AUG. 28 - SEPT. 4, 2018
VOL. 86 | NO. 2
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upper research for the lower income page 9 At Georgia State, your academic success isn’t defined by your neighborhood.
PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON & COVER DESIGN BY AMBER KIRLEW | THE SIGNAL
RESEARCH FUNDING FLOPS
AN UNFAIR FAIR
BUT FIRST, COFFEE
NEW HONCHO IN TOWN
Georgia State’s research funding has dropped thanks to Trump administration budget cuts.
At the wrong place, at the wrong time. Why the Student Involvement Fair isn’t fair.
Where will you go for your cup of joe?
Connor Manning isn’t at Georgia State anymore, and someone has to start behind center.
NEWS | PAGE 5 GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
OPINION PAGE 8
News 3
ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 13
OPINION 7
Arts & Living 9
SPORTS | PAGE 17
Sports 15
NEWS
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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
BLOTTER AUG. 21
It’s my new perfume. The scent is Sativa. Someone reported that two Georgia State students at Piedmont North had an odor of marijuana at 11:59 p.m.
I can’t even spell boisterousness. A Georgia State student is a suspect in an active case for public disturbance and loud boisterousness at F Building on the Decatur campus at 10:04 a.m. AUG. 22
Can I get a waffle? Can I pleeaaase get a waffle?
At 1:50 a.m., a person not affiliated with Georgia State was arrested at Waffle House and a warning was issued for fraudulent schemes and trespassing.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Varitek
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Editorial NEWS EDITOR Will Solomons
AUG. 23
Who’s mom???
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ASSociate NEWS EDITOR Natori Spence
A member of Georgia State staff reported a person at Student Center West for using their telephone for an annoying purpose.
news2@georgiastatesignal.com OPINIONS EDITOR Vacant opinions@georgiastatesignal.com associate oPINIONS EDITOR Vacant opinions2@georgiastatesignal.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Sydney Bloeme
Someone better go check the lost and found.
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ASSociate ARTS & Living EDITOr Samuel Puckett living2@georgiastatesignal.com SPORTS EDITOR Jerell Rushin sports@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate SPORTS EDITOR Vacant sports2@georgiastatesignal.com copy editor Vacant copy@georgiastatesignal.com
A Georgia State police officer reported an abandonment of drugs at One Park Place at 2:52 p.m.
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Summer Shade Festival at Grant Park showcases the art and culture of metro Atlanta with numerous booths such as KillJoyATL’s woodcrafting shop.
PHOTO BY CHRIS YOUNG | THE SIGNAL
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NEWS TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
www.georgiastatesignal.com/news
Commuter students: managing living off campus Challenges that commuters face NATORI SPENCE
Associate News Editor
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ommuters make up 79 percent of students enrolled at Georgia State, according to a college profile made by U.S. News & World Report. The 2016 consolidation with Georgia Perimeter College has made Georgia State the largest public university in Georgia. Maritza Contreras is a senior at Georgia State, and her normal commute to school from Winder is around an hour and twenty minutes—unless she leaves at rush hour. Then it can be over two hours, or what feels like an eternity moving inch by inch. “I think the most annoying thing about being a commuter student is when a professor cancels class 30 minutes before it starts. No, I didn’t see the message because I was speeding down 285 to make it on time,” Contreras said. “Then, I get to the classroom only to find a note on the door, and all I can think about is all the gas I just wasted,” she said. “I just wish some professors were more conscious of that.” Contreras has been commuting for the entirety of her college career. She does it because it is convenient for her to live with her parents, work and save money for the future. “It’s a lot,” she said. “The traffic. The long days and long breaks between classes and struggling to find classes that can all fit on two days so I can work the rest of the week. There’s a lot of things that commuter students have to consider that students that live on campus don’t.” Contreras definitely thinks that the long drive to school is what holds her back the most from using resources on campus. “Honestly, I never really think about tutoring or anything like that. I come to campus for my classes and then I leave, nothing really in between,” Contreras said. “Coming to campus for a meeting on a day when I don’t have classes is a huge chore. Imagine driving an hour and a half for a 20 minute advisement meeting.”
“It’s just not worth it,” she said. Dr. Jill Lee-Barber is the senior director for Psychological and Health Services at Georgia State. As a Georgia State commuter alumna herself, she knows how important it is for students to be aware of their resources.
“Balance is one of the biggest challenges students face” DR. JILL LEE BARBER, Senior Director for Psychological and Health Services at Georgia State
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“I was a student here myself in the 1980’s when all of us were commuters. The best way to belong is to find a place you can pitch in and serve. I can truly say I got a fantastic experience as a commuter, largely because I got involved. You will too,” she said. “Balance is one of the biggest challenges students face,” Barber said. “In our experience, those students who are most successful have a few things in common: they have good organizational skills and make smart use of time, they know how to recognize when they are under stress and to intelligently respond to lower it and they know how to build and keep good relationships,” she said. Contreras, like other commuter students, sometimes struggles to maintain these ideal qualities and persevere through the semester. “Commuting gets hard at times because I’m not on campus as much as everyone else. I have classes twice a week, and I’m
working every other day. It gets complicated to find time to do everything I need to do for school,” Contreras said. On top of balancing school and life, mental health is a huge factor that can affect a student’s academic success. “I’d encourage commuters to organize university time blocks to leave some time for taking care of themselves,” Barber said. “The campus recreation center is a fantastic way to stay in shape, have some fun and keep stress levels down. Plan time each week adjacent to class times to avail yourself of free services,” Barber said. These services include advising, career services, counseling, the student health clinic, Cinefest, student clubs and organizations, the recreation center and more. “You will be surprised how getting involved adds to your college experience,” Barber said. Barber considers getting involved to be an important part of being a successful commuter student. “Definitely important to get involved in student life by enjoying all the rich benefits of being a part of one of the largest most diverse research universities in the nation,” she said. Barber recommended to check out all the clubs, sports, musical and theatre performances, events in the multicultural center, Greek life, Panther Prowl and the excellent Distinguished Speaker Series. Contreras thinks that at the end of the day, everyone can do it if they put their mind to it and get used to the lifestyle. “I have made it work for three years and counting now,” she said. “It’s
5 ways to be a better commuter: 1. Know a few different routes to school that way an accident or really bad traffic won’t make you late 2. Sign up for classes as early as possible so that you can make it work with your job schedule 3. Sign up for email and text alerts from your professors so you can get an immediate notification for class cancellations 4. Maintain good relationships with your professors 5. Make friends that live on-campus
PAGE DESIGN BY DIANA TAVERA | THE SIGNAL
NEWS
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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
A Fort McPherson MARTA expansion forum attendee overlooks blueprints for proposed expansion on Aug. 2.
PHOTO BY ZACH SALLING | THE SIGNAL
MARTA commuters urge BeltLine rail development Residents want more expansion and more infrastructure ZACH SALLING Staff Reporter
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tlanta City Council members Natalyn Archibong (District 5), Carla Smith (District 1), Amir Farokhi (District 2) and Jennifer Ide (District 6) hosted More MARTA’s third community forum at the Virginia Highland Church on Aug. 15. Public opinion has prompted the More MARTA Atlanta program. City of Atlanta residents had passed the More MARTA Atlanta half-penny sales tax, which will generate around $2.5 billion for transit expansion and enhancement plans for the next 40 years. Since, commuters have expressed overwhelming interest in BeltLine rail. The More MARTA Atlanta program has been Atlanta’s effort to accommodate a fast-rising population. According to the U.S. Census report, the Atlanta metro area gained nearly 90,000 transplants between 2016 and 2017. With a growing population, the third of the four MARTA forums have helped direct MARTA’s planning for its riders. Practical transit expenditure has grown more pertinent due to a 2.6 percent decrease in MARTA’s passenger trips in 2017—the second consecutive year of ridership decline. Ben Limmer, MARTA assistant general manager, said, “As we progress from the proposed project list to the final project list, it is critical for us to hear from all of our valued stakeholders, particularly City of Atlanta residents and MARTA patrons, to ensure that the More MARTA Atlanta program effectively addresses the priorities and needs of the communities we serve.” The proposed program aims to serve 126 neighborhoods, increase job access by 56 percent, improve transit service to neglected communities by 61 percent and provide access to more than 70 healthcare facilities, 83 grocery stores and 116 schools and universities. District 6 Councilwoman Jennifer D. Ide said, “It is exciting to be part of Atlanta and the region as it plans for its largest transit investment in its history. It has been nearly two decades since the last significant MARTA expansion; we are ready for increased options and connectivity.” MARTA will spend $2.5 billion over the next 40 years and the Council have been voicing their District concerns at each forum regarding expansion. Amir R. Farokhi, District 2 councilman, oversees the Georgia State area in Downtown in addition to Midtown, Old
Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Poncey-Highland and Candler Park neighborhoods. “District 2 is very well served by the proposed expansion. It includes light rail expansion from the current streetcar to the eastside BeltLine trail and to Ponce City Market which is all in District 2,” Farokhi said. “The [bus rapid transit] line that runs on North Avenue across east-west into midtown and across town which is terrific and much needed, so in that respect, the plan looks very positive.” Yet, as with previous More MARTA forums, Atlanta commuters have been abuzz with concern for overlooked transit modules. “I think there are broader city-wide concerns around how all the projects fit together and whether some of the projects deserve to be on the list or not or if some that aren’t on the list should be on the list,” Farokhi said. “I think we need to be mindful of residents alongside issues of equity and transportation management.” Concerns shoot back to 2016, as seventy percent of respondents in a MARTA survey expressed a desire for rail along the BeltLine. Andre Dickens, Atlanta City Council Post 3 at Large, said in an 11Alive interview, “Most people would love to have some sort of transit along the BeltLine. It was made to be a transit corridor. Right now, there’s a lot of jogging and walking and skateboarding which is lovely and great, but it’s also meant to be a way to connect people along this 22-mile loop.” Atlanta BeltLine recently purchased the remaining railroad corridor for $6.3M, which is needed to complete the loop. The inactive rail corridor, known as the “Kudzu Line,” has potential for the BeltLine to initiate rail service if the MARTA board deems it economical. “Ongoing community engagement and input is critical in steering the More MARTA Atlanta program in the right direction,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker said. “It’s critical that we hear from all of our valued stakeholders and evaluate their input as we chart the course ahead for this important program. It’s good to hear what the citizens and the community believe should be the priorities.” In addition to stakeholder input, More MARTA claims data analysis and performance measurements influence their proposed transit projects. “Through a thorough analysis of technical data, performance measurements, and stakeholder input, More MARTA Atlanta’s 17 proposed transit projects include the development of light rail, bus rapid transit, and arterial-rapid transit services,” Limmer said. “The addition of new transit centers and increased fixed–route bus service; and station upgrades, all
MORE MARTA ATLANTA SERVICES CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED 41 BUS ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS
10 new routes 3 routes with service frequency and span aligned with rail 15 routes with increased service frequencies 15 routes with increased spans of service
EVENTUAL HIGH CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS
7 light rail transit routes (BeltLine loop & connectors) I-20 West heavy rail transit I-20 East rapid bus transit Northside Drive bus rapid transit Clifton Corridor light rail transit of which will increase mobility, connectivity, and accessibility throughout the City of Atlanta.” According to a MARTA survey and report, the top five MARTA priorities for commuters have been increased bus frequency and hours of service, Atlanta BeltLine transit development, Atlanta Streetcar expansion and heavy rail expansion. The “Most Favored” section of the report indicated BeltLine rail as the most popular project. The More MARTA tax can cover BeltLine rail, so commuters in favor of BeltLine rail hope to see their vocalizations realized. Ryan Gravel, a Georgia Tech alumni whose Master’s thesis spurred the creation of the BeltLine, stated in a blog post, “Transit remained central to the concept, however, because it was the thing that made the BeltLine for everyone … Both physically and metaphorically, it connects this divided city back together—north and south; east and west; young and old; rich and poor; every race, income, religion, and creed—offering a vision for equity back before that was a buzzword.”
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
NEWS
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Georgia State’s drop in research funding
The role of the Trump administration’s federal budget ADA WOOD Staff Reporter
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reaking a six-year streak, Georgia State’s research saw a drop in total award amounts in the 2018 fiscal year due to budget cuts stemming from the Trump administration. Georgia State is among the nation’s leading research universities. The university’s total award amount steadily rose to $66 million in 2012 and to a peak of $147 million in 2017. However, the award amount has since fallen to $122.9 million in 2018. The Georgia State University Research Foundation is the nonprofit corporation that plays the role of securing grants from external sources for supporting the research activities at the university. James Weyhenmeyer, the university’s vice president for research and economic development, said, “We have not released official information about the university’s research funding number for [the 2018 fiscal year]. However, it’s true that this past year was challenging due to budgetary constraints placed on many federal funding agencies.” This cut in federal funding is due to the 2018 U.S. Government Budget as proposed by the Trump administration. This budget includes an 11 percent cut to the National Science Foundation (NSF) which provided 24 percent of all federally funded basic research in American universities in 2017. Additionally, there was a complete removal of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The National Institute of Health (NIH) provided $8.4 billion in grants in 2017 but saw a 22 percent cut for 2018. At Georgia State, in the 2017 fiscal year, the NIH provided $34.3 million in grants. The following year, after budget cuts, it provided only $29.4 million to Georgia State. “We were not the only university to feel the effects of these budget issues,” Weyhenmeyer said. “That said, our faculty’s research is still earning investment from a wide range of external sources, including federal agencies, state agencies, nonprofits and others. We are also proud that our research expenditures—or how much the
university spends on research each year— continues to grow.” Weyhenmeyer emphasized the importance of research funding on all levels. “Research funding is tremendously important not only to the university but to the lives of all Americans. That’s because investment in research is investment in the future of our country,” he said. “Research universities are responsible for training the next generation of scientists; for finding solutions to global problems, ranging from housing affordability to health disparities to terrorism to disease outbreaks; for fueling both the local and national economy; and for helping produce tomorrow’s life-changing inventions and technology.” The Georgia State Research Portal provides in-depth data on research project funding awards and grants for each fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2017 was an especially productive year for Georgia State research funding. A Georgia State press release touted this record, stating, “Externally funded research activity at the university has climbed 81 percent over the past three years.” Several Georgia State colleges stood out in total funding amounts, receiving a significant portion of the whole. The colleges, in order of least to most funding, are: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, the College of Education and Human Development and the Institute for Biomedical Sciences. Ann-Margaret Esnard is the associate dean for research at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS), which received $19.6 million in grant funding in 2018. “The decline in federal awards affected our College as well. However, we have a diverse portfolio of sponsor types which is an important aspect of our College,” Esnard said. She noted that a goal would be to continue diversifying their funding portfolio. “The Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC), based in the AYSPS, led in grant funding,” she said. The GHPC received approximately 52.3 percent of all AYSPS funding, or $11.2 million. One of the larger single donations to the AYSPS was a $1 million grant to the Urban Studies Institute (USI). The grant came from the NSF to
lead international research on urban resilience. A press release from Georgia State stated, “The grant brings Georgia State into a five-year project joining social scientists, planners, engineers, ecologists, climate scientists, policymakers and the public with team members from 25 institutions.” Moving forward, Esnard has a few goals for 2019. She said, “Another interdisciplinary initiative for FY19 focuses on the new economy.” Esnard elaborated on this initiative. “New Economy means many things, and among them are: artificial intelligence, data analytics and a digital world,” she said. “We will use this year to strategize on how to craft complementary research and curricula initiatives as we prepare our next generation of policy scholars and professionals.” Walt Thompson is a Regents’ Professor and the associate dean for graduate studies and research in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). “Our college has received grant funding across a wide range of disciplines, from teacher preparation to human development and servicerelated fields,” Thompson said. The CEHD received $19 million in 2018. “Assistant Professor Brett Wong received a $1.5 million grant from the NIH to better understand health disparities in the black population in the United States,” he said. The study focuses on blood vessels and sensory nerve functions. “The main goal is to understand what may be predisposing non-Hispanic blacks to higher rates of hypertension and nerve dysfunction if they were to become hypertensive or diabetic,” Wong said in a press release. Another high-dollar grant was given to the coordinator of Georgia State’s Best Practices training for Pre-K teachers. “Sherry Howard also received $1.6 million from the Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning to continue offering professional development opportunities for Georgia Pre-K teachers,” Thompson said. Thompson is looking forward to 2019. “Even though we saw a slight decrease between FY17 and FY18, we’ve already received $2.4 million in research funding so far in 2019 and we’re optimistic that we’ll be up to about $20 million by the end of the fiscal year,” he said.
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL Georgia election officials reject proposal to close polls in majority black county
The Randolph County Board of Elections voted on Aug. 24 to not close polling sites in seven mostly black precincts less than three months before midterm elections. It was proposed that the move would save the county money and that the polling places had disability compliance issues. Civil rights and voting rights groups opposed the plan, arguing that it was an attempt at voter suppression.
NATIONAL American prisoners go on strike in 17 states
Men and women incarcerated across the U.S. declared a nationwide strike that will last from Aug. 21 to Sept. 9. The strike is in response to the riot in Lee Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in South Carolina. The prisoners have a list of 10 demands. Most notably, they demand an immediate end to “prison slavery,” stating, “All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor.”
GLOBAL Arctic’s ‘last bastion’ of sea ice breaking up for the first time
Reports show that the sea ice off the coast of northern Greenland, normally some of the thickest in the entire Arctic, is breaking up for the first time on record. Although climate change poses a grave threat to sea ice across the region, this particular section was expected to be the last to retain year-round sea ice cover. But, satellite imagery shows that some of the Arctic’s oldest ice has been replaced by miles of open water.
CHART BY DIANA TAVERA | THE SIGNAL
NEWS
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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
A mother’s struggle to get her Master’s
Georgia State graduate student petitions for credit where credit may be due WILL SOLOMONS News Editor
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ne of Georgia State’s graduate students is a mother battling competing claims of whether or not the courses she took will be counted for credit. Julia Webb was hired for a reading recovery program within Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), which teaches children how to read. While with GCPS, she was able to take training courses that coincided with potential credits for a Master’s degree. “At the initial meeting, it was discussed that because the program was a GSU program, credits could be counted towards a Master’s or Specialist degree and to follow up with the university,” she said. Because she was involved in the reading recovery program, Webb said she was unable to take traditional classes at the same time, per the program’s rules. Instead, some of her training would count towards her degree with the Reading, Language and Literacy Education Online program. “I followed up originally when I was sending all of my entry paperwork to the Reading Recovery department to see if I would need to take certain exams to go into a MEd program after the training,” she said. According to Webb, a faculty member said she wouldn’t need to take any. Dr. Jayoung Choi, in the College of Education and Human Development, told her that her training, which involved interacting with kids and using two-way mirrors, was potentially transferable to the Master’s program. “You could potentially transfer in some of the reading recovery courses to some of our literacy courses [EDRD 7600, 7630, 7650],” Choi said. Webb was accepted into the online Master’s program, but she said she was told by Dr. Angay-Crowder that she would have to petition to get the credits gained in the reading recovery program transferred to her Master’s. After petitioning, she was told that only one of her classes would be counted for credit. To Webb, this was a discriminatory policy because she felt as though she wasn’t given the credit she deserved based on the fact that she was unable to attend the classes in person on campus like other students. Webb said she couldn’t attend classes for reading recovery on the downtown campus because she takes care of her disabled son. She notified the department about this in her petition and believes this is why she didn’t get the credits. “It would be nice to come to the [downtown] campus and do an in-person program but because I have a child with disabilities I wasn’t able to do that. So I was taking the online
Julia Webb discusses how her Master’s program credits did not translate. She now believes she has been wrongly discriminated against.
classes and was told that these three would potentially be counted,” Webb said she told the College of Education. She then sent two petitions up the chain of command, one to the provost and one to Georgia State University President Mark Becker’s office. After that, Webb said she contacted the state’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to appeal for credit for the courses she took within the reading recovery program on the basis that she was
PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL
being wrongly discriminated against. She cited Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act which states that “a public entity shall not ... deny equal services ... to an individual or entity because of the known disability of an individual with whom the individual or entity is known to have a relationship or association.” Editor’s Note: Webb still awaits a response from the OCR and the College of Education. This story is developing.
How GSUPD intends to ensure safety on campus Insight from officers as we head into the new semester ASHARI HANKERSON Staff Reporter
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wo shootings in two weeks? Maybe you need to read this. The Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) and the Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) offered some tips that can help students stay safe on campus. Eric Aguiar, a CPU officer, and Rodney Treadwell, the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) commander, discussed with The Signal how safety is ensured on campus and shared advice on how best to stay safe. “Ensuring the safety of students and individuals on campus is a ‘public effort’,” Aguiar said. To Aguiar, that public effort stems from the relationship between students, staff and residents with the GSUPD. “Chief [Spillane] is doing a great job of establishing relationships with the students through crime prevention
classes like the ‘Fight to Flight’ self defense class,” Aguiar said. The goal for both the CPU and CSU is to provide awareness about crime in general and aid students with the tools needed to remain safe on campus. “Classes help ensure that students are educated on certain laws and behaviors that will help them identify crime along with knowing when something is a crime,” Aguiar said. Crime prevention classes are free of charge for Georgia State students, faculty and alumni. According to Georgia State’s Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Reports, Georgia State has the largest campus police department in the state, with 127 police officers across all six metro Atlanta campuses. “Building police presence is also key to ensuring safety on campus,” Aguiar said. “With the multitude of divisions offered by GSUPD, there is always an officer near when help is needed.” GSUPD insists that individuals should always be aware of their surroundings. According to GSUPD’s Safety and Security Tips and Annual Safety Report, students should not become immersed in loud music through their headphones or walk with their head down.
Emergency call boxes are intended to be accessible whenever a student may feel unsafe—except for when several of them are out of order, like what happened in February of last semester. Call boxes are located in parking lots, parking decks and plaza areas. Other resources, such as having a safety escort, seek to ensure the safety of Georgia State students. Aguiar said it’s important to take notice of details when a crime occurs to accurately identify potential suspects to the police. “When giving a tip or witnessing a crime, don’t give descriptions of clothing that could be easily changed. Things to think about are the shoes, tattoos, facial hair and stuff like that,” he said. His advice is to also to “stick to your schedule.” If your schedule is to go to the library, don’t stray from your plans and make sure at least one other person is aware of your whereabouts. GSUPD actively encourages students to use their LiveSafe app and report suspicious activity. Students should also check their email regularly for updates for on campus crime and crime prevention.
OPINIONS
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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
EDITORIAL The fair that’s not fair We’ll be at the Student Involvement Fair, but we aren’t happy about it
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he Student Involvement Fair, affectionately shortened to Org. Fair, being hosted at the Georgia State Stadium on Sept. 6 is the opposite of “fair.” For the past several years, the fair has been held within Student Center East’s spacious ballrooms. Freshmen were able to easily walk from their dorms to the venue with nothing more to worry about than crosswalks. Students could easily come to and from the event between classes with ease. This year, the fair is being held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., directly during rush hour at the Georgia State Stadium with busses transporting students back and forth through 1.3 miles of one of America’s busiest cities. Traffic will most likely be a major determining factor for whether or not students will be able to attend. No one wants to sit in an hour of traffic, attend a fair and then wait for a shuttle to slug them back to
campus where their car is parked or back to their dorm. Another issue that the awkward time presents to the university is that it’s during many night shifts for students that work part-time jobs. Student involvement is vital for these organizations to thrive and without attendance to the event, there is sure to be a decline in membership, making the campus feel a little less colorful. We believe that the fair should either be held where it has been in previous years or even at any one of the large parks around campus or a parking garage—literally anywhere else. The fair should extend over a larger amount of time than for one brief evening. Georgia State could help increase its student involvement by making the Org. Fair extended over several days or offering it all day at different times. This careless planning shows how seriously Georgia State takes student organizations. Maybe it would garner more
attentive planning if the school was making revenue off of it. So we’re offering a solution: have the Org. Fair in a convenient place for all students, a place where traffic doesn’t matter as much and shuttles don’t trudge through the streets. Have the Org. Fair at multiple times so students can experience more and give students a better chance to grow Georgia State into a university with enough active clubs to even silence Georgia Tech’s school pride. What’s more, The Signal must speculate on and critique the university’s decision to cause so much chaos without any official explanation. For a decision which causes such inconvenience to the student organizations involved, we would appreciate more information and accountability from the decision-makers. If there was limited space available, we want transparency.
ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving
The changing face of Georgia State Georgia State’s repertoire has evolved in the past decade SARA ABDULLA Staff Reporter
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eorgia State is a shining example that universities can erode achievement gaps between low-income minorities and more privileged demographics. Today, even though Georgia State is enrolling a higher proportion of low-income and minority students than in the past, the university has increased its graduation rate by 22 points, from 31 to 53 percent of students graduating, using various success initiatives within the past 15 years. In conjunction with the establishment of the Center for Achievement for Students and Alumni (CASA), the founding of the Honors College and the erection of the Petit and Research science centers, the face of Georgia State has radically transformed within the past two decades. As recently as 2003, less than one-third of Georgia State students actually completed their degree. Research showed that students frequently couldn’t finish their degrees because of a lack of funds and plummeting morale due to poor grades on introductory coursework. To combat these problems, Georgia State established Graduation and Progression Success (GPS) advising that monitors every student for risk factors. When issues, such as a student making a C or lower in a majorrelated introductory course, occur, their advisor reaches out to the student to remedy the problem. Setting up Supplemental Instruction classes helped students also do better and remain in their necessary courses. For students who struggle financially, Georgia State has begun to offer microgrants for students who are at risk of being dropped from their classes just because of a few hundred dollars. Over 80 percent of students who receive the grant remain in school or graduate the next year. Microgrants help both the university and students; when students drop their classes, Georgia State
Advice on making the most of your education: • Meet your academic advisor. Come with questions and a tentative plan. • Experiment with classes outside of your major. Great ideas often come from innovating with concepts from outside your field of study. Integrating a few sociological classes, even if not a minor or major, for example, can make a difference in your overall experience. • If you qualify, apply to the Honors College. You need a 3.5 GPA and must have fewer than 60 credit hours. If you have more, you will need to submit an Honors Project Proposal. • Get involved. Keep an eye out for CASA events, socials in your department and dorm and don’t forget to network with your professors and peers.
loses the money from the grants and scholarships that those students received. Because Georgia State has been successful in dramatically increasing graduation rates, they have opted to focus on students’ post-Bachelor’s education. Enter: CASA.
CASA
Students who graduate from Georgia State, based on rough estimates from the National Student Clearinghouse, entered programs and earned doctorate, medical and law degrees at rates of less than 3 percent between 2005 and 2016. CASA, launched in the fall of 2017, is designed to encourage students to apply for and enter advanced degree programs by providing students and alumni resources. These resources include professional development workshops, research assistantships and Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) prep classes. “Assisting with research in Dr. Petrulis’s lab through the CASA program has allowed me to use the knowledge learned in my Neuroscience courses and apply them into a laboratory setting, which is extremely valuable to my professional development,” Lamiyah Mussaji, a neuroscience student at Georgia State, said about her experience. Mussaji hopes to apply to medical school and recommends that her peers who want to get an advanced degree apply to CASA. Kyle Frantz, the program director and The Signal’s Faculty of the Year in 2018, said, “CASA is part of the next big step for Georgia State. The whole Georgia State community has done a lot of work for student success to the point of graduation...But what do they do next?” “That’s where the CASA is coming in, to help our students, see the potential they have to lead the nation and the world, to help faculty and graduate students understand the significant role they play in influencing students’ to awaken to their own potential, and then to provide the support on the ground to allow both of those populations to work together more effectively and fill in gaps that other departments don’t fill,” Frantz said. Frantz emphasized that CASA is designed for Georgia State alumni and everyone at Georgia State, including Perimeter students. “We want students to feel like they can influence what we’re doing by giving constructive feedback on the events we’re running, voicing needs that they see that we’re not addressing, and help shape it into their CASA, because it’s all about the students,” Frantz said.
COMBATING BRAIN DRAIN
Georgia State has also developed programs for those who don’t feel challenged with traditional classwork. The Honors College, founded in 2010 by Dean Larry Berman, is just one example of what the university is using to entice exceptionally gifted high school graduates,
some of whom have rejected offers to Emory, University of Pennsylvania, New York University and other prestigious schools to attend Georgia State. Once students are in the Honors College, they are granted access to individual scholarships, mentorships, paid research opportunities and advanced coursework. Berman told The Signal that students are provided “small classes, a community, their own Honors College advisors and all the things you would expect from a small liberal arts school,” but at a large research university. He stressed the point that the Honors College helps prevent “brain drain,” or the phenomenon of high-achieving Georgia students leaving the state to enroll in college elsewhere. “I’ve always believed … that the Honors College represents the finest of what an academic institution can offer. If you look at the classes, everything from the digital literacy initiatives, the fact that our students get laptops … to our freshman seminars, to our upper-division classes that they take in the core, to the ability to write a thesis—these are what public institutions should be doing,” Berman said. The Honors College is also taking part in new teaching proposals that will improve the way students are taught over the next decade. Already, they are seeing success in their models. Berman said when students take advantage of the college’s resources, they consistently go on to receive competitive national scholarships and are accepted at top-tier universities.
RESEARCH FUNDING HAS SOARED
Another apparent change at Georgia State that marks its evolution as a reputable state university is the construction of the Petit Science Center and the Research Science Center. Peter Petit, a now-controversial Georgia State alum, is the namesake for the buildings that fundamentally altered scientific research at Georgia State. Now that there are new, modern facilities for researchers to use, it follows that research productivity has ballooned. In 2014, researchers at Georgia State were awarded over $80 million in external grants. Georgia State was also one of 10 universities to be recognized for its “notable increase” in National Institutes of Health funding since 2000. “Research funding has skyrocketed in a time when a lot of universities’ funding has either gone down or has scraped by to maintain funding. The quality of students is on the rise - people learning about Georgia State and all that it has to offer makes it an even more attractive place for an even broader swath of students in the state of Georgia and around the nation. Not to mention our international collaborations that bring in great students from around the world,” Frantz said. The instigation of Georgia State’s new developments may have evolved independently, but their successes and growth are interconnected. Together, these innovations help make Georgia State a noteworthy university with unique opportunities to offer.
Be on the lookout for CASA’s kickoff event in 25 Park Place in late October. Lamiyah Mussaji, an undergraduate student currently participating in the CASA program, PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL shaves a mouse’s back in preparation for surgery in Dr. Petrulis’ lab.
GETTING UP TO SPEED Your info hub on city cycling
SAMUEL PUCKETT Staff Reporter
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any students begin cycling in college as an easy way to get around. A new city or a new school can be hard enough, but cycling is a new hobby, skill, sport and mode of transportation all at once. God, what a lot of work. Let’s get started.
Biking in Atlanta:
Russell Luke is a graduate student at Georgia State. He said he rides 35 miles a week, on average. He rides a steel touring bike with flat bars, disk brakes, lugged tires and roll-top pannier bags. He enjoys his commute and said the roads around Georgia State are some of the safest he’s experienced in Atlanta. “It’s really conducive to biking,” Luke said. “There’s a lot of spaces to put your bikes and everything and people have their heads on a swivel.” He used to live and bike in Buffalo, New York but said Downtown has a lot to offer to cyclists. “[In Buffalo,] there’s a tenth of the people,” Luke said. “You don’t have to be quite as alert. Honestly, in Atlanta there’s a lot more bike paths … some ways better and some ways worse.”
New Cyclists:
Patrick Goral is a mechanic at Loose Nuts bike shop in Grant Park. He started working on bikes as soon as he was riding them. He admits, his early experiments might have been misguided, requiring frequent trips to repair shops to fix his poor repairs. He can laugh about it now, but those early lessons can be hard won for many cyclists. He’s got a few road tips for the beginner cyclist. “I see a lot of new cyclists riding on the sidewalks,” Goral said. “You’re legally aloud to take the full lane… The biggest thing you can do is make every movement you’re doing as obvious as possible. Any quick movements you do, cars can’t react fast enough.”
Choosing your Route:
Choosing your route can have a huge impact on your safety. Knowing the road conditions comes with time, but there are ways to do your research before you hop into the saddle. “The shortest route isn’t always the best,” Goral said. “I would usually stay off Moreland and certain parts of Memorial.” The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition has compiled a set of resources for the best bike routes around the city. They also sponsor the app, Cycle Atlanta, available for both Android and iPhone. The app tracks your bike rides and sends the data to the City of Atlanta. The data collected helps transportation officials repair roads and make plans for road improvements.
Road Conditions:
Ice and rain are dangerous, but downtown riders know the especially embarrassing pain of a run-in with the Atlanta Streetcar tracks. If you’re not careful, there is a guarantee you will get caught. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) published a video on general streetcar safety, which included a message to cyclists on the best way to avoid the tracks.
Get the Right Equipment:
Goral said too many people buy bikes but don’t ride them because they’re not comfortable. When you know the kind of riding you’re doing, making a few changes can make it so much better. Goral always starts from the ground up.
Tires:
“The first thing is better tires,” Goral said. “It’s always smart to have a front and rear light.” But what makes a nice set of tires? Changes to tire weight and geometry make for different ride qualities. Choosing a lighter tire means more agile riding, with tighter cornering and easier starting after stopping. Wider tires means more cushion over Atlanta’s many bumps and provide better contact in the rain. For preventing flats, you want thick rubber and a high PSI. It’s hard to have it all sometimes, so take the time to think about what style of riding you prefer.
Contact Points:
“Another huge one is any contact point, anywhere your body is touching the bike,” Goral said. “Grips, bar tape, saddles and pedals. You can make a really cheap bike feel much nicer just by having something you’re comfortable on.”
Handlebars:
The choices can be overwhelming but there’s a pretty easy flow to it. Flat bars and riser bars encourage a more upright and relaxed riding posture. These are favored by many commuters because the added height extends your field of view. If you find hills challenging, bullhorns are a must. The forward posture moves weight off the back wheel, making pedaling that much easier. Not that we recommend it as a lifestyle, but for the speed demons who live to barrel down hills, drop bars give you that aggressive track bike posture you’ve always dreamed about.
Build a Community:
The choices seem overwhelming at first but it never hurt anyone to ask for help. Once you’ve made a few friends who bike, it’s like you’re all
PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL
learning together. Group rides are a great way to meet riders like you, and Atlanta has more weekly rides than days in the week. One of Goral’s favorite weekly group rides is Mash to Brash, which meets at Loose Nuts Cycles every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. and finishes at BRASH Coffee for a ride of four miles. Goral says he likes the ride for the laid back and learning attitude the riders share. The ride is “no-drop”, meaning they don’t leave behind those who don’t keep pace. What’s more, they always follow road rules, which is admittedly somewhat of a rarity among Atlanta’s group rides. “It’s a cool ride because it’s super inclusive, it’s pretty much people come out on any bike, for any kind of rider,” Goral said. “It’ a good way to meet a lot of people.”
Bike Parking:
When you’re cutting around campus, bike parking is underneath Library Plaza which connects Kell Hall, Sparks Hall and Student Center East and West. There are well-maintained bike lanes on John Portman Blvd., Peachtree Center Ave. and Edgewood Ave. MARTA installed bike repair kiosks at all stations in 2016. Have a flat? You can do most simple fixes at the bike repair stands at either the Georgia State or Five Points stations.
Find a Bike Rack:
If you are unsure where to park, ADID has an online resource for every easily accessible bike rack downtown. For extra safety, don’t just lock up through the wheel. Those come off easy. You can always improvise a bike rack from a gate, fence or street sign. Even a tree will work. Make sure you fasten the lock through the wheel and frame, securing all parts to the bike rack. You don’t always need to be that careful, but we’ve all seen those forgotten bike frames by the University Commons missing wheels. Don’t be that guy, and for any parking over an hour, it’s better safe than sorry.
Most commuting cyclists don’t need a clipless pedal set up. They’re expensive, not versatile and who wants to wear those silly shoes anyway? If you want the performance benefits, opt for platform pedals and foot straps. If you are picking between a light wheel and a durable wheel, pick durable. Fixing a crunchy bottom bracket is a pain. A regularly serviced sealed bearing on a wheel is so smooth it arouses even the most callous rider.
Look for Bike Paths:
The PATH Foundation has built over 260 miles of bike paths through the city since 1991. The paths merge with roads and diverge through city parks. One ambitious project, the Silver Comet Trail, goes as far as the Alabama state line. Most paths run through Downtown and Midtown, but the most recent T-SPLOST paid for a path connecting the Bankhead MARTA station to the Grove Park neighborhood through the Proctor Creek Greenway.
Editor’s Picks:
Drop bars with brake levers combine the hill-mashing fun of bullhorns with the daredevil goodness of drops. You’ll be happy uphill, down and back again.
ILLUSTRATION & PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL
ARTS & LIVING
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Ask the Panthers: back to class
The Signal asks students their thoughts on a new year at Georgia State AUTUMN BOEKELOO Staff Reporter
Ask the Juniors: 1. Have you changed your major? If so, to what and why? “I changed it my first semester. I was a film and video [major]. Now, I’m political science. It was during the elections and it became more of a passion than an interest,” Austin Birchell said.
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elcome back to Georgia State, your home away from home in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. With classes in full swing and summer coming to a close, The Signal is catching up with students to hear their outlook on the fall semester ahead.
2. What have you gotten involved in at Georgia State? How has it helped or not helped you to become more socialized on campus? “I work for Public Relations and Marketing Communications, I’ve worked on housing, I’ve been a tour guide, I was even once a [Student Government] Senator. Connections have been the most important thing about college,” Birchell said.
Ask the Freshmen: 1. What are you most looking forward to in your first year at Georgia State? “I’m looking for new experiences like making friends, living on my own and getting involved through a sorority,” Makayla Pacol said. 2. Do you have any fears this year as a freshman? “I’m nervous about getting lost on campus and about the workload of college,” Pacol said.
3. What do you want to achieve academically? “In high school I made a habit of procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to do absolutely everything. I hope that this year I can stay on track and be up to date with all my classes,” Destiny Masha said. 4. What do you want to achieve nonacademically? “I’ve always been super enthusiastic and I’ve already affiliated myself with a bunch of fun clubs and have met some amazing people. I’m stoked for this year,” Masha said.
3. Any worries about this semester? If so, what? “It’s my first year commuting and I’m coming from Dahlonega. I’m worried about internships because I’m actually at that part of my life,” Margaret Williams said. 4. Have your study habits changed since freshman year? What works best for you? “I used to cram it all in two or three hours. Now I know that’s not the best for my brain and for the outcome. I’m trying to do smaller amounts of studying because it’s better for how I learn, and I don’t freak out all the time and try to cram,” Williams said.
Ask the Seniors: 1. How do you feel about your last year at Georgia State? Are you excited to progress into the future or are you upset about leaving the campus? “I’m ready to go. I’ve been taking all these classes for a long time. But, I’m still on the fence about the future,” Amina Daugherty said.
Ask the Sophomores: 1. How do you feel about your major? Are you set on a major, planning to change your major or undecided? “I’m a film and media major. I think my major is really cool and interesting. I love it and I’m super excited to go into the behind-the-scenes world of movies and learn more,” Nina Palmieri said. “I’m definitely set on this major. I’m not planning on changing it, but if I were to change it, it’d be something similarly creative and just as up and coming as film and media,” Palmieri said.
2. What classes are you taking for your intended major this semester? “I’m majoring in game design. My classes are critical thinking, intro to gaming industries and film,” Johnny Duong said. “I’m glad this school has it. It’s a major I’m actually enjoying. I do play a lot of games and I enjoy how they feature in storyline gameplay and how it relates to real life. I enjoy having a major I can actually relate to,” Duong said. 3. What is your biggest regret from freshman year? “My biggest regret from freshman year would have to be not going to enough parties. My friends and I would have super fun hang outs in our rooms all the time but I wish I had gone out to some bigger parties to meet new people and to have new experiences,” Palmieri said.
2. How do you hope to leave your mark at Georgia State? “I’m in the art program, so I’m just doing really good pieces that will be remembered after I leave,” Daugherty said.
3. What will you never forget about your experience at Georgia State? “The advisors help you a lot. When I first came here, I always thought about transferring to other schools, but a lot of people help you and make you want to stay here. They will help you when you have questions,” Van Ha said. 4. Any advice to give to underclassmen for their semester ahead? “Start studying. Instead of trying to raise your GPA [later], start high. Enjoy your freshman year but keep going with your work,” Ha said.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY EVAN STAMPS | THE SIGNAL
ARTS & LIVING
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Doggy Con: cosplay knows no species It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s your favorite Great Dane TIFFANY RIGBY Staff Reporter
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f you were looking for an adorable, fluffy, pet-filled weekend, Doggy Con was the place to be last Saturday, Aug. 18 in Woodruff Park. Just like Dragoncon, there was plenty of cosplay, but instead of just humans dressing up, it was also their dogs! Most owners dressed up alongside their pets, often making it into a cute theme (think Batman and Robin, or Superman and Superwoman). With both little and small, there were a variety of dogs there—but they weren’t all pets. In attendance were also therapy dogs, like the adorable Basset Hound dressed up as a Grady Hospital ambulance. This year, Doggy Con featured a costume contest parade, doggy themed vendors, prizes and much more. Some of the prizes included tote bags, the opportunity to win two five-day passes to Dragoncon, plus goods from places like Big Daddy Biscuits and more. All event participants received a free Woodruff Park and Dragoncon giveaway item. Doggy Con’s costume award categories were Best in Show, Best Doggie/Owner “Con-bo” and Best Cosplay Costume. Best in Show was awarded to Peaches, a Grady Health “furlenteer” who had the most presence and “wow”-factor. Aladdin and Abu took the cake for Best Con-bo (complete with a magic carpet!). For Best Cosplay Costume, it was an even tie between E.T., a Fantasia-themed Hippo dog and Mickey and the Broomstick. I almost fainted from how many scratches I was giving out. The contest judges were Karen Anderson from Tiny Doors ATL, the owners of Georgia Beer Garden, Joystick Gamebar and Reuben the Bulldog, who is a local Instagram celebrity dog. There were a multitude of vendors like Jazzy Pawz by Andrea, King of Pups, Ruff Day Bandanas and Pop Paracording. The event’s community partners were Atlanta Rescue Dog Cafe, Lifeline Animal Project and, of course,
Woman and her dog in Woodruff Park for Doggy Con’s 2018 cosplay costume competition.
Dragoncon. The event was sponsored this year by Fire Bee and Bark ATL. Without a doubt, Doggy Con was a smash hit for both pets and owners. On the pet side of things, it was a great way to sneak in some head scratches and butt sniffs while still strutting their stuff in style, one paw at a time. For owners, any excuse to show off a well-groomed pup and score a doggo award is one
PHOTO BY SYDNEY BLOME | THE SIGNAL
to take. If you were too busy moving in and adjusting to a new semester to make it to Doggy Con, don’t worry—WoodRUFF Bark hosted a dog-themed Halloween festival last year, so we hope to see another this year. Until the next event, keep your tail high and your nose wet.
Where will you go for your next buzz?
Saxbys versus Starbucks: the ultimate campus coffee showdown
nce that afternoon fatigue rolls in, many students are itching for their next fix of caffeine. While there are many options both on and off campus, two of the most popular on-campus coffee shops are Saxbys and Starbucks, but how can you be sure which one to pick? Luckily for you, The Signal analyzed them both to compare prices, atmosphere, accessibility and more to determine your best pick. Check out these competitors side by side to figure out where you should get your next chai latte.
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further than Saxbys. Compared to Starbucks, Saxbys offers more freshly made food, such as sandwiches, oatmeal and smoothies but still with the pastries and drinks you’d expect to find at a traditional coffee shop. Saxbys has both tables and large couches around a TV, perfect for any group meeting. While they do have a lot of different seating (60, to be exact), they don’t offer quite as many outlets, with only one being available for every other seat. If you’re looking for a space to meet with a lot people, Saxbys offers a large table that seats 16. Unfortunately, since it’s located inside the library, there are no windows and no natural light. The closest bathroom is located outside of the Saxby’s and on the first floor of the library.
HOURS AND LOCATION:
STARBUCKS:
SYDNEY BLOEME Arts & Living Editor
Mon-Thu: 7:30a.m.-11p.m., Fri: 7:30a.m.- 6p.m., Sat: 12p.m.6p.m., Sun: 12p.m.- 8p.m. Saxbys is located conveniently inside Library North. Enter the library and it’s immediately to your left. Starbucks Hours and Location: Mon-Thu: 6:30 a.m.-6p.m., Fri: 6:30 a.m.- 7 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sun: closed While there are a few Starbucks around the downtown area, the closest to campus and the one we will be discussing today is located across from Kell Hall in the Hurt Building.
ATMOSPHERE: SAXBYS
If you’re into a chill, traditional and 90’s styled cafe, look no
Starbucks lacks freshly made food but they offer more drink specialization and more packaged snacks for on the go. As for atmosphere, Starbucks is the more modern choice. It was just recently built, so they offer more outlets and include many large windows with plentiful natural light. Starbucks is designed like traditional, industrial lofts, with an open floor plan surrounded by metal accents and modern, trendy decor. They offer 42 seats with tables, booths and plush arm chairs to enjoy your drink of choice. This seating is complemented by outlets conveniently scattered around the store. Because it is such an open store, there is often crowding during peak hours and sound carries throughout, making studying a bit harder if you need silence to concentrate. While there are a lot of smaller, two-person tables offered, their biggest table for group projects seats four. They also offer a bathroom to customers, including a baby change station.
ACCESSIBILITY:
SAXBYS: ACCESSIBILITY FOR THOSE IN WHEELCHAIRS:
Because Saxby’s is located inside Library North, it can be difficult for those in wheelchairs to access. To enter the Saxby’s, take the Library Plaza elevator into the plaza and enter through the normal doors. Thankfully, the Saxby’s is on the first floor.
LINES:
During peak hours, the library will often display a line of students waiting to use the fingerprint scanners to enter, as well as a line of people waiting to order in the Saxbys. Because of this, there are two lines you must endure before access to your favorite stimulant.
STARBUCKS:
Accessibility for those in wheelchairs: The main entrance for the Starbucks is located up a flight of stairs inside the Hurt Building. For people in wheelchairs, access the store by going around to the side street, Hurt Plaza across from Kell Hall, and enter by cutting through the Hurt Building lobby.
LINES:
During peak hours, the entrance of the Starbucks becomes full as the line often extends through the store, down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk.
PRICE COMPARISON OF COMMON ITEMS:
Coffee, medium: (Saxbys) $1.99, (Starbucks) $2.25 Cold brew coffee, medium: (SX) $3.55, (SB) $3.95 Frozen, blended coffee, size medium: (SX) $4.35, (SB) $5.25 Sandwich: (SX) $5.79, (SB) $5.75 - $6.75 Oatmeal: (SX) $2.79, (SB) $3.25
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Work Jam + Networking
King of Pops Trivia
A Girl Stands at the Door
Page Turnin’
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Braves vs. Pirates
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A friend group is fun, but a work group can boost your productivity and creativity. A productivity and networking meetup is planned at the Starbucks at 867 Peachtree St. just north of Downtown.
Pop on over to Ponce City Market at 6:30 p.m. where King of Pops is hosting a trivia night. Enjoy the city lights, breeze, shopping and, most importantly, a cold treat.
Rachel Devlin presents a phenomenal series of work at the Margaret Mitchell House. This series on black women during the racial integration of American schools is a must-see.
Where my book worms at? This weekend, they’re in Decatur. Be sure to join for author readings, signings, panel discussions, children’s activities and live music.
Spend any time in Atlanta and you’ll hear about Dragoncon. Grab your best Bee Movie cosplay and check out the parade this Saturday. It begins at 10 a.m. but it’s best to get a spot an hour early.
Two weird historical stereotypes face off this Saturday and Sunday at Suntrust Park. Kick up your feet at a baseball game, enjoy some beer at Waffle House and play ball. Okay, maybe not too much beer...
Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at Stone Mountain Park. Along with the usual attractions, there will be a patriotic fireworks display and laser show lasting until 11 p.m.
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DOWN 1. Who performed in Atlanta this past weekend? 2. First rapper to win a Pulitzer Award. 3. Who won best movie at the 2018 VMA’s? 4. Rest in peace to the Queen of Soul. 5. What baby did Nicki Minaj blame for not being number one? ACROSS 6. Tennis player banned from wearing “black catsuit” at French Open 7. BONUS: “Kim and Collin run in here and come and get “ya’ll _____!” 8. “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” 9. Who is the star of the new Netfix romantic comedy? 10. Who is Nick Jonas’ fiancee?
HARD
SPORTS TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports
can talent outweigh youth? Coming off best season, football has unsettled starters
The Georgia State football team prepares for the first game of the season on Aug. 30, 2018.
JERELL RUSHIN Sports Editor
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he Georgia State football program marches its ninth team into the 2018 season, fresh off of winning its first bowl game. However, this team is different in more ways than similar compared to last season’s history-makers. Seven starters return on offense and five on defense—that’s only 12 out of a possible 22 returnees. The other 10 departures were huge contributors to the team, such as quarterback Conner Manning, cornerback Jerome Smith (who may make the defending Super Bowl champions’ opening day roster), linebacker Trey Payne and versatile running back Glenn Smith. Many new starters will be taking the reins from these departing 10, indicating that an influx of youth will be a big theme of the season for head coach Shawn Elliott and his staff. This influx just might pay off for the program. Sun Belt Conference head coaches projected in their preseason poll that the Panthers would finish third in the East Division. Coupled with high expectations for Georgia State football in Atlanta, the Panthers won’t look back this season—only forward. “I don’t think we have to deal with it. Our roster is almost flipped in half. We’ve got to just continue to work and do the things to build on a successful year. We don’t dwell on the past, we don’t dwell on a bowl game. Half of those guys are gone now, so that’s not even something we think about,” Elliott said.
If the Panthers even match last year’s results, it would be the first time they complete consecutive winning seasons. That would most likely require them to win at least half of their Sun Belt schedule because of the tough trips to North Carolina State and Memphis and a home game against Western Michigan. 2018 is the first time the Sun Belt will use divisions, and the winners will play in a championship game at the home of the division champion with highest conference winning percentage. “I really want our players to understand how important it is that we have opportunity to get to that championship game and play for a championship, but first I want to make sure that the steps necessary to get there are right in the front of the mind,” Elliott said at the Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day in early August. Georgia State’s 2017 run offense was among the worst in the nation (No. 113 with 117.3 yards per game), but newly hired Tim Bowens will coach the position in 2018. The unit loses Smith and Kyler Neal, both 1,000-yard career rushers. Taz Bateman, Demarcus Kirk and three freshmen will try to replace the production. The receiving core returns Penny Hart, a third-team preseason All-America selection, Devin Gentry and Jonathan Ifedi, who caught 14 passes for 128 yards in the final three games of 2017. The starting quarterback will have versatile weapons to rely on. Dan Ellington and Aaron Winchester are the frontrunners in the competition. Ellington (6’3, 215 lbs.) shined at Itawamba Community College in 2017 and passed for 3,211 yards and 17 touchdowns on a 65 percent completion
PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL
rate. He also ran for 392 yards and eight touchdowns. “If you look at us up front, you’re gonna see a lot of the same guys that played a year ago that got another year of experience. Our quarterback will change. Overall, I expect that we should be an improved offense, so we should be in okay shape.” KENNESAW STATE PREVIEW (AUG. 30, 7 P.M., GEORGIA STATE STADIUM) The game will be the first for Kennesaw State against an FBS program. The Owls and Panthers have only played three and eight years of football respectively and never against each other. Georgia State is on a three-game losing streak in season-openers and won only one of five home games last season. Kennesaw State brings down the No. 5 ranked FCS program to Atlanta. When he was asked about the final steps of preparations for Kennesaw State, Elliott said, “We’ve got to be smart.” The Owls run a spread option offense and have the reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year, Chandler Burks, at the helms of it. Burks, a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, threw and rushed for 1,000 yards in 2017, accounting for 27 total touchdowns. But Georgia State had one of the Sun Belt’s best run defenses a year ago, and it still has good athletes despite the departures of Payne, MacKendy Cheridor and Julian Laurent. Even with Burks’ talent, Kennesaw State still has questions to be answered on the offensive line. Their head coach, Brian Bohannon, said the line will be a key indicator on how the team’s offense will perform in 2018. The Owls led the FCS in rushing last season, averaging
over 300 yards per game. “Solidifying some things [on the offensive line] is going to be critical for us. We lost a couple of guys that played a lot of football for us,” Bohonnon said in the Big South’s season preview. They return many players at their skill positions, and though it can’t make up for less experience on the line, it can help immensely. The Owls get back their top three rushers in Burks, Shaquil Terry and Jake McKenzie and their two leading receivers from 2017. On the defensive side of the ball, Kennesaw State is replacing both starting cornerbacks and a starting safety. Their pass defense will have their hands full with the FBS’ leading receiver in touchdowns and yards, Hart. The Panthers also added plenty of size to the receiving corps in their 2018 recruiting class. Georgia State’s talent at receiver and four returning offensive linemen should be able to limit any problems that the Panthers’ quarterback has. Georgia State’s inexperienced defensive line will battle Kennesaw State’s inexperienced offensive line, and the line who performs best will greatly influence the game. If the Panthers keep the Owls from holding their Turnover Plank in the air, their chances of winning their first opening day game since 2014 will be stronger. After Tennessee State unexpectedly beat Georgia State in the grand opening of Georgia State Stadium last year, home attendance was sparse for the rest of the season. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Georgia State Stadium and can be streamed on ESPN+.
SPORTS
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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
g n i n o i t i nd cond an sports
a ric e h t m g A l l n a e r in t e s l p f a t o s d a l r ow o n w s i t e a h h t T n
io s s e f o r p ise of a
The r
Georgia State football team running drills on the eve of a new season.
JOSHUA FIFE Staff Reporter
S
trength and conditioning is training designed to increase overall performance of athletes through skill development in specific areas like speed, strength, explosiveness, flexibility, stamina and more. It’s difficult to mark exactly where strength and conditioning began in history with records of strength training tracing back to 3600 B.C., according to Webster. Its presence in modern sports is undeniable with almost every high school, college and professional team having at least one strength and conditioning coach. In the 1960s and early 1970s, strength and conditioning as a practice began to gain more recognition. Heavy weightlifting was originally seen as detrimental to athletes’ health, but after several teams that employed coaches, like Alvin Roy, who required lifting won championships, the reputation of strength training changed. Roy, a firm believer in using weights, was part of four championships from 1958 to 1972: one at Louisiana State, one in the AFL and two more in the NFL.
IS STRENGTH TRAINING JUST WEIGHTLIFTING?
No, not at all. Heavy weightlifting is often the image associated with strength and conditioning but this is inaccurate. Michael Zweifel, strength and conditioning coach for the University of Dubuque, spoke with The New York Times about this perspective. “The act of strength and conditioning, exercise physiology, biomechanics, it’s very complex and intricate. Instead, we give it this simplistic view of more, more, more, and heavier, heavier, heavier,” Zweifel said.
TRAINING MUST BE SPECIALIZED
The needs for each player are different depending on the sport and skill set. Even different positions in the same sport
PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL
will train differently. For example, when training a college basketball team, coaches don’t want to overdo it with heavy weights because the extra muscle mass limits players who thrive using speed and agility. Basketball players need to change direction quickly and make explosive jumps, so developing leaner muscles is beneficial for their sport. On the contrary, soccer typically has training regiments that are focused on cardiovascular workouts like running and jogging. From a strength and conditioning standpoint, preparation for a soccer season could be further maximized by going beyond just running. Soccer players also spend a lot of time walking between plays but have quick bursts of action when the ball comes their way. Because of this, a strength trainer may utilize interval training, varying quickly from high to low intensity within each workout. Strength coaches depend on their knowledge of exercise science to be effective. The all-encompassing approach of a strength and conditioning coach is what sets them apart from other members of the athletic staff.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Strength and conditioning coaches also have an important role when it comes to preventing injuries. Part of the job is to strengthen muscles and tendons to make athletes more injury resistant. Getting athletes in shape is only half of the battle, and they also need to remain healthy throughout the season. A good strength and conditioning coach will also need close ties with the health staff ensuring that the athletes are able to handle the workload. Communication between the athletes, medical and training staffs should be open and constant. This past June, a 19-year-old University of Maryland football player died from overexertion. Rick Court, the strength and conditioning coach, was the program’s first staff member to resign. Rest is an important component in training and can’t be overlooked or ignored. Performance is impaired and too many
athletes have been hospitalized or even died from a lack of downtime. The body needs time to recover in order to get the most benefits and productivity.
WHEN TO STRENGTHEN AND CONDITION
Opinions on this topic vary and often depend on the specific athlete and their needs. Typically, training is more intense in the offseason and lighter during the season. Some coaches prefer consistent training throughout the entire year. In professional leagues, many athletes hire their own strength and conditioning trainers to maintain performance during the offseason. The Signal spoke with former NFL athlete and current high school trainer Marques Ogden to learn more about the role of strength and conditioning in football. SIGNAL: How did the coaches differ in college from the NFL? OGDEN: Intensity. It’s a whole other realm of elite intensity in the league. Everybody is just so good. Everybody is freakishly strong. SIGNAL: What makes a good strength and conditioning coach? OGDEN: A coach who can relate to his players, a coach that can develop customized packages for different positions. No positions are going to be the same, no players are really the same. But in college, it’s so hard to get the individual attention because there’s so many guys and just two or three coaches. SIGNAL: When is the best time to focus on strength and conditioning training: right before the season or after the season? OGDEN: Year-round. In professional sports, it’s year round, so in college sports it should be year-round. If you’re in school on scholarship and you’re trying to keep your scholarship, or if you’re trying to improve to All-Conference, or All-Conference trying to get to All-American, All-American trying to improve to a draft pick ... You’ve got to be training every single day. And really maximize the conditioning. You’ve only got four to five years to give to college, and in the NFL, it becomes a full-time job.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
17
Four options; Two leaders; One quarterback
Winchester and transfer Ellington breaking away from the pack CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter
T
he biggest question surrounding the Georgia State football team right now is who will be the starting quarterback in week one against Kennesaw State. Last season was the best in school history, and the Panthers are looking to build off that momentum going into the future—and having a capable quarterback will be key. Conner Manning was the starting quarterback for two years, and he was a reliable one. Now that Manning is gone, someone will have to step up and take the job to push the program to the next level or at least maintain the same level of play. The Panthers have four quarterbacks vying for the starting role in Aaron Winchester, Dan Ellington, Jack Walker and Jaquez Parks. However, out of the four, Winchester and Ellington have separated themselves from the pack as the two most likely to start.
THE VET
Winchester is the longest tenured quarterback on the roster. This season will be his fourth with the program and one in which he hopes to break through and win the job. The redshirt junior has been in this type of battle before, having faced Manning two years ago and losing. But he still got some valuable playing time along the way over the past few years. “Everyone loves Aaron because everyone knows Aaron,” offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said. “He understands he’s just a guy who is comfortable in the locker room because he knows everybody, and he’s known everybody for a long time. Now we are young, so there are some guys that he doesn’t know as well, but he’s able to be a leader there and kind of take them
under his wing.” Winchester has gone through several coaches and several offenses, but he is in year two with Trickett’s scheme, so that may give him somewhat of an edge. All in all, Winchester hasn’t seen extensive work in a Georgia State uniform, so his numbers are not jaw-dropping. Last season, he ran for a total of 79 yards in seven games of action. Winchester didn’t throw much last season, only passing nine times but he did complete six of them for 102 yards and one score. The 2016 season was more indicative of what Winchester could do on the football field; he ran for a total of 204 yards with one touchdown and threw another with 271 yards.
moving a lot slower for him. His knowledge of the game to me was above anybody else out there on the field.” The starting competition is down to two players, but the coaching staff feels comfortable with all four candidates. “Right now we have two guys who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in Dan Ellington and Aaron Winchester,” Trickett said. “Both of them bring a little something different, but both of them bring some of the same qualities. So you feel like you got two of the same guys you can go in there and win with. And you feel good about Jack Walker and Jaquez Parks because they’ve both gotten better. We feel like we’ve got four quarterbacks we can go out there and win with.”
THE NEWCOMER
THE REST OF THE PACK
Ellington has the most game experience between the two leading candidates. The junior is a transfer from Itawamba Community College in Mississippi. He was the backup during the 2016 season and the starter during the 2017 season. Ellington performed well in his one year as the starter as he threw for 3,211 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also ran for eight touchdowns and led the team for two straight seasons in that category. “If I could recruit Dan Ellingtons every year, my job as an OC would be really easy,” his Itawamba offensive coordinator, Chad Cook, said. Ellington averaged a cool 356.8 yards per game and was a Second Team National Junior College Athletic Association AllAmerican selection in 2017. “[Dan was] always getting us in the right play. We tried to run 95 plays per game, and there are going to be 20 plays that aren’t designed for that type of defense,” Cook said. “And his knowledge of the game; he would check the play, he knew where the ball should go, he didn’t force anything. To be honest with you it was almost like he was a coach on the field playing quarterback. I think he studied film so much that the game was
Jack Walker (10), Aaron Winchester (11) and Dan Ellington (13) are in Georgia State’s competition for starting quarterback.
Parks is a redshirt senior who has been at Georgia State for three seasons now. He started his career at Kennesaw State before transferring to Hinds Community College in Mississippi. While at Hinds, Parks threw for 1,427 yards and totaled 21 touchdowns, with five coming on the ground. After his year of service at Hinds, he came to Georgia State where he has been a backup since 2016. Walker came to Georgia State in the 2017 recruiting class, and he redshirted during his freshman year. The Mississippi native was a three-star recruit out of Madison Central High School. There’s only one starter, but multiple guys could see time this season depending on the different offensive formations and variations. Whoever wins the job will be working with offensive weapons fairly new to being heavily featured. Returning are running backs Taz Bateman and Demarcus Kirk and of course the nation’s leading receiver, Penny Hart. But outside of those three, the skill players are relatively young, so everyone will have a hand in shaping what the Panthers’ new offensive identity will be.
PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL
SPORTS
18
GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM
The Panthers have a few holes to fill on the field
Georgia State lost key players from 2017—will they be able to replace them? CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter
C
ompetition in sports is a good thing, and the Georgia State football team has plenty of it as it ends fall camp and heads into its first game against Kennesaw State. The Panthers will have a very young team and new starters at different positions around the entire field. “Right now this team is very young, you’ve got a couple of guys that played for us last year which will help in some areas, but behind them it’s all freshman, so we’re very green, but we’re on track,” offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said. “We’re probably a year away from where we need to be at this point in camp, but we’re where we should be for this team, but they’ve worked hard, they’ve had a good mentality every day at practice, so those are things we can work with.” First, on the offensive side of the ball, everyone knows that there is a battle for the starting quarterback position, but the race for his backfield running mate is up for grabs as well. Three freshmen are fighting for the job, Seth Paige, Dawson Hill, and Destin Coats. There are also some veterans like Tra Barnett, Demarcus Kirk and Taz Bateman. Bateman has returned well from an ACL injury and has impressed the coaching staff so far this offseason. “A guy that’s really come back from an injury that really stepped up and done a lot of the little things right with pass pro is Taz Bateman,” Trickett said. “He’s really been a very physical presence here for camp, and that’s been good to see.” The current running backs on the roster combined to rush for 365 yards last season. On the defensive side of the ball, there are several positions open in the secondary. Top cornerbacks B.J Clay and Chandon Sullivan are off to the NFL, and their jobs will need to be filled. The Panthers do return lockdown corner, Jerome Smith, but who starts across the field to him is up in the air. Clay and Sullivan combined for 53 tackles one interception and eight pass breakups in 2018. Starting safeties Bryan Williams and Antreal Allen are also both gone. Williams recorded 62 tackles, four interceptions and two pass breakups last season. Allen contributed 37 tackles and one interception. Those two were excellent safeties for the Panthers and will be tough to replace. Georgia State does have senior DeAndre Applin returning, but they need to find another person to fill in next to him. The Panthers lost some key veterans from last years group, but they had a good recruiting classes this year and were able to get playing time for some freshman last season. So, the hope inside the program is that the gap between the current players and the graduates isn’t so big during the season.
The Panthers lost some key players but are confident that freshmen and new starters can fill the holes.
PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL
Epic prediction time
The Panthers will pounce on the Owls in the second half JERELL RUSHIN Sports Editor
starters, would be the biggest concern, but the Owls prefer to run rather than pass the ball in their spread option offense.
WHO ARE THE PANTHERS’ BIGGEST DEFENSIVE THREATS TO THE OWLS?
College football season enters full force this week with a full slate of games. Georgia State’s long-awaited season opener against Kennesaw State is Aug. 30, and they will send their fans home happy. Georgia State was slow out of the gates last season, but they look to change that trend in 2018—and they will do just that. The Panthers will be fired up for their first game in 258 days and play hard for all four quarters to defeat Kennesaw State.
Outside linebacker Victor Heyward played big minutes in the final three games of last season but contributed early as well. He is arguably the team’s next best pass rusher behind defensive end Monterious Allen. Allen had a breakthrough year in 2017 with the highlight being a three-sack performance against Louisiana Monroe. The two will play big roles as the Panthers bring new starters in the front seven. Kennesaw State is replacing several starters on their offensive line and the will try to contain
WHAT WILL BE GEORGIA STATE’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING KENNESAW STATE?
WHO WINS THE INTER-STATE GAME AND WHY?
The toughest challenge for the Panthers will be finding a rhythm on offense. If Kennesaw State can muster long scoring drives, Georgia State may feel the pressure to put points on the board and quickly abandon the running game. That would make the offense predictable, so it’s imperative that the Panthers’ play-callers stay disciplined and patient if the run game gets off to a slow start. The secondary, which lost three
Georgia State will win the season opener because they will overpower Kennesaw State in the second half. Entering halftime, both teams will be neck-and-neck and will want to fix sloppy offensive play. The speed of the Panthers’ athletes on defense will make separation and cause havoc to Kennesaw State’s inexperienced offensive line. That will slow down the Kennesaw State attack for just enough time for the Panthers’ offense to pull away.
stats
kennesaw state
rushing yards
georgia state
x x
passing yards tackles for loss
x
sacks
x
forced turnovers
x
win
x
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018
SPORTS BRIEFS men’s Soccer The Panthers dropped their season opener on Aug. 24 1-0 to Central Arkansas on the road. Central Arkansas scored their goal off a header in the 19th minute. Georgia State took eight more shots than the Sugar Bears but couldn’t put one in the back of the net. On Aug. 28, Georgia State faces No. 6 Louisville for the second consecutive year. Louisville won 1-0 in 2017.
SPORTS CALENDAR VOLLEYBALL
SOCCER
ATLANTA SPORTS
AUG. 28
AUG. 31 MARSHALL
11 A.M.
Chicago, Illinois
AUG. 31 LOYOLA-CHICAGO
Chicago, Illinois
8 P.M.
LOUISVILLE
1 P.M.
AUG. 31 CHATTANOOGA
FOOTBALL
Georgia State Stadium
7 P.M.
UAB
GSU Soccer Complex
7:35 P.M.
atlanta dream (playoffs) 7 P.M.
WASHINGTON
8 P.M.
Atlanta, Georgia
SEPT. 31
women’s soccer
KENNESAW STATE
CHICAGO CUBS
Atlanta, Georgia
AUG. 28
SEPT. 2
AUG. 30
Atlanta dream (playoffs) 6 P.M.
WASHINGTON
8 P.M.
GSU Soccer Complex Atlanta, Georgia
SUN BELT COACHES PREDICTED FINISH
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS
EAST DIVISION
JERELL RUSHIN
school
SCAN HERE TO JOIN US!
Chatanooga, Tennessee
7:35 P.M.
atlanta braves 7 P.M.
women’s soccer Georgia State began the season with a 3-0 win in straight sets over Mississippi Valley State in the Starkvegas Classic. Morgan Hash finished with eight kills and three service aces. They lost 3-1 to California Baptist the next day in the first game of a doubleheader. The Panthers closed out their opening week defeating Mississippi State 3-1. They had 20 kills and seven attacks more than the Bulldogs.
TAMPA BAY
Atlanta, Georgia
AUG. 30
men’s soccer GSU Soccer Complex
FURMAN
atlanta braves 7:30 P.M.
SEPT. 1 LIPSCOMB
Chicago, Illinois
AUG. 28-29
men’s soccer Louisville, Kentucky
SEPT. 1 volleyball
19
Sports Editor
1st place votes
points
APPALACHAIN STATE
6
46
TROY
4
44
GEORGIA STATE
0
26
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
0
22
GCOASTAL CAROLINA
0
12
WEST DIVISION school
1st place votes
TEXAS V. MARYLAND
TEXAS
WASHINGTON V. AUBURN
WASHINGTON
MICHIGAN V. NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN
NORTH CAROLINA V. CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
LOUISVILLE V. ALABAMA
ALABAMA
MIAMI V. LSU
MIAMI
VIRGINIA TECH V. FLORIDA STATE
FLORIDA STATE
points
ARKANSASS STATE
9
49
ULM
0
37
SOUTH ALABAMA
1
26
LOUISIANA
0
25
TEXAS STATE
0
13
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