The Signal Vol. 83 No.19

FEB. 9 - FEB. 16, 2016

VOL. 83 | NO. 19

The signal at georgia State University

The

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sex

issue

Explore the furry friendship, community and the misconceptions.

Arts & Living | Page 9

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

Furries are not all about sexual desires. It’s about acceptence in a community.

Inside Hitting the field

Stripping for scratch

Identifying abuse

SEx education remastered

The signs for human trafficking are there. Our columnist gives you advice on staying alert.

Velvet lips’ unique teachings on sex and intimacy will enlighten your Valentine’s Day.

Alex Hegner and Ivie Drake discuss how they fell in love with baseball and softball.

News | Page 3

Opinions| Page 7

A&L | pags 10-11

Sports | page 15

Some students ride the pole to keep cash in their pockets and books in their bags.

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

2

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

blotter Feb. 2

Feb. 1

A thief made off with more than $1,500 worth of stolen property from the Georgia State sports arena. Georgia State campus police are actively searching for a culprit

A student was arrested at Hurt Park at noon on Monday for possessing marijuana.

Arena burglary

First weed charge of the week

Feb. 3

they believe is not a student.

Another cannabis carry

Feb. 3

At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday a Georgia State student was arrested for holding less than an ounce of grass.

The student succumbed to the cuffs on the corner of Peachtree and Decatur Street..

Snatch ‘n’ grab

A Georgia State student reported some stolen stuff in a GSUPD “snatching” report.

Police are actively looking for said snatcher of said stuff.

Feb. 4

Threats of violence

A Georgia State student and a staff member were involved in a verbal confrontation which led to threats of violence. GSUPD is actively investigating the scenario.

ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK The Signal reporter Charles Bailey interviews Monica Pearson at The Lives Untold viewing party at M Bar on Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

In the club Some students ride the pole to pay for college

CHARLES BAILEY & OLIVA NELSON Staff Reporters

J

ade* has an almost threeyear-old daughter with a body similar to her own. However, she hopes her little girl will never dance for cash in a strip club like she did in college from 2010 to 2012.

Jade, who graduated with a degree in business marketing from an Atlanta college, is one of many young women who resort to exotic dancing to keep a few dollars in their pockets. Most exotic dancers are female, and can earn more than $46,000 a year, according to Payscale.com.

“It was just for extra money,” Jade said. “I come from a family that doesn’t have a lot of it, and calling home was not an option.”

In 2014, the average college student spent over $2,500 in out-ofpocket expenses, according to SallieMae. Jade’s family found out about her dancing when she wore her pink Strokers t-shirt home during the winter break of 2011. She said she told her devout Christian grandmother before her mother.

“My mom was like ‘What is Strokers?’ I was like, ‘It’s a strip club, mom.’ Then she said, ‘I see why you haven’t been calling home for money lately,’” Jade said.

By 2013, most students at four year colleges in the U. S. paid more than $17,000 a year for undergraduate studies, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Also, about 85 percent of

students at four year public colleges received some form of financial aid, and more than 83 percent of students at private colleges received financial aid by 2013, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Jade said she went to school on scholarship, and maintained a 3.8 GPA. When she wasn’t with friends or at band practice till 9 pm, she was doing schoolwork to get ahead in class, in case of a late night at the club.

“The scholarship requirements were to keep a 2.8, but I left high school with a high GPA,” she said. “It’s a waste of money, time and energy to not pass your classes.”

The other side of the pole

Thankfully, Jade said, she’s never witnessed any sex trafficking in or around the clubs she’s danced at.

But Georgia legislators have taken steps to aid sexually exploited people by taxing adult establishments, such as strip clubs.

Georgia Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), passed in last July, placed a 1 percent tax on adult entertainment businesses -- or $5,000 annually; whichever is greater, according to Georgia Legislation. The tax funds The Georgia Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Commission.

State Rep. Tom Weldon, R-Ringgold, sponsor of SB 8, said sex trafficking occurs in adult entertainment businesses such as strip clubs all around Atlanta.

“Strip joints are the locations where most human trafficking [in Georgia] is beginning and being promoted,” he said.

The Blue Flame manager* said this bill is bad for business, and the club might have to raise admission and drink fees. She questioned the law’s focus on just adult entertainment, mentioning the Blue Flame’s rules of no contact with dancers.

“This bill is unfair. If they’re going to tax strip clubs, then they should tax massage parlors and truck stops,” she said. “Everybody that works here has to have a permit, and no one touches the dancers. There is contact at truck stops and massage parlors.”

According to an article in The Sundial, a sex worker can remain “closeted” from their community because they aren’t easily recognizable outside of the clubs they dance in.

Jade said their public safety officers were always available to escort ladies back to campus, but she said they had

their suspicions about girls coming back to campus late. She also said several college girls like herself worked at Pinups and Follies while enrolled. One girl, Jade claimed, was expelled from school after she stopped stripping.

“If you were caught dancing, you would lose your scholarship,” she said.

“The school envisioned times where a sponsor might visit a strip club and see a college girl dancing, and said it disgraces the school.”

Juliana Kubala, Georgia State professor of Women’s Studies, assumes college women dance primarily for money, yet she thinks some people would view those women and their work as exploitative.

“Women have the right to whatever sexual agency they choose, regardless of shape and form it takes, but I think most people experience their work as exploitive, though how much [compared to other professions] I couldn’t say,” she said.

Jade said she heard about the clubs she danced at through classmates and she applied to The Blue Diamond Lounge online.

“It was a girl called Pocahontas, who dated a classmate of mine, who said [The Blue Diamond] was looking for dancers of the thicker variety,” she said.

Jade left Blue Diamond because of the overly competitive nature of her coworkers. She said some nights she may only earn $400.

“It [Blue Diamond] started getting slow,” she said. “Sometimes, there would be at least 10 girls there a night.”

Make that money

At Strokers, Jade said she could make up to $1,700 when celebrities were there but earned up to $700 other nights.

“Jazze Pha was at Strokers one night, and he paid me to stay in VIP while I was a barmaid. I made over $1,700 that night,” she said.

Jade said she worked at The Blue Flame Lounge in 2010, just before the club changed their lap dancing policy.

She said she was once propositioned for $250 to have sex, but refused. She said she mostly talked to patrons near the pool tables at the Blue Flame to get her money.

But Jade said she didn’t drink anything she didn’t see the bartenders make or give her personally, because the dancers were encouraged to be aware of their surroundings. She also said dancers are offered several drinks by patrons

nightly, and she used a trick to avoid intoxication.

“Take the drink and spit it [discretely] back into a beer bottle so the customers feel like you are appreciative,” she said.

Exotic Dancers are legal employees of strip clubs under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to the US Department of Labor. They also have to apply for an $300 Exotic Dancer License with the Atlanta Police Department (APD), pay their clubs a bar fee, and pay $100 to renew the license every year, according to Creative Loafing.

A manager* at The Blue Flame Lounge, an establishment in Bankhead, told The Signal she had no problem with college girls dancing to finance their education.

“The law allows 18 year olds to work at a strip club, so as a way for them to pay their way for their college education, I don’t see why not.”

Wanda Louis, Georgia State psychology major, said she thinks students shouldn’t dance in college unless in extreme circumstances.

She also said she thinks stripping leads to worse things like prostitution.

“I think college women shouldn’t do it unless in extreme measures, although I understand these are hard times,” she said. “College students are studying in order to find better occupations in the future.” *Names in article withheld to protect the identity of those in this story.

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

University

Georgia State beefs up school security GSUPD has doubled its cop force and installed some spy cams in the library SEAN KEENAN News Editor

I

n the midst of campus-wide tensions over student safety, university officials, student politicians and Panthers alike have been crowding auditoriums to spitball ways to tighten school security.

On Jan. 14, hours after two armed robberies inside Library North rattled the student body, University President Mark Becker enacted a firewall of security precautions to strengthen surveillance tech and beef-up campus police presence.

Becker’s plan also called for a string of panel discussions on the topic of campus safety reform to gauge the needs of students. During the first of which, Georgia State Police Deputy Chief Lt. Carlton Mullis (GSUPD), Vice President of Student Affairs Douglass Covey and Becker fielded questions and concerns from students, media, and others.

During that Thursday morning townhall meeting, President Becker told students that metal detectors -- or the tentatively discussed ‘gun detectors’ -- will not be the first course of action to better protect students in the library.

In fact, Mullis said the presence of the allegedly-involved guns from the library incidents had never been confirmed by police or surveillance cameras. Plus, Becker said he -- and most students -- don’t want to clog the funnel of people filing into the library with “TSA-like” security measures.

GSUPD Maj. Anthony Coleman told a crowd at the Student Government Association’s (SGA) State of the Student Body address that the police department had just installed a network of ‘spy cams’ within library corridors in an effort to combat crime.

Coleman would not tell The Signal exactly how the camera system works -- whether it records or just streams footage -- saying only, “it does a little this, a little that.”

At the morning town hall meeting, Becker suggested the campus could weigh the option of installing biometric scanners for entry to some school facilities.

And when it comes to the promise of “doubling” police presence on campus, Becker said, students needn’t fear for their fees.

“Tuition and housing fees will not go up,” he said. “[For now] they’ll be working overtime and reassigning officers to different patrols. But the reality is, we’ll need to make cuts somewhere so it’s sustainable.”

Coleman said GSUPD now has about 27 cops patrolling the streets, whereas there were 12 prior to Jan. 14. The department now rolls out 12 squad cars at a time, rather than six.

Odd hours at the library

For roughly four years SGA officials have strived to offer Georgia State students 24-hour study space in the library, and SGA President Sebastian Parra said funds have been secured to implement such an option.

“We have the green light to go ahead an move on this,” he said. “It’s just a matter of execution. We hope to be able to finish the project by the end of the semester.”

But some student politicos think the safety issues need further assessment for a sustainable plan to exist.

“In light of the recent spike in criminal activity, I think that if we’re going to pursue the long-time goal of having a 24-hour study space, we need to make sure we thoroughly evaluate how we protect that space,” said David Jackson, SGA VP of Academic Affairs.

But Jackson isn’t so concerned with the library’s internal happenings as he is with its entrance procedures.

“I’m more concerned with who gets in and with what,” he said.

Watch clips of the State of the Student Body on our YouTube channel Feb. 9, 2016

Surprise rabble-rousing

Still, among contention over how to best outfit the school to curb crime, Thursday’s Q&A with Becker and friends was not met without protest.

A cohort of students staunchly opposed to laws enacted in 2011 by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents arose during the public forum to raise their fists in unity against a ban that keeps undocumented students from enrolling in the state’s top five universities.

Their claim -- allegations that the university and its police force are racially discriminating against some students -- was met with requests from Mullis and Becker for formal documentation of their concerns.

“People are welcome to express their opinions in a lawful manner,” Mullis told The Signal after the town hall. “That’s actually covered by the constitution. I think that was a bit disruptive and it distracted other people from trying to get their point across, but this is the United States of America.”

Victor Morales, an organizer and former Freedom University student who claimed he was unable to enroll at Georgia State due to his undocumented status, said this protest was a necessary distraction from the event’s main itinerary.

“I would have loved to attend such a prestigious institution,” he said.

“Maybe it was disruptive, but it was a necessary action. They don’t listen when we leave comments and send emails.”

Hunting for that perp

Coleman said new information had come to light regarding the search for the Jan. 14 perpetrator.

Scouring the library for tips, he said, has proven fruitful.

“The first suspect was arrested shortly after the robbery took place,” he said of the armed robbery in the library in December. “In talking with students at the library, we’ve picked up more leads.”

And Mullis told students that morning that GSUPD had recently teamed up with Crime Stoppers to offer a $2,000 reward for information pertaining to the Jan. 14 cases.

PHOTO BY SEAN KEENAN | THE SIGNAL

GSUPD Maj. Anthony Coleman told students during the State of the Student Body address that chatter at the library has led to new leads in armed robbery cases.

5

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

University

Claiming sustainability summit

Georgia State will host a series of chats on climate change

local

Will Atlanta give ParkAtlanta the boot?

DOMINIQUE TIMES Staff Reporter

S

Georgia State was selected as one of five universities nationwide to host a series of talks on climate change.

CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Associate News Editor

A

t the university’s first ever State of the Student Body address, Student Government Association (SGA) President Sebastian Parra revealed that Georgia State has been selected to host a conference of chats addressing issues of environmental sustainability.

After a competitive bidding process with Georgia College and State University (GCSU), Georgia State won the opportunity to host the Presidential Leadership Summit on its campus April 6.

The summit initiative was brought forth by the National Campus Leadership Council (NCLC), a panel of more than 300 student body presidents from around the nation. The NCLC meets regularly to discuss critical issues, such as college affordability, mental health and sexual assault, by drafting policies and investing in new programs and running awareness campaigns.

Georgia State was granted $500 by the Council to help host one of five national summits, which will focus on increasing college sustainability initiatives.

Parra said Georgia State has devised an agenda for the one-

Reporters Wanted!

day regional conference, which he hopes will help set the stage for a sustainability parley between students and experts.

Georgia State’s agenda for the conference was included in the application the school sent to the Council, authored in tandem with SGA Sen. Justin Brightharp and Georgia State Neuroscience Professor Dr. Michael Black.

Brightharp, who’s pushing SGA legislation to further sustainability efforts on campus, said experts on environmental and financial sustainability will be in attendance at the conference to shoot the breeze with interested students.

“The agenda includes a panel of university officials and students from the Atlanta University Center, Emory University and Georgia Tech, as well as business and government officials from the CDC, EPA, Coca-Cola and UPS. Representatives will be open to brainstorming and questions from the students,” he said.

During SGA’s State of the Student Body, Brightharp, a member of the university’s Sustainable Energy Tribe, defined sustainability as “the progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.”

“The idea is to have a dialogue among students, because a lot of them don’t know this universal definition

PHOTO BY SEAN KEENAN | THE SIGNAL

of sustainability,” Brightharp said, “The academics talk about climate change, but do not know how to communicate it to people in a way that they will understand it, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Brightharp said they are expecting support from the student body as well as the Atlanta community, as it has been highly involved in sustainability efforts.

In December 2015, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed attended the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris, France. During which, Reed and a congregation of city leaders from around the globe discussed ways to curb climate damage and endorse sustainability efforts.

“Atlanta’s presence at the COP21 Paris climate meetings demonstrates our commitment to local action” Reed said in a press release.

Reed has already initiated that companies within the city of Atlanta keep track of their carbon footprint, as well as joined the nationwide Better Buildings Challenge, aimed to lower energy consumption of companies.

Stephanie Stuckey-Benfield, the mayor’s director of sustainability has been spearheading the city’s “green” initiatives and implementing the mayor’s proposals.

After the Paris talks, Stuckey-Be

nfield said, the city effected a number of new sustainability projects. One of which, SolarAtlanta, aims to power 28 municipal buildings with sun-fueled hardware.

“The office of sustainability is very pleased to upgrade from a Certified Silver Green Community to a Certified Gold Green Community ” she said.

It only makes sense for Georgia State to be in the forefront of the conversation, President Parra said, being a research institution in the “middle of a global, international city.”

After all, Brightharp added, the primary concern is making sure the students understand the issue of climate change and get involved in efforts already initiated around them.

The summit is only one of the few plans SGA has in store for the future, according to Parra. Between them, the creation of a Panther survival kit, to be distributed during exam period, and the Panther Bucket List app.

The president also reiterated SGA’s previous semester’s accomplishments, mentioning the Burning Bright campaign, the claiming of Turner Field, as well as the victory against Georgia Southern.

“Now we know who the real GSU is,” he said.

tate Sen. Vincent Fort dropped a new bill that could have everyone’s favorite parking enforcement agency, ParkAtlanta, driven outta town.

Fort told The Signal that ParkAtlanta has spent its tenure in the city preying on residents and travelers alike for “profit motives,” and he believes the age of third-party parking enforcement must come to an end.

In 2009, Wisconsin-based Duncan Solutions made an agreement with Atlanta to take over the city’s parking services, which created PARKAtlanta, which rakes in about $6 million for the city each year -- the remaining profit going to the company.

PARKAtlanta’s seven-year contract is scheduled to end in September and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has pledged not to renew the city’s contract.

However, starting Feb. 1, private companies like PARKAtlanta began submitting business proposals to take over Atlanta’s parking services.

So Fort hopes that private third-party parking companies will soon be booted all together.

“They’ve been booting people before the time has expired and preying on people, handing out tickets as soon as the time expires,” he said.

Anne Torres, director of communications for the city of Atlanta said Fort’s bill has no shot at becoming law.

“It is meaningless and has no chance of ever becoming law,” she said.

Fort said, “The mayor’s office is more concerned with protecting predatory companies than they are with protecting the citizens of Atlanta.”

But Georgia State student Shane Scott said the tickets will flow regardless of who enforces parking.

“I don’t see the difference between the city or a private company taking over parking,” Scott said. “I don’t think they’d give out less tickets.”

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NEWS

6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Atlanta’s simple, sexy tech Hot new dating apps have put a simple spin on metro Atlanta’s dating scene CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Associate News Editor

W

ith close to 500,000 residents, Atlanta recently landed the title of most romantic city in the nation. The congregation of aquarium, grunge bars, restaurants and parks has set the scene for quite a few nights to remember.

For those of the young crowd, such as Georgia State junior Kelsey Santangelo, the challenge isn’t scoring the first date, but rather finding someone to go with.

“It just seems like no one talks to each other,” she said. “Everyone is so busy on their phones with their music, rushing by, that meeting someone -- even when you’re on campus -- is incredibly hard. No one ever says hi.”

Dr. Paul Oyer, Stanford University economics professor, linked economic patterns to online dating in his 2014 book, “Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Economics I learned from Online Dating.”

He said social media ubiquity has introduced quick, easy and cheap way to meet new people, which has changed the dating atmosphere. In a recent interview with The Signal, he

shed some light on the quick growth of online dating.

“When you’re in college, it’s somewhat easier to meet people, whichever city you’re in,” he said.

“There are classes, organizations, events, always new ways to meet more people. As you get into your late 20s, however, the opportunities to meet someone new become less and less.”

Oyer said online dating might be the reason why fewer and fewer young people are choosing to settle down.

“The choices are overwhelming,” he said. “It’s cheaper, faster and more efficient, so if you can keep looking for someone better, why not keep looking?”

In dating applications such as Tinder and Bumble, the rules are similar – swipe to like, start up a chat. For some, that special first conversation is lost in these casual settings, and face-to-face contact is vital. But for others, like Georgia State freshman Ryan Capone, the online environment is ideal.

“Online dating has helped link together parts of Atlanta that otherwise wouldn’t interact. It has mixed all types of people together and helped them connect. I’ve met people online, two of which are now in my friend group,” he said.

Last Week Local

Jacksonville mayor plays a cop

John Dopson, mayor of Jacksonville, Georgia, was arrested for impersonating a police officer after allegedly driving a police car and stopping individuals at traffic lights and turning the squad car siren, according to WABE.

National

Flint officials knew about infected water PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JASON LUONG | THE SIGNAL

Mark Ashworth swipes left on tinder after being stood up by his date.

For the less optimistic, there is an alternative. Headquartered in Atlanta Tech Village, a new species of a dating app is making conversation secondary to entertainment.

PlayNConnect, launched in September 2015, is an app that uses games to familiarize matched users with each other’s interests while solving puzzles and playing word games.

Faisal Zaman, co-founder of the app, told The Signal the textbased games are designed to paint an intimate picture of the other person’s character before going into a conversation.

According to psychological studies, Zaman said, the best way to disarm someone is by making them laugh.

And for Zaman, there’s another factor to why he thinks the app will be successful.

“Women have now become half of the gaming force in the world,” he said. “Interestingly enough, people who game together, often times chat online and end up going on dates.”

The app is only marketed in Atlanta currently and already has had a growing response with over 300 users that keep coming back, according to Zaman.

Newly-surfaced emails from Flint County, Michigan public health offices suggest that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was aware of a correlation between the new water supply and the outbreak in Legionnaire’s Disease for ten months before he announced it, according to The New York Times.

Global

Zika virus found in saliva and urine

On Feb. 5, Brazilian health officials said that the Zika virus is alive and active in saliva and urine. Researchers are waiting on results of transmission channels, according to CNN.

The RCB Grad Experience GE T CLOSER TO BU SINES S Discover if a graduate business degree is right for you. The J. Mack Robinson College of Business invites all undergrads to discover how continuing your education will make a difference in your future career.

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A Chick-fil-A boxed lunch will be provided to those who register to attend this free event.

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OPINION

s u x e A n

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

y r e v a of sl man u h f o e c n e s e r p e h t Recognizing a trafficking in Atlant

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

JOHN MILLER Columnist

Tweet John!

T

@johnmillerdavi1

he main problem government and law enforcement have when dealing with human trafficking and its sub-market sex trafficking is how to identify it.

The human trafficking industry is so ubiquitous and yet so hidden that much of it goes undetected in everyday life. I can’t say I’ve ever met a perpetrator or a victim of human trafficking, but I also can’t say I would know it if I had.

That’s why I’m here to suggest a way for everyday people like

you and me--people who are not as knowledgeable about human trafficking as the government and law enforcement--to better identify abuse in our everyday lives.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines human trafficking as “a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain.”

I believe the more general the definition of human trafficking is, the better; and I particularly like the DHS’ definition. Any instance of a person being traded illegally for exploitation or commercial gain is an example of human trafficking.

Get more specific, and you run the risk of clouding the issue and creating misconceptions. This is why I’m not providing anecdotes or citing specific cases in this article.

Specific examples paint too much of a mental picture. Besides, we already know human trafficking exists, and I don’t need to prove it to you with examples full of contrived pathos.

These and many more misconceptions persist in the average person’s mind because of the usual business of misunderstanding.

Anecdotal reportage and pop-culture images (such as those memories you still have of the movie “Taken”) are ultimately damaging to the average person’s understanding of the industry as well.

It’s important to acknowledge what limitations we have in identifying and stopping human traffickers. We are not profilers or specialists, but we are people with eyes and ears, courage and discernment.

We can, to begin with, keep our eyes open for suspicious phenomena the DHS mentions that often indicate human trafficking is afoot: the victim is generally disconnected from family and is not attending work or school, they’re acting timid and fearful, are perhaps sick or undernourished, and seem “coached” or controlled in some way.

If you suspect someone of being a victim of sex trafficking, your role is simply to identify and report; tell law enforcement what you’ve seen, and be as descriptive as possible.

Another thing to keep in mind is the question of consent. Coercion is a prominent weapon in a human traffickers’ arsenal, and it’s often

difficult to distinguish between someone who is non-consenting and someone who is consenting.

Duhaime Legal Dictionary defines sex trafficking as “The coercion of an individual into, or maintained therein, prostitution.”

It’s difficult to determine what causes someone to assent to prostitution in the first place. A victim of sex trafficking might agree to have sex for money, but might also have been coerced into that decision all the same. Therefore, once the conditions of human trafficking are established, consent is no longer genuine, so it’s important to be aware that a victim might have been coerced into consent. In this case, victimhood might very well appear to be voluntary.

One market for the acquisition of humans to traffic is through the Internet, as CNN points out. They also mention one calling card of a trafficker, which is to have their name or logo tattooed on the victim.

According to the FBI, other vulnerable people are “minors, certain immigrant populations, the homeless, substance abusers, the mentally challenged and/or

minimally educated, and those who come from cultures that historically distrust law enforcement or who have little or no experience with the legal system.”

But despite these profiles, it’s important to retain a sense of broadness to the category of human trafficking. It can happen to anyone, especially here in Atlanta, which is an enormous hub for human trafficking, according to CBS46. “. . .we know there’s a range from 200-300 girls [who] are trafficked

each month in our city,” Mary Frances Bowley told CBS46.

To note, there are many organizations doing a lot to help alleviate the harm human trafficking causes, such as Polaris and Shared Hope, which aim to combat the problem through the development of public policies and raising awareness.

If you know anyone who is a victim, contact your local police department, tell them everything you have seen, and don’t shy away from the possibility that it might be happening in your own backyard, because it definitely is.

OPINION

8

EDITORIAL

Letter from the Editor

Does the plight warrant the fight?

S

tudents and advocates in Georgia have been raising quite a ruckus in opposition of the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents’ (BOR) policy on undocumented students.

BOR’s rule -- and a recent defeat in Georgia’s highest court -- has prompted protesters to rally for the rights of students prohibited from attending Georgia’s top schools due to their legal immigration status.

Some who classify as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students tried to sue the BOR for the right to enroll in those universities and access to in-state tuition. They had no such luck.

So they took to picketing. On Feb. 1, supporters at schools statewide gathered to chant and sing about the plight of undocumented students. A crowd congregated on Georgia State’s Honors College stoop for a sit-in protest in hopes of catching University President Mark Becker’s ear.

Police told them to leave when the building closed that evening. But their civil protest trudged on into the odd hours of the night -- then morning, under the watchful eye of university police.

And about an hour before the building reopened -- when the sit-in would have again become legal -- police started slapping on cuffs. GSUPD Deputy Chief

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Lt. Carlton Mullis said cops were just waiting to “put the proper resources in place.”

We commend the DACA students for toughing it out, pushing their cause through the trials of civil disobedience.

The local news media loudly shouted of the plight of the undocumented.

Still, no word from Becker. So, despite a clamor of media coverage, the protesters left the Honors College patio dissatisfied.

What came next in the fight for their rights had us scratching our heads. In a time of uncertainty regarding the safety of Georgia State’s library, university officials gathered to chat about potential precautionary measures.

Protesters for undocumented students’ rights showed up as a boisterous interruption to the safety town hall meeting organized by Becker.

We call foul.

The plight of DACA students cannot overshadow the fears rising around campus of armed robbers. And Becker’s silence on the matter is surely more tactful than racist; it doesn’t warrant a disturbance of important talks.

Although the DACA students showed their layer of thick skin, we don’t think their interruption a good move. Tell us what you think by emailing us at signaleditor@gmail.com.

Dear readers, We are back again with our annual Sex Issue just in time for Valentine’s day.

We took a different approach this year and focused on awareness.

Awareness of sexuality and social problems are within these pages. College is a time to explore what YOU desire.

Take hold of your life and live with it. Let the good times roll, am I right?

It’s OK to speak about it in public. It’s OK to open your eyes wide and see the world. The good and the bad.

We all will ask Google, Wikipedia or Siri about things we are curious. But it’s better to go out and experience it. You never know what you like until you try. Also, remember to educate yourself too.

Georgia State has the Student Health Services at 141 Piedmont Ave., Suite D (right next to the University Commons) for your health related needs and could provide information on various health topics.

Yours truly, Troi Charity Editor-in-Chief

joining the signal is only

one click away

Visit us at www.georgiastatesignal.com - or stop by our office at Suite 250 Student Center West to pick up an application. We hope to see you soon!

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

The fast and the

FURRY -ous Facts and Misconceptions about Furries CATRINA DYGERT Staff Reporter

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

A Furry and his “furry friend” enjoy watching videos on a laptop together.

T

hings have changed a lot over the years. We’ve got faster computers, smarter phones and slightly more equality.

These, of course, are changes people experience in day-to-day life.

Another, more subtle change society has experienced recently, is a change in meaning of the phrase “my fine, furry friend.” What used to be used to describe our pets can now be used to describe a subset of society that call themselves the Furry Fandom.

According to WikiFur, the Furry encyclopedia, the Furry Fandom is a group of people who appreciate “anthropomorphic animals in art, literature, cartoons, [and] pop culture…” Basically, this means they have an interest in animals with human attributes.

Very few people have had experience with Furries outside of television. Unfortunately, the media tends to portray Furries in an incredibly negative light. Natalie Tindall, Ph.D., a professor at Georgia State who has done research on the development of fandoms, said her first experience with Furries was on an episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

A man was killed in his fur suit.

Tindall went on to say that Furry culture “tends to be very--at least from the media portrayals of it-it tends to be very sexualized.”

This media portrayal has led many to believe that being a Furry is

primarily a fetish, when in reality, it is a community.

The beginnings of the furry fandom can be traced back to the post-World War II era, when cartoons about human-like animals shifted from an all-age focus to being primarily directed towards children.

According to WikiFur, these children then grew up with the desire to create similar characters for older age groups. In his autobiography, “Surprised by Joy,” author C.S. Lewis admits to developing his own fascination with anthropomorphic animals at a young age. Was C.S. Lewis a Furry? Who can say, but he did certainly like fawns.

1986 saw the first open “Furry Party” at a notable convention.

Westercon, a science fiction convention held in Sacramento, was the first to showcase furry artwork and short stories at their 39th convention. The success of this party eventually led to the showcasing of furry fanfictions and fanart across California.

Since then, standalone Furry conventions have boomed in popularity, with more than 30 hosted across the country, the most popular being Anthrocon in Pennsylvania, which had more than 6,000 attendees last year. One reason Furry Fandom has exploded is the rise of Internet and Wi-Fi, which allowed people to build a community with others who shared their interests in

a safer environment. Tindall believes this sense of community can offer members of the Furry Fandom a sense of escape from their daily lives: “They have something. They have a sense of whimsy and a sense of fun and a sense of belonging, and they just want to enjoy it. and it’s pleasurable and in this time why wouldn’t you want to have some escapism.”

While Tindall may be right theoretically, she cannot give a clear insight into what it’s like to live as a Furry, so The Signal sat down with Jason*, 31, whose Fursona is called “Wolf Genesis.”

What’s it like to be a Furry? Is it like being part of other fandoms?

J: It’s like anything else, I suppose.

Like any fandom, you’ll have the aspects you absolutely love about it, and other aspects not so much.

Do you have a fur suit?

J: I don’t have a fursuit, though I admit I want one. They do cost a pretty penny, though. Full body suits that can range at a thousand dollars and more, to partial suits-that is, handpaws, footpaws, tails, or headpieces--which are naturally less costly.

How involved are you with Furry life?

J: I am an artist. I draw furries. I

do have a tail that I wear from time to time, and collect various things involving. . .wolves. I haven’t gone out of my way to join profile pages such as Facebook for furries, unless you count my art page. Otherwise, I do play a game that is a heavily text based role playing game.

What drew you to the lifestyle?

J: I honestly think there are a number of factors that come into play here. One being…[the] childhood cartoon shows I grew up with. Sonic the Hedgehog, Tailspin, Road Rovers, SWAT Kats, and Biker Mice From Mars, to name a few.

Seeing so many characters given human style characteristics, voices, acting became a part of me in a sense, and reminders of those happy times of childhood play a huge part in my enjoyment of the fandom.

Another thing is the artwork.

People can create constantly unique combinations and hybrids of things, detail it in ways we couldn’t imagine before, and bring things to life that is basically candy for the eyes.

Are there any myths you want to dispel about being a Furry?

J: Definitely. Being a Furry does not necessarily mean I’m in love with animals or have any sort of zoophilia. Being a Furry ranges from simply having a fascination

with anthropomorphic beings, to... well, yes the extreme sense of sexual attraction. But I would like to express that the main difference in being a furry versus a zoophiliac, involving the fantasies on the extreme end, is consent. Being a furry does not equal being into bestiality. The second myth is it’s all sexual and fursuits. It’s really not.

That is one sect that gets a lot of attention, but not really the fandom as a whole. Some furries, like myself, love the fandom because it can personify traits we’d like to see in ourselves, or traits from connections we have with animals, as some feel with spirit animals or spirit guides.

Do you think Furries will ever be fully accepted?

J: The furry fandom will make it to being accepted when facts make it out first. When the myths and assumptions are widely no longer accepted, when people see that we’re rather a harmless bunch. A little odd maybe but what fandom isn’t?

Even though we have a long way to go until Furries are accepted in society, that’s not going to stop people like Jason from living their lives true to themselves. The Furry Fandom is still growing and evolving every day. *Names in article withheld to protect the identity of those in this story.

Sex, Intim Relatio

ESTABLISHING SEXUAL EMPOW

CHANTE F

Staff Rep

“INVOKE SCENTS THAT YOUR PARTNER

LOVES SO THAT

THEY CAN ASSOCIATE

IT WITH A

MEMORY,”

MARLA RENEE STEWART PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Marla Renee Stewart speaks on the different workshops she hosts, as well as her goals for 2016.

T

he holiday of love is right around the corner. Take some advice from a professional Sexuality Educator, and make lasting memories through active workshop designed to enhance sex, intimacy and relationships.

Intimacy Velvet Lips is a company established by Marla Renee Stewart, designed to educate people about sex, sexuality, and self empowerment. The company took off six years ago when Stewart’s friend inspired her to start a business that would allow her to share her research and professional knowledge with others. “[We] basically educate and empower [people] who needed help learning about sex and sexuality, through the means of active learning,” Stewart said. “Once you embrace your sexuality, it’s really powerful, and once you embrace that, it’s freeing for your mental and sexual health.”

During a session, Stewart facilitates workshops to engage her customers in active learning. A workshop might incorporate techniques such as seduction or teaching people how to communicate through talking and touch.

“My workshops have worksheets, [while] people are writing down [I’m] helping them on their sexual path,” Stewart said.

Education The California native is originally from Sacramento. Stewart went to college in San Francisco, where she played sports, and later received a scholarship in psychology. The sex educator later graduated with a BA in psychology and a minor in human sexuality

and LGBT studies.

After doing countless Stewart moved to Georg degree at Georgia State in interest in gender and se business Stewart was doi Spelman, Agnes Scott an After pursuing her goa Stewart took an interest she wanted to share her k other people. The sex edu teaching at Clayton State about gender and sexual and more.

“I formulated a series women, men, couples an Stewart said. “People can workshops [as] [an] indi The continuous growt inspired “Sex Down Sou conference designed to e sexual empowerment.

The conference was ve year, with nearly 300 gue presenters, that covered for different active forms theme of the conference sex. Some of the worksho give better head and how with your partner.

“Transcending sex is a to explore sex, spiritualit Stewart said. “[It’s] gettin feeling shame or stigma some of those fears or tra experienced in the past.

Commun

Stewart has become a many people. She condu home office, and provide

VELVE

macy and onships

WERMENT WITH VELVET LIPS

FOSTER

porter

research on sexualty, gia to get a masters n sociology with an exuality. Before the ing workshops at nd Georgia State. als in education, in teaching because knowledge with ucator started e, where she lectures lity, feminist theories

of workshops for nd individuals,” n go online and book ividual or as a group.” th of Velvet Lips uth,” which is a educate people about

ery successful last est and over 60 various workshops s of intimacy. The was transcending ops included how to w to communicate

a different way ty and sexuality,” ng connected, not and really releasing auma that they’ve

nication

go-to sex expert for ucts sessions from her es refreshments and

wine to help more conservative customers relax and feel comfortable. “[It’s] an intimate home office,” Stewart said. “[I] serve wine and some refreshments to get people to just relax, open up and really facilitate a learning process that encourages them to take it further.”

Not only is Stewart a professional sexuality educator, she is also a sex and intimacy researcher and relationship coach with a focus on body base learning. Each workshop goes deeper into exploring sex, spirituality and sexuality.

“When people are in an environment where they’re not sure, I teach them how to build intimacy and foreplay,” Stewart said. “How to touch, where to touch, erotic massage, tea meditation for people who want spiritual connection and tarot cards.”

By teaching people how to communicate, Stewart liberates customers from negative stimage. What makes Velvet Lips a success business is that it cultivates a space for sexual freedom. Stewart’s ability to be free allows her customers to express their freedom.

“I feel very free with my sexuality, and people see that and they’re like ‘I want to be free to,’” Stewart said. “Establishing what freedom looks like can help to negate some of that shame the people are holding on to.”

The Sexuality Educator provides various workshops for all types of couples and groups. Stewart’s future goals include opening a store with healthy sex toys and erotic art work and continuing the Sex Down South conference.

“I’m just grateful that I’ve been here and that people can rely on me to conduct workshops and have fun with them,” Stewart said.

Erotic Activities The best way to please a partner, according to Stewart, is to discover each other’s learning styles.

There are specific erotic activities that are suitable for each learning style. Learning patterns include auditory, visual and kinesthetic.

Visual learners: Look attractive Audio learners: Enjoy music, seductive tones, phone sex and dirty talk Kinesthetic learners: Different ways of touch, erotic message or lapdances Adding scents to an intimate moment creates lasting memories, because the brain will attach that specific scent to an enjoyable moment.

Get Comfortable Workshops vary, based on time and the size of the group.

Other services provided by the Sexuality Educator include: Sex coaching and alternative sexualties, which is designed for people who are curious about kinky, swinging and polyamory.

Ice breaker: When dealing with different personalities Stewart finds a common middle ground by telling stories and asking people what they want from the workshop.

ET LIPS

PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN| THE SIGNAL PHOTOS BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

From top to bottom , Condom Stewart leaves condoms on a coffee table for anyone to grab when entering Velvet Lips.

Body butter Guests can also take body butter for themselves provided by the Sex Down South conference.

Chair As you enter Velvet Lips, you will see a long chair with a book titled “Photo Sex” laying on top it.

ARTS & LIVING

12

Dr. Critical Love SYDNEY CUNNINGHAM Assistant Arts & Living Editor

P

rofessor Mindy Stombler is found at the head of the class in Introduction to Social Problems and in Sexuality and Society. Her sense of humor and fresh take on controversial topics land her on forums such as Rate My Professor with a high grade of “A,” an average 4.7 and notably a hot tamale.

Stombler’s specialties lie in the areas of Sexuality and Social Inequality.

In times of love and lust, not many have an authority or place to look for sage advice. For someone whose profession is to take a critical look, here is Professor Stombler on sex, dating and internet trends.

Q: In your Sexuality class, what is it generally about?

Stombler: Sexuality and Society offers students a chance to view sex and sexuality from a sociological perspective.

We spend a lot of time learning about the social aspects of sexuality, that our attitudes and behaviors are a product of interacting with other people. What we think is “natural” in terms of sex and sexuality is really constructed differently across cultures and time. Other course themes include exploring the fluidity of sexuality and also sex-positivity. We design and participate in our own sexual behavior survey within our class.

Q: How do you view online dating and the internet changing our relationships?

Stombler: [With online dating], users have a lot more choices. They are no longer relegated to physically finding partners at work, school, in their neighborhood, etc. They can seek partners with specific likes and dislikes, interests, even specific sexual tastes. Individuals no longer need others to introduce them to partners, so independence can be an upside. Yet sociologists also argue that intimate relationships are often stronger when they are drawn from existing social networks (when you are introduced by friends, family members, coworkers, etc.), something that may be missing on an app.

Q: There are trends online that men and women do on social media that go viral, such as posting screenshots of their interactions or putting the person they’re in a relationship with into memes. What is your take?

Stombler: It means you have to be careful not to assume trust before it’s earned. This is sex-negative behavior.

Social media may make it easier to inflict this sort of damage in terms of speed and reach.

Q: How do you view modern relationships in comparison to ones of the past?

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Words of wisdom from Professor Stombler

Stombler: In modern relationships, there is an assumption that all partners should be experiencing sexual pleasure.

Modern relationships are also showing more sexual fluidity, especially among the Millennials and Gen Z, and in particular among women. Sexual identities, behaviors, and attractions do not always align, and people are much more willing to cross boundaries previously seen as impervious. An individual’s sexual responses may change over time and are partly dependent upon the situations in which they find themselves.

Q: How do you view hookup culture as it is talked about and handled today?

Stombler: Hookup culture needs to be put into perspective. The average number of hookups for a graduating senior is seven. A quarter of graduating seniors will have never “hooked up.” I have most concern about the quality of sexual interaction. Researchers have found that students are often dissatisfied with heterosexual hookups, with women having orgasms at half the rate as men in first time hookups, for example. Students in one study said they wanted at least pleasure, meaning, or empowerment from their sexual activity, and hookup culture was not delivering in those areas. There is no need to kill hooking up, per se, but creating an environment where there are other opportunities for the kind of sex college students want (the pleasurable, meaningful, and/or empowering sex) would be a step in the right direction.

Q: In what ways have you seen race affect how people date?

Stombler: Race is still being used as a screening tool. Americans still have implicit biases by race and data from online dating sites quantifies the biases, where groups are most or least likely to be contacted by potential dates.

Our neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, and more remain segregated by race, inhibiting our likelihood of meeting partners across race lines “IRL.” Even when we do form interracial couples, love does not erase the racism of the greater society. Researchers who study interracial couples find they are not “beyond race” and that race is a part of their relationships.

sex-negativity and is primarily used as a means to control women’s sexuality. It’s retro, creepy, pathetic, and needs to stop.

Q: If spoken about or dealt with, what do you think would make sexual relationships stronger in our society?

Stombler: If we focused more on sexual pleasure, prioritizing communication, honesty, and expressing or fulfilling desire. I’d like to have sexual pleasure taught in the schools. We have to confront the unequal power structures in our society where men dominate women and where the sexualities of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer students are stigmatized. We need to destroy the old Victorian sexual script that assumes that women are less sexual, men have unending sexual appetites, and that women’s job is to say no to men’s advances before ultimately accepting. We need new scripts that acknowledge women’s interest in sex. These scripts would integrate clearer communication to assure that sex is truly consensual. If people could be comfortable in their bodies, sex would be better for everyone. There is so much body shaming in this culture and it inhibits sexual pleasure.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

BY DR. MINDY STOMBLR Dr. Mindy Stombler specializes in social problems, gender, sexuality, qualitative methods, and pedagogy.

Q: Before two people (or maybe more) decide to have sex, what is the best advice before anything happens?

Stombler: They should establish consent regarding all that will take place.

Q: What do you want college students to learn of sex?

Stombler: I’d like to have every student get exposed to a sex-positive perspective on sexuality. Students think they know a lot about sex, but when they come to class they realize that in understanding the big social picture about sex, they’re quite the novices.

Q: In regards to sex, what is the largest gap or void in our generation’s education?

Stombler: The current sex education system is disgraceful. Despite the vast majority favoring comprehensive sex education, a vocal minority continues to succeed in pushing abstinence-only education, a form of education that has been proven to be ineffective. What is missing most is a focus on sex-positivity.

If you begin with the assumption that sex can be healthy, pleasurable, and enjoyable, you reframe the entire curriculum and the rest of the gaps will be filled as a consequence. We should be educating earlier and more frequently. We should understand that knowledge is power. If we want kids to behave responsibly and experience joy, we have to provide the tools for them to do so.

Q: What is your take on the narrative of ‘slut shaming?’

Stombler: Slut shaming promotes

PAGE DESIGN BY DARIAN MATHEWS | THE SIGNAL

13

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Modern Day Cupid

DIY gift baskets not at the grocery store

DIY Tutorial on our YouTube channel Feb. 10, 2016

Final products of Nicole’s Valentine’s Day cards. (From left to right) “I love you deerly,” “Ur the cats meow” and “You have a pizza my heart.”

NICOLE PLACE

Assistant Arts & Living Editor

V

alentine’s Day, the day of chocolate hearts and so much red you could almost barf. Yet, we love to buy a ton of cheap stuffed animals. How about this year we give the Hallmark industry a break. Here are a few ways to make your loved ones, friends and yourself feel special this Feb. 14.

DIY Valentine’s Day Cards 1. “I Love You Deerly” Materials: A piece of paper, red and brown ink or paint, black pen Step one: Fold the card in half.

Then use the red ink to create 6 thumb prints on the front.

Step two: For the heads turn them at angles. the tips of your thumb prints should be touching. These are the heads.

Step three: Make two more thumb prints horizontally. They should be connected to the heads, these will be the bodies.

Step four: Then paint your thumbs red. You want to place these two prints about the deer, at an angle.

The tips of your thumbs will connect at the bottom to create a heart shape.

Step five: Then use the pen to draw antlers, eyes and a nose on to the thumb print to make it into a deer.

Step six: You want there to be two deer thumb prints. Then write “I love you Deerly” or any other pun you can think of.

2.

heart”

“You have a pizza my

Materials: A piece of paper, a black and red pen Step one: Fold the paper in half to create the card. Then sketch a piece of pizza on the front.

Step two: Add a cute face to the piece of pizza and decorate the rest however you like.

Step three: Then add “You have a pizza my heart “to the front.

3. “Cat’s Meow” Materials: A piece of watercolor paper, watercolor paints and pens Step one: Fold your piece of paper in half and sketch out the head of a

cat into the front.

Step two: Use the water colors to fill in the head of the cat.

Step three: Use the pens or water colors to paint on “You’re The Cat’s Meow” on top of the cat’s head. · TIP: A water color technique is to use more water in certain spots.

It will give a faded look to the color.

The more water the lighter the color.

Be careful not to use too much water or else it will make the paper fall apart.

DIY Gift Baskets:

For your Valentine, here are a few ideas of what to throw into a loving gift basket.

The Lover: For the one person that makes your heart skip a beat. · Lip Balm · Furry blanket · A box of chocolates (Classic) · Mint gum · Lip Scrub ( Make your own using un-petroleum jelly and sugar) · Essential oil The Crude: For the person who always takes the joke a little too far. · Condoms (Let’s start off strong) · Liquor (To loosen them up) · Red underwear · Sex position dice · Risqué conversation hearts The Corny: For anyone with your mom’s sense of humor. (Most come with punny cards) · Conversation hearts (Original) · A honey bear jar/ “Uh-huh Honey” card · Bath Bomb/ “You’re the Bomb” card · Custom M&Ms · Strawberry apple sauce/ “I Love Your Face Up In The Sauce” card The Narcissist: For the person you love more than anything in the world, you. · A heart shaped box of chocolates (the most expensive because you’re not dropping that money on anyone else) · That piece of clothing you’ve had your eye on · Your favorite movie · A special little take out box

Different Kinds of Gift “Bags”: Not all gift bags are boring.

Get creative and put together something your Valentine would never suspect.

1. Old School Shoe box: We all remember the paper wrapped shoe boxes that were filled with Valentines from classmates. Bring it back this

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

year by decorating a shoes box for your loved ones and fill it with their favorite things.

2. A Fondue Kit: A great gift for chocolate lovers. Fill a box with a bag of chocolate, sprinkles, mini M&Ms, Red Hots, giant marshmallows, Vanilla Wafers and skewers.

3. Cocktails On-The-Go: Place a bottle or mini can of soda inside a mason jar. Then tie a mini bottle of liquor to the outside of the jar and place a cute straw inside of the jar.

Skip out on the overpriced candy and DIY your heart out this year.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

The beginning of it all Softball catcher Ivie Drake and baseball pitcher Alex Hegner discussed how they began playing PHOTO SUBMITTED | GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Alex Hegner throws a pitch during a Georgia State baseball game.

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | SIGNAL ARCHIVES

Ivie Drake practices catching during practice.

LEAH COTTON Staff Reporter

Whereas the techniques and rules slightly differ, the introduction to their respective sport began the same for sophomore catcher Ivie Drake and redshirt senior Alex Hegner. Both athletes were first introduced to sports by their families at a young age.

Falling in love

Always having a passion for baseball, Hegner has loved the sport since he can remember. However, one moment in his high school career strengthened his admiration for the sport. Hegner began playing baseball at the age of six.

“I’ve always loved playing since I was a little kid,” Hegner said.

“One of the big moments that made me want to continue to keep playing was winning the state championship when I was a sophomore in high school. That really solidified that baseball was something I wanted to do, for as long as I could.”

For Drake, the love for softball

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

originated when she was able to travel to different cities with her teammates and parents. With the 2016 season approaching, there are 32 scheduled away games in which Drake will experience one of her favorite activities, being on the road. Previously Drake played on two travel ball teams including the Georgia Outlaws and the Georgia Force.

“Around 10, I started playing travel ball and was gone every weekend playing,” Drake said. “I love road trips to ball tournaments and spending that time with my parents.”

“The speed of the game would be a lot different,” Hegner said.

“Softball is a much faster game, and the field is smaller. Everything happens a lot quicker, even the reaction time for the hitter is shorter for softball players. It’s more of a game about quickness and striking first.”

Describing baseball as a laid back sport versus the yelling and rapid pace in which softball players move is the biggest discrepancy to Hegner and Drake.

“Guys don’t scream like we do,” Drake said. “In softball we are always yelling and acting crazy.”

Baseball vs. softball

Advice to younger players

One may think baseball and softball are one in the same, but in the eyes of athletes, it’s a new ballgame. While softball players pitch underhanded and from a level surface with the batter, baseball players pitch overhand from a mound. These are just a couple of differences between the two sports.

These differences change the tempo of the game as well as the stamina due to the longer distances ran in baseball. In baseball, the distance between each base is 90 feet while the distance between bases in softball is 60 feet. This change would require softball players to run faster to cover the extra ground after the hit.

Hegner singles out the biggest difference between the two sports from a baseball to softball perspective.

Both athletes shared a piece of advice to younger players.

Encouraging them never to take a day for granted and always give 100 percent whether in practice or a game.

“Enjoy every minute. It doesn’t last forever,” Drake said. “Play every game like it’s your last.”

Hegner’s advice corresponded to Drake’s as he advised younger players to seize every moment.

“Show up everyday on time and ready to learn,” Hegner said. “Any day could be your last. Don’t be so worried about other things when you’re on the field. Just take it all in and enjoy the memories and the comradery with your teammates and coaches. Those are bonds you’ll have forever.”

SPORTS

16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Athletes favorite Valentine memories Panthers reminisce on most memorable February holiday moments

RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor

G

eorgia State’s tennis athletes gave us their favorite Valentine's Day memories, what they love most right now in their lives and even a little Netflix n’ Chillin’ favorites.

ZACKERY KENNEDY

MEN’S TENNIS GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day memory?

Kennedy: My favorite valentine’s memory was probably in high school. When I...I used to talk to this girl in high school. It was a leap year, you know the year when the girl is supposed to get you stuff? I never really gave a girl anything for Valentine’s Day, but the girl was like, real obessed with me, it wasn’t really anything serious to me and she came into the cafeteria with a bunch of flowers and balloons. I was really embarrassed. That was really embarrassing, but that’s probably my best memory.

Your favorite valentine candy?

Kennedy: My favorite valentine candy...probably the chocolates in

the little box heart. I kind of like the coconut in the middle too. Most people don’t like those, but I mess with those.

You think any year in high school topped the one where the girl came up to you?

Kennedy: Yeah, I would say my twelth grade year topped that. We had a bunch of food fights and I went to Westlake, so it was a little bit rougher, but we had fun. I remember one time when they sent a text message throughout the school where it was like, “Everybody in fifth period, we’re just going to sit in the hallways and not do nothing.”

Literally, everyone just sat in the hallway and didn’t do anything. It was funny.

KRISTIN REHSE

WOMEN’S TENNIS GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

What’s your favorite valentine’s memory?

Rehse: My first boyfriend gave me chocolate and that’s actually the only Valentine’s Day memory I have [laughs]!

How old were you?

Rehse: 15.

Favorite Valentine’s Day candy?

Rehse: I don’t really have a particular favorite candy, I just like chocolate in general.

What’s the thing you’re in love with the most right now at this point in your life?

Rehse: My family.

SEBASTIAN ACCURA

MEN’S TENNIS GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

What’s your favorite Valentine’s memory?

Accura: My favorite valentine’s memory...I’d have to say going out to my first valentine’s dinner, which was actually last year with my very first girlfriend. It was a very nice time. I never had a girlfriend before, so it was a very nice experience.

How old were you?

Favorite valentine’s day candy?

Accura: My favorite valentine’s candy would have to be kit-kat for sure.

Will anything top last year’s Valentine’s Day? Accura: Probably a bomb present. Something out of the top.

Accura: I was 21.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ERIK REID | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Basketball conference builds up frustration DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State’s men’s basketball team has lost three straight conference games in a row.

The last time men’s basketball lost a conference game was in November 2013. During the begining of the season, Georgia State was in first place. Now, they have fallen all the way to sixth place in the conference and the frustration showed after their third straight loss.

Senior guard Kevin Ware showed his frustration after the game on Saturday night on Twitter. Ben Moore, publisher of Georgia State Panther Talk, mentioned Ware in a Tweet that said, “Nice Bounce back game today.”

Ware replied to the tweet and said, “Nah keep that sh**.” Ware was clearly frustrated after the loss on the road against University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The game against Little Rock was Ware’s best game during the losing streak. He shot 50 perecent from the field and had 17 points and five rebounds

Panthers Conference Woes

After defeating arch rival Georgia Southern in overtime 6966, the Panthers had three straight conference games in a row, and two of them were against the top two teams in the conference. With 5-2 in conference play. Georgia State needed these three games and needed to at least win two to keep up with Little Rock and Arkansas State. However, the Panthers couldn’t even get one win.

The first conference game of the three-game losing streak was against Appalachian State. A game against a 5-13 team, the Panthers were a projected to win by 5, but perhaps the Panthers took Appalachian State too lightly.

The Panthers started the first half shooting a mere 33 percent and only made nine field goals in the first half, scoring 22 points. The Mountaineers came out the gate shooting, as they shot 46 percent from the field and made six first half three-point shots.

Georgia State was down 38-22 at the half and dug themselves into too much of a hole to comeback from as they lost 76-67. The Mountaineers finished the game with 12 threepointers, which was ultimately the difference maker, as the Panthers only

made 4 3-point shots.

The second conference game was against second place Arkansas State at the time. Even though Arkansas State was 10-9 at the time, they had more conference wins than Georgia State, which is they were in second place in the conference. The Panthers were still projected to win this game by 3, but projections mean nothing if you don’t show up ready to play.

The Panthers struggled offensively in the first half shooting 33 percent from the field, but their defense held Arkansas State to only 24 percent shooting and had a 26-19 lead going into halftime. However, in the second half, the only team to heat up was Arkansas State as they shot 44 percent from the field in the second half. The Panthers shot worse than they did in the first half, as they shot 28 percent from the field.

Thanks to Arkansas State strong second half, they were able to force overtime and eventually take over and win the game. In overtime, Arkansas State shot 71 percent from the field, while the Panthers only shot 44 percent from the field. The Panthers shot 33 percent from the field total and only made three three-point field goals, while the Red Wolves made seven.

The Panthers most recent lost was against conference leading Little Rock. The first half of the game was pretty even in shooting percentage, as both teams shot for over 45 percent, but the biggest difference was once again from the three-point line.

Little Rock made six first half threepointers, while Georgia State only made 2. The score was 37-28 at the half.

The second half of the game was a very low scoring defensive half, but the Panthers just couldn’t make their shots as they shot 33 percent from the field in that half. Little Rock shot 44 percent from the field in the second half, as they went on to win 63-53.

The Panthers’ biggest problem during these conference losses has been their shooting percentage from the three-point line. During the losing streak, the Panthers have only made 10 three-point shots and are shooting 27 percent from the three-point line.

The Mountaineers made 12 in one game, more than the Panthers have made in the past three games. If the Panthers can get out of this shooting slump from the three-point line, they should be able to end this losing streak and get back on the winning path.

17

SPORTS

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY RASHAD MILLIGAN

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18

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

MARCUS CRIDER’S winning era

Senior forward elaborates on his experience at Georgia State DEVONE SLAPPY Staff Reporter

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL

#33 Markus Crider, speeds down the court against Texas State on Feb. 4.

M

arkus Crider, senior forward, is in the midst of his fourth and final season with Georgia

State.

Knowing that he would one day live in Atlanta, Crider made this dream a reality.

“The crazy thing is, eighth grade I came down here with my dad and one of my closest friends and I told my dad some way or somehow I’m living in Atlanta,” Crider said.

Prior to Georgia State Originally from Dayton, Ohio, shared hometown of Head Coach Ron Hunter, Crider played basketball at Wayne High School and he was ranked the sixth-best player in the state of Ohio by ESPN and also led his high school team to league championships in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Crider was signed to attend Providence after graduating, but decided to go to Bridgton Academy, an all-male prep school located in Maine. Crider averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Totaling three triple-doubles and earning National Prep School Invitational All-Tournament Honors, Crider performed well in prep school, but he was looking to transfer to a larger school in a thriving city.

The road to Georgia State Crider received scholarship offers from Georgia State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan and several other Big 10 schools around the OhioMichigan area. However, knowing Coach Hunter and witnessing the booming city of Atlanta sold Crider on Georgia State.

“It doesn’t get better than Atlanta, Georgia after being in Maine,” Crider said. “No snow, Atlanta is the perfect place and I don’t think I’ll ever leave to tell you the truth. I ended up at Georgia State and I’m blessed to even be here because it’s a perfect fit for me.”

Crider’s impact on the court Considering himself, along with teammate T.J. Shipes, to be one of the old heads on the team, Crider has made a huge impact on the court within his time at Georgia State. Crider recorded his first career double-double against division rival UL Monroe during his junior season, 2014-15.

During this game, Crider scored 13 points and totaled 10 rebounds.

Crider also finished with a doubledouble against Appalachian State and Arkansas State. Proving himself to be a threat defensively and offensively

has made Crider a key player for the Panther since his arrival in 2012.

Crider finished his junior season averaging 9.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and shot 59.5 percent from the field, thus ranking second in the Sun Belt.

Whereas Crider’s senior season is still being written, one of his most memorable games remains in the 2014-15 season. Several individuals would expect this game to be Georgia State’s victory against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament, however to Crider, it’s the Sun Belt championship game versus Georgia Southern.

“I know people expect me to say Baylor because of the shot, but no it was before that,” Crider said. “I didn’t know the magnitude of it then because I really didn’t focus on it, but I got a rebound and passed it out to R.J. and he hit the two free throws to win the game. I never really looked at the rebound until after the season was over. Now, I understand the importance of that rebound, because if I didn’t get that rebound we probably wouldn’t have gotten those free throws.

You never know what could have happened.”

Georgia State defeated Georgia Southern 38-36 and were named 2015 men’s basketball tournament champions of the Sun Belt Conference.

Crider averaged 11.5 points and 8 rebounds in the championship, earning Sun Belt All-Tournament honors.

“Markus is what I call a true student-athlete,” Coach Hunter said.

“If you look in Webster and there’s a picture of what a student-athlete looked like, it would look like Markus Crider.”

Crider and Shipes are now on a race to become the most winningest players in Georgia State history.

“That means since you came in until the time you leave all you know is winning,” Crider said. “That’s something I’ve always done. Even in high school, we’ve always won, so I’m happy about that.”

Pushing towards success Along with all of Crider’s accomplishments, comes difficult training and self-motivation. With the love of the game and his family pushing him towards a successful finish, Crider conditions his body to withstand the duration of the game.

“Definitely the steam room, sauna and doing yoga with my trainer back home,” Crider said. “Those three things, many people don’t do them, but they’re vital. I sit in the sauna for

six sessions, when the sauna comes on until it goes off is one. That will have you physically exhausted, but you still figure out ways to work your lungs and find ways to breathe. Sometimes I do pushups and situps while inside.”

Crider considers this to be one key to his success. Along with physically challenging the body, Crider challenges himself mentally.

While attempting to become a better player Crider knows there is only one

challenge standing in the way between him and his goals, which is himself.

“My biggest challenge sometimes is my own self,” Crider said. “You have to get back into the flow of the game knowing that you do these things every day. This is what you do, so you have to have confidence in yourself.”

Coach Hunter recognizes Crider’s unwavering dedication to the team as well as his ability to win.

“He’s a guy that does everything to

the best of his ability,” Coach Hunter said. “He’s been a great student, a great basketball player. He’s just a winner.

I think whatever he does in life, he’s going to be successful because he’s a winner. Every year I coach I have to make sure I have a Markus Crider.”

Crider is currently majoring in communications and will pursue his master’s degree and a doctorate in the future.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SPORTS CALENDAR *CONFERENCE GAME

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Felipe Jaworski Tennis Jaworski teamed up with Jannis Koeke to win the duos No. 3 doubles match over Lipscomb.

He was also the first Panther to win in Singles competition over John Tougher. His wins helped propel the team to a sweep over the Bisons and a 3-1 start to the Spring season. In the Fall season, he posted an 11-3 singles record after returning from an injured Spring 2015 year. In high school, he was rated the nation’s No. 13 top player for boy’s under the age of 18.

Jaworski is a 6 foot junior from Argentina and has made the President’s List three times as an Actuarial science major.

19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016

SPORTS EDITOR’S PREDICTIONS RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 11

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Saturday, Feb. 12

South Alabama*

Marshall Invite

at Mobile, Alabama 6 p.m.

at Huntington, W. Virgina 10 a.m.

Aaron Gordon Slam dunkPANTHER contest OF THE WEEK

Three Point Contest

Stephen Curry

Skills Challenge

Draymond Green

Saturday, Feb. 13 Troy*

at Troy, Alabama 3p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Saturday, Feb. 12

All star game

West

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 11

Rockets vs. Warriors

NBA:

Warriors

South Alabama*

at Greenville, South Carolina 2 p.m.

at Mobile, Alabama 8p.m.

NBA:

Hawks

Sunday, Feb. 13

Saturday, Feb. 13 Troy*

at Troy, Alabama 3p.m.

Furman

South Carolina

at Columbia, South Carolina 12 a.m.

Hawks vs. Bulls

NBA:

Lakers vs. Cavs

Lakers

NCAAM:

Kansas

West Virginia vs. Kansas

NCAAM:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

1st

Sun Belt Standings

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Arkansas State

Little Rock

12-0 | Overall: 18-3

11-1 | Overall: 21-2

UL Lafayette

UL Lafayette

9-3 | Overall: 16-5

9-3 | Overall: 13-8

Little Rock

Arkansas State

8-4 | Overall: 10-11

7-5 | Overall: 11-12

Texas State

UL Monroe

5-6 | Overall: 10-11

7-5 | Overall: 11-12

UT Arlington

UT Arlington

5-6 | Overall: 10-11

6-5 | Overall: 15-7

Troy

Georgia State

5-7 | Overall: 10-11

6-6 | Overall: 13-8

South Alabama 5-7 | Overall: 9-12

Georgia Southern

Appalachian State

6-6 | Overall: 10-12

UT Arlington vs. Texas State

NCAAM:

UTA LSU

Texas A&M vs. LSU

NCAAM:

Indiana vs. Michigan State

Indiana

THE FINAL SCORE Women’s Basketball

The struggles for a consistent rhythm plagued the team again on Feb. 6 against UT-Arlington. The Mavericks bested the Panthers in the category of points off of turnovers, with a 30-5 differential. The women will take a road trip to Alabama this week to face off against South Alabama and Troy.

Coach Hunter hits the century mark

With a home win against Texas State, head coach Ron Hunter earned the 100th win of his career. Hunter was surprised about the feat because he had no idea until shortly after the game. Coach Hunter was very appreciative of the congratulations he received and went on to thank senior Markus Crider, who scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Panthers to victory that night.

Southern Alabama

5-7 | Overall: 8-13

4-8 | Overall: 9-14

Georgia State

Appalachian State

4-8 | Overall: 9-12

4-8 | Overall: 6-17

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