Vol. 89 No. 9

VOL. 89 | NO. 09

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EVEN AFTER THE OLYMPICS, AMANDA WEIR IS WORKING HARD PG. 12

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Independent, Impactful & Impartial

We the Students v. Parking and Transportation

COVER BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

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BLOTTER OCTOBER 13

Please make them stop

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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

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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

INTERNATIONAL

Welcome to Atlanta, Kiazi

First Black US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, dies of COVID-19

Terrorist attack in Norway leaves five dead.

Colin Powell, a conservative powerhouse who shaped US foreign policy during the late 20th and early 21st century, died from complications related to COVID-19 his family said via social media. He was 84-years-old.

A bow-and-arrow attack in Norway leaves five dead, one arrest and a heartbroken country with many questions. As the government announced that the attack, which a 37-year-old danish man confessed to, was terrorism related it questioned why its took so long for the police to react to the situation at hand.

Zoo Atlanta received a new White Rhino on October 11. The 19-year-old female will join the 10-year-old male that already lives at the Zoo. Hopefully we will get little Rhino babies soon.

NEWS

October 19, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

SGA reaches agreement with Parking and Transportation Students will begin to experience a new parking system.

MATTHEW SICILIANO-SALAZAR Editor-in-Chief

O

n Oct. 14, The Student Government Association held its first meeting of October, and the fourth meeting of the semester. The start of the meeting was used to discuss Parking and Transportation at Georgia State.

Top officials from the Atlanta Senate announced to The Signal on Oct. 11, that SGA and the Department of Parking and Transportation, reached a “historic agreement” regarding the current parking situations at Georgia State.

Vice President of Student Engagement, Michael Sanseviro, as well as representatives from Parking and Transportation, were in attendance during the Thursday afternoons meet.

This meeting portion was conducted to analyze the overall plan that Parking and Transportation have for the remainder of the 2021-22 term, and future years at Georgia State.

Speaker of the Atlanta Senate, Ira Livnat, opened the meeting with information that he had requested from Parking and Transportation, three months ago. Until the second week of October that SGA and Parking and Transportation saw eye to eye.

Ira gave thanks to the Vice President of the Atlanta Campus and President of SGA, Director of Student Life and SGA Advisor, Gail Sutton, Director of Parking, Alfred C. Austin IV, as well as Vice President

of Finance, Brad Freeman, for their contribution to their historic accomplishment with the settlement between the parking department and the Student Government Association.

The Director of Parking and Transportation and the Vice President of Finance were next to speak after Livnat made his opening statement. They announced that the students whose budget card has been unavailable, are now available at the Parking and Transportation department.

The department mentioned that their newly developed parking system will give operational feedback to students via parking.gsu.edu, or via social media. Parking has also added an additional 50 security cameras throughout all of the university’s parking decks, for security purposes.

In the past, Parking and Transportation have partnered with other parking decks around Downtown. They have announced that they won’t consider this moving forward and that they will work as closely as possible with the remaining parking decks at Georgia State.

This will assure that these parking decks are in use by the university.

Another announcement the Director of Parking reported was Parking and Transportation will modify Red Lot. Red Lot is located outside of Center Parc

Alongside the new parking system, nearly 200 students will receive a $52.50 refund.

Stadium, closest to Aspen Heights. They plan to consolidate the Blue Route to a new terminal there, streamlining the boarding and unboarding process.

Nearly 200 students will get a refund of $52.50.

About $8,000 is the number of refunds being distributed back to these nearly 200 students. These were students that were on the waitlist for their budget cards. $17,500 has been given to students for those who don’t have budget cards. For students who will get budget cards from the Parking and Transportation department will get 3 free parks.

T deck’s helix will no longer be the only entrance and exit for students who are parking with T deck. T deck is removing the barricade. Moving forward, this will allow students to use the 2-lane road inside of T deck.

In total, nearly $30,000 in refunds and discounts will be given back to students.

Before leaving the meeting, Parking and Transportation then opened the floor for questions and concerns regarding the current parking situations, and upcoming plans for student parking. These included relationships with Summerhill businesses and why half of blue lot has been fenced off.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

4

Top news stories you’ve missed this week!

Important news from around the world KENNETH LOCKETT III Managing Editor

I

n the hustle of daily life, it’s often difficult to sit down and read or watch the news. The news 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.

It’s homecoming week in the city:

Come one come all, Georgia State will be holding its homecoming week this week. The University and Spotlight have once again teamed up for a week of events leading up to Saturday’s big game.

For many students it’s now or never, “COVID has gotten us all messed up,” said Arron Jones, a junior that transferred to the Downtown Campus from Dunwoody last year. “We missed Pantherpalooza, Homecoming, Greek Week, everything. This year’s homecoming will show whether State is back in full force.”

Students across the university are already excited, but will it live up to expectations? Find out for yourself, check out the calendar of events in the paper.

Anti COVID pill being sought out before being sold out:

Molnupiravir, produced by US pharmaceutical company Merck, is being marketed as the pandemic ender. And Asian-Pacific countries that are still having record cases are placing orders in droves, before the pill is even approved by the FDA for us.

At least eight countries in the region including South Korea, New Zealand and Australia have made or are in the process of making deals with the company to receive the drug as soon as possible.

Rachel Cohen, the North American executive director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, doesn’t want history to be repeated. “(Molnupiravir) really does have

the potential -- the potential -- to change the game a bit,” This is specifically in reference to last years “vaccine rush” where first world countries grabbed all the available supply of the vaccine leaving none for the third world countries who need it most.

17 American and Canadian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti by gang members

17 people, including minors, were kidnapped Saturday according to Christian Aid Ministries. Security and Foregin Affairs officials from the country have been in communication with the US State Department. But this isn’t only the latest in a troubling pattern in the country.

According to the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights at least 628 kidnappings have taken place in the country since January. The kidnappings and other issues have forced the Association of Owners and Drivers of Haiti, a labor union, to call for an indefinite strike and called on all other sectors to join them.

The Search for Brain Laundrie continues

Local and Federal officials have spent exactly one month, at the time of this writing, looking for Brain Laundrie -- the fiancé of 22-year-old Gabby Petito.

Laundrie is wanted on charges of “use of unauthorized devices” in relation to Petito’s debit card. Petito was found dead in Teton County, Wyoming on September 19. While police have not determined he is a suspect in her death, it’s been popularized on social media that he is her killer.

Laundrie is still at large and is suspected to be either in the Carlton Reserve, a nature area in Venice, Florida or somewhere along the Appalachian Trail.

Despite the hate, Latinx culture is thriving.

Especially on TikTok The app that was once being sued by then President of the United States Donald Trump is now a huge platform promoting Latinx culture to a wider audience.

TikTok hashtags #Latino, #Latina, #Familia and #Comida, among others, grew in use by more than 185% since last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month. And some of the app’s biggest stars are Hispanic, this includes former member of The Signal, Julian Pineda who has amassed 10.7k followers and a Hollister branding deal on the platform.

Supply Chain issues to continue into 2022 Everywhere you look prices are going up and supplies are going down. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Sunday that supply chain issues will continue into 2022.

“This is one more example of why we need to pass the infrastructure bill. There are $17 billion in the President’s infrastructure plan for ports alone and we need to deal with these long-term issues that have made us vulnerable to these kinds of bottlenecks when there are demand fluctuations, shocks and disruptions like the ones that have been caused by the pandemic.” Buttigieg said explaining the demand side of the situation.

Due to the sudden demand spikes for things like water, paper products and canned goods ships aren’t able to get product to the shore. And then they do the lack of truckers and train conductors are keeping things slow going into big cities. And as the pandemic rages on the end isn’t clearly defined.

PHOTO BY HARRY WYMAN | THE SIGNAL

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THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

ILLUSTRATION BY ARIEL WALTER | THE SIGNAL

The Blizzard lawsuit and its consequences. #MeToo catches up with the game industry DESMOND LEAKE Associate Arts & Living Editor

T

he game industry is behind the rest of the entertainment industry in coming to terms with a post #MeToo world. Executives silenced abuses in the game industry for the most part.

Generally, gaming press coverage focuses more on the consumer side of games than production. The lawsuit against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing is a significant step towards addressing gaming’s issues with workplace abuse.

Activision Blizzard is a prominent face in the gaming industry. Blizzard created “World of Warcraft,” which is still the most popular MMO of all time, alongside other beloved properties such as “Starcraft” and “Overwatch.”

Until recently, Blizzard itself was a beloved company as its reputation collapsed amongst free speech scandals and lackluster quality of games. Its reputation has only worsened after the lawsuit.

The lawsuit came about after a two-year investigation that claimed that employees were subject to a “frat boylike culture” that dominated the workplace.

The actual filing of the case goes into much more explicit detail “In the office, women are often subjected to cube crawls, in which male employees drink copious amounts of alcohol as they crawl their way through various cubicles in the office and engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees,” the file states.

These allegations are only the tip of the iceberg. The document also details the suicide of a female employee who died after being sexually assaulted on a business trip.

Also mentioned in the lawsuit was the presence of the “Cosby Suite” owned by Alex Afriasabi, a former developer at Blizzard. An investigation by Kotaku found that this “Cosby Suite” did exist, with a framed photo of Bill Cosby being in the room.

Allegedly an informal meeting room, texts between Blizzard employees who frequented said room asked alluded to bringing women to the room.

Representatives of Blizzard would attempt to respond

to these allegations, and Blizzard’s Vice President said the claims in the lawsuit were “distorted and untrue.”

This response further angered Blizzard employees, leading to an open letter being published and the staging of a walkout on July 28th.

“

The lawsuit against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing is a significant step towards addressing gaming’s issues with workplace abuse.

— DESMOND LEAKE

”

Associate Arts & Living Editor

The allegations previously mentioned only cover the ones that the lawsuit directly mentioned. In testimony with IGN, a former employee talked about how the room for breastfeeding initially did not have locks. ”Men would walk into the breastfeeding room. There was no way to lock the door. They would just stare, and

I would have to scream at them to leave,” they said.

An article published by Vice’s Gaming division contained an account of even more harassment by Blizzard, with an aspiring worker was asked: “if she liked being penetrated [by male coworkers].”

Blizzard’s attempts at damage control so far have been limited to statements made towards the press and relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. All references to developer Afrasiabi in “World of Warcraft” have been removed.

In the game “Overwatch,” the character “McCree” is being renamed due to his real-life namesake using one of the “Cosby Suite” group texts. Response to the McCree rename is understandably mixed, with the consensus on the Reddit forum being that it’s a poor attempt to save face.

“Thank god they renamed a fictional cowboy 99% of people didn’t even know was named after a shitty employee instead of working to resolve the issue this employee and others caused,” one user said.

Another result of the allegations is sweeping resignations from many high-level workers due to the lawsuit. Blizzard’s President J Allen Brack resigned on August 3rd.

This resignation came after the lawsuit directly name-dropped him for essentially sweeping Afrasiabi’s behavior under the rug. Jesse Meschuk, head of Blizzard’s notoriously dysfunctional HR department, also resigned around the same time.

The lead director and level designer of “Diablo 4” also left around this time as well. The most recent departure comes from “Overwatch 2” executive producer Chacko Sonny who resigned on September 21st.

The lawsuit has yet to go to trial, but it is still a very significant development in the industry, as this type of abuse typically has been swept under the rug. Whether this starts a ripple effect of unearthing more misconduct in the game industry is yet to be seen, but the Blizzard lawsuit may finally be the game industry coming to terms with living in a post #MeToo world.

OPINIONS

October 19, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

People want to see their own lives reflected or at the very least represented in the media they consume.

PHOTO BY SEAWARDS DAWSON II | THE SIGNAL

The rise in class-conscious media.

Media about class

P TERRANCE DAVIS

Staff Columnist

eople have long used popular entertainment to address social issues and injustices in our world. From films like “Do the Right Thing” (1989), from as far back as Hugo’s “Les Miserables,” there is a clear desire to consume stories dealing with class.

Although many see entertainment as a means of escapism, its utility in inspiring change cannot be unappreciated. With each new generation becoming increasingly politically aware, the demand for content that addresses social issues is natural.

People want to see their own lives reflected or at the very least represented in the media they consume. With many political issues stemming from people’s personal experiences, the connection is easy to see.

In recent years, many people worldwide, especially in the global north, have seen very little change in their wages, creating a wealth disparity comparable to levels of over 100 years ago. For many people, the contradictions within our economic system have grown too large and disastrous to ignore.

As a consequence, a rise in class consciousness has taken place in the United States. These factors have created an environment where average citizens are calling the efficacy of American capitalism into question.

All art is a product of the environment and society that created it. The class-conscious and relatively heavily left-leaning content we see today is merely a reflection of the gaping flaws of our society.

Perhaps the most notable project to come out of this recent trend is “Parasite,” which, along with other films created by its director Bong Joon Ho, addresses class in a variety of different ways.

The popularity of Ho’s films indicates a general disaffection that the working class has had with the status quo. Although “Parasite” is a Korean film, it was internationally acclaimed and won the Palme D’or at Cannes and the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards.

Many attribute the film’s success to its themes about class inequality which can resonate with anyone, regardless of their home country or native language.

While the amount of left-leaning media content is growing, it is still

relatively small.

Many companies still make media to bolster the status quo or justify our nation’s overseas atrocities. Money is a significant contributing factor in political organization and messaging, forcing left-wing media to the fringes.

Despite these traditional setbacks, many online content creators have gained massive followings and mainstreaming previously radical ideas followed suit. The online manifestation of this trend can best be seen in the rise of “Breadtube,” a loosely organized group of Youtube creators whose content revolves mainly around social justice issues.

Among the most popular “Breadtubers” is Contrapoints, with her channel amassing an audience of nearly 1.5 million subscribers. Outside of Youtube, podcasts have proven to be a frontier for leftist discourse.

Chapo Trap House, a name that is more or less synonymous with the current American left, has gained massive popularity since launching in the run-up to the 2016 election and has even become the highestgrossing podcast on Patreon.

Class analysis in our media hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. As of writing this article, Squid Game has held the #1 spot on Netflix for two weeks, becoming one of its most viral shows in recent memory.

In a world where liberal capitalism reigns supreme, those who have not reaped its benefits are becoming increasingly aware of its downfalls and inadequacy at creating an equitable society. Messaging is such a vital part of the political process. It is impossible to educate and create awareness for the world’s ills without an engaging media apparatus.

Right-wing propagandists understand this very well, which is why Prager U spends exorbitant amounts of money on ads, making them into a household name for pretty much anyone who is politically engaged.

As previously stated, money is a significant contributing factor in the visibility of these ideas, and the hurdles we must overcome are various.

Still, the necessity for this change becomes more and more apparent, and it is vital to guide potential converts through engaging and disciplined messaging.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

OPINIONS

7

Why is the U.S. Treasury losing money What is Next for the U.S.?

A

GABBY MILLER Staff Columnist

ccording to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the federal government will likely run out of money around October 18th.

This is a prediction people have been making for a while.

As the United States debt has crawled higher, many have begun to wonder who will pay for it. Yellen may be correct if the United States does not take the proper precautions.

The only way Congress can somewhat solve this is to raise the debt ceiling. A debt ceiling is an upper limit set on the amount of money that a government may borrow. As recently as August 2021, the ceiling was raised to 28.5 trillion dollars.

Since the pandemic, a lot of people have been losing their jobs. This job loss has contributed to the loss of federal money. The thought of running out of money is scary. People enjoy stability whenever they can get it.

Whatever form it may come in, stability keeps people happy. In that respect, what is the value in telling citizens about the debt?

It could be a method of scaring United States citizens with the thought of instability. Money brings us stability in our life, and when it is gone, there is a risk of losing everything. As citizens, we are put in a position of not being able to make a choice. Putting one’s trust in Congress can be a challenge, when you do not have confidence in the leadership of the

country.

It feels like in the past the government would do something to scare its citizens, with our ex-president being given a platform to claim the election was stolen. What is so different about this time around? It is clear that our leadership uses their power and backs citizens into a corner. As we have long been on the outside looking in to the decision making in this country, it is hard to leave the fate of our country in their hands. People are telling others that we cannot do anything about it unless Congress decides to do their jobs, which is not the case.

If the predicaments prove to be accurate and Congress does nothing, what is next? We rely on money to get things done. If the federal government loses money, what is next for the CIA and FBI agents, the homeland security agents, and employees in NASA? Will they just get out of the job due to the lack of money in the federal government?

I implore you to call your representatives, protest for term limits, and most importantly, vote.

A lot of things could happen over the next few weeks. All we can do is keep faith in the Congress of doing the right thing and create change where we can.

ILLUSTRATION BY PAIGE VEAL | THE SIGNAL

This Week’s Spread: OPINIONS WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

The Equitable Building and another future The story of a building, Becker, and possibility.

W

Written By : Trevor Kosloski Staff Columnist

e] do not yet know the true nature of the beast that we are encountering,” former (then incoming) Georgia State President Mark Becker notes at the 2009 Investiture Gala, ceremonial mace and medallion adjacent him.

Seven some blocks over from the receiving Sports Center, real estate advisory Equastone has defaulted on its mortgage for 100 Peachtree; $52 million owed. Fulton County auctions the building for $29.5 million by June.

“We can, however, act to shape the future,” Becker continues.

Ascribing a particular year as the “beginning” of the subprime mortgage crisis would be ahistorical. The conditions for a 2007 crisis were sufficiently laid out by 2001.

An opaque network of financiers had been drawing dividends off high-interest loans to “subprime” (or bad-credit) borrowers since before the second Bush took office. The model was almost necessarily untenable in the long-term – but the short-term profits were immense. We would all be dead in the long-term, anyhow.

The 33-story Equitable Building (an incorrect name) has rotated its tenants some five times since 1997. Mark Becker’s entry coincides with the veritable collapse of the Atlanta real estate market. Equastone had only purchased Equitable some two years prior.

The presidential mace and medallion principally embody authority. Becker by 2009 wielded a particular sovereignty over an especially malleable future. 2009 was an historical conjuncture delivered to Becker by way of a career whose every step seemed to lead him there – and by way of a world market whose every overture seemed to lead the rest of us there.

Among an arrangement of investors unable to remain liquid with the lapping tides of economic freefall, Georgia State would be a fixture, solid.

The university-business had its inflection point here; Becker was correct. Everything, for a select few in the interstices, was then possible.

Through the year following Becker’s investiture, Georgia State continued the broad-scale purchase of parcels around the downtown area – a redevelopment campaign having begun in 2007, with the acquisition of 25 Park Place.

By August 2010, the university has bought up two hotels to become Piedmont North – a quiet purchase with a credible return on investment.

As private lending institutions like Fannie Mae were placed under federal conservatorship, a public learning institution had begun an ascendant operation in raising capital, Becker as chief executive.

Everything has a degree of necessary contingency; events can transpire or not. The threaded determinants towards an outcome can permeate each other, can all reach out like hands over and around each other – but nothing at all happens. Becker did not have to become president.

Borrowers did not have to default, insofar as lenders did not have to loan.

We deal with that which has happened in the form of memories, where the possibility of their impossibility has been thrown aside. Though the relevant actors are gone, and the past arrangements now shuffled, the event did happen; we know it by way of its radiant effects, a dream transmitted from the past to the real makeup of the present.

Becker shaped the future. The beige stucco aside Piedmont North – the translucent blue, tinted wall of windows making a perimeter about its dining hall – these are testaments to the malleability of events, dictated by the resolution of a mace, the gleam of a medallion.

The unhoused person on every corner is a testament to the waves of the economy washing the underside of the population ashore. The unsheltered person dead and untallied is affected by the need for liquidity in the short-term; the university, in turn, is not. We are a fixture – we could be dead in the long-term, but so is everyone else.

How do we know when nothing has happened?

The foreclosure of Equitable enabled its reappearance on the market in 2010. Now nearly entirely vacant, the tower was to be a vehicle, a landmark for the next proprietor. Georgia State begins its bid shortly thereafter.

We know little about the potential purchase of Equitable by a Becker-led real estate apparatus. Conversations of that sort are played out on a stage whose curtains are drawn, into whom we only have the vaguest of insights.

These types of contingent events appear to us as necessary, but only after the fact of their non-happening – the possibility of something different is never shown to us before the full theater lights. We only see the bows.

The Equitable Building (again, incorrect – force of memory) is known to us now as the Georgia’s Own Credit Union Building. The old signs are gone, the new symbols unfamiliar, only vaguely connected to their past referents. We are only aware of the possibility of something else by way of memory. For those of us without the mace and medallion, we are only aware of possibility in the long-term – by the time all pertinent actors and props are dead.

2009 onwards gave the possibility of a Georgia State real estate empire, whose beacon would be Equitable. Georgia State never bought the building; Mark Becker is now gone. The recession has passed, after the ebbing and flowing of stimulus packages and jobs shed like bubbles on seafoam popping. Things could have been different; they were not.

Georgia State now owns Turner Field, instead – it has encircled Summerhill and turned its gaze towards Auburn Avenue. It has built up a constellation in and around Hank Aaron Boulevard; it has won. These events have happened – Georgia State could act to shape the future.

The difficulty with any effort at organizing students – with organizing anyone, for that matter – towards some political end is, of course, the long-term. Our political projects are the manipulation of the future through the modes of the present. We are only active in the long-term – but in the long-term, we are all dead.

The possibility of better things for all of us is known in the form of flitting images of surpassed impossibilities, events which have happened and are known to us by their residue cast over all of the present. Something better is possible, yes – though we deal already with what has happened: the impossibility of better things having happened, instead.

PHOTOS BY HARRY WYMAN AND PAGE LAYOUT BY EVAN KOENIGS I THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

October 19, 2021

When memes aren’t funny

Misinformation and hatred: the dark side of meme culture COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

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As much as filmmakers believe that casting minorities in stereotypical roles or as token characters is diversity, it is still harmful to viewers and the community.

PHOTO BY TRENT LEGASPI | THE SIGNAL

The importance of equal representation in film

Giving support to those who are underrepresented.

KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

F

or many people of color, nothing is more special than seeing someone on a TV show or in a movie that looks like them. For children, this representation in films is vital because it gives them hope.

Dictionary.com defines representation as “action or speech on behalf of a person, group, character, symbol or the like.”

Representation includes having characters of varying religions, genders, ethnicities, ages, social statuses and nationalities.

Seeing different lifestyles and experiences in the media is not only helpful for those that remain underrepresented but for those who are only used to seeing one lifestyle on TV. Minorities had fought for years when it came to getting equal and non-stereotypical representation in the media. Often prejudices and biases are formed due to stereotypes shown in films, creating vast misconceptions about an entire community.

Some examples would be how

some may believe in the idea of the angry Black woman or that all Latina women are crazy and loud.

Bad representations such as these can go over viewers’ heads when they are young as they are simply entertainment. Once they get older and mature, they look back at some of these depictions in shows and movies and realize how harmful and problematic they are.

As time went on, media started to become more inclusive of relating to their viewers. In some cases, this means only adding one or two people of color to the storyline in supporting roles.

Scholars consistently define this as tokenism. Many shows and movies are guilty of this as the placement of these token characters tends to be an obvious shot at creating a more diverse cast.

Despite the efforts of these shows and films in creating more representation, people are still not giving minority-centered movies as much praise as they give films starring white actors. Lack of

representation results from how much publicity and advertising these films receive.

These kinds of films are often geared towards specific demographics rather than across a broad spectrum of viewers.

Limiting the audience determines how well a movie does in theatres and its overall success.

Luckily, many minority-led films are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

Marvel’s recent film ShangChi has topped Venom 2 in the box office. Despite Shang-Chi not making a lot of noise online, the film was still able to do well compared to other pandemic-era films.

Even without millions in funding and advertising, minority films continue to push through barriers to amplify and uplift people that look like them.

As the film industry grows more each day, young filmmakers today create what they want to see and confront the norm in media today.

owadays, anyone could type anything into Google, add “meme” to it, and discover an endless scroller full of modern jokes related to their topic of choice. This rule applies to everything from travel, adorable cats or political issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, almost anyone can create and share a meme. With easily accessible online generators and free photo editors available on every device, making memes on the web has never been easier.

The simplicity that comes with creating memes has vast implications on both offline and online culture. While the virality of the internet allows for the quick spread of news and gives users a space to connect with others, it also raises questions about the easy spread of misinformation, especially during a time when many people are concerned about “fake news.”

In 2018, Shaun Usher, a blogger, shared a fake Tweet posted by Donald Trump. He dated the fake tweet for 2015, three years before the date it circulated.

“If the Dow Joans [sic] ever falls more than 1000 ‘points’ in a Single Day, the sitting president should be ‘loaded’ into a very big cannon and Shot into the sun at TREMENDOUS SPEED,” the fake Tweet read. “No excuses!”

The Tweet received almost 40,000 shares, with many users expressing their shock at Trumps’ supposed comments.

“Sweet mother of god,” Usher said. “Not for one second did I think people would believe that to be genuine.”

Though Usher claimed his intentions were not

harmful, the viral meme shed light on how memes can be more than a catalyst for good humor.

They can also spread misinformation and hate, sometimes in a way that spirals out of control.

More recently, users have taken to spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and other current events through memes and other content intended to go viral.

In late 2020, for example, thousands of users shared a graphic claiming to show a 5G microchip inserted in the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Confidential,” the image read. The meme sparked panic and spread virally, but as it turns out, the image depicted the electric circuit of a guitar pedal. The viral photo left words like “footswitch,” “volume” and “treble” untouched.

Amongst misinformation that creates chaos and confusion, the ability to quickly and easily share information has another ironic positive aspect: it gives researchers a more concrete way to study how humans interact, and our culture develops.

Constance Iloh, an education anthropologist who studies culture, wrote Do It for the Culture: The Case for Memes in Qualitative Research. She offers her insight on how memes are valuable in learning many tenets of modern culture.

“Memes continue to proliferate as valuable ways to communicate life circumstances, ideas, outlooks, and humor,” Iloh wrote. “The meme is also a form of communication that continues to write itself, literally. Memes are adapted and reformed by the millions of people who participate in the writing and reimagining of memes.”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

ARTS&LIVING

From IPAs to Lager to ales, Atlanta’s breweries have just about any and every kind of beer.

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PHOTO BY CHRIS GRASSER | THE SIGNAL

The top breweries in Atlanta

An informational guide to 5 most hopping breweries.

GRACE BRASWELL Staff Reporter

A

lthough Atlanta is not famous for beer, breweries are weaved throughout the city, popping up in corners of town conveniently located for beer connoisseurs and brewery lovers alike.

With the arrival of fall, lower humidity and Oktoberfest, beer season is in full swing. Atlanta hides some of Georgia’s best breweries within just about every neighborhood, each offering a different vibe and experience for responsibly enjoying a beer or two (or four).

Orpheus Brewing:

Orpheus Brewing, located in Piedmont Park off the Beltline, offers a comprehensive and unique beer selection, including IPAs, Lager, sours and several others brewed on-site. Their brewery name, “Orpheus,” is derived from the teachings of the Greek mythology story of Orpheus, hence the brewery their slogan of “Don’t look back.”

Orpheus Brewing is built on its ultimate goal to make and create new and extravagant beers that have yet to exist in this world.

“The goal is always ahead, whether in brewing or in any creative endeavor and seeking that goal requires an unwavering belief in your voice and confidence in your command of the fundamentals of their art,” their website states.

Sweetwater Brewery:

One of the most well-known breweries in Atlanta, Sweetwater Brewery, is still standing in! They are notoriously known for their 420 Extra Pale IPA, complete with grassy undertones and served up in a bright green can.

Sweetwater Brewery has been brewing since 1997, and they are all for the ideology that “we’re not here for a

long time, we’re here for a good time,” according to their website.

Sweetwater is the nation’s 11th largest craft brewery, providing customers with brewery tours, a taproom, live music and a dog-friendly patio.

Down Home Brewing:

For Down Home Brewing, their goal is to be more than just some other Atlanta brewery. They want to offer an experience that leaves customers with memories that last a lifetime. One of their most famous IPAs, the Georgia Hood IPA, presents a sizeable citruslike taste to those who drink it.

“Georgia Hooch is the epitome of being in the beautiful and scenic backwoods of the great State of Georgia,” Down Home Brewing’s website states. “We just happen to capture it in a glass.”

Down Home Brewing offers a brewing experience unlike none other, offering customers a selection of beers and dishes that pair well with those beers for an overall personalized and high-quality experience.

As Georgia’s first black-owned and operated brewing company, their family-owned and operated business has one goal in mind - providing customers with the best possible experience with the best possible brews.

Eventide Brewing:

Eventide Brewing, located close to Zoo Atlanta, entices customers with good beer, good tacos and good company during trivia nights and comedy shows. Their beers each have unique names with a cute twist on Atlanta scenes, such as the “Grant Park Sour.”

This IPA is the definition of spring, as it twists notes of strawberry with Caruba - a South American tropical fruit.

Eventide began in Statesboro, with four friends

experimenting with a beer kit, which shortly after upgraded to a beer kettle where those four friends still experiment with their brews today.

“The combination of everyone’s background and talents has allowed us to build this company from the group up, become closer friends and craft awardwinning beer,” Eventide’s website states. “We are very happy to call Atlanta home and to provide this great city with offerings that will show us what craft can be.”

Halfway Cooks: Located in Atlanta Neighborhood Summerhill, Halfway Crooks beer is all about the lager. They styled their taproom to resemble the “cool aunt.” It gives off a definite eccentric vibe paired with the aesthetic of a computer made in the 90s.

Their menu includes beers such as “Memory 375mL,” a farmhouse ale made with fermented peaches. The beer brings back childhood memories of sitting on the porch in the summer and eating peach rings.

On the opposite side of the menu is the “Reset 4pk x 16oz,” which gives off that bitter taste that comes with a German malt. The beer is deep and grainy-- perfect for anyone celebrating Oktoberfest.

The slogan of Halfway Crooks is “no bad memories,” as the brewery is built on the fundamentals and ideology of a man in search of “beauty, love and lager,” as their website states. They are open inside and on their rooftop bar, and they require customers to wear masks while not seated.

SPORTS

October 19, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

As the journey came to a close, the former Georgia Bulldog, Amanda Weir, knew that she could use her platform to go beyond sports.

PHOTO BY JD LASICA ON FLICKR

Even after the Olympics, Amanda Weir is working hard Four-time medalist now inspiring the next great swimmers ANDREW FREEDMAN Sports Editor

I

t’s a sunny Tuesday in mid-July, and former Olympic swimmer Amanda Weir just left the McAuley Aquatic Center. She’s sipping on coffee, a favorite of hers before and after meets. Morning is hot coffee, and an iced latte comes after workouts.

As Weir’s body recovers from the two hours she spent at Georgia Tech’s world-class training facility, she walks through what a typical day looks like for an Olympic swimmer.

“When you’re just really hitting it hard, it’s two-aday workouts. Both of them are probably two hours,” Weir said. “There’s probably another lift in there, so [the first swimming workout] is always brutally early in the morning, so if you’re looking at a 6:00-8:00 a.m. situation if you’re lucky.”

Physical therapy and strength training blended with ten swimming workouts a day––but as group rule, nothing on Sundays––can often wear and tear on the body. Over the years, Weir has made sure to care for her body and the swimming, the focus of workouts.

“Go home, eat a bunch, refuel––we eat a ton.

Hopefully, grab a nap and then be back for 1:003:00 p.m. practices,” Weir said. “Add in any physical therapy or strength training, and it’s usually around ten workouts a week, so two or three days a week are two-adays, but Sundays are off. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had a lot of other stuff, too: physical therapy.”

Strength training becomes even more critical, and nutrition even more so. It’s a lot. Mileage-wise, Weir estimates about five miles in the pool each practice.

Reminder: she does short distances.

As the journey came to a close, the former Georgia Bulldog standout knew that she could use her platform to go beyond sports. So, she did. Over the last few years, she’s worked with Team USA to address mental health and the adversity that comes with being one of the best sprinters in the world.

“There’s a right amount of nervousness––you want to have a little adrenaline going, you want to be excited.

But you also don’t want to fight against it [and think] ‘Oh no, I should be nervous,’ and have that push-pull in

your head,” Weird said.

“Just like accepting ‘I’m nervous, this is how I’m going to deal with it helps a lot.’ Learning how to accept failure or defeat as well as the good stuff, that takes a lot of time, and it’s not good to do that by yourself.”

“

Learning how to accept failure or defeat as well as the good stuff, that takes a lot of time, and it’s not good to do that by yourself.

”

— AMANDA WEIR

Former Olympic Swimmer

Weir, humbly, has four Olympic medals attached to her name: three silvers and a bronze. Her first two silvers came at the 2004 Athens Games in the 4x100m free and 4x100 relay events. She was just 18 years old at the time.

“I was at the top of the world. It was just so fun.

Everything was new,” Weir said. “The Olympics is like Christmas every day between all the awesome free stuff you get and just the experiences you’re having.”

Weir missed the 2008 Beijing Games but earned bronze with Team USA in London in the 4x100m free again in 2012, her only time ever participating in an opening or closing ceremony.

In 2016, the American women brought a silver medal back home from the 4x100m free at the Rio de Janeiro Games. She’ll get them to different summer camps or

even to her dentist’s office after the team arrives home.

Weir has heard plenty of different pre-race routines.

Some people clear their minds of everything going on, while others choose to get themselves excited and laser in on the water.

After hundreds of races going back to her childhood, Weir feels that relay events may be a bit different than an individual.

“There’s something about being on a relay that I’ve [always found] to be freeing. There’s more pressure cause the team’s counting on you, but at the same time, you just know that you’re going to do what it takes because of that,” Weir said.

“It just really feels like you’re doing it for the [United States], and that’s just kind of fun and maybe less intimidating or less pressure on yourself than just doing it for your benefit.”

Throughout her career, it hasn’t all been serious for Weir, her teammates and coaches. She recalled a race where she dove in for her leg of a 4x200m relay event.

As one of the older members of the club team, people saw her as a leader. However, she also served as a reminder that sometimes, it can be fun and.

“I was supposed to be the veteran on that team, and I dove in, and my goggles fell off, and it’s like ‘Well, I guess I’m swimming these four laps with my goggles in my mouth,’’ Weir said. “I got out of the pool, and our coaches were just in hysterics. Just stomping their feet and snorting like a horse. They called me ‘Sea Biscuit’ the whole time.”

Weir loves that story because it helps her connect with kids who get upset at minor mistakes. It provides her with an opportunity to let younger swimmers know that no matter how often you swim, it can happen to anyone.

After years of competitive training, Weir’s window as a member of Team USA’s current swimming roster has closed. Still, it doesn’t stop her from continuing to inspire the next generation of future Olympians.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

13

“I truly love this game”

Kane Williams on basketball and his relationship with Rob Lanier MARQUIS CHAMBERS Staff Reporter

T

he Georgia State men’s Basketball program has already started preparing for the season, which is just weeks away. Kane Williams, a fifth-year Panther who returned for his Super Senior season, will play a pivotal role in Rob Lanier’s staff this season.

Williams and his head coach of the last two seasons have cultivated a strong relationship after Ron Hunter left. Lanier has always gone the extra mile to make sure he and his players have a good relationship and are taken care of, not just on the court but off it as well.

“It has been very fun, and I have learned plenty from him on and off the court,” Williams said. “We have gotten closer over these past few years, and I value our relationship a lot. I know for a fact that he and the entire GSU staff only want the best for me, and I can never complain with a support system like that.”

Williams, widely regarded as one of the hardest workers on the team, has four things on his mind: beat Georgia Southern, win the Sun Belt Conference, make the NCAA Tournament and soak in all the time he has left.

“My goal this year is to enjoy the moment and take it all in and play each play, each possession, each quarter, and each game like it’s my last,” Williams said. “I want to have no regrets, and of course, I would be lying if I didn’t mention how bad I want another ring.”

When Williams steps foot on the hardwood, it is all business for the next 40 minutes. As one of the team leaders, he knows that nothing matters after the referees blow the whistles.

“I just try to zone out the things that don’t matter when the lights come on, and you step on the floor,” Williams said. “I think part of my focus and concentration come from my experience

and being in some tough environments, but a lot of it is just mental and habits I’ve built over time.”

Williams has always loved basketball. Even at a young age, he tried other sports like baseball and football but didn’t fall in love with them as he did with basketball.

“I come from a house of boys. There were no girls aside from my mom, so sports were always around. I tried baseball before, but I tackled the kid coming to first base,” Williams said. “I played football, and I was decent.

I just never got the chance to play on a winning team, so I never fell in love with it. Basketball was different, though, I won so much at an early age, and I was around great talent for much of my early basketball years that I didn’t know how to lose for a long time, and that’s where I fell in love; with it.”

Williams has a long list of accomplishments in a Panthers jersey. He earned the 2019 2K Empire Classic Riverside Regional Tournament MVP and has multiple All-Conference spots to his name, including All-Tournament teams.

All the accomplishments and recognition are significant for Williams, but the passion and love for the game drive Williams to play the sport he loves, which is basketball.

“I play basketball because I truly love this game,” Williams said. “It’s opened so many doors for me in life and presented opportunities I had never even imagined, so you can say it was a natural occurrence, but my love for basketball continues to grow every day.”

Williams and the men’s basketball program will open the season in an exhibition match against Clayton State on Nov. 5, 7:00 p.m. They’ll begin their regular season with a matchup against the Brewton-Parker Barons on Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m.

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA MADRZYK | THE SIGNAL

Is it time to move on from Matt Ryan?

Five years after Super Bowl LI, Falcons are yet to make the playoffs JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

T

o no surprise, the Atlanta Falcons have begun the season with another slow

start.

The Falcons have a 2-3 record and find themselves struggling in a talented NFC South featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Buccaneers, an up and coming Carolina Panthers team and a New Orleans Saints team in the first season of the post-Drew Brees era.

So far, the Falcons’ three losses have come by an average margin of 18 points, which includes a 23-point loss to Tampa Bay. A 32-6 beat-down from the Philadelphia Eagles doesn’t help their case either nor does a heartbreaking 34-30 home loss to the Washington Football Team. Atlanta’s two wins have come against the New York Giants and New York Jets, who have only won a game apiece this season.

The season’s young, and, as usual, overrations happen. But, the Falcons may have to think ahead and prepare for a future that does not include their 14-year signal-caller,, Matt Ryan.

Ryan’s post-2015 NFL MVP season numbers read 115 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. After Sunday, the Falcons are 30-39 since their infamous Super Bowl LI loss to the New England Patriots.

Putting all the blame on Ryan for the Falcons’ woes over the years seems unfair. After all, the running game has been average, and the offensive line

hasn’t given him the best protection.

Ryan’s current deal, which includes a player option after this season, is signed through the 2023 season.

It begs the question if he would be traded or walk away on his own. Or maybe, he could walk away from football and retire with the $267 million he earned over 14 seasons.

After Arthur Smith’s hiring in January, rumors surfaced of the Falcons maybe trading Ryan.

Seemingly though, Smith put those rumors to rest as he stated one of his reasons for signing with the Falcons was Matt Ryan himself.

“It was a big factor; I’ve always been a fan of Matt Ryan from afar...I’m just so impressed with how he handles himself, and he wants to be coached, and Tannehill was the same way”, Smith said on the ‘Flying Coach’ podcast.

So far, Ryan has played well in his first season without Julio Jones, his top receiver who the franchise traded back in June. Through five games, Ryan’s tossed ten touchdowns to three interceptions; in the team’s losses, Ryan has thrown six touchdowns and three interceptions.

Days after the Falcons gutwrenching 34-30 loss to Washington, false rumors surfaced saying Ryan may force his way out of Atlanta.

Ryan instantly denied those rumors, telling The Athletic that they were “false” and “ridiculous”.

“I feel fortunate to have been here

for 14 years. I really love it here, love the organization, like the new coaching staff, like what they’re about, feel like we have a good nucleus of players, and we can win now, and I’m excited about that,” Ryan said earlier this month. “I don’t know where that report came from. It’s completely false.”

Even though Ryan made it known he loves Atlanta, the NFL is still a business, and teams will make moves depending on what they think is the team’s best interest. All the rumors may beg the question of where General Manager Terry Fontenot could look for a replacement.

Maybe the franchise decides to draft the heir to Ryan––and maybe the 2022 NFL Draft class isn’t the one to look at. The quarterback class for next year’s draft doesn’t compare to the 2021’s, which featured Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Mac Jones as first round selections.

On the other hand, the team could package a blockbuster trade for a young quarterback that may need a fresh start in their career, such as Deshaun Watson or Tua Tagovalioa.

There is still a lot of football left, which means Ryan still has a chance to lead the Falcons to the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done since 2017. But if things don’t turn around, it could be an intriguing story to monitor.

October 19, 2021

GAMES SUDOKU

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS : HOMECOMING WEEK FRIDAY

Spirit Plaza 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Unity Plaza

Georiga State’s Got Talent Doors Open 6:00 p.m.

Atlanta Campus : Student Center East Perimeter College : Clarkston Gym

Homecoming Field Day 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Decatur Gym Homecoming Royal Ball 8:00 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.

State Ballroom, Student Center East

Homecoming Parade 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Downtown Atlanta Homecoming Block Party 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Gilmer Street and Unity Plaza

OCT 22

THURSDAY OCT 21

WEDNESDAY OCT 20

TUESDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Homecoming Football Game 2:00 p.m.

Center Parc Stadium Crowning of the Royal Court & Football Game Halftime Center Parc Stadium

Candlelight Halloween: A Haunted Evening of Classical Compositions 7:00 p.m.

The West Venue

Detroit Pistons vs Atlanta Hawks 7:30 p.m.

State Farm Arena

OCT 25

SATURDAY OCT 24

OCT 23

OCT 19

THE KICKBACK

GSU Students Get 12 Months of

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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

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