The Signal Vol. 88 No. 4

VOL. 88 | NO. 4

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RENOVATIONS AT HURT PARK AFFECT THE HOMELESS PG. 3 NEWS

A GLIMPSE INTO FRESHMAN LIFE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC PG. 10 ARTS AND LIVING

EST. 1933

Independent, impactful & impartial

GEORGIA STATE’S BLACK COACHES REFLECT ON RECENT EVENTS

RACIAL

INEQUALITY

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

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georgiastatesignal.com

BLOTTER SEPT. 4

It’s 5:00 somewhere!

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At 11:16 a.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was arrested for a liquor law violation.

“I needed a key to get in the dorm?!”

At 5:58 p.m., a Georgia State student criminally trespassed the University Commons. The case was exceptionally cleared.

A Georgia State student was a victim of an entering auto at 4:56 a.m. on the N Parking Deck. The case is still active.

SEPT. 8

Rise & Shank!

A Georgia State student was a victim of a simple assault at 9:27 a.m. on John Wesley Dobbs. The case is still active.

SEPT. 9

You had all day to find a DD.

At 11:19 p.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was driving under the influence on Piedmont Avenue. The case was cleared.

Aww! Hope you don’t commute.

A Georgia State student was a victim of larceny and motor vehicle death at 8:48 p.m. The case is still active.

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

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

SEPT. 5

“Does that say N or out?”

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Mayor Bottoms announces phase II of reopening

Wildfires burn up the westcoast

Kim Jong-un visits a region hit by a flood

On Sept. 11, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that the City of Atlanta will return back to phase II of reopening the city. In July, Atlanta was in phase one of reopening, but COVID-19 cases soon increased. There are three phases. According to the White House website, phase II is assigned to “states and regions with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a second time.”

According to USA Today, more than 4.5 million acres of land have burned between California, Oregon and Washington.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and some people are missing.

As of Sept. 10, a total of 23 people have died in California, Washington and Oregon due to the wildfires. The air pollution from the wildfires also has a negative effect on COVID-19 cases.

Rumors about North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un’s death circulated on the internet since the year began. After undergoing open-heart surgery, the public believed that Kim Jong-un was either dead or in a vegetative state. When he wasn’t present at North Korea’s national holiday celebration, Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, was rumored to take his place. On the week of Sept. 1, Kim was seen for the third time in a month. He visited the Hwanghae province to provide flood relief.

NEWS

September 15, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

The fence is set up and construction is underway at Hurt Park

PHOTO BY OLIVIA NASH | THE SIGNAL

On the fence with the homeless people of Hurt Park The park’s renovation further pushes homeless people out of Atlanta J.P. IRIE Staff Reporter

O

n Aug. 27, Hurt Park was publicized for being fenced off for renovations. The homeless who once slept in Hurt Park now sleep on its sidewalks, where police occasionally patrol early in the morning and tell them to scatter.

Many Atlantans have concerns over how homeless people, now literally put on the streets, are treated.

THE ARCHITECTS

While the City of Atlanta owns Hurt Park, Georgia State operates it by maintaining the park’s cleanliness and safety.

The Piedmont Construction Group is renovating the park for Georgia State.

Founded in 1995 by David and Scott Thompson, Piedmont has worked on at least 112 architectural projects throughout Georgia.

Piedmont Construction Group has renovated cafeterias, libraries and classrooms at numerous universities, including Middle Georgia State University, Georgia College & State University and the University of West Georgia. The construction group has also built and renovated lofts throughout Atlanta.

THE PLAN

Last year, Georgia State sent an application to the City of Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission asking for its review of and comment on the renovations. The commission was supposed to finish on Sept. 11 but deferred it to Sept. 25.

The park was known for its untidiness; blankets, socks and cardboard were a common sight. The unkept ground and broken water fountain were sights that marked students’ class commutes.

According to the proposal by Georgia State, renovators would repave the walkways, repair the fountain and increase security patrols.

The Urban Design Commission was concerned with the fence design for the renovation, which was to stretch around the perimeter. But the Department of Parks and Recreations had preliminarily approved the design.

The commission debated with the idea because they believed that the perimeter fence “would … [be] uninviting to visitors and would lead to general disuse of the space.”

“The City [of Atlanta] should be held to a higher standard of urban design,” the Commission’s Staff Report stated. “As such,

[we] strongly encourage [Georgia State] to pursue alternative designs [that] do not include a perimeter fence with locked gates.”

The commission also predicted that the homeless people in Hurt Park would “move to neighboring spaces and spread the issue [of homelessness] throughout the city.” The commission believes that the renovation does not directly address the issue.

“Many cities are exploring [ways to] address [homelessness] by…connecting homeless persons with services and organizations that can [help them],” the commission said. “[We] … strongly encourage [Georgia State] to research these methods and consider their use … for the park.”

THE RESPONSE

Much of the criticism from Atlantans isn’t about the renovations themselves but, rather, the fate of the homeless as a result of the construction work.

On Feb. 5, when Panther Report News reported on the release of blueprints for the renovations, Atlantans were receptive.

“Can’t wait to go back,” Khoa Tran, former art director of Atlanta magazine, said.

Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, posted a picture to Instagram that showed the Georgia State sign behind Hurt Park’s chain-link fence.

“Hundreds of people experiencing homelessness have lost a place where they can find [life-sustaining] resources and a place to rest due to this closure,” the post stated.

Others have expressed the same sentiment across social media, with one Atlantan posting a video of himself on the sidewalk of Hurt Park.

“This [is] how they do people,” he said.

HURT PARK TODAY

On Sept. 6, the lawn of the park was pristine and manicured as the commission prepared for renovation. There was no trash in sight, let alone people. Items like lotion, soap and wrappers could be found around the park’s fence, but the park itself was spotless.

Eugene Lawrence, a homeless person who stayed in Hurt Park, picked up his cardboard from the sidewalk and headed to West End. “Nothing happens in downtown,” he said.

He pointed out a cop cruiser that parked in a spot convenient for looking out for civilians staying too close to the park.

“They runnin’ peoples off,” he said.

Lawrence ended up on the street when his apartment burnt down. Instead of waiting for repairs, he decided he’d fare better staying on the street until he could get another place.

Lawrence said that the homeless now congregate in other places, like churches. They would hang around on the outside; however, they don’t really go inside.

A few other homeless people like him surrounded Hurt Park, though hundreds more are scattered throughout the city.

In January, Partners for Home, a nonprofit charity based in Atlanta, identified 939 unsheltered people; around 31% were chronically homeless.

Partners for Home gathered this data by asking the homeless people to complete surveys.

The number of reported homeless in Atlanta has decreased.

In 2016, the number of homeless encountered was 838; in comparison, the figure was 1,587 in 2011 — almost twice as many.

Even so, there are still hundreds of homeless people on the streets of Atlanta, and Atlantans feel the fence is part of the problem rather than the solution.

AN EPIC SOLUTION

Fidah Arman and Joshua Krivanek are Georgia State students who lead the Homelessness Project Lab, a group of projects dedicated to researching homelessness and presenting alternative solutions and policies to solve the issue.

The lab is part of the EPIC program, which began in the fall last year. On Sept. 10, twelve students in the lab met in a WebEx to discuss research ideas. One student mentioned how hard it was for ex-convicts to integrate back into society, due to their discrimination under the law.

Arman criticized the fence that was put around Hurt Park, believing that there has to be a better solution.

“The money that was spent to put that fence up could’ve been put towards resources that alleviate homelessness,” she said. “So, instead of putting … this border around the problem and trying to wash it away, we could actually come together and say, ‘Hey, here’s a problem and instead of turning a blind eye to it, these are things that we can do.’”

4

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

An overflow of schedule changes

How Georgia State handles overflow requests OLIVIA NASH News Editor

T

The Student Civic Engagement office is hosting virtual interviews for federal workstudy this fall.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Students continue to work on campus Federal Work-Study programs are hiring virtually SAMARIA CLAIR Staff Reporter

T

he Federal Work-Study program is still offering jobs to undergraduate students.

This program provides work experience pertaining to a student’s course of study.

FWS shifted to online for the remainder of last semester, and institutions were required to pay FWS students the same wages they were making before campus closure, according to Federal Student Aid. The federal law allows institutions to continue paying those students who were unable to work.

If a student did not begin working at an institution prior to COVID-19, they are not eligible for student aid and would not be paid FWS wages.

Because Georgia State is paying their faculty and staff, graduate students can continue getting paid FWS wages on salary.

According to U.S. News, 18% of families who average $1,847 in aid relied on work-study to pay for college.

Georgia State student Farqan Abdulla has worked in the Student Life Center on the Clarkston campus beginning fall 2019.

“It is really hard especially with no work and [being] a full-time

student,” Abdulla said.

Although some FWS jobs are back on campus this fall, students may find it very challenging to take part due to the pandemic.

“I loved working in the Student Life Office as a work-study student,” Abdulla said. “I feel like it wouldn’t be safe for us to work in the office again because [it’s] hard to keep our distance when working in such a small space.”

Abdulla lives with her family and doesn’t want to risk them being exposed to the virus.

“I would definitely work again if it was online,” Abdulla said.

Surprisingly, there was no reduction in the number of students that participate in workstudy this semester.

According to the Department of Education’s FY2021 budget request, there was a $680 million reduction in FWS funding. However, Georgia State has not experienced any budget cuts, which results in wages remaining the same for the 20202021 academic year, according to Simmons.

University Career Services continue to offer students help with virtual job searches this fall semester, which includes FWS on campus.

Director of Student Civic

Engagement Ellin McDonough announced that Student Civic Engagement has open positions that can be viewed on Handshake.

“At [Student Civic Engagement,] we run a small program in which students can earn [Federal WorkStudy] through community service,” McDonough said.

“Because of the pandemic, many are now virtual work positions or have the option to be flexible.”

A position SCE offers is to work as service ambassadors.

Handshake is one of the main resources career services provides for students to use when looking for a job virtually that best suits them.

According to Handshake, there are multiple FWS positions that are hiring this fall semester at Georgia State.

The Office of Student Success University Advisement Center and the Student Center are some of the eligible departments that are hiring for part-time student assistants on campus.

Each FWS position wages between $7.50 and $12 an hour.

This amount varies between students as the FWS amount is awarded by financial aid.

hroughout the summer, courses continued to shift from in-person to online right up until the fall semester. With this, students experienced much uncertainty while registering for their classes. Some even claimed that the courses that they once registered for have disappeared.

However, according to the Associate Vice President for Public Relations Andrea Jones, courses were only being shifted around.

“Courses are not disappearing, but the mode in which some courses are being offered continues to change based on faculty availability,” she said. “The students are not being dropped, and the courses should still be registered, but the physical presence requirement may change.”

By the time students began classes, some were unaware of whether it was in an online or in-person setting. They quickly attempted to adjust their schedules.

Many students submitted an overflow request.

Overflow requests are submitted to receive permission to register for a full class. Not the university advisement center nor the registrar handles overflow. Each department grants permission to a request.

The computer science department has its own way of operating requests by implementing a policy.

According to the Undergraduate Director of Computer Science Dr. Xiaolin Hu, this “policy” applies only to the computer science department. He does not know how other departments handle overflow requests.

For example, the College of the Arts doesn’t even offer overflow requests, and students will have to register the next semester if their preferred course

has met maximum capacity.

“Due to [a] large number of overflow requests to [computer science] classes in recent years, we do implement an overflow ‘policy’ (for lack of a better word) to handle the overflow requests,” Hu said. “The overflow ‘policy’ is really about the procedure regarding how we handle the overflow requests.”

The overflow policy’s first step is directing the students’ requests to the computer science department’s undergraduate coordinator, Jamie Hayes.

Hayes keeps a list of the overflow requests based on the timestamps.

“We do not decide who gets approved for overflow in an arbitrary way,” Hu said. “Our general rule is first-come, first-serve based on the timestamps of the overflow requests.”

The first-come, firstserve aspect caused seniors to question the policy when on the brink of graduating. Students fear the possibility of one denied overflow request interfering with their graduation. However, this is not the case.

“If … this class is the only class that holds the student from graduation, then this student will have higher priority for the overflow,” Hu said. “This priority is adopted because otherwise, the student will have to wait for another semester to graduate.”

Though most courses have shifted to an online platform, there remains a maximum capacity that causes students to request overflow.

“We do our best to satisfy students overflow requests, including adding new class sections, increasing class size and making unused seats from cross-listed classes available for the overflows,” Hu said.

“However, this is not always possible due to the limited resources of the departments.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

5

THE SIGNAL

Students participate in a die-in located at Georgia Tech University.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA NASH | THE SIGNAL

College students die to stay alive

Students protest reopening USG campuses by hosting a protest OLIVIA NASH News Editor

T

he month of August consisted of several protests against institutions that planned to reopen amid the pandemic.

Die-ins from the University of North Carolina, the University of Georgia and other University System of Georgia institutions persisted, as students demanded that schools reconsider their plans for the fall.

Students and faculty members from each institution laid in the center of their campus for an hour to silently protest the universities.

Similar to a sit-in, a die-in or a lie-in is when protesters simulate being dead as an act of protest. In this case, it was the reopening of campus.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

On Aug. 6, the demonstrators wore masks as they laid on the university lawn. Many were silent throughout the entire protest as they posed as dead bodies, resembling what they believed could happen upon return to campus.

Students and faculty gathered together with signs ranging from “I can’t teach when I’m dead” and “UGA’s New Chant: Sick ’em! Sick ’em! Sick ’em!” Some cardboard signs were even designed as gravestones as they laid on the protestor’s chest.

According to 11Alive, the die-in occurred on the same day that UGA confirmed to the Atlanta news station that a faculty member had died from COVID-19.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of the University of Georgia community,” a UGA spokesperson said in an email to 11Alive. “Our sympathy goes out to our co-worker’s family and friends.”

Students are required to wear masks and social distance when taking part in face-to-face instruction this fall; however, petitions and protests emerged in opposition to the university’s plan.

Many believe that the university is showing “callous disregard” for the safety of the community.

The United Campus Workers of Georgia organized the die-in.

Accompanying the die-in, demonstrators attempted to present an open letter to the University of Georgia President Jere Morehead.

The letter, written by UGA graduate students, expresses that the university community stands in solidarity with the United Campus Workers of Georgia. The letter also presents demands for the administration.

According to the Red and Black, Union Marshal Savannah Downing attempted to enter the administration building with the 1,000-signature open letter, but the doors were locked due to COVID-19.

All protestors were required to wear masks and remain 8 feet apart. This is farther than the CDC guideline of 6 feet. The socially distanced die-in was one of many that followed.

GEORGIA STATE

On Aug. 17, Georgia State students lay in a white chalk outline on the concrete to protest the reopening of campus.

Organized by Georgia State’s chapter of the United Campus Workers of Georgia, a speak out was held at the University Commons before heading to the Centennial Hall building at 1:10 p.m. About 20 demonstrators showed up.

According to Panther Report News, Georgia State has identified 107 COVID-19 cases between March 19 and Aug. 14.

Cases quickly rose to 132 on Aug. 28. This comes only four days after the start of the fall semester.

Becoming involved through his work with the United Campus Workers of Georgia, Georgia State graduate student Daren Fowler participated in the event.

“There was a call for a statewide day of action to protest the inadequate and dangerous reopening plans of USG universities,” Fowler said. “I and many others at [Georgia State] were outraged over the role of Corvias, a private corporation, and their threats of litigation if the USG diminished dorm capacity.

The financial interests of corporations … were prioritized over the lives and well-being of students and workers.”

Panther Report News posted an Instagram photo of the event as some students responded with their uncertainty of the event’s effectiveness. Comments ranged from “you are scared so you came on campus to lie on the pavement which is germ infested?

Clearly not scared enough” to “so [you all] come to campus to protest being on campus?”

Georgia State student Athena Moore echoed Fowler’s sentiment when commenting on the social media post. “[You all] are mocking the protesting when they’re doing this for [the] students’ benefit,” she said. “USG wants our tuition money so they can send us home, and [they] don’t care who they hurt in the process. Just like civil rights leaders put themselves in danger to fight for their rights, these students are merely doing the same.”

GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE

On Aug. 28, Milledgeville’s Georgia College community added to the list of die-in protests. Students were spread out in the quad for two hours as they demanded the USG and Georgia College to modify fall 2020 plans.

According to the Georgia College COVID-19 reporting,

there were “495 cases of COVID-19 in its community of approximately 7,000 for an infection rate of 7% as of [Aug. 27] at 8:49 a.m.”

There are 686 total reported cases as of Sept. 11 at 8:33 a.m.

Graduate student Denechia Powell helped organize the event and expressed her disappointment in the number of Coronavirus cases.

“That’s unacceptable for us,” she told GPB. “We are demanding that the administration and the University System of Georgia do more to protect us.”

Each chapter of the United Campus Workers of Georgia demanded specific things from their university, but they all reflected the common goal of keeping campuses closed.

Daren Fowler said that the Georgia State community demands items like free and easy access to COVID testing on campus, protection from being laid off and furloughed for all employees and hazard pay for our frontline workers who have been on campus throughout the pandemic.

“

There was a call for a statewide day of action to protest the inadequate and dangerous reopening plans of USG universities

”

— DAREN FOWLER

United Campus Worker of Georgia

“Georgia State has not responded to our demands. USG has also failed to respond to [United Campus Workers of Georgia’s] demand for robust testing and contact tracing for all USG campuses,” Fowler said. “This fight will continue at [Georgia State] and around the state until the lives of workers and students are actually prioritized by the USG, the Board of Regents and the state government.”

OPINIONS

September 15, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

How COVID-19 changed the dating scene

ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

The only wrong way to date right now is without a mask ASHLAR BYLECKIE Staff Columnist

F

or any single person, moving back in with their parents or being trapped in an apartment for an unknown amount of time probably sounds like a curse cast on their love life.

Unfortunately, this was the reality for many college students when they were sent home in March due to COVID-19. Five months later, the dating world is completely different. Masks, socially distanced dates and an ever-evolving hookup culture are the latest trends during these uncertain times.

Socially-distanced dates are awkward and remove the intimacy that separates romantic partners from platonic friends. It is not uncommon to be apart from buddies, but it is hard not to physically engage with someone, especially if they’re attractive.

Especially at a young age, physical desire is a driving factor in many relationships. After all, most of us are under 22 and not exactly looking for “the one.”

Outdoor dates have been rising in popularity since the pandemic started. While that is great for couples who are comfortable being physically active around each other, it puts a lot of pressure on new relationships and first dates.

Being outside in the heat might have the opposite feeling of a cool and collected date night. Neither person really feels like themselves, and it can affect the quality of the date. This situation is a gym rat’s dream and a gamer girl’s nightmare.

Trying to find alternatives to outdoor dates is nearly impossible.

“So many stores and restaurants are closed, basically doing away with any date ideas I have,” Ebony Jordan, a biology major, said.

She’s right. The list of dates to try has become boring after six months. Grabbing a coffee and sitting outside is losing its appeal, especially with the coming winter months.

Jordan also spoke about the pressure that this new way of dating puts on partners.

“They have to be more creative,” she said.

That pressure to have a great date is very relevant in

the modern age. Many of today’s first dates are the first time people are seeing each other in person, thanks to apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

One would think that a pandemic would mean the end of dating apps, but most have sprung into action to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They have had a good sense of self-awareness, and they want to avoid blame for rising case numbers.

For several months, Tinder made its paid passport subscription-free to all its users. This feature allowed students to still connect with people at their university or anywhere in the world.

If Tinder executives were hoping that the intrigue of being able to match with people in other states, or even Europe, would deter young people from going out, they were right.

This feature allowed for a unique escape from the chaos and fear at an all-time high during the spring months. People could justify talking to someone halfway around the world because they couldn’t even connect with people in their hometown.

Tinder has also been diligent in discouraging its users from in-person engagements, with messages saying that now is not the time to meet up and that everyone should stay home.

Another app, Bumble, added a “types of dates” filter that allows users to specify if they are willing to meet up, go on socially distanced dates or are only interested in a virtual rendezvous. It filters out potential matches based on the answer. This is a great idea that acknowledges how consent changes with a pandemic and reassures its users.

The rules have changed for people who are willing to meet up in a more intimate setting than outdoor dates. Kennedy Polhamus, a student at Columbus State University, said she met her girlfriend on Tinder in the last few months.

“I knew her from high school,” Polhamus said. “With everything going on, I wouldn’t have met up with her if I didn’t know her beforehand.”

Her statement emphasizes the newfound sense of

trust COVID-19 has forced people to establish in their relationships.

For those seeking a casual affair, this is a nightmare.

Asking someone if they’ve been tested for COVID-19 is now just as important as asking someone if they’ve been tested for STDs. “Are you bringing a mask?” is the new “Did you bring protection?”

All of these changes make a friends-with-benefits dynamic uncomfortably more intimate. Sexual exclusivity is a necessary precaution right now but can cause mixed signals or emotional complications. For the time being, flings seem to be on hold, or those involved are throwing caution to the wind.

Right now, dating is a bit of a mixed bag. Those in long-term relationships are genuinely winning. Having a monogamous partner with shared trust is something to be extra appreciative of these days. For those hoping to find love, life has almost regressed to a 1950s style of romance, comparable to courting.

Perhaps this change will show true compatibility and give couples time to lay a solid foundation. It may even spare some of the heartache that comes with physical intimacy.

For those looking to up their one night stand count or keep it casual, life is indeed a gamble. Exercise extreme caution and communicate with partners. If said partners aren’t willing to talk about boundaries with COVID-19, don’t engage with them. It is not worth the health risk, and there are people out there willing to discuss limits.

If the stress of a global pandemic makes dating unappealing, that is also a valid sentiment. This is an excellent time for self-reflection or figuring out one’s true desires.

Everyone has to do what’s best for themselves and their love life. But understand that we no longer live in a world where our private activities solely affect our well-being. So, think and act as if others’ lives depend on it because they do.

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

7

Why can’t we use Google in the classroom?

Cheating is the next big thing for success in our careers KENNETH LOCKETT III Staff Columnist

L

ILLUSTRATION BY MARCUS JEFFERSON | THE SIGNAL

Spare your life: please, don’t enlist in the military

With a culture of sexual violence, we should not enlist in the military.

SUSANA DURÁN Staff Columnist

P

lease do not join the military.

Don’t risk losing your life at the hands of your comrades.

There are absurdly high levels of sexual assault and retaliation in the military. Who is not only allowing this to happen but covering it up?

If the military cannot respect and treat their own service members with dignity, what can we possibly expect overseas?

Protect Our Defenders, a non-profit organization that advocates for service members’ human rights, states just how pervasive sexual violence is in the military. In the 2018 fiscal year, 20,500 service members reported being raped or sexually assaulted, a third of whom were men. In just two years, 2016 to 2018, reports of sexual assault and rape increased by 40%, including 50% for women, the highest since 2006.

According to the 2018 Protect Our Defenders Fact Sheet, “Of women who reported a penetrative sexual assault, 59% were assaulted by someone with a higher rank than them, and 24% were assaulted by someone in their chain of command.”

Those who do speak up are likely to be retaliated against.

Vanessa Guillen, a young Latina attempting to serve her country with dignity, died in the most undignified way earlier this year: her dismembered remains were found in a river — three months after she was reported missing from Fort Hood.

According to her family, she was about to make a sexual harassment complaint when she was bludgeoned to death in the armory.

The military killed her.

“

We are losing our sisters, our neighbors, our parents to violence within their ranks.

”

—SUSANA DURAN

Staff Columnist

Many cases also go unreported; 76.1% of victims did not report the crime in FY18.

We must remember LaVena Johnson, a Black woman following in her father’s footsteps, killed 20 years ago.

Johnson was murdered two months after being deployed to Iraq. Her body was found with a black eye, loose teeth and corrosive chemicals over her genitals to cover up any DNA evidence of rape.

She was also found with a gunshot wound to the mouth, which the Army contends proved her death was by suicide.

The military dehumanized her.

Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire, but his fellow service members burned his body, and his family would not be notified until weeks after his memorial service.

The military disrespected him.

Enrique Roman-Martinez from Fort Bragg went camping with fellow service members for the Memorial Day weekend. He went missing; a week later, his partial remains washed onto the shore by the campsite. If his comrades did not kill him, they certainly did not protect him.

The military abandoned him.

This is violence, pure and simple.

An institution dedicated to violence, whether on the offensive or defensive, depending on the president. Why does the institution claiming to uphold our rights violate the lives and bodies of those willing to do so?

We are losing our sisters, our neighbors, our parents to violence within their ranks.

These are the names we know; may we also honor the countless victims whose names we will never know.

Do not join the military; do not risk becoming another name on this list.

et me be clear: I am not advocating for us to start cheating in class. However, does it not seem ridiculous that the use of Google is so frowned upon in the classroom?It looks like, year after year, Georgia State cracks down on cheating more and more. Many professors have outright banned electronics in the classroom. The professional world does not mirror the classroom climate; in fact, our careers will embrace Google as a resource.

During my sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to intern at a law firm. I accumulated a sizable library of law and legal processes but, of course, I don’t know everything. For what I didn’t know, there was a collection of resources in the office.

Still, my first stop was Google for any questions I had.

Google is its own verb now. “Yeah, let me google that” is something many, if not all of us, have said without thinking. We do it in our personal lives, and we are now entering an era where it is encouraged in

“

Once I graduated, I googled practically everything in terms of my work.

”

— TAI JONES

Georgia State Alumni

our professional lives.

A Google search in a classroom can warrant not only a failing grade but potentially expulsion.

This is not only a flawed system but a backward one.

Most tests don’t measure comprehension; they measure retention. They measure how well you remember the information, not if you meaningfully understand it.

What’s the point of knowing that Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached if you don’t understand why he was in the first place?

Now, I could critique the American education system as a whole, but let’s begin with this bit that we could tackle now, much more easily than other issues.

If we are expected to find the answer online at our workplaces, why can’t we do that in the classroom?

I’m a customer service staff member at Publix, and customers come to my desk or call the store asking about different products, like whether we have it in stock or whether it works well with this product or not. If I don’t know the answer off the top of my head, I’m expected to use online resources to find it.

This is a common practice in many modern workplaces. And yet in our classrooms, we are often told to leave our phones in our bags, laptops closed.

As former Georgia State student Tai Jones explained, “Once I graduated, I googled practically everything in terms of my work. My professors really made it seem like using the Internet was the worst thing possible. But even my boss does it.”

If Georgia State was indeed the innovative university it so often likes to proclaim that it is, then it’s time to update the model. Encourage the use of diverse research methods in the classroom so that we do not rely so heavily on Google and Wikipedia for everything. Don’t just teach the material; show us where to find it and why it matters in the grand scheme of things because cheating isn’t what you made it out to be.

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

Is fast fashion worth the price?

JENELLE RYAN & KELVIN COLLINS

Staff Columnists

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e have all shamefully ignored the devastating effects the fast fashion industry has had on the entire world.

It has done irreversible damage to the environment and taken advantage of cheap labor worldwide. The industry uses wide profit margins and our culture’s quickly changing taste in trends to create a trillion-dollar industry. Here we have provided information to inspire you to wear sustainable, ethical clothing.

The journal Laws published that “the fashion industry’s very raison d’être is inherently diametrically opposed to sustainability,” as they rely heavily on “the fashion paradox.” This relationship exists between consumers’ insatiable need to own the most exclusive and latest trends and the trend’s subsequent loss of desirability as more people buy the same garments.

This dichotomy creates massive amounts of waste and pollution.

Garments continuously come in and out of style, with many ending up in landfills once the trend has passed.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2017 alone, 8.9 million tons of clothing were disposed of in landfills.

Additionally, synthetic microfibers make up an estimated 85% of human-made debris on ocean shorelines. Unlike natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, they may take 200 years or more to decompose.

Water pollution from synthetic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic microfibers has entered the human food chain through our consumption of aquatic animals and our drinking water. In addition to microfibers, water pollution from chemical dyes is a growing concern within the scientific community.

The Journal of Natural Science reports that the textile dyeing industry contributes an estimated 17% to 20% of global industrial water pollution. The use of synthetic dyes that contain highly toxic chemicals should concern you. These chemicals include chromium compounds, acetic acid, arsenic, lead and mercury, all of which appear on the CDC’s Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) list.

In addition to water pollution, the global fashion industry accounts for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, which arise from both the production and supply chain processes.

Unfortunately, global pollution is only some of the crimes the fast fashion industry has committed against humanity. The ethics of labor, or lack thereof, are well known and horrifyingly overlooked within the fast fashion industry.

The low they are u should hav fashion co reported b Three ye when The in Myanm labor may education The hea workers fa compiled a effects, inc physical an middle-in ignored.

“

T m t d

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w cost of the clothing comes at the workers’ expense, as underpaid and exploited. Among them are children, who ave no business working in hazardous conditions. Fast ontributes to the 73 million children in dangerous work by the International Labor Organization in 2019. ears ago, popular British retailers were in the hot seat e Guardian reported their clothes were made by children mar who were paid what equates to 17 U.S. pennies. Child y not be entirely illegal, but it contributes to halting n and developmental growth. alth risks, both mentally and physically, that child ace are staggering. The Journal of Public Health a systematic review of child labor’s detrimental health cluding malnutrition, poor growth and drug, verbal, and sexual abuse. The study primarily focuses on low and ncome countries. Fast fashion’s involvement cannot be

“

This world is built on modern-day slavery, where the humanity of millions is disrespected and disregarded.

”

attendance, family income and status, daily working d likelihood of abuse, in its different forms, were found ciated with the mental health outcomes in working according to the journal. tured study of child labor in Turkey concluded that the child laborers were subjected to abuse at their es; 21.8% physical, 53.6% emotional and 25.2% sexual.” ame journal, it was reported in Brazil that turing workers had a “significantly increased risk for keletal pain and back pain, while child workers in services had 17% more musculoskeletal pain and 23% k pain than non-workers.” ould you feel as a child to endanger yourself every day e who do not have your best interest? This world is modern-day slavery, where the humanity of millions is espected and disregarded. Many people are aware that this is happening, but the fashion industry hides it from the public.

Empathy is sorely lacking for child laborers, especially in the United States. A lot is happening globally, and many people’s lives are worse than they were eight months ago. But the well-being of these children has been ignored for what feels like an eternity. All of this suffering occurs just so the rich become richer.

The U.S. also has its own child labor issues, but adults primarily make clothing. Adults work below minimum wage in their own backyard. Over 90% of workers in the global garment industry cannot negotiate their wages or working conditions, according to the global trade union IndustriALL. Several movements fight to protect laborers and the environment. Fashion Revolution has compiled a list of organizations that fight against the effects of fast fashion. To make a difference, you should be aware of the retailers who participate in these heinous crimes.

Unfortunately, sustainably-made clothing costs increase because proprietors do not cut corners. Having a sustainable supply chain means that they have to produce less and charge more. Buying clothes with ethics in mind is difficult when shopping for cheap and quickly-produced clothes is best for you financially.

No brand is entirely ethical, but brands such as ABLE, VERLOOP, People Tree, and PACT have taken strides to alleviate the carnage done by fast fashion. Amour Vert and The Conscious Outfit have local stores in Atlanta for your post-COVID visitation.

Popular brands like Levi’s, Patagonia and Columbia have varying degrees of ethical practices as well.

If you want a more comfortable and affordable way to take a stand, thrift shopping and buying fewer clothes can make a difference. If you’d like to diversify your style while remaining sustainable, consider doing a clothing swap with your friends.

For a more adventurous, do-it-yourself approach, learn to sew and repair your own clothing. You can use fabric or old garments you’ve lost interest in. This way, you can regain interest in your wardrobe without purchasing new items.

Professor Dilys Williams from the London College of Fashion believes that the fashion industry’s current trajectory must change soon for the good of our planet and its people.

“Do we want to sustain the fashion industry as it currently is, or do we want to live within planetary boundaries and [honor] human equality? If we do, we do need to take a more eco-centric perspective.”

ILLUSTRATION AND LAYOUT BY MONIQUE ROJAS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

September 15, 2020

Student’s smart guide to voting this November Learn about 2020 election details in a swing state NIDA MERCHANT Staff Reporter

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anthers, it’s time to elect a president. According to NPR, 18 to 35-year-olds now constitute the country’s largest voting bloc, composing approximately 31% of the electorate. Despite the high number of eligible voters, young people are also the least likely to vote. This election, students can make history.

The New York Times reported that 2016 presidential election exit polls revealed that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was expected to win by a landslide of 85%.

The outcome of the 2016 election was far from expected by the media and polling results. Politico reported that Georgia voted majority red by just 5.7%. The state election came down to 200,000 votes.

This November, Georgia is one of eight states where the election is expected to be secured. As an official swing state, each vote will determine who will serve as the U.S.’s 46th president.

Regardless of political stances, voting is essential in making an impact in the presidential election. When getting ready to vote, here are a few things to consider:

Step one: Check your eligibility.

Make sure you can vote by going through the following checklist: • Must be an American citizen • Must be 18 years old • Cannot be serving a sentence or have committed a felony • Cannot be deemed legally incompetent

Step two: Register to vote.

Make sure you have registered to vote through the Georgia Online Voter Registration system. Remember, the final day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 5.

Alongside voter registration, make sure you and your family have filled out the U.S. census form. Every ten years, the federal government sends out a survey that checks the national population. By filling out the census, appropriate resources and funds are distributed. The census helps allocate hospitals, schools and divide voting polls as well.

The census is due by Sept. 30 and is required to be

completed according to the U.S. Constitution. The form takes less than 10 minutes to complete and can be found here.

Step three: Confirm your voter status.

One of the essential steps in registering to vote is checking your voter registration status. Often, many people are barred from voting for several reasons. According to the AtlantaJournal Constitution, Georgia reportedly did not count approximately 87,000 votes, making it the nation’s most extensive voting purge.

In the 2018 gubernatorial election, state voter disenfranchisement was reported particularly around Black and brown communities. Frustration was apparent, with many not being able to submit their ballot.

“I stayed in line despite a three-hour-and-10-minute wait because my ancestors sacrificed too much for me to be stopped from exercising my right to vote,” Raney Branch, a Black American, told The Washington Post. “The volunteers told us they were not allowed to test the ballot machines before 7 a.m. How are people supposed to know the machines work if they can’t test them first? Makes no sense.”

It is also incredibly crucial to make sure you are registered to vote in your desired county and voting booth. College students are often registered to vote on-campus or in their hometown, so make sure you are voting from the correct location — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where student locations often vary.

Georgia allows voters are also given the option to declare their political party affiliation. Your voter ballot may be reflective of either party candidates.

Step four: Absentee ballots and voting in-person

Voters are given the option to submit an absentee ballot or vote in-person this November. Each route has its pros and cons. Georgia allows everyone to vote by absentee ballot if they desire, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, voters were more than likely to vote by absentee.

As listed above, voters faced many obstacles in submitting their ballot in the primary election in Georgia. Many voters in counties surrounding Atlanta stood in line for hours due to paper ballot and machine voting discrepancies. With the

primaries ending just a few months back, it is essential to stay wary of these issues.

Mail-in ballots have their drawbacks as well. A recent trend of U.S. Postal Service mailbox removals has worried some lawmakers and constituents, and mail delivery has slowed down across the country.

If this trend continues, the Postal Service has warned Americans that it might not deliver their absentee ballot in time. Voters are encouraged to submit their absentee ballot as soon as possible to ensure their vote is counted.

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, the final day to request a ballot is Oct. 30th on the Georgia.gov website.

Note that the request form acceptance, deliverance and voter acceptance takes several days. All ballots must be premarked before the election date.

If you plan to vote in person, understand that your safety comes first. Consider necessary CDC guidelines and prepare for a long line. Also, make sure to bring a legal government ID to the polls.

Early voting begins from Oct. 12-30. Election day is Nov. 3.

As a student, you can help make a monumental impact in your community besides voting.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation faces a poll worker shortage since most U.S. poll workers are over 60 years old and at the highest risk of contracting the disease.

Georgia State alumnus and 2019-20 Panther of the Year Evan Mabrough was able to kickstart the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project.

Helping start up one of the country’s first student-run polls at Georgia State, Malbrough created the student initiative to promote youth involvement as a poll worker.

So far, he has recruited over 500 students aged 16 and up.

For more information about the program, or to register as a paid volunteer, visit the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project webpage.

Being a young voter today is not enough. You must pay attention to the laws, regulations and steps you can take to be a productive American. As a student, you have a unique opportunity to understand American politics and how it affects you today.

INFOGRAPHIC BY BROOKLYN VALERA | THE SIGNAL

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

11

A day in the life of a freshman during COVID-19 Freshmen explain their firstyear college experience so far JADA JONES Associate Arts & Living Editor

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eorgia State welcomed its largest freshman class this year, amidst a global pandemic, with about 54,000 first-year students enrolled and 5,200 of them attending the Atlanta campus.

Freshman year of college comes with so many firsts, like the first college party, football games and, for most, the first time living away from home. For the freshman class of 2024, the firstyear experience is vastly different from previous years.

However, freshmen must adhere to the university’s COVID-19 guidelines, even if they are eager to attend social gatherings.

Instead of going out to explore campus and city life, freshmen are logging into classes from their dorm rooms and finding new ways to entertain themselves while staying at home.

Freshman Amber Burnette lives at University Commons and attends most of her classes virtually, except for two blended courses that meet in-person every two weeks. Freshmen like Burnette won’t know the trials of long nights out with friends or waking up for an 8 a.m. class.

“I … don’t have a strict morning routine to get ready for classes,” Burnette said. “I just set an alarm, take a shower and sign onto iCollege to do work.”

Freshman year usually brings new friends, as everyone mingles with other first-year students at residence hall-sponsored events and big lecture halls. This semester, Burnette’s roommate is the only person with whom she regularly interacts.

“I do hang out with friends, but we don’t do anything to put us at risk,” she said. “I have been hanging out with my roommate and one other friend, and we mostly just

hang out in our living room and watch TV or study.”

Freshman Bill Burge also stays at University Commons. Like Burnette, Burge has a few inperson classes and has a pretty laid-back routine for getting ready in the mornings. “[On] days without inperson classes, my routine is just getting up, eating breakfast and starting on the day’s work,” he said.

In a typical semester, Georgia State would hold an annual student organization fair around the second week of September to showcase all of the organizations on campus. Students would learn information about the organization, how to join and meet current members.

The absence of this event due to COVID-19 has made it difficult for first-year students to get involved around campus.

“I do not participate in any extracurriculars because I couldn’t really find [any] or what they’re even about,” Burge said.

Though this year may look different from what freshmen envisioned for their first year, students are still trying to enjoy themselves.

“I thought I’d be joining lots of clubs, going out and exploring Atlanta,” Burnette said. “But my roommate and I have been having fun while taking the proper precautions, so I’ve had lots of fun since I moved in.”

Both students had an idea of what their first year would look like, but unfortunately, a pandemic drastically skewed the reality of their first year. Luckily, Burge and Burnette had months of adjusting to the “new normal” called life and were prepared for their first year of college to be what they made of it.

Period @ Gsu Rebrand And Controversy.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE CYCLE

A new era of change in the menstrual movement

PERIOD @ GSU rebrands, becoming The Cycle GSU KRISTY RIVERA Staff Reporter

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ERIOD aims to promote acceptance and diversity of women and their bodies, having prided themselves on advocating for the menstrual movement through community service and public advocacy.

In June, a scandal surrounding its founder overshadowed its original values.

PERIOD founder Nadya Okamoto was accused of convincing smaller menstrual advocacy organizations to become PERIOD chapters, allowing her to avoid potential competition and take full credit for others’ work.

Smaller organizations, such as Code Red Co, were created by women of color who thought they were entering a partnership but were instead pushed aside by PERIOD. The public backlash from the scandal coincided with the recent resurgence of Black Lives Matter, leading many chapters to rebrand themselves and independently contribute to the menstrual advocacy campaign.

Georgia State’s PERIOD chapter chose to rebrand, becoming The Cycle GSU. The organization chose to rename the group to sever ties with PERIOD’s national organization.

Georgia State’s PERIOD chapter thrived on being all about inclusivity and creating a safe space for diverse conversations on menstrual health. It was only natural that this rebranding happened promptly following this scandal.

President of The Cycle GSU Genesis Williams agrees with this sentiment as she hopes to carry on these values and disassociate from the chapter’s former title.

“We are a diverse organization, but [on] our executive board, many of our

members happen to be Black women,” Williams said. “It didn’t sit well with us to know that [Black, Indigenous and people of color] women and men basically created that organization and were never rightfully credited for it. In solidarity with our peers and family, we decided that we would rebrand and dissociate ourselves from PERIOD rather than disbanding.”

The rebranding was essential for the organization to foster a space of inclusivity in the menstrual movement.

“Since our debut, we have received so much love, and many people agree and approve of our decision to rebrand,” she said. “We want The Cycle to be a safe space for everyone. Every voice will be heard, appreciated and will have a part in this growing movement.”

The organization has no plans to slow down following this rebranding. They look forward to continuing to impact this movement.

“There is lots of work to be done in this movement,” Williams said. “We have many events, community service opportunities and bonding to do. It’s

“

truly going to be an amazing year for us and our movement.”

The Cycle has been working towards establishing themselves through community work and virtual events as they aim for their impact to be more considerable among the Georgia State community.

The Cycle public relations chair Brittnie Watson agrees with this as she hopes to see the organization accomplish big things this school year.

“Even though we are small and fairly new on campus, we are making big moves,” Watson said. “One of our goals is trying to dismantle the tampon tax, which places heavy taxes on menstrual items.

We have been working alongside other period organizations to dismantle this tax hopefully.”

Although facing many changes, the organization’s values remain authentic to itself. This authenticity will hopefully lead to a greater impact on campus and in the Atlanta community.

We want The Cycle to be a safe space for everyone. Every voice will be heard, appreciated and will have a part in this growing movement.

— GENESIS WILLIAMS President of The Cycle GSU

”

SPORTS

September 15, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

GSU’s Black coaches speak out on unarmed Black deaths Rob Lanier and Cliff Warren reflect on recent events and advocate for social reform MARQUIS CHAMBERS Staff Reporter

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scar Grant was killed in Oakland, California, late New Year’s Night at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer’s hands. He was 22 years old and unarmed when he took his last breath.

Trayvon Martin was gunned down late at night by George Zimmerman eight years ago. In the following weeks, children across the country came to school wearing hoodies with Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea cans in their pockets.

Eric Garner was put in a chokehold by a New York police officer while arresting him, leading to widespread national attention about police officers’ excessive use of force. He was 27 years old when he was murdered.

George Floyd’s neck was pressed into the concrete by a member of the Minneapolis Police Department for eight minutes and 46 seconds straight. He left behind a wife and five children. Floyd was 46 years old when he told officers he could not breathe.

Breonna Taylor was 26 years old when three officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department shot her eight times in her own home.

Jacob S. Blake, 29 years old, unarmed and paralyzed, was shot seven times,. Not just Kenosha, Wisconsin, but rather the entire world, was put on pause yet again for everyone to face the tragedy that continues to happen in this country.

Lots of names, but there was one common feature: their skin color.

When will it stop?

For the Black community, the continued struggles, grief, anger and disappointment that hangs over the fallen victims’ heads are overbearing. They shed little light at the end of the tunnel when thinking about social progress.

The protest, riots and kneeling during the national anthem are not enough to convey the message that no matter who you are, no one has the liberty to take a life.

This is especially clear in these cases of unarmed Black people.

In the basketball community, Panthers men’s basketball head coach Rob Lanier is a big advocate for social justice, social reform and understanding. His voice is well recognized in the basketball world for more than just the game. Lanier speaks out on what matters and continues the fight for justice every day.

“The reality is that, you know, obviously Black people have a history in this country. And so when these things happen, I think it resonates in the Black community in a way that is difficult for people to relate to,” Lanier said.

For Lanier, the situation is not a chess game, but rather a problem with a solution.

“Put simply, I think it comes down to accountability, and I keep hearing about people talking about noncompliance,” he said. “I would always recommend when you find yourself in a situation dealing with law enforcement to comply. But non-compliance should not result in a death sentence.”

The technology era has allowed us to hold many people accountable for their wrongdoings in the world.

Everyone has a smartphone in their hands at all times, which is the difference from previous generations. You only heard about the different incidents the day after it happened or on the radio.

“Unfortunately, young people growing up today have been exposed to it so much visually,” Coach Lanier said.

“We didn’t have camera phones. I mean, we saw footage of the Rodney King beating. My son [and] people your age saw the footage of Tamir Rice. You saw the movie on Oscar Grant.”

The importance of mental health has always been

a priority; however, it has taken a massive leap into the forefront of individuals due to recent events and making sure their mental health is taken care of. Many Black parents must have “the talk” with their children at an early age.

Cliff Warren, an assistant coach for the Georgia State basketball team, helped start Coaches For Change, allowing student-athletes to ensure their mental health is on track and have the resources at their disposal.

“I think one of the things Coaches For Change is trying [is] to educate our [student-athletes], empower our student-athletes to have their voice and use their platform,” Coach Warren said. “We’re trying to evolve

“

The upcoming generation has the power to create change and use their voices along with different platforms to educate individuals on how important it is to go out and vote.

— CLIFF WARREN GSU Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach

”

our student-athletes into mature young men and leaders in their community and empower them.”

Additionally, Warren hopes the current generation can be the one that continues the change so many are looking for at the political level. A father of two future Black men in today’s society, Coach Warren hopes that his children grow up in a country where they do not have to face racism each day on their Twitter feeds. He wants to make sure he and his wife, Jennifer, can raise their children in a well educated society on an issue that has been neglected for too long.

“I think one of the best [things] that we’ve done thus far across the country is trying to educate our players on the power of voting,” Coach Warren said. “The upcoming generation has the power to create change and use their voices along with different platforms to educate individuals on how important it is to go out and vote.”

Beyond just seeing new people in the office, Warren believes that a change must happen, or else it will be too late.

The killings of unarmed Black men and women in America have to stop, and the only way to do so is to come together while forcing change because the earlier protest and riots were not merely enough. We must continue to endure this difficult time as a society and make adjustments if they want to make progress.

In 1857, Frederick Douglas said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

A century and a half of struggles later, the progress seems more visible than ever before.

ILLUSTRATION BY ROE GASSETT | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

13

From the Congo, to Cincinnati, to Georgia State

Panther Eliel Nsoseme shares his motivation on the court JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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orn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Panthers men’s basketball Eliel Nsoseme has had an interesting path leading him to Georgia State.

The 6-foot, 9-inch junior forward looks to significantly impact his first season with the Panthers and now reflects on his path that led him to Georgia State.

Nsoseme’s passion for basketball started late as a teen but has grown since his high school days in Canada.

“I started playing basketball six years ago, so not a long time [ago],” Nsoseme said. “The first thing I did was crash the boards as much as I [could] until I [got] a rebound.”

His 230-pound frame makes him one of the team’s strongest players, but his family is his primary motivation.

The Congo is one of the poorest nations on Earth, ravaged by the effects of colonialism and sectarian violence. Growing up, Nsoseme was humbled.

When he realized his talents, he sought to use it for his family’s good.

“The first thing I do when I wake up is pray for my family,” Nsoseme said. “I ask God to protect them.”

Coming out of high school, the three-star recruit committed to the University of Cincinnati in 2016. Nsoseme’s ability to be an aggressive rebounder and stout on defense led him to join one of the best programs in the American Athletic Conference, the Bearcats.

During his tenure at Cincinnati, he won the conference title and coincidentally defeated Georgia State in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

During his time with the Bearcats, Nsoseme was a ferocious rebounder and defender, and he averaged 1.6 blocks in 13.4 minutes per game in 2018.

Nsoseme says his drive on the court came from his desire to help his family.

Never did Nsoseme believe that he would end up joining the same team he defeated just a year later. Before joining the Panthers, Nsoseme heard of the success of the Panthers from their run in 2015. The Panthers in the last decade have become arguably one of the best mid-major programs in the country.

“I saw [Ron] Hunter fall off his stool against Baylor,” Nsoseme said in a laugh about the former men’s basketball head coach. “I knew Georgia State had a really quality program.

While Nsoseme found success with the Bearcats, he was active only in a reserve role. When he looked at programs to transfer, he chose Georgia State due to its success and being able to impact the court. Nsoseme redshirted in 2019, but that has not stopped his enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

“I can’t wait to start playing,” Nsoseme said.

“None of this would’ve been possible without God, and I’m excited for this journey.”

When head coach Rob Lanier recruited Nsoseme, he saw someone who could be a valuable Panthers asset.

Georgia State has its work cut out for it as they face the Michigan Wolverines and crosstown rival, Georgia Tech, whenever the 2020-21 season begins.

Nsoseme’s journey, from the Congo to Cincinnati and now to Georgia State, is about perseverance and humble beginnings.

While his stats on the court will only measure his impact, his influence will surely be felt off the court as well. Nsosme’s drive and determination will be much needed come the upcoming season for the Panthers.

Zully Douglas is nominated as the new Cross Country Assistant Head Coach.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GSU ATHLETICS

Zully Douglas ready to start life’s next chapter

Q&A: Track and field assistant coach’s journey to GSU MEADOW BARROW Staff Reporter

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eorgia State women’s track and field head coach Kyle Stevenson announced that Miami native Zully Douglass has been named the new cross country and track and field assistant coach at Georgia State.

“Coach Douglass is truly a rare find,” Stevenson said. “Our program was missing a few elements, and she brings a great deal of those to the table.”

Stevenson points out that the team has “a huge international footprint when recruiting,” and his new assistant’s Latinx roots “will allow those ties to grow stronger.”

He admitted that the team “[lacks] local/regional relationships with the distance community” and emphasized how “[Douglass] will be able to secure recruiting in our backyard, along with building support with our local community.”

Coach Douglass attended the University of Miami, and throughout her life, she has played many sports and won several championships.

Her tenacity and experience in the sports community make her a perfect fit for this position.

Meadow Barrow: What about Georgia State, and Atlanta, in general, makes you happy to be here?

Coach Douglass: I am happy to be in such a diverse place. It’s also nice to experience the four different seasons of the year.

MB: What is your favorite thing about coaching, and what are the strengths that you bring to this team?

CD: I enjoy the fact that I can relate to the athletes. I am an avid runner, which really helps me … understand the training they are going through on a personal level.

MB: How passionate are you about sports?

CD: I’m very passionate about sports because I believe they can be lifechanging [regarding] mental health, economic equality, exposure to different cultures, places and people, discipline, teamwork and many other positive aspects for participants.

MB: Did you play a sport in college?

High school? If so, what was your

favorite memory as an athlete? Did you win any championships?

CD: I played several sports, [including] softball, baseball, flag football, basketball, cross country and track. In high school, I concentrated on track and field. Individually, I won several championships in high school. In college, [I] contributed to two indoor and outdoor conference championships.

MB: What about the University of Miami did you love the most?

CD: I loved the positivity around campus and the willingness [of] my professors and coaches to help me succeed.

“

relationships are uplifting, positive and loving.

MB: How have Coaches Stevenson, Ramsey and Marshall helped you transition into this new role? Has anyone else been a big help to you?

CD: Coach Kyle has been beyond helpful going the extra mile, and each of the track coaches met with me quickly to offer their support and willingness to help me transition. I really appreciated that. There are so many new issues to navigate during this pandemic, and it’s nice that they are guiding me and

Coach Douglass is truly a rare find. Our program was missing a few elements, and she brings a great deal of those to the table.

— KYLE STEVENSON Track and Field Head Coach

MB: What made you want to major in educational leadership, specializing in world languages?

CD: Education is important to me.

There are so many people around the world, especially women, who are unable to receive a formal education, and I wanted to make sure not to take my education for granted. I am a native Spanish speaker, and it was important to me to be able to professionally communicate in Spanish.

MB: Who or what has been your biggest support system? How? CD: My biggest support system is my family. They cheer me on every step of the way.

MB: What is your relationship with your family like?

CD: I’m thankful that my family

”

volunteering their time to support me.

My former supervisors from Atlanta International School, Kevin and Stephanie Glass, Reilly Campbell, Dee Dee Dennis, Kendyl Moss and Khaili Sanders, have been extremely supportive and congratulatory to me.

MB: As the new cross country/track and field assistant coach, what are you most excited for?

CD: As the new assistant coach, I am most excited to learn the different training programs for specific events.

MB: What are your plans for the future?

CD: [I plan] to be the best assistant coach that I can be and take it one step at a time as I develop new skills.

September 15, 2020

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

Welcome Back, Mikele Colasurdo

Falcons drop season opener

22-year old Naomi Osaka wins the 2020 US Open

For Atlanta Falcons fans, the season finally returned with a home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Falcons ultimately lost 38-25, after a dominant performance from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Despite the loss, the Falcons saw solid performances from star wide receiver Julio Jones and quarterback Matt Ryan. In a stacked NFC South, Atlanta will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in Week 2, looking to flip the switch early in the season.

ts

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en

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M

ud St

Student STATEments Zachary Francois, Photographer

H

E S I GNA

en

After a series of unfortunate events in the last month, freshman quarterback Mikele Colasurdo has been cleared to play this season for the Panthers. The school previously announced that the former three-star high school recruit would be out for the season after being diagnosed with myocarditis, a disease linked to COVID-19. While Colasurdo is not the projected starter for Saturday afternoon’s season opener, the splendid news provides the team with a player eager to learn.

-T

THREE BIG THINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

t statem

y statement is that “The Signal” should relinquish all social commentary of the marginalized of the student body. We are tired of being stepped over in every aspect from being gaslit in the classroom to the nepotism that plague student organizations. Let the never ending grip of our lives go and provide us with the platform to speak so that we can constructively engage the issues in which we face on and off campus.

On the women’s side, the U.S. Open has crowned a champion. Naomi Osaka defeated Victoria Azarenka in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. This marks Osaka’s third major and second U.S. Open victory in three years. The 22-year-old made headlines after wearing a different mask each match honoring African Americans who fell victim to violence. Osaka would take the mic after each match to bring even more awareness.

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Could be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Gallery Show: Phantom Fields Until Dec. 14 Perimeter Campus

Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Reduction 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Virtual

Rights & Rebels: A Constitution/Citizenship Day Conversation 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m Virtual

Urban Studies Annual Research Roundabout 3:00 p.m.

Virtual

Women’s Soccer @ Appalachian State 5:00 p.m.

SEPT 18

THURSDAY SEPT 17

WEDNESDAY SEPT 16

TUESDAY

Volleyball vs. Mercer 6:00 p.m.

GSU Sports Arena Men’s Soccer @ Mercer 7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Football Season Opener vs.

Louisiana 12:00 p.m.

Center Parc Stadium

Decatur Short Docs Film Festival Screening 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Virtual

Hot Wings Hot Topics 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Virtual

Women’s Cross Country Meet @ Julius Johnson Invite 10:00 a.m.

SEPT 21

SATURDAY SEPT 20

SEPT 19

SEPT 15

THE KICKBACK