July 16, 2019 KSU Sentinel

JULY 16

2019

Vol. 53 Issue 1 | Since 1966

THE SENTINEL Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel

NEWS

www.ksusentinel.com

Professor defends against fake news accusations

FLASHER FLEES AFTER INCIDENT

Jake Drukman | Staff Writer A Kennesaw State professor recently defended himself after being accused of virally sharing fake news earlier this year regarding the 2019 Nigerian general election on his Twitter.

KSU associate professor of journalism Dr. Farooq Kperogi tweeted a video in February of what appeared to be a Nigerian election official thumb-printing several election ballots. In the tweet, the Nigerian-born professor called the action “shameless rigging.”

Kperogi also shared another video of what appeared to be electoral thumb-printing, this time calling the election a “sham democracy.”

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OPINION

TUITION INCREASE NOT WORTH IT Startt references Motown music and artists such as Bruce Springsteen being his sources of inspiration.

Photo courtesy of Just a Fan Photography

KENNESAW GRADUATE DITCHES CAREER PLANS TO MAKE MUSIC Mady Sanchez | Staff Writer pg. 4

ARTS AND LIVING

ALUMNUS’ TWEET SPARKS DEBATE

pg. 5

SPORTS

SOCCER SEEKS TO SUSTAIN SUCCESS

pg. 8

A 2013 study by Career Builder found that one in three college graduates have jobs completely unrelated to their major.

Perhaps nobody knows this better than Trevor Startt, a musician who graduated from Kennesaw State in 2007 as a communications major.

Startt is a singer-songwriter from Kennesaw who grew up singing in his church and constantly surrounded by a world of music. He described his taste in music as “eclectic” and said he was raised on anything from Motown to Bruce Springsteen.

“I’ve been in music ever since I can remember,” Startt said.

“I had always drawn feelings from it and connected with it emotionally, even before I knew what that meant.”

The musician said he enjoys pulling inspiration from a range of classic rock songwriters including James Taylor, Bruce Hornsby and Fleetwood Mac. Startt said that he remembers riding in the passenger seat of his dad’s 1985 Honda Accord listening to these artists who would later greatly influence his original music.

“I try to draw inspiration from everywhere,” Startt said.

“Music is such a wide spectrum and each part of it should be appreciated.”

Startt began his adult music career when he spent seven years in a band that focused on wedding and corporate gigs. Now, he can be found playing cover gigs at local restaurants and

breweries around Kennesaw, Woodstock, Canton and more.

Over the past year, Startt was able to get back into the flow of recording and producing music. He released a few singles and a full album titled “Delusion Days,” between 2014 and 2016, but then took a break to find himself and his music.

“I needed to go through another season of writing and life to produce something that I was happy to write and that others would want to listen to,” Startt said.

In March of this year, Startt jumped back into the game and released a single titled “All On Me.” Startt said that the song came from a fierce feeling of regret and the weight of responsibility that he felt after ending a relationship with a girl that lived near Piedmont Park in Atlanta.

“I play a lot of songs in my own home that only me and my cat hear so it was nice to finally put something out that I wanted others to hear,” Startt said.

Throughout 2019, Startt plans to continue playing local gigs and release a new single on all streaming platforms each quarter.

While “All On Me” has a melancholy sound to it, Startt said that his new single coming out in June will be much happier and more upbeat.

For more information about Startt, visit trevorstartt.com or find him on Instagram @trevorstarttmusic. Startt’s music is available wherever music is sold or streamed.

Gray sets American decathlon record, aims for Olympic spot Rio White | Managing Editor Just over a month after finishing her Kennesaw State career, track and field athlete Jordan Gray set a new American alltime record at the Women’s Decathlon Association National Championships on June 22 and 23.

Although Gray specialized in the heptathlon during her time at KSU, her ambitions, skill level and continued training with former KSU track director Andy Eggerth allowed her to add three more events to her repertoire.

Gray broke a 19-year-long record for the decathlon by totaling 7,921 points in the competition, breaking numerous records and setting personal bests along the way.

She began her record-setting performance with a time of 12.16 seconds in the 100-meter dash — good enough for an American record time and just 0.01 seconds off the world record.

Later on in the competition, Gray set a world record in the long jump and finished with the best scores in other events.

As a result of her record scores, Gray was named as the USATF Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career.

“I definitely go into each event shooting for as many points as I can,” Gray said. Knowing where your strengths and weaknesses are is important, so you can have a solid plan.”

Now that Gray has become accomplished on the national

stage, she will be looking to earn a spot on the United States national team, with the goal of making the women’s heptathlon team at the 2024 Olympic games.

Currently, there is not a decathlon event for women at the Olympic level, but Gray still has her sights set at breaking further records.

“I have specific goals, like breaking 6,000 points in the heptathlon at the U.S. championships,” Gray said. “It’s more so a thing I’ve been passionate about that I want to progress forward.”

With her continued success, Gray will be known as one of the most decorated and impactful athletes to have attended KSU. Her rise to success at the collegiate level was one that involved resiliency and intensity.

Gray has fought debilitating injuries and difficult circumstances to achieve what she has so far, but to her, the mission is far from complete.

“I have a great desire to do what God wants me to do to the best of my ability,” Gray said. “If I get to this next level, if I can work really hard ... I also get new platforms and avenues to praise God.”

“Agents of the government are really uncomfortable and have done everything to take me out or discredit me.”

The tweets garnered both positive and negative reactions from the 20,000 followers Kperogi had at the time, with some commenters supporting Kperogi’s reactions, and others calling on him to “stop spreading falsehood,” saying that the video he shared was from an older election, not from 2019.

On June 24, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting Nigeria published a fact check from an unnamed author which said that Kperogi, among several other Nigerian “influencers,” had shared fake news about the election, and called the tweets “propagandist messages” against Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.

According to the fact check, the first video that Kperogi shared was first released after the 2015 election, and the second video was shared in 2018, with neither having to do with the 2019 election.

In an article published on the ICIR Nigeria website on June 26, Kperogi rebutted the claims made against him in the fact check.

According to the article, Kperogi blasted the fact check, calling it “a tendentious, poorly written and inaccurate screed.”

Kperogi said that he never explicitly stated that the videos were from the 2019 election.

When asked about the fake news accusations and his rebuttal, Kperogi said that the Nigerian government was attempting to hurt his credibility.

“I am one of the severest and most visible critics of the ‘democratic tyranny’ going on in Nigeria,” Kperogi said. “Most of the news media in Nigeria are either cowed or compromised. So my social media feeds, blog and weekly newspaper column have become some of the few alternative sources of critical information about the Nigerian government. As you would expect, agents of the government are really uncomfortable and have done everything to take me out or discredit me.”

Kperogi went on to say that the Nigerian government had actually started a “propaganda media unit,” called the Buhari Media Center, to discredit and attack him.

“It turned out that the writers of the ‘fact check’ don’t even work for the ICIR,” Kperogi said. “When one of them sent me a request for an interview for the ‘fact-check,’ she said she worked for Sahara Reporters, a popular Nigeria-focused news site located in New York. I reached out to the publisher of the site who said he didn’t know the reporter and would get back to me.”

Kperogi said that in addition to “smears” against him, the Nigerian government has actively worked to silence him, getting his weekly column in a Nigerian newspaper canceled.

Page 2 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019

NEWS

Birla participants get research funding Quintin Hunter | Staff Writer

The student reported that the suspect exposed himself to her near the Visual Arts building on the Kennesaw campus.

Peyton Elliott | The Sentinel

KSU POLICE ARREST SUSPECT FOR EXPOSING HIMSELF TO STUDENT

Kennesaw State’s College of Science and Mathematics selected 11 students from the Birla Carbon scholars program on July 1 to each receive a $4,000 stipend to pursue their individual research interests.

According to the CSM, scholars will participate in a 10-week program working together with tenured CSM faculty members who will serve as mentors. The scholars will present their final research project at the 2019 Birla Carbon Symposium. Judges will select the top presenter to receive an additional $2,000 to go toward travel expenses for the participant to present at a national scientific conference.

Interim Dean of the CSM Donald McGarey said the opportunity for scholars to work alongside tenured faculty members, serving as mentors to aid in the process of conducting original research, has proved to be one of the most advantageous strengths of the program.

McGarey thanks Birla Carbon for their continued support of the scholars’ program.

The Birla Carbon scholars

program participants include Max Andrews, Braden Clinebell, Robert Cronin, Tia Gordon, Rebekah Henneborn, Emma Henry, Tessa Jordan, Naza Okafor, Destiny Paige, Emma Pearson and Hunter Spivey.

According to the CSM, Birla Carbon, the world’s leading sustainable manufacturer and supplier of carbon black additives, has sponsored the program since 2014. The CSM announced on July 1 that Birla Carbon has increased the number of participating scholars to 11 from the previous years limit of 10. Birla Carbon has also pledged to gift the undergraduate research program $275,000, which will be disbursed over the course of five years.

Since its conception, the program has allowed 50 scholars to pursue research opportunities over the course of their 10-week summer program. Applicants were selected based upon a letter of recommendation from CSM faculty, an undergraduate research abstract, a 3.0 GPA and higher as well as fulltime freshmen, sophomore or junior academic status.

Camille Hobbs | Staff Writer The Kennesaw State Police Department arrested a suspect without incident June 30 following allegations that he had exposed himself to a female student at KSU. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the incident occurred one week after a female KSU student reported to campus authorities that a man fitting the description of Kamry Ahmon Martin, 21, propositioned her sexually then proceeded to expose himself to her near the Visual Arts Building on KSU’s main campus.

KSU Police Chief Ed Stephens said, after a thorough investigation, officers from KSUPD were able to identify and locate the suspect using the description given by the victim together with footage from surveillance cameras around the university.

According to Stephens, Martin, who is not a KSU student, is charged with public indecency for the allegations against him.

Cobb County Detention Center’s records show that Martin, who is from Summerville, Georgia, was

released from custody at Cobb County Jail on a $1,320 bond.

According to police, Martin has been issued a criminal trespass warning, meaning that he will be immediately arrested if he is seen on KSU’s campuses in the future.

The incident was posted to KSU’s Facebook page to inform students and staff of the report as officers responded to the scene and began searching for the perpetrator.

“Our text alert system is designed to alert the campus of imminent danger, such as a tornado, where

the community is required to take immediate action,” Stephens said.

“KSUPD will continue to patrol our campuses to provide a safe and secure community.”

According to KSUPD, students are reminded to use public well-lit walkways, lock their vehicles and residential doors at all times, refrain from propping open doors and report suspicious behavior to police.

An anonymous tip hotline can be reached at 470-578-6305.

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

Summer enrollment increases, MagMutual healthcare KSU aims to up graduation rate management lab opens at KSU Abigail Marmurowicz | Editor-in-Chief

Peyton Elliott | News Editor Kennesaw State called its increased number of summer courses and amount of students registered for summer a success after a large campaign to encourage students to attend in the summer.

According to KSU News, KSU’s summer enrollment for 2019 has grown by 8.5 percent since last year and 15.4 percent since 2017 with 17,577 students enrolled in summer courses. 15,488 students returned for the summer and 2,089 incoming freshmen and transfer students were in attendance for the summer semester as well.

KSU News also stated that the university held multiple activities to keep the Marietta and Kennesaw campuses active for summer semester students.

Such events included Walk-in Wednesdays with the office of career planning and development on each campus for on-campus career and internship advice, Chill Day Thursdays in the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus with free games and snacks and Free Movie Wednesday in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw campus. There were also free swimming lessons from the department of sports and recreation available in both campus pools.

KSU President Dr. Pamela Whitten said there are multiple benefits student can have through summer semester coursework such

The university held on-campus events to keep students Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel engaged during the May and summer semesters. as accelerating progress towards their degrees, obtaining high demanding classes with ease and taking courses in a condensed format.

When Whitten began as KSU’s president in July of last year, she stated she wanted the university to increase the graduation rate among students at KSU. Instead of KSU’s regular six year graduation rate, Whitten also stated that she wanted to aim to bring the rate down to

only four years. Through taking summer semesters, KSU students may become closer to reaching graduation within Whitten’s four year goal.

“Enhancing the summer experience is an important aspect of Kennesaw State’s commitment to student success,” Whitten said. “The increase in enrollment reflects the commitment of our faculty and staff to make the summer is beneficial to our students.”

Kennesaw State announced June 17 that KSU and partner MagMutual Insurance Company opened a new research laboratory available to graduate students in the healthcare management and informatics program as part of a collaboration between the Coles College of Business’ MSHMI program and the Analytics and Data Science Institute.

“MagMutual focuses on our physician and hospital policyholders.

Partnering with KSU will allow us to get better data to our policyholders more quickly to help them reduce the risk they face in the practice of medicine,” MagMutual Chief Medical Officer Dr. William S. Kanich said.

Executive Director and KSU professor of healthcare management and informatics Sweta Sneha spearheaded the development of the MSHMI program and its launch in fall 2016 as the first degree program of its kind in Georgia, according to KSU. “MagMutual has been on the advisory board of the Healthcare Management and Informatics program from its inception,” Sneha said. “I am very appreciative of their support and look forward to further deepening the relationship between MagMutual and Kennesaw State University in research, engagement and education.”

According to KSU, the laboratory is funded by MagMutual on behalf of their mutual owners.

“This funding gives our students

Sweta Sneha led the development of the first MSHMI program in Georgia. applied research experience in the growing field of healthcare informatics and provides us an opportunity to impact patient safety at a foundational level,” Sneha said.

KSU also announced that the MagMutual lab is led by a team of faculty and students at KSU who utilize their skills and knowledge in data science and healthcare to better understand the inherent risks encountered by the physicians with the overall goal to positively impact patient safety.

According to its website, the MSHMI program at KSU is a premier interdisciplinary graduate program rooted in collaborations across the Coles College of Business, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Computing and Software Engineering and WellStar College

Photo courtesy of Sweta Sneha of Health and Human Sciences.

The mission of the program is to develop a robust workforce with relevant skills to tackle 21stcentury healthcare challenges and opportunities.

According to its website, the interdisciplinary approach gives students an understanding of the connections between health care management and informatics as it integrates information technology, computing, data analytics, health care delivery processes, along with leadership and management principles.

Founded in 1982, MagMutual has served as a trusted advocate and strategic advisor to thousands of physicians and hospitals for more than 35 years, according to its website.

NEWS

Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019 | Page 3

Students place in Steel Bridge Competition Sabrina Kerns | Staff Writer Kennesaw State’s steel bridge student competition team recently competed in the American Society of Civil Engineers and American Institute of Steel Construction’s Student Steel Bridge Competition, finishing in the top 20.

The KSU team consisted of nine students, all within the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

Engineering students Chandler Cooper, Gehu Bautista Santiago, Bryan Dutra, Kushal Ankola, Kim McDonald, Nensi Mistry, Francesca Del Aguila, Christian Marshal and Eric Shults all participated in the competition at Southern Illinois University late last month.

According to AISC’s website, the annual competition challenges student teams to build and develop scale-model steel bridges. After construction, judges test and weigh the bridges, which must be approximately 20 feet in length and must be able to carry 2,500 pounds.

The team beat out competition teams from 29 other institutions from across the U.S., finishing in 12th place overall. Other institutions competing included Brigham Young University, the University of Wisconsin, Kansas State University and Texas A&M University.

During this year’s competition, the KSU team built its 22-foot-long

What Happened?

According to AccuWeather, Barry downgraded to a tropical rainstorm Monday evening after downgrading to a tropical depression Sunday afternoon.

Multiple states announced flood warnings July 15 after the storm ran through Louisiana causing life-threatening flooding and over 70,000 power outages.

According to CBS, the tropical

storm carried winds of up to 45 mph and left people in Louisiana and Mississippi without power.

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued approximately 12 people from the dangerous flooding.

According to CNN, the storm was originally a category one hurricane before it eventually made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico July 13.

In Context

KSU students put together their suspension bridge for a steel bridge competition. bridge in less than seven minutes, winning out with the sixth fastest time in the competition. The team was also judged based on construction, lightness, display, stiffness, economy and efficiency.

This is KSU’s fourth win at the

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

competition in the past five years, this year being its highest placement in the competition since 2015.

“The mission of AISC’s Student Steel Bridge Competition is to challenge students to extend their classroom knowledge to a practical

and hands-on steel-design project that grows their interpersonal and professional skills, encourages innovation and fosters impactful relationships between students and industry professionals,” the AISC website reads.

Peyton Elliott | News Editor

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

Scott Bryant named associate VP Sabrina Kerns | Staff Writer Kennesaw State recently named Scott Bryant as its new associate vice president for development, effective in August.

Scott Bryant currently serves as the executive director of development for the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Institute of Technology but will be taking over his new role at KSU on Aug. 1 — more than two weeks before the start of the 2019-20 academic year.

As the associate vice president for development, Bryant will be responsible for developing and maintaining KSU’s fundraising strategies and managing a staff to help find donors and potential gifts for the university.

Bryant will help manage a team of 20 KSU staff members who all oversee major and annual gifts given to KSU and deal in KSU relations with private donors. The staff operates under Lance Burchett, the vice president for advancement and chief executive officer of the KSU Foundation.

According to KSU’s website, the KSU Foundation is a nonprofit corporation which holds responsibility for private gifts to the university.

“The Mission of the Kennesaw State University Foundation is to serve as an advocate for the University, and to receive, invest, account for and allocate private gifts and contributions in support

Tropical rainstorm Barry still a threat Peyton Elliott | News Editor

AP awards former Sentinel editor

Scott Bryant will become vice president for development at KSU on Aug. 1.

OUTSIDE THE NEST

of Kennesaw State University,” the nonprofit’s mission statement reads.

During his time with Georgia Tech, Bryant helped the college to surpass several fundraising goals during its $1.5 billion fundraising campaign. He also led a development team that beat out annual fundraising goals. The team brought in approximately $7 million per year.

The Associated Press presented the Sentinel’s former photo editor and editor-in-chief Cory Hancock a public service award for his photographs of a plane that crashed on the Kennesaw campus in November 2018.

Hancock, a freelance writer for the Marietta Daily Journal at the time, received the award at the Georgia Associated Press Media Editors Annual Awards Banquet in Atlantic City in Atlanta on June 22.

“It’s incredibly humbling to receive an award from the AP Managers and Editors,” Hancock said. “Awards have never and will never be my main pursuit in photojournalism, but it’s an incredible honor to have your work recognized.”

Hancock said he never considered his work being selected for any awards and never submitted his work to the AP for consideration.

“I know that they make their decisions for a variety of reasons,” Hancock said. “I’m just honored I

was chosen.”

Hancock credits KSU’s School of Communication and Media for presenting him with opportunities to cover a variety of stories and events.

According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, a small plane crashed on the intersection of Bartow Avenue and Campus Loop road on the Kennesaw campus Nov. 29 due to an engine failure. No one was seriously injured in the crash.

“I believe that covering those stories gave me the tools necessary to cover [the plane crash] with as much dignity, respect and authenticity as I could,” Hancock said.

According to the AP website, the organization is an independent not-for-profit news cooperative with its headquarters in New York City.

The organization has teams in over 100 countries, has won 53 Pulitzer prizes, works with around 15,000 media outlets and has been at the forefront of news media since 1846.

AccuWeather.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a news conference that more than 90 people had been rescued in 11 parishes, but there were no reports of weather-related fatalities.

Edwards also said 11 shelters remain open with more than 100 people in them. There are still 3,000 soldiers activated from the Louisiana National Guard, mostly in south Louisiana, and they will start moving assets to northern Louisiana if needed, according to the governor.

According to CNN, some citizens are still stranded in deep water in Louisiana as the state is trying to recover and rebuild from the damage of Barry. Entergy Louisiana has brought crews from all around the country to assist in restoring power to the public.

Abigail Marmurowicz contributed to this article.

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STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Abigail Marmurowicz PRODUCTION MANAGER Bridget Walker eic@ksusentinel.com MANAGING EDITOR Rio White managingeditor@ksusentinel.com NEWS EDITOR Peyton Elliott newseditor@ksusentinel.com OPINION EDITOR Autumn Edmonston opinioneditor@ksusentinel.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Arielle Robinson artseditor@ksusentinel.com SPORTS EDITOR Daphne Bonilla sportseditor@ksusentinel.com PHOTO EDITOR Kevin Barrett photoeditor@ksusentinel.com

“Bryant will help manage a team of 20 KSU staff members who all oversee major and annual gifts given to du and deal in KSU relations with private donors.”

“Scott brings over a decade of successful fundraising experience in the metro Atlanta area to Kennesaw State,” Burchett said. “His strong leadership and professional management abilities demonstrated at Georgia Tech will be a valued asset to the University Advancement division and the entire University.”

Before serving at Georgia Tech, Bryant also worked as president, operating partner and chief financial officer at Bell Oak Capital, LLC, a real estate company which caters to small businesses in the Atlanta area.

According to CBS, the primary threat currently is life-threatening flooding as Barry moves over Louisiana and heads north with winds up to 45 mph.

The rainstorm is expected to expand farther to the north into the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys and will likely plague the region with localized flood dangers into Wednesday, according to AccuWeather.

Rainfall is expected to diminish from 3-6 inches around southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee to 1-2 inches across eastern Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, according to AccuWeather.

Residents and motorists planning to travel through the Ohio Valley will still want to remain alert for flash flooding, as well as travel hazards. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, according to

production@ksusentinel.com ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR Bridget Walker engagement@ksusentinel.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Josh Eastwood admanager@ksusm.com

STUDENT MEDIA BUSINESS COORDINATOR Shereida A. Austin

business@ksusentinel.com

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Rick Crotts rcrotts@kennesaw.edu

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Cory Hancock won the award for his photos of a plane that crashed on the Kennesaw Campus.

Photo courtesy of Cory Hancock

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Page 4 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019

OPINION

FREQUENT NEW EDITIONS OF TEXTBOOKS ARE A RIP-OFF Luis Cuevas | Staff Writer

A student reads through a textbook in the KSU bookstore.

Kevin Barrett / The Sentinel

College textbooks are often criticized for being expensive. Many textbooks get an updated version extremely often, even though a new cover and page count are usually the only significant changes.

These frequent new editions cause many problems for both students and staff each year and are a severe waste of money and resources.

With each new semester, professors often require the latest version of their textbooks which, according to a survey conducted by the California Student Public Interest Research Group, are published every three to four years on average — some even updated yearly.

The same survey showed that more than 40 percent of faculty consider new editions unnecessary, as they lack new information much of the time.

Professors must also adjust to the new pages in their classes, often having to change materials to accommodate the new text. Additionally, prices of the new editions tend to be much higher than older or used books. It is difficult for

professors to justify new editions, and the issues it causes for students are even more troubling.

“Book publishers don’t have the students’ interests in mind,” junior early childhood education major Sam Kurtz said. “They only have their wallets in mind. However, I think teachers usually understand and allow you to buy older editions.”

According to the College Board, average college students attending a 4-year university spend about $11,140 on textbooks alone. A survey conducted by Morning Consult reveals that 43 percent of college students claim to have skipped spending on meals in order to afford college textbooks. Having to buy new editions of textbooks each year only heightens the issue, as according to the College Board, updated versions of books are 58 percent more expensive than used or older books. A constantly updated book gives institutions the illusion that older editions are obsolete and remove the option for students to buy older versions as professors begin to use the new publications.

Constantly publishing new versions of books is also a waste of resources.

Expired editions of textbooks simply get thrown away with every new edition, creating a pile of 640,000 tons worth

of textbooks nationally, according to a National Wildlife study. This is a tragedy considering that perfectly good ‘used’ textbooks could have been reused instead. The new edition prevents the possibility of recycling when the latest version is required for the class.

Of course, publishers will continue to put out new versions of the same material, making this an issue not very easily solved. Thankfully, some professors will suggest alternatives to the latest editions of textbooks which can be a more economical choice for students.

The Kennesaw State bookstore has used and rental books available, which can be helpful in keeping the cost a little lower.

According to CBS news, some schools have begun to implement copy-right free and open-access textbooks that also aid in keeping costs down for students.

These temporary solutions are helpful, but only soothe the symptoms of a bigger issue. Instead, textbook companies need to limit the number of new editions more reasonably.

New editions of textbooks are expensive, wasteful and add minimal information that older editions did not already have. Students already suffer from financial headaches, and frequently renewed textbooks only make it worse.

Syllabus days set students back Sabrina Kerns | Staff Writer With August quickly approaching, Kennesaw State students are starting to slowly prepare for their fall classes. As students start to pack their bags, all of the build-up, excitement and preparation leading up to that first week of classes suddenly drops off when professors decide to use that first day of class to simply review their syllabus — a process that often feels like a waste of students’ time.

When students start a new year of college, it is important for them, especially incoming freshmen, to start off on the right foot. There are several ways that professors can motivate and engage their students for the upcoming semester that does not involve simply reviewing a syllabus.

The dreaded “syllabus day” on the first day of class can make students feel like they are going out of their way just to review a short document that they have already had the chance to review for themselves online.

“In a general ed sense, one hundred percent of syllabus days are a waste of time,” art major Olivia Rodriguez Escobar said. “I would rather just have the day to get introduced to the teacher, meet my peers and have a chance to go purchase the appropriate textbook that I need for my classes.”

KSU uses D2L for a reason — professors post most class assignments and documents online for students to view before class starts. Because of this, many professors expect their students to have at least viewed class assignments and documents before attending their next class period, and the same idea should apply to the class syllabus.

Instead of reviewing a document that students have already gone over individually, professors should use the first day of class as an opportunity to set expectations for the semester with students and provide opportunities for everyone in the class get to know each other.

Some professors may not like to start on class material on the first day since the student roster is not permanent during the first week of the semester, due to the drop/add period, but professors can still use the class time in a more productive way while not necessarily starting on serious class material.

For example, for a seminar or discussionbased class, professors may want to plan an activity for the first day that gets students and the professor talking as a group rather than simply asking students to individually share information about themselves to the class.

For lecture-based courses, professors can plan activities that will make students aware ofthe importance of note-taking and listening during class.

By planning a more productive activity during the first day of class, professors can ensure that students will understand both the professor and the class going into the first week of classes — before the drop/add period is over.

Professors need to break outside of usual expectations and steer away from “syllabus days” to motivate their students from the very beginning. By setting clear expectations and starting out the semester strong from the first day, instructors are setting up their class and their students for success throughout the rest of the semester.

The often unnecessary time spent on reviewing a class syllabus can leave students frustrated and bored.

Kevin Barrett / The Sentinel

Students attending USG schools in the fall of 2019 can expect a 2.5% increase in tuition cost.

Kevin Barrett / The Sentinel

State-wide tuition raise is not worth while for students Autumn Edmonston | Opinion Editor This fall semester, students will be greeted with a tuition bill slightly higher than they have seen before — $68 more for in-state students and $200 more for out-ofstate students, according to a budget statement by the University System of Georgia. In the moment it may seem minor, but over the course of four years, a student pays $544 more than before, or a whopping $1,600 for out-of-state students. The state-wide 2.5 percent tuition increase for public universities across Georgia is not worth the cost for students.

USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley claims that the increase supports a “balance of quality and affordability” in schools, however, the money does not seem to be going directly towards the students.

Instead, according to an article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the increase is largely being used to fund top faculty members in addition to recruiting new ones.

Professors are important, however, they are already paid between $58 thousand and $180 thousand on average, according to a USG faculty spreadsheet.

It seems unnecessary to stretch the wallets of students, many who already juggle multiple jobs to pay for classes, only to increase the salaries of these faculty members.

“I already pay thousands of dollars every semester,” senior education major Rileigh McCoy said. “And our school has over 30 thousand students, what are they doing that requires even more money?”

Students need to have their voices heard when it comes to their own futures and their own wallets.

Not to say that pursuing higher education is not worth the investment — the overwhelming majority of skilled jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, according to an article by Forbes Magazine. However, that does not give the USG permission to raise tuition prices knowing that students will have no choice but to pay them, especially considering that the students themselves had little to no say in the decision.

“Why does it keep getting harder to go to college without drowning in debt?” junior nursing major Shelby Wilson said. “Degrees just keep getting more and more expensive.”

Unfortunately, no students were involved in the vote to raise tuition at all. The Board of Regents of the USG, who voted for the spike in cost, is a group of 19 members appointed directly by the governor. According to their USG profiles, the vast majority of them are over the age of 50, leaving the voice of young people absent. Unless students reach out to these members, whose emails and phone numbers are all available from the USG website, students risk another increase within the next few years.

Considering that the price of attending college has been raised over 77 percent within the past 10 years, according to the AJC, frequent growth in costs seems routine. While the USG’s board released statements saying that the cost will benefit the student experience, our experience seems to be tainted by the need to get more hours at work to pay for it. Too many full-time students already save every penny to pay their tuition and fees, on top of classes and unpaid internships. Students need to have their voices heard when it comes to their own wallets and their own futures.

Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019 | Page 5

ARTS AND LIVING

ALUMNI’S VIRAL TWEET CREATES CONTROVERSY Arielle Robinson | A & L Editor Kennesaw State graduate Jaye Newton’s viral May 17 tweet of black students dancing at a pool party sparked hundreds of comments of controversy in the reply section because the caption implied that KSU is a historically black college or university.

The Atlanta hip-hop group Crime Mob’s 2004 hit “Knuck If You Buck” blasted in the background as people in swimsuits gathered in a line and danced in-sync. The video was captioned, “I love my HBCU” and “BKSU.” “I said ‘I love my HBCU’ as a joke, just to show the extent of black students that we saw around the actual situation,” Newton said.”Somebody asked me what BKSU was and I replied, ‘Black Kennesaw State University’ and that’s when all hell broke loose and everybody was in an uproar between PWIs and HBCUs.” According to KSU’s Office of Institutional Research, nearly 55% of students at KSU are white, making it a predominately white institution.

Newton said that diversity is an important pro of attending a PWI such as KSU. He believes that when living in the United States, it is important for black students to be exposed to different cultures.

Two black KSU students and two HBCU students shared their opinions of what the significance of each type of school is.

“I feel like I’m connecting with a lot of people and just the rigor of academics I feel will set me up for where it is that I want to be in life, but I’m not saying you can’t get that at an HBCU either,” senior biology major Kayla Price said of PWIs. An HBCU student weighed in on the pros of attending one.

“Most HBCUs are small ... Most professors are alumni so they really care and want to give back,” Hampton University graduate Zachary Bragg said.

“HBCUs give chances to people who didn’t have the best grades in high school to get a college education.”

Newton acknowledges the negatives of attending a PWI. “There’s a lot of instances of racism that you are exposed to because you’re at a PWI,” Newton said. “PWIs at times don’t

Samuel Sinclair | Staff Writer

Alisa Seripap | The Sentinel

Jaye Newton originally posted the tweet of the pool party with a caption stating “I love my HBCU.” do a great job at catering to their diverse campuses. I think they have a cookie-cutter approach where they feel like every student is equal and that’s not necessarily the case.”

Price said that he feels like black students at PWIs will not have deep connections with professors.

“When you go to an HBCU you do have people that show you that you’re appreciated ... I feel like at PWIs sometimes you are more of a number than you are a student,” Price said.

Bragg said that poor administrations run HBCUs. HBCUs are looked down upon because potential administrators do not think the universities provide a good education, Bragg believed.

Despite what Twitter looks like, the

students say there is no animosity between those who go to the other type of school.

“The thing that I respect about black students at PWIs is that they create many black colleges and universities on their campus,” Florida A&M University student Chase Beasley said.

“PWI students don’t perceive HBCU students in a negative way. A lot of the time we’re envious of the fact that they’re exposed to history that we don’t necessarily know because they go to a historically black college,” Newton said. “I don’t think that envy is always a negative thing.”

Price thinks that HBCU students often question the blackness of black students at PWIs, but she does not see the big deal of where black students decide to go

to college.

Beasley dismisses the idea that black PWI students hate themselves.

“I think that there are some HBCU students who would say that people that attend a PWI are anti-black or hate themselves and that’s just unfortunate they think that way,” Beasley said.

“It’s hard to have an open dialogue, I think that’s something needed between both sides,” Newton said. “PWI students and HBCU students need to have a commonality where we establish that yes, we go to different schools, but however, at the end of the day, we’re black.”

Candace Mitchell contributed to this article.

Film screening showcases the persistence of women Samuel Sinclair | Staff Writer The Cultural and Community Centers of Kennesaw State conducted a showing of a PBS documentary, “The Fight for Women’s Rights,” in the women’s resource center of the Kennesaw campus July 9.

“The WRC chose this film because it showed the commitment and strength of women during the Women’s Rights Movement,” CCC Coordinator Dani Alexander said.

Alexander hoped that by showing films like this and holding conversations about relevant issues like womanhood, students could have the opportunity to identify role models and find inspiration in the stories of others.

The film spotlighted two key members of the U.S. women’s rights movement and the women who inspired them.

Alexander hoped that by showing films like this and holding conversations about relevant issues like womanhood, students could have the opportunity to identify role models.

The first is Lynn Rippelmeyer, the first woman ever to pilot a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Rippelmeyer started out as an airline stewardess and eventually worked her way

Life coach teaches how to live ‘A Life of Love’

into the cockpit of the plane despite male colleagues telling her this was impossible.

She accomplished this with the guidance and friendship of fellow woman pilot Emilie Jones in 1980.

Also featured was Zoe Nicholson, a political activist and author. In 1982, she and six other women participated in a political fast in Springfield, Illinois, to support the equal rights amendment, a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee civil rights to women.

Among the six women with Nicholson was her teacher, mastermind of the fast and fellow political activist Sonia Johnson.

The film detailed their lives leading up to these accomplishments, and the journeys they embark on later in life as well.

“After committing so fully to her cause, Zoe Nicholson shared that she no longer saw herself as small or unable, but as a leader fully capable of creating change,” Alexander said. “I hope that students can experience a similar shift in self-perception and think of themselves as leaders too.”

The film described just a few of some very difficult obstacles and perceptions that women navigated during the women’s rights movement. From job scarcity, to open harassment in the workplace, the women involved in this movement tolerated more than their fair share of adversity. Some of those obstacles have been broken down by figureheads such as Nicholson, while others still exist. Unequal pay in the workplace is a topic still being debated today.

Alexander recognizes the importance of having conversations about societal issues because instances of bias and sexism still occur. Additionally, Alexander hopes that women at KSU struggling today recognize the significance of the WRC. “Resources like the WRC exist to help

The Cultural and Community Center held a showing of the PBS film “The Fight for Women’s Rights” July 9. students through whatever hurdles they face,” Alexander said.

No matter what walk of life an individual may be from, the CCC aims for people to pass these stories of courage and leadership along.

Alexander believes that many have dedicated themselves to these causes in the past and continue to do so in the current age. She hopes that people recognize

In a competition and consumption-based society, it can be easy to lose sight of what makes someone human.

Kennesaw State student-author and integrative studies major Justice Brakache just recently published his first novel, a self-help book titled, “A Life of Love,” earlier this year.

The purpose of the book is to help those who may be struggling to unlock the forgotten power and potential needed to conjure motivation. It is a piece about the pursuit of happiness, widening personal perspective and the ability to love one’s self and others.

Brakache said that “A Life of Love” helps readers to uncover obstacles they might not even be aware of, as well as the guardians and positive forces that are present and hidden.

“When you’re passionate about what you’re doing and see how it contributes to the big picture, it benefits everyone around you,” Brakache said. “There is a ton of love to be shared with the world if you know what you’re looking for. Knowledge is power and power is the ability to act or to do.”

The book has a narrative flow with both anecdotal and research-based information. To create the book, Brakache compiled journals over the course of many years —journals modeled after his own experiences and those of others. Brakache is also a certified life coach, and “A Life of Love” contains many strategies for success that Brakache wanted to share with readers.

In addition to serving as a senator with the Student Government Association at KSU, Brakache is also a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. Brakache said one mantra commonly used in the fraternity is, “to believe in a life of love, walk in the way of honor, serve in the light of truth.”

This statement gained new meaning for Brakache when one of his pledge brothers committed suicide several years ago. After that, Brakache made it his goal not to get so caught up in the drive to succeed that his compassion for others could slip through the cracks. He said that he wanted to impact people’s lives in a positive way and help them realize that their negative thoughts do not define them.

“I am here to help, heal, fuel and feed my community and the world,” Brakache said.

“I love producing results that speak for themselves.”

Brakache credits Sigma Nu with teaching him the impact of leadership, how to work well in a group and with helping him realize how his voice and actions impact others.

In addition to his novel, Brakache also pioneered other projects. When he was a freshman, Brackache noticed the school throwing away a substantial amount of food.

This prompted him to found Owls Against Hunger, a sustainability-based organization that reroutes 500 pounds from potential trash cans to charity organizations such as Must Ministries and the Care Center.

He also founded Just College Jobs, a network for students to acquire jobs while attending college. This network allows its users to determine their areas of interest and help them discover their passions.

“Some of my fellow students and friends couldn’t make ends meet,” Brakache said.

“That was my motivation to help create these organizations.”

By getting involved and encouraging others to do the same, Brakache said he hopes to be the change he wishes to see in the world.

To find out more about “Life of Love” and Brakache, visit JusticeBrakache.com.

Houida Aldihri | The Sentinel

these sacrifices.

“I encourage students to remember that they stand on the shoulders of giants — those women who paved the way for others success today,” Alexander said.

For more on upcoming CCC events as well as how to become a part of these programs, visit https://ccc.kennesaw. edu/. To reach the WRC, visit https://wrc. kennesaw.edu/.

Justice Brakache’s book “A Life of Love,” aims to show people how to summon motivation and self-love.

Photo courtesy of Justice Brakache

Page 6 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019

When faced with questions about the racial climate at KSU, Ryan Bebber shares what the university and students have done to fix the issues.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Bebber

Students ignite the flame of their futures through leadership Nigel Wright | Contributor Serving as representatives of KSU, two Ignition leaders detail what it is like to welcome newly-admitted students to campus.

Getting acclimated with a new school is often deemed an overwhelming task, but with the help of Kennesaw State’s Ignition program, newly-admitted students are welcomed with open arms and thoughtfully guided through the process.

By means of small group facilitation, Ignition leaders take students on campus tours, assist with registration, help students make connections and answer any questions they may have along the way.

Before becoming an Ignition leader, sophomore entrepreneurship major Ryan Bebber was a member of Freshman Parliament, Engaged Owl Leaders and the Barbell Club Team.

Knowing he was once a quiet student, the job of Ignition leader seemed interesting to Bebber as it offered the opportunity of escaping his comfort zone and working on his leadership abilities.

“Yes and no,” Bebber said, when asked if being a leader aligned with his initial expectations of the job. “I knew it would be rewarding, but I expected it to be personal growth.

However, the best part has been making a difference for the students and guests.”

Bebber feels comfortable in his role of being a resource for students.

“Being a leader aligns pretty well with who I am,” he said. “Not because I was born this way, but because I accepted the responsibility.”

Senior criminal justice major Anthony Cooper recently transferred from the University of West Georgia to KSU during fall semester 2018. He worked as a community assistant for his apartment complex before becoming an Ignition leader.

Similar to Bebber, Cooper believes the job of Ignition leader is truly meant for a people person.

“Yes, the clichés about always having to be hype is true, but it is, in fact, more than just that. It’s a very fulfilling opportunity in that it allows me to meet and interact with many different kinds of people and situations,” Cooper said.

With the recent racial incidents KSU has faced, parents have questioned Bebber about the campus climate.

“I address the concern and share what the university and students are doing to solve any issues,” Bebber said.

Furthermore, Bebber assures students that KSU is the right school to attend.

“I share my story,” Bebber said.

“I make sure they know all the opportunities there are at Kennesaw State. From exploring a hobby, to gaining leadership skills, to conducting research I show them

that Kennesaw State is an incredible place to be. I make sure they know how to further explore their resources on campus.”

Cooper expressed a similar sentiment.

“If a question about race was to ever arise, I feel the best way to dilute the situation would be to explain my personal experience here at Kennesaw and describe how diverse our school is, as well as how safe I feel,” Cooper said.

“All of the opportunities that KSU has to offer, from networking, job opportunities and over 300 plus student organizations speaks to why our school is the school to attend.”

The invaluable trait of being comfortable in uncomfortable situations is one thing Bebber has learned during his time as an Ignition Leader. For Cooper, it is to just go for things without a fear of trying just because it may seem unreachable.

“I prepared myself for this role by becoming knowledgeable of the school and having a sense of pride in what I am doing,” Cooper said.

“I come to work every day with a smile, and ready to take on any new challenges that come my way.”

For more information, the Orientation and Transition Programs office can be reached at 470-578-6219 or by email at ksuorientation@kennesaw.edu.

International Owls: Friedrich Winkler Ellie Oliveira | Staff Writer According to a Pew Research Center study, more than 40 million people living in the U.S. today were born in another country. As of 2017, onefifth of the world’s migrants were in the U.S. Friedrich Winkler is an international student from Bonn, Germany, and will graduate with an electrical engineering degree from Kennesaw State in Fall 2020. He moved to the U.S. after he graduated from Bonn International School and has been here for approximately three years.

Winkler said he made the decision to attend KSU because his father lives in the area and works as a building developer nearby.

He grew up speaking English as a second language, so the language adjustment was not hard, Winkler said. He also watched British television while growing up, so he understands many English phrases.

Even though Winkler was familiar with U.S. customs, some cultural differences still took him back.

“I notice the difference of interactions between teachers and students,” Winkler said. “[There is also] a fairly large difference of the

general attitude that the students have towards learning ... for example, I feel like technical skills are more appreciated in Germany.”

Other cultural differences he noticed involve food, especially the way people bond over it, and the culture surrounding wealth and malls. Winkler said there are not as many large malls in Germany and people do not spend a lot of their time there.

“The media landscape is also definitely a lot different, and that is what shapes people’s opinions and it makes a big difference,” Winkler said. “[The media is] a lot more focused on everyday issues and the nature of the topics are discussed differently.”

Every winter, Winkler goes back to Germany where he spends time with his mom. He tries to travel within the U.S. during the summer.

Winkler said he is always amazed by how much newer the places he visits in the U.S. are than in Europe. “[What takes me by surprise] is the fact that America is not very old of a country,” Winkler said. “I grew up in Germany, where stuff being two thousand years old is almost

normal in a way. Sometimes I’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, this stuff is only 150 years old.’”

During his downtime, Winkler likes to work on electronic mobility projects with his friends, like scooters and electric bicycles.

After graduation, Winkler would like to stay in the U.S. to either go to graduate school or get a job.

He wishes to work for Keysight Technologies in Atlanta and to operate his own company someday.

He will continue his studies in Germany in case his visa does not get approved.

“I want to work in the electronics industry,” Winkler said. “Specifically, the industrial electronics industry.”

Winkler’s advice for other international students is to prepare for the cultural differences, such as language and food. He also says to have a general plan before coming to the U.S. Winkler recommends taking advantage of the campus resources available such as the library and food services and to integrate with classmates as much as possible.

The solutions to this week’s puzzles will be in the next issue of the Sentinel.

June 18 Solution

CROSSWORD:

FIGURE OF SPEECH

DOWN 1. Masseuse’s office 2. “Some Kind of Beautiful” star 3. Steelers’s Chuck 4. Rosetta Stone and such 5. Western neck ornaments 6. To the left of helm 7. People in general 8. Helter-skelter 9. Not loony 10. Doe’s mate 11. CafÈ alternative 13. One in low-fitting jeans 14. Old European coin 19. “C’mon in!”

22. Slow-witted 23. Small Asian ungulate 24. Enophile’s sensory concern 25. Dished out 26. *Stringed homophone of loot 27. Pair in a railroad track 28. Prenatal test, for short 29. Full of cargo 32. *Collision, onomatopoeically speaking 33. Wayside stop 36. *”Sweet sorrow” or “painful pride” 38. 4-letter word on primetime TV 40. Summer mo.

41. Attack 44. “____ beware” 46. Stick firmly 48. Launch 49. Country album?

50. Shevat follower 51. Vagrant or tramp 52. Gala to Dali 53. Baker’s baker 54. Tear 55. Actor Mahershala 58. Us, in Mexico

June 18 Solution

Photo courtesy of Anthony Cooper

ACROSS 1. Without, ‡ Paris 5. *”Blind as a ____,” simile 8. *Attract someone’s attention onomatopoeically 12. Scheme 13. Frosh, next year 14. *Grim Reaper 15. Having the know-how 16. Medicinal houseplant 17. Forearm bones 18. *”Napoleon of “Animal Farm” 20. Horsefly 21. Emotional turmoil 22. *Damn, homophone 23. Reproductive cell 26. *Opposite of figurative 30. Bonanza find 31. Er on Periodic table 34. Dalai ____ 35. Chopper blade 37. The little one “stops to tie his shoe” 38. Like three nursery rhyme mice 39. American stock exchange in NYC 40. Temper, as metal 42. Baron Munchhausen’s statement 43. “____ fly away home...”

45. Time of the year 47. Police shot 48. Headquartered 50. Sailor’s hail 52. *”Broken heart” or “heart of stone” 55. Dig, so to speak 56. Tangelo 57. Kind of Steven?

59. September’s reason to celebrate 60. Outer layer of Earth’s crust 61. First female Attorney General 62. Caddie’s offering 63. Lt.’s subordinate 64. Means justifiers

SUDOKU

Anthony Cooper sees his job as an orientation leader as a fulfilling opportunity and gives him the chance to meet new people.

ARTS AND LIVING

Listen to Owl Radio!

Check them out on the RadioFX app and online at ksuradio.com!

Get involved with The Peak!

Apply online at studentmedia.kennesaw.edu!

Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019 | Page 7

SPORTS

RAY LANDS NBA SUMMER LEAGUE SPOT WITH CELTICS Rio White | Managing Editor

Former KSU basketball player Kendrick Ray earned his second NBA opportunity earlier this month.

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

Former KSU basketball player Kendrick Ray got a second shot at the NBA this month, playing for the Boston Celtics.

For the second consecutive year, former Kennesaw State basketball player Kendrick Ray earned a spot on an NBA Summer League roster after an impressive year in Europe.

Ray was named on the summer roster of the Boston Celtics on Saturday, July 6, playing alongside college standouts such as Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards.

He showed off his productivity in the first game he played in for the Celtics, scoring eight points and picking up five rebounds in just over 14 minutes of action.

In the following four games, Ray’s minutes on the court decreased and he was not able to expand on his first performance.

Last year, Ray played for the Utah Jazz during the summer after a successful season in the Czech Republic, where he was named league Most Valuable Player.

After completing his time with the Jazz, Ray went to Israel to play

for Maccabi Tel-Aviv before being loaned out to Le Mans in France.

On Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Ray’s minutes on the court were usually sporadic, but he scored 17 points in just 13 minutes in his best performance.

While in France, Ray improved and was able to gain more minutes.

He scored in double-digits on nine occasions, including a season-best 22 points in 30 minutes on May 25.

When Ray joined Le Mans, the team was in the midst of the European tournament and was seen as an important piece for success. He faced off against former NBA player Mario Chalmers as Le Mans battled Virtus Bologna in the Basketball Champions League.

Ray scored 21 points in the first leg of the matchup before Le Mans lost in the second leg.

Now back in the United States, Ray earned a chance to show his skills to the NBA for the second time in his career. With his skillset and ability to score efficiently, Ray could be a useful point guard option for any team.

Outside The Nest: One crazy summer for the NBA Garrett Pitts | Staff Writer This NBA offseason has been rapid and exciting for many teams and fans across the league, with champions and former MVP’s on the move, going to teams few people expected. The landscape of the NBA has officially been changed.

One of the earliest moves came from the New Orleans Pelicans, who traded six-time All-Star power forward Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for point guard Lonzo Ball, as well as small forwards Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart.

For the Pelicans, the trade provided three young stars who they can build around first overall draft pick Zion Williamson. Williamson is one of the most anticipated college athletes of his time and is the centerpiece to this young core in New Orleans.

The Lakers received one of the best players in the league to accompany LeBron James, while also acquiring center Demarcus Cousins and shooting guard Danny Green in free agency.

Losing three young role players in their system is something the Lakers will have to overcome by the time the season approaches. They hope to rebound from a disappointing first season with James in which they missed the playoffs.

Throughout the offseason, the league waited as the most recent NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard

Name

decided which team he was going to sign with. After a long wait, the forward signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he was not alone.

The Clippers were able to lock in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire shooting guard Paul George in exchange for a group of first-round picks. After the addition of two of the league’s best, as well as the re-signing of Patrick Beverly, the Clippers have a deeper roster than before.

After suffering a Finals defeat at the hands of Leonard, the Golden State Warriors would lose more in the offseason. Small forward Kevin Durant left for the Brooklyn Nets and Cousins departed after the season, leaving major holes in the Warriors starting lineup.

The Warriors were able to resign shooting guard Klay Thompson as well as acquiring point guard D’Angelo Russell from the Nets.

Despite the strong roster left on Golden State, questions linger whether they can keep up with other teams in the Western Conference that have made big additions.

Russell’s former team made a big splash in free agency by signing Durant, who is coming off the Finals loss as well as a ruptured Achilles tendon that may sideline him for parts of next season.

The Nets also signed former Boston Celtic Kyrie Irving, whose championship title with Cleveland

will bring experience to the court opening night with veteran DeAndre Jordan.

After losing Irving to the Nets, Boston also lost center Al Horford to the Philadelphia 76ers as well as point guard Terry Rozier to the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics are going in a new direction with their roster after losing three players.

Boston signed shooting guard Kemba Walker in the deal for Rozier. After signing center Enes Kanter, Boston hopes that Walker and Kanter can fill the void left by their losses in the lineup.

The Thunder made moves recently by agreeing to send point guard Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for point guard Chris Paul. For Paul, he will have more to work with as he joins as Thunder team that has not made it far into the playoffs in recent years, despite Westbrook’s impressive stats.

Westbrook will be reuniting with shooting guard James Harden in Houston. The two played together in Oklahoma City, but now their skills and playing styles have evolved and made them two of the best guards in the game today.

It has been a whirlwind of an offseason for the NBA, as many stars have been split into pairs and have gone all over the league. This could open the door for many different teams to take their shots at the NBA Finals next year.

Accolades Previous

New

Kawhi Leonard

2x Finals MVP

Toronto

LA Clippers

Kevin Durant

2014 NBA MVP

Golden State

Brooklyn

Anthony Davis

3x Block Leader

New Orleans

LA Lakers

Kawhi Leonard was just one of many high-profile NBA players on the move this summer.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Page 8 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | July 16, 2019

SPORTS

SOCCER LOOKS TO BUILD ON LAST SEASON’S SUCCESS, GO FURTHER IN ATLANTIC SUN POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT Rio White | Managing Editor

The Kennesaw State soccer team will head into its 2019 season with a squad of experienced players who led them to a successful 12-6-1 record last year.

After finding success last season with a squad of young players, Kennesaw State’s soccer team will head into its 2019 season with all but one of its players returning.

Despite several important players graduating after the 2017 season, the Owls improved their record in 2018, going 12-6-1 en route to a third place regular-season finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Head Coach Benji Walton helped form a group of skilled and intelligent players who improved each week and found an identity to build around.

“We are always looking to challenge ourselves with some of the best teams in the region in order to prepare...”

From the aggressive offense of Erin Harris to the midfield fulcrum of Isabella Contreras to super shot saver Tiffany Sornpao, KSU fielded a well-rounded team last season that will look to continue its success this fall.

The only downside to the largely successful season was the Owls’ early exit from the ASUN tournament, where they lost in the first round to North Alabama.

One of the goals for the upcoming season will be to make a deeper run in the tournament and make it to the national level.

With the depth and talent of the team, KSU will be fighting all season to stay at the top of the conference with the likes of Lipscomb and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Perhaps the most important returning player will be midfielder Carly Pressgrove, who impressed her first three seasons before being redshirted last year. Her experience will give an additional layer of quality to a team that is already an established force.

Other seniors such as Contreras, Morgan Harrison and Emely Sosa will all be leaders on a team that still has a large group of underclassmen.

“We are always looking to challenge ourselves with

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

Erin Harris is one of many important returning players for KSU’s soccer team. some of the best teams in the region in order to prepare for the difficulties that ASUN play will bring,” Walton said. “I am also excited that we get to travel somewhere new out of region and take on teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas.

This variety of competition will help the Owls earn recognition nationally in its quest to reach the NCAA

Tournament. Last year, the Owls defeated the University of Georgia, Georgia State and Georgia Southern.

The key to success for 2019 will be for the soccer team to improve their record away from home. While the Owls won seven of their nine home games last season, the 5-4 record on the road will need to be even better for KSU to win the conference this year.

KSU will open the season with a home exhibition match against Auburn on Tuesday, Aug. 13, before beginning the regular season away at Mercer on Thursday, Aug. 22.

State hurdles champion signs for KSU, looks to help Owls return to ASUN conference glory Rio White | Managing Editor Kennesaw State track and field director Cale McDaniel announced his 2019 signing class on Wednesday, July 10, which included state champion Olivia Brown of Effingham County High School.

Brown excelled in the 100-meter hurdles event throughout her time with the Rebels, holding the all-time school record for that and four other disciplines.

On May 11, she proceeded to win the state class 6A championship in the hurdles event, posting a time of 13.96 to conclude her successful high school career.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, Brown officially signed with the Owls among friends and family at a church in Savannah.

Through her high praise for KSU, it becomes clear why she chose

the Owls.

“I was very drawn to the school, the campus. It’s very well-rounded,” Brown said. “I feel like I’m joining a group that will really push me to get better. It’ll be great.”

“I feel like I’m joining a group that will really push me to get better.”

The prospective psychology major will be an important addition to a KSU track and field program that is trying to return to conference-winning form after

falling short last season at the Atlantic Sun conference championships.

After winning the outdoor conference title in 2018, the KSU women’s track and field team placed second this past season.

Overall, McDaniel signed 19 players on the women’s team and 10 on the men’s side.

“I am really proud of the work this staff did putting together this class,” McDaniel said. “There is a ton of talent coming to Kennesaw State and it is an exciting time to be an Owl.” According to the Augusta Chronicle, In addition to her high school accolades, Brown has qualified for the Junior Olympics and will compete there from July 29 to Aug. 3.

Result 1

Result 2

100 m Hurdles

13.96

14.31

14.35

300 m Hurdles

48.35

48.69

49.24

5’2”

5’0.25”

5’0”

2019 Bests High Jump

Result 3

Olivia Brown will be an important addition to the KSU track and field team this season.

Photo courtesy of Tim Stahmer