Vol. 89 No. 11 by The Signal

VOL. 89 | NO. 11

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THE YEAR IS STILL GOING BUT, HERE ARE TEN OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2021 SO FAR. PG. 08

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Independent, Impactful & Impartial

In Opinions: The Effects of Social Media & Mental Health

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BLOTTER OCTOBER 13

Please make them stop

EDITORIAL NEWS EDITOR Adam Duffy signalnewseditor@gmail.com ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Vacant OPINIONS EDITOR Callie McNorton signalopinions@gmail.com ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Vacant ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Deena Kayyali signalliving@gmail.com ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Desmond Leake SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Freedman signalsport1@gmail.com ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Erik Indrisano COPY EDITOR Emma Barrett signalcopyeditor@gmail.com PRODUCTION PRODUCTION EDITOR Evan Koenigs signalprod@gmail.com ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION EDITOR Olivia Madrzyk PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Harry Wyman signalphoto2@gmail.com ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Vacant DIGITAL DIGITAL EDITOR Caitlin Whisby signalmanaging@gmail.com ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR Vacant VIDEO EDITOR Tyrik Wynn signalvideoeditor@gmail.com ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR Vacant PODCAST EDITOR Timo Clark THE SIGNAL BUREAUS ALPHARETTA BUREAU CHIEF Vacant CLARKSTON BUREAU CHIEF Vacant DECATUR BUREAU CHIEF Vacant DUNWOODY BUREAU CHIEF Vacant NEWTON BUREAU CHIEF Vacant ADVERTISING STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu BUSINESS COORDINATOR Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu PERIMETER STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Zoana Price zprice@gsu.edu ADVERTISING The deadline for all advertising is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the desired issue of publication. Ads must be printready and in PDF format; files must be delivered via e-mail at signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com. Please visit our website at www.georgiastatesignal. com/advertise for more information, including rates and payment methods. MISSION STATEMENT The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State community. COVERAGE REQUESTS Requests for coverage and tips should be subwmitted to the Editor in Chief and/or the relevant section editor. SUBMIT LETTER TO EDITOR Letters must be submitted to the Editor in Chief via e-mail and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. Letters should be 400-500 words maximum. The Signal will allow longer letters, but only in rare circumstances. Letters must include the full name(s) 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 The Signal’s policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/ or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff. DISCLAIMER Opinions and Letters to the Editor expressed in The Signal are the opinions of the writers and readers. It does not reflect the opinions of The Signal. OFFICE INFORMATION The Signal Student Center West, Suite 250 P.O. Box 3968 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-413-1620 Fax: 404-413-162

Four students reported harassing phone calls to GSUPD, the calls occurred between Oct 9 and Oct 12.

Yeah you definitely can’t just do that

GSUPD exceptionally cleared a criminal trespassing non-GSU offender, it occurred at J-Deck.

A GSU community member was arrested for simple assault in Classroom South.

NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Siciliano-Salazar signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Kenneth Lockett III signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Ruth Mang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

OCTOBER 15

Uhhhh buddy what are you doing here?

I thought I told you to leave! GSUPD arrested a nonGSU offender for failure to leave campus, this was located a J-Deck

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

#Statenotsouthern lives on.

Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial is about to begin.

17 injured in a knife attack in Tokyo.

The Panthers put out a showing out in Statesboro as they win 21-14 against Southern. Giving the Panthers an even season after a weak start they look good as they head to Lafayette against the No. 24 Ragin Cajuns.

The man accused of shooting three people, two fatally, during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year will stand trial this month. The 17-yearolds defense team is allegedly going to argue self defense, this comes after a judge ruled the three men shot can not be referred to as victims but should be referred to as rioters.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in the Japanese capital Tokyo after a knife attack on a train left at least 17 people injured Sunday evening local time. The train was bound for the busy Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo. This is just the latest case of a knife attack in the relatively violent crime free country.

NEWS

November 2, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

Food prices are hitting record highs.

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Top News Stories You Missed This Week The most important news and events from around the country ADAM DUFFY News Editor

n the hustle of daily life, it is often difficult to sit down and read or watch the news. It is often dark and negative, but it’s still a fundamental part of our everyday lives. Here are some important news stories from the past week that you might have missed.

Steven Donziger, Human Rights Lawyer, Imprisoned:

An American human rights lawyer was just sent to federal prison for six months by a New York court. Steven Donziger was coming off one of the most significant moments of his career in 1993. Donziger had just represented thousands of Ecuadorian farmers in a case where he alleged that the oil giant Chevron had been negligent about their drilling operations into indigenous land, leading to widespread bodily harm and numerous deaths. Donziger set the final settlement with Chevron at 9.5 billion dollars. As of 2021, 28 years later, not a dime of that figure has been paid to the affected Ecuadorians. Instead, Chevron has been on somewhat of a witch hunt for Donziger, and the stake has only gotten larger. A lengthy legal battle has played out, with Chevron using contempt of court as the charge. Chevron also has a strong prosecution and what Donziger and many others believe to be corrupt judges. After years of back and forth struggle, which saw Donziger barred from practicing law in the state of New York and put under house arrest in August of 2019, Donziger reported to prison on October 28th, 2021. Before his sentencing, organizations worldwide decried what they felt was utter misuse of the justice system. Both Amnesty International and the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released statements saying that Donziger’s punishments were a violation of his human rights. Despite those efforts, Donziger will still be serving out a 6-month sentence for the charge of contempt of court. While Donziger isn’t the first lawyer to serve prison time for contempt,

he is the first lawyer to be imprisoned for contempt in their own case. Donziger and many other pundits have said that they fear this decision will set a precedent and deter other lawyers from prosecuting major corporations.

Food Prices Skyrocket:

The increase in food prices around the country will feel like a punch to the breadbasket for many Americans. As the United States and many other economies begin to open up once again, we see a marked increase in the price of many consumer goods. Gasoline, coffee and the cost of other food items are at an all-time high, which will primarily impact the working class. The cause of this inflation leaves a trail of breadcrumbs that travels all across the globe. It all starts in China. As the Asian superpower opens up its factories to meet the demand of American consumers, the country is having to ration its coal reserves away from other sectors to meet this quota. This shortage is not only leading to waves of rolling blackouts across China, but it also limits the supply of natural gas it can export to other parts of the world. Europe relies heavily on natural gas to keep its industries running. One of its most important exports to the U.S. is fertilizer, which requires natural gas to create. In the U.S., this shortage of fertilizer, mixed with historic droughts, prevents farms from reaching adequate supplies of many food items, increasing prices. Likewise, a 43% increase in coffee prices around the United States is rooted in conflicts in other parts of the world. A devastating drought in Brazil, political instability in Columbia and a supply chain crisis in Central America, making it harder for the average American to get their coffee. As we head into the holidays, we can expect to be paying a lot more for our pumpkin spice lattes and our Thanksgiving turkeys. Recent polls show that inflation is something voters are just as concerned with as the spread of COVID-19 and are waiting in bated breath to see how the government can fix these issues.

Tensions Rise in China:

The past week saw several developments in U.S. foreign relations with China. It all started at the beginning of October when Chinese president Xi Jinping said he would be seeking a “peaceful” reunification with Taiwan. This action generated extreme resistance from Taiwan. The Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen, reiterated that Taiwan has no interest in submitting to China, a stance they have held since its founding in 1949. On October 21st, President Joe Biden sparked a scandal when he attended a town hall on CNN. During a question and answer session with attending guests, Biden told the audience that if Taiwan were to be attacked by China, the United States would protect Taiwan. This statement flies in the face of the foreign policy adopted by the United States towards that region. Essentially, the U.S. foreign policy towards Taiwan is called strategic ambiguity. It doesn’t directly state that the U.S. will aid Taiwan militarily but doesn’t disallow them from offering support in other matters. Shortly after the conference, the White House released a statement, correcting the President, reaffirming their previous positions and ensuring they would not direct intervention. The initial statement and retraction raised concern in the media, with some saying that the US’s ambiguity in the situation is vital to peace. If China were confident that the U.S. would not intervene should they try to take the island by force, that could expedite the CCP’s decision to do so. The concern was enough to warrant a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two sat down at the G20 summit on October 31st to talk about global supply chain issues and foreign policy matters. Blinken reaffirmed to Yi that while the U.S. will still support the “One-China Policy,” they will continue relations with Taiwan. Although the issue has cooled down, China has been increasingly disregarding the global community in the past few years, moving forward with questionable actions towards the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and the citizens of Hong Kong.

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

”Ooooooo, Trump, You’re In Trouble!” What’s going on at Capitol Hill this week KENNETH LOCKETT III Managing Editor

ongress has been very busy this past week. Here’s what happened at Capitol Hill this week!

January 6 court filings tell us what Trump is trying to keep secret:

The animal rights group argues that the name “Bullpen” mocks the misery of cattle as the name also refers to a type of holding cell where farmers host them before slaughter.

PHOTO BY ADIL_PHOTO ON DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Calling It A “Bullpen” Is Animal Abuse PETA calls for the MLB to change the name to Arm Barn. KENNETH LOCKETT III Managing Editor

s the Braves (update with results from WS), PETA is taking the opportunity to raise awareness to a little-known issue, the areas where relief pitchers for the game hang out, known as the “Bull-Pen.” The animal rights group argues that the name mocks the misery of cattle as the name also refers to a type of holding cell where farmers host them before slaughter. However, they don’t just blindly advocate for the name change. They even give the league an option to change it to the “Arm Barn.” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a news release, “PETA encourages Major League Baseball coaches, announcers, players, and fans to change up their language and embrace the ‘arm barn’ instead.” The name change has sparked several reactions for baseball fans and players alike. New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier jokingly said on Twitter, “now warming up in the arm barn” ‘who is that warming up in the arm barn?’ Please name it this!!!” Longtime Braves fan and Georgia State Junior Alex James was not so playful with his criticism. “This is getting insane, man!” James said. “I mean, I get it, but at what point do we just suck it up and move along with our day.” The name raises the question, is the

name just another casualty of ‘cancel culture,’ or is the name rooted in actual historical issues. Baseball historians are not sure.

“

I mean, people are going to take offense to whatever they want to. I didn’t know that it also meant those things in different contexts

”

— JACKSON BARNES Yankees fan

Tien Le, an intern with NPR, did a

little research and found that during the 20th century, there was a giant bullshaped Bull Durham tobacco billboard at most ballparks. Pitchers would often warm up in the shadow of this billboard. Players began to call this area the Bullpen. However, many have traced the name to 1877 in a baseball game recap in Ohio. Players have also used the term to refer to the foul zone behind first and third bases. Sports fans have also used the name to refer to areas where people roped off spectators, giving the name four different descriptions. “I mean, people are going to take offense to whatever they want to. I didn’t know that it also meant those things in different contexts.” Jackson Barnes, a freshman from Clarkston and a fellow Yankees fan, said. of “If you are only exposed to that context, it’s going to feel different and weird hearing it in another context. [PETA definitely] deserves to be heard out.” Whether or not the MLB will play into the media frenzy has yet to be seen, but it won’t go away anytime soon.

An affidavit from the National Archives recently revealed what the Trump Administration attempted to seal under executive privilege. The 700 documents they released include handwritten memos from his Chief of Staff about January 6th, call logs of the then-Presiden, former Vice President Mike Pence and White House visitor records. This information would give Congress and the American people a better idea of what the administration knew about the insurrection that left five dead. Alexandria Lames, a constitutional law expert, did not mince words regarding the filings. “At the risk of sounding like a schoolgirl, my only reaction is ‘Oooooooo trump you in trouble!” Lames said. “Rarely do you see all three, [or even just] two branches, of government in agreement. [F]rom the type of documents listed, it only tells me that someone in that White House knew what was happening, and it was likely President Trump himself.”

Today might be the day:

On November 2, today, the day this very issue comes out, the House hopes to finally vote on two economic packages that Congress has stalled on for several weeks. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the $1.75 trillion economic plan have been hard-line items for the Democratic Party. The failures of which might contribute to the staggeringly low approval rating for President Biden. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said the House would vote on

both economic bills while campaigning for democratic candidate for Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “We’re gonna pass those two bills you have [heard] about. We’re gonna pass them. The vote has been called for Tuesday. We’re gonna take this vote, and we’re gonna pass them,” Clyburn said at the rally. I suppose we will just

“

“Rarely do you see all three, well two branches, of government in agreement. And just from the type of documents listed it only tells me that someone in that White House knew what was happening and it was likely President Trump himself.

”

— ALEXANDRIA LAMES constitutional law expert have to wait and see if the democrats can get these legislative wins under their belt as we quickly approach the midterms.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

THE SIGNAL

#statenotsouthern

Panthers score the go ahead touchdown with 26 seconds left in the game. Panthers win 21-14 in hostile territory.

PHOTOS BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

November 2, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

While we know Chappelle has a history of anti-LGBT jokes that are not even funny, he has had many successful Netflix specials.

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

The Dangers Of Cancel Culture

How Our Unhealthy Social Media Landscape Changes People.

I CALLIE MCNORTON

Opinions Editor

n the 2010s, we all came to know what we now call “cancel culture” or being “canceled.” The #MeToo Movement was taking form and holding abusers responsible. Group shaming and withdrawal of support are the two pillars of being canceled. From Harvey Weinstein to R. Kelly, we saw reputations scorned by credible allegations, rightfully so. It was intentional and necessary, and the media put survivors in positions of power. Even though cancel-culture took root on social media, it had a massive impact that reached farther than a Twitter feed. The court eventually charged Weinstein, and R. Kelly is actively awaiting sentencing. The success of these two campaigns set a precedent. Black Twitter was also responsible for giving cancel culture a place in the lexicon. Through an ongoing cultural boycott, social media users have shed light on racists and other problematic figures. Does their light ever go completely dark? Maybe canceling a president is a bit far-reaching, but we tried. After Trump’s blatant racism throughout his campaign and presidency, even after retweeting a video of a supporter yelling “white power!” He still is a billionaire who served a full term. It all begs the question, what is the goal here? Sure, we can call out rapists and racists, but what is the prize to be won? This culture has perpetuated itself into a dog-eat-dog world social media landscape, where we cancel anyone and anything that might be slightly offensive. It is unproductive and only allows for virtue signaling. This month, Dave Chappelle has been under fire for making trans people a punchline. The Netflix’s special, “The Closer,” garnered support and condemnation from all sides. Netflix employees coordinated a walkout, and many stood against him. “What we object to is the harm that content like this does to the trans community (especially trans people of color) and, very specifically, Black trans women.” Netflix software engineer Tara Field said on Twitter. “People who look like me aren’t being killed. I’m a white woman. I get to worry about Starbucks writing ‘Tara’ on my drink.” Others, like Black trans comic Flame Monroe, came to his defense, saying “nothing is off-limits.” While we know Chappelle has a history of anti-LGBT jokes that are not even funny, he has had many successful Netflix specials. “The Closer” is possibly the last installment of his comedy deal, garnering 24.1 million. We should turn our eyes elsewhere. A comedian sucks and will still be wealthy. What’s new? While we twiddle our thumbs and type 280 characters, corporations are profiting, and a cycle of hate is continuously normalized.

“Every obsessive search on Google for proof of wrongdoing, every angry post on Twitter and Facebook to call the guilty to account, is a silent ka-ching in the great repositories of these corporations, which woo advertisers by pointing to the intensity of user engagement.” Ligaya Mishan of The New York Times stated. So we cancel high-profile individuals, but the social media monster often sinks its teeth into people who can not afford what comes with cancellation. Calling out bad behavior you see within your community is one thing. Kicking people to the curb is entirely different. Frequently, social media turns canceling into bullying, with no room for compassion or growth. There should be room for dialogue and understanding. Many do not understand the context of their transgressions until people tell them what they have done wrong. While this may seem in favor of microaggressions or intolerant people, it favors creating a space for real change. Instead of shutting down someone, we should diffuse the pack mentality and lean into each other. Listen and be mad, but leave room for an apology. TikTok user Emmy Lu, @emmuhlu, faced death threats last year after a video of her 14-year-old self leaked her using racial slurs. No one should brush this off, but no one should be the bar of judgment either. “My parents’ names and phone numbers have been leaked. They’re being called,” said Lu in an apology video. “My old address from New York has been leaked. I don’t even live there anymore—a child and his family live there. Please stop. I was so wrong and disgusting, but please see me.” Since then, she has removed herself from social media. A platform made for good turned to evil in a blink of an eye. Yes, a 14-year-old should know better, but what if she didn’t? Instead of alienating her, social media users should have taken a breath. As a society that never physically sees each other, I think Emmy Lu makes a great point, “please see me.” No one teaches bigotry. We are born into homes and grow up in systems that normalize the concept. For a fundamental culture shift, we need to see each other. The damage culture is causing may be irreversible. We should not crucify anyone for wrongdoings that they can learn from, followed by accountability and reconciliation. Big corporations, institutions, celebrities’ reputations can survive social media. They feed into cancel culture and get away with it unscathed. Taking down these giants may be the answer, rather than a teenager with a TikTok. Use your social media for good, or take some time away from it. It can promote positive movements and be a platform for a call to action. Learn to have conversations with others. We need to see each other.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

OPINIONS

Mental Illness In Disguise

Why do people choose to hide their mental health issues?

O GABBY MILLER Staff Columnist

ver the past years, society has been changing when it comes to mental health issues. Despite people ostracizing people living with mental illness for decades, now we are trying to be more aware of the difficulties of having a mental illness. These changes have caused more people to open up about their mental health struggles, but this does not change that many still feel a deep shame surrounding their mental problems. In America, 44,000,000 people suffer from mental illnesses. Only 18% of these people are open about their struggles. More people suffer from mental health issues at an earlier age because of their stress at that age. Some people belittle the pressure that young people feel and compare it to what they have to deal with now. These belittling comments make others stay quiet about their struggles because they fear others comparing them to an older generation who may have felt they had it worse. Society never taught these older generations about the dangers of mental illnesses. The world taught them to get over it because no one would care. Older generations might think people who know about their mental health struggles will see them as weak. This fear of opening up perpetuates a cycle of fear that many in the younger generation feel about opening up about mental health. Some younger people might think that other people will use their mental illness against them. Regardless of the root cause, being viewed as a feeble person is the source of insecurity regarding mental health. The most common mental illness in America is anxiety disorders. There are 42.5 million adults that suffer from these different types of anxiety disorders. A lot of people who suffer from anxiety issues come from abusive homes. A lot of abuse victims receive anxiety as a result of their abuse. Their abusers often convince them that no one will care about their mental health struggles, so they pretend they are perfectly fine. This attitude of isolation is a toxic mindset that they learned from their parents or a partner that no one truly cares about, and they are just being a problem for being open about their struggles. They convinced themselves that the only way to live peacefully is never to tell people what happened to them or about their issues with mental illness. Another reason people do not want to be open about their

issues in mental health is that they want to seem normal. A lot of people do not like the attention of being honest about their struggles with mental health. These people do not want to seem like a medical case, so they choose to be silent about it. Mental health is an issue that people need to discuss. Even though some choose to be more open about it than others, we still need to spread awareness of some people’s issues every day. By spreading awareness, we can convince some of these people to get help.

PHOTO BY KWEST ON DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

The False Flag Of Progress The History of Progressive Military Recruitment.

S TERRANCE DAVIS

Staff Columnist

ubsequent generations of people typically become more open-minded than their predecessors. In a time where civil rights movements are the norm as marginalized groups continue to gain visibility along with the backdrop of climate change hanging over our heads, many young people are a lot more conscious of these issues than ever before. Marketers and advertisers are aware of this. Large companies like Nike and Google have used sustainability and civil rights-based campaigns as marketing ploys to lure in more socially conscious customers. The U.S. military has also taken notice of this trend and has utilized inclusivitybased recruitment tactics. The United States Army and CIA came under criticism for two ad campaigns that strove for the same goal. The first was a series of animated recruiting ads centered around different service members of people of color or LGBTQ+. The language of these ads is very clearly supposed to speak to a more social justiceoriented recruit. The CIA advertisement uses similar methods, focusing on around one Latinx woman and her opportunities through the program. These surface-level gestures from the military machine and powerful corporations exist for the same purpose, to wash over the malicious deeds of these institutions by appealing to victimized members of society. The United States military is more comfortable promoting itself as a safe space than a criminal organization that commits genocide regularly. Domestically, the US state has had a horrific relationship with its oppressed communities, usually at the epicenter of that oppression. It is a common fact that people of color have been historically mistreated by the United States, even upholding an apartheid state sustained by Jim Crow Laws. Similarly, the United States also has a long history in the role of the oppression of LGBTQ people, with many of them having their existences made illegal for the early 20th century. This social exclusion culminated in the Stonewall Riots, a violent faceoff between the community and the local police force. Even to this day, what little rights transgender people have been hanging on by

a thread, and over half of the states (including Georgia) have no laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The tactic of half-hearted inclusivity to increase the numbers in the US armed forces is nothing new. The military did not integrate the services until after World War 2. Despite exploiting black soldiers to die for its interests, the military denied black veterans of World War 2 the benefits of the G.I. Bill. This mistreatment is, of course, one of the most important aspects of military recruitment. Historically, they have been targeting the poor and disenfranchised for decades. The military still employs recruits from diverse backgrounds, which only makes sense, as America itself is a very diverse and varied place. Even so, many of its active military participants face discrimination inside the services. For a long time, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy (lifted only in 2011) required LGBT military personnel to keep their sexual orientation secret, receiving a discharge if they did not do so. Sexual assault of female workers is rampant, with around 7800 reported incidents in 2020. These infractions barely scratch the surface of the US military’s criminal behaviors. While its domestic treatment of oppressed people is less than stellar, the fundamental hypocrisy in the military’s plan is its complete and apparent lack of care or compassion towards the women, LGBT and people of color in other foreign nations. The US military has been involved in coups in most South America, has committed massacres on every continent, upholds apartheid states for geopolitical power, and aids in the Saudi monarchal oppression of women and gays in Saudi Arabia. The US military IS bleeding in numbers, and recruiters know that younger generations are less accepting of military conflicts and feel that they must change with the times and attempt to pander to a more “woke” generation. This plan, of course, only goes so far, as it is apparent at this point that terror, exploitation, and profit is the modus operandi of the United States armed forces.

This Week’s Spread: ARTS & LIVING WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

Ten Of The Best Albums of 2021 So Far. The albums that you should put in your rotation. Desmond Leake Associate Arts & Living Editor CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST - Tyler, The Creator

The Creator’s follow-up album, Tyler, is a return to the rap he’s known for after his heavily neo-soul influenced album “IGOR.” “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” is essentially Tyler’s post-Grammy victory lap. The smooth, rich production contrasts the presence of DJ DRAMA on almost every track, whose boisterous shouting emulates the feelings of the mixtape era. Tyler tells listeners that this is his world, and we’re all living in it with this album. He’s not the oddball kid who eats roaches anymore. He’s the eccentric explorer who has money to spare as he drives around in his Rolls Royce. “CMIYGL” contains several recurring motifs across Tyler’s entire discography, such as a love triangle and heavy neo-soul production, but “Call Me if You Get Lost” also sees Tyler at the absolute peak of his rapping skill-wise. Seeing his development from the kid who ate a roach and talked about rape into a GRAMMY winner has been amazing, and it’s exciting to speculate about where he goes from here.

Injury Reserve – By the time I get to Phoenix:

Death is cruel, sudden, and inevitable. The death of rap trio Injury Reserve’s member Steppa J Groggs back in 2020 put the group’s future into question. On their website before the album’s release, the remaining group members released a state expressing their desire to stick to Grogg’s desires and “make some weird shit.” In this regard, “By The Time I Get to Phoenix” excels with flying colors. Even relative to their previous works, the production on “BTTIGTP” is a vast departure from their previous works, with dissonant glitch hop-inspired production permeating the entire project. The songwriting structure is similarly absent, with many songs lacking choruses and just seeing vocalist Ritchie with a T adopting a new voice on each track to process his grief and dissatisfaction. Even at its more uplifting moments, the album is a sad affair with the track “Superman That” having the chorus of “Ain’t no saving you or me.” The project is chaotic, glitchy and abrasive while also some of this year’s most beautiful emotionally-charged music. IT varies from epic “By the Time I get To Phoenix” is the group’s least accessible project for new listeners, but it is a glorious ride from start to finish and the perfect tribute to the late Groggs.

Black Country, New Road – For the First Time:

When being hyped up as Britain’s best new band by various websites, a debut album of only six tracks is a bold choice to introduce yourself to the world. It’s a choice that pays off spectacularly, as there is not a wasted moment across the British septet’s 40-minute debut album. The instrumentation varies from incredibly elaborate mixes of guitars, saxophones, and violins to incredibly stripped-back intimate performances such as on “Track X.” Vocals by vocalist Isaac Wood vary from screams of blinding levels of narcissism on tracks like “Sunglasses” to soft introspection on “Track X.” “For the first time” is a short affair acknowledging that while there are good times to be had, ultimately, nothing will last forever. This debut album would be a lesser band’s magnum opus. Black Country, New Road’s forthcoming sophomore album, already has quite a legacy to follow.

Black midi – Cavalcade:

Black Midi’s sophomore album “Cavalcade” is not as noisy as their 2019 debut “Schlagenheim,” as the band decides to go for a more progressive rock sound. This style change worked out brilliantly for the group and led to “Cavalcade” sounding just as fresh as its predecessor. Coming in at tracks, “Cavalcade” proves that black midi is still leagues above most of their peers. The album ranges from a cult leader’s chaotic and morbid storytelling on its opening track, “John L,” backed by elaborate yet frenetic instrumentation and vocalist Geordie Greep’s sometimes distorted and ominous delivery. It is then immediately contrasted by the beautiful and soft backing riffs and soft vocals on “Marlene Dietrich.” There’s a method to Black midi’s madness, and it works.

Playboi Carti – Whole Lotta Red:

Arriving just before Christmas, “Whole Lotta Red’s” release is a story of epic proportions. Several delays, the album being reworked multiple times due to external factors such as leaks, and a very polarizing release day in terms of the album’s sound and revelations about the elusive Playboi Carti’s personal life. It’s honestly a miracle that it came out. “Whole Lotta Red” marks a distinct shift from the minimalistic mumble trap that Carti was known for on his self-titled release and “Die Lit” and sees him embrace a vampire aesthetic and a generally more aggressive delivery. It’s a feisty yet sometimes grating affair across the 24-track runtime, but it does show Carti as someone willing to go well outside of his comfort zone. Whether rapping aggressively over a lovely beat on “New Tank or rapping over a Bach sample on “Vamp Anthem,” the project is one of the most adventurous by an artist in a long time, even if this creativity does not always pay off musically.

Sling – Clairo:

Although starting as bedroom pop darling off the back of singles like “Pretty Girl and “4EVER”, Clairo has increasingly moved away from her early days and chooses to continue towards a more folk-pop direction. “Sling” sonically looks back at the past, with a much more intimate feeling thanks to the mix of Jack Antonoff’s production taking the form of stripped-back guitars, pianos, and flutes and Clairo’s improved songwriting abilities. “Sling ‘’ often feels downplayed in terms of its instrumentation due to the mixing and Clairo’s naturally soft vocals but interspersed throughout is varied instrumentation that pairs well with the often-melancholic reflection of growing older that Clairo addresses throughout the album. It’s cliché to call a pop artist’s work their most intimate yet, but “Sling” is both Clairo’s most mature and personal album yet.

DONDA – Kanye West

Somehow, against all odds, after multiple delays, track reworkings and last-minute changes, West’s 10th studio album came out. Easily one of the most polarizing albums of this year. DONDA truly is a love it or hate it affair. Across its 23 tracks, West makes his glorious return to making secular music after his transition to gospel with “Jesus Is King.” The album ranges from the beautiful organbacked singing on “No Child Left Behind” to a drill-inspired beat on “Off the Grid.” A robust gospel theming permeates throughout this album, fitting as it is a tribute to his mother. While the album sometimes does shudder under the length of its seemingly bloated tracklist, the highlights here prove that West has yet to lose his edge despite his media antics.

Porter Robinson – Nurture

Nurture is, without a doubt, one of the best electronic albums to release in years. There’s a tendency to dismiss electronic music as not being nearly as profound as other forms due to its roots as functional music for dancing instead of lyricism. Still, it is hard to stress just how much of a disservice it takes. Seven years after his debut album, Porter Robinson’s triumphant return to the spotlight is essentially the electronica equivalent of telling listeners that everything will be okay. The electronic vocal effects are ever-present throughout the album. It never feels as if it is distracting to the hopeful and introspective lyrics that Robinson sings about throughout the album. It’s both artificial sounding yet incredibly intimate, thanks to the varied instrumentation that incorporated traditional instrumentation and never felt overproduced. It feels like the perfect fusion of electronic and indie-pop.

TYRON – Slowthai

If “Nothing Great About Britain” was Slowthai forcing the world to acknowledge his presence as a bombastic artist, “TYRON” is Slowthai asking the world to see him as a person. Fans of his debut album will resonate more with the first half of the album, stylized in call caps that have the heavier hitting aggressive tracks, while the second disc sees Slowthai dealing with his newfound fame and public persona. The album’s two discs create an image of a braggadocious persona immediately contrasted by the much more intimate second half of the album. Newfound fame is a prevalent topic for musicians, but it works to the album’s benefit.

Montero – Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X’s debut album had an incredible amount of hype surrounding it, especially considering that he won a GRAMMY for his debut EP thanks to “Old Town Road.” However, “MONTERO” proved that Lil Nas X is anything but a one-trick pony. If anything, fans should commend him for turning what was essentially a gimmick rap song into the biggest male rapper alive, which becomes even more impressive when you remember he’s an openly gay man in a field that doesn’t particularly respect queerness. With a star-studded feature list, “MONTERO” is an incredibly varied affair, ranging from the epic trumpet-heavy songs like “INDUSTRY BABY” to extremely introspective tracks such as “SUN GOES DOWN.” This album deals with his struggles with his blackness and his homosexuality. Even past all of that, in a world where radio-safe pop-rap is often the lowest common denominator, “MONTERO” is anything but dull. PAGE LAYOUT BY EVAN KOENIGS I THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

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Although younger generations are not as involved in celebrating Día De Los Muertos as their elders, the holiday remains an essential part of many cultures worldwide.

November 2, 2021

PHOTO BY CHASITY SMITH | THE SIGNAL

The History Behind Día De Los Muertos. The meaning and impact of the holiday KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

ay of the Dead, or Día De Los Muertos, is celebrated every November 1st through November 2nd. It is an honorable holiday as its purpose is to remember and reunite the living with deceased loved ones. This two-day reunion dates back to Mexican beliefs from thousands of years ago in more modern times. The Aztecs and other native people of Mexico looked at death as a new stage of life rather than an ending. The history of Day of the Dead is rooted in ancient times when people believed that after death, the person would go to a place called Chicunamictlán, or the Land of the Dead. After making it through nine challenging levels over several years, the person would then make it to another place called Mictlán, the final resting place. Throughout this sacred journey, the deceased’s family would provide food, water and other necessities to make it through this voyage. This thoughtful gifts and offerings arrangement is known as ofrendas and is symbolic to the deceased and their family. This history built the foundation of Day of the Dead as relatives create and place food and other symbolic items to welcome their family back home. Although many people mistake Day of the Dead for a Mexican interpretation of Halloween due to the elaborate costumes, elaborate celebrations and face painting. However, it has little connection to Halloween despite its many similarities. Overall, those that celebrate the holiday believe it to be a celebration that closes the gap between the natural world and the spirit world. The Day of the Dead is not just limited to being celebrated in Mexico as it is celebrated in many different countries worldwide. During The Day of the Dead, the souls of the dead come back to the living world with their families and celebrate with food, music, dancing and drinking. The souls of the deceased are honored all night in

addition to more offerings at their graves. Junior Kelly Reyes remembers hearing stories about her grandmother taking part in this celebration growing up in Mexico City, Mexico. Despite not celebrating this tradition today, she understands how much it means to her family and culture. “Día De Los Muertos allows families to honor their family members that have passed on to the other side,” Reyes said. “It is a day dedicated to our loved ones by making an altar of their favorite things such as alcohol, their favorite snacks, or their favorite objects.” With this holiday lasting two days, each day honors two types of people who have passed, children and adults. Día de Los Angelitos, Day of the Little Angels, begins at midnight on November 1st and is meant to honor and celebrate the life of these young souls. Their families keep and remember them by placing some of their favorite toys, snacks and pictures on the ofrenda. “A lot of people don’t know that the holiday is celebrated for two days straight rather than just one day,” Reyes said. “They also have a signature pastry called “Pan de Muerto,” and it’s a pastry that is a piece of bread covered with cinnamon and sugar with four bones designs on top.” The second part of the holiday is a celebration of the deceased adults, and it begins at midnight on November 2nd. This second day is a more adultthemed celebration, and families decorate altars with alcohol, pastries, flowers and other Mexican beverages. Families spend nearly the whole day at the cemetery celebrating and partying with one another and the spirits of their loved ones. As families continue to celebrate throughout the day, noon is when the grand finale of Día De Los Muertos takes place. People get dressed up, paint their faces like skulls and assemble to parade in the streets. These skulls are called “Calaveras” and are a massive

symbol for this holiday. They come in the form of decorations, sugar candy and face painting. After the people decorate the skulls, family members place them on the ofrenda of the deceased. People do not celebrate Dia de los Muertos as much in more modern times. Reyes recalls seeing her elders participate in the holiday more than she has ever seen anyone her age. “The older generations tend to celebrate it to its fullest extent because they got to experience the authentic details that go into the holiday while a lot of my generation doesn’t get the full experience because most parents tend to adapt more towards American customs once they come to the United States,” Reyes said. “This results in the tradition getting watered down until it eventually gets overlooked unless the family makes an effort to keep the tradition alive. “ With other generations trying to keep the tradition alive, some films today are also doing their part by displaying this memorable side of Hispanic culture. The 2017 film “Coco” paid homage to this Mexican tradition as the movie stars a young boy who travels to the Land of the Dead in search of his idol, a famous musician, Ernesto de la Cruz. During his journey, he meets some of his ancestors. “Although the movie Coco is not real, it was still a [lovely] and heartfelt depiction of the holiday,” said Reyes. “It introduces the traditions that are held and how important every little detail is to the traditions that are held those days.” As the traditions of this holiday continue to change over time, someone will always celebrate Día De Los Muertos somewhere. No matter what country people celebrate it in, it is still a time to remember and celebrate the life of those who have passed on from this side and transitioned into another.

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Atlanta’s 13th Annual Chastain Arts Festival

Art Festival returns to Chastain Park GRACE BRASWELL Staff Reporter

hastain Park, located in Buckhead, is home to many events throughout the year. November 6th and 7th, the park will be alive with art as about 175 artists gather for one of the nation’s top art shows. Patrons of the 13th annual Chastain Park Arts and Crafts Festival will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves as the festival has a selection of crafts, an area specified for children, and local food trucks on the scene. The festival heavily emphasizes and supports local Atlanta businesses and creators.

paintings, photographs, jewelry, glass blowers, pottery and much more. There will also be artists creating demonstrations for viewers to enjoy. Apart from the visual arts, the festival will also be hosting local musicians from around the Atlanta area to keep guests even further entertained. With the type of patrons and visitors in mind, the festival emphasized the light, coffeehouse-style music of the performers. “Local acoustic musicians will enliven the atmosphere,” Chastain Park Arts Festival’s website states. “With a sensitivity of the environment in mind, we’ll have some great live music performances. Enough to enjoy, but not to compete with the customers.” The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces organizes The Christian Park Arts Festival. The organization is famous for hosting several different art festivals. These festivals include Spring Festival on Ponce, Roswell Spring Arts Festival and several others. Proceeds of the Chastain Park Arts Festival go towards a scholarship fund for local artists. “Known for starting many of the open-air art and crafts events in the Metro Atlanta community, the Atlanta Foundation for Public Space quickly developed a strong reputation for putting together great art festivals, too,” the Chastain Park Arts Festival website states. “AFFPS events are built by artists, built by — GRACE BRASWELL the community for the community.” Staff Reporter For those interested in displaying art and performing “Visitors will enjoy fine art an acoustic style set within and crafts, a children’s area, the Atlanta community, and local food and beverage the Atlanta Foundation for concessions including Public Spaces committee is gourmet food trucks,” the constantly looking for local Chastain Park Arts Festival’s artists and musicians to website states. participate in their art shows With the festival basing its activities in Buckhead, several and festivals throughout the art buyers and art enthusiasts year. The application process for will be attending to buy and both artists and musicians is gaze at creative and unique listed online on the Chastain art pieces sold by some of Atlanta’s top artists. Park Arts Festival website. The event will display There is a festival held in both art from artists creating fall and spring.

“

several art buyers and art enthusiasts will be attending to buy and gaze at creative and unique art pieces sold by some of Atlanta’s top artists

”

On October 11, 2021, Zoo Atlanta welcomed a 19-year-old female white rhinoceros named Kiazi.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ZOO ATLANTA

Zoo Atlanta Welcomes Kiazi, A Female White Rhino The Newest Member of the Savanna Exhibit COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

n October 11, 2021, Atlanta Zoo welcomed a 19-year-old female white rhinoceros named Kiazi to its year-old African Savanna exhibit. Kiazi lived in the San Diego Wildlife Alliance before moving to Zoo Atlanta, where she now lives with Mumbles, a male white rhinoceros. Mumbles is nine years younger than Kiazi and joined the zoo’s “African Savanna Exhibit” in 2020. “Rhinos are animals with an urgent conservation message,” Jennifer Mickelberg, Ph.D., Vice President of Collections and Conservation at Zoo Atlanta, said in a press release. “We want [the] guests to get to know Kiazi – if they have not already been permanently charmed by [Mumbles] – so that they can understand the things [rhinos] do in their daily lives, [and] to [help] preserve these extraordinary animals in the wild.” Preservation work is crucial for white rhinoceroses, which poachers often hunt in South Africa and Asia for their

valuable horns. White rhinos are particularly vulnerable to poaching due to their color, tendency to travel in packs and open habitat. Due to hunting, in the early 1900s, only about 50 rhinos roamed the Earth. Conservationists insisted on policy change in South Africa, and there are now almost 18,000 rhinos. Atlanta Zoo participates in Species Survival Plan Programs (SSP), a series of frameworks organized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage endangered species like white rhinoceroses in captivity. The plans include paths to set goals for population management, breeding, and transferring animals. “Kiazi and Mumbles have been recommended to breed by the White Rhino [Species Survival Plan], so [Kiazi’s] move is via a [Species Survival Plan] recommendation,” the zoo stated on their official Twitter account. “The goal of [Species Survival Plans] which are in place for many species, is to ensure healthy, selfsustaining and genetically diverse

animal populations for future generations.” Moving a 3,500-pound rhinoceros over 2,000 miles across the United States was no easy task for zookeepers. They transported Kiazi in a large crate loaded on an 18-wheeler truck before releasing her into her exhibit at the Atlanta Zoo, where she met Mumbles for the first time. Zoo Atlanta has not announced when the public can see Kiazi. At Zoo Atlanta, rhinoceros’ have both an indoor and outdoor section of their habitat. Kiazi must become comfortable with the indoor section before venturing into the outdoors, where guests can view her as she roams. “The introduction process will take as long as needed, and the pace will be set by Mumbles and Kiazi,” Kate R., the zoo’s lead keeper, said in a press release. “Before Atlanta, [Mumbles lived] with two other male rhinos, so it has been some time since he has seen a female rhino. We anticipate Mumbles being excited to be housed with a female.”

SPORTS

November 2, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Atlanta Falcons are sitting at 3-4 after a 19-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Halloween.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Last-Minute Trade Ideas For The Falcons NFL Trade Deadline vastly approaching at 4 p.m. MALIKAI COLLINS Staff Reporter

hrough seven weeks, the Atlanta Falcons are sitting at 3-4 after a 19-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Halloween. While Coradaralle Patterson’s offensive production has been a pleasant surprise, the team is still seeking to fill needs at other positions. Two of the four losses they’ve suffered have come at the hands of 2020 playoff teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Football Team. For the Falcons to have any luck of gaining serious attention, they have to beat good teams. They’ve outscored opponents by just 12 points in their three wins while their four losses were by a combined 59 points. With the NFL Trade Deadline coming up today at 4 p.m. EST, many teams are rapidly scrambling to adjust the final pieces to their puzzles. For the Falcons, it’s the last chance to make a bold move that could catapult them into a team capable of keeping games competitive, regardless of a win or loss at the end. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017 and with an extra game this year, it could be all the team needs. However, they’re in a bit of a predicament. Since the Falcons have major salary cap issues, being bottom five in the league, a free agency may not be a viable option during the 2022 offseason. Sports Illustrated called Atlanta’s cap situation “the worst position in the NFL” in September. “The Falcons are already over the 2022 salary cap before a single player has been drafted or free agent signed … The Falcons salary cap is being cannibalized

by players who no longer play for them. This is referred to as dead cap space by the NFL,” SI noted. If the Falcons can maneuver the right deal, they can land key role players who can improve in areas they lack and do so that it doesn’t further the salary cap woes in Atlanta. Here are three trade targets the Falcons should pursue in the final hours of NFL trade season.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans

Factor in the dead cap issues combined with an affordable pass-catcher will be the most realistic candidate that the Falcons can land. The Falcons lack another reliable wideout, as there has only been one game where a wide receiver not named Calvin Ridley has caught five passes. With Westbrook-Ikhine’s role diminished, playing behind two proven studs at wide receiver in AJ Brown and Julio Jones, the deal would benefit both parties. The big catch radius being 6’2 meshed with his 4.5 40yard time, he could become a reliable red-zone target for Matt Ryan and this relatively high-scoring offense.

Clelin Ferrell, Las Vegas Raiders

There wouldn’t be any salary cap questions with the acquisition of Ferrell, as he’s still under his rookie deal. The fourth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has watched his snaps at defensive end progressively decline throughout the season and hasn’t even been on the field for 30% of the teams snaps.

Atlanta could be a breath of fresh air for Ferrell and has the possibility of being able to thrive in a defense that has been struggling for the good part of three seasons. The potential for Ferrell is there. In 30 career games, the 265-pound Ferrell has an impressive 26 sacks. Playing alongside established players like Grady Jarrett and Dante Fowler could unlock the ability scouts saw in him entering the draft and providing a bright future on the east.

Marcus Maye, New York Jets

The Falcons’ secondary has been abysmal in recent memory, and the addition of Maye would force offenses to take this defense seriously. He’s one of the best free safeties in the league, boasting exceptional coverage skills and tackling instincts that interrupt offenses. Maye came out of the offseason without a longterm deal for the Jets, and with a team playing for the future, Maye could use a team in a “win-now” mode. His contract may be hard for Atlanta––he’s got a year left on it and will make $10 million. Still, the right moves make it possible for the Falcons to find the right pieces if they ship players at crowded positions in order to fill in holes. Matt Ryan’s not getting any younger, and the Falcons need to do something drastic, especially on the defensive side, if they want to be proper contenders throughout the season. A new system could be just what a disgruntled or struggling player needs.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Swim Club At Georgia State Making A Big Splash In 2021

Meet the President, Joseph Hesskamp JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

he Swim Club at Georgia State University has had an up and down journey since the club started. In previous years, the club was just a thing where people could go and socialize with other swimmers and meet fellow Panthers, but now that has changed as the team looks more competitive than ever. The team currently has two tremendous opportunities, with Georgia State set to have more than two swimmers compete at the national championships and seven participate in the regional championships. Senior captain Joseph Hesskamp currently leads the Georgia State Swim Club. He describes the swim team as a group that wants to achieve any goal they set for themselves, and that drive helped them win the Outstanding Sports Club of the Year award last year. “I know that [our swimmers], and everyone on the board of the swim club was thrilled about being awarded the Sports Club of the Year during the pandemic,” Hesskamp said. Sadly, the pandemic forced the swim team to change the way they practiced and prepared to ensure the safety of the members. ”We had to change the structure of practices, change the organization and layout of how we conducted practices to ensure the safety of our members,” Hesskamp said. Currently, the Swim Club has taken plenty of positive strides to achieve success. In one of the team’s previous meets at Georgia Tech, they won third place, which was better than their last meet at Auburn, where they got seventh place. “Our membership was extremely excited

about placing third,” Hesskamp said. “We replaced seventh, and to see the huge growth in point scoring was extremely exciting for our membership and for those who support us at the recreation center.” Hesskamp also stresses the importance of the team achieving good individual times over scoring the most points. “The importance though is not about scoring the points, but the individual times at every single meet we had,” Hesskamp said. Hesskamp has also stressed that he does not want the team to be complacent. He wants them to be even better and improve on what they’ve already accomplished. “I think one of the most important parts for the swim team to improve on is if we want to be a top-scoring tem, we need to be able to recruit more swimmers,” Hesskamp added. Georgia State University is the largest university in the state of Georgia, but participation in certain recreational activities does not reflect that. The school is incredibly diverse, with a population that reflects countries, religions and ethnicities worldwide. “We don’t have a membership that reflects the possibilities that Georgia State offers,” Hesskamp said. “Georgia Tech is down the road and has 150 swimmers, and we exceed their population. Hesskamp’s goal as swim team president is to ultimately show that the swim team is a fun and healthy environment. “The success of the swim club has stemmed from wanting to have a community around healthy activity, but also have fun at the same time,” Hesskamp said.

Quad Brown announces his intentions to transfer.

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

Quad Brown’s Entered The Transfer Portal

Meet the President, Joseph Hesskamp JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

esterday, Georgia State’s Cornelious Brown entered the college football transfer portal, effectively answering the Panthers’ questions at quarterback. Brown struggled to build chemistry with his receivers after a stellar redshirt freshman year as one of the top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference in 2020. In his first four games this season, he completed a mere 52% of his passes for just 384 yards. None of his 81 passes resulted in a touchdown. He has only scored one all season, a 26-yard run against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a game that was already a blowout late in the fourth quarter. The fall may come as a surprise to some, considering Brown’s numbers last year. The team went 6-4 and capped off the season with a LendingTree Bowl win over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. In his first year as the Panthers’ full-time starter last season, Brown anchored the highest-scoring offense in program history. Georgia State averaged over 33 points a game, and Brown led the charge with over 2,500 total yards

and 24 touchdowns in 10 games. Brown, a former three-star recruit, sat behind former Panthers quarterback and assistant coach Dan Ellington in 2019. He entered this season as the starter, but head coach Shawn Elliott turned to junior Darren Grainger after three poor performances. Over the last three games, the decision seems to have worked out quite well in the team’s favor. Grainger commanded the offense three weeks ago with his first start of the season against the Warhawks and dazzled with 314 total yards and five total touchdowns before Brown came in late in the fourth quarter. Since then, he’s thrived in an offense unlike Furman’s, where he started for two seasons. Grainger completed 65% of his passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns since he permanently took over the starting job on Oct. 9. He also carried the ball for another 200 yards and a score. All three games have been wins, including a rivalry 21-14 one over the Georgia Southern Eagles on Saturday in Statesboro. It may not have been a personnel

thing that caused Brown’s play to decline, but the team was running out of time to figure out the quarterback situation. He struggled at North Carolina during the second game of the season when the Panthers folded in a 5917 loss that was never in doubt. He finished with 85 total yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, Grainger performed well in his toughest test of the year when the Panthers traveled to Auburn and nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent college football history. He threw for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but in a game where Georgia State found far more success running, he also ran for 61 yards. His only mistake of the day was a pick-six with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter that cemented the result: a 34-24 heartbreaker. With Ellington gone and Brown already putting his name in the transfer portal, it’s clear that the 2021 Panthers football team is Grainger’s. Now, the only question is if it will stick, and how long the offense can continue to flourish.

November 2, 2021

GAMES SUDOKU

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

GAMES

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Study Abroad Fair 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Student Center East

Donuts with the Deans Office 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Student Center East Lobby

Dodgeball Tournament 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Student Recreation Center

Softball - Blue/White World Series 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Robert E. Heck Softball Complex

Virtual Lunch w/ an Internship Recruiter - UP 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Online

“The Philosophy of Horror” - A Discussion 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. 25 Park Place

Trivia Night 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Student Center West

AUG 27

THURSDAY AUG 26

WEDNESDAY AUG 25

TUESDAY

Men’s Basketball vs. Clayton State 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. GSU Sports Arena

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Hit the Trails with PHDRN 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 p.m. Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Zipline and Bonfire at ICRA 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Student Recreation Center

Guest Speaker: Justice Harold Melton 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. College of Law Rm. 242

AUG 30

SATURDAY AUG 29

AUG 28

AUG 24

THE KICKBACK

Know Your Rights: A Lunch and Learn 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. The Intersection Lounge

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Open an account today at centerparc.org and put down roots with us.

Center Parc is the official financial institution of GSU Athletics *After the first 12 months of free service, a fee of $5.49 will be charged. After that, you can still qualify for a fee waiver by making 15 electronic transactions per month and enrolling in eStatements OR having a combined relationship balance of $20,000 or more (including deposits and loans) with Center Parc. †Cell phone protection and personal identity theft benefit are subject to additional terms and conditions. Insurance products are: NOT A DEPOSIT, NOT NCUA INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY, AND NOT GUARANTEED BY THE CREDIT UNION.