The Signal Vol. 88 No. 20

VOL. 88 | NO. 20

SIGNAL IN A MINUTE: STUDENT NATIONAL GUARD SHARES TIME IN D.C. FOR INAUGURATION

STUDENT NATIONAL GUARDSMAN SHARES EXPERIENCE IN D.C. FOR INAUGURATION PG .04

AFRO-LATINX STUDENTS EXPLAIN STRUGGLING WITH THEIR ETHNIC AND RACIAL IDENTITY PG .08

EST. 1933

Independent, impactful & impartial

Whistleblower Field

Following the conviction of Georgia State top donor Parker H. Petit, Marc Cohodes, a whistleblower that helped bring Petit to justice, is willing to donate $100,000 to jumpstart a discussion between Georgia State and the University System of Georgia to rename Parker H. Petit Field at Center Parc Stadium.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN LICHTWARDT

@gsusignal

georgiastatesignal.com

BLOTTER FEB. 12

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FEB. 16

Adventure time At 5:51 p.m., the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for trespassing at University Commons.

The police department exceptionally cleared the case.

NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brooklyn Valera signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Sharayah Davis signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Franky Huang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

Not so happy hour The Georgia State University Police Department arrested two non-Georgia State offenders for a liquor law violation, disorderly conduct, obstruction and fighting at 5:51 p.m. at 101 Piedmont Ave.

FEB. 18

I never got my stimulus check last year...

At the College of Law, a Georgia State student was a victim of financial fraud at 11:45 a.m.

Is the weekend here yet?

At 4:09 p.m. at the Urban Life Building, the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for obstruction, disorderly conduct, trespassing and a false fire alarm.

Campus carry law doesn’t apply to housing.

The Georgia State University Police Department arrested a Georgia State student for carrying a weapon on school property at 11:02 p.m at Greek Housing.

FEB. 19

If I can’t have it, no one can!

At Petit Science Park, a Georgia State student was a victim of theft and criminal property damage at 10:15 a.m. The case is still active.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Freedom Park home to tree tribute in honor of John Lewis

Trump acquitted in historic second impeachment trial

Human rights groups call for release of Yemeni journalist

Freedom Park Conservancy, Trees Atlanta and The National Center for Civil and Human Rights spent three days planting trees surrounding John Lewis Plaza, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The project was unveiled on Feb. 20, the eve of the late congressman’s birthday. Organizers plan to continue the project with over 300 blooming trees, flowering shrubs and a field of daffodils. Plants that will bloom in February were chosen for the annual blooming event to celebrate and honor Lewis.

Monday, ABC News reported that attorney general nominee Merrick Garland said he plans to focus on the attack on the U.S. Capitol when he takes office. He compared the atmosphere right now to that of the Oklahoma City bomber investigation. Only, he believes the current period of time is more dangerous and aggressive. Garland said the Jan. 6 attack was the most “heinous attack on a democratic process” and he will pursue all leads of the investigation.

According to CNN on Monday, Adel al-Hasani was detained by the Southern Transitional Council, a UAE-backed secessionist group that controls parts of southern Yemen. The 35-year-old journalist was assisting in the release of two European journalists when he was arrested. Hasani has been in STC custody for over five months and the human rights groups are calling for his release.

NEWS

February 23, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

MARC COHODES, A KEY WHISTLEBLOWER IN PARKER H. PETIT’S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, ANNOUNCES A $100,000 DONATION TO GEORGIA STATE TO RENAME THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN LICHTWARDT

$100,000 donation to rename Parker H. Petit Field

Following Petit’s conviction, whistleblower Marc Cohodes announces donation to begin discussion BROOKLYN VALERA Editor-in-Chief

T

he Signal has been reporting on Georgia State alumnus and top donor Parker H. Petit’s criminal activity and investigation since 2018.

Read the related articles found at georgiastatesignal.com for a chronological recap of the investigation’s timeline.

• July 2018, Parker Petit resigns from MiMedx amid federal investigation • August 2018, Petit gifts potentially inflated stocks to Georgia State • September 2018, Petit officially removed from MiMedx board of directors • October 2018, Georgia State and USG do not plan to rename Parker H. Petit Field • December 2019, Petit indicted on accounting fraud charges • November 2020, Petit convicted Marc Cohodes, a notorious short-seller who helped shine a light on Georgia State alumnus and top donor Parker H. Petit’s criminal activity, is now calling to remove Petit’s name from Georgia State’s football field.

In an interview with The Signal, Cohodes announced he is willing to donate $100,000 to the university to begin the discussion. He wants the University System of Georgia to rename the football field after the whistleblowers who brought Petit to justice.

Today, the state of New York will sentence Petit following his Nov. 19 conviction. In January, he paid $750,000 to a lobbying firm to secure a presidential pardon from former President Donald Trump before he left office. However, the attempt was unsuccessful.

The 81-year-old former chief executive officer of the biopharmaceutical company MiMedx, pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud a year after employees came forward about illegal activity. The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.

In an additional civil suit, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused MiMedx and Petit of inflating the company’s stocks using “channel stuffing.” Channel stuffing is the act of inflating sales and earnings by sending retailers more product than is in actual demand, leaving the retailer

with a surplus of product. Petit gifted $5 million worth of the potentially fraudulent stocks to Georgia State in 2018.

The case ended in a $1.5 million settlement paid to the SEC. The attempt to inflate MiMedx’s revenue didn’t go unnoticed by Cohodes. According to The Wall Street Journal, Petit complained to former senator Johnny Isakson about Cohodes before Petit’s criminal investigation. Later, Cohodes received a visit from two FBI agents telling him to stop tweeting about Petit or “there would be consequences.”

“Georgia State is an institution that teaches young people how to get through life, and having a convicted criminal’s name on the football field is a disgrace,” Cohodes said.

“And as much as they would like to sweep it under the rug, I’m showing up with a significant donation to rename the field ‘Whistleblower Field’ in honor of the brave MiMedx employees who turned this criminal in.”

Cohodes is neither a Georgia State alumnus nor a Georgia resident. Nevertheless, he disagrees with the message it sends to students if the name stays on the field.

“I have no affiliation with the school. But I cannot stand this. So I’m showing up with $100,000,” he said. “It sets a bad example to the students. It sets a bad example to the community. And it sends the message that crime pays, and crime shouldn’t pay.”

Cohodes challenges others to pitch in and add on to the donation to encourage the beginning of a discussion.

Although Petit was convicted and his sentencing is today, there hasn’t been a discussion to rename the field.

The power to rename structures within the USG lies solely in the hands of the chancellor, the USG chief administrative officer and the Board of Regents, according to policy 7.4.1 of the Board of Regents Policy Manual.

“All proposed namings shall be submitted to the USG Chief Administrative Officer who shall distribute the proposal for integrated review and, in conjunction with the Chancellor, submit the request to the Board of Regents for approval,” the policy states.

According to Andrea Jones, Georgia State’s associate vice president for Public Relations and Marketing Communications, the university has not approached the

Board of Regents about renaming the field.

Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications Lance Wallace delivered an official response to The Signal, almost identical to the 2018 and 2019 statements.

“The Board is aware of Parker H. Petit’s securities fraud conviction in the Southern District of New York and will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the response states.

Wallace proceeded to share a piece of the 7.4.1 policy that states, “Namings authorized by the Board of Regents shall not be modified without approval of the Board. If a situation occurs that may warrant the removal of a name that was previously approved by the Board of Regents, the decision whether to remove the name lies in the sole discretion of the Board in consultation with the Chancellor.”

It is considered an honor for the USG to name something after an individual or organization because it usually follows a philanthropic act that displays kindness and selflessness to a community, a distinction now tarnished by Petit.

Cohodes said he is afraid that when people Google the name Parker H. Petit after seeing the name on the field, it will show that the school stands for and promotes criminality. Instead, he believes that if the field is renamed “Whistleblower Field,” people will see the story and know Georgia State stood with those that chose to do the right thing.

“They’ll say, ‘Hey, it’s a noble thing. Maybe I’ll go work for the FBI. Or maybe I’ll work in criminal fraud detection, or maybe I’ll teach an ethics class,’” Cohodes said.

Cohodes suggested that Georgia State use his donation to teach a business ethics class on how to do the right thing and avoid repeating Petit’s mistakes.

After further discussion, Cohodes decided to add to his initial offer.

“I’m friends with the lead singer of Collective Soul. And when the field is renamed, I will underwrite a Collective Soul concert for all of the students at Georgia State at the field,” he said. “Collective Soul will be there playing a free concert for the students at Georgia State.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

NEWS

4

Georgia State junior anthropology major and National Guard specialist Brycen J. Garland was among the guardsmen stationed in Washington, D.C., during the inauguration.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY BRYCEN J. GARLAND

Student among 25,600 guardsmen on Inauguration Day Brycen J. Garland shares experience in D.C. and thoughts on Capitol riots SHARAYAH DAVIS Managing Editor

A

fter the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill, the military organized 25,600 guardsmen from across the U.S. and its territories to secure President Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

Georgia State junior anthropology major and National Guard specialist Brycen J. Garland was among the guardsmen stationed in Washington, D.C., during the inauguration.

On the night of Jan. 6, Garland received word from his team leader that his squad would be in Washington, D.C., for President Biden’s inauguration. He had just returned from being deployed in Germany over the fall semester, which made him take the full semester off school.

“I was really upset because of what happened because it was so bad, but I was upset also because I didn’t want to go,” Garland said.

The rest of Garland’s squad also did not want to disrupt their lives by going to D.C. The amount of time they would have to spend there was uncertain, ranging from days to months away from family, friends, school and work.

“There are other people that have jobs and lives, and they missed a paycheck by having to go up there,” Garland said. “Some of the guys were kind of excited because they’d never been in D.C., but I tried to explain to them that it’s much nicer under better circumstances.”

After the Capitol police recovered several firearms, pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails following the events on Jan. 6 and the Proud Boys made threats to disrupt President Biden’s inauguration, Garland’s squad was unsure of the danger that they might face. In Garland’s words, the military called “enough people to invade a small country” to the inauguration to prepare for any possible violence.

Before his squad left for Washington, D.C., they tried to process the situation’s gravity and the potential need to use lethal force. Their instructions were to use equal force, and they brought M4s, the

standard semiautomatic and automatic weapon used in the army, and pistols in case the opposing party got dangerous.

“The only circumstances that we were instructed to use lethal force is if we knew that we or somebody else might die or get seriously injured, like if somebody had a bomb, if somebody had a knife or if somebody had a gun,” Garland said. “In a situation like that, you have to be very wise, and you have to use good judgment.”

However, Garland said that he knew he could never be fully prepared to use such measures and that the thought of shooting an American citizen was “very sad” and “very scary.”

“I don’t care how long you’ve been in the military.

There’s nothing that really prepares you for that,” Garland said.

The squad arrived in D.C. at 4 a.m.; while he was shaving, Garland’s platoon leader Lieutenant Thomas asked him if he ever thought he would be in D.C. on Inauguration Day to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

“I said, ‘Hell, no.’ I did not expect it. It was a surprise to everybody all the way from the top to the bottom,” Garland said.

To Garland’s relief, no violence broke out at President Biden’s inauguration, and his squad spent their week and a half in D.C. patrolling, waiting and making sure the area was secure.

He described the experience as “miserable” because of the freezing temperatures and rainy weather they faced. His squad was so cold and tired that they slept in the House of Representatives one time and in the United States Botanic Gardens.

“We were all complaining and swearing like sailors because it was so bad,” Garland said. “But when we weren’t doing that, we were resting in some pretty historic places.”

Garland was at home when he heard the news about the riotous “Save America Rally” storming

the U.S. Capitol building. He thought the riot might happen since he knew people attending the protests and people talking about occupying the Capitol to overturn the election results.

“I mean, I know that Trump and his kids and Rudy Giuliani and all these other guys that they had, were there with their rhetoric saying that we need to fight, [using] kind of war talk,” Garland said. “But you just don’t expect people to do that.”

After former President Trump’s acquittal in his second impeachment trial on Feb. 13, President Biden said that the results showed that “democracy is fragile.” Reflecting on the moment he saw the news on Jan. 6, Garland agreed with Biden’s statement and said that the attack on the Capitol showed “how fragile it can actually get.”

“You don’t ever expect that to happen to America because we’re the bastion, the guardians of democracy and democratic values,” Garland said.

“So it was really surreal. It was unbelievable.”

After the recent political turmoil and speaking to his peers at Georgia State, family and friends, Garland believes that the country can avoid further division by finding peace to discuss issues respectfully.

“The people who were storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 weren’t willing to [talk],” Garland said. “If you don’t do that, if you don’t have peace and if you don’t have people calming down and listening to each other, this is what happens.”

Garland says that the Biden administration’s primary goal should be to pursue justice but that the country cannot have justice until it has peace. After his time in D.C., he reflected on his time with the National Guard and the military’s future.

“If anybody’s thinking about joining the military, they need to think some more,” Garland said. “I need to think some more about it, especially right now.”

5

THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Local tutor retires after 24 years of work

Mona Haddad says the pandemic led to her retirement LEAH LI Staff Reporter

T

he Georgia State Learning and Tutoring Center has offered free tutoring services to students and community members across the five Georgia State Perimeter campuses for more than 30 years. ​ After Georgia State and Georgia Perimeter College consolidated in 2015, the Learning and Tutoring Center (LTC) continues to help Georgia State students and community members, operating as a division of the Georgia State Office of Student Success.

“LTC tutors are trained and certified according to guidelines set by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and are a talented team of highperforming [Georgia State] students, professional tutors and graduate assistants,” the Student Success Programs at Georgia State website states.

However, the pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the learning center. Ms. Mona Haddad, one of their longest-serving tutors at the Dunwoody location, is now retiring after her 24 years of service.

The Dunwoody Learning Center transitioned to virtual services after the initial shutdown in March 2020.

Haddad prefers to work with students in person, so she has always hoped that everything would return to normal soon to continue teaching in the office.

“She has been a treasured member of our team and has quite an interesting life story as a former dancer, teacher, actress and published author,” Janelle Mendoza-Guerra, the writing supervisor of the Dunwoody Learning Center, said.

Haddad has extensive teaching experience. She earned her Bachelor’s in Teaching in 1967 and a Master’s in Education in 1971 from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

She spent 20 years teaching foreign languages, including French, Arabic and English, at various middle and high schools in Lebanon. Then, she taught math at the American University of Beirut for 14 years.

In addition to teaching, Haddad has held theatrical roles back in Lebanon and a YMCA in Boston, including in two Shakespearian plays, “The Stronger” by August Strindberg and “The Browning Version” by Terence Rattigan.

She also taught classical ballet in Lebanon from 1967 until her relocation to the U.S. in 1987.

She relocated in 1987 to reunite with her children and husband, who were studying and working in the U.S. at the time.

After moving to Atlanta, Haddad worked as a parttime mathematics instructor from 1997 to 2005 at Georgia Perimeter College. She also tutored math there until her retirement.

In addition to teaching, she is also an established author.

She co-authored textbooks for the institutions where she taught. Mendoza also mentioned that she published a poetry book series, advertised as “young or young at heart.”

Moreover, Mendoza said that Haddad helped in the Writers’ Circle, a group that meets twice a month in the bonus room of the Dunwoody location LTC to “share literary critiques and help one another become ready for publication.”

“The pandemic has robbed us of her service and the opportunity to adequately celebrate Ms. Mona’s retirement because the tutors have been operating remotely,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza also said that if COVID-19 precautions permit, Haddad plans to visit the LTC for their annual celebrations for Tutor Appreciation Week in October.

She wants to spend more time reading after her retirement.

According to the website, the LTC offered walk-in tutoring six days a week before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, but now all its tutoring services are virtual. Their schedule changed to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

The LTC still offers oneon-one tutoring in many different courses, including math, science, English and world languages.

Baptist Collegiate Ministries has operated on the Georgia State Downtown campus since the 1960s

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Baptist Student Ministries adapts to safety protocols

BCM takes to social media to promote virtual events LEILA DAVIDSON Staff Reporter

C

OVID-19 affected many student organizations on campus, leading to less student engagement and fewer event opportunities. Many organizations converted to online meetings and events. Though the Zoom meetings cannot compare to in-person ones, campus organizations still strive to increase student involvement.

Since the 1960s, the Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) at Georgia State continues to allow students to get involved on campus.

Specifically, they are reaching out to freshmen to help them meet new people during trying times.

BCM has in-person events through the semester, such as a weekly worship service called “Ignite” on Tuesday nights, men and women’s nights on Thursday nights, Mr. BCM fundraising events, spring retreats and weekly Bible studies.

BCM meets and hosts many of their events in the first Coca-Cola Bottling Company building on Edgewood Avenue, neighboring the University Lofts. Since the pandemic, BCM has adapted its meetings to meet safety protocols for COVID-19, requiring masks, social distancing and temperature checks “We have a check-in system in case we need to do contact tracing, we are not having food served and we are limiting the amount of people in the building at one time,”

Teresa Royall, a campus minister at BCM, said.

Along with in-person events, BCM also offers online events for

“

Many churches are not meeting in person yet, so our weekly worship gives a safe, in-person opportunity for students to worship together.

”

— TERESA ROYALL

BCM Campus Minister

students, including online Bible studies and live-streamed worship services on Facebook with virtual prayer groups afterward.

BCM keeps up student engagement on campus by taking advantage of the switch to online and virtual learning. They switched

from promoting their organization with paper flyers on campus to social media and email.

They offer a Friendship Families program for international students to meet, get close with American families and share meals in their homes. They also allow international students to visit places outside of Atlanta.

Last semester, BCM made cards for the elderly community in assisted living. This semester they plan on making care bags for frontline workers in hospitals.

In March, BCM is hosting a “Spring Break Mission Trip” at Camp Pinnacle in Clayton County, which will allow members to help prepare the camp for the upcoming summer. The past spring mission trip BCM hosted was in the Golden Isles, where they served the local community. Royall said that the BCM helps students feel more connected during the pandemic, offering friends and a community for those feeling lonely.

“Many churches are not meeting in person yet, so our weekly worship gives a safe, in-person opportunity for students to worship together,” Royall said.

BCM will continue to serve students throughout the pandemic by offering them ways to not only grow relationally but to grow spiritually.

OPINIONS

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

February 23, 2021

WomenLead is an excellent program.

Here’s why Georgia State programs are worth giving a shot CALLIE MCNORTON Associate Opinions Editor

W

e are always deleting random university emails about programs, promotions and surveys. However, taking a chance on those not-sorandom programs may be beneficial to your college experience. WomenLead found its way to my inbox, and I am better for it.

A program that speaks for itself, WomenLead is empowering women to lead. If you are still skeptical of university programs, here are four reasons why this one is worth it.

Learning to be a Leader ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

Reaction memes perpetuate racial stereotypes online

Your NeNe Leakes reaction GIFS are digital blackface KENNETH LOCKETT III Opinions Editor

“D

on’t judge a book by its cover” is a memorable childhood lesson for all of us. The proverb is a casual way of saying ignore the stereotypes and judge a person by themselves. Well, have you ever stopped to think about how you are pushing common stereotypes about Black people in your everyday lives?

Reaction GIFs and memes are a common way we express ourselves on social media platforms.

There is a GIF for everything.

Being dragged on Twitter for your crazy hot take? Use the NeNe Leakes GIF “I said what I said” from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Are you trying to seem unbothered but still bothered by a situation? Use the GIF of HBIC Tiffany Pollard sitting in a bed with sunglasses on.

But have you ever thought about how those memes portray Black people, namely Black women and feminine Black men?

This robbery of Black culture during the information age got the term “digital blackface” started. According to Felice León, “Digital blackface is when nonBlack folks attempt to re-create what they perceive to be Blackness online.

Similar to its predecessor, which started with minstrel shows of the mid-1800s and 1900s, digital blackface is meant to entertain and reinforces harmful and lasting stereotypes.”

The blackface minstrel show is what

is commonly thought of as traditional blackface. Non-Black actors darken their skin with cork and act on stage in Black caricatures.

“

But have you ever thought about how those memes portray Black people, namely Black women and feminine Black men?

”

— KENNETH LOCKETT III

Opinions Editor

Those very same caricatures can be seen in the digital age. Think I’m joking?

Take the Mammy, a strong, independent, typically single Black woman who doesn’t make back-talk, also known as an “independent Black woman who don’t need no man.” Or take a look at Jim Crow’s character, typically a foolish, unintelligent Black man who’s continuously confused. Sort of like that meme of Nick Young looking confused.

Now I am not saying that people using the meme are trying it say, ‘look at this dumb Black man,’ but I am saying that there is an underlying understanding behind it that many don’t realize.

You can look no further than the legendary Mariah Carey. She’s rich, talented and pretty and light-skinned.

She is effortlessly shady, and she reminds you exactly who she is. Almost like the Mulatto who can pass for either Black or white and is typically seen as wealthy and uppity.

As you can see, what is being used as a calm and casual meme, expressing strength, confusion or shadiness, have real-world connections to the stereotyping of Black people and Black culture. Everyone should continue to use these memes and GIFs with care.

Memes and GIFs are a quick, easy and fun way to offload our emotions on the internet. But while we are unloading those emotions, let’s take a moment to remember why almost every meme under “unbothered” is of a Black woman.

WomenLead is a semester-long program with courses in business, policy and politics, science, entrepreneurship and innovation. Through these different pathways, women can equip themselves for their field and aspire for leadership roles.

According to a Robinson College of Business Impact Report, 44% were confident in their leadership skills before joining WomenLead, and 90% felt confident after completing the program.

“We see a lot of students who report that their public speaking skills have improved, that their confidence has improved.

The class gives students a lot of opportunities to practice,” policy and politics professor Charlotte Alexander said.

Free Supplies

While this may not be a stand-out reason to join, being provided with free textbooks is a game-changer for students deciding what course to take. During the 2018-19 academic year, students spent an average of $415 on course material.

For the 2021 spring semester, WomenLead provided students with a journal, a book, a bag, a Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument assessment and scholarship opportunities, not to mention amazing conversations from experts in their fields.

Networking Opportunities

Through an engagement

interview, students can have a one-on-one consultation with an executive, allowing for connections in the professional world. During class time, guest speakers talk about their experiences and open up a conversation to understand different leadership roles.

From the retired chief financial officer of CocaCola to the Carter Center’s former CEO, students hear from real women leaders.

“We have this wide group of people who support WomenLead from the wider Atlanta community and even regionally, nationally and internationally,” Alexander said. “You become a part of this community. You have a network of people cheering you on.”

Important Conversations

Even though the courses differ in concentration, the core curriculum sets up all WomenLead students to have essential conversations in the classroom. Before and after class time, students reflect on different readings and concepts, such as “The Moment of Lift” by Melinda Gates or articles on code-switching. The fact that there is a course called WomenLead should indicate a societal problem, and the class discusses it.

From sexism and racism to confidence and selfworth, this course provides students with an outlet to have tough conversations, even though it can be intimidating. With only a 25 -person class and great professors, WomenLead is a place to open up.

“WomenLead has helped me feel more confident and find my self-love,” former WomenLead student Angela Praseuth said. “The class provides a lot of opportunities for reflection and exposes us to successful women and new perspectives.”

WomenLead is underrated and underappreciated. It is an excellent opportunity to grow and learn how to be a leader. If you see an email from the program in your inbox, give it a chance.

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

7

A historical look into the ‘revolution’

Daniel Kaluuya stars in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’

A

DORIAN ROSENBURG Staff Columnist

war between Black people and law enforcement consummates in the bloodshed of innocent bystanders fighting for a cause. The Black Panther Party organized and echoed throughout history in the film “Judas and the Black Messiah” as the rise and fall of party leader Fred Hampton, played

by Daniel Kaluuya, are brought to life on the big screen.

The Black Panthers have received a very troubling representation by the media since their formation in 1966. Most Americans associate them with terrorist-style tactics that exacerbated violence and racial separatism. This understanding is then opposed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s standard depiction as a peaceful civil rights activist and martyr for the people.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” takes this belief and provides audiences with an entirely new perspective on the Black Panthers and their association with the FBI. Director Shaka King delves deep into the true motives and charity the Black Panthers and many other Black political parties offered during the civil rights movement. Yet, in all of the film’s beauty, its dark undertones are delineated through the portrayal of Black-on-Black crime.

A central theme the film illustrates is law enforcement’s brutal tactics against Black people.

However, this historical notion is not the real takeaway from the film.

As we start to understand Fred Hampton’s

relationship with fellow party member and friend William O’Neil (LaKeith Stanfield), we see that the real issue that broke apart the Black Panther Party stemmed from its own members’ misgivings with….

William O’Neil’s character is fascinating because the FBI offered him a plea deal to infiltrate the Black Panther Party and gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.

His character embodies the awareness of Blackon-Black crime within the civil rights movement and its devastating effects on the Black community.

The film then touches on other Black political parties within the city fighting for the same cause.

However, each of these groups was separated by violence and hatred toward each other. The film identifies this to display even more hatred within the Black community, creating setbacks toward the movement.

This anger is later turned into the probable cause as the political parties decide to unite against their common enemy.

They created a sense of poetic justice within the Black community as their animosity turned into respect for one another.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” deals heavily with the issue of police brutality and can be drawn upon with the problems facing Black people in modern society. With the recent death of George Floyd and the rise of the political movement “Black Lives Matter,” films of this subject matter are ever so important right now.

ILLUSTRATION BY MYAH ANGLIN | THE SIGNAL

The education system continues to hold students back

Account for the individuality of the students in education ABIR ODEH Staff Columnist

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erriam-Webster English dictionary defines standardization as “conformity with a standard especially to assure consistency and regularity.”

Let’s emphasize those words again: conformity, consistency, regularity.

However, “unique,” “different,” “eccentric” and “distinct” are more characteristic of human nature.

Standardization is necessary for safety in large industries, technology, quality control of commodities and food and agriculture, medicine and perhaps business practices. But it is also used in academia.

Standardization is used in almost every aspect of the classroom. This curriculum includes standards taught within each academic level, the classroom organization, language used in the class and academic achievement, which we measure with standardized testing rather than actual knowledge gained from application and experience.

Before you take out your red sharpie and draw devil horns on standardized education, remember that it is wellintentioned, mandating a standardized study path to ensure that every student has equal opportunity and equal conditions to excel.

In 2002, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) passed to hold schools accountable for students’ equal opportunities, no matter their capability or socioeconomic background.

However, mandating a level playing field also holds some students back.

Students with the aptitude to go beyond the standards assigned are held back because they are required to move at the same pace as a student on the level.

Take language studies, for example.

Like every other discipline, linguistics standardizes language to create consistency for language usage.

Linguists seek to bring a standard form of language for writing and speaking, with little deviation in variation.

The English language arts curriculum and literature classes grades K-12 are tailored to fit the most commonly used English form.

Again, it doesn’t sound so bad, but most American public schools’ demographics are diverse, with various dialects that reflect their ethnic background.

By standardizing language usage, linguists and educators create an even playing field where everybody understands each other.

So while a standardized language can be preferable for educational practices and academic circles, it creates superiority over other dialects and flushes them out. Language variations include colloquial dialects because some texts are written in colloquial dialects. Some of these texts are not commonly selected for study in literature classes.

American literary studies most

commonly teach British literature, with authors such as William Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens.

The problem here is that most students hate to read these authors, not because they are British or the context of the novels but because they do not understand the semantics of British English.

Because students in American public schools are trained to think, write and speak in a single form of the English language, they struggle to understand when they encounter language variation.

It is not one-size-fits-all.

Some students do not struggle, but this depends on their background rather than their formal public school education. They learn to recognize and understand different language forms at home instead of in school.

British literature and other Englishlanguage texts should be taught in schools. I’m not arguing against reading literary texts that aren’t American; instead, I’m calling to attention that we force students to read texts that they aren’t taught to understand or contextualize.

Standardization is not a villain — it is just that standards should include variety. It sounds contradictory, as the very idea of standardization is to remove inconsistencies, but listen to this idea: human standards should match human nature.

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What it’s like being Afro-Latinx on The Georgia State community campus discusses Afro-Latinidad culture

Isa Cardona Associate

Arts and Living Editor

Photo Submitted by LASSO

The Latinx identity is exceptionally diverse, and the lines between race and ethnicity often blur. Often marginalized within the Latinx community, many Afro-Latinx people around the world embrace their heritage and resist cultural erasure.

According to the Latinx Student Service and Outreach, as of fall 2020, 13% of Georgia State’s students identify as Hispanic or Latinx of any race. That’s a total of 6,983 students, the highest number of students in a University System of Georgia institution.

Some students identify as Afro-Latinx within that demographic, and LASSO created a space for students to feel at home.

From its humble beginnings as a “closet-sized office,” LASSO Retention Coordinator Iris Trejo Valencia says that the center has grown to accommodate its growing population.

While LASSO works to showcase the diversity of Latinx identity and culture year-round, in honor of Black History month, they collaborated with other offices at Georgia State to help students learn and talk about Afro-Latinidad.

On their Instagram page and newsletter, LASSO promotes events to empower students, encourage conversation and highlight the various aspects of Latinx culture. “[We] just [want to] be able to give students a space to ask questions, but also learn from their peers and the different perspectives that everyone has,” Trejo Valencia said.

Junior Mark Lannaman is of Jamaican and Colombian descent. He believes that his background plays a role in life because he is at the intersection of two minority identities.

“I’m blessed with my culture being a Black man, and also I’m blessed with being a Latino,” Lannaman said.

Growing up, Lannaman was aware that he didn’t fit into the preconceived mold of how Latinx people traditionally look. He noticed that because he was different, people also tended to look at him differently as well.

“People tend to think of tan skin and the dark hair or something like that,” he said. “So, being an Afro-Latinx person in the [U.S.] means I just have to recognize that sometimes when you’re going along that narrow line, that sometimes you don’t necessarily fit into either group.”

The idea of what Latinx people look like ties into Afro-Latinx representation in the media. There are well known celebrities like actress Zoe Saldana and basketball player Carmelo Anthony. However, there’s still a lack of diversity.

“While it is good that we get representation, many times the people you see in the media are usually lighter skin with loose curls,” Lannaman said. “That’s always bothered me because there’s a wide range of what [Latinx] people look like, you know. [Someone] with the kinkiest hair and the darkest skin … can be just as Latinx as someone else with the typical tan skin or curled hair.”

Racism and colorism are present throughout the world, and it’s not only found within the U.S. The discussion of race and ethnicity within the Latinx community can be a challenging one Lannaman would like people, especially the non-Black Latinx community, to listen when Afro-Latinx people speak up about their history and issues.

“In the Latinx or Hispanic community, we’d like to think we’re exempt [from racism or colorism] or more accepting,” Lannaman said. “And whether or not we are doesn’t mean that we are completely inclusive.”

Junior Marina Melendez is Black and Honduran, and she feels more connected to her Latinx heritage depending on where she is.

When she lived in New York, Melendez saw many people who looked like her and spoke Spanish openly, which she doesn’t see as often in Georgia.

Melendez has seen more Afro-Latinx representation in TV shows like “On My Block.”

“The [characters] were just like actual Latinx people, and I think it’s something that I see more of,” she said.

“It brings me joy, and as an older person, looking back, I just know that had I seen that when I was younger, it would’ve been such an encouragement.”

At Georgia State, Melendez enjoys going to a school with a diverse staff who can relate to her as they understand the experience of being a Black person in America.

“As far as what the university can do to push for diversity, [Georgia State should] continue to fund teachers and staff who represent different cultures that students can connect with,” she said. “[They should also] provide students with the platform to share their voice and how they feel, whether that be through outlets where different people can come in and hear about what it’s like to be an Afro-Latino student today.”

Katie Acosta is an associate professor of sociology at Georgia State. She is Dominican, and her parents were born on the island and immigrated to the U.S. as teenagers.

ng

PAGE DESIGN BY EVAN KOENIGS | THE SIGNAL

Photo Submitted by LASSO Although she was born in New York City, she lived the earliest years of her life in the Dominican Republic with her mom.

“Being Dominican informs every aspect of my identity,” Acosta said. “Technically, I’m Dominican American because I was born here and am a U.S. citizen, but I have never felt like an American. Living in this country as a Dominican person has always meant feeling ’other.’”

Acosta says that being an Afro-Latina educator is a lonely experience, as there are few higher education institutions in which one can find people like her.

She explains that the number of Latinx faculty at most schools is even smaller than African American faculty.

And Afro-Latinx faculty are an even smaller proportion of Latinx faculty.

Acosta is unsure if being Afro-Latina benefits her teaching and research, as she doesn’t know what it would be like to be a professor as a white person.

“What I can say is that my identity as an Afro-Latina impacts every aspect of how I approach my work,” she said. “It influences how I design my courses, my research interests and how others in the academy see my worth.”

As an educator at Georgia State, Acosta spends a lot of time defending her Blackness to folks who equate Black to African American. In particular, undergraduate students have difficulty processing that.

“I feel like I have to walk around explaining to everyone why I look the way I do,” Acosta said.

Slave ships brought people of African descent all over the Americas, not just to the U.S. Cuba and the Dominican Republic received vast numbers of enslaved Africans.

Photo Submitted by LASSO

Acosta believes that there’s a lot that the university can do to further diversity, equity and inclusion goals, starting with an intentional and coordinated effort to promote a more racially and ethnically diverse faculty.

Georgia State is a minority-serving institution. Still, the faculty is no more racially diverse than predominantly white institutions, and upper administration is almost entirely white.

“That’s a problem,” Acosta said. “And contrary to what some administrators think, the solution to this problem is not to have faculty members of color ‘realize their potential’ to pursue administrative positions.”

Other institutions implemented cluster hires to boost diversity and promote inclusion.

“The notion of bringing in a group of scholars whose research interests align with one another who can contribute to our university’s offerings in Latinx studies is a place to start,” Acosta said. “It makes a lot of sense to bring in cohorts of faculty who can support one another, rather than an isolated individual.”

Acosta thinks that strong allyship requires internal reflection for activism, especially for non-Black Latinx allies.

“What are the ways that they benefit from their whiteness? What are the ways that they have been complicit in the erasure of Blackness among Latinx people?” she said. “They also can call their family members out and call them in to acknowledge the erasure and the harm it causes.”

Acosta loves everything about being Afro-Latina, from the music and culture to the language. But the identity carries many challenges.

“It’s exhausting to have to fight for the right to claim Latinidad and fight for the right to claim Blackness,” she said. “You don’t ever really fit anywhere.”

ARTS & LIVING

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Burnout on the other end of Zoom University

February 23, 2021

ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

Professors explain what stresses them about virtual teaching JADA JONES Arts & Living Editor

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s virtual learning continues into 2021, students and professors alike are experiencing burnout.

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing prolonged academic, workplace, financial and health stresses, instructors are inevitably feeling tired and helpless.

When Georgia State first moved in-person learning to an online environment, students and professors were optimistic about the transition.

But as the pandemic continues and professors have to keep adapting their classes to fit the virtual learning mold, professors like Mathew Gayman are feeling stressed out.

Gayman is an associate professor in the sociology department at Georgia State. He explained that it’s sometimes difficult for his in-person class content to translate well in a virtual environment.

“It’s not like flipping a light switch,” he said. “It takes considerable time and energy to move a class online or create an online class, which are not necessarily the same thing. It’s [been] a year since COVID[-19] hit, and I’m still trying to make my prior in-person class [function] online.”

Gayman mentioned another hurdle he faces while teaching online is not being able to “read the room” or gauge how well his students understand the course material. John McMillian, an associate professor in Georgia State’s history department, shares the same sentiments.

McMillian doesn’t consider himself the most techsavvy professor and sometimes gets frustrated with how time-consuming creating assignments on iCollege can be. But thanks to Georgia State’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Online Education, he received the training he needs to navigate iCollege correctly.

“There [are] all these steps that I find to be cumbersome.

Something that would take a few minutes in person can take a lot longer iCollege,” he said. “Luckily, there’s tech support, and they’re friendly and helpful. Sometimes I feel stupid asking questions that are easy for other people but kind of difficult for me, but they’re great.”

But McMillian finds that what he misses the most about in-person learning is lecturing. He enjoyed speaking to large groups of people and had to redesign his lectures to

accommodate online teaching. “[Online teaching] really doesn’t play to what I consider my biggest strength,” he said. “I like lecturing, and my presentations are pretty polished, and they’re structured, so there’s room for debates and conversation. I even have certain stupid jokes I tell every semester, and they’re built into the lecture.”

Joseph Normandin is a senior lecturer and the director of undergraduate studies at Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute. He explained that teaching online was easier in 2020’s spring semester because it was a change of pace. But after teaching online spring, summer and fall, Normandin feels burnt out.

“In the initial transition in spring [of 2020,] it didn’t feel like [the pandemic] was going to last this long,” he said.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen, so it felt new and exciting; that quickly turned to panic.

Like Gayman and McMillian, he has difficulty building relationships with students when he’s met with muted microphones and turned-off cameras when conducting a class. He wishes to experience walking through campus and seeing familiar faces again.

“I find that [I miss] the physical aspect of walking to work, walking between classes, and standing up and teaching,” Normandin said. “I’m tired of just sitting here. I really miss the physical aspect.”

Normandin expressed that some faculty may struggle to adapt to virtual teaching, even this far into the pandemic because they worry about how their virtual lectures come across to students.

Similarly, some students still can’t find their footing in virtual learning environments and stress over their grades and relationships with their professors.

“There’s some faculty where recording themselves is stressful,” Normandin said. “Being in front of the class, not so much, but [faculty is] going back and saying, ‘Oh I shouldn’t have said that that way’ and redoing their lecture.

There’s probably a lot of that. So I think faculty have some of the same struggles as students where some faculty made the transition easier than others.”

Instructors like McMillian identify with Normandin’s statement that some professors are not entirely

comfortable teaching from home. “[Teaching online] makes me more nervous,” he said.

“I’ve always been a confident public speaker, but when I set up my computer, I get more nervous about it. [Online,] I have a tendency to misspeak or be less articulate about something and then obsess over it.”

Instructors like Carmen Eilertson, a principal senior lecturer in Georgia State’s biology department, take on another role to facilitate learning. Eilertson mentioned she doubles as a “cheerleader” to her students to keep them motivated.

“The students in my classes are highly motivated and driven,” she said. “But I have noticed since spring of 2020 the level of motivation is declining in these really good students, so I’m finding my role as a cheerleader to be very important to keep them on task.”

Like any other professor, Eilertson finds it extremely difficult to bond with her students. It is so tricky that she sometimes doesn’t recognize all of her students’ names and faces. For Eilertson, the absence of a bond with her students is detrimental because most of her students are preparing to go to medical school and ask her to write letters of recommendation.

“A lot of my students are dual-degree students, and I’m having to write a letter of recommendation for medical school, and they don’t feel they know me well enough or feel I don’t know them well enough to write a good letter of support,” she said. “That’s a huge disadvantage.”

Despite the challenges that online teaching brings, these professors all find that what keeps them going throughout the semester is their students’ patience. Offering patience to a professor who’s not the most tech-savvy or because they are enduring their struggles is much appreciated by all instructors.

“Overall, students have been very understanding and recognize, just as teachers recognize, that none of this is ideal [and] these are tough times for all,” Gayman said.

“We have wonderful students, and I appreciate them.”

As the semester reaches the midpoint, students and professors need to understand that everyone needs someone to lean on. College is no easy feat, and everyone needs a little sympathy to keep going.

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

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Students explain how to ‘cancel’ someone

Music fans identify problematic celebrity behaviors DESMOND LEAKE Staff Reporter

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he term “problematic” has become a buzzword in recent years, with the word now describing various undesirable beliefs or actions of celebrities. The label increased in usage throughout the 2010s, presumably due to its use as a catch-all word for something that one finds undesirable. But some people criticize the term for being vague and meaningless.

“I feel like ‘problematic’ has become a term for anything someone doesn’t like,” junior Luis Cantera said. “I feel like if someone is sexist or toxic, we should just call them that.”

However, there is not a consensus on what makes someone or something “problematic.”

For example, problematic might be J.K. Rowling’s transphobic comments or Gina Carano’s Instagram story comparing being a Republican to being a Holocaust victim.

Junior Luis Cantera believes that “problematic” refers to the energy one puts out into the world.

“A problematic person is someone who puts out negative energy into the world with no remorse,” he said. “A good example of this is [Tekashi] 6ix9ine, although you could make an argument for artists like Drake or The Weeknd.”

Tekashi 6ix9ine’s controversies are numerous enough to create multiple documentaries.

His constant use of the N-word in his songs despite not being Black, his child sexual abuse charges and his role in the Nine Trey Gangsters trial is just the tip of the iceberg. Despite all these controversies, he has 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Freshman Hanifa Keder believes 6ix9ine’s lack of awareness is what makes him problematic.

“What makes one

problematic is their arrogance and ignorance,” she said. “[6ix9ine] has done many things that make people hate him, but he does not seem to care.”

Tekashi 6ix9ine is one of the most despised rappers in the industry for many reasons, but the one that got him blacklisted was snitching in court, which is heavily frowned upon in the music industry.

However, 6ix9ine’s blacklisting by most of his peers in the music industry is relatively uncommon.

Another heavily discussed artist often accused of being problematic is Chris Brown.

Senior Sana Nadeem talked about how Chris Brown’s career is still stable despite his controversies.

“He was literally arrested for assault against Rihanna, but he still has the 25th most listeners on Spotify,” she said.

Chris Brown is an anomaly within the music industry. His controversies don’t stop him from being a top-selling artist, with the most infamous of his controversies being his domestic violence charge from his girlfriend at the time, Rihanna.

His career is full of controversies, such as an altercation with Frank Ocean over a parking spot, saying that he wanted members of the group CHVRCHES “to walk in front of a speeding bus” and a standoff with police officers that lasted an entire day. Despite all of this, he still has a flourishing career.

The word “problematic” comes with its baggage due to not having an agreement on its definition. Aside from its consistent usage referring to celebrity behavior, the word’s meaning is vague and unquantifiable.

One thing is sure: As long as celebrities continue to exist, “problematic” will be the word used to address their flaws.

Art therapy, or expressive therapy, is a commonly used tool by therapists and clinics to encourage mental healing and growth.

PHOTO BY DEENA KAYYALI | THE SIGNAL

Local counselors explain the benefits of expressive therapy

Using artistic outlets in therapy can bring mental healing DEENA KAYYALI Staff Reporter

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rt has the potential to play a significant role in therapy by allowing people to express themselves in a nontraditional way. Using art in therapeutic processes is known as “expressive therapy.” Psychology Today defines expressive therapy as “a combination of psychological techniques and creative forms to promote mental and emotional healing.”

Research from the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia shows that these practices help patients process traumatic events, foster self-reflection and awareness, create emotional and physical connections and help understand children’s mental development.

An article from Healthline describes the artistic nature of the right brain.

Art utilizes the right side of the brain, which is more creative, intuitive and less linear. These highly stimulating qualities help process distress in ways that verbal language can traditionally limit.

Expressive therapy involves not only painting and drawing but other art forms as well. Practicing music, poetry, creative writing, dance, sculpting and more have proven helpful to patients.

Hanifa Akpe is a licensed professional counselor who uses expressive therapy in her practice. She spoke about the benefits of art therapy and mental health, especially regarding clients who endured trauma. She believes that art therapy, in addition to other Expressive Therapies, leads to

holistic healing.

“Traditional talk therapy may be difficult for clients who have experienced trauma, especially if experienced in childhood,” she said.

“Different parts of the brain are impacted when someone experiences distress and makes regular cognitive functioning challenging.”

“

I cannot describe the clarity I have when it’s just me, my brushes and my thoughts.

”

— ARMENIA ALVI

Georgia State Junior

Transferring one’s internal traumas into visuals makes them tangible. It allows the individual to separate their trauma from themselves, creating a far easier processing and healing method.

Licensed Professional Counselor Edliz Vazquez worked at an intensive

outpatient program where art therapy was offered and encouraged. She explained the power of expressive therapy and its healing abilities.

“It helps externalize their trauma narratives and internal thoughts,” she said. “It’s a way to separate what they would describe as their ghosts or inner demons from them as a person and helps patients remove them from who they are as a person.”

Junior Armenia Alvi uses art therapy in her home to improve her mental health. Through painting and drawing, she connects with her internalized thoughts, allowing her to process and work through emotions.

“When it’s just me and my paint, I feel a calm that falls over me,” she said. “It’s a time for me to connect with my inner self and express onto a physical platform what I’ve been feeling internally. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m feeling, but when I start to paint, it clears my mind and helps me to better understand my emotions.”

Creating art allows one to evaluate their perceptions of the world and understand their trauma. Many people have trouble expressing themselves through words, and art gives personal connection and realization.

“Sometimes, I really just don’t want to talk to anyone about my feelings because I don’t even understand them myself,” Alvi said. “However, I cannot describe the clarity I have when it’s just me, my brushes and my thoughts.”

SPORTS

February 23, 2021

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The Falcons hire the team’s first Black GM Terry Fontenot is ready for his next step in football

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JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

State Farm Arena will be home to the 2021 NBA All Star Game on March 7th.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Now more than ever, Adam Silver’s legacy is at stake

What March 7’s All-Star Game means, how we got here

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NAJEH WILKINS Staff Columnist

he NBA has postponed 30 games in the first nine weeks of the season due to COVID-19 protocol and contact tracing. But that is just the latest in a long list of wrongs that the NBA cannot seem to correct in the last few weeks.

Entering the season, the NBA announced there would not be an All-Star Game. After the league announced its intent to play an All-Star Game on March 7 in Atlanta, some regulars in the event voiced concerns. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James was one of many looking forward to the All-Star break after winning an NBA Finals and then experiencing the shortest offseason in NBA history at 71 days.

“I have zero energy and excitement about an All-star game this year. Pretty much a slap in the face,” James said after a recent game.

“It’s been a short offseason for my teammates and myself ... [The break would have been] a nice little opportunity for me to recalibrate for the second half of season and my teammates as well … and then they throw an All-Star game on us like this.”

James, 36, is a veteran of the annual tradition.

But even some in the younger generation, such as Sacramento Kings’ guard De’Aaron Fox, echo James’ sentiment. “I think it’s stupid to hold an All-star game given everything going on with a pandemic and how it’s affecting players and teams,” Fox said.

Outside of the All-Star Game, the league’s handling of contact tracing seems subpar at times. Take the Feb. 5 Kevin Durant debacle, for example, when the Brooklyn Nets hosted the Toronto Raptors.

Initially, Durant couldn’t open the Brooklyn Nets game due to COVID-19 protocols but could play later in the game.

However, the NBA forced Brooklyn to pull the MVP candidate in the second half of that game due to contact tracing.

Durant followed with a tweet that said: “Free Me.” He then missed a week of basketball and three games for the Nets before returning to play the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 14.

There is not enough clarity to the NBA’s protocol around the infectious disease, leading multiple influential players to speak out about it.

The NBA already returned early after an official conclusion to its season in October and a restart during Christmas.

With this early restart, the NBA intended to prevent the loss of billions of dollars and players having to cut or change their salaries due to the pandemic’s changing climate.

Sports fans generally view the NBA as a progressive league with its hands on the wheel. Lately, the headlines have said otherwise.

The NBA also encountered problems in 2019, when then-Houston Rockets general

manager Daryl Morey tweeted, “Fight for freedom. Stand for Hong Kong,” in response to protests in China.

Morey’s comments did not sit well with the Chinese government, supporters or sponsors of the NBA in the authoritarian country.

Most recently, outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announced the franchise would no longer play the national anthem.

The NBA followed by requiring every NBA team to play the anthem.

With so many issues arising in the NBA recently, now is the time for unity.

Some of the most talented players in the league are against it. Why even have an AllStar Game? It is an unnecessary cash grab that could cause more anguish than a usually fun-filled weekend.

The All-Star game is known for great basketball, elite scoring displays, extraordinary moves and jaw-dropping dunks that leave fans and even players and coaches in awe.

This year, the event just wouldn’t be the same. The players do not want to compete, and without their enthusiasm, the game could be a disaster.

Of course, the pandemic has affected the NBA’s bottom line and revenues. But there comes the point where health and safety are above making money.

The NBA has yet to recognize this point.

he Atlanta Falcons announced former Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith as head coach back on Jan. 15. On Jan. 19, they announced hiring former New Orleans Saints Director of Pro Scouting Terry Fontenot as general manager.

With this hiring, Fontenot became the first Black general manager in the Falcons’ 56-year history in the NFL. Along with Smith, Fontenot now takes on reconstructing an already talented Falcons roster.

Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, Matt Ryan, Dion Jones, Calvin Ridley and many other talented players can help put the Falcons back into title contention.

Fontenot has spent the last 18 years with the Saints: first as a pro scout, then director of pro scouting and eventually as the vice president and assistant general manager.

Fontenot brings an excellent eye for scouting out talented players.

During his time with the Saints scouting department and front office, Fontenot was able to spot team needs and talented players via the draft, free agency or midseason acquisition.

All-Pro talent under Fontenot includes Cameron Jordan, Terron Armstead, Max Unger, Andrus Peat and more.

During his time as the New Orleans Saints’ Director of Pro Scouting, Fontenot played a hand in the Saints’ exceptional 2017 draft class,

featuring Alvin Kamara (2017 Offensive Rookie of The Year) and Marshon Lattimore (Defensive Rookie of the Year). Both Kamara and Lattimore are All-Pro players.

During his introductory press conference on Jan. 19, Fontenot immediately stated the Falcons will be a “culture of competition and want to bring in good players at every position.”

When asked about Arthur Smith as a head coach, Fontenot connected his job as a former scout to recognizing Smith’s potential as a head coach.

“Over the last couple of years, I was intrigued by him and started doing my own research,” Fontenot said.

When asked about his and Smith’s decisions about the handlings of the 53- and 48man roster and other areas, Fontenot tells reporters “they’ll be on the same page.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Fontenot said. “We are going to communicate …

We’re going to make Falcon decisions.”

Regarding the draft process, Fontenot has his priorities set, with only one concept in mind.

“In the draft, you’re going to take the best player …

We’re never going to be afraid to take any position and build the strength.”

The Falcons ended their 2020 season, finishing with a 4-12 record, and missed the playoffs for a third straight season.

Smith and Fontenot look to turn the Falcons’ misfortunes around and bring a title to Atlanta’s city.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

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Hawks’ struggles continue during 1-2 slate Three things we learned about the Hawks last week NAJEH WILKINS. Staff Reporter

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he Atlanta Hawks won just one of their three games last week, falling to 12-17 entering Sunday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Once a sixth seed in the conference, the Hawks are struggling mightily.

Clint Capela continues to be the Hawks’ best rebounder in years

Capela notched doubledoubles in all three games this week and was a force to be reckoned with on the glass.

He was the second-best player this week alongside Trae Young. Against the New York Knicks, Capela scored 15 points and added 18 rebounds, including six offensive.

In the Hawks’ two-game series against the Boston Celtics, Capela fared well with 24 points and 15 rebounds in Wednesday’s win. He followed that up with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

He’s simply been a force in the interior and leads the NBA in rebounds, averaging 14 a game.

He has been the most consistent part of the Hawks team all season. Every week Capela does all he can to help his team, but they keep falling short.

Trae Young needs to be an All-Star

Young had an All-star caliber week, averaging 31 points per game in the three games. He carried the scoring load, but the team did not follow his lead.

Against the Knicks, he scored 23 points on 6-19 shooting but drained 10 of 12 free throws.

Young went on to put on a show against the Celtics in Wednesday Night’s victory, scoring 40 points on an efficient 14-20 and added eight assists. He was also 4-9 from three.

Young finished his week with a 31-point, 11-assist

masterpiece on a 10-16 shooting performance to go with three steals.

To say he was magnificent last week is an understatement. Young entered Sunday 26.6 points per game and 9.3 assists and, while he may not get the same recognition as other NBA stars, he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

He proved this week he should be an All-Star, and he will do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Atlanta failed to create any traction this week

Atlanta falls to 1-2 on the week and has lower seeds beginning to gain some traction on them. It’s not that this team lacks talent, but the primary issue is the lack of consistency and availability.

The Hawks are without second-year player De’Andre Hunter, who does all of the little things well. They are missing offseason acquisition Bogdan Bogdanovic, who remains out for the foreseeable future. This week has continued a recent trend for Atlanta, like underwhelming defense and not consistently finishing games.

This team had its eyes set on a postseason berth since 2017 and looked strong out the gate. Inconsistent play like this week, especially from the perimeter, only makes a playoff berth a more challenging reality to come true.

Atlanta needs more consistent perimeter play alongside Young and needs to become the team when it first started the season. It begins by improving and ironing out the small things and begin to pick up key victories in the win column.

Ryan Boyce looks back at his decision to transfer and play during a pandemic.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GSU ATHLETICS

One season later, Ryan Boyce doesn’t regret a thing

Reflecting on the easy transition from his hometown to Atlanta JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

F

or Ryan Boyce, the last two years have been anything but ordinary. In his first couple of seasons, he’s been redshirted and playeding duringin the midst of a pandemic. However, his biggest challenge has caome this season after as he’s taking on a significant role for the Panthers this season.

AJust a year ago, he playedwas playing for his hometown Memphis Tigers and gotgetting daily coaching from former NBA All-Star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Now, inin the midst of a global pandemic, his first season with the Panthers has brought several unforeseen events.

“It’s definitely been crazy,” Boyce said.

“I’m happy to be in the position I’m in at Georgia State.”

The sophomore guard transferred from Memphis after just five games in 2019 and redshirted the remainder of the season on the Georgia State sideline.

Since making his debut against Georgia Tech earlier this season, Boyce’s impact as a starter is made an enormousa large impact as a starter. Due to injuries and play stoppages due to COVID-19, Boyce has been thrust into the Panthers’ spotlightspotlight for the Panthers.

In the season opener, against the Yellow Jackets, Boyce only scored four points and grabbed three rebounds. Still, his, but his exceptional defense wrote the narrative as the Panthers won 124-120 in a quadruple-overtime thriller.

On the defensivedefensice end, Boyce’s

versatility allows him to come off the bench and started games for the Panthers when needed.

Even as his first season comes during a pandemic, he has seen his game evolve.

When looking back at his journey from Memphis to Atlanta, Boyce feels like the choice was relativelyrather easy and has no regret playing in Atlanta Atlanta.

“When I came across Georgia State and [head coach Rob] Lanier, it felt like family,” Boyce said. “[Jojo] Toppin showed me the ins and outs of State and to my classes on campus.”

Lanier is a significant reason for Boyce’s decision to transfer to Georgia State. Under Lanier, he’s been able to get more playing time and become more prominent in the Panther offense.

While he still hasn’t acclimated to the new style completely, Boyce has still found ways to make his time on the court count as the Panthers etch closer to the conference tournament. The Panthers will play numerous games over the remaining weeks of the month to make up for the games missed from earlier in the season.

Boyce has also developed a strong relationship with fellow transfers Jojo Toppin and Eliel Nsoseme. Both Nsoseme and Boyce redshirted last season and developedwere able to develop a friendship as both became acclimated to Georgia State.

However, playing during a pandemic has had its challenges for Boyce. For one, the challenges the constant stoppages of

play have been draining for Boyce. While he understands the safety precautions, the pauses to the season have halted the team’s momentum and chemistry of the team.

The Panthers have postponed several games due to staff and players’ health.

Last weekend’s road trip to face the Troy Trojans was canceled after a member of the Georgia Southern Eagles member tested positive for COVID-19.

“It’s really been tough,” Boyce said.

“We have to get back into game shape, and the pauses hurt our chemistry on the court.”

Boyce last played in the Panthers’ 7975 victory over rival Georgia Southern on Feb.11, and it was his first start in nearly a month. He couldn’twasn’t able to play in the Panthers’Panthers return from a COVIDovid-19 hiatus against the South Alabama Jaguars.

However, Boyce has taken advantage of the opportunities to improve his game. Even with the season’s unpredictabilityunpredictability of the season, Boyce has been a consistent and reliablesolid piece for the Panthers in 2021. Not only has he been a solid contributor on the court, but he’s been an essentialimportant piece off the court as well.

Boyce looks to continue his solid play during the Panthers’ home game tonight against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at 5:00 p.m.

February 23, 2021

THREE BIG THINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

Fireworks to begin the Panthers’ baseball season

Braves make noise in free agency, national media taking notice

The Brooklyn Nets are as good as we thought

Georgia State opened their baseball season Friday night, beginning a four-game series with No. 14 West Virginia. The Mountaineers took the first game Friday 5-3, but the Panthers bounced back and swept Saturday’s double-header.

The first game went into extra innings before senior catcher Elian Marejo’s walk-off single in the 10th inning gave the Panthers a 7-6 win, their first over a ranked opponent since 2018. In the second game, the Panthers dominated the Mountaineers in a 20-4 victory, but West Virginia ended their time in Atlanta with a 3-2 win Sunday.

MLB.com released their power rankings heading into the 2021 season, and the Atlanta Braves came in at fourth. Resigning Marcell Ozuna brings back one of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball.

Bringing in Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly will also provide depth in the pitching rotation. Factor in Ozuna’s signing with Freddie Freeman coming off of an NL MVP, and this team is not one to shy away from.

After the Nets acquired James Harden in a blockbuster trade last month, people wondered how he would balance touches with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

This past week, they swept a top-division in the NBA with four playoff teams, including two of the top three teams right now, the Los Angles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Durant, a top-five MVP candidate, sat out four of the five games on the road trip. They sit a half-game back of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference.

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Talk Tuesday: Rewind 1921: Remembering Tulsa: Reimagining Black Wall Street 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Virtual

Consent Circle 12:00 p.m - 1:00 p.m Virtual

Critical Conversation: When Sugaring is Not Sweet 7:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m Virtual

Table Talk: The Impact & Evolution of Black Music 12:00 p.m - 1:00 p.m Virtual Black Student Achievement Presents: Trivia Night, Black History Edition 6:00 p.m - 7:15 p.m Virtual

DEC: Drive-In Movie Double Feature showing “Grease” & “Just Mercy” 6:30 p.m - 10:45 p.m Decatur Campus, Lot 3

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Black Matter: The Play 7:00 p.m - 9:30 p.m The Windmill Arts Center

Shakespeare in the Ponce: Hamlet 3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m RoleCall Theater

Meditation Monday 12:00 p.m - 12:30 p.m Virtual

Black Business Expo 1:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m Greenbriar Mall

Black Light Winter Activation: A Visual Ode to Hip Hop and Black Resilience 5:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m Broad Street Boardwalk

FEB 29

SATURDAY FEB 28

Hot Topic Tuesday 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Virtual

Blackness in the Latinx Diaspora: Immigration, Culture, Colonialism 3:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m Virtual

FEB 26

THURSDAY FEB 25

WEDNESDAY FEB 24

TUESDAY

FEB 27

FEB 23

THE KICKBACK

Hot Wings Hot Topics 4:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m Virtual