Vol. 81 | No. 2

SEPTEMBER 4 - SEPT. 10, 2013

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VOL. 81 | NO. 2

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Streetcar Update

DRAGON

The new streetcar design sports Georgia State colors

CON 2013

Behind the scenes at the largest Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention in the world

News | 4

Raining Money

Pages 12-14

Students can collect up to $10,000 at next week’s game – if they come

Sports | 12

Decatur

Book festival The largest book fest in the country keeps print alive

A&L| 9

online exclusive Street fighting man Stamina is the name of the game for this

CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL At the annual Dragon Con parade, fans dress up like their favorite sci-fi/fantasy characters. See more pictures on pgs. 13-14.

Daily news at www.georgiastatesignal.com

News 2

Opinions 6

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Keeping the dream alive MARANDA WHITTINGTON Staff Reporter

JESUS DIAZ News Editor

I

f you are a student in the Lofts or Freshman Hall and looked down from your window on Wednesday night, you would have seen two things: a diverse group of students marching down Edgewood Avenue together, and this same group stopping in front of Greek Housing to hold hands and sing “We Shall Overcome” in unity.

All of this was part of an event called Cocktails and Conversations, sponsored by Georgia State’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

Aug. 28 marked the 50th anniversary of when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington D.C. While a lot of events were happening in the D.C. area, the Phi Beta Sigmas decided to host this event alongside the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Joshua Fowler, a sophomore and a member of Phi Beta Sigma, explained why they decided to partner with Kappa Sigma and host the event.

“This event is showing how 50 years later, Phi Beta Sigma–a historically black fraternity–can partner with Kappa Sigma–a white fraternity–to throw programs together. We live in a Greek housing community with white fraternities and sororities, where 50 years ago, this was unheard of. This is just showing the progress that America has made with civil rights,” Fowler said.

The program started with a clip from the PBS documentary Freedom Riders, where everyone watched firsthand accounts of survivors traveling through a town in Alabama on

the greyhound bus.

After the clip, Christian Hill facilitated the program and introduced the panelists for the panel discussion.

The three panelists for that night’s discussion were Dr. Doris Derby, founder and director of Georgia State’s Office of African American Student Services and Programs; Bill Stanley, a retired executive from Clorox, a Deacon of Friendship Baptist Church and past President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; and Charis Hanner, a senior broadcast journalism major.

For almost two hours, all three panelists answered questions from Hill as well as questions from those sitting in the audience. Dr. Derby and Bill Stanley were able to give personal experiences of racism not only in their communities, but also in the work force where it is more discreet and hidden from others.

“Back then, Clorox didn’t take Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a real holiday, but instead as a floating holiday,” Stanley said.

Eventually he was able to convince the company to consider it a national holiday.

This program was different because the audience was split into a few groups—not only African Americans, but also Caucasians and Latinos. Audience members stood up and told their side of racism–not just from a Black perspective, but also from a White and Latino perspective as well.

Sophomore Kappa Sigma member Alexis Smith told his perspective about being an African American male in a predominantly white fraternity.

“As an African American in a white fraternity, people would think that they are all racist and whatnot, but actually they are all very accepting. It’s more of like a culture and a brotherly bond than anything else,” Smith said.

Alpha Xi Delta and Emory University’s Lambda Theta Alpha were among the sorori-

“

We live in a Greek housing community with white fraternities and sororities where 50 years ago this was unheard of. This is just showing the progress that America has made with civil rights.”

-Joshua Fowler, member of Phi Beta Sigma

PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS Hundreds gather in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.s 1963 March on Washington. ties and fraternities at the event supporting not only Phi Beta Sigma and Kappa Sigma, but also Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream for equality.

Once the event was over, 11 Alive News, which was also covering the event, was able

to film everyone marching together as well as singing and displaying the change the country has triumphed toward over the last 50 years.

3

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Students raise money for higher education in Kenya MARANDA WHITTINGTON Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State’s Beta Alpha Psi has big plans this year to make a difference internationally.

This year, and for the first time ever, they have joined forces with a non-profit organization called Imbako Public Health to help them raise money for Kenyan women trying to go to college.

Imbako Public Health identifies Kenyan women that have been accepted into college but cannot afford to attend. Imbako then receives scholarship money fundraised by Beta Alpha Psi’s Global Impact project.

Through events like Pass the Torch, a 5K/10K race that is held in the fall, and an elevator pitch competition held in the spring, the Global Impact Project has helped raise enough money to send 13 Kenyan women to college.

“We have had two girls graduate. We are getting ready for next year when we will fund an additional two to three girls to go to school,” Allison Jacobs, Associate Director of Beta Alpha Psi, said.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. The primary objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field, according to their website.

Beta Alpha Psi has also partnered with Tau Alpha Chi, the founding chapter of Georgia State’s School of Accountancy, to not only help run a boot camp preparing anyone entering the accounting and taxing field, but also to raise money.

“Each member donates $100 towards the cause each semester,” Jacobs said. “In total, we’ve raised $90,000 that we’ve been able to disperse out.”

Starting this past month, students were able to attend a general information session with an accounting panel where they learned several types of public accounting concentrations like the tax, audit and advisory.

Besides helping students prepare for the semester, the four-day camp encourages students to submit an accounting pitch for the Global Impact Project in which a panel of judges picks a winner.

The winner then receives a prize, with the rest of the proceeds going towards the Global Impact Project.

Wednesday, the students spent two hours having their resumes reviewed by 40 professionals from different firms in Atlanta and spent the next day learning about networking tips at a mock career fair.

“This boot camp has been very helpful in regards to which accounting field I would like to go into,” junior Alyssa Wheeler said.

If you would like to help, you

PHOTO CREDIT: GLOBAL IMPACT PROJECT The 13 beneficiaries of the Global Impact Project. can donate money by going to Beta Alpha Psi’s Global Impact Project website www.bapgsu.com/global-impact-project, or sign up for their third annual Pass the Torch

5K/10K that will be held at 9 a.m. on October 19 at Grant Park.

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of the writer(s) and include their year and major. If the writer is a faculty member, they must include their title and department. Letters will be fact-checked prior to publication. The writer may be obligated to make changes to the letter for publication. Letters will be edited for grammar, clarity, length, factual accuracy and adherence to Signal policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff.

Photo of the week ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN | THE SIGNAL Wide receiver Kelton Hill catches the ball in midair as Samford’s defense closes in.

Georgia State and Samford went head-tohead Friday night at the Georgia Dome, resulting in Georgia State’s first loss with new head coach Trent Miles.

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NEWS

4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Local

STREETCAR UPDATE:

Crews begin work on overhead power lines PHOTO CREDIT: ATLANTASTREET CARINC.COM This map shows where the new streetcar tracks will be laid down.

JESUS DIAZ News Editor

W

ith track layout almost completed, new work-zone safety signs have been placed along construction routes for foundation work on the streetcar’s overhead power lines.

In the most recent update, the Atlanta Streetcar Project will include four vehicles, each designed with Georgia State colors; 12 designated stops with a direct connection to the Georgia State MARTA station and a 24hour operating system.

Vice President of Central Atlanta Progress Wilma Sothern said they have been focusing on communication efforts with Georgia State, hinting at student discounts for riding the streetcar.

“We are focused on communication efforts with Georgia State,” Sothern added.

“We are willing to work with the university for some kind of deal with the students.”

She advised commuters to be aware of work-zone areas, safety precaution signs and continued construction throughout this year and the next.

Project director Tim Borchers said that aside from the big, orange barrels and palettes wrapped and connected with caution tape, there will also be new bike awareness signs along the construction sites.

“We’re just asking students to take the proper precautions,” he said. “Please observe the work-zone signs.”

Bikes, motorcycles, small-wheeled motorized chairs and wheel chairs are cau-

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According to Atlanta Streetcar Inc., the system could boost ridership on MARTA and regional bus services by $1.2 million...”

tioned to cross the newly finished tracks at perpendicular, 90-degree angles to avoid grooves.

“We should be done with all track work before Thanksgiving,” Borchers said.

He added that pole lines will run anywhere from 80 to 200 feet each, and will require extensive support work throughout the whole 2.7 miles of track for the streetcar.

Though most of the track layout is finished, before foundation work can continue utility cables and old tracks from past trolley work must be avoided.

Crew leaders are working morning hours to stay out of the summer heat that could cause railways to swell.

“We’re trying to find an engineering solution to the pole foundation issue,” Borchers said. “We are working more hours, pushing hard to get out of everybody’s way.”

Panther Express has also been working with the Atlanta Streetcar Project team to ensure the new system is on par with the

university.

“The Panther Express routes were changed last summer in anticipation of construction activities,” director of facilities planning Russell H. Seagren said. “Georgia State is not a financial contributor to the Streetcar Project, but its staff has contributed extensive time and effort to coordinate construction activities with university programs.”

Streetcars could be the future for Atlanta’s transportation system. According to Atlanta Streetcar Inc., the system could boost ridership on MARTA and regional bus services by $1.2 million, encourage tourism throughout the downtown area and connect the aquarium to Sweet Auburn Avenue and the Peachtree corridor-–all on some of Atlanta’s busiest streets.

According to reports, the Atlanta Streetcar Project would raise $15 billion in local spending and $225 million in property taxes within the first five years of operation, helping transform the 14.5-mile long

PHOTO CREDIT: ATLANTASTREETCARINC.COM There will be four new streetcar trolleys all painted blue and black.

Peachtree corridor into one of the world’s “premier boulevards,” according to the city.

In a recent survey by Atlanta Streetcar Inc., 67 percent of office workers said they would be in favor of riding the streetcar to lunch, 56 percent would ride the streetcar four or more times per week and 19 percent said they might even consider giving up one of their family vehicles.

“I think the Streetcar Project will be nice for tourists, students, faculty and staff,” sociology professor Dr. Dawn Baunach said, “[and] anyone who wants to visit other parts of downtown.”

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

NEWS

Global

5

finance

Law graduate launches Georgia State economist humanitarian project for Syria predicts more jobs by 2015 ERIC YEBOAH Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State College of Law graduate Max Holland is launching a humanitarian project in order to better the Al Za’atari Refugee camp on the Syrian-Jordanian border.

Holland’s humanitarian project encompasses two parts: installing solar power LED lights close to bathrooms in order lower the high rate of female sexual assault and supplying the camp’s student population with school supplies. The women, who are constantly forced to walk through an ill lit, poorly built foundation, are constantly faced with the possibility of sexual assault by individuals or gangs. In order to help prevent this problem, the bathrooms are purposely kept away from the residence area.

“When people in the developed, peaceful world have to use the bathroom, they walk down the hall or stop at a store. In the Al Za’atari refugee camp, people have to walk in darkened areas in front of thousands of similarly displaced people. They constantly fear for their safety,” Holland said.

The growing camp population also increases the risk of sexual assault on the women.

“There are so many people there and it keeps getting bigger. It is mind-blowing.

The maps showing its expansion are breathtaking,” Holland said.

As well as the need for protection for the Syrian women, students are in need of school supplies. The education system is sadly forgotten about and thus subjects the children to harsh learning conditions. Holland plans on giving the camp supplies at the halfway mark of a semester.

Both plans evoke praise from Georgia State senior Jasmine Jones.

“Providing the women and children of Al Za’atari with these tools will bring them hope. Once there is hope, there is room for change,” Jones said.

“The project is great and hopefully it’ll help lessen the abuse of women in the camp,” senior Haddy Jallow said.

Holland’s fundraising goal is $15,000, which he hopes to reach by Oct. 1 of this year. He is accepting contributions at http:// www.rockethub.com/31222.

The Syrian government launched an attack on Aug. 21, fearing that the United Nation’s inspectors would discover their stock of chemical weapons. According to the Washington Post, U.S. officials believe that the current death toll amounts to 1,429 civilians.

JESUS DIAZ News Editor

E

conomic forecaster Rajeev Dhawan said students will continue to struggle finding a job after graduation, but that conditions will improve within the next two years.

In his second annual economic forecast on Aug. 28 in Georgia State’s Student Center, Dhawan said that although Georgia housing markets and auto sales have improved, global issues in the Middle East and China have encouraged “a slow economic recovery.”

In front of a crowded Speaker’s Auditorium, Dhawan’s Forecast of the Nation cited over 4,000 jobs lost in Georgia during the first half of 2013, where there was an increase in unemployment and a decrease in income growth.

“There is no viable local antidote to these global and domestic headwinds,” he said. “Instead, we have to take the punch on the chin.”

But auto and housing sales are increasing, emerging as “growth forces” in Georgia, where nominal income will double by 5.1 percent in 2015.

The Economic Forecasting Center predicts this year’s senior class will see an

“

...auto and housing sales are increasing, emerging as “growth forces” in Georgia, where nominal income will double by 5.1 percent in 2015.

increase of 66,200 jobs by the time they graduate and 93,100 by 2015, when the economy is said to begin faster growth.

Dhawan explained that all of this means more “catalyst jobs” for students in the private industry, including manufacturing, scientific, corporate and IT sectors.

State unemployment rates will also improve in the next two years to 8.3 percent in 2014 and 7.4 percent by 2015.

Yet before that can happen, the side effects of a “slow” global recession are inevitable and The Economic Forecasting Center said local corporations are not investing.

“As soon as Congress strikes a budget deal and the next leader of the Federal Reserve Bank is determined, corporations will invest again,” the EFC said.

OPINIONS

W!

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

The Big

How to avoid using your course withdrawals

E RAVEN NAQUELLE Columnist A third-year journalism major who believes it is not what you know but who you know and that who you know can make or break you.

very student at Georgia State is only allowed six course withdrawals. Six. That means for the next four-plus years that you are enrolled at Georgia State, you can withdraw from only six courses after the add/drop period ends. After that, if you are struggling in class, you are stuck dealing with it.

After talking with some people, I realized that some of these course withdrawal situations can be avoided. As a matter of fact, it is possible to work toward your degree at Georgia State without having to use any of your withdrawals. Ever.

How? Well, here are a few tips on how to avoid needlessly using all six of your course withdrawals:

2.) Have a backup plan.

4.) Study!

Make sure you always have a backup plan, especially if you have to have a certain number of credit hours each semester. If one of your classes is suddenly canceled or if you are forced to drop a course for any reason, the last thing you want to do is replace it with something you’re not interested in or something you don’t need for your major. You might not do so well in the replacement course and may ultimately have to take an “L,” or should I say “W.” Have a list of backup courses that you are interested in taking. Be sure to write down the name of the course, the time, the location and the CRN. Please don’t forget the CRN.

Yes. Please, do. You can’t just slack off in the beginning of the semester, take your midterms and expect to do well. School doesn’t work like that. Instead of taking the easy way out by withdrawing, put some effort into your classes. It’s really not that hard to show up to class, take detailed notes, read your textbook and learn the material.

1.) Be honest with yourself.

If academics aren’t as important to you as your social life is, that’s okay! If you would rather go to Panther Prowl than study for an exam, maybe taking five to six classes per semester isn’t the best route for you. Try lightening your course load by going to school part-time. Or, if you still want to be classified as a full-time student, take the minimum of 12 credit hours. That way, you can easily focus on your classes and make good grades while still enjoying your social life. You may be in school longer than four years, but as long as you earn your degree, who cares?

3.) www.RateMyProfessors. com is your best friend.

I know a lot of students who withdrew from their courses in the middle of the semester just because of the professor’s (lack of) teaching skills. My thing is, why waste a perfectly good “W” in that situation when you could simply look up the professor on www.RateMyProfessors.com? Seriously, go to the website, run a search on all of your would-be professors, read the reviews and take heed. If any of your professors have bad reviews, don’t ignore them. And don’t be the one who is willing to find out about the professor the hard way. It will cost you.

5.) Spend your money wisely.

You are paying for these classes. When you use one of those course withdrawals, that’s your money going down the drain. Even worse, if the class you took a “W” for is a core class or a class needed to complete your degree program, you’re going to have to enroll again, which means you’re going to have to pay for it again. You don’t have money to blow like that, and I’m pretty sure your parents, the federal government, the organizations from which you received scholarships and grants and whoever else is funding your education would agree. Before you consider dropping your class, think about how much it will cost you in the long run.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that there are instances where withdrawing from a course or two is absolutely necessary. That said, that’s what the course withdrawals are for-–to be used in case of emergency. If you take time to actually plan your semester and factor in other obligations, creating a withdrawal-proof schedule should be a piece of cake. And you’ll also have your “W”s saved up for when you really need them.

From the Editorial Board

Atlanta’s exciting Labor Day festivities

T

ypically Labor Day weekend means taking a long weekend to get away—perhaps to the lake to spend some quality time with the family or a day trip to Gatlinburg.

This year, the Labor Day action was in our city, on our campus.

Let us just take a moment to list out all of the things that were going on this weekend in Atlanta. Georgia State football’s premiere Sun Belt game at the Dome on Friday night; LudaDay Weekend, featuring a celebrity basketball game at Georgia State; Dragon*Con, the world’s largest fantasy/sci-fi convention; the Decatur Book Festival, which featured author speakings

and signings as well as many opportunities to discover a new novel; the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game at the Dome on Saturday, a college football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Virginia Tech Hokies; Black Gay Pride, a celebration that welcomed speakers and visitors from around the world to downtown Atlanta; an Atlanta Braves home series against the Marlins, which featured a free Big & Rich concert after the game on Sunday; and the AdvoCare 500, a race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Many of those events brought international guests into Atlanta, while the others brought local and national fans alike.

When you sit down to think about it, it’s

extraordinary how much there was to do this weekend and the incredible range of people who came into this city to participate.

This weekend should have made us as students proud to be attending a university in the heart of downtown Atlanta. This normally 9-to-5 city was transformed into a bustling, busy, 24/7 city: one that provided endless outlets for entertainment and a fulfilling weekend.

And most of the action occurred right on our turf: in downtown Atlanta, where Georgia State students live, work and study. Our university makes up most of downtown Atlanta and is expanding all

the time. Our over 30,000-student body is the life of Atlanta on a day-to-day basis, but this weekend, we welcomed thousands of sports, fantasy and book fans onto our stomping grounds.

If that’s not a reason to be thankful we go to school here, I’m not sure what is.

This university provides so much opportunity for us as students—academically, professionally and recreationally, and this weekend was proof. The Signal had reporters at every major event—and all we had to do was walk down the street to get to them.

At a major university in the heart of a city welcoming thousands of visitors yearround, how could we not be thankful?

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

7

OPINIONS

Dollars and sense with Mitch: Your weekly diet of financial advice

Rate my college, redux MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a junior finance major and student financial advisor.

“My goal is to have more college students financially literate.”

Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

Follow him @madmoneyATL.

“Over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public fouryear college has gone up by more than 250 percent,” President Obama said at a recent visit to a college in Buffalo, NY recently. Gasps were heard all throughout the auditorium.

A

nyone can tell you how expensive college is, and there are many out there complaining about its unfairness. It wasn’t until recently that the government been stepping in and actually helping those who wish to attend college but can’t afford it. Furthermore, Obama discussed plans to lower debt payments for those currently in college, and, as a surprise to many, the new proposals are pure genius.

The system’s current trajectory is not sustainable. Obama made this clear, schools with high attendance but low graduation rates make this crystal clear and students graduating with $80,000 in debt make this more clear than Crys-

TERRY HARLIN Columnist Terry has a PhD in teaching and learning and currently teaches social studies for Gwinnett County Public Schools.

tal Pepsi. Obscure 90s references aside, the problem is that higher education has always been considered a luxury until this generation. With a college degree almost mandatory for a middleclass lifestyle, it is no longer a luxury – so why is it still treated like one? Just looking at the sticker price of some colleges, you would think some institutions are trying to be like Saks Fifth Avenue charging $900 for a scarf. It’s as if they are raising the cost of tuition to flaunt this facade of providing a premium product that in reality is as “premium” as premium steaks at Wal-Mart.

But here is where there’s hope: President Obama has actually been out on the field, talking face-to-face with college presidents, students, consultants and economists. He knows what these colleges need from the direct sources, and his plan is based off of the feedback he has received.

I feel that in order to create a strong foundation for post-recession America, we must begin this at the university level, making it affordable for those eager to go. Colleges must not “price out the middle class,” as Obama has mentioned.

So here’s my solution, taken partially from Obama’s plan and partially from what I think would be ideal. It’s one simple fix: get rid of the archaic rating system that only considers economically useless information. Interesting but overall pointless data such as student/teacher ratio, retention rate and SAT/ACT scores of incoming freshman are just a few of the ways colleges

are rated now.

We must rate schools on value—the pure, intrinsic value that a student receives from attending that college. How much tangible and intangible bang for your buck can you get? What are your chances of actually scoring a job after graduation?

How much average debt does a graduating senior have? These values are what matters most to students and should be the core focus of modern colleges.

Georgia State ranks 362nd in the current system, but I think it could jump ahead of many other colleges if it were to be ranked on a more complex economic value. Besides, Georgia State offers more opportunities to a wider variety of cultures than many other colleges, and Obama mentioned that schools will be given incentives to do just that in the future.

While all of the points Obama brought up in his speech are positive and helpful to many in theory, actually succeeding in passing many of these groundbreaking ideas will be a tough battle. The thought of rating schools based on how innovative and effective they are is just what we need right now.

To create incentives programs for universities to innovate in ways to lower the cost of college is absolutely genius—and it would all be funded by the government. Finally, a form of welfare that will benefit the masses and be easy and innovative to its core. That’s something we can all look forward to.

Freshman Ink: Not just for hazing anymore

B

ackpack? Check. Panthercard? Check. Parking pass? Check. Tattoo? Check.

Whatever happened to keg stands and funneling as the eighteen year-old’s rite of passage? Now the right to serve on a jury comes with the right to blow 40 bucks to a grand on a multicolored epidermal façade, showing the world you have come of age.

In the not-too-distant past, tattoos were taboo except with bikers, Native Americans, gang members, war vets, ex-cons, metalheads, Satanists and tattoo artists. Few women other than strippers and lovers of the aforementioned could be seen squirming under a colored needle.

So how did the tattoo ascend from trashy to trendy faster than a hungover freshman could say, “Whoaaa! Where did that come from?”

For decades the tattoo was either a sign of rebellion or of loyalty to a fraternal order willing to get violent. Sometimes it was both.

So when the transient, popular expressions of nonconformity like shocking hairstyles and cheek piercings proved too tame, the rebel wanted to prove he (or she) meant it. “See! Screw you forever, because I’m not growing out of this. It does not come off.”

And almost overnight, the desire to fill a void became confused with the need for a permanent mark on one’s flesh.

A wide range of needy Americans nurtured on pop culture, rebel yells and consumerism were desperate for admiration yet still afraid to go too far outside the norm.

The athlete or musician wanting to prove his street cred, the thirty-something divorcee craving a departure from her matriarchal role, the professional battling the stereotype of the middle-ager in crisis, the nerdy freshman longing to show his toughness – if only to himself, the young woman convinced by her peers and her idols that being the

“

Instead of the mooching ‘got a light?’ the complimentary ‘nice ink’ engenders a deeper bond between two souls who have shared similar pain and are not simply ‘social’ tattooers.”

good girl is lame and everyone else just trying to be “cool” are all perfect examples.

With insecurity driving the craze, the tattoo has come to serve crucial roles. For the bashful, the tattoo proves a better conversation starter than cigarettes, with no smell and fewer fatal consequences.

Instead of the mooching “Got a light?” the complimentary “Nice ink” engenders a deeper bond between two souls who have shared similar pain and are not simply “social” tattooers.

From the vain to those perpetually unhappy with their looks, the tattoo is permanent make-up.

But one chilling aspect is that while makeup and accessories allow someone to temporarily enhance or hide flaws with his/her own hand, the tattoo places another person’s art on his/her body permanently.

The one tattooed becomes inextricably tied to the stranger who signed his name on her butt with a mercantile connection. Her flesh now represents someone else’s commercial product.

The tattoo is the favorite shirt you never take off or the magical to-die-for shoes that never scuff or fade.

But even more so, it is a way to stand out, to show the world your individuality because you would hate—God forbid— to have to rely on personality alone.

The problem with this kind of individuality nowadays is that everyone is doing it. Sadly, even some tattoos fade after a while and personality is

all you have left.

For some, a tattoo is a security blanket. No one sees it unless desired by the wearer. Sometimes it remains hidden from the wearer though he pretends, even swears, to sense its presence. That imaginary sense of presence reminds the wearer of his special place in the universe, or the loved one watching over him, or of the mystical meaning of that foreign symbol on his back which he saw for the first time at the tattoo parlor.

Still many adolescents and adolescent-minded adults yearn for this ancient and bizarre form of permanent self-mutilation because it’s so cool. But “cool” is a figment of our 60-year obsession with the faddish and superficial.

Certainly, those with poise, charisma, confidence and a unique sense of self-expression engender in others the desire to hang around them.

Some might even call these people cool. But those who seek to “be cool” or get a particular tattoo because “it’s cool” are futilely chasing a fruitless path to a rather artificial, pathetic sense of self-worth instead of choosing to build character and a life based on true accomplishment or service to others or a higher power.

When thirsting to belong, we all make mistakes. But why make one requiring you to show the physical evidence for the rest of your life? Or with which you will waste countless, future moments trying to convince yourself and others that you are happy?

8

OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Mobile fiends:

Texting in the classroom YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS Should students be able to text or browse on their phones in class? Why or why not?

Nolan N. Meadors II Junior

“It depends on the reason. With the advancement of technology, cell phones can basically be used like a computer. I store a lot of my school stuff on my cell phone, so if you’re trying to browse for something pertaining to class or take notes on your phone for class, then yeah, sure. But as far as using your phone for casual texting or playing games, for etiquette purposes, no.”

Melissa Yu Senior

“I’ve been guilty of it...

If it’s an emergency, I feel like we should do it.

But then, there comes a point when there’s too much. If it’s disturbing, like just pressing buttons or tapping, [and] it’s annoying the person next to you, they shouldn’t have to tell you to put it away.”

Roddas Workneh Freshman

“Yeah. I feel like it’s helpful, like if there’s like a mini emergency or you just need to shoot a quick text. I mean, this isn’t high school. I feel like you’re in class to learn, so if you have to use your phone for something important, then just get it done and then get back to class.”

Joe Crow Freshman

“I would say yes. Only because there are emergencies where I can see that that’s acceptable. But at the same time, if you’re in class, you should be paying full attention to the teacher, to your class and not be on your cell phone.”

JABARI KIONGOZI Columnist Jabari is a senior political science major. “I strive to be your weekly comedic relief.” He writes to both entertain and inform.

Follow him @ JoeBraxton

R

ecently I attended a live taping for the new for Lady Gaga. season of Comic View. Upon arrival, secuWhat should a professor’s stand be towards cell rity instructed guests to leave all electronics phones in this modern day of technology? Some in their vehicles–they are prohibited in the studio. allow texting to go unnoticed. Others have a sense Being insubordinate, I was the fool that had to of humor and put students on front street for igmake the walk of shame to my car and back. noring lecture. And for few others, it hits that spot To an extent, classes take a similar approach that makes them tick. Only the ballsy students are toward electronics. Minus the TSA security and bold enough to sit near the front of this professor’s cavity checks, cell phones are often banned from class and play Candy Crush just to be called out being used in class. and given that familiar And even though ultimatum: put up the students can agree phone or leave class. it is disrespectful to As a student who And even though openly text in class, pays a lump sum to be resisting temptation here, I think we should students can agree is extremely hard for be entitled to act as we it is disrespectful to some, if not most of please in class as long as us. it does not disturb the openly text in class, We go through learning environment. resisting temptation withdrawals when And to whip out our going long periods phones as we please, is extremely hard for of time without bewith the exception of some, if not most of us.” ing able to log in to during a test of course, Twitter or Instagram. is not a disturbance.

While we were awaitRude, yes. But the only ing the comics to hit the stage, peoples’ palms be- distraction is imposed upon the user. gan sweating as much as Johnny Manziel’s during In fact, phones in the classroom present a new his NCAA investigation. One of the girls in the lesson and challenges worth taking on. First, it studio audience started hyperventilating. A crew teaches the student whether they are good at multimember asked if she needed an inhaler. The girl tasking or not. Second, it’s a discreet way of allowresponded, “No, grab me a phone!” “Do you need ing the professor to know whether they are interme to dial 911?” he asked. She hastily responded, esting or not. Many are still under the assumption “No! I need to update my status!” that students sleep in class because they are tired Maybe this is a fictional (and corny) story due to some other reason than being bored out of I made up that only some of you were gullible their minds. The reality is: their phones were the enough to believe, but I’m sure we all know at only other option to keep them awake. least one person who’s practically addicted to their At the end of the day, students are held accountphone. And they’ll swear their phones actually en- able for what they learn. So why should classes rehance their performance like lace fronts have done strict mobiles?

“

The Weekly Comic by William Miracle

ARTS & LIVING

www.gsusignal.com/artsandliving

DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL Highlights and a Q&A with Rolling Stone columnist Rob Sheffield

Q&A with Rob Sheffield Rob Sheffield is a Rolling Stone columnist and music journalist who published the acclaimed novel “Life is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time”. His latest novel, “Turn Around Bright Eyes : The Rituals of Love & Karaoke”, details how his love of karaoke helped him to move past the loss of his first wife, discover a new love, and appreciate the past while reigniting his future.

How do you feel like you can use music to relate to your life and better identify yourself?

Sheffield: For me music is just a soundtrack to my life and how I feel my emotions and how I make sense of the world. Stuff that even has nothing to do with music, music still comes up in how I think about it. This book, “Turn Around Bright Eyes”, is about a lot of the different relationships in a person’s life, my life as a son, my life as a husband, my life as a brother, my life as a friend. For me, music is where I go to help me understand these relationships better.

Music is just the motor of my emotional life.

PHOTO BY MIKE EDEN | THE SIGNAL Author Rob Sheffield reads an excerpt from his book, Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love and Karaoke at the Decatur Book Festival on Sept. 1.

PAUL DEMERRITT Staff Reporter

E

very Labor Day weekend among the hordes of cosplayers marching in Downtown, among the gay pride flags flying in Piedmont Park, among the roar of NASCAR fans thundering in the Atlanta Motor Speedway, a loyal community gathers in the Decatur Square to celebrate the ancient art of story telling and to indulge in the rabid passion of the written word.

The Decatur Book Festival began as founder Daren Wong left a successful book festival in Columbia, S.C. He wondered why Atlanta, the largest metropolitan area in the Southeast, could host such a variety of summer festivals but not a single book festival.

He answered that query in 2006 with the inaugural Decatur Book Festival which brought together over 100 authors and 50,000 attendees to affirm that Atlanta cared about books.

The Decatur Square proved to be an ideal location for a book festival with Agnes Scott College to the south, Emory only a two mile trek away, a bastion of independent shops at every turn, and a Marta Station forming its center.

The festival expanded to become the largest independent book festival in the nation with over 300 authors, an additional arts festival known as art|DBF, and a keynote address from Congressman and civil rights powerhouse John Lewis highlighting this year’s events.

However, this victory was not won overnight.

The festival’s breakneck success came from the collective struggles of a disparate group of authors who fought for decades to showcase the loyalty of Atlanta’s wordsmiths.

“When I started the bookstore [Outwrite] we heard the same stories that people in

Atlanta and the South weren’t gonna read and they weren’t going to support a literary event,” explains Programming Director Philip Rafshoon, “and we’ve proven that this community supports literature and this community supports writers.”

Rafshoon was added as the Programming Director early in January after his famous LGBT bookstore Outwrite closed its doors in 2011.

“It’s great to be able to stay in the book and publishing business and expand what I’m doing and work with amazing authors, publishers and the whole Decatur community,”says Rafshoon.

The staying power of the festival stems from its commitment to diversity in the style and subject matter of its authors. Authors who write on business, civil rights, cooking, parenting, humanities, LGBT issues, music, religion, and any other style imaginable are all represented here.

The book festival is especially relevant for college students who feel too discouraged by their exhausting courseload to explore literature further than the classroom. “[For students] it’s good to see what the fruit of somebody’s labor is,whether it is in literature, whether it is in science...whether it’s humor, whether it’s sports,” Rafshoon explains, “there’s something here for everybody and it’s something I think everybody from every generation should experience.”

For budding authors with or without an audience, Decatur only makes sense. “[The Decatur Book Festival’s] really grown among writers because the word’s gotten out how wonderful it is and how Decatur really caters to authors. We take care of them from the moment they get here until the moment they leave,”Rafshoon says.

Even for those who dread the scent of a fresh paperback, there are numerous ways to join in the festivities and become enveloped in

the atmosphere.

In addition to book signings, Decatur Square is crowded with numerous booths from some of Atlanta’s cultural figureheads such as The High and the Center for Puppetry Arts. Children’s events also play a significant role as kids parades, book-based plays from The Serenbe Playhouse, and a roaming Diary of A Wimpy Kid van populate the festival grounds.

The unifying potential of writing can only be realized from the sound of an author’s enthusiasm dripping off their voice during a reading, or the sight of children delighted to find a favorite author dressed up as a character from their book, or the smell of the local food trucks pouring into the square and the side streets.

This sensory overload overwhelms and invites even the most casual reader.

While books may seem like an inefficient relic in a digital age, the Decatur Book Festival plans on being a permanent fixture of Atlanta’s cultural landscape.

“It’s going be hard to top this year, but we’ll do it by staying relevant to what’s important culturally and staying diverse and staying fresh for our community,”explains Rafshoon.

The Decatur Book Festival succeeds in transporting book fans outside the confines of the printed page and into a weekend where stories become people, authors become friends, and readers become a community.

For more Q&As with authors featured at the Decatur Book Festival, visit www.georgiastatesignal.com

Why did you choose your love of karaoke to parallel your relationships?

Sheffield: I chose karaoke just because it’s something that let’s me actually sing as someone with a terrible voice. It’s something that actually opens up music in a way where I can actually make music and create music and perform music...I’m always amazed when people are actually able to create music as someone who has always loved music and enjoyed thinking and writing about it. Karaoke is something that actually allows me to step into that fantasy of being a singer for a few minutes. There was a summer when I was 20 and my housemates were all in a band and they were doing a show and they were doing Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ and talked them into letting me flip the cards with the lyrics like Bob Dylan does in the movie [“Don’t Look Back”], and even that I was totally out of time, I couldn’t even keep the rhythm just flipping the cards. Even that I was bad at.

For me karaoke has become a fascination.

I know you like to use playlists to mirror what’s going on in your life, is there anything you’re listening to currently?

Sheffield: I love the Kanye West album [“Yeezus”]. I love how it samples the Brenda Lee song ‘Sweet Nothin’s’, when we were growing up, my parents grew up in the 50s and they had the “Dick Clark Story of Rock and Roll”, and it had ‘Sweet Nothin’s’

by Brenda Lee. That song reminds me of that really specific memory of my old record that my parents had, and that Kanye West heard that and took a sample from it and played it through the whole song and that weird mismatch of totally incompatible memories that totally connect to me and incompatible emotions that make me think ‘wow, the fundamental weirdness of music never stops astounding me.’

10

ARTS & LIVING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

TRY ME WEEK The Signal reviews free clinics at the Rec Center

Students take part in an early morning meditation class at the Recreation Center.

SAMANTHA REARDON Arts & Living Editor

I

f you did not have a chance to take a free instructional clinic during Try Me Week, no worries - our Arts & Living associate editors got the details from ballroom dancing, Pilates and meditation.

Ballroom Dancing

The Waltz, the Rumba and the East Coast Swing are some of the ballroom dances that will be taught throughout the semester by instructor Joe Krasevec.

Krasevec started the clinic with the basic steps to the East Coast Swing so that students could get an idea of what future classes would be like.

“Dancing with the stars has really put dancing on the map. As much as I enjoy watching it, you don’t see the basic dance steps.

It’s all acrobatic, it’s all for show,” Krasevec said. “That’s not what I’m teaching; I teach more of the basic steps and then about five or six variation steps.”

If enough people join, Krasevec wants to have a “Dancing with the Stars” competition where student dancers will not only compete, but judge their peers.

Some students came to the dance class mainly because they have an interest in dance.

Student Mahathi Venkataramani, a returning ballroom dance member, decided to come back to the clinic and give it another go.

“It’s been a couple of semesters. I’m looking forward to it again. I was debating on taking it because it is right after fencing and I’m going to be tired, but I was like I should take it to give me something fun to do,” said Venkataramani.

During the class, Krasevec made sure everyone had fun. He also encouraged all of the students to come back even if they had two left feet.

As Krasevec ended the class, instead of all of the students rushing to get out of there they all just stood and stared. For 10 minutes extra the students got to free style and get to know other classmates. He even told the class that whenever he was needed to just yell out, “Yo Joe!” Ballroom dance lessons are every Tuesday at 5:30 pm in Studio B, Recreational Center.

Pilates

By definition, Pilates is a system of exercises that improve strength, flexibility and posture, and enhance mental awareness.

Instructor Matthew Terrell got straight to the point. From beginning to end, Terrell demonstrated several different exercise techniques with minimal breaks between.

CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

For those who are not used to exercising, it was quite a challenge. Most of the students in the studio were surprised on how tough the class actually was.

“I thought it was it very interesting and hard work. I didn’t expect it to be so hard, but then again I’m not a very physical person,” student Samantha Brown said.

Pilates is an introductory course, but the exercises will become more intense with each lesson.

“Students who come to Pilates can expect a full body, corefocused workout that will train you to think about your muscles and use both your mind and your breath to control your body,” Terrell said.

Terrell began teaching Pilates three years ago in Prague.

His former Pilates instructor inspired him to add Pilates to the aerobics class he had already been teaching.

Pilates was a hit with students - there was not an empty space on the floor.

The Pilates clinic is held every Thursday at 7 pm in Studio B.

Meditation

A deafening silence consumed the room as several bodies sat completely still. Hardly a single breath could be identified as thoughts began to leave the premises. Only one voice was heard amongst the depths of peace, providing gentle direction and advice.

“Bring your hands up to your heart and lengthen your spine, raising your chest,” said Ron Young, director of meditation class at Georgia State University.

Young has been practicing meditation for more than ten years, and believes that it is a technique mastered only by time and extensive practice.

“Meditation is definitely something that requires consistent practice to be beneficial to a person,” Young said. “A lot of people don’t realize how many thoughts crowd their head every day.”

Meditation clinics will feature unique deep breathing strategies and innovative stretching techniques. Students that partake in the class sit on mats in the traditional Buddha style position, with blankets and blocks provided to sustain balance.

“Finding your center is a big part of meditation,” Young said.

“Balancing the energy and motion in your body is critical to success.”

There are also several stretches that students do, fully extending their legs while balancing on opposing hip bones.

Heavy emphasis is applied to the act of consciously keeping the back extended and hands out in front of the body.

Always necessary, the deep hum of meditative practice is a staple of the class as well, as all bodies in the room join voices as one and close their eyes. As everyone brings their thoughts together, Young continues to stress the importance of clearing your thoughts. It is understood that it is no easy feat, and Young believes that it is only natural for the mind to wander during the

ANTHONY SIMMONS | THE SIGNAL

Joe Krasevec, the ballroom instructor, and his dance partner demonstrate the waltz to the class.

sessions.

“It’s human habit for the mind to wander during meditation,” Young said. “That’s why it’s important to focus on your breathing and push all other thoughts away as they come naturally.”

For students who are looking for something both enlightening and relaxing, Meditation may be the perfect choice. The clinic provides a great strategy for finding peace in oneself, in addition to exercise.

The meditation clinic is Friday at 9 a.m. in Studio B. For more information on instructional clinics offered by the Student Recreation Center, visit recreation.gsu.edu.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

columns

11

Who is Spotify meant for?

Sex column

I took an older lover and loved it RACHEL KINGSLEY Sex/Dating Columnist

U

p until recently, I had always dated men my own age, give or take a couple of years.

As I reached my mid-twenties, I started to realize that most of the men were predictable and boring, both on dates, and in bed. The situations were strangely similar—dinner, movie and drinks with talk over when they were planning on moving out of their mom’s house. Not the sexiest situation.

I was ready for a change, both socially and sexually.

I wanted something more exciting, so I started a relationship with a man that was 15 years my senior. The chemistry was instant and we had sex on the first day we met. It was the best sex I’d ever had. Unlike the guys my own age, he didn’t try too hard, he knew what to do without having to be told or explained to. He, above all else, was confident in himself and in his ability to please me. He put my needs above his own and from then on I couldn’t get enough. He had already experienced everything I wanted to try sexually and was glad to show me the ropes.

Sex with him was exciting, new and completely unexpected. He touched me differently than anyone else, making

me realize I had many more erogenous zones than I thought. Taboo sexual acts were now the norm, making me more open about what I wanted and how to ask for it. I craved him begging for it on an almost daily basis. The more comfortable we became with each other, the more open we became to express what we wanted sexually. He told me fantasies that I’m not sure he had told anyone in a very long time, if ever. And I found myself wanting those fantasies as well– not for myself, but to please him. I want to please him the way he has pleased me. After a year, I want him just as much as I did after the first time we had sex.

Now, I wont be unrealistic here.

There are some aspects of being with an older man that are different than that of their younger counterparts. We don’t talk about childhood pop culture references, he’s in bed by 11 p.m. (even on the weekends) and sometimes he wears old man socks with sandals. I never talk about getting older, or the fact that I’ve seen a grey hair in his beard. I also don’t recommend asking when the last time their prostate was checked. But in my opinion, these were small differences in our lifestyles that I gladly overlooked.

Aside from the sexual experience that my older lover had, he was socially different as well. He already

“

Taboo sexual acts were now the norm...”

had surpassed all of the major life accomplishments that I looked at dauntingly. He owns his own home, is settled in his career and had already established himself. Through his experiences I learned about myself.

He encouraged me to figure out my life, what I want and how to say no to things I didn’t want. He made me more confident in ways that went far beyond the sex that we had. He was not only my lover, but he became my best friend.

Even though we were just friends, I know that I mean more to him than I have ever meant to any of my boyfriends. I’d like to think that even if, or when, the sex ends, that he will remain an important part of my life.

If for some reason we don’t remain in each other’s lives, if we saw each other in passing, we’d have warm feelings and a smile for each other. And during this time of my life, I wouldn’t trade my older lover for any amount of men my own age.

PAUL DEMERRITT Columnist

A

s a musician, I detest Spotify. As a listener, I find it undeniably brilliant.

Spotify and all music streaming services are only measured by one’s expectations of what a music streaming service is supposed to be.

The obvious answer is that a music streaming service should exist to provide a cheap, easy-to-access source of music to anyone with an internet connection and a pair of functioning ears.

One could also argue that Spotify should be a way for musicians to acquire payment, which is reasonable in relation to the amount of plays their songs receive. As of now, these two expectations are mutually exclusive.

Even though Spotify distributes music, their model is no different from other big businesses which exist to attract shareholders. The problem is that musicians demand an ideology that Spotify never claimed to have. Founder Daniel Ek is not a musician -- he’s a businessman.

The most common criticism of Spotify is that their payments to musicians are laughably miniscule.

Artists from Thom Yorke to The Black Keys have pulled their music from Spotify in protest of its meager

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artist compensation. If one expects music streaming services to provide a fair wage to artists, then there is certainly much to complain about.

Every time a song is streamed, the label receives $0.0016 and from that the artist is left with $0.00029. To put that into perspective, an artist needs 4,053,110 plays a month to make minimum wage. That is assuming that there is only one musician; a traditional four-piece band would have to make 16,212,440 plays to achieve minimum wage.

Naturally, this feat is impossible for the vast majority of musicians. As a source of income, music streaming services are completely nonviable.

Thom Yorke has every reason to protest, because his expectation is that the medium of attaining music should be inextricably linked to the preservation of the artist.

But, for the first time ever, Thom Yorke is more optimistic than I am.

Even with all of the starry-eyed equalizing potentials of the Internet, the best way to financially support an artist is still limited to the physical realm: concerts, LPs/CDs/cassettes, and merchandise.

Spotify’s steadily increasing revenues point towards an eventual solution to the persisting issue of how to monetize online music.

Unfortunately, the issue of ensuring that independent artists receive fair payment for their online performance remains unsolved.

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ARTS &

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

FROM

DRAGON CON 2013...

RODGER BUMPASS IS

SQUIDWARD TENTACLES

CANDRA UMUNNA THE SIGNAL

Voice actor Rodger Bumpass proudly sports his shirt recognizing his role as Squidward Tentacles from “Spongebob.”

SAMANTHA REARDON Arts & Living Editor

B

y day three of Dragon Con, flyers were mercilessly mushed into the wet Downtown sidewalks, people seemed to be personally acquainted with Gandalf, and no one was phased that the six locations and numerous venues that housed con festivities continued to buzz.

When The Signal sat down with Rodger Bumpass Sunday evening, it was no surprise that he agreed to interview in a vacant hallway of the Marriott Marquis, beer in hand. Despite the three days of ongoing activity, Bumpass spoke excitedly with us about his fame, his cartoon legacy and advice to anyone “persuing” voice acting.

The Signal: How has your experience at Dragon Con been thus far?

Rodger Bumpass: I’m not used to a four-day con, so there’s a fatigue factor. And I was telling the people at the panel that I just did that I apologize because I’m a little fatigued, but the reason I’m fatigued is I just spent seven hours interacting, greeting and being greeted with the absolute best fans I’ve seen at any con I’ve been to. The people at Dragon Con are enthusiastic, they’re passionate, they’re extremely complimentary and easy in telling you how much they love your work. So many people came to my table, not to buy anything, but just to shake my hand and tell me how much they loved my work. It doesn’t get any better than that.

TS: Is this your first time at Dragon Con? RB: No, I’ve been here before, but not quite in this capacity. Last time I came I was just a vendor. They stuck me in some hole back there and I got paid a little bit of money and whatever. This time I was more of a guest, so I did interviews like this, and panels, and was much more visible. So it was a much more enjoyable experience this time.

TS: How did you get started in voice acting?

RB: Well, it wasn’t that I sought out voice acting. I started in the voice world because at puberty I went from a very high voice to drop down to what’s

considered “an announcer voice.” And so I said, I’ve got this “announcer voice,” so I’ll go into broadcasting. And so I went to college and majored in radio and TV, and minored in theater. As time went on, I got more interested in the less regimented and more creative world of theater as opposed to broadcasting. I got my degree, but I decided that I wanted to be an actor.

So I went to New York and got involved with the National Lampoon there, and got on tour, we toured the entire country and played Atlanta. And they started to do a new movie called Jaws: 3, People: 0. It was going to be the third Jaws film, obviously, and I had basically the lead in the film. But unfortunately it was about a movie studio doing a shark movie, and so we were going to use Spielberg’s shark mechanism, and show how it worked.

Well, Spielberg steps in and says, “Well, you know what? That’s going to ruin the fantasy of my Jaws so if you guys don’t cancel this film, I’m walkin’.” So what do you think happened? They cancelled the film. And I had a love scene with Bo Derek!

By that time, though, I was already a client of the William-Morris agency.

I moved over to their voice-over department and pretty soon that became my livelihood - doing commercials, and animation and whatnot. And that kind of just evolved into my mainstay.

It wasn’t a question of me pursuing it; it was like, well I know I have the ability to

do these different voices and to present myself vocally, so let’s just go over there and see what happens. And that turned out well. Very few people, I think, pursue voice-acting. It’s just something that happens, and the door opens that way, so you go.

TS: You’ve been voicing one of the most beloved characters in children’s TV for fourteen years. What do you bring creatively to the character Squidward Tentacles?

RB: It evolved into a more nuanced character. When we first started him, he was a very nasally, monotone kind of guy.

Then we started to discover his sarcasm, and then his frustration, and then his apoplexy, and so he became a wide spectrum of emotions, and he became a very interesting character to do.

Talking about the creative process, we have a wonderful convention we use when we’re recording sessions. They were doing two-page stretches of the script.

We’ll do two passes of those two pages exactly the way the writers intended. We give our best. And then we do a third take, which is called the “crazy take,” where we can do anything we want to do, which is wonderfully liberating! And sometimes we do things off-color, just to amuse ourselves. But a lot of times our improv makes it into the actual show. So we give them what they want, but they give us the freedom to do what we want also. Before then, we were just improving occasionally.

13

& LIVING You’ll hardly do one take of anything in animation; they want some options.

TS: I read that there was a comparison of your voice work to Jack Benny, American comic. One of his characters plays the violin badly, and Squidward plays the clarinet badly. Did you have any idea of the comparison?

RB: I didn’t know there was a relationship to that. I thought you were going to mention Tim Conway. In fact, today there has been two references to me and Tim Conway, which actually has some validity because I used to copy Tim’s physicality when I did stage work.

He’s this sad sack kind of guy. But Jack Benny, no. Although he does have this observational sarcasm he occasionally brought out.

TS: Are any other characters you’ve done similar to Squidward?

RB: In my recent history, I’d have to say no, because Squidward has evolved into his own unique character. If you had asked the question when we first started the show, I’d have said he was a rather one-dimensional character. Now I don’t think there’s anything like him out there.

TS: Do you feel like you are Squidward? Do you have any similarities to him, personality wise?

RB: I’m not him and he’s not me, but what I’m required to do for him and what I am enabled to do for him is what makes it like me. It fits my particular talents and skills very well. So in that respect, yeah, he is me, but I am not the cranky, sarcastic, underachieving kind of guy that he is. He’s easy to fall in, I will say that.

TS: You received an Daytime Emmy nomination last year, correct?

RB: Yes, which they’ll never be able to take it from me; I have the little certificate and everything, and I’m very proud of being given that. Unfortunately, there wasn’t really a competition because one of the other nominees was June Foray (Rocky and Bullwinkle) and she is royalty in the animation world. So what that award was really a lifetime achievement award because she’s like 94 years old. There was no way any of the other three guys had a chance. In fact, if any of us had one, there would have been a riot in that studio. So I’m happy to lose to June Foray. I’m very pleased and grateful to get a nomination.

TS: What kind of advice would you give to, say, Georgia State students majoring in broadcasting or theater?

RB: In its essence, I say if you have the urge to pursue this, do it, especially when you’re very young. If you don’t throw your marbles out and see what happens, for the rest of your life you’ll wonder what could have happened.

And that can have negative effects on the rest of your life. Not necessarily devastating, but you’ll always have that nagging thing. When you go out like I did - I went from Arkansas to New York City - and if I had done that and spent five, 10 years trying to do it, I would either have been successful or I would have said, you know, I’m done with this. I gave it my shot. The only failure is not trying. And I encourage all young people, if you have any inkling whatsoever, that you can do this. At least try.

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

Highlights from Dragon Con 2013

MORE DRAGON CON PHOTOS ON THE NEXT PAGE

14

ARTS & LIVING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL

The Dragon Con Parade, held Saturday, featured characters from all pop culture genres.

REVIEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

15

MOVIE REVIEW:

Paranoia Rated: PG-13 for some sexuality, violence and language Runtime: 115 minutes Grade: BVerdict: Despite the best efforts of one director’s obsession with insufferable 20 somethings, Paranoia finds a way to be better than it should be.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

F

rom the beginning, everything about Paranoia screamed, “mediocre:” from its incredibly bland title, to its “been there done that” premise, to its relative lack of marketing buzz. Sure, the addition of Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford to Liam Hemsworth’s star power (Thor’s little brother and Gale from The Hunger Games) generated some interest.

But overall it looked like a throw away movie trying too hard to be smarter than it was and appeal to the Facebook generation, which is as great a summation of director Robert Luketic’s work as any (21, The Killers, The Ugly Truth). But I’m pleased to say that while all of Luketic’s weak points are still as present as ever (annoying, self-absorbed main characters that are either one-note or impossibly insufferable), Paranoia is a surprisingly stronger movie then it should be.

The plot is pretty paint-by-numbers. Adam Cassidy (Hemsworth) is the young, hip intern

who’s been working in an entry level position at a tech company with his friends for far too long, convinced that CEO Nicholas Wyatt (Gary Oldman) is keeping them there.

When an ambitious plan to pitch a new product with his friends gets railroaded by Wyatt and subsequently costs them all their jobs, Cassidy is determined to do anything to get his life back on track, especially after his sickly father’s medical insurance gets cut. So when his former boss reaches out to him with an unusual job offer -- to get hired to spy on Wyatt’s business rival (Harrison Ford) and steal his plans for an upcoming project -- Cassidy agrees without batting an eyelash. Before he knows it, Cassidy gets caught up in a tricky, deadly world of half-truths, deception, and corruption, forced to become somebody new and play both sides or risk losing everything.

Paranoia takes a bare bones plot and makes it work, thanks to the film’s tight pacing and equally tight script. While there’s nothing in this film you won’t see coming a mile away (especially the juvenile attempt at a “twist” ending), things are kept moving along at a constant pace, a killer soundtrack and surprisingly strong performances.

Gary Oldman is absolutely captivating as he always is on screen. Harrison Ford plays great foil as the calculated and charismatic Jock Goddard. Even Amber Heard brings her A-game to the table and raises her character Emma Jennings to someone more than a protagonist’s love interest; she plays a brilliant young woman, struggling to stay ahead in a competitive “man’s world.”

With all the great acting going on, Liam almost feels like the odd man out. That’snot to say he doesn’t do a good job with what little he’s given. Paranoia plays to his strengths by giving him just enough screen time to make us care (and subsequently, get him to take of his shirt as many times as humanly possible), while not bogging down the story down with too much dead weight. Where the film does decide to linger on his sparse character development are only pluses; see his growing relationship with Emma amidst his climb to the top, and his “all too real” strained relationship with his father (Richard Dreyfus).

Paranoia isn’t going to blow any minds away with an original premise. But it gets more right than it does wrong to create a great last minute thrill ride to close out the summer.

ALBUM REVIEW:

No age | An Object (Sub Pop Records) August 19, 2013 Grade: B Verdict: For the enjoyable peaks, An Object may come as a bit more of a challenge than even the fans are prepared for.

MAHAD MOUSSE Staff Reviewer

Y

ou can’t really fault a band like No Age for taking any sort of downtime. While it has been 3 years since their last full length album, Everything In Between, No Age have been constructively using that downtime to pursue other endeavors. Like say, travel with actress Chloe Sevigny to an island of the cost of Greece to play a show on an authentic Greek barge. Or start a magazine publication in LA before jetting off to host a book panel in New York. Or even take the time to record a soundtrack double album for an audiobook (“College Culture” by Aaron Rose). Not bad for a couple of LA skate-punks.

If the above didn’t give it away, the noisy

guitar and bass duo have always prided themselves on juxtaposing their punk background (they were former members of hardcore band Wives) with their brainier, artistic side. The result is a harmonizing blend of strange, experimental, noisy, avant garde, lofi garage thrashing.

The move to SubPop Records hasn’t dampened their desire to make socially challenging music. An Object continues that trend by starting out sounding pretty basic on the surface: the same fuzzy, distorted guitar riffs pounding into an empty room over the sound of muddy drumming and amplifier feedback.

But a longer listen reveals something deeper than the typical indie-garage fare.

The opening track “No Ground” builds up from a basic two note guitar tune to a flurry of urgent strumming, fazed through a swelling wall of sonic feedback and whistles.

Somehow, all that clanging and banging and poor recording quality harmonizes just right with Dean Spunt’s droning/barking vocals to become more than just mere cacophony. Those little nuances and recording imperfections are used throughout the album for radically different effects. From the straightforward, lurching energy of “C’mon Strumming” and “Lock Box,” to the atmospheric waltz of “An Impression,” to the 60’s-esque croon of “I Won’t Be Your Generator” and “Running From A-Go Go” (the latter features a surprisingly touching vocal performance).

But for those enjoyable peaks, An Object maybe a little bit more of a challenge then even the fans are prepared to deal with. There are plenty of stand-out tracks and places where No Age’s willingness to experiment yields rewards. But there also plenty of moments where everything starts to blend together in

one repetitive, uninteresting mash.

The same limited guitar notes strummed over the same patch of sonic direction over the same minimalist arrangement can give listening through this album a feeling of deja vu. And after the stellar “Running From A-Go Go,” the energy just fades away, though No Age manages to salvage something interesting by the end with the atmospheric experiment, “Commerce, Comment, Commence.”

As crazy as it may seem, An Object really is just another step of innovation from an already hyper-innovated band. And while that innovation may prove challenging to listen to, it’s no less rewarding and reassuring to hear that even a band as kaleidoscopic as No Age are still evolving. The fact that they’re also aware that you can always choose to ignore their innovation to enjoy the sounds of noisy guitars is an added bonus.

16

Cross word puzzles:

games&such

WITH

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

DJ REE DE LA VEGA

AND SPECIAL GUESTS

MOOD RINGS

DJ NATURAL BORN SWILLER & DJ RAMI LOLLIPOP Artist Talks | Jewelry Making | Chicken & Belgian Waffles Dress Code: Casual Glam & Faux Pearls ON VIEW: Girl with a Pearl Earring: Paintings from the Mauritshuis $7 for students FREE for members and academic affiliates Brenau University and Southern Polytechnic. $5 for groups of 10 or more, call 404-733-4550

Details at high.org Take

Across 1. Disturb 6. Current 10. Formally surrender 14. French for “Room” 15. Greek letter 16. Winglike 17. Delete 18. Entice 19. Warbled 20. Reliance 22. Annul 23. What we breathe 24. Prepared 26. Plan 30. Drying cloth 32. Pee 33. European wolf spider 37. Subconscious 38. Foolish

39. Weightlifters pump this 40. Without a doubt 42. Deceptive maneuver 43. Hyrax 44. Countenance 45. Swift 47. Apiece 48. Apothecary’s weight 49. Unable to read 56. Sexual assault 57. Midday 58. Country estate 59. Portent 60. Feudal worker 61. Ancient Greek marketplace 62. Fur 63. Dregs 64. Approaches

Down 1. Utilized 2. Cut back 3. Smack 4. If not 5. Adolescent 6. Roughage 7. Give temporarily 8. Ear-related 9. A canal or river 10. Victims 11. African antelope 12. Peachy 13. Therefore 21. Cacophony 25. Poetic dusk 26. Russian parliament 27. Twin sister of Ares 28. Transgressions 29. Incentive 30. Add up

31. Paris airport 33. It ebbs and flows 34. Murres 35. Not short 36. Initial wager 38. Guard 41. Caviar 42. He fights blazes 44. Animal doctor 45. Found around a painting 46. Continuation of the coat collar 47. Yearns 48. Let go 50. Fail to win 51. Solitary 52. Anger 53. Dwarf buffalo 54. Unit of pressure 55. Historical periods

Sudoku

to the Arts Center Station (N5).

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Cloudy with a chance of

MONEY

Georgia State Athletics hopes to improve attendance with the return of the cash drop

ALEC MCQUADE

Associate Sports Editor

M

oney fell from the sky.

Ten thousand dollars, to be exact, fell from the rafters of the Georgia Dome onto the field of Panthers fans waiting below.

It was just another promotion from the Georgia State sports marketing department at the Oct. 6 football game against New Hampshire last season. The idea: envelopes filled with money vouchers sponsored by Georgia’s Own Credit Union (GOCU) would fall onto the students and fans selected for the event.

The national news reacted almost instantly.

ESPN televised it on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays, national news websites and blogs posted articles about the spectacle, and it even became a hit on YouTube.

Georgia State Athletics’ sports marketing department announced in August that they would once again be doing the GOCU Cash Drop at the upcoming football game against University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Matt Newhouse is the Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing for Georgia State University and leads a small team of graduate assistants and interns that makeup the sports marketing department.

Newhouse believes there were many positives in the GOCU Cash Drop, but is not ignorant to the fact that there is still room for improvement to keep students and fans motivated to come back game after game. “[The Cash Drop] was successful for the fact that it did build a lot of buzz,” Newhouse said.

“It helped more actually on the media buzz and the exposure part of it. To be able to be picked up by so many national sites . . . it’s a pretty cool thing to see.”

Newhouse and his team sought to improve the promotion for the following year.

“Let’s take what we have at the Georgia Dome as an asset. How can we turn this asset into something good?” Newhouse said explaining the thought process when brainstorming for a promotion.

“We started talking about money and ‘making it rain,’ falling from the sky . . . instead of having the cash on the ground literally drop it and have that visual for everyone to see too.”

The promotional event took place at halftime, and students and fans ran around in anarchy catching vouchers anywhere from one dollar to 100 dollars. Newhouse estimated that atleast one student caught a total of about 400 dollars worth in vouchers.

Impact on attendance The Cash Drop was successful in that it did bring new students and fans to the game that had not attended previous football games.

However, it was not enough to keep those fans coming back week after week or even for the second half of the game against New Hampshire.

“When you look back at the students’ numbers and the swipes [of Panther cards] . . . you can see that they didn’t come to any [other] games.”

The student attendance at the New Hampshire game was roughly 1,200 according to Newhouse. Even though it was more towards the

bottom as far as student attendance per game goes, the numbers could have been substantially lower without the promotion.

Newhouse says the challenge now is to “keep people engaged and involved these first few games” of the 2013 season.

The Oct. 6 game placement of the Cash Drop promotion was only because it was GOCU’s promotional towel giveaway game according to marketing graduate assistant Parker Hendricks. Most of the time the promotional events are conjured up the week of the football game because of last minute offers from sponsors.

This season, the promotion has been strategically placed for the second game of the season.

“Doing it the second week helps us try to build on some of that momentum . . . game two we come right back and have another home game so why not try and do something there to keep that momentum going.”

The Cash Drop should have a higher impact on accumulating student attendance this year now that students know what it is and that it’s a way to get free money.

Newhouse wants the crowd to get in the habit of attending game after game thus gaining support for the team.

To keep that momentum going even more, GOCU will sponsor a second drop promotion this season that will include numerous items such as gift cards, money for textbooks or even tablet and laptop vouchers. The promotion will take place at the GOCU towel giveaway game

The creation of the Cash Drop The Cash Drop evolved from a previous promotion that GOCU sponsored in 2011 known as the Cash Run. The Cash Run was essentially the same idea as the drop except in Easter egg hunt form.

Envelopes were spread out across the field and the participants would run around grabbing as many as they could.

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Fans storm the field for the inaugural cash drop at halftime of the Georgia State/New Hampshire game on Oct. 6, 2012.

on Nov. 16 against Louisiana-Lafayette. The drop has yet to be named.

Award-winning The Cash Drop ended up receiving recognition from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators at their annual convention.

Marketing departments across the nation submit different promotional events, designs and sponsorships to be judged by big corporation marketers such as Coca-Cola.

The sports marketing department received a gold medal award for their sponsorship program with GOCU. This includes the Cash Drop as well as the Penny Pickup and Dime Jar promotions that take place at the basketball games.

The Royal Blue Rumble (known as the sumowresting contest) is also included in the list of promotions from GOCU. The Cash Drop itself won an individual gold medial award at the conference.

Georgia’s Own Credit Union Tyrone Burke from GOCU is in charge of campus relations with Georgia State and oversees the promotions that the marking department puts on under the credit union’s name.

“Georgia’s Own Credit Union does an awesome job . . . [Burke] really gives a free reign and liberty to do what we think is going to be best.”

Newhouse said the department does not usually get freedom to choose the promotions and giveaways from most other sponsors.

According to Newhouse, GOCU is not only wrapped up in getting participants of the Cash Drop to open up accounts through the credit union to claim their money from this promotion, but also in the attention the event gets.

“They get more of it out of the media exposure and what people do to talk about it than anything else because their name is associated with it.”

“We are giving it attention, and as the game and promotion gets closer, more and more media outlets will most likely give the drop hyperattention.”

“It’s not everyday you see money fall from the sky.” *As of press, Georgia’s Own Credit Union was not able to comment.

SPORTS

18

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE One of the keys to the Georgia State volleyball team’s success DAVID A. NORWOOD II Sports Editor

E

mily Averback is one of the three players—including Andrea Book and Andrea’ Ezell—remaining from the successful 2011 Georgia State Volleyball team.

On that team, she was a sophomore contributing to a team that competed in the postseason.

“Being a member of the [2011] team but not necessarily [being] a leader on the team is just something that comes with [being a part of ] a team,” Averbeck said. “It’s a team sport so everyone plays a role.”

Now Averbeck is a senior trying to lead the team back to prominence after finishing with a 4-20 record last season. “...I may be shorter [5’3”] but I hope that I can guide them in the right direction,” Averbeck said. “I want to be someone that they can talk to whenever. I want to be the type of person they can rely on in tough situations. When we’re in a tight game, I want them on my back. I want to win that way.”

Per The Garden State Volleyball Club, the average height at her position, defensive specialist/libero is 5’5” - 6’0.” Although there is a size difference, she manages to excel at her position.

According to Georgia State

“

Being a member of the team but not necessarily being a leader on the team is just something that comes with a team....everyone plays a role.”

-Emily Averback

Athletics, Averbeck is seventh alltime in digs with 1,097. She has an opportunity this season to finish top five in digs and become the all-time leader in digs per set.

“I didn’t grow,” Averbeck said.

“I was kind of stuck here [at the height of 5’3”] but I love it...I love to dig up those big hitters who think they’re all that but really they’re not and it’s really fun.”

Sophomore Eliza Zachery sees Averbeck as a major influence.

“I really look up to her,” said Zachery. “She’s someone that when you’re not having the best game can totally change your mindset—get you to be positive about the game and get back in there and play from the heart.”

Averbeck credits her success to the players before her, as each of them played a role in her development as a player.

“I look up to every single one of them,” Averbeck said. “Your teammates become your family so

it’s natural to stay in contact with them, be close to them and love them.”

Family is a recurring theme on the team with the culture making its way onto the coaching staff.

Coach Audia views Averbeck as her child. “...We are going to miss her in these next few years of her not being here but I am just so excited for her senior year for her to be able to lead this team to good things,” head volleyball coach Tami Audia said.

Coach Audia’s attitude mirrors Averbeck’s outlook for her last season.

“I’m very excited,” Averbeck said. “I think we have all the potential in the world. I know that we can do great things if we believe in ourselves and I’m just ready for anything to come at us.

I think we’re all feeling that same way.”

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Emily Averbeck, pictured above, is one of the three Georgia State volleyball players left from the 2011-12 CAA quarterfinals team.

Two hats, one coach: Tami Audia is back to coaching court volleyball exclusively DAVID A. NORWOOD II Sports Editor

F

or the first time since the 2011-12 season, Tamia Audia can finally focus on what’s natural for her.

This July, Audia was promoted to Director of Volleyball.

However, she relinquished her position as head coach of the sand volleyball team while retaining her role as head coach of Georgia State’s court volleyball program.

Audia has always enjoyed coaching volleyball. If she could spend the rest of her career coaching, she would.

When she was a player, Audia took a leadership role where she helped her teammates out whenever she could to help develop their skills.

“I was just more directing traffic, a quarterback if you would say - running plays, making sure that if somebody needed a fire lit under them that I would be the one to do that. If somebody needed support, I was going to be the one to do that,”

Audia said.

Her outlook on volleyball hasn’t changed since her playing days ended.

Audia said coaching is a way for her to still compete since she can’t as a player.

Audia looks at coaching as a rewarding career path not a drawback.

“With the relationships I get to build and the young women’s lives I get to shape, that is something I could never replace in my heart.”

The transition from player to coach wasn’t an easy transition for the head coach.

The court volleyball coach said when you first start coaching after you’re done as a player you still want to play, but you can’t since you have a team to coach now.

This season, Audia has a young team coming off a 4-20 season that is now competing in the Sun Belt Conference.

“We are a better volleyball team than we were last year,” the former sand volleyball coach said. “I think our preseason has been absolutely outstanding. The girls have worked

hard. They are more driven than any other team I’ve seen come through this program my years here. They really have their minds set on what they want to do and they understand hard work is going to get them there.

The season prior to the 4-20 season, the Panthers were veteranheavy and competing in the postseason.

The 2011-12 team was a product of the previous coaching staff.

“The team did an unbelievable job understanding what we wanted as a coaching staff, what our goals were and where we wanted to go,” Audia said.

The differences in match experience between the 2011-12 and 2013 -14 teams is one of the things that set them apart in comparison. “[The 2011-12 team] had match experience whereas this team I’m coaching now…don’t have match experience, so every single match is a learning experience whether we win or lose for them, and that is something they need to continue to get under their belt,” Coach Audia said.

However, the 2011-12 team

QUICK FACTS •

• •

Audia was inducted into the Pontiac Township High School Athletics Hall of Fame in May 2010.

She was the first head coach for Georgia State’s sand volleyball program.

For her first year as head coach for court volleyball, the team finished in sixth place despite being picked to finish 10th.

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS wasn’t a deep team.

“We had very good volleyball players,” the current volleyball coach said. “I think we had our top starters, maybe a couple more that were very good volleyball players and the bottom half of our team weren’t bad volleyball players -- they just weren’t at the levels the starters were.”

Team depth rules in the current team’s favor. Progress by the young

team could speed up the rebuilding process.

“From top to bottom of this team, we have outstanding volleyball players so if one of our starters for whatever reason can’t go some night during a match -- we have someone if not two people to put into her position and our level of volleyball won’t drop,” Audia said.

19

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

PANTHER Of The Week

Sports Calendar Fri, Sept. 6 Men’s Soccer UC-Riverside Las Vegas, Nev. 7:30 p.m.

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

KELTON HILL

SPORT: FOOTBALL POSITION: WIDE RECEIVER YEAR: REDSHIRT SENIOR On Friday, Hill caught his first two receiving touchdowns of his collegiate career with the Georgia State football team in their homeopener against Samford University.

Hill finished with five catches for a total of 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Hill became the first player in Georgia State history to score touchdowns by passing, rushing and receiving.

Hill graduated from Lithia Springs High School and is a native of Douglasville, Ga. Georgia State will play their second regular season game at home this Sat., Sept. 7 against The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Fri, Sept. 6 Women’s Soccer Kennesaw State GSU Soccer Complex 7 p.m.

Sat, Sept. 7 Women’s Cross Country JSU-Struts Invitational Jacksonville, Ala. 10 a.m.

briefs *CONFERENCE GAMES

Sat, Sept. 7 Volleyball Wofford-USC Upstate Tournament Spartanburg, S.C. 2 p.m.

Sun, Sept. 8 Women’s Soccer Jacksonville GSU Soccer Complex 1 p.m.

Sun, Sept. 8 Men’s Soccer UNLV Las Vegas, Nev. 4 p.m.

Sat, Sept. 7 Volleyball USC Upstate-USC Upstate Tournament Spartanburg, S.C. 10 a.m.

Tue, Sept. 10 Volleyball UAB GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

Sat, Sept. 7 Football Chattanooga Georgia Dome 2 p.m.

Thu, Sept. 12 Volleyball Clemson GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

Fri, Sept. 13- Sat, Sept. 14 Volleyball Georgia State Invitational GSU Sports Arena Fri, Sept.13 Volleyball UCF-Georgia State Invitational GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

Fri, Sept. 13 Women’s Soccer UT-Martin Martin, Tenn.

8 p.m.

Sat, Sept. 14 Women’s Cross Country Furman Classic Greenville, S.C. 8 a.m.

Sat, Sept. 14 Football West Virginia Morgantown, W. Va. 12 p.m.

Women’s Cross country:

The defending Sun Belt Conference Champions finished third out of seven in the Trojan Invitational, hosted by Troy University in Troy, Ala.

Football:

Georgia State lost to the Samford University Bulldogs 31-21 in their home opener on Friday night.

Redshirt sophomore Ronnie Bell threw for 391 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Senior Terrance Woodard led the team in tackles with 10.

Women’s soccer:

The Panthers fell 0-1-1 on the season following a 2-1 overtime defeat at the hands of the University of Alabama on Friday.

Redshirt senior Jordan Young scored the only goal for the Panthers.

Men’s soccer:

Georgia State lost their season opener 1-0 to Liberty University Friday, in Lexington, Ky.

Volleyball:

Georgia State finished in the Samford Tournament 1-3 this past weekend, losing to sixth-ranked in the nation Minnesota, Presbyterian College and Samford University.

What’s Happening at

the

Student Center ber Septem 2013

Campus Events studentevents.gsu.edu

Cinefest Film Theater spotlight.gsu.edu/cinefest Spotlight Programs Board spotlight.gsu.edu Student Media studentmedia.gsu.edu 4UVEFOU t 6OJWFSTJUZ $FOUFS studentcenter.gsu.edu

4VQQPSUFE CZ (FPSHJB 4UBUF 6OJWFSTJUZ 4UVEFOU "DUJWJUZ 'FFT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Campus Events 1MB[B Unity Plaza

-BCPS %BZ )PMJEBZ

Meet & Greet

Good Morning Commuters!

2

3

12:15-1 p.m.

10

Unity Plaza & Langdale Hall, 8-10 a.m.

1MB[B -JCSBSZ -JWF -PVOHF Library Plaza

$POTUJUVUJPO %BZ

Library Plaza, 12-1 p.m.

Frances Ha Sept. 3-8

Stories We Tell Sept. 16-22 Much Ado About Nothing Sept. 23-29

Blue at the Zoo Movie Night

17

University Commons 7-10 p.m.

4

Meet & Greet

Rialto Center for the Arts 7 p.m. Doors open 6 p.m.

See below for details & ticket information.

Student Center Ballroom 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

12

11

$PVSUZBSE .VTJD Series: J.D. Eicher

12-1 p.m., Courtyard Stage, Student Center

4PVM 'PPE $ZQIFS The Communion

18 470 Univ. Center, 7-9 p.m.

24

25

Student Center Ballroom 3 p.m.

See below for details.

6 7&8

1BOUIFS 1SPXM

Courtyard Stage, Student Center, 12-1 p.m.

Distinguished 4QFBLFS 4FSJFT +VEZ 4NJUI

23

Iron Man 3 Sept. 9-15

5

Sat-Sun

Centennial $PNFEZ 4IPX "NZ 4DIVNFS

Lanier Suite, Student Center, 6-8 p.m.

12:15-1 p.m.

Cinefest

Courtyard Stage, Student Center 12-1 p.m.

$PVSUZBSE .VTJD 4FSJFT 4FBCJSE

9

Friday

$PVSUZBSE .VTJD 4FSJFT "OJUSB +BZ

West Exhibit Area Urban Life Bldg., 7-9 p.m.

16

Thursday

Campus Events 1MB[B Unity Plaza 12:15-1 p.m.

19 12

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Speaker’s Auditorium, Student Center, 6-8 p.m.

13

Blue at the Zoo 4FQUFNCFS Zoo Atlanta, 1BOUIFS 1SPXM

800 Cherokee Ave. SE Student Center Atlanta 30315 Ballroom 4:30-9 8 p.m. p.m. – 12 a.m.

See below for details & ticket information.

20 13

Modern Media $POGFSFODF

26

Student Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Featuring Monica Pearson, Frank Lomonte & Sara Quinn

27

14 & 15

14 & 15 21 & 22 Modern Media $POGFSFODF

Student Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Featuring Monica Pearson, Frank Lomonte & Sara Quinn

28

Volunteer Training Lanier Suite Student Center 4-5 p.m.

-

PDLFS 3 "VH % FOUBMT FD Visit

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360 S rent a lock tudent Center to e Center, U r in the Student Urban Life niversity Center, Bu Classroom ilding or General first-come Building on a , first-se For details, rved basis.

404-413-1 call 860.

%PPST PQFO BU Q N 4IPX CFHJOT BU Q N Rialto Center for the Arts Campus Events is proud to present the Centennial Comedy Show starring Amy Schumer! Schumer is the creator, star and writer of Inside Amy Schumer, her hit Comedy Central TV show, and Comedy Central’s stand-up special, Mostly Sex Stuff.

This event is for Georgia State University students, faculty, staff and their families and friends; however, ticket sales are restricted to persons affiliated with GSU. This is an event you will not want to miss! Get your tickets now at Campus Tickets in the University Center, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. GSU student tickets: $10; GSU faculty, staff and guest tickets: $20.

For more information, visit our website at studentevents.gsu.edu or contact us at campusevents@gsu.edu or 404-413-1857.

Blue at the Zoo 'SJEBZ 4FQUFNCFS Zoo Atlanta $IFSPLFF "WF 4& "UMBOUB Q N "OJNBM FYIJCJUT XJMM CF DMPTFE BU Q N

Join Spotlight Programs Board and Campus Events as we journey to an exciting evening at Zoo Atlanta! Come enjoy live music, refreshments, face painters, airbrush artists and amazing animal exhibits. Free shuttles will be provided from University Commons and the Student Center. Get your tickets now at Campus Tickets in the University Center, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tickets are only valid during GSU special event. GSU student, faculty and staff tickets: $5; Guest tickets: $10. Children 2 and under are free.

Nonrefundable, rain or shine event. All Zoo Atlanta policies apply.

For more information, contact Spotlight at 404-413-1610.

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FREE

Campus Events’ 2013-14 Distinguished Speaker Series will feature Judy Smith, crisis management expert and real-life inspiration for the hit ABC drama Scandal.

Smith is the founder and president of Smith & Co., a leading strategic and crisis communications firm.

She has worked through crises such as the Los Angeles riots and the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Inspired by Smith’s groundbreaking career, Shonda Rhimes developed Scandal, a show about the world of crisis management. The series revolves around the life and work of a professional fixer, Olivia Pope, as played by Kerry Washington. Smith is also the author of the book Good Self, Bad Self.