The Signal Vol. 88 No. 3

VOL. 88 | NO. 03

THE SIGNAL IN A MINUTE EPISODE THREE @GSUSIGNAL ON INSTAGRAM, WEDNESDAY

GEORGIA STATE STUDENTS NEED CONSISTENCY IN ADVISEMENT PG. 6 OPINIONS

YOUR GUIDE TO THE UPCOMING PANTHERS FOOTBALL SEASON PG. 13 SPORTS

EST. 1933

Independent, impactful & impartial

AN INVESTIGATION BY THE SIGNAL:

SURVIVOR STORIES When sexual assault happens on campus, how do impacted students and Georgia State’s administration handle it?

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

@gsusignal

georgiastatesignal.com

BLOTTER AUG. 28

Let’s hop this fence…

THE SIGNAL BUREAUS ALPHARETTA BUREAU CHIEF Vacant CLARKSTON BUREAU CHIEF Chris Bryant DECATUR BUREAU CHIEF Vacant DUNWOODY BUREAU CHIEF Vacant NEWTON BUREAU CHIEF Vacant ADVERTISING STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu BUSINESS COORDINATOR Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu PERIMETER STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Zoana Price zprice@gsu.edu ADVERTISING The deadline for all advertising is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the desired issue of publication. Ads must be printready and in PDF format; files must be delivered via e-mail at signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com.

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At 11:41 a.m., a nonGeorgia State offender criminally trespassed the Aderhold building. The case was exceptionally cleared.

AUG. 29

Just kidding, let’s hop THIS fence!

A non-Georgia State offender criminally trespassed on Piedmont Avenue at 7:01 p.m. The case was exceptionally cleared.

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 EDITORIAL NEWS EDITOR Olivia Nash signalnewseditor@gmail.com ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Vacant OPINIONS EDITOR Raquel Croston signalopinions@gmail.com ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Yasmina Al-Aboudy ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Hannah Jones signalliving@gmail.com ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Jada Jones SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Freedman signalsport1@gmail.com ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Erik Indrisano COPY EDITOR Miro Georgiev signalcopyeditor@gmail.com PRODUCTION PRODUCTION EDITOR Montenez Lowery signalprod@gmail.com ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION EDITOR Monique Rojas PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Matt Siciliano-Salazar signalphoto2@gmail.com ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Vacant DIGITAL DIGITAL EDITOR Caitlin Whisby signalmanaging@gmail.com ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR Vacant VIDEO EDITOR Andre Walker signalvideoeditor@gmail.com ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR Vacant PODCAST EDITOR Timo Clark

AUG. 31

SEPT. 2

I’m not one for probation. Go big or go to jail!

Did you not have assemblies at your school?

SEPT. 1

Is this real life or an R-rated movie?

At 8:05 a.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was arrested for disorderly conduct and an outstanding warrant.

You can’t take my stuff! It costs a‘for-ten’ A Georgia State student was a victim of larceny in the U Parking Lot at 4:10 pm. The case is still active.

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested for a drug law violation at 10:52 p.m.

SEPT. 3

At 10:53 p.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was charged on a drug law violation and weapons law violation. The case was cleared.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Three Marrietta men are arrested for drag racing on I-85

A grand jury is selected for the Daniel Prude case

China continues to suppress the Uyghurs

On Aug. 29, several troopers arrested three men who blocked the northbound lanes of I-85 in DeKalb County. The three Marietta men, ranging from ages 19 to 21, blocked the lanes for people to drag race and shoot fireworks. A car wreck was caused by the blockage. According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, 19-year-old Luis Puga was one of the street racing organizers. He has been charged with racing, driving while unlicensed and obstructing the road.

On March 23 in Rochester, NY, a 41-year-old black male named Daniel Prude was in police custody when a “spit hood” was placed over his head without warning. He was also pressed against the ground for 2 minutes. Prude died from acute PCP intoxication and asphyxia a week after being taken off of life-support.

On Sept. 5, Attorney General Letitia James announced that she will empanel a grand jury for this case.

According to government officials, up to two million Uyghurs and Muslims have been in Chinese detention camps since April 2017. Afraid that Uyghurs hold extremist views, the Xinjiang government detains them to eliminate threats to China’s government.

Women are sexually abused and forced to undergo abortions and many are forced to renounce Islam while in these camps. The Chinese government continues to expand the detentions to suppress the Muslim minority.

NEWS SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

SURVIVOR STORIES WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SURVIVOR-STORIES

A

lyssa Edgar graduated this May as a biology major. She was involved in the chemistry club, a member of the Honors Student Organization and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Divine Nine, Greek community.

I was at a Sigma party in January 2019 when I met Anthony. We exchanged numbers and started talking shortly after.

There were two separate events that happened between us. The first happened in February.

We weren’t in a relationship, but we were in the “talking stage;” I was his Valentine, and we were getting to know each other.

We had just been on a date, and we came back to my apartment. I never intended on having sex with him. I didn’t really want to do anything, but he wanted to have sex. Consensually, I decided to perform oral sex for him, hoping that would be enough.

Then, we were kind of wrestling on my bed, and he got on top of me; he was trying to get my body in position for sex. He started pulling my underwear down and I kept pulling them up, but once they were down, I put my hand over myself.

Then he was holding my wrists down with one hand and my feet with his feet.

He inserted himself into me and we had sex. I thought that because I didn’t say, “No,” it meant I hadn’t been sexually assaulted.

But after I talked to the Dean of Students later, they had explained to me that I still gave him clear signs that I didn’t want it to happen. I didn’t know that for a while. I thought he was just an aggressive person.

After that, we stayed together. There were little things that happened after that, some consensual things as well, but never anything like him inserting himself inside me without my consent.

In October, I had found out what had happened to another girl, Michelle. And I was done with him. I wrote him a letter, and I was going to break up with him on that Friday, but I was waiting until then because I wanted to enjoy my week and enjoy Halloween. I knew when I told him, he would try to convince me otherwise.

That week, we were pretty distant. And he had been talking to my line sister, explaining he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend.

On Oct. 31, 2019, we both ended up at the same party. We kissed, we danced, but I decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. Throughout the night, I became really drunk, enough to where I was stumbling.

WITTEN BY BROOKLYN VALERA AND ADA WOOD

ILLUSTRATION AND PAGE DESIGN BY MONTENEZ LOWERY

ALYSSA EDGAR

“

This was a catalyst for other women at Georgia State to speak out about sexual assault and that makes me feel empowered, despite the sadness.

”

— ALYSSA EDGAR

Georgia State Alumna

That week, we were pretty distant. And he had been talking to my line sister, explaining he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend.

On Oct. 31, 2019, we both ended up at the same party. We kissed, we danced, but I decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. Throughout the night, I became really drunk, enough to where I was stumbling.

He ended up taking me to a stairwell, and we were kissing. He started moving my underwear again, trying to insert himself into me. At this point, I still know I don’t want to have sex. An­d he put himself inside me anyways, and I asked him to stop because it was hurting me.

It didn’t last that long. It was very short.

Afterward, I left the party.

The next morning, I could feel that I had sex. That’s when I talked to my friend, one of Anthony’s line brothers, and he had encouraged me and the other girls to report it.

At first, I didn’t want to talk about it; I wanted to be done with it; I wanted to move on; I didn’t want to keep thinking about it. Eventually, my friend told us that if we didn’t report, he was still going to. And in the end, I’m very glad he did that because it motivated us to do the right thing.

Throughout the whole thing, I appreciated Mr. Mazique. But it was a really slow process. It took a long time. We reported in November and had our hearings in May. Because it was intense, they brought lawyers into it. Georgia State did better than I thought they would — some schools don’t respond at all.

They were very proactive.

As for the consequences Anthony faced, I think the most important thing is now everybody knows there are social consequences.

In the beginning, when I was figuring out what had happened, I was really, really sad. I would cry at night and in the mornings. I was depressed.

It was hard because I was dating Anthony, and on top of losing him, I’m realizing what horrible things he’s done to other women, what horrible things he’s done to me.

I threw myself into my school work to distract myself. I would get anxious or nervous when I saw some people from his chapter, or even seeing Anthony on campus.

But I’m feeling better now that everything’s out in the open and the case is closed, and I can see that my story was believed.

This was a catalyst for other women at Georgia State to speak out about sexual assault and that makes me feel empowered, despite the sadness.

C

abria de Chabert graduated this semester from Georgia State. She was a senior resident assistant, a peer mentor for incoming freshmen, on the executive board of Sigma Phi Omega and a student ambassador for the Civic Engagement Office.

I met Anthony Jones in the summer of 2018, in the Civic Engagement Office. From then on, we would just see each other around campus and say, “Hi.” During the summer of 2019, my friends invited me to a party. I wasn’t really feeling it — I feel like that was my intuition — but I decided to go.

After the first party, where I had been drinking a lot, we got invited to a second party held by Anthony and his line brothers.

I sat down with Anthony, and then he started touching my leg. He asked if I wanted to go to his room, and I said, “Yes,” and we started kissing, which

“

That was the only thing I was fighting for, for someone to believe me.

”

— CABRA DE CHABERT Georgia State Alumna

was fine. But then he started trying to take down my underwear, but I didn’t let him.

I had no intention of having sex with him. He kept saying, “I’ve been waiting to do this for so long.” And I was thinking, “I don’t know if I should be flattered or concerned. He had been thinking about this?”

And then my friends started banging on the door, but I didn’t know what was going on. They were pissed and started rushing me out of there, cursing. They explained that when they were trying to get to the door, his line brothers were blocking my friends, telling them to leave us alone.

My friends kept telling them, “No, we need to make sure she’s ok.” And so they told another line brother, and he said that it wasn’t his problem.

That night, Anthony wasn’t the problem. It was his line brothers.

Anthony wouldn’t talk to me after that. But it was just so weird seeing him around without addressing it, so on Oct. 23, 2019, I saw him in the office, and I asked to talk to him just to clear things up.

We started walking through Student Center East, then Urban Life, and he was going through all of these doorways, trying to find a place.

And I asked, “Why are we trying to

find such a secret place?” and he told me, “I just want us to find a place where we can be comfortable and talk.”

We went into the stairwell on the second floor of Student Center East, and we started talking. I apologized for how my friends were treating him.

That’s where things started getting weird. I wasn’t in a relationship when I saw him at the party, but I had a boyfriend now. He started touching my leg, and I told him, “You know I’m in a relationship.”

And he told me, “Yeah, but you’re a bad girl. You could be a bad girl for me.”

I told him, “No.” I told him I only wanted to clear up the old situation and make sure we were good. And then he told me I owed him “reparations” for everything he’s been through — with my friends bothering him.

Then he put his hand around my neck, and I got angry; I was telling him, “What are you doing? Anthony, this is weird.”

He pulled out his phone, and he said, “I’m going to set this timer for three minutes, and you’re going to give me head.”

He kept forcing himself on me, and I kept saying stop, that he was making me uncomfortable, and I got up. He got up too and pulled down his pants and

And I’m looking away as he started touching himself. He’s telling me to look, and I can’t even get the word, “No,” out. And I finally look, and he finishes himself and he’s just sighing, like “whew.”

I’m stuck. What the f--- just happened to me? I left, walked down to the eating area near Panda Express, sat there and then I started to cry.

Eventually, I found out there were two other girls, it was comforting to know that I wasn’t alone but also so sad.

We went up to the office together on Nov. 6, 2019, and wrote out our statements. From there, it was an entire journey.

I wasn’t ok. I’m a psych major, so I was taking classes where we would talk about sexual violence, and I would actually miss class. I went to the Student Victim Assistance; they helped a lot.

There were days where I felt like I couldn’t breathe — especially when I saw him around.

I was feeling scared and shameful. I was in a relationship, and even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, I put

pressure on myself because it happened.

I felt like his brothers were judging me, that they thought I was trying to bring their fraternity down. There were a lot of rumors, so his brothers were trying to cover their ass, in my opinion.

It was very hard. I felt betrayed. I care about people — I wouldn’t be a leader on campus if I didn’t care about people.

I didn’t trust anymore. I was very guarded.

In the Dean of Students, Mr. and Mrs. Mazique were very kind and very helpful. Some students are running with their own narratives, and I want them to know that Georgia State — the Dean of Students — really did help.

The Student Victim Assistance office checked up on me every step of the way; I always felt comforted. They sent emails to my professors, asking them to take it easy on me. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to graduate if it wasn’t for them.

I had my hearing on May 1, of this year. I feel like he should have a harsher punishment, but I understand they can only do so much with the evidence.

We were going to do it

CABRIA DE CHABERT

through the police but they told us that it would take two to three years, and I just couldn’t endure it for that long.

The only thing I wish Georgia State had was cameras in the stairwell.

If there were cameras, this wouldn’t have happened.

That was the only thing I was fighting for, for someone to believe me. The only evidence I had was a photo of his semen, dried up on the stairwell.

We didn’t want to put him in jail.

Even though I know what he did was terrible, I didn’t feel comfortable being the dictator of his well-being. But seeing other women around him on campus, seeing my mentees around him on campus — it hurt my soul.

Our sole purpose for doing this was for awareness.

A MICHELLE

TISDALE

“

I’m forever grateful that we posted it on Twitter. We’ve started a beautiful movement that has created a safe space for men and women.

”

— MICHELLE TISDALE

Georgia State Alumna

s a recently graduated student from Georgia State, Michelle Tisdale was a member of the Zeta Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the programming chair for College Curls, a committee member of Spotlight Spirit and Traditions, a resident assistant for the past two years and a cheerleader.

On Oct. 27, 2018, the day of Homecoming, I ended up at the tailgate and I was drinking the Sigma’s special drink, called “blue juice.”

Later on, my friends texted me about a party at the Sigma house, so I decided to go with them. At this point, I was sober.

I had met Anthony Jones through the Greek community and became friends with him. Anthony ran for Mr. Blue and White, but he did not win and at the party, he was drinking a lot.

He started to be touchy with me, and it was unusual because we were just friends. I ended up giving in and sitting in his lap, but I got up because it didn’t feel right.

Later, he asked me if I had seen upstairs or had seen the whole house.

I told him, “Yes,” to both questions but he wasn’t listening, and he took my hand and guided me toward the stairwell.

He was trying to kiss me. I kept saying, “No, you’re drunk.” Eventually, I gave in and kissed him; it didn’t feel right, just like earlier.

I continued telling him, “No.” He started guiding me upstairs to a room.

When we got there, his back was to the door, and I was facing him.

He didn’t go inside my pants, but he touched me down there. At that moment, I didn’t know what to think.

I knew I didn’t feel good about it because it wasn’t something I wanted, and it wasn’t something I consented to.

I was scared. We were in a room all alone.

I eventually told him that I was going to let my friend into the party and was able to leave the room. My friend had noticed that I was not ok, and I left the party.

I thought because we were friends before, he would apologize. But he avoided me.

When it happened, I was scared. This topic is not really talked about that much within the Black community. I remember being in my room, thinking I didn’t know what it was.

So, I searched “sexual assault” on Google. When I read that, I knew, this is what happened to me.

I eventually went to the Dean of Students with a friend, and when I

walked into the office, they said, “What are you here for?” I couldn’t even say it, so I wrote down “sexual assault” on a piece of paper.

While writing my statement, I realized, I can’t turn this into the Dean of Students. I’m an RA. There were so many violations, the room at the party was over capacity, there was underage drinking — I was underage drinking.

I couldn’t lose my job; I love my job. It’s my money, it’s my food, it’s my housing. I can’t give him that control and lose my job.

I told the woman that I changed my mind. I went back to my dorm, threw away my statement and cried.

The fact that I wanted to report, but I couldn’t lose my job. I couldn’t talk to my parents because they would have called the police.

The fact that I had to see him. We had a class together and he sat right behind me. We were in a group project together.

This class was my favorite class, but it was also serious; if you missed, you lost attendance points. I was also taking science classes like chemistry — those are classes you don’t want to miss. I skipped all of my classes that week.

I asked my professor if it was ok to move him out of my group, and she told me, “You have to give me a valid reason; if you can’t, then I can’t remove him from your group.” And I couldn’t tell my professor because she would have to report it too.

I considered the Counseling and Testing Center, but I figured they would also have to report.

At this point, I felt like there was no place to turn. That’s when I started to get really depressed.

I’m grateful I met Alyssa and Cabria, under unfortunate circumstances, but it felt so, so, so much better to have met them. When I heard their stories, it broke my heart.

For the longest time, I felt at fault for what happened to Alyssa. Because if I had reported him that first time I considered it, it might have stopped it from happening to her later.

But when I spoke to her, she reassured me it wasn’t my fault and that I had no control over the situation.

We all reported him on Nov. 6, 2019.

It was a very emotional day for each of us. I cried because I was able to do something I wasn’t able to do a year ago.

At that point, I didn’t care about my job — now, all I cared about was reporting him. It wasn’t just for me — I was doing it for Cabria, for Alyssa, for

all of the girls who couldn’t report.

But the process was very long and very emotionally draining.

This whole time, you heal from the situation all the way up until you hear something back, and then, it’s like opening up the wound again.

When we got the first draft back, we were able to see what he said in his interview.

He lied about us. With me, he said everything was consensual. That day, I was so hurt. Why are you lying? I didn’t lie, so why should you lie?

I saw him at campus events, having fun, laughing. I even started crying. He was acting like everything was ok.

At one point, we received an email that “Anthony Jones refuses to take any responsibility.” And it also informed us that he would like to have a hearing. It was so hard because now I had to keep feeling this pain even longer.

And this man had a lawyer. I didn’t need a lawyer; I was telling the truth. But I was afraid; what if everything went in his favor? I was scared that my voice was going to be silenced.

During the hearing, because of COVID, it was online; I had to hear him and see him. He started off his statement talking about how he injured his arm. I couldn’t even understand. What did it have to do with anything?

I think he was trying to get the panel on his side.

The process was long. I remember thinking, “What is Georgia State doing? Why is it taking so long?” But I would say in the end that Georgia State did everything they could to the best of their ability.

I’m forever grateful that we posted it on Twitter. We’ve started a beautiful movement that has created a safe space for men and women.

That’s all I could ask for, that it’s finally being talked about.

OPINIONS

September 9, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

Stanning politicians is irresponsible and dangerous We need to keep politics out of stan culture KELVIN COLLINS Staff Reporter

Y

ou should not glorify favorite politicians like you would with your favorite celebrities. It is a dangerous practice that ignores the ramifications of what happens when a politician breaks your trust. When they almost inevitably betray you, you will realize that you wasted your time heralding them.

Of course, this does not describe typical political support such as sporting bumper stickers, placing campaign signs or attending rallies. There’s a culture of people who practically made idolizing politicians their profession, and somehow, those people made their way into politics.

Stan culture has become a powerhouse in comparison to the other realms of social media cultural movements. It’s difficult to name another section of the internet that is more unified.

This culture is committed to glorifying celebrities and leaves little to no room to criticize them. This faction comprises multiple fandoms that are divided into the support of musicians, actors and everything in between.

When it comes to the blind and somewhat unconditional support that stems from stan culture, the world of entertainment

is the absolute best place for that culture to thrive. Breaching into a world such as politics, where decision-making is sometimes a matter of life and death, is completely misplaced and dangerously mishandles politicians who are expected to be inauthentic.

An example of this melding of stan culture and politics would be Joe Biden’s running mate. Kamala Harris has her own group of stans called #KHive. Kamala’s potential historical impact of being initiated in the White House is a driving force amongst her most dedicated supporters to vote for Biden.

However, months ago when her goal was to become the next president, she spoke about and believed that Joe Biden’s sexual assault accusations were true.

Sticking up for the #MeToo movement when it was convenient to her is unforgivable. Politicians will do anything for a victory, no matter how small or petty or vindictive. This will only replace one accused sexual offender with another and be yet another example of how reliability and consistency are far cries in the political landscape.

These ridiculous actions could have already had a snowball

effect. Activists who have spawned from social media may see the mindless lionizing and think that they will one day be personally glorified by many for their efforts. No activist should strive to be famous. Their work should always precede themselves.

Of course, the activists should be at least acknowledged. But developing selfish tendencies within their practices could get them in trouble.

The act of overlooking flaws and placing lofty expectations on politicians must cease. We must look at politicians under a critical lens.

Continuing to stan them may confuse social media users who go to the internet with limited information. They see people saying nothing but the good things and believe “this person deserves my vote.” Obviously, this is the goal of the stans, but people should do their own research and come to their own conclusions instead of mindlessly forming an identity around what is essentially a political fandom.

Letter From the Editor Lets Toast to Some of Life’s Firsts BROOKLYN VALERA Editor- In- Chief

Hi readers, My name is Brooklyn Valera. Brooklyn, like the city. I’ve said this phrase my entire life, so people are aware of how to spell and say my name. I won’t bore you with the details about why this is my name because the reason is a long story; however, my first visit to the city was because of The Signal.

I bring this to your attention because The Signal has not only opened doors for my journalism career, but it has also helped me achieve my own personal goals and discover more about myself. I’ve found that I am a hardworking and passionate Georgia State student, ready to exceed your expectations for this newspaper.

On Sept. 1, I stepped into the position as editor-in-chief of The Signal.

As a student-run newspaper, this is a double-sided learning experience. We welcome and say farewell to many students looking to expand their skills and share them with the community. But these personal connections happen beyond The Signal’s walls.

I’ve personally been able to meet some of the most inspiring student leaders while writing for the paper. From Student Government Association officials to student entrepreneurs, you never know who will make a lasting

impact on you. The ambition and drive that flow through Georgia State are a few reasons why I love it here.

Our readers — you all — are another reason. You share your interactions and engagement with the paper through welcomed feedback, but our communication doesn’t stop there.

The Signal has been the voice for students and members of the community since 1933. Student STATEments and Letters to the Editor allow you to remove the middleman and speak directly to the community. No matter what route you take, we wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Thank you for allowing us to amplify your voice.

Due to the finite time I have in this position, you can be confident that I will spend my time selecting and cultivating candidates on the way so I can keep The Signal strong after my departure just as former Editor-in-Chief Ada Wood did as well.

With Ada spearheading the rebrand and keeping The Signal in top shape, she laid a path for me for which I will endlessly be grateful. I learned many valuable lessons while Ada was at the editor’s desk, and I also gained a friend. Her departure is still felt throughout The Signal, and we promise we won’t let her down. We will continue her hard work.

During my term, I plan to publish 24 issues. We always welcome new ideas from the student body so that your voices are well represented.

We want to and will deliver relevant topics that impact the community. I am elated to work with The Signal’s staff full of bright, smart, creative and determined individuals.

To The Signal team, you have taught me so much. I hope you all can see my gratitude as I continue to push you all to succeed. I only want to see you at your best and so does our audience.

When I visited New York and saw Brooklyn for the first time, I was the news editor for The Signal. As editor-in-chief, I hope I am able to experience many more of life’s firsts with The Signal.

Thank you to The Signal and the Georgia State community for this opportunity.

Stay as you are, Brooklyn Valera Editor-in-Chief

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

OPINIONS

7

New law grants immunity to GSU

Bill denies COVID-19 related lawsuits from students SUSANA DURÁN Staff Columnist

G

ov. Brian Kemp signed a bill that drastically changes how COVID-19 is being handled.

Corporations are now free from the burden of COVID-19 liability, making the bill great for business, but a threat to students and workers.

SB 359 or the Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act, also known as the “Corporate Immunity Bill,” was signed on August 5, 2020. This bill essentially shields any entity from COVID-19 liability claims.

Businesses are now protected by their little warning signs hanging in windows and have no incentive to follow any COVID-19 safety guidelines. This bare minimum will now ensure the entity can take zero responsibility for any death or injury resulting from COVID-19.

The legal definition of “entity” is very broad, as it includes any association, government agencies, public school systems, the University System of Georgia and even religious institutions.

Therefore, they are protected against liability claims.

How are they shielded, exactly? In this new law, the burden of proof is higher; “negligence” is defined as the failure to take the precautions any normal person

would have. “Gross negligence” is now defined as the individual being able to prove willful and reckless disregard for the safety and reasonable treatment of others. This higher burden is near impossible to prove.

How do you prove the grocery store intended to recklessly expose you to COVID-19? And even if you could, you already “assumed the risk” by entering the grocery store. Signs are posted at the door, so when you enter the premises, you have already taken the risk of potential COVID-19 exposure.

Basically, you’re always partially at fault for something you have to do.

This applies to Georgia State, an open campus, where any worker, student or visitor who steps onto campus has then assumed the risk for the “inherent” risks of COVID-19.

Not only is this bad for students living or going to class on campus but also for workers.

Employees who have been injured on the job while working cannot file civil claims; they must go through the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Great!

Workers can just go through the worker’s compensation system for any medical treatment due to their COVID-19 illness,

right? Wrong.

“COVID-19 is not considered an ‘occupational’ illness, and therefore not even covered under worker’s compensation,” Valerie Barnhart, a lobbyist for the United Food and Commercial Workers, said over the phone.

You can argue that students and other campus visitors may choose to enter the campus, but workers do not have that choice. They must return to work, and in the current recession aggravated by the pandemic, refusing work is simply a luxury many cannot afford.

A handful of Democrats supported this immunity bill despite Georgia’s unions actively lobbying against it. A few had previously been endorsed by the Georgia unions. You can find out who voted for or against the bill here. You may or may not be surprised.

According to Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero, “This is egregious during a pandemic, that public health compliance cannot even be forced through litigation.”

Georgia State community, we are screwed (at least until the law expires in 2021). But a federal version of this bill is coming.

Enter at your own risk.

Make it legal to be Black in America How America clings to its racist roots KENNETH LOCKETT III Staff Columnist

H

ere we are again! Yet another unarmed black man, shot in the back by police. I bet you all thought of a different person. Some of you might have thought of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Or maybe of Trayford Pellerin in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Or Dijon Kizzee in Westmont, California. All three men, shot by police within days of each other in late August.

And it’s an ever-increasing pattern: Black people being shot and many times killed for doing nothing more than existing in their blackness. I say people, because it’s not just Black men; it’s also Black women, such as Breonna Taylor.

This is a fight that has been raging for years. Some of us have been here, exhausted from the murders being committed in broad daylight. Some are just now joining in the fight. And it only seems to be getting worse.

My feed is often flooded with pictures of murdered black people. My social media is full of videos of literal murders being committed and then clips of lawyers and chiefs of police deflecting.

George Floyd cried for his mother in his final moments, a sound that shook our entire community.

But it’s not just the illegal and unjust murders that has people frustrated.

Blatantly ignoring the constitution is also problematic.

Peaceful protesters are being arrested, assaulted and sometimes murdered on a seemingly regular basis. And that’s just

the tip of the iceberg. Take voter ID laws; while it may seem simple to provide a photo ID, for many Black, Latinx, poor and elderly voters, it is not. You have to have the proper papers, your birth certificate, Social Security card and more.

Take my grandfather for example. In order to get a new driver’s license, he needed to provide his birth certificate.

Seems simple enough, right? Well, South Carolina had no record of his birth. Why? Because he wasn’t given a birth certificate. Considering he was a Black baby born in the 1930s, this isn’t surprising.

He had to prove that he existed in the state of South Carolina, meaning he needed his Social Security card.

Except for one problem: he never got one. Okay, so now we need a Social Security card. Except, the Social Security Administration had a different birthday than the one listed on his driver’s license.

He’d have to prove his birthday, but he doesn’t have a birth certificate. So, how do we do that? We go to the Veterans Administration and get his honorable discharge papers.

It took three months. Once we got that, it took us another six months to FINALLY get his driver’s license so that he could vote.

All in all, it took him and me over a year to get everything in order. Now, imagine all of the people who don’t have anybody who knows how to work through the mess that is American

bureaucracy.

This is just one way being Black in America is illegal. A veteran, a man

“

A veteran, a man who fought for this nation, can’t even easily get an updated ID. Imagine the thousands of citizens who have never had an ID.

”

— KENNETH LOCKETT III

Staff Columnist who fought for this nation, can’t even easily get an updated ID. Imagine the thousands of citizens who have never had an ID. We have to do better. We have to be better. It’s time to legalize Blackness in America.

Our grades depend on our professors

Online learning threatens student-teacher interaction JENELLE RYAN Staff Columnist

E

very student, at some point in their college career, has been advised to get to know their professor, sit in the front row and laugh at their jokes. By doing this, you can improve grades, network and make yourself stand out, which is crucial to your college success; but how is this possible in online learning environments?

When taking CIS 2010 with Prof. Kurt Schmitz last year, he made certain to put an emphasis on studentteacher interactions as early as the first day of class.

“Make sure to stay behind and introduce yourself if you have any questions,” he said. “In a class this big you don’t want to be just another name that comes up in my email inbox asking for a favor.”

Prof. Schmitz had a point, as our class consisted of more than 200 students.

After introducing myself and developing an acquaintanceship with him, I felt more motivated to do well on my work and got a much higher grade than I was anticipating.

My personal observations have been echoed by the academic community for many years.

The Journal of College Student Development published that studentfaculty interactions can be “crucial in developing students’ academic selfconcept and enhancing their motivation and achievement.”

It’s noted that students who interact frequently with their professors tend to rate their academic program as being more interesting, exciting, enjoyable, relevant and necessary for their career.

This suggests that studentfaculty interactions have an impact on both the emotional and intellectual development of students.

Unfortunately, as it has with most things, COVID-19 has complicated the situation this semester.

While some classes have moved to a blended format, many have gone fully online, preventing students

from interacting with their professors outside of email.

According to The Review of Higher Education Journal, “The most frequent type of contact that students have with faculty members typically include situations in which they are asking for information about a course or visiting after class.”

Since our professors have had little preparation in how best to conduct an online course, many of them have chosen to do an “asynchronous” format, where the student is provided with materials and made responsible for teaching themselves the course content.

This asynchronous class model completely removes any opportunity for interaction between students and their teachers or even other students in the course, dissolving their perceived learning community.

According to the journal Education, Communication & Information, “In traditional, face-to-face classrooms, researchers found that teachers’ immediacy behaviors could lessen the psychological distance between themselves and their students, leading, directly or indirectly, depending on the study, to greater learning.”

While the results are not conclusive, researchers believe that the inverse may also be true, that fully asynchronous teaching may lessen student learning.

Furthermore, for the success of asynchronous learning “[researchers] suggest that three factors are consistently associated with the success of online courses… clear and consistent course structure, an instructor who interacts frequently and constructively with students, and a valued and dynamic discussion.”

Georgia State students will have to find new ways of forming meaningful connections with our professors this year, and unfortunately, our grades will be on the line because of it.

This Week’s Spread: NEWS WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SURVIVOR-STORIES

THE RESULTS OF THE CASE AND JONES’ RESPONSE

I

n all three cases, Georgia State student Anthony Jones was charged with violating Section 2, Subsection A(18) of the Student Code of Conduct, “engaging in any sexual misconduct.”

According to the Dean of Students’ Sexual Misconduct Policy, sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to, “unwanted behavior [such] as dating violence, domestic violence, non-consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.”

The results of each case included sanctions recommended by the Sexual Misconduct Board: a suspension until Aug. 17, three counts of disciplinary probation, three counts of sexual misconduct training, a transcript annotation and no contact directives for each woman. Dean of Students Michael Sanseviro agreed with the Board’s recommended sanctions in each case.

No contact directives issued by the university remain in place indefinitely.

The directives do not expire after graduation as long as the parties involved have a relationship with the university. If the individuals participate in an alumni event, Georgia State still has jurisdiction and the ability to enforce the no-contact directive.

“

As a chapter, we have always been angry and disgusted at his decision to bring destruction and harm to people’s lives and we could never support, protect or associate ourselves with him or his actions.

”

— PHI ALPHA CHAPTER OF PHI BETA SIGMA

According to Sanseviro, Jones has not graduated from Georgia State yet, even though he was planned to in the spring, and will be able to resume coursework following his suspension on Aug. 17.

Students that are scheduled to graduate prior to the completion of a case can experience a delay in receiving their degree or diploma if sanctions are applied by the Dean of Students.

Although Jones received disciplinary probation in all three cases, the latest date is enforced. He is expected to remain on probation until May 4, 2021, even if he is scheduled to graduate before then. This is to ensure that the individual on probation cannot participate in Georgia State activities that require good standing as a student or alumnus.

Sexual misconduct training was also given in all three cases, however, it only needs to be completed once. Failure to complete the workshop can impact a student’s ability to receive their degree/diploma, even if the student qualifies for graduation from the university.

A transcript annotation can be applied permanently or temporarily for five years.

This way, if the student’s transcript is requested by future employers, another institution or a graduate program, all transcript recipients will be aware of the violation.

During Jones’s time at Georgia State, he has been involved in multiple student organizations, including the Student Government Association, Pi Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Panther Ambassadors and the 1913 Society.

In 2019, Jones ran for SGA president. During the SGA debates, Jones was questioned about his removal from the Senate, prior to running for president.

Similar to the instance Tisdale explained in her trial with the Dean of Students, Jones said he missed so many meetings due to an injury as he showed the crowd a scar on his arm. Jones was later disqualified from the race for bribing a student for her vote.

In response to his first sexual misconduct allegation, Jones was sanctioned and removed from his position as fundraising director of the Pi Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity by former President Donnell Ray. Current President Takia Tinsley upheld the decision in a statement released by the fraternity.

“As a chapter, we have always been angry and disgusted at his decision to bring destruction and harm to people’s lives and we could never support, protect or associate ourselves with him or his actions,” the document states.

When presented with the accusations, Jones said he was unable to comment.

“Per my confidentiality agreement with the school, I can neither confirm nor deny any of these accusations,” Jones said.

Dean of Students Michael Sanseviro refuted that there is any confidentiality agreement preventing Jones from speaking about the case.

Jones ultimately declined to comment on the allegations.

Decisions for 180 Total Reported Sexual Misconduct Cas Open Cases 4.4%

Case

Repondent Not Responsible 10.6%

Repondent Responsible 20.0%

There have been 214 sexual misconduct violations; however, the number of violations can exceed the number of cases because more than one violation can be applied to one case.

GSUPD’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CASE

According to Georgia State University Chief of Police Joseph Spillane, an investigator was immediately assigned to Cabria De Charbet’s sexual battery case when she filed the complaint.

De Charbet’s complaint was the only incident reported and the only complainant that requested prosecution.

All parties were interviewed and in December 2019, the case was forwarded to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

In March, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said that there wasn’t enough probable cause to prosecute Jones.

In her interview with The Signal, De Chabert expressed concern about the lack of cameras in the stairwell where she was assaulted.

“As far as the University Camera system we are constantly evaluating and upgrading the system,” Spillane said.

The Signal has been reporting on GSUPD’s advances with cameras around campus as an ongoing concern for students.

On Jan. 17, 2019, The Signal published an article about the approved $2 million fund proposal by Georgia State’s Video Surveillance System Committee.

And on Oct. 29, 2019, The Signal published an op-ed about the lack of cameras around campus.

THE NUMBERS: SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CASES AT GEORGIA STATE THIS YEAR Dean of Students Michael Sanseviro, between 2019 and 2020, 180 Title IX cases were reported to the Dean of Students.

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prevents sex discrimmination in any educational institution that is federally funded, which includes sex-based violence.

Of the total 180 cases, 19 didn’t charge the accused after a full investigation, and 36 resulted in the accused being found responsible, eight investigations remain open and two cases are awaiting a decision.

The other 115 were closed for various reasons — for example, the accused wasn’t a student, the complainant didn’t respond or provide additional information, or the complainant or the accused was unidentifiable.

The Sexual Misconduct Board seats ten

ses in FY20 at Georgia State

es Awaiting Decision 1.1%

faculty and staff members. Currently, there are eight members and two vacant seats. Members new and old are required to attend training by the University System of Georgia.

Sexual misconduct training is provided by the Sexual Misconduct Awareness Risk Reduction Training group. The Office of the Dean of Students oversees both the Sexual Misconduct Awareness Risk Reduction Training group and the Men in Violence Prevention Initiative.

The sexual misconduct training uses practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices and covers the Dean of Students’ sexual misconduct policy. In order to measure a student’s success in the training program, a questionnaire is given to assess their decision-making and critical thinking.

Total Title IX Cases at Georgia State Each Year

FY20

FY19

FY18

FY17

Sexual Misconduct Violations by Type for FY20 at Georgia State

Sexual Exploitation 10.7%

Stalking 12.6%

Case Closed (lack of info) 63.9% Dating Violence 15.0%

Unknown 1.9%

The week of June 8, six cases were reported. Non-consensual sexual contact was identified in three incidents, sexual harassment twice, sexual exploitation once and two violation types are unknown.

Non-Consensual Sexual Contact 28.5%

Sexual Harassment 24.3% ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY, PAGE DESIGN BY MONIQUE ROJAS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

September 9, 2020

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Audrey Maloof, smiles in front of the John Lewis mural located on Auburn Ave in Downtown Atlanta.

An ode to civil rights hero Congressman John Lewis Georgia State graduate commemorates her mentor’s legacy HANNAH JONES Arts & Living Editor

I

n the fall of 2016, Georgia State alumna Audrey Maloof made a decision that changed her life in immeasurable ways.

After her first semester of college, Maloof moved back to Atlanta and was unsure of her next step. When she learned that Rep. John Lewis’ office held open interviews for an internship position, she was quick to apply.

Anticipating a long line of applicants, Maloof showed up to Lewis’ office an hour and a half early. Her evident dedication ultimately got her the job, and while the position was temporary, Maloof continued to work in the office until it closed in March due to COVID-19.

Throughout the four years of working closely with Lewis, Maloof accompanied the congressman to black-tie galas, public events and their office “family dinners.”

Her internship was initially chaotic, as she took the position shortly before the 2016 presidential election. After Lewis announced that he wouldn’t attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the office fielded complaints and even death threats.

Aside from the phone ringing off the hooks, Maloof appreciated her time spent with Lewis, whom she regards “as close to human perfection as you can get.”

One of her favorite memories with Lewis was John R. Lewis Elementary School opening in DeKalb County. Maloof and her dad crafted a Little Free Library, donned with a ribbon for Lewis to cut and unveil it.

The little library was symbolic for Lewis, and he told his story of being denied a library card as a teenager, and decades later, returning to that same library to hold his book signing.

Maloof admires many of Lewis’ qualities, but she most hopes to emulate his genuineness. “[He displayed] genuine kindness and humility,” Maloof said. “I think that was my favorite thing about him because a lot of the challenging things that he did in his career and a lot of the amazing things [he accomplished], he was only able to do because he had this genuine kindness and unconditional love for every single human being.”

When Maloof decided to launch her campaign for the Georgia State House of Representatives for the City of Decatur, District 83, she set up a meeting with her mentor.

“I really wanted [Lewis’] blessing, not just his endorsement but his blessing,” Maloof said. “I told him [about my plan] and

that I really want to make a difference, and he was like, ‘Do it. We clearly need more young voices, and if there’s anything I can do to help you at all, I will.’ It was a very wonderful conversation to have with him.”

From that day, Maloof worked tirelessly to perfect her campaign. The summer after graduating, she was one of 80 applicants to be accepted into The Campaign School at Yale summer program. “[My goal] was to build a campaign plan by then, so I can go there and get the top experts in the country when it comes to campaigning, to just tear my plan to shreds,” Maloof said.

“I went there with one plan and came back with a completely different plan.”

“

I really wanted [Lewis’] blessing, not just his endorsement but his blessing.

”

—AUDREY

Georgia State Graduate

As a newly minted college graduate, Maloof had to work overtime to prove herself to fellow politicians and the public.

In January, Maloof spent time canvassing Super Voters, the most dedicated Democrats who never miss an election.

For a politician on the left, this is generally the most receptive audience.

Maloof knocked on one door and engaged in a shared discussion about her platform and policies. As she walked away, Maloof felt confident that she’d secured that voter’s support.

“As I’m leaving, he goes, ‘I’ll call you when I need a babysitter,’” she said. “[I’m thinking], ‘Did you even listen to

anything that I just said, or did you only hang onto the fact that I’m 23 years old?’”

Age wasn’t Maloof ’s only hurdle to overcome. As her campaign neared its last few months, which Maloof refers to as the most critical period, COVID-19 struck.

The pandemic-induced restrictions forced the election date back by three weeks, leaving her with $5,000 worth of outdated printed material. She was also unable to continue canvassing, instead starting personal birthday calls for registered voters, which helped garner success.

On election day, the youth turnout increased by 100% within the district, which Maloof credits to her campaign.

The general voter turnout also increased by about 96%, with roughly 15,000 submitted ballots.

Ultimately, Maloof ’s votes fell short, and incumbent Becky Evans was re-elected as the District 83 representative. Despite the outcome, she feels “very proud of the campaign I ran.”

When Lewis passed away in July, the city, state and nation were in mourning. Maloof knew that she had to do something to honor his legacy.

Maloof set out to work with the DeKalb County commissioner and Decatur mayor to create the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force. While the committee is still in its early phases, Maloof envisions creating a space to celebrate the late congressman’s memory.

She has her eye on an empty lot in downtown Decatur, which is within Lewis’ district. Three months ago, a Confederate monument was removed from the city’s square, and Maloof hopes to reclaim the space.

“When the congressman passed away, [I realized], we have a place where a hateful monument once stood, and that could really be something cool to honor the congressman and to take that spot over,” she said.

Today, Maloof continues to fight for democracy by working with the Progressive Turnout Project and adds that “voter protection and engagement is really top of mind for me right now.”

She plans to run another campaign in the future, but for now, Maloof is focusing on remembering lessons from her mentor.

“Every day, my work is just spent to honor his legacy, honor everything he did and carry on all of the positive things he brought to this world,” she said.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

ARTS&LIVING

11

The thin line between brains, beauty and books

Finding the balance between school and doing makeup CATHERINE USHER Staff Reporter

F

or centuries, makeup has been a way for people to use their own faces as a canvas.

Georgia State student Jayla Brooks uses her makeup skills to make her clients feel beautiful while also juggling her studies.

Brooks has spent countless hours perfecting her craft since she started in 2012.

“I’ve always been the artsy type,” Brooks said. “My creativity always seemed to pacify my anxiety, so if there was ever a chance for me to

“ ILLUSTRATION BY MONIQUE ROJAS | THE SIGNAL

Students foresee issues online Panthers envision the fall semester KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

S

chool is back in session and students have either made their way back to campus, or logged into classes from their couch. Despite the reopening going as planned, Georgia State students still share some of the concerns they have about their fall classes.

Although Georgia State has prepared to “take all steps within [its] control to provide the safest environment [it] can in on-campus activities,” it still leaves students to speculate whether or not things will be different if a COVID-19 panic strikes again.

Some students worry that their instructors will not be as gracious with assignments, grades and deadlines as they were in the spring. On the other hand, some students are willing to roll with the punches and handle anything their professors throw their way.

For most seniors, finally receiving a degree evokes a mixture of excitement and fear.

Senior Lucia Cruz is not concerned about what the semester may have in store.

“I believe the fall semester will continue how it is now, with not as many conflicts because of the

regulations we have in place,” Cruz said. “I hope that we can prosper this semester and that many students can learn to adjust to the new norm.”

Strong academic support from professors has helped alleviate stress for many students. Some professors have eased up on deadlines, made Webex meetings not required or have offered extra credit. Junior Khibri Habtemariam feels lucky that his professors have been understanding.

“Some professors are becoming more lenient either with grading or timelines on specific assignments because most classes are online, which I don’t mind because it allows me to work around school better,” Habtemariam said.

On the surface, this semester might seem like a breeze for students who have a light workload, but for those who have to balance work and school full time, this semester could turn into their worst nightmare.

Junior Jazmin Wright is a full-time student and a full-time security guard. Maintaining good grades while working full-time can be a difficult task, especially

with instructors who aren’t very forgiving.

“A lot of students here at Georgia State, including myself, have never really had online classes, and it’s hard to get a grasp on,” Wright said. “It makes it hard for me to try and teach myself and pass at the same time.”

With most courses being taught online, some students fear that they will not be able to retain the information that is being taught to them.

“I feel as if the future for most students will be a little rough than others, simply because they rely on getting the work turned in on time rather than actually understanding it,” Wright said. “Students are not learning how they used to.”

In spite of all the different circumstances that students are experiencing such as full-time jobs, complicated courses or simply not being used to online classes, nothing is impossible for the students at Georgia State.

“We have to pick up the pieces and strive forth for a better and brighter future,” Wright said.

Georgia State plans to allow [Center Parc Stadium] to reach a maximum of 50% capacity during the 2020 season.

”

— GRACE DAVENPORT Georgia State Student be creative, I took it.”

Brooks has branched out from makeup by offering hair styling and custom henna tattoos as well.

She currently works in a beauty salon and also commutes to her clients.

Brooks operates under her makeup brand name Grand Aesthetics ATL, which she created in late 2018.

“During my three years at Georgia State, the university has helped me expand my clientele,” Brooks said.

Brooks’ key to managing school while doing makeup is to always put school first.

She focuses on school from Monday to Friday and is

open to clients through the weekend.

“It is vital to have balance,” she said. “If the balance is not there, then there will be chaos.”

Makeup is a creative outlet for Brooks, but she doesn’t see herself doing it for much longer. Once she earns her degree, she sees herself working towards her dream career as a physical therapist.

Grace Davenport has been doing makeup for seven years, transitioning from artwork on canvas to artwork on skin.

“Makeup makes me feel confident and creative, and I enjoy making others feel the same,” Davenport said.

She does freelance work around Georgia, specializing in weddings and photoshoots to showcase her work. She shares most of her work on her Instagram page.

Like Brooks, Davenport has received a lot of support from Georgia State students.

“I’ve obtained most of my clients through networking at [Georgia State],” she said.

“One of my bigger gigs was through a mutual friend in the theatre department.”

Davenport confidently navigates the line between school and work life but admits that it can be difficult at times.

“Managing them both sometimes becomes overwhelming for me,” she said. “School comes first so I try to make sure I have that as my top priority, even if that means turning down a client or rescheduling an appointment.”

Although makeup is something Brooks only sees herself doing for the moment, Davenport is different.

Davenport expresses that her love for makeup is something that she will never stop doing. She wants to spend the rest of her life practicing the art.

“Even though I will continue to do makeup, I have to make sure that it is balanced and doesn’t get wrapped up or tangled in the rest of my life’s plans,” she said.

SPORTS

September 9, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Georgia’s colleges prep for less fans For UGA especially, this is unfamiliar territory MICHAEL CUNEO Staff Reporter

C

ollege football made its debut for the 2020 season as the Central Arkansas Bears beat out the Austin Peay Governors last week, 24-17. Despite the game’s sloppy nature, it reminded fans across the country that football may return after all. Several changes, however, will reshape the way the entire college football environment functions.

“

It was important for us early on to maintain the student section, and their footprint was not affected.

”

—JOSH BROOKS

UGA Deputy Athletic Director

The Big Ten canceled their season.

Every team will see fewer overall games, and fan attendance will see a drastic dip.

While most professional sports leagues are playing without fans and implementing some type of restriction-based “bubble,” many colleges are opting to limit fan capacity to as little as 15%.

In August, Georgia Tech announced that they would limit fan capacity to 20%, or just over 11,000 fans per game. The University of Georgia followed along, stating that fan capacity would range from 20 to 25%.

Georgia State also announced several restrictions for fans attending games at Center Parc Stadium in 2020. While social distancing, mask-wearing and “line queuing designed to maintain social distancing” are all included in the school’s guidelines, an exact capacity limit was not disclosed.

Despite the considerable decrease in fan capacity, athletic directors and facility managers across the country will attempt to satisfy season ticket holders and students alike. UGA Deputy Athletic Director Josh Brooks said that the school would be able to manage the restrictions set in place without much distress.

“It was important for us early on to maintain the student section, and their footprint was not affected,” Brooks said.

“If you look at some of [the student] sections in the past, like [section] 307 was half students, half [Hartman Fund] donors, and [section] 144 may have had some visitors in there — those are now all students. We want clean sections.”

Georgia State Football prepares for COVID-19 guidelines ahead of the 2020 season.

Brooks may be confident in the school’s ability to manage fans, but it is yet to be seen what ramifications will occur. Social distancing or not, fans gathering to watch a football game at Sanford Stadium in 2020 could be pretty risky.

Furthermore, teams with large fan bases such as UGA and LSU will have to make tough decisions when choosing which of the regular 90,000-plus fans can attend games each Saturday in the fall.

While UGA initially sent lackadaisical health advice to students regarding COVID-19, which was later removed, like most schools, it has done little to describe how fans will truly be safe. The likes of the Universities of Alabama and Arkansas have put an end to tailgating in the near future, but the same restriction has not yet made its way to Athens.

“I know Alabama already came out and said no tailgating, and Arkansas is there as well,” McGarity said. “We’re going to wait and see. We don’t have to make that decision right now.”

Each school that chooses to play football in 2020 will take on large risks in allowing fan attendance, even with the most scrutinous guidelines.

While school officials preach about how each new regulation that is being implemented will protect fans, only time will tell whether college football’s resumption is a total disaster or monumental success.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Is college football returning too soon?

Exploring the odds of a delayed GSU football season AARON WILSON JR. Staff Reporter

C

ollege students did not return to the same schools they left in March. They returned with two masks waiting for them at the student center, not many students on campus and no sports events being advertised.

For the southeast, college football is their cash cow.

Make no mistake, college sports are a business: Most Power Five programs, including the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama, rely heavily on the revenue generated by the football season to fund their athletics departments.

There are a couple of reasons for colleges to elect not to play any fall sports this year, primarily health and money. Those were the main issues that plagued schools and conferences, such as the Pac-12 Conference, and were pivotal in their decisions to cancel fall sports.

Colleges knew there would be a financial strain coming as the fall semester inched ever closer to the beginning. The main cause of lost profits comes from having to reduce on-campus dorm capacity.

Now, it is coupled with students electing to take the semester off as well.

Taking those hits while shelling out even more money to pay for all the aspects of keeping players safe isn’t a recipe for financial stability in a semester full of uncertainties. Colleges would have to pay for frequent testing first. Then, they would have to possibly quarantine players in a safe location.

They would also have to be responsible for the health and safety of everyone in their program while not having the luxury of creating a “bubble” or designated safe space.

Under those circumstances, it makes sense that colleges would cut the cost for their proposed commitment to player safety and their bottom lines as well.

SEC schools that generate more considerable revenue can afford to pay for testing, play and mitigate the losses somewhat. In contrast, smaller schools like Kennesaw State and the University of Nevada, have cut their losses where they can and gave up on fall sports early enough to give proper notice to their athletes.

The Panthers football home opener on Sept. 9 against Murray State was canceled, and more could follow at any point given how little can be predicted right now.

On the other hand, basketball is still yet to return. The NCAA pushed back the season’s start until at least Nov. 25, and for a basketball conference like the Sun Belt, it could be a good thing.

The crowds at sporting events will tell anyone which teams the students and alumni enjoy more than any other: men’s and women’s basketball.

It would be worthwhile and financially more secure to focus on something that would be easier to enforce.

It is possible to play winter sports that will provide a higher ceiling in terms of return on investment for Georgia State, including basketball.

Classes are already online, and the NBA bubble has provided the blueprint for health and safety protocols. Throw a flag on the 2020 football season, and prepare for the college basketball season.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

Five draft picks the Hawks want back The five biggest busts in franchise history JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

W

hen it comes to NBA draft day, 30 teams have one goal: to find a player that will benefit them most in the future.

Sometimes, a team hits a homerun and drafts a future Hall-of-Famer; sometimes, they miss out.

The Atlanta Hawks hold the sixth pick in the Oct. 16 draft. With the date around the corner, here are a few picks they probably wish they could have gotten back.

5. DeMarr Johnson Pick, Sixth Overall Selection, 2000

Drafted over the likes of stars like Jamal Crawford and Hedo Turkoglu, Atlanta expected Johnson to be the spark that would help the team get over the hump in the playoffs. Never averaging above nine points a game in a season would not be the reason for that.

In his lone season at Cincinnati, he averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 assists, shooting over 37% from threepoint range. Atlanta was intrigued.

However, Johnson immediately floundered and lasted three seasons in Atlanta.

“

the Hawks for two seasons and was out of the league in 2011.

He came up big in situations and helped the Hawks push the Celtics to seven games [in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs].

”

—BOB RATHBUN Hawks Play-by-play announcer 4. Acie Law, Eleventh Overall Selection, 2007

Drafted out of Texas A&M, Law had a breakout junior year with the Aggies, raising his stock. Along with third-overall pick Al Horford, the Hawks thought they drafted a solid SEC duo.

Unfortunately, he was never able to get the feel for the NBA game. Law averaged just over five points in his best season, which wasn’t even with the Hawks.

Law was only with

3. Jon Koncack, Fifth Overall Selection, 1985 In a draft that featured ten future All-Stars, the Hawks were one of the teams that missed out. The team looked poised to draft a future Hallof-Famer in the class but passed on Chris Mullin, Karl Malone and Joe Dumars.

Stan Kasten, the Hawks’ thengeneral manager, knew the team needed size following their harsh 34-48 finish and selected Koncack out of SMU. He was labeled a bust immediately, landing in a backupcenter position and never lived up to his promise.

2. Marvin Williams, Second Overall Selection, 2005 Selected between future Hall-ofFamers Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, Williams struggled to ever find his way in the NBA. However, he had his moments, and was part of the team that ended the franchise’s playoff drought in 2008.

“People forget how instrumental [Williams] was for that team,” Hawks play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun said. “He came up big in situations and helped the Hawks push the Celtics to seven games [in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs].”

Unlike the others on this list, Williams is still in the NBA today, providing the Milwaukee Bucks with a veteran presence.

1. Shelden Williams, Fifth Overall Selection, 2006 While at Duke, Williams earned the nickname “the Landlord” for his electric playstyle. He floundered in the NBA. Unlike Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams provided no impact to the Hawks whatsoever and didn’t last two seasons in Atlanta.

In his rookie season, Williams only averaged only 10 points and was a nonimpact player on defense. His poor performance caused the Hawks to trade him to the Kings and become forgotten by the team. Williams has not been in the league since the 2011-12 season after playing for seven teams in his five-year career.

Atlanta Hawks fans are upset with the teams choices during the NBA Draft.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

13

From heartbreaks to joy, the Falcons and Saints The best from the NFL’s great rivalry down south MEADOW BARROW Staff Reporter

T

he rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints is one of the most intriguing rivalries in the book.

Current Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan describes every meeting with his rival as feeling very much like a “college [football] type atmosphere.”

The two teams have been at war for the past 53 years since their first meeting in 1967.

The rivalry got even more intense when the two were originally placed in the NFC West division, officially making them division rivals in 1970. This new placement also allowed them to begin playing twice every season.

In the 102 meetings between the teams, the Falcons lead the all-time series 53-49.

Every time these two teams play, whether it is in New Orleans or Atlanta, it is almost guaranteed that both teams will play their hearts out and fight to go home with an exceptional win.

But we are just going to dive into three of the most memorable moments in the FalconsSaints rivalry.

1. Sept. 16, 1973: Tulane Stadium home opener The Falcons came into the game ready to make a clean sweep, leading the game at 24-0 at halftime.

The Saints scored their first, and only, touchdown of the game in the third quarter, and the Falcons continued to dominate throughout the game.

Saints quarterback Archie Manning threw five interceptions as New Orleans turned over the ball eight times as a team.

Atlanta gained 38 more points by the end of the game, shutting down the Saints defense.

The Falcons walked out

of New Orleans with a 62-7 victory, making this win one of the biggest blowouts in NFL history.

2. 1991 NFC Wild Card game

The Saints had a homefield advantage, and late in the fourth quarter, the two teams were tied at 20 points.

With a little under three minutes left in the game, Falcons quarterback Chris Miller threw an unbelievable 61yard pass to wide receiver Michael Haynes, resulting in a touchdown.

With under two minutes left, Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert attempted to put the game into overtime but was unsuccessful.

The Falcons left with a 27-20 victory over their division rival in the playoffs. What better feeling?

3. Sept. 25, 2006: The first game in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina Last, but certainly not least, we look at the first game in the Superdome following Katrina. Many fans from each side consider it one of the most iconic events in not only Saints history, but New Orleans history.

Saints safety Steve Gleason blocked a punt that resulted in the first touchdown since Katrina in the Superdome, which later became known as the “rebirth of New Orleans.”

As simple as this threesecond play must have been, it meant so much to the fans in New Orleans, and it will never be forgotten.

Each game builds up a tremendous amount of anticipation and excitement in the players, coaches and fans. It is what makes the game of football so captivating and why this rivalry brings back the loyal fans of these two franchises.

September 9, 2020

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

Men’s soccer releases 11-game schedule

The South has their beloved high school football again

Fantasy Football is back, and so are the Sunday morning lineup struggles

The men’s soccer team announced its schedule for the 2020 season on Friday, with a few games to note and stories to watch. Before the Sun Belt Conference championships begin at the GSU Sports Complex on Nov. 13, the Panthers will have themselves a solid 2020 season on the pitch.

A key player to watch will be Aris Briggs. Following an exceptional season, the 2019 Sun Belt Player of the Year will be called on as the leader of this team.

High school football returned last week, and the state of Georgia is home to 13 of ESPN’s top 100 players in this year’s recruiting class, including the No. 11 overall prospect in the country, Smael Mondon.

But there was a different feeling to last week’s games.

Freelance content creator Xavier Triche described the state’s attempt to bring the sport back as “high school football lite.”

In 2017, nearly 60 million Americans and Canadians played fantasy sports, and more than 80% of them played fantasy football, according to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association.

After a season that featured surprise players like Los Angeles Chargers’ running back Austin Ekeler, sports fans all over will be tuning in Thursday night as the 2020 season kicks off.

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Student STATEments Alecia Awuah, Senior

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THREE BIG THINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

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’m glad [Georgia State] actually listened to the students regarding the pandemic. Most people are uncomfortable with the fact of walking around campus with thousands of people. The online classes are very beneficial in this case.

THE KICKBACK

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

GAMES

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COMIC

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Black Women’s Dialogue 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Virtual

Healthy State: Suicide Prevention Day 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

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In The (State) Zone: Allyship 101 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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Excel Workshop: Beginner Skills 8:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

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WEDNESDAY

MONDAY

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Application deadline for The Signal 1:00 p.m.

Online

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

Virtual

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SEPT 15

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