Open The Men

Behold The Proﬁt Behold The Proﬁt

The Decemberists, We All Raise Our Voices to the Air zacK KraiMEr associate arts Editor

“Good evening. Just thought I would mention, before we begin, this is not the Keith Urban concert,” vocalist Colin Meloy of the Decemberists says matter-of-factly before launching into “The Infanta,” the first track on We All Raise Our Voices to the Air. Rarely is a live record as easy to listen to as this one. The performances here were captured with the precision and painstaking care necessary to forge a fresh and exciting listening experience for some older material. Fans of the band will find a lot to love about this expertly performed set. The songs are as lively as the original versions, but the sense of immediacy that comes with a live performance is as audible on these takes as it would have been in the concert hall.

NicoLE hoLMaN Staff Writer

St. 13 Jones Lyric Jones

After notoriously snatching away the Grammy for Best New Artist from pop heartthrob Justin Beiber in 2011, Esperanza Spalding left a big question mark over the heads of millions of people, “Who is Esperanza Spalding?” The surprise win worked in her favor. She became the first jazz artist ever to win a Grammy for that category and was exposed to the world, whether you agreed with it or not. Spalding decided to take advantage of her newfound fame by releasing her latest album, Radio Music Society, showing that she has some undeniable talent. Whether you are a new listener of Spalding or have always been a faithful fan, you will enjoy the sounds of the sultry jazz crooner who brings just the right amount

and Vanilla 15 Death Death and Vanilla N A Day 16 4Eva Big K.R.I.T. Chithra 17 K.S. K.S. Chithra

18 Visions Grimes Love You, It’s Cool 19 IBear In Heaven Radio 20 Black Robert Glasper Experiment It Together 21 Keep The Doozer M 22 Mr. Lambchop P 23 Jackson Bisco Smith x Peter Jay at the Bottom of the Sea 24 Love Magnetic Fields Noon 25 High Funk Ark Hue 26 Inner Anenon

27 Ekstasis Julia Holter 28 Dispossession Mike Wexler Arrival 29 Midnight Samantha Glass Bleed Bleed 30 Bleed Thieves Like Us

CINEFEST

Upcoming shows

included on this record, but most of it has been discussed before with the releases of their past records. The Decemberists have proved themselves in the studio in years past, but now even those who couldn’t see them in person can get nearly the full package. This is a pristine live record that has the potential to open the minds of even staunch opponents of the group’s style.

Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society

Bite Marked Heart 12 The Brother Ali

Clearing 14 The Bowerbirds

As is to be expected from a group of their stature, the musicianship on the record sounds tight and natural. Meloy’s clear, fluttery voice shines through above all, and the supporting vocal harmonies are always spot-on. Every note sounds as heartfelt as the last. The recording itself is incredibly intimate, so much so that every minute sonic detail can be heard. The mix is impeccable—the drums are a bit too far forward, but that only adds to the sense that what is on the record was indeed performed in front of a crowd. The banter between the band members is almost as entertaining as the songs themselves. Take, for example, the yodeling demonstration given by drummer John Moen, a self-proclaimed high school yodeling champion. This brings forward a dimension that can’t be found on studio recordings. There’s a lot to be said about the songs

of soul to your ears to keep you intrigued. The album starts off by lifting your spirits with the lovely and cheerful track “Radio Song.” The rest of the album provides a more laid-back tone. The hypnotic track “Cinnamon Tree” is calming and makes you fall in love with Spalding’s voice. She also collaborates with contemporary R&B singer Algebra Blessett on “Black Gold.” Their duet provides a powerful message of confidence with perfect blend of R&B and jazz. This is probably the most enjoyable song on the album. Other notable tracks on the album includes, “Crowned and Kissed,” “I Can’t Help It” featuring Joe Lovano and “City of Roses.” With Radio Music Society, Spalding puts a modern and cool twist on jazz music. From start to finish the record stimulates emotion and warms the soul. Vocally, she can be compared to the soulful song-

stress Corinne Bailey Rae; Spalding is not only a superb vocalist but also a wonderful instrumentalist. With a tremendous amount of talent, Spalding delivers real music with Radio Music Society and draws listeners in.

The Hunger Games, Songs from District 12 and Beyond KENDaLL harriS Staff Writer

The Hunger Games released its soundtrack of 16 songs written and recorded for the film. Popular artists like Maroon 5 and Kid Cudi stepped out of their comfort zones to stay true to the more melancholy tone of the album. The Hunger Games is set in the future in what would be Appalachia, so most of the tracks are folksy and acoustic. The soundtrack is perfect in that it tells a story. The listener can feel the pain of “The Hunger Games” just by listening to these tracks. The album features several big-name artists as well as some lesser-known artists like The Secret Sisters, who sing “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder.” The track is about a glimmer of hope for the future. The Decemberists did not have to stray from their style to fit the tone of the album because their sound is already folksy. “One Engine” would fit perfectly on a Decemberists album or on The Hunger

Games soundtrack. Taylor Swift presented a track that is much different from her usual pop style. “Safe and Sound,” featuring The Civil Wars, is a beautiful lullaby that showcases Swift’s vocal talent. The acoustic instrumentals leave Swift’s voice bare and make her sound vulnerable, much like The Hunger Games’ heroine in the film. Straying from the usual worked well for most of the artists on the album. However, something is off about the Kid Cudi track, “The Ruler and the Killer.” The effort put in to the track can be heard, but vulnerable doesn’t work well for Kid Cudi’s sound. Maroon 5 proved they have a huge stylistic range in “Come Away to the Water,” which is folksy and haunting. Levine beautifully coaxes the listener (“Come away little lamb/ come away to the slaughter”). Swift has a second track on the album, “Eyes Open,” a perfect theme song for the heroine of the film. The song sadly remembers a more innocent past that has been lost to her (“The tricky thing/Is yesterday we

were just children”) and how she must stay strong to survive. Neko Case, like the Decemberists, didn’t have to stray far from her own style, but it still fit well in the album. In “Nothing to Remember,” she sings about giving up (“I owe you nothing/That’s all I’ve got for you”). Overall, this soundtrack is a perfect pairing for the new movie release.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Lady Terminator

My Week with Marilyn

Showtimes: Monday - Friday: 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. Weekends: 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m.

Showtime: March 29 at 9 p.m.

Showtimes: Monday - Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. Weekends: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Editor’s note: Publicize your event in this calendar! Contact Alicia Johnson at signalliving@gmail.com with the event name, time, date, location and a brief description. March 27

Atlanta Film Festival 365

More than 125 films are being featured in this year’s festival. Events for the festival include screenings, workshops, and live musical performances. Landmark Midtown Theater – March 23 – April 1

March 28

Seminar with Alliance for Women in Media

Come and enjoy the screening of “The Help,” based on the bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett. You will leave this session ready for the Kathryn Stockett speech on Thursday, March 29! Arts & Humanities, Room 406//7 p.m.

Open Mic Night

Come out and enjoy monthly Open Mic Night in the Student Center. Perform your music, poetry, lyrics or other talents, or just sit back, relax and enjoy performances by your fellow classmates. Cash prizes will be given for the top three GSU student winners! Student Center, Courtyard Stage//7 p.m.

ARTS & LIVING | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

CALENDAR March 29

Courtyard Concert Series: Sharaya Mikael – Acoustic Folk/Indie

Acoustic Folk/Indie Musician Sharaya Mikael will perform live on the first floor of the Student Center. Sharaya’s latest single Far Field calls listeners-both musically and lyrically-to the roller coaster of the lovesick, to memory’s involuntary ride. Student Center, Courtyard Stage//12:00 p.m.

Distinguished Speaker Series

Kathryn Stockett will discuss he journey with Georgia State. Stockett is the author of the book The Help, now a major motion picture. This book was based on her real experience growing up in Mississippi. Student Center Ballroom//3 p.m.

PRSSA Diversity & Ethics raining Mixer

Enjoy this interactive training session where all participants learn about the different layers of diversity including race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, age and more! This is a great opportunity to receive top diversity and ethics training while networking with local professionals and your fellow students. Urban Life Center, West Exhibit Hall// 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Career Workshop with Jerry

Aaron Bingham Courtney Boyd Staff Writer

Amidst the buzz of conversation and a constant shuffling of coffee drinkers, Aaron Bingham calmly sits upright at a small table in Saxby’s. The chair across from him turns outward from the table like a hand extended in greeting. Even in the dimly lit cafe, his face possesses the shining glow of someone whose first novel rested for weeks at the top of The New York Times’ Best Sellers List. “The running joke was that it would be easier for me to become president than it would to get my book published,” Bingham said. “Ironically, President Obama was elected as the first African American president before my book went to press.” Despite its small-level success, Aaron’s first novel, OmniDisk: The Gathering, has garnered the attention of seasoned science fiction writers including his idol, author of the Animorphs series, K.A Applegate. “Coming up I idolized that woman. [Her work] is the standard I hold my writing to. And she recently started following me on Twitter, actually. That day was a dream come true,” Bingham said. The acknowledgment from other authors is more than Bingham asked for. In writing the OmniDisk series, his biggest ideal was to appeal to young readers and give them something to attach themselves to. He feels accomplished, he said, whenever he sees a child reading the book or is recognized by someone who’s read it. “This book is really for young audiences, and people who aren’t into reading,” Aaron said. “I’m a big reader, so I took a lot of

Stein

Guest speaker Jerry Stein will present the hidden secret successful executives use to promote their business career, often used but rarely discussed. Learn the cutting edge of developing key contacts and deeper relationships most networking groups lack. Georgia State Brookhaven Center//7 p.m.

Disney Internship Seminar

The Disney Company will hold an informational seminar on internships with their organization. Check it out to learn what is required, how to apply, and what benefits you would receive while interning at the Disney Company. Lanier Suite//2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

March 30

Language & Literacy Day and Distinguished Lecture Series

Language & Literacy graduate and undergraduate fellows will present research posters in the West Exhibit Area, on the 2nd floor of the Urban Life Building, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. A lecture by Dr. Brian MacWhinney of Carnegie Mellon University will take place in room 201 of the Urban Life Building at 11:00 am. Urban Life Center, West Exhibit Area, Room 201//9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 31 Bacon Fest

Who doesn’t love bacon? This outdoor festival at Dad’s Garage theatre promises bands, beer and of course bacon. Enjoy. 280 Elizabeth St//1 p.m.

Entrepreneurship Day

This day will focus on educating students on what it means to be an entrepreneur and the various ways in which a student can get started owning their own business. There will be a keynote speaker, the Founder and President of WhatCounts.com, an emailmarketing company, and breakout sessions for the E-Commerce/ Technology/Mobile App/, Entertainment, Hospitality, and many more industries to cover for any student who has an interest in entrepreneurship. Student Center Speaker’s Auditorium//10 a.m.

March 31

New Voices in Zydeco and Cajun, featuring Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole and Feufollet

The Rialto goes back to the Bayou with GRAMMY-nominated Creole sensation Cedric Watson and his band Bijou Creole (whom he debuted on the Rialto stage in 2009) alongside Feufollet, a band deeply rooted in the francophone soil of Louisiana and pushing boldly into unexplored yet utterly natural varieties of the Cajun

SIGNAL SPOTLIGHTS

things I always hated about chapter books and did away with them. I made sure all the details and dialogue are absolutely important to the plot.” His pursuit of an English degree was integral in the story’s development, and he credits much of its completion to professor Laura Norton of Georgia State University’s creative writing department. The story idea, however, was birthed out of a creative writing assignment given in a high school English class. What began as a short story evolved into 50 pages, the outline for OmniDisk Part 1. The transformation from prompt to book proposal took three years, but not without help from his favorite childhood pastimes. Like most 16-year-olds, Bingham enjoyed reading comics and watching cartoons - a love he assures is still alive and well. Inspired by television writer Dwayne McDuffie, creator of Batman Beyond, Justice League Unlimited and Static Shock - his three favorite cartoons, by the way Aaron honed his creative energy into a now three-part, superhero science fiction series. A home inspector and student by day, Bingham continues to pursue his passion of writing during every moment of spare time. He’s sure he has the talent and attitude to have his books displayed in popular bookstore fronts around the nation. “I know that what made all of the difference for me was seeing a book that interested me and made me want to read more. I’m creating that experience for kids today. This may sound a bit self-serving, but once you get into it you’re going to have time tearing your eyes away.”

experience. Watson, one of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in years, is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist, and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Feufollet breaks new ground featuring originals that draw on deep roots tempered by the cutting edge of contemporary life, capturing the spirit of Cajun tradition without mimicking it. Rialto Center//8 p.m.

April 3

Environmental Truths: Screening of “Inconvenient Truth”

Join in re-living the environmental truths of “An Inconvenient Truth” with the Environmental Journalism Class. These videos will be screened, followed by a discussion on the film’s impacts. Join in and prepare for Earth Day. Classroom South, Room 104//5 p.m.

April 5

Environmental Truths: Screening of “The Last Mountain”

Join in re-living the environmental truths of “The Last Mountain” with the Environmental Journalism Class. These videos will be screened, followed by a discussion on the film’s impacts. Join in and prepare for Earth Day. Classroom South, Room 104//5 p.m.

April 6

Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds w/Mona

Oasis shows were kind of like hockey games--you say you’re going for the game, but it’s really for the fights. Expect none of that drama here, because Noel is here without his brother Liam, for better or worse at The Tabernacle. 152 Luckie St// 8 p.m.//$36.50

April 7

Montreal w/ Kishi Bashi, Loney Dear

Athens’ most revered indie group is coming to the Variety Playhouse. This is sure to be a strange but interesting experience. 1099 Euclid Ave//7 p.m.

April 12

National Hospitality Championship

The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration will host the National Hospitality Championship at the Georgia World Congress Center. Formerly known as the Battle for Atlanta, the School of Hospitality is taking this event to the next level for 2012. This event will feature two classes - Meetings & Tradeshow Management as well as Expos, Fairs & Entertainment Management - in addition to the Pineapple Bowl, a competition featuring the Best of the Best in Atlanta. 285 Andrew Young International Blvd Hall A-1//8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Beta Alpha Psi partners with Imbako Public Health

Laura Apperson Copy Editor

Georgia State’s fraternity Beta Alpha Psi (BAP)’s Beta Mu Chapter help give Kenyan women an opportunity for a college education through a partnership with Imbako Public Health. This partnership, which has been officially titled the Global Impact Project, began in the fall of 2010, when BAP had about 100 members. “The idea is to reduce poverty and empower communities by providing educational opportunities to women,” Josh Sanders, president of BAP and head of the GIP, said. “The project specifically focuses on college scholarships for women because in Kenya there is no financial aid system in place.” Since Kenyan women are typically expected to marry young and leave the house, money for college is mostly set aside for Kenyan men. When women are able to go to school, more money and new jobs are introduced to the community and the daughters of women who go to school are more likely to end up going to school themselves. “We were drawn to Kenya because we saw that we could have a big impact with a relatively low monetary investment,” Sanders said. “It only costs around $2500 to send a woman to college for all 4 years.” With that price in mind, BAP started raising money in fall 2010. The original goal was to raise $50 per member by reaching out to family and friends, selling baked goods or setting up a PayPal account. Members ended up raising $15,000 for Imbako. That money went to fund the education of five women in Kenya. Sanders felt that the women who receive

the scholarship should show a specific financial need; they are selected based on Imbako’s recommendation. Since the project started, BAP has raised a total of $30,000 and supported the education of nine women. BAP has many plans for the future for this GIP and many other ideas. “During the fall semester Beta Alpha Psi plans and hosts a 5K/10K road race co-presented by the fraternity and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA),” Sanders said. The race will be held in Grant Park, and will have sponsors from Atlanta business and accounting firms. “Last year the race earned over $10,000 and had participants from as far away as Missouri,” Sanders said. “Anyone may participate in the race and we offer discounted registration prices for students.” BAP also looks forward to starting a legally separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization for the GIP. Doing this means that the GIP will have much more fundraising power and will have a board of Atlanta businessmen and women. “The project will still remain closely bonded to GSU’s Beta Mu chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, and the greater Georgia State community,” Sanders said. The current GIP project with Imbako will still be active until an endowment fund, which will be opened in the fall with a starting amount of $50,000, is fully funded when the endowment reaches $200,000. “At that point, we will seek out new opportunities through global partnerships and begin another endowment fund,” Sanders said. To donate to the GIP, please visit www.bapgsu.com.

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❚ Georgia State baseball defeats ninth ranked Georgia Tech, falters in weekend series against Kennesaw State

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Leave it to Levick: Athletic Director Cheryl Levick does difficult balancing act

JErEL MarShaLL Sports Editor

If you suddenly found yourself responsible for 14 Division I sports teams, over 400 student athletes and all of the staffs that accompany them, you would probably want to start by creating some sort of game plan. Georgia State Athletic Director Cheryl Levick found herself in this exact situation just three years ago. Unfortunately for her, the birth of the brand new football program complicated things even more. Levick became Georgia State president Mark Becker’s first official hire in March of 2009 just a few months before he assumed his position. “Normally when I would come into a program I would have a little bit of time to sit back, review analyze discuss, put together a plan,” Levick told the Signal. “Kind of sit for almost six months, to really watch, listen and learn. There was no time to do that.” There is no question that helping to start the football team was Levick’s biggest task when taking the job, but she took the challenge head on. “We hit the ground running,” Levick said. “We literally walked into the door and we had one player, two helmets and seven coaches and that’s it.” Although Levick and football coach Bill Curry orchestrated the inaugural football season seemingly smoothly, there were plenty of challenges that came along the way—some most people wouldn’t even think of. Levick said she was tasked with a laundry list of things such as ordering footballs, finding a place to practice and finding a lawn mower to cut the yet-to-befound practice field. “We had no lockers,” Levick said. “Then we found some lockers and the gear wouldn’t fit in.” In addition to organizing the start of a new program, Levick also had to worry about 13 othgeorgia state athletiCs Georgia State Athletics- The addition of the Georgia State Football team in 2009 made athletic director er sports that were already at Georgia State. “In a way I wore two hats,” Levick said. “At Cheryl Levick’s first two years on the job even more difficult.

Making the Grade: a summary of Levick’s hires

BrEtt SUrrENcy (2010): Grade: a

Surrency served as the assistant coach for the men’s soccer team for five years before being promoted to head coach in 2010. In his first season at the helm, the team improved from 4-12 to 8-8-4. This past season, the team earned an at-large NCAA tournament bid—only the third in school history.

least for the first two years. Because it took so much time to get the football program up and running. And at the same time the rest of the programs were growing and changing.” Levick has managed to weather the early storm and she said she has her staff to thank. “I really look at the last three years and think that we have put six years of worth of work in,” Levick said. “This staff has busted their tails. I’m not sure I have been any place where we have advanced and grown and developed in this short amount of time.” One thing that Levick brings to the athletic director position is a burning desire to win. She is dedicated to making sure has the proper staff and resources to compete with the best of the Colonial Athletic Association. “I’m very proud of these coaches, very proud of these athletes, very proud od the staff that I have here, because we are very committed to moving this program forward,” Levick said. “Getting to the top of thee CAA and staying there is really what we are after.” The road to success is not always an easy one, and Levick has had to make several tough decisions in order to move the athletic department towards her lofty goals. She said one of the toughest parts of the job is having to fire or replace a coach, but it is a challenge she has already had to face several times in her short tenure. “Personnel changes are difficult under the best circumstances,” Levick said. “They are just never enjoyable.” Seven different head coaches have been hired or promoted in Levick’s three-year tenure at Georgia State. Although some might find the change alarming, Levick said she feels the changes were necessary, given the task at hand. “I think every situation is unique,” Levick said. “This situation in particular is very unique. I was really hired to come in and get football up and running and to really advance the overall program.” The past three years have put Levick to the test, and so far, she has remained unscathed.

taMi aUDia (2010): Grade: B

chriS ENGLaND 2010: Grade: B

SharoN BaLDWiN-tENEr (2010): Grade: D

roGEr KiNcaiD (2011) Grade: a

roN hUNtEr (2011) Grade: a

DErEK LEaDEr (2012) Grade: incomplete

In 2009 under the direction of Mike Webster, the Georgia State Volleyball team was an abysmal 3-11 in conference play. Since Audia took the helm, the team has finished at 8-6 against CAA foes for two consecutive years. The past two seasons mark the only time the Panthers have finished above .500 in conference play.

After Bob Heck stepped down as the softball head coach in 2011, Kincaid stepped in as interim coach and led the Panthers to a record of 31-20 and a CAA championship. What more can be said? The team is currently 20-10 and is looking to defend their CAA championship.

Since becoming head cross country coach in March of 2009, England has taken on a myriad of responsibilities. His contributions to the track and field coaching staff helped earn a CAA championship last year. And this year, England is also serving as interim head coach of the track and field team.

In Hunter’s first year as head basketball coach, the Panthers improved from 12-19 to 22-12, they earned the second most wins in school history and they competed in a postseason tournament for the first time in nearly a decade. The team’s turn around under Hunter has been nothing short of miraculous.

Lea Henry was the head coach of the Georgia State women’s basketball team for 16 years before resigning after the 20092010 season. Despite Henry having the most wins out of any coach to hold this position, she left Baldwin-Tener with a team (17-15, 6-12 CAA) that had plenty of problems. This year the team only managed to win two of their 18 conference matchups.

Leader looks great on paper. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, and he seems to already be making a good impression on his players. It will be interesting to see if the team can improve on last year’s mark of 7-12-1 (4-6-1 CAA), in Leader’s first season as head coach.

sports | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

Matias Hatem:

It doesn’t take two to tango

Ismael Suarez Staff Writer

Although Matias Hatem loves the NBA and played soccer at a young age, he chose tennis to be the sport that would direct his future. “Tennis is a passion that I have,” Hatem said. “I like that it’s a sport where my performance depends on myself.” Tennis has created such an impact on Hatem’s life that it even led him to the choice of coming to Georgia State from his homeland Argentina at the end of the spring semester. Since then, his tennis career in the U.S. has been brilliant. Despite the fact that Hatem is only a freshman, he holds a singles record of 17-1, his only loss from 15 matches ago against South Carolina. “I try to do my best at all times on the court

and set myself short-term goals to accomplish,” Hatem said. “My teammates and coaches help me a lot to become better.” Hatem’s game is not only about the effective performances he has on the court but as an individual. According to men’s tennis head coach Chase Hodges, Hatem also sets an example for the rest of the team. “He works extremely hard and sets the tone for the other guys,” Coach Hodges said. “You don’t normally see freshmen come in and show leadership qualities like Matias.” With these characteristics as a leader, Hatem has showed an impressive adaptation to the differences between his new home and Argentina. According to him, migrating to America brought many changes to his life on and off the court. Hatem shared a couple of differences he sees between the U.S. and Argentina in relation to tennis. “The main difference in between tennis here and tennis [in Argentina] is that here we play on hard courts, while in back at home we used to play on clay surfaces,” Hatem said. “Another change that I observed is that the infrastructure here in the U.S. is much more organized than Argentina’s in that here, in order to be an athlete, you have to go to school.” The city of Atlanta has also caught the young Argentine’s attention as soon as he arrived. He claims to love it and plans to stay here for a long time. “The city is beautiful. Atlanta’s culture is very different from Argentina and the change from third world to first world is very noticeable,” Hatem said. However, there are things about Argentina that Hatem misses—especially the food. “I miss the ‘Asado’ (Argentine grilled meat) a lot but I like the diversity of the cafeteria here, it helps me pick what’s healthy to eat,” Hatem said. He is unsure of his future, but as of right now, Atlanta is his home. “You never know what might happen in the future, but for now, I love it here and I’m really comfortable,” Hatem said.

In part, he claims to be comfortable because of the many friends he has made and because of the support from the men’s tennis team to make him a better player. “I’m very thankful of my team and all my coaches,” Hatem said. “For example, Coach Hodges has been a huge help because he always has the perfect words to say during crucial moments and he’s a great motivator.” Whether his future takes place in Atlanta or in Argentina, Hatem has concrete plans of what he wants. “Just because I have a scholarship to play tennis here doesn’t mean that I won’t take school seriously. I major in business administration and want to learn as much as I can,”

Hatem said. Although school can be challenging for Hatem due to the fact that he’s still learning how to speak English, the freshman shows perseverance and values the opportunity he had to come to study at Georgia State. “I value all the help I have and I want to make the best out of this,” Hatem said. Outside of the classroom, Hatem is focused on helping the Panthers on their trek up the ITA rankings and into the record books, and has helped the team to win eleven of their twelve matches. “The team is very united right now and I want to keep performing strongly,” said Hatem.

graham robson | the SIGNAL

Matias Hatem’s 14 consecutive wins in singles play is currently the longest active winning streak on the team.

Sports | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

Panthers staying focused against top-notch competition Tiffanie Smith Staff Writer

The Georgia State women’s tennis team (8-5) is currently in good shape-they currently find themselves ranked no. 70 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s team rankings with less than month to go before the CAA championships. Despite a few tough losses including two to opponents that were unranked, the team has been consistent for most of the season. So how does this team stay on track? Miha Lisac says the team just stays focused. “It is a great group of girls to be around and they don’t need consistent motivation and reminders that we need to stay on track,” said Lisac. “They have been athletes their whole lives and understand that to keep improving you have to stay focused and continue working. The team is making my job easier due to their own motivation to succeed.” The panthers dominated against

Kennesaw State University as the women’s tennis team earned their third sweep this season with a 7-0 win at the Sharon Lester Tennis Center. This victory boosted Georgia State’s record to 8-5 with the help of sophomore Maryna Kozachenko. Kozachenko was the star player during this event by not losing a game in doubles or singles play, resulting in a 6-0, 6-0 victory. She also paired with Junior Whitney Byrd as they grabbed an 8-0 win at No.2 doubles against KSU players Therese Lagerkvist and Vera Shkundina. “She has the potential to be an outstanding singles and doubles player that is capable of playing close to the top of the lineup for us,” head coach Miha Lisac said. “She has been working to fulfill that potential and help the team to take the next step.” Whitney Byrd, who is starting her first season with the Panthers after having to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, has been having a phenomenal season so far. She

Graham Robson | the SIGNAL

Senior Tereza Lerova earned wins in both singles and doubles play last week against Kennesaw.

recently earned the Colonial Athletic Association women’s tennis Player of the Week award. “Whitney is an outstanding athlete in general and a tennis player. She seems like one of those athletes that would have been very good in any sport,” Lisac said. “She is an outstanding player for our program and

we definitely hope to continue to add more athletes like her to the team.” Senior Tereza Lerova and sophomore Abigail Tere-Apisah kept the stride going as they received an 8-4 victory giving Georgia State the doubles sweep. This resulted in the Panthers fourth doubles sweep this season.

Georgia State will compete this Friday against Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., as this will be their third conference match this season and one final one before the CAA Championships. As for the rest of the season, Lisac is very hopeful.

Georgia State baseball wins series against CAA rival James Madison

Patrick Duffy | the SIGNAL

Ben Marshall earned a win this Saturday by holding James Madison to just one run over six innings.

Dylan Rice Associate Sports Editor

After suffering a tough road loss to Alabama State University, Georgia State focused in on CAA rival James Madison and took two of three in the weekend series. The CAA series win brought Georgia State’s record to 11-14 and their conference record to 4-2. Opening the weeks’ action in Montgomery, Ala., Georgia State leapt to a quick 6-0 lead over ASU. However, it was all downhill from there as Georgia State imploded in the eight inning allowing eight runs to fall 14-9. The collapse included such pitchers’ nightmares as three walks, a wild pitch and a home run. With that disappointing loss in

the rearview mirror, Georgia State regained its composure and began to prepare for a weekend set with a conference opponent. In the opening game against JMU, Georgia State once again struck early. They put six runs on the board in the first inning with the help of a grand slam from senior Jonathan Kolowich. Yet, after the quick start, they were only able to collect another three runs in the ensuing innings, and JMU slowly began to creep back into the game. After a sacrifice fly of Georgia State’s Jake Dyer things were all tied up at eight. But Georgia State’s clutch gene went into effect in the ninth inning as senior Joey Woods connected for a two-out single that drove in Brandon Williams for the

9-8 victory. Woods and Williams would keep the momentum going in game two as they drove in all four of Georgia State’s runs in a 4-2 win. Ben Marshall started for Georgia State and dominated preseason CAA favorite JMU’s lineup, going six scoreless. JMU finally got on the board in the eight inning with a sacrifice, and Dyer gave up a ninth inning run, making it 4-2, before gaining focus and picking up his first save of the season. Dyer was Georgia State’s saves leader last season but has mostly been used in the starting rotation so far in 2012. Despite the success of the first two games, the JMU series ended on a sour note as Georgia State blew an

Patrick Duffy | the SIGNAL

Jonathan Kolowich’s homerun in Sunday’s contest was his third of the season.

early 7-2 lead to lose 15-13. After letting JMU leap ahead 9-7, Georgia State tied it up with two runs in the seventh. But things fell apart in the eighth when Georgia State allowed JMU to cross the plate six times to regain the lead. Despite scoring four in the bottom half of the inning the Panthers came up empty

in the ninth and ended the weekend with a loss. In upcoming Georgia State baseball action, the Panthers will play Savannah State Wednesday at home before hitting the road to take on George Mason in a key three-game CAA matchup.

sports | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

Basketball attendance fails to match on-court success Dylan Rice Associate Sports Editor

The result on the court was different from years past for Georgia State basketball, but in the stands things remained the same. Despite posting a 22-12 record, the second highest win total in school history, Georgia State continued to struggle to fill the Sports Arena, averaging 1,450 fans per game in a facility that can seat 3,831. This was still a significant jump over last year’s average of a mere 915, when the Panthers went a dismal 12-19. Yet, the average attendance was 1,385 in 2009-2010 and 1,494 in 2008-2009, years in which Georgia State went a combined 27-40. This raises questions as to why a winning product hasn’t been able to generate even more fan support in the form of actual game attendance. “We want you all to be proud of these teams,” athletic director Cheryl Levick said. “We want you to be at the events. We want you to be cheering for them. We want you to be loyal to us. Loyal to our brand.” The “concrete crazies” emerged this season, and as they camped outside of the Sports Arena on game nights and screamed and cheered in the stands with fanatic passion, it became apparent that Georgia State super fans do exist and are willing to help generate excitement for the program. Following the growing excitement surrounding the program, a group of students and alumni totaling 2,698 gathered in the Sports Arena to watch the Panthers defeat the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This was the highest attendance of the season, and people seemed to finally begin to understand what a talented group of players were taking the court. But a “concrete crazy,” no matter how intense their fandom, still only takes up one seat, and the momentum of fan support began to diminish after the UNCW game. As Georgia State entered its first postseason tournament since 2002, the CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament, it seemed that students’ attention was turned elsewhere. The first 2,000 fans were awarded free entry to the game, but those rushing down the highway to be first in line to watch their Panthers on this historic day, in reality, could’ve left their wallets at home. Even if they arrived at halftime they would’ve gotten in free since the total atten-

dance for the game was 1,509. For this postseason matchup against Tennessee Tech, which Georgia State won, the lack of support wasn’t entirely the fans’ fault, as the school’s involvement in the tournament wasn’t announced until days before the game. “With the quick turnaround there is some anxiety that comes ... with how you’re going to get the message out and how you’re going to mobilize folks to come,” associate athletic director Tiffany Daniels said. “But I thought for a Thursday-Tuesday turnaround the attendance at that game was fantastic.” Head Coach Ron Hunter has changed the program’s direction and mindset for the better, and as the Hunter-era continues it will be up to students to show the student-athletes that they have their back. “Every coach in this league will tell you— the days of you coming to Atlanta and beating Georgia State—those days are over,” Hunter said. “Most teams used to come in here, enjoy the weather, have a good time and sneak out of here. Those days are over with.” The days of being the laughingstock of the CAA are over, and as a winning tradition becomes the norm at Georgia State, the enthusiasm surrounding the team should appropriately match. On-campus residents and Greek organizations, which Daniels said have been huge ambassadors of school athletics, have increased over the past several years and have become key pieces in the drive for increased basketball support. “The relationship there has been really good,” Daniels said. “It’s something that we’ll continue to try to nurture the relationships. We’ll continue to try and come up with things that speak to the crowd we have there, and insure that we’re providing that exciting environment for people to come.” Georgia State students finally have a basketball product they can be proud of and an energetic and likable coach in place to rally around. The program deserved more fans in the seats this season, and as the team continues its winning ways in the years to come, it’s the students’ duty to make this happen. “It bothers me when I see one of the Georgia State students with another school’s logo on,” Levick said. “You need to have Panthers on. You need to have blue and white on. We need to have a loyal brand for our fans and for our students. And I want you to be proud of us.”

graham robson | the SIGNAL

Patrick Duffy | THe SIGNAL

Despite obtaining a home record of 13-3, Panther fans still failed to fully pack the stands of the Sports Arena.

graham robson | the SIGNAL

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Softball

Baseball

3/24 vs. Hofstra L 6-8 3/24 vs. Hofstra L 0-16 3/25 vs. Hofstra L 1-4

3/20 @ Alabama State L 9-14 3/23 vs. James Madison W 9-8 3/24 vs. James Madison W 9-8 3/25 vs. James Madison L 13-15

W Tennis

M Tennis

3/21 @ Kennesaw State W 7-0

3/25 vs. Brown L 4-3

The Distinguished

SpeaKer SerIeS 2011-12

KatHrYn StoCKett 29 h c r a M , y a d s r u Th An Afternoon with Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett is the author of the acclaimed

novel The Help, now a major motion picture from DreamWorks. After studying English and creative writing at the University of Alabama, the Mississippi native moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years and wrote The Help, her first novel. She will share her experiences about writing and getting published. Printed after rejection by close to 50 literary agents, The Help quickly climbed onto the New York Times’ best seller list, where it has remained for more than 100 weeks.

Supported by Student A ctivity Fees

3 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom

free d BY e W o foll SIGnInG BooK

gsucampusevents • campusevents@gsu.edu • www.gsu.edu/studentevents • 404/413-1857

Campus Events

http://www.gsu.edu/studentcenter Styles

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WHATʼS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS!

www.gsu.edu/studentevents

Open Mic Night

Pantherpalooza: Spring Concert Featuring Karmin, Miguel and Dev

Cinefest Film Theatre

Georgia State University uLearn

Facebook

cinefest movie times

Twitter Twitter

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, March 26-April 1

Lady Terminator, March 29 Will be shown the last Thursday of each month.

My Week with Marilyn, April 2-8

Visit www.gsu.edu/cinefest for showtimes. All shows free for GSU students, faculty and staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. and $5 at 5 p.m. and after. Student Organizations Styles

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CAMPUS EVENTS

Supported by Student Activity Fees

http://www.gsu.edu/cinefest

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Friday, April 6 GSU Sports Arena Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! GSU Students: $10 General Admission: $20 Day of Show: $25 Buy at Campus Tickets in the University Center, GSU Sports Arena Box Office or www.ticketmaster.com (service fees apply). More Information 404/413-1610 or 380 Student Center Sponsored By Spotlight Programs Board and Campus Events

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS http://gsu.orgsync.com

OrgSync Contest

Use OrgSync this spring and your organization could win great prizes! The fun runs March 12-April 20 with a new winner selected each week. Visit OrgSync for more details or follow us on Twitter: GSU_Leadership.

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Wednesday, March 28, 7-9 p.m. Courtyard Stage (Student Center next to Food Court) Come out for another great Open Mic Night in the Student Center Courtyard. Cash prizes awarded to the top 3 GSU students! Open to all acts, including spoken word, composition, a capella and instrument performance. Full sound system included. Sign-up begins at 6:45 p.m., so arrive early! If interested in hosting the event or becoming a judge, email cemusic@gsu.edu. Free, no ticket required, and open to the public. For more information: 404/413-1857 or campusevents@gsu.edu.

An Afternoon with Kathryn Stockett, Distinguished Speaker Series

Thursday, March 29, 3 p.m. Student Center Ballroom Join the best-selling author of the acclaimed novel The Help as she shares her experience about writing the novel, her challenges getting the book published and how the book became a hit movie! This event is free, no ticket required, and open to all students, faculty, staff and the public. All guests are encouraged to arrive early Spotlight for seats. Once the Ballroom is full, guests will be directed Lists for viewing via live feed. SpacingAuditorium to the Speakerʼs

SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS BOARD www.gsu.edu/spotlight

Headphone Disco Party

Wednesday, March 28, 8-11 p.m., Student Center Ballroom Come on out to a two deejay listening party. You control your dance music by switching deejays on your very own set of headphones. Local and student artists will also be showcasing their diverse music. LED dance floor and glow sticks will create an atmosphere unseen at any other Spotlight party this year. Raffles include an iPod and Beats by Dre Headphones. Free refreshments available. This is not a public event. This event is FREE and limited to GSU students and one invited guest only. Leadership Development Styles

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT www.gsu.edu/leadership

Accepting Applications for Panther Leadership Academy Application Deadline: April 13 For more information, visit www.gsu.edu/leadership

Social Justice: Leveling the Playing Field

Tuesday, April 3, 3-4 p.m. , Student Center, Lucerne Suite Do you understand how you are privileged? In this session, we will explore privilege and discuss ways to eliminate discrimination and oppression.

Leaders Are Made, Not Born

Thursday, April 5, 1-2 p.m. , Student Center, Lucerne Suite Have you heard the myth that leaders are born, not made? This program will highlight 10 skills that every leader needs — all of which any student can learn.

Takeover: Greek Showcase 2012

Saturday, March 31, GSU Sports Arena Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. THE TAKEOVER Spring Greek Showcase where GSU Greek organizations go “head to head” to win trophies in this yearʼs updated categories: Dance, Step, Stroll and Skit. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! GSU Students: $10 • Non-Students: $15 • Day of Show: $20 Buy at Campus Tickets in the University Center, GSU Sports Arena Box Office or www.ticketmaster.com (service fees apply).

Spring Fling, April 3-6

Ready for a week of fun, games, music and food? Join Spotlight Programs Board as we welcome in a new season with our annual Spring Fling events:

Cinema Under the Stars: Hall Pass

Tuesday, April 3, 8-11 p.m., Urban Life Plaza

Student Game Night

Wednesday, April 4, 7-11 p.m., Student Center Ballroom

A Night of Illusion

Thursday, April 5, 7-11 p.m., Student Center Ballroom

Spring Bash

Friday, April 6, Noon-6 p.m., Unity Plaza/Gilmer Street For more information, call Spotlight at 404/413-1610.