AUG. 27
2019
Vol. 53 Issue 3 | Since 1966
THE SENTINEL Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel
www.ksusentinel.com
ALUMNA CREATES DREAM BAKERY, LONGBOARD SHOP Nigel Wright | Staff Writer An alumna of Kennesaw State took the leap of following her dreams and created a business that the masses have grown to love — including a few celebrities. Elise Akin graduated in May 2017 with a degree in business management from KSU. She is now putting her degree to use, managing “Bake and Skate,” a bakery and longboard shop she has been operating completely by herself for the last year and a half. Bake and Skate not only offers vegan and gluten-free goods, but also the opportunity to purchase hand-painted longboards and hand-stitched apparel. “It had been my dream since I was about 15 years old,” Akin said when asked how the idea came about. “I’d always watch my older cousin bake at her job and think, ‘That looks like so much fun. I want to do that.’” At 17, Akin found the inspiration to incorporate longboards into her business plan. Akin remembers the idea of naming the business Bake and Skate as somewhat of a joke. “You know, I should just open both of them and call it ‘Bake and Skate.’ It kind of rhymes,” Akin said. “But then as I got to college, I was like, ‘Hey, I should actually do this. It’s super unconventional, but why not?’” Akin credits her former entrepreneurship professor at KSU for having much to do with her transitioning from an idea to a tangible business. He would always stress that his students create some kind of online shop, she said. “I guess I had been putting it off a while because I thought that if I opened the shop and made a website, I was all in,” Akin said. “I had to start paying a monthly fee for the eCommerce platform, so it really hit that I was invested in this shenanigan called Bake and Skate.” Starting off with a little traction from a few
Instragram influencers, Bake and Skate has now grown exponentially and reached the hands of several different celebrities. Bella and Sadie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty,” musician Childish Gambino and the McKnight YouTube family have all received products and shown support of Akin’s creation. Although the business has reached new heights, success did not come overnight for Akin. She recalls the troubles of having people see and believe in her vision. “I would have heaps of older businessmen and professors meet with me and say things like, ‘You know, Elise, I like the bakery side of it. But I just don’t get the whole bakery-meets-longboarding part. Maybe you should just stick to one of the shops, and you’ll be much more successful,’” Akin said. “And I would always politely explain that my dream wasn’t just for ‘bake’ or ‘skate,’ it was for ‘Bake and Skate.’” There have been times where Akin wanted to give up, wondering what having a normal nineto-five job would be like. But the thoughts barely lasted once reality hit, confirming that normal would be the last thing she wants in life. “I don’t want to be in a cubicle counting down the seconds until the weekend,” Akin said. “I want to wake up every morning and get so excited to paint things and stitch things — that’s the dream.” Akin encourages students who want to start their own business to just do it. “Don’t save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. It’s going to be tough times sometimes, and you probably won’t always get the support of everyone you want, but there are going to be so many people who root for you and watch you grow,” Akin said. For more information about Bake and Skate, visit the shop’s instagram @Bakeandskate.
Hours of labor and hand-crafted artisanship goes into each board Elise Akin designs.
NEWS
OPINION
pg. 3
BREWS
ARTS AND LIVING
MACHINES STEAL COMMON JOBS
SOON-TO-BE OWLS INVITED TO KSU
NEWS &
Haley Johnson | The Sentinel
SPORTS
MOB OF B.O.B DETAILS JOB
pg. 4
GREAT NEWSPAPER & FREE COFFEE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
9 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m. Follow us on social media for the location each week.
SOCCER SPLITS WEEKEND GAMES
pg. 5
pg. 7
Page 2 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019
NEWS
NEW CYBERSECURITY INSTITUTE APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abigail Marmurowicz | Editor-in-Chief Kennesaw State recently selected Dr. Michael Whitman to serve as the new executive director of the Institute for Cybersecurity Workforce Development. “The institute will strive to increase the quality and availability of security-related instruction on campus, as well as serve to increase the public and private sectors’ awareness of what KSU has to offer,” Whitman said. Whitman said he is both excited and apprehensive about the new role as he is the first person to hold that position in a brand new organizational department. “I’m excited about growing the [program,] bringing additional recognition to KSU, elevating the support and recognition of some of the initiatives we have worked on diligently for almost 20 years and doing something new and challenging,” Whitman said. Whitman will be tasked with many roles as he fills these new shoes. “The role of the Institute and its Executive Director is to serve as an external liaison between KSU and organizations that are seeking security professionals and want to contribute to their academic preparation,” Whitman said. This new role includes managing the bachelor’s of science in cybersecurity program as well as developing additional cybersecurity degrees, certificates and professional education opportunities.
“Since the [program] currently has around 400 majors in its degree, interest and minor programs, we’re looking as much at managing the influx of new students as we are at growing the program,” Whitman said. “The [B.S. in cybersecurity] program has already vastly exceeded its initial enrollment projections.” As the first program in the southeast, KSU first offered the bachelor’s degree in security in 2005 — only the second in the country at a public university, Whitman said. “We have led the state and the region in undergraduate security education, and we hope to continue that trend,” Whitman said. “We think we’ve established a reputation in the region as our security students have a nearly 100% employment rate upon graduation.” Whitman previously served as the executive director of the Center for Information Security Education at KSU. “I founded the Center for Information Security in 2001, to provide an externally-focused entity that promotes security education within and between institutions,” Whitman said. “When I was asked to be the Institute director, I asked to bring all of the activities and functions of the Center into the Institute.” Whitman said there currently is not a need for both the Center and the Institute, and as such, he has decided to inactivate the Center
for the duration of his tenure as the Institute’s executive director. “Because I was formerly the Executive Director of the Center for Information Security Education, I am bringing a number of initiatives I started within the Center to the Institute, and hope to grow them within its framework,” Whitman said. “This includes the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, which KSU developed as part of the National CCDC back in 2006, and the Conference on Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice, which KSU has hosted in various forms since 2003.” Whitman is also a professor of information security and assurance and has taught at KSU since 1999. “With a new position, comes new and redefined responsibilities,” Whitman said. “I will still teach graduate security classes, albeit fewer, and do research — also less than I did before — but I’m still a faculty member, just now administrative faculty.” The ICWD is home to the University’s top-ranked online cybersecurity degree according to CyberDegrees.org. Whitman earned a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business and previously served in the U.S. Army as an officer in the 2nd Armored Cavalry with duties as an automated data processing system security officer.
Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019 | Page 3
NEWS
‘Lunch & Learn’ series kicks off at CSJ
OUTSIDE THE NEST Vaping-linked death alarms U.S. Sabrina Kerns | Staff Writer
What Happened? The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Friday, Aug. 23, that a patient who contracted a severe lung disease after vaping has died — marking the first death possibly linked to vaping in the U.S., according to CBS News. NBC News reported Aug. 23 that the department has not released any information about the patient who died except that the person was an adult.
The report of the patient’s death comes amid an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control into more than 193 cases of severe lung disease in 22 states that could be linked to the use of vaping products, according to NBC News. NBC News reported that the cases were all identified between June 28 and Aug. 20, and patients range in age from 17 to 38.
While the CDC and state health providers continue to investigate the nearly 200 cases of severe pulmonary disease reported across the U.S., one doctor spoke with NBC News about a similar case report that he presented around four years ago. Dr. John Parker, a professor of pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine at West Virginia University, told NBC News that, in 2015, he treated a 31-year-old patient that was experiencing “acute respiratory problems.” The patient was diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia, but Parker, along
with other doctors, believed the disease was linked to the patient’s use of vaping products. Parker told NBC News that, while they presented a case report on what the patient had experienced, they did not report the case to the CDC or other health centers during the time. Parker said that he does not believe that the 2015 case was the first case of respiratory illness relating to the use of vaping devices that health providers in the state had seen.
The Latest
In Context According to CNN, Wisconsin has seen the most cases of the severe pulmonary disease possibly linked to vaping with 15 confirmed cases and 15 more under investigation. Illinois reported 10 confirmed cases and 12 more under investigation, and California is currently investigating 19 cases. The New York State Department of Health issued statewide health advisory on Aug. 16 to bring awareness to the health providers in
The Center for Sustainable Journalism at Kennesaw State will host its first Lunch & Learn of the academic year on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the center.
THE SENTINEL
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions welcomes prospective transfer students
The Sentinel is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Information presented in this newspaper and its website is in no way controlled by the KSU Administration, faculty or staff.
CONTACT US FOLLOW US
Erica Samuels | Contributor Kennesaw State’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting a series of information sessions throughout the fall semester for students looking to transfer to KSU. The first session will be held in the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus on Friday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. These sessions allow representatives from KSU’s Transfer and Adult Admissions Services to give information about the university, explain the process for credit transfers and assist students with their overall transfer experience. Those interested should register online with
Transfer Services. Those welcome to attend the sessions include transfer students with 30 or more credit hours from an accredited college or university, or adult learners who obtained a high school diploma more than five years ago or have earned less than 30 credit hours, according to KSU News. At the campus tours, representatives will be available to help students who wish to apply immediately. The final deadline to apply to KSU for Spring 2020 is Dec. 1. For more information about application deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
ADDRESS:
• • • •
Sept. 6 (Kennesaw campus, Student Center Tour Room) Sept. 27 (Marietta campus, Joe Mack Wilson Student Center) **Oct. 6 - Transfer Saturday Tours (both campuses) Nov. 1 (Kennesaw campus, Student Center Tour Room) Nov. 8 (Marietta campus, Joe Mack Wilson Student Center) **Dec. 7 - Transfer Saturday Tours (both campuses)
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
Greek Block Party 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Campus Green, Kennesaw campus
Yard Show
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Convocation Center, Kennesaw campus
11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History
Brown Bag Concert Series Noon to 1 p.m., Glover Park, Marietta Square
SATURDAY, AUG. 31, THROUGH SEPT. 2 ART IN THE PARK 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marietta Square
FACEBOOK.COM/ KSUSENTINEL @KSU_SENTINEL @KSUSENTINEL
470-578-6470
EIC@KSUSENTINEL.COM
WEBSITE
KSUSENTINEL.COM
$
SEPT. 1 THURSDAY, AUG. 29, SUNDAY, Sundays at the THROUGH SEPT. 2 Southern: Summer Tours Various times, various hotels in Atlanta
PHONE
**These sessions start at 10 a.m. on the Kennesaw Campus and 2 p.m. on the Marietta Campus. All other sessions will be held at 11 a.m.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES DRAGON CON
THE SENTINEL STUDENT CENTER, RM 162-B BLDG 5 395 COBB AVE NW KENNESAW, GA 30144-5591
The informational sessions will take place on: • •
the state. In a statement, the health department recommended that anyone using vaping products who has experienced any type of respiratory issues should stop using the product and consult with their healthcare provider. According to CNN, many of the patients usually start to experience shortness of breath, fever, cough, vomiting, chest pain, dizziness and other related symptoms.
ADVERTISING KSUADS.COM
© 2019, THE SENTINEL
OWLLIFE.KENNESAW.EDU/ ORGANIZATON/SENTINEL The Sentinel is the student newspaper of Kennesaw State University. The Sentinel is published weekly (Tuesdays) during the school year. First three copies are free; additional copies are $1.00. No part of The Sentinel may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
staff information EDITORIAL BOARD
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 Teddy Teshome sportseditor@ksusentinel.com PHOTO EDITOR Kevin Barrett photoeditor@ksusentinel.com
production@ksusentinel.com ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR Bridget Walker engagement@ksusentinel.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Sydney Gorey admanager@ksusm.com
STUDENT MEDIA BUSINESS COORDINATOR Shereida A. Austin
business@ksusentinel.com
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS
Rick Crotts rcrotts@kennesaw.edu
BECOME A PART OF OUR TEAM Writers | Photographers | Designers
APPLY
TODAY
Page 4 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019
OPINION
CANDIDATES OVERSATURATE THE 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION Ayla McGinnis | Contributor With 21 candidates as of Monday, Aug. 26, bidding for the Democratic Party nomination in November, potential voters are overwhelmed with options and many have become apathetic or are simply and severely uninformed. The candidates are very diverse, representing demographics never before displayed in a presidential campaign. Yet the diversity of candidates holds little value if the Democratic electorate does not take the time to explore all of their options. According to an article by Fortune, only 35 percent [of registered Democrats] say they are paying close attention to the campaign. With such a small proportion of voters aware of the nominees in detail, it is unlikely that the rest of the population will make an effort with so many candidates to choose from. “I understand that with having 21 primary candidates, it is difficult to pay attention and discern what their platforms are,” junior political
science major Mary Kathryn Gentry said. “However, I also think that more candidates promote more discussion because of their varying platforms.” Some feel that the diversity presented in the upcoming election provides Democrats the opportunity to find a candidate that truly encompasses their personal values. During the 2016 election, many moderates were alienated because they felt neither of the candidates adequately represented them. According to a poll conducted by the BBC, of those asked about the candidates they voted for, 25 percent claimed that they disliked the opponents. In the absence of a Democratic nominee that voters felt comfortable voting for, many of these left-leaning moderates voted for Donald Trump because of their distaste for democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. With the ticket being so wide in 2020, it is likely that once again many voters will feel the Democratic nominee will not fully encompass their personal values. The diverse 2020 ticket has candidates ranging from radical, self-identified socialist Bernie Sanders to the more moderate Joe Biden. Unfortunately, with growing apathy and ignorance as a result of the overwhelming amount of options, it
is unlikely that voter turnout in the primary election will be substantially higher than that in 2016. According to an article from Pew Research, only 28.5 percent of estimated eligible voters voted in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries in 2016. This was close to breaking the 2008 primary record, and yet less than 30 percent of those eligible to vote made the effort to choose a party nominee they felt portrayed them. The sheer number of candidates available is likely to lead to even less of a turnout for the upcoming primary as it takes a significant amount of time and effort to extensively research 21 candidates. In order to have a successful presidential election, it is necessary for the pool of eager nominees to dwindle to more reasonable numbers. If Democratic candidates continue to drop out of the race at the rate that they have been, it is likely the number of candidates will be manageable by the election in November. However, if there are this many candidates by the primary election, people are not likely to be personally invested enough to show up and vote. All anyone can hope is that the Democratic electorate becomes more invested and involved in the months leading up to the next election.
The 2020 Democratic Candidates
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
LGBT history is vital Students risk losing jobs to machines in primary schools
Replacing the ‘Owls Nest’ is necessary
Bryanna Walker | Contributor
Autumn Edmonston | Opinon Editor
History is an important part of school curricula because it teaches future generations about the mistakes of the past to help students build a worthwhile future. Similarly, educating children about LGBT history allows them to build a future without hatred and cruelty towards those who are different. In order for a more accepting world to emerge, schools should be required to educate children in all aspects of history, including those with LGBT attributes. According to an article by Newsweek, in 2011, California was the first state to include LGBT history in their schools’ curricula. Illinois plans to enact a similar plan on July 1, 2020. and would become the fifth state to do so, following Oregon, New Jersey and Colorado. It is in the country’s best interest for every state, including Georgia, to follow suit. Discussing LGBT history more as Georgian children grow older would normalize the idea of homosexuality, and provide recognition for the accomplishments and struggles of LGBT Americans. Tolerance is something taught through exposure, according to an article by U.S. News. Exposing students to important facets of our history, such as the Stonewall movement and the legalization of gay marriage in 2015, are critical for a well-rounded education. Informing future generations about our commendable past is just as important as teaching our corrupt past. Understanding history is mandatory to learn so that it is not repeated. Similarly, it is important for children to learn about the social discrimination of the LGBT community to build a brighter and more inclusive future. For those children who identify
Megan Davis | Staff Writer as homosexual, learning about LGBT history will help them understand that they are not alone, and that many people before them have accomplished great things from a similar perspective to them. History classes should include someone such as Sally Ride who, according to the National Women’s History Museum, was the first female astronaut in space — and happened to be lesbian. She would be a fantastic role model for any young student, but especially for one who could relate to her struggle of coming out, NBC News reported. Additionally, teaching LGBT history in schools would make a child who has same-sex parents not afraid or embarrassed to talk about them with others. Any child who is straight will have the opportunity to learn to love their neighbor even if they may love differently than they do. They could look up to someone who may be different than them, learning to respect their differences. When asked how an LGBT inclusive curriculum would have impacted her, freshman psychology major Taylor Bosarge said “Trying to understand [LGBT history] is better than simply being ignorant.” Informing children about the history of the LGBT community will pave the way for its members to be recognized as people who are not different or separated members of society, but rather recognized for their contributions to the world around us. In order to normalize a more inclusive world, schools need to include the struggles of the LGBT community in their curricula. Embracing our differences, rather than turning a blind eye is the key to a happy and successful future.
College students need to make money and low-skill part-time jobs are an easy way for them to do so — as long as their jobs are not given to machines. Even though college students are in school, they still need to work, whether it is to pay rent, tuition or to buy food for the week. According to PayScale, the most common method for students to make money is by having a part-time job that they work at while they are not in class. The majority of these jobs are low-skill tasks, such as cashier, sales associate or receptionists. Jobs such as these may not be an option for college students — or anyone — for much longer. An article by Forbes magazine brings light to the unfortunate future of low-skill employees, explaining that many big name brand companies, including Amazon, will within the next few years take the cheaper and more efficient opportunity to replace employees with machines. Even in stores such as Kroger and Target, self-checkout machines have largely taken over the job of cashiers, if not completely. Many people blame this technology for the severe loss of jobs in the retail sector. According to CNBC, “since January 2017, retail has lost more than 140,000 jobs.” McDonald’s is another example where the role of the cashier is an endangered species. In the past couple of years, they have implemented self-service machines where customers can order food and pay from a kiosk without having to interact with a cashier. The drastic drop in jobs like these affects not only college students, but other people in the community as well. Those who have a lower level of education are facing more difficulty
getting jobs and therefore risk facing unemployment. There are new jobs that are being created alongside the expansion of technology, but they are not jobs that people are familiar with. Instead of traditional cashier jobs, the new low-skill part-time jobs will be in what Forbes calls, “proximity services,” where people “provide quality care at a large scale.” These types of positions are more personal services, including jobs in senior living centers, daycares and working in other places in a janitorial capacity. Many jobs are being taken by machines, and they are jobs that take the least amount of skill and complex thought. For college students, those are the only jobs they can get because of their lack of a degree and minimal amount of free time.
Even though college students are in school, they still need to work, whether it is to pay rent, tuition or to buy food for the week. The overwhelming pattern of low-skill jobs being replaced by intelligent machines present a risk of unemployment to college students and the community at large. Students need to pay attention to their jobs and understand the likelihood of their income being stolen by self-checkout kiosks.
Speculation of future construction over the “Owls Nest” will deprive student-athletes of a safe, outdoor recreation space. Kennesaw State should consider providing an alternative, local area for students to use after construction. According to prior reporting from the Sentinel, the Nest’s facilities are planning to be knocked down to make room for new baseball and softball fields. While new fields provide competition space for teams, demolishing the current facilities sacrifices space previously used for training and recreation by students since 2009. KSU Sports and Recreation writes that the Owl’s Nest is currently used by over 330 intramural teams — groups of self-organized student teams who compete out of love for their sport — and 42 club teams. It also provides weight rooms, student meeting rooms, offices and two fields open to all KSU students. The space is a hub for student training and programming, which provides important health resources and a sense of community on campus. While construction turns the Owl’s Nest to rubble to make way for money-earning baseball games, students lose what was once their space to invest in the health of their bodies — and to have fun. As a result, loyal participants of the Owl’s Nest will be pushed to another athletic complex called the Perch, located behind the football stadium, according to prior reporting from the Sentinel. While this idea proves functional in theory, it is likely to result in overcrowding and inconvenience. Already, the Perch hosts over
137,000 visitors annually, according to descriptions by the KSU Sports and Entertainment Parks. It does not provide any indoor space for weights and is often occupied by large group events such as the KSU Annual Daffodil Dash, which is a 5k that runs the perimeter of the facility, according to the Department of Sport and Recreation. With so many people fighting to use the same space, facilities such as the Perch lose its attraction, especially for those depending on it during the absence of the Owl’s Nest. Additionally, while the Owl’s Nest is a stroll down Campus Loop Road and therefore easy access to students living in dorms, the Perch requires driving across Chastain Road. This inconvenience may seem minor, however, for those who face walking to the facilities it becomes dangerous — especially after dark when sporting events typically end. Georgia is already rated the sixth most dangerous state for pedestrians, according to an article by Curbed, and athletes should not have to put themselves in danger when they seek to exercise. Understandably, a university such as KSU seeks to use its property to its fullest financial potential. However, in exchange for these baseball and softball fields, students lose a space that was theirs to practice healthy habits. Considering that students already pay a Sports and Recreation Parks fee of $80 every semester, KSU should provide an alternate space for those who relied on the Owl’s Nest — a space without overcrowding or the risk of walking across a major highway.
Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019 | Page 5
ARTS AND LIVING
Sheila Woodberry takes pride in her job and enjoys meeting people from all walks of life that ride her bus daily.
Houida Aldihri | The Sentinel
The Big Owl Bus, or B.O.B. for short, transports students to and from the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses in addition to routes within each campus.
Houida Aldihri | The Sentinel
BIG OWL BUS DRIVERS DELIVER TWOFOLD PERSPECTIVES Samuel Sinclair | Staff Writer Kennesaw State Big Owl Bus drivers have been a vital piece of the school’s operation for more than a decade. These drivers ferry students around the Kennesaw and Marietta area, getting to know them and making sure they have a comfortable and safe journey. They come from a variety of backgrounds, tolerate negative behavior and enjoy the positives of the profession. Scott Holcomb has been a bus driver at KSU for seven years. He was previously a delivery driver who transported products, including newspapers and wine. After delivery driving, Holcomb drove at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport, rushing people to and from terminals and cars. In order to drive a bus or delivery truck, a commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement is needed. Holcomb ultimately
decided that passenger vehicles were better for him and got his passenger endorsement to drive a bus. Through a friend, he acquired an interview with First Transit, the company responsible for the bus system at KSU. “I never dreamed I would be driving a bus at KSU but here I am, happy seven years later,” Holcomb said. Sheila Woodberry has been a bus driver for over 25 years, during most of which she was driving for the public school system. She is a mother who cites her son as her primary motivation to become a driver. In 2014, she applied for the KSU transit service and has been a driver at the university since. “I needed a change from the public school system and KSU has been a breath of fresh air,” Woodberry said. The positives of the profession are largely
Students get onto the B.O.B. outside of the Commons.
shared by the two drivers, as they both enjoy meeting the different people who step foot on their bus.
“I never dreamed I would be driving a bus at KSU but here I am, happy seven years later.” Holcomb said that he has met people from Pakistan, Nepal, Germany, Scotland, Japan, China and more while on the job. Woodberry remarked that it is always interesting talking to professors and human resources members.
Houida Aldihri | The Sentinel
Holcomb and Woodberry both live close to KSU and agreed that convenience is a solid bonus. To the drivers, First Transit is regarded as an understanding management team. The company will work with drivers in the event of a circumstance, such as sickness. Above all, the drivers value the appreciation of the passengers they drive for. “These students really appreciate us,” Holcomb said. “They are polite and courteous. I’ve even had people buy me food and drinks at Chick-fil-A before.” Though the negatives are minute, they are shared among both drivers as well. Holcomb said that aggressive drivers are a major pain. Bus drivers have to pay close attention to keep their passengers safe because of unpredictable people on the road. “One lady didn’t want to wait for me and turned in front of the bus. She didn’t see a
car coming up alongside me and she got hit,” Holcomb said. Though it is tempting to try to pass the sometimes slow moving buses, the bus drivers recommend caution to those in smaller vehicles. “These buses weigh thousands of pounds. A lot of drivers need to give us more space,” Holcomb said. While they agree that being a B.O.B. driver is a good job and they are treated as well as can be expected, a wage increase would always be appreciated. “More money is always nice,” Woodberry said. “Regardless, KSU is a great school for people of any background or age. It’s a pleasure to work here.”
Esra Sharif, a first-year fashion design major, celebrates a safe bus ride with driver Jay Murphy.
Houida Aldihri | The Sentinel
Transgender student finds community connection amid prejudice Candace Mitchell | Staff Writer Kennesaw State computer science major Samantha Melton expressed the trials of being a transgender woman on a college campus while being in a male-dominated field. According to the Human Rights Campaign, transgender is defined as “an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.” Of course, being trans cannot simply be reduced to a 25 word definition. The experiences of trans people differ, each person facing various ups and downs. Discrimination because of her identity is rampant around campus. For instance,
there was an occasion where Melton and her friends were walking through a parking lot one evening and a man made negative facial expressions at them before verbally confronting them. “He was just this white boy who was acting all tough, like he was going to throw hands. So that was a bit of a traumatic event,” Melton said. She also faces microaggressions — instances of subtle discrimination — whether it be while using the women’s restroom or being called ‘him’ or ‘he.’ “Microaggressions are generally small, individual occurrences where you may be, as a trans person, misgendered,” Melton said. “You may be at the end of a blunt joke.
They are just little things that attack you, but over time turn into big things ... It may be things that people don’t know that they are doing, but it is something you pick up as social cues.” Although Melton notices a difference between the number of glances on the Marietta campus versus the Kennesaw campus, her experiences at KSU have not been all bad. She has found a sense of community within the students at KSU’s LGBTQ Resource Center. “There are a lot of LGBTQ people in the center that are always there for support and they are always welcoming,” Melton said. According to the coordinator for cultural and community events Dani Alexander, the
LGBTQ Resource Center is a community space for students to gather, create new friendships, study and gain access to resources. Within the center, students are presented with opportunities to learn about various aspects of queer identity and how queer identity intersects with other identities they may carry. Among the many programs they provide, a few specific initiatives and programs include the “Clothing Closet Pop-up Shop,” “Campus Connection” and “What’s the Tea?” The “Clothing Closet Pop-up Shop” uses donated clothes to help provide a wardrobe for transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students. It is a more
accessible way to shop and also allows for these students to express themselves through fashion. The “Campus Connection” program helps students network with on-campus staff and teaches the ins and out of KSU. “What’s the Tea?” is a discussion group that gives students within the LGBTQ community opportunity to talk face-to-face about current events. The roles that LGBTQ people and allies at KSU play in and outside of campus are analyzed. Thanks to this program and the existence of the LGBTQ Resource Center, Melton feels like she has a community to support and accept her.
KSU STUDENT ENSURES GIG WORKERS GET THEIR MONEY Zack Hill | Staff Writer Kennesaw State electrical engineering major Caleb Gilbert has developed a company that ensures independent contractors — primarily those working in the gig economy — receive payment for their work. “A gig pretty much comes down to freelancers, independent contractors and can range anywhere from writers, graphic designers, software designers or bands,” Gilbert said. Gilbert formulated the idea for his company, named Esgro, in April 2018 and put his idea into action this past February. The goal is to provide independent workers with a better and safer way to do business. Gilbert used to tutor students as an independent contractor to help pay for tuition. Occasionally, tutoring appointments would get cancelled with very little notice, leaving him without pay. “Occasionally, students would cancel on me and not show up and
I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills,” Gilbert said. “I got to thinking why there isn’t a better payment solution for this.” Gilbert found the gig system to be broken and decided to do something to create an alternative way to go about payment for these jobs. To ensure Esgro would be the best it could be for its users, Gilbert conducted a great deal of research. “There was a lot of customer discovery, going out and speaking to customers and getting to know what their day to day operations are and their fears,” Gilbert said. “I found out a lot of people have this issue and that they don’t see any other solution.” His solution to the broken system was Esgro. The company is, in a way, a safety net to help independent contractors feel more financially secure in the jobs they may get. “I think the main goal of Esgro is to help the generation that is
coming up in the freelance economy to have a peace of mind,” Gilbert said. “Hopefully our company’s core values can provide a better solution to an existing problem that has been around for generations.” Gilbert hopes that Esgro will act as an inspiration for those using it, describing it as a holding account between two individuals. “I want Esgro to inspire users to do what inspires them,” Gilbert said. “I want this to be a platform people can use as a plunge to do things that they’re passionate about.” For the future of Esgro, Gilbert’s main hope is for expansion — for both the company and its clients. “I hope to expand into enterprise solutions,” Gilbert said. “I want to create the ability for a freelancer to be able to create their own company and scale with them.” To learn more about Esgro and its mission, visit the company’s official website.
Club of the Week: American Sign Language club restarts Marisa Hart | Contributor that’s completely unfair,” she said. Deaf people often put in extra effort to communicate with non-deaf people. They also must deal with a society that does not understand deafness. Being yelled at, ridiculed and dismissed are common experiences for deaf people, but understanding their experiences and perspectives can bridge that gap. Though making friends is an important part of any club, the purpose of the ASL club goes beyond that. “Our first priority is to learn the language, to understand where [deaf people] are coming from and their point of view,” Osborn said. In addition to the petition, the club plans on expanding its community involvement by hosting more events this year. Growing and maintaining the club this year and beyond is an important goal for the club. “I never want this torch to die out,” Osborn said. For more information on KSU’s ASL club, visit www.owllife. kennesaw.edu/organization/aslclub.
Solutions to this week’s puzzles will be in the next issue.
Listen to Owl Radio!
KSU’s Student Disability Services in order to thrive on campus. Earlier this year, the club launched a Change.org petition to add an accredited ASL class to the foreign language program at KSU. Osborn hopes this addition not only attracts non-deaf students who want to work as interpreters, but also bridges the gap between the hearing majority and the deaf community. “KSU’s all about inclusiveness so why not have this [class] as a branch towards the deaf community,” Osborn said. Weekly meetings involve members with varying levels of ASL knowledge learning the language and about deaf culture. Learning ASL and recognizing the needs of deaf students is one way to create an inclusive environment, according to Osborn. Also, it is a “great way to make friends and build a better community,” Osborn said. Knowing ASL will look good on any resume, Osborn believes the benefits of learning the language extend beyond professional development. “Deaf people have to conform to our culture, to our world. We feel
Geometry 101
Check them out on the RadioFX app and online at ksuradio.com!
Kennesaw State students Jess Osborn and Debbie Caleb wanted to learn American Sign Language on their own but struggled to find the time. After finding a defunct Owl Life page for a previous ASL club in 2018, they revived the club to learn the language as a community. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that one in eight people in the United States aged 12 or older have hearing loss in both ears. Though lip reading may be an effective way to communicate with people, not all deaf people can read lips and its accuracy is questionable. ASL, a visual language involving hand motions, gestures and facial expressions is a standardized way of communicating for deaf people. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that nearly two million Americans speak ASL and the ASL Club hopes to increase that number. Club president Jess Osborn wants the club to be a “place to call home for the deaf community.” She believes deaf students need a network of friends and allies beyond
DOWN 1. Ho-hum 2. *Straight and infinitely extended 3. Type of operating system 4. Remake a map 5. Opposite of comic 6. Weakest in chess 7. “Gross!” 8. One’s assertion 9. Square one? 10. Additional 11. Campbell of “Rhinestone Cowboy” fame 12. White one at Macy’s 15. Bringer of news, e.g. 20. S-shaped moldings 22. Mowgli to Raksha in “The Jungle Book” 24. Feeling of aversion 25. *It has no dimensions, only position 26. “Sesame Street” regular 27. Mario Andretti or Niki Lauda 29. Between stop and roll 31. Potato’s soup mate 32. H. pylori consequence 33. Like a stereotypical girl 34. *Not right or obtuse 36. Spike punch, e.g. 38. Cone-shaped quarters 42. Regards 45. Real estate sale agreement 49. Type of brew 51. *Length x width x height 54. Earthy color 56. Primary 57. Cookbook amt. 58. Rwanda’s majority 59. Does something wrong 60. Loads from lodes 61. Brainchild 62. Heat in a microwave 63. Fortune-telling coffee stuff 64. Light on one’s feet 67. Like Brown league
CROSSWORD:
August 20 soultion
Vanessa Banks | The Sentinel
ACROSS 1. Say without thinking 6. Abscess contents 9. Fictional Griffin and actual Ryan 13. Witty one-____ 14. ____ Khan 15. Swan of the “Twilight” series 16. Carl Jung’s inner self 17. What is the reason? 18. Painter’s support 19. *Six-sided polygon 21. *Type of triangle 23. Appetizer in a blanket 24. Brooding 25. *___pendicular lines 28. Ghana monetary unit 30. Star of Raffi’s song 35. Instead of written 37. “Formerly,” formerly 39. Archeologist’s find 40. Cusco valley dweller, once 41. *Plane to 2D is like ____ to 3D 43. Shade of beige 44. Daughter of a sibling 46. ____ dream 47. Same as Celt 48. Mother of Calcutta 50. Capital of Ukraine 52. Robert Burns’ “Comin’ Thro’ the ____” 53. Classic board game 55. Unruly bunch 57. *Pythagoras’ ____ 61. Archipelago constituents 65. Donkey in Mexico 66. Auction proposal 68. Seize a throne 69. Scatter 70. The day before 71. “Prepare to meet your ____!” 72. Boot-wearing feline 73. Swedish shag rug 74. Lament for the dead
SUDOKU
Caleb Gilbert founded Esgro after running into difficulty getting paid while working as a tutor in college.
ARTS AND LIVING
August 20 soultion
Page 6 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019
Get involved with The Peak! Apply online at studentmedia.kennesaw. edu!
Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019 | Page 7
SPORTS
The Owls run out of the tunnel before the match-up with Georgia State University last September.
Cory Hancock | The Sentinel
KSU will seek its third straight Big South title this season. Amy Casto | The Sentinel
2019 FOOTBALL SEASON TO BEGIN WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS Garrett Barton III | Contributor The time has come for the Kennesaw State football team to kick off its long-awaited 2019 season as the 10th-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision, hosting Point University this Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. This season may be the most highly anticipated of the program’s brief history, as the Owls are coming off their second consecutive Big South Conference title and second straight quarterfinal appearance in the FCS Playoffs. Led by fifth-year head coach Brian Bohannan, the team is poised to continue its ascent among the country’s elite FCS football programs. As always, a new season means the departure of some players as well as the arrival and emergence of others. In order to replicate the successes of the past two seasons, this program will need to replace
some integral pieces of its team, particularly on offense. Many returning starters are prepared to take their play up a level this season, as three were named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-America teams. Offensive coordinator and line coach Grant Chesnut has a new challenge this season, as the KSU offense should look and play noticeably different than past seasons. In particular, the offense will likely utilize its passing attack more than ever before, due largely in part to the departure of quarterback Chandler Burks, who led the FCS last season in total rushing touchdowns with 29. Taking his place will be senior Daniel David, who appeared in 11 of the team’s 13 games in 2018. Last season, David was given an opportunity to prove himself on a big stage,
entering the FCS Playoff quarterfinal after Burks went down with an injury. He made the most of this chance by playing soundly as a passer and rusher, nearly leading the Owls to an inspiring comeback before falling just short. With David as the maestro of the KSU offense, fans should expect to see a scheme that is slightly more tailored to his skillset, as he has proven himself both as a pure drop-back passer and a rusher. David will receive some help in the ground attack from running backs Shaquil Terry, TJ Reed and Isaac Foster. As a freshman, Foster made a name for himself on special teams as a lethal kick return specialist. The speedster was named 2018 Big South Special Teams Player of the Year for his efforts and will take over part of the offensive workload as a running back this year. Foster was the only offensive
player at KSU to be named on the 2019 Preseason All-American list. While the Owls’ offense is adjusting to personnel changes, the defense is looking to improve upon its unit from last season. Eight of 11 starters from last year’s dominant group are returning this season, which makes this year’s one of the most formidable in the country. The KSU defense was a brick wall in 2018, as they allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and 15.4 points per game. The Owls finished the season ranked second in the FCS in total defense, and this year should feature more of the same. Joining Isaac Foster on the Preseason All-America fourth team are senior defensive back Dorian Walker and junior linebacker Bryson Armstrong. Both players were major pieces of the defense last season, as Walker had three interceptions and
Armstrong finished second on the team with 75 tackles. Both players will be on-field leaders of this year’s defense, which has a chance to be the best in the FCS. This group may need to carry a heavier load as the offense finds its stride with a new quarterback. This season has a chance to be the most successful in program history, but the outcome will depend on its ability to adapt to changes on both the offense and defense. In order to extend the 10-game conference winning streak and reach a third consecutive playoff berth, this team will need to quickly adjust to its major roster changes. If done correctly, the football team should control its own destiny this season and position itself as a national contender.
Baker and Harris score twice as soccer splits matches to open season Rio White | Managing Editor The Kennesaw State soccer team began its season by splitting two matches, falling 2-1 at Mercer on Thursday, Aug. 22, before defeating Georgia State 4-1 Sunday night. Head coach Benji Walton is looking to take a veteran team to an Atlantic Sun Conference title this year, beginning the season by facing two teams that KSU played last year in close matches. Last season’s top scorer Erin Harris put the Owls in the lead early, scoring on 16 minutes to get KSU’s season to a flying start. Harris involved herself in a total of 12 goals last season, contributing six goals and six assists while also logging the most playing time on the team. The Owls continued to apply offensive pressure during the first half but could not come up with another goal before Mercer found its way into the KSU goal. On 53 minutes, the Bears found an equalizer and managed to defend the game for the remainder of regulation. In the second period of extra time, Mercer won the match with a last-gasp effort. Despite having more shots and corner kicks during the game, KSU was unable to find a clean finish after the goal by Harris. “Tough game for our group tonight. I thought we played well but just didn’t execute like we needed to in front of the goal,” Walton said. “It’s a tough way to start the season but a huge opportunity to grow and learn from this outcome.” The Owls bounced back from the setback at Mercer in powerful style, knocking in four goals against Georgia State on Sunday. In the span of just eight minutes in the first half, KSU ran rampant on the Panthers by scoring three goals in quick succession. Junior Kendall Baker opened her account this season on 21 minutes, pouncing on a
well-timed through ball by senior midfielder Isabella Contreras. Four minutes later, freshman Becky Contreras scored her first career KSU goal on a powerful header from a corner kick whipped in by senior Morgan Harrison. Contreras out-jumped several defenders to get full contact on the ball. Weekend Soccer Stats: 35 shots 18 shots on target 11 saves for Tiffany Sornpao 14 corner kicks
Erin Harris (12) dribbles the ball down the field during the game against GSU this past Sunday.
Rosemary Geller | The Sentinel
Morgan Harrison (25) looks down the field during the game against GSU this past Sunday.
Rosemary Geller | The Sentinel
The Owls continued to put the heat on soon after as Baker earned a brace on a long-distance shot that sailed over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper. Baker’s two goals mark her first for KSU as she transitions from a substitute player to a regular starter. Just before halftime, the Panthers scored to soften the scoreline temporarily, but Harris would make sure that the game was out of each early in the second half. Defender Kelsey Hahn found the ball in isolation and put in a sweeping cross that found Harris just a few yards outside of goal, where she headed in the ball for a fourth KSU goal. “I thought the girls came out focused ... we didn’t just settle for one [goal] and call it a day,” Walton said. “[Baker] has been tremendous and consistent since spring ... she’s the most fit kid on the team.” KSU plays its first home match of the season this week, hosting the College of Charleston on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
Page 8 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 27, 2019
SPORTS
MEET OUR NEW SPORTS EDITOR Teddy Teshome | Sports Editor
Teddy is looking to revamp the sports section by getting the best out of his writers.
COLLEGE FB PREDICTIONS
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
Abigail Marmurowicz Editor-in-Chief
KSU VS. POINT
I am a marketing major with a minor in accounting, and I have contributed to the Sentinel since Fall 2017 as a writer in the sports section. I was truly delighted when I found out that I got the position of sports editor. Sports have always been an outlet for me so I could not have asked for a better gig. I began writing for the Sentinel as a freshman in love with sports and was looking for a reason to go to sporting events. Joining the Sentinel as a writer was a great position for me because I was able to write in my free time, which I had never done before up to
Rio White
this point. Since then, I have never looked back. I looked forward to the games — It was like the highlight of my week in the midst of all the chaos my professors had piled on me. My goal as the sports editor for the Sentinel is to get the best out of our writers and to make sure quality content is always being delivered. I hope that through my writing and editing I will be able to cover KSU Athletics like never before. I believe that with my efforts, I can implement positive changes that can hopefully take the sports section to new levels. When I am not playing or
Kevin Barrett
Managing Editor
Photo Editor
watching sports, I like to hike forest trails, hang out with friends and occasionally draw my dreams. If I had a bucket list it would include traveling to all seven continents, meeting Michael Jordan and completing a backflip. A future goal of mine is to be able to work hard enough to be recognized on the national level for my coverage or hot takes on sports — even possibly work for the likes of ESPN or Fox Sports. Those are the types of sights I see for myself through hard work in my endeavors to reach them.
Bridget Walker
Arielle Robinson
Arts & Living Editor
Production & Engagement
KSU
KSU
KSU
KSU
KSU
CLEMSON VS. GA TECH
CLEMSON
CLEMSON
TECH
CLEMSON
CLEMSON
UGA VS. VANDERBILT
VANDY
VANDY
UGA
UGA
UGA
AUBURN VS. OREGON
AUBURN
OREGON
AUBURN
OREGON
AUBURN
20
%
off
WITH KSU STUDENT ID Chastain Rd
Ernest W. Barrett Pkwy
KSU Road
Barrett Lakes Blvd
y wa ree
F 75
Barrett Lakes Center 1125 Ernest Barrett Pkwy. Kennesaw, GA 30144 770-429-5522
All-YOU-CAN Eat options of healthy and indulgent cravings at one low price!
Expires 12/31/19. Dine in Only. Valid for 20% off entire check on next visit. Beverage purchase required per meal. Cannot be combined with other offers including $10 Veggie Bucks.